Chapter 196
Chapter 196
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: 20. This World Won't Leave Me Alone. (8)
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#5 Their Circumstances: The Circumstances of a Certain Captain
"Huh~?"
I tilt my head this way and that.
"Hmm~?"
A nasal hum escapes me involuntarily.
"Ehehe~"
What is this feeling?
"Is this the right place?"
"Yes, it is."
No matter how much I tilt my head, no answers come.
So I ask the subordinate next to me, but he seems to be thinking the same thing.
"Isn't this the end?"
"That's right."
"But it's still farther ahead, isn't it?"
"Yes."
The magical tool in my subordinate's hand, which answers promptly, is still glowing far off in the distance.
But right in front of our eyes looms a massive city wall—the final bulwark of the Last City, the last bastion of humanity.
"So why is this the final bulwark? Isn't this the first one?"
"If the first one breaks, there's nothing behind it."
"It's been breached multiple times before it was even built, and we're still alive and kicking."
"Captain, don't say that here... you'll get stabbed."
I let out a deep sigh as I glance at my subordinate, who's checking the surroundings nervously.
"You've already set up the soundproofing, right?"
"Ah..."
Sigh! I've been doing this for years now.
Of course, soundproofing magic is basic during work, since words can slip out anytime.
The instructor always said that daytime whispers are heard by birds, and nighttime ones by birds and mice alike.
The quieter you speak, the more ears there are listening.
Soundproofing is essential. And we're conveying everything in natural situations without raising suspicion.
"Sigh, to think I'm chasing the instructor with underlings like these."
"I'm sorry."
For a moment, the infinite language combo the instructor taught me flashes in my mind, but we're too busy right now. Shame I can't use it.
"The signal's not looking good."
"That's right."
"Status of the encirclement?"
"The net around Neiden Kingdom and the surrounding kingdoms was completed three days ago."
"But no one's found him?"
"Yes."
"Yeah..."
A captain has to judge situations quickly.
What's the chance the instructor broke through the encirclement and escaped? And if he crossed this wall into the Demon Continent?
"Urgh..."
Both seem highly unlikely.
Absolutely impossible—suicidal, even.
But slap "instructor" in front, and suddenly it feels possible, like something he could pull off.
"Let's head back."
"We're going back?"
"You wanna climb over?"
Swish.
My subordinate's gaze shifts to the massive wall.
"No."
"Should we wait here then?"
His gaze now turns to the magical tool in his hand.
The light blinking on it is inching forward, ever so slowly.
"If Her Highness gets pissed, can you handle it?"
"No, let's go now!"
If Lia were here, she'd get it in one go.
But with my excellent adjutant kidnapped(?), I grabbed whoever was around, and they're underperforming.
Once this is over, I should tell Her Highness we need some new recruit training.
"Alright, let's hurry."
"Yes!"
He might not get the nuances, but my subordinate is still top-notch.
We slip out of the city slowly, head to a deserted spot, then use magic to teleport to the nearest prepared unit.
Space transfer magic guzzles mana, but we get top-grade mana stones from Her Highness in excess, so no issues.
"Captain?"
"How'd it go?"
About twenty people swarm me anxiously.
I flash a slight smile and ease their curiosity.
"Yeah, we're screwed."
"Ah..."
The mood freezes instantly, but something more important comes first.
"Portals ready? We need to get to the imperial palace ASAP."
"Yes!"
The ordeal begins.
Chain of short-range portals.
Hopping between nearby units to reach the empire's major cities is exhausting.
Overexposure to mana causes mana sickness, plus spatial nausea from repeated jumps.
My stomach churns from both, but I'm not puking up the 24 local specialties from the city alliance I just ate.
"You okay...?"
"Ugh..."
My pale face worries them, but this is an emergency where screwing up means losing my meal ticket.
Can't let go of this dream job!
To protect the best workplace in life, I cross half the continent in less than a day.
"Hm? Captain Mira?"
"Uncle..."
"No, I'm not an uncle yet..."
The mage uncle clutches his heart and coughs—he's thirty but insists he's not an uncle since he's unmarried.
"...Thirty."
"Cough!"
I ignore the hacking uncle and look for someone less wrecked.
"None..."
We're all confirmed bachelors.
Can't be helped.
Her Highness's unit is the best job, the envy of all—but terrible for marriage.
The moment you wed, Her Highness and Sister Lea crash the wedding and watch from start to finish.
Her Highness smiles at the bride and groom; Sister Lea glares.
Noble ladies drop like flies under those stares.
Weddings are rare now. Sad, since the food's great...
"No, wait."
Mess up, and I might not eat well even normally.
"Uncle, emergency."
"How bad?"
"Hmm... Her Highness will be pissed for about a month?"
"You should've led with that!"
Chaos erupts.
People sprinting, fiddling with comms tools, tripping, sighing "Overtime again~".
Watching them, suddenly...
"Urp...!"
Nausea hits.
