Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Return to Normalcy
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The Sion Dukedom was several steps ahead of other territories and kingdoms in nearly every field of technology, but its shipbuilding skills fell short even of the average among the nations and territories surrounding the Eltis Inland Sea.
To begin with, even before Sion's arrival, the population had been too small, with residents living by the coast numbering less than a tenth of the total.
Even those few hundred people only caught fish by paddling out in small rowboats and clumsily casting handmade nets.
Of course, after Sion drove the monsters into the Branthin Mountains and the Iron Mountain Dwarves properly settled in, life for the fishing village residents changed dramatically, like heaven and earth switching places.
Landing spots turned into fishing ports, fishing ports into full harbors, and fishing boats grew large enough for dozens of people to board and fish together.
But that was the end of it.
Because no matter how naturally gifted the Iron Mountain Dwarves were as technicians and craftsmen, they were complete amateurs when it came to shipbuilding.
Moreover, as the Sion Dukedom developed, merchant ships from other territories and kingdoms on the inland sea came seeking trade deals on their own.
So there had been no need to build merchant vessels for trade.
"But now the world has changed."
With the arrival of an early adopter, die-hard fan, and bootlicker named Yajan, there was still no need to pour enormous sums into building merchant ships.
However.
This world was facing a great cataclysm, and that didn't just mean more monsters on land.
Why did all those inland sea sailors stick to coastal and nearshore routes?
Why, over all those long years, had the official name of the inland sea—"Eltis Sea"—never pinpointed its exact location?
Aside from the bizarre weather of the inland sea, which could change drastically almost hourly the farther you got from land.
It was because of the sea monsters that lurked around countless islands, attacking any human ships they spotted, and the aquatic races that could freely move between water and land.
But with the great cataclysm underway, even if races like nagas and sea lizardmen were excluded, sea monsters were obviously going to explode in numbers.
The problem was that fighting sea-dwelling monsters was several times harder than on land.
To put it bluntly, a single hole in the ship meant everyone died.
No matter how elite the knights and warriors who could fly and crawl across the land, the moment they fell into the deep sea, they became a rare land-sourced delicacy for the sea monsters.
All territories and kingdoms bordering the inland sea knew this well.
And now, it was a foregone conclusion that deep-sea monsters would push into nearshore and coastal waters.
At this very moment, the aquatic races in the middle of the inland sea were undoubtedly shitting themselves bloody from the sudden monster surge.
Would intelligent races with their own histories and cultures just shit themselves to death?
No need to think about it—they'd head for nearshore waters close to land, and the coasts.
And inevitably clash with humans.
"So we need ships. Ideally ones with small crews but superior maneuverability and speed."
The best place in the world to build such ships was Sauden.
Even Yajan, who specialized in large merchant vessels for heavy cargo, still commissioned their expensive, vital ships to Sauden's shipyards.
Sion wanted that Sauden shipbuilding technology.
To prepare for encounters with aquatic races, and potentially build real "monster cage farms" off the dukedom's coast if conditions allowed.
"I hope they hand it over without a fuss."
They'd already taken a solid beating, losing half their corn reserves—hoping they wouldn't be foolish enough to charge again.
Hoping they wouldn't lose their remaining teeth and end up tearfully buying the dentures Sion provided, at a hefty price.
The peace-loving old monster sincerely prayed for this. (At least for the dukedom's peace.)
* * *
Dealing with monsters in the Plangd region was far easier than in Rozin.
"Monsters attacking from the river are hard to catch? We anticipated that. Try this."
Dwarves overflowed with technology and ideas in every field except shipbuilding.
In particular, the Iron Mountain Dwarves who had long settled in the Sion Dukedom excelled at making whatever the residents needed, and they'd been doing so for over fifty years.
One key item that propelled the dukedom's fishing villages onto the path of prosperity was the "nets" made by these dwarves.
"See? The mesh holes are pretty big, right? That's because it's made to catch monsters, not fish.
The net is woven from medium monster hides and tendons. It won't break easily. Probably strong enough to catch a whale?
And these things embedded in the middle? Blades made by mixing in medium monster bone powder. Once caught, it'll shred the whole body. You could make sashimi out of them."
Seeing the special nets the Iron Mountain Dwarves had brought, Sion was convinced this was the local world's version of a dragnet.
Two boats could hold the ends and sweep the riverbed, or it was light enough to throw by hand.
As the dwarf explained, the large mesh let fish through but always snagged monsters.
"But Iron Mountain sir, what if monsters attack the boats directly from underwater? That's the biggest problem."
"Don't worry. We've got this. First, lift the boat out of the water and attach it. It's detachable for ease, and so light it barely affects the boat's weight or buoyancy."
