Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Time Attack
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"Anyway, the flames they spew out seem to have firepower on par with a low-grade mage. In a way, they're like incredibly tough mages."
"Just hearing about it gives me a headache. So, is their attack method solely flame emission? What about close-quarters combat?"
"They do swing their limbs if you get close, but I don't think they use any separate weapons. They're probably focusing that much on flame emission. That's why I asked the head maid to mass-produce Flame Resistance Elixirs."
To be precise, I'd asked right after regressing, but no need to mention that. Dabi nodded silently with a sigh.
"Certainly... Flame Resistance Elixirs would be effective. But we'll need a massive quantity. To supply the knight orders and the army."
Of course. That's why, the moment we arrived at the mansion, I'd instructed to lower the grade of the 'elixirs storable for 10+ years' I'd previously ordered to '1+ year.' Lania had replied that this would dramatically increase production numbers.
"We'll gather as many as we can somehow. Kyle?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
I handed Kyle the few recipes I'd received from Lania.
"These are the elixir ingredients we'll need from now on. Lania says even scraping every last bit from this continent has limits. Once trade ships set out to the eastern continent, import as much as possible."
"I'll relay it to the merchant guild right away."
"Thanks. And from yesterday's meeting, we've decided to lend the empire's flagship, which is just sitting idle, to the Gooseff Merchant Guild."
"...The empire's flagship, Your Highness?"
"It's a warship, but it can serve as a merchant vessel just fine, right? Oh, and there are a couple of imperial exclusive merchant ships too—I'll hand those over as well. We've also agreed to prioritize budget allocation whenever you need funds, so no worries about money."
"That's greatly appreciated, but..."
Kyle narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.
"Your Highness, I'm sure you're aware that the merchant guild's existing trade ships have already advanced into the Lagran continent."
"Yeah. They're not loaded with honey or barley on the way back, are they?"
"Yes. They're probably on the route back with goods by now. They'll arrive at Yoton Bay's port in about ten days."
"And?"
"Ships that have already departed like this take at least a month for a round trip. So even with all the support from the imperial government, the number of trade voyages possible in the remaining time is limited."
True enough. How many round trips could we manage in the coming year?
"Generously estimating, nine or ten times at most. So we need to carefully select import items. Opportunities are limited."
That's a solid point. I nodded and snatched back the elixir recipe from Kyle's hand.
"Got it. I'll reselect and add what's truly needed here and let you know."
"It would be a great help if you could specify quantities for the essentials."
"Sure. And since we're on the topic... I've decided not to get involved with the imperial knight orders or army."
Everyone suddenly stared at me with baffled expressions.
Yeah. You wouldn't know. How huge a decision this was for me.
"In a year, the otherworld army invades again, right? Naturally, the imperial army has to hold them off, and tailored training or enhancements against the enemy are essential. But I've decided not to get deeply involved."
"Why make such a decision? Shouldn't Your Highness, who has seen the revelation, lead the imperial army to the utmost?"
Dabi asked. I shook my head as I replied.
"The contents of the revelation must be clearly conveyed. But I don't have time to get directly involved."
In the original timeline, from year 6 to 7 after regression, there's a full 'army strengthening' tech tree where I step up and upgrade the entire knight order.
But right now, there's no time for that.
Only a year left. So this time, I'm abandoning the imperial army (or rather, delegating to the existing military factions) and focusing solely on maximizing my own power and that of this small elite group here.
"But excluding Kyle and the Guardian Knights."
"Yes?"
"You did amazingly in that last battle, right? Now that you've formed a bond with the Guardian Knights, take full command of them from now on."
"But the Guardian Knights..."
"Officially, Knight Dylon is still the captain. Dylon will focus on individual knight training as usual. You'll handle tactical training against otherworld monsters. Of course, once the invasion starts, you're the real captain."
"Ah..."
Kyle was stunned speechless for a while.
Of course, I get it emotionally. A fresh academy graduate suddenly commanding a knight order.
But Kyle's shock didn't last long.
"...Understood. That battle taught me a lot. Though I'm lacking, I'll do my utmost to lead the knight order as one."
Looks like he awakened to his talents during the eclipse battle. Or maybe he just discovered the thrill of command?
Good thing he accepted without pushback. Once the gates open in earnest, we'll desperately need a specialized unit for dealing with deathworms that burrow underground.
"Dylon will explain the detailed schedule tomorrow. Of course, you know you can't slack on personal training just because you're a commander now, right?"
"Of course. The stronger I get, the stronger the knight order becomes."
"Everyone here needs to get dramatically stronger over the next year. And I have preparations for that."
"Before that, I have something to say."
Dabi interjected then with a grave expression.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I felt it necessary to mention this important matter first."
"What is it? Go ahead."
"I acquired a completely new sensation during the battle with the Terror Lord."
"A sensation? What kind?"
"The sensation of reading the flow of battle in advance. Not just from experience or technique, but actually seeing how the situation will unfold."
Huh? What's this now?
He phrased it a bit oddly... Is this a variation on the belief that 'insufficient power can be covered by skill'?
"It's definite that this change came from the core Your Highness gave me."
"The core? Regal's core?"
"Yes. After absorbing the Ancient Wolf core, I felt my sense of smell sharpen astonishingly."
"Smell?"
Come to think of it, my nose improved too.
But the effects of the Ancient Wolf core didn't specifically mention 'enhanced smell.'