"Hey, hold it! Don't puke here!"
"Don't underestimate me, Uncle. I won't—urp!"
"That's beyond willpower!"
He casts body enhancement, scoops me up, and dashes to the bathroom.
But the body follows its own rules.
I barely hold it in, slung over his back, striding back proudly... urp!
"Uncle, sorry."
"Don't puke on my clothes!"
I end up marking his not-yet-paid-off robe with my defeat.
Gotta process it as work injury later.
"What is it, Captain Mira?"
With Uncle Mage's sacrifice stabilizing my gut, the meeting starts.
Sister Lea at the head; all captain-level and above from the palace attend.
"The instructor seems to have fled really far."
"Urgh... Did we lose him?"
Sister Lea frowns.
Her Highness isn't here yet, but she'll be devastated to hear we lost him.
But that's not the issue.
"He fled, but there are tails on him. The problem is the location..."
"Where!"
Bam!
Sister Lea's force makes me blurt it out.
"The Demon Continent."
"Huh?"
"Reaction came from beyond the Last City. Honestly, can't confirm if he crossed or not."
"D-Demon Continent?"
"Yes."
I nod, and everyone stares around blankly, checking if they misheard.
"Is that even possible?"
"Who knows. It's from the collar signal. Maybe tied it to a bird and launched it."
"Or just sent that Lia girl to the Demon Continent..."
"Hey, that's ridiculous. No way he'd send just one person there."
"Idiot! It's Ast we're talking about—that Ast! That guy's capable of worse!"
"What? It sounded insane, but hearing his name makes it believable!"
"It's Ast, the seed of the Evil God who fools even archdemons!"
"Yeah. The guy who toppled a kingdom with his tongue alone. Nothing's off-limits for him!"
The meeting's heated, but the content's weird.
They all say it's impossible—until "instructor" drops, then it's plausible. (I thought the same.)
These folks have suffered under him too.
"Indeed... Sir Ast could slip one person into the Demon Continent and escape solo."
"Where is he now... Still in the Lübella City Alliance?"
"Plausible."
"Or infiltrated the empire instead."
"Yeah. Vanished from the north, so maybe hiding with First Prince's faction."
"That's too far. Plenty in First Prince's camp grind their teeth at Ast—too risky. Doesn't fit his style."
"Could be playing on that."
"Good point."
Speculation flies.
We're narrowing the escape route, but options multiply.
"No, Demon Continent's still in play. Can't rule out he really went there!"
"Right. That guy's sly enough to fool demons!"
"Tricked the Demon King into a slave contract and lives fat there."
"Insane, but we can't ignore it in this mad situation!"
Meant to pinpoint his range, but now we scour human lands and Demon Continent.
"Hold on! At this rate, Her Highness might start a continental war!"
"Well, to scout the Demon Continent, we'd have no choice, Lady Lea."
"Even the empire can't influence demons that far."
"True. Demon Continent's a no-go."
I nod along with the other captains.
That's when it happens.
"They say it's impossible, so he goes. That's Ast."
"Your Highness!"
Her Highness enters; Sister Lea yields the head seat.
"I heard the gist. Signal crossed to the Demon Continent?"
"Yes."
I nod under her gaze.
She closes her eyes in thought, then speaks without opening them.
"Captain Mira, current deployment in Lübella City Alliance?"
"Total 300 personnel. Five-man squads, one per city. Three-man teams at key routes."
"Anything else?"
"Three temporary bases with mobile magic, 20 each. All set near the alliance."
"I see."
After three minutes, she opens her eyes.
"Alright. Here's the plan."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
All eyes on her.
Her words decide our moves.
"Captains, maintain tight watch on your zones. Not even a rat escapes."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Status quo. She's observing for now.
"But Captain Mira has a solo mission."
"Yes?"
Uh-oh, this is bad.
Instructor said true solo missions don't exist.
The Marsis student infiltration years back was fun, but now...
"Cross to the Demon Continent. Gather intel."
"Eek..."
Bad omens never lie.
Demon Continent? How even?
"Your Highness..."
"It's fine. I've got plans."
She leaves with a "wait" and returns shortly.
"Here, this should do."
"...Your Highness?"
She grins, placing a demon-horned headband on my head.
"You can do it, right?"
Her smiling question boils my blood, but she's my boss—the empire's princess.
Answer's set.
"Yes..."
Meeting ends; they file out pitying me. Last, Sister Lea pats my shoulder comfortingly.
"Think of it as a chance to eat Demon Continent specialties. I'll tell finance to load you up with cash!"
Her words lift my spirits.
Yeah, fine then! Off to discover mysterious Demon Continent foods! ...Then a question pops up.
"But Sister."
"Yeah?"
"Does imperial currency work in the Demon Continent?"
"Will it?"
I gape at her blinking eyes, speechless.
"..."
"I'll fill it with gold."
"Yes..."
And so, I head to the Demon Continent.