The Iron Mountain Dwarves hadn't just brought special nets for catching underwater monsters.
They'd also made massive nets covered in hundreds of sharp spikes wrapping the boat's bottom and sides.
"Every spike tip is coated in a diluted giant mantis venom solution. You know giant mantises? They love water, so the poison doesn't dilute much even in it.
That said, leave it in too long and the effect fades. Our tests showed reapplication after about twelve hours."
There were over ten jars of the special solution—enough for half a month of all-day monster hunting from boats.
"There, all set?"
"Thank you! Iron Mountain sir!"
The five hundred troops Bedelion Blaho brought, along with Sparrowhawk Unit members, boarded dozens of boats fitted with Iron Mountain Dwarf special gear, then swept the Plangd River from midstream to the city in the downstream twice a day with dragnet sweeps.
Less than a week later, the underwater monsters were wiped out.
Some fled to large and small islands in the lower river, but for the Sparrowhawk Unit, that was a thank-you—they'd come ashore on land.
Ten days after launching the full operation, monster numbers in the Plangd region returned to pre-year levels.
Killing them all would disrupt the food chain, and the survivors wouldn't approach human areas for a while, so the support troops returned to their posts.
Anyway, aside from thousands of river fish floating belly-up from giant mantis venom, the Plangd monster crisis ended without issue.
Fish? Skip eating them for a few days—no big deal. And since it was flowing river water, the toxicity would fully dissipate in days. Truly minor.
* * *
Uwaaaaaaaa!!!
A massive cheer shook the air along Shionia Avenue.
Bam-bam-bam—bam-ba-bam—bam-bam!
Residents packed the avenue roared in delight as the ducal family's direct orchestra blared a triumphant march, and colorful petals scattered from tall buildings danced gorgeously in the wind.
Step! Step! Step! Step!
Shionia guards led the vanguard, followed by Sparrowhawk Unit reserves and trainees marching in formation.
Then came today's stars: fifty expedition members riding gaus, crossing the avenue in perfect order.
Black Eagle Regiment and Zanstrick mercenary veterans, even the usually stoic elf rangers—all beamed with pride, shoulders back, proudly guiding their gaus.
Shionia residents saw elves more often than most places, but seeing them fully armored like knights, moving in formation? Mostly a first.
And among them, a female elf with breathtaking, suffocating beauty.
Uwaaaak! Uwaaak!
Kyaaaaaaa!
Cheers for the heroes who fully resolved the dukedom's infamous "monster crisis" and returned eclipsed any festival.
"With this, the urgent fires are all out. Therefore."
Sion scanned Yonas and the ministers gathered in the conference hall and declared.
"Our dukedom returns to normal from this moment."
Ooooooh!!!
The highest-ranking people in the Sion Dukedom cheered like children.
Beaming, they patted shoulders, shook hands, praising each other's hard work.
But only briefly—then, as if by agreement, all eyes turned to their patriarch.
"May the Patriarch bless us!"
"Victory and glory to the Triple-Headed Eagle's wings!"
Led by Yonas, the ministers shouted in unison.
"We offer our gratitude!"
"Gratitude, Your Highness!"
Returning after decades to a dukedom in its worst crisis, smashing the malice gnawing at the ducal house and driving the territory to ruin.
Ultimately restoring everything to its rightful place, ushering in a "new era"—they bowed to their patriarch.
"Yes, you've all worked hard."
Sion too gazed proudly at those leading the "Sion Clan."
Did I do this alone?
Even lost in chaos from those two disowned traitors' schemes, without these people holding firm to loyalty and devotion to the ducal house and territory, it would have been tough.
Immortal superhuman? So what.
Ruling and running a land of hundreds of thousands needs dozens of capable talents like these far more than one superhuman.
"Give holidays to all Triple-Headed Eagle Castle staff except essential personnel. No—rotate a few days off. It's not just you here who've suffered."
"Understood! Grandfather!"
Yonas replied, unable to hide his joy.
He could already picture the mid- and low-level officials, their eyes panda-black from overtime, shedding tears of joy. (Truth: Yonas himself finally getting rest.)
However.
"But, Your Highness, training for the township vigilante reserves isn't finished yet..."
"Grain stores are already down thirty percent from resolving this crisis..."
"Needs for the fortress walls in Echo-less Forest..."
"Expansion plans for Sion Road..."
"The village near the Sparrowhawk Unit garrison—township or county status?"
Fires out? So what. Embers that could flare into infernos still smoldered everywhere.
"Ah......"
Sion thought fighting hundreds of thousands of monsters—or even reviving and refighting that old dead demon dragon—would be a hundred times better.
(To be continued)