Why? Because a better nose doesn't change much in battle, right?
"Along with that, my sensory domain expanded through smells, letting me perceive new things I couldn't before. Thanks to that, I perfectly dodged the countless attacks from Knight Phiren—no, the Terror Lord's—and landed a decisive blow."
"Really? A good nose helps in fighting?"
"Yes. It's a vague concept, hard to explain precisely... Ah, even pinpointing the enemy's weakness at the end was thanks to smell."
Tap.
Just then, a tapping sound came from the window beside us.
Whoa, startled me. Turning my head, I saw a massive wolf head pressed against the parlor window.
"Regal!"
Meredes, who was nearby, rushed over and opened the window. Regal shoved just his head inside and started sniffing around.
"You, human woman."
"...Yes."
"You feel better than before. Not fully familiar, but... did you absorb another beast's core?"
"Yes. A bit of an Ancient Seal core."
"Ancient Seal? Sea lion, huh. Heard rumors back in the forest."
Regal nodded as if it made sense. Then he closed his eyes, entranced by Meredes stroking his chin.
"Hmm. Overheard unintentionally, but that ability the human just mentioned—it's synesthesia."
"Synesthesia?"
What's that?
Sounds familiar... but what's it mean exactly?
"It's an ability born from merging different senses. In my case, hearing and smell trigger synesthesia simultaneously."
"What does that do?"
"I can move as if seeing objects even in perfect darkness."
Ah, so that's why this wolf ran so well in the pitch-black sewers?
"Add vision to it, and you can glimpse the essence of things. That's how I gauged the danger of the monster you call the Infection Lord."
"So that's why you charged straight at me?"
Regal nodded. Oh, so that's what happened.
But essence of things...
Like the lord's eye embedded in my right eye?
"On the other hand, the human who absorbed my core... Dabi, was it?"
"Yes, Regal."
"You're a human who's honed your senses to the extreme. Your existing senses, combined with the Ancient Wolf's smell, manifested a new synesthesia. That explain it?"
"Indeed... I see. Thank you."
Dabi smiled and nodded. Only then did Regal grunt and mutter something as he pulled back.
"Those who eat cores end up weakened against me, it seems..."
"..."
As Regal withdrew, Meredes' face darkened, her hand still stroking the air. Dabi nodded refreshingly and addressed everyone.
"As Regal just said, I've gained a highly useful new sensation for battle. And this should apply equally to Your Highness and Didi, who absorbed the same core."
"I get a new sensation like you?"
"Not immediately, but it should manifest soon, right? I think intense close combat will catalyze it..."
Thud!
Suddenly, Regal shot back like lightning, resting his head on the window frame.
"That's not it."
"...!"
Meredes' face lit up again as she resumed stroking his neck. What is this, a village comedy? ...But watching is kinda fun.
"I can't guarantee your synesthesia will manifest the same way in Didi or that prince."
"Why not?"
"Your lifelong honed senses differ. And Didi has already manifested her own synesthesia. Didi?"
"Yeah. That's right, Regal."
Didi, who had been quiet, spoke up.
"Like Regal, I can distinguish objects in darkness. And I can leap freely between trees."
"Trees?"
"I discovered it after coming here. I can leap freely between forest trees without visually gauging branch positions."
"Oh... So the little dark one has a special ability too."
Tolari looked at Didi in wonder, then suddenly turned to me.
"Then what about Your Highness?"
"...Me?"
Yeah. Do I have anything? I sniffed, inhaled deeply, and let out a short sigh.
"Probably not."
"Why? You ate the wolf core too, Your Highness."
"My nose was originally terrible."
Now, with Lania's special detox elixir and Regal's core, my body's clean.
But before, Jess's poison had basically ruined my smell.
It improved gradually after, but not to any special level, even generously.
"You're just back to normal from abnormal. Not necessarily bad."
"Why?"
"More info isn't always better. You handle magic, so you know."
Hmm... True.
Especially after getting the lord's eye recently—I realized it bone-deep. Right now, opening my right eye floods me with info. What if another strong sense piled on?
"Wonder if I butted in unnecessarily. Won't make it more annoying. And woman."
"Yes?"
"You look tough. Gonna run the forest to warm up—think you can cling to my back without falling?"
"...!"
Meredes rose on tiptoe. She turned to me with pleading eyes for permission.
"I'm honored, Your Highness. If it's not rude, may I step out briefly?"
Come to think of it, she likes big animals like Regal. Because she's so big herself?
"Go ahead. I'll relay details later."
"Thank you. Then..."
Meredes hopped out the window immediately. Can't see outside well from this angle... Whatever, she'll have fun. Good for her.
"Sorry, Your Highness. I got excited alone and nearly rushed into unconfirmed training."
But Dabi, having heard, bowed deeply in apology. I waved it off with a wry smile.
"It's fine. Not like it was malicious. But training? What training?"
"Actually, I'd prepared a 3-month special practical course to draw out Your Highness and Didi's hidden synesthesia... Regrettably, it'll have to be scrapped."
"Really? That's a shame."
What a relief. This guy was plotting another hellish training for me.
Even without Regal's warning, I couldn't leisurely do Dabi's special training anyway. Too much else to do first.
"Alright. Bit of a commotion... Anyway, in a year, the otherworld army invades again. I'll explain the plan I've prepared for it. Our plan for all of us. And the first thing I need to do is..."