Sousetsuka

Chapter 155 Strongest Sage, Meets Unusual Monsters

 

A few minutes after Eiku escaped.

"Huge crowds of monsters around the city!"

"The western road is done for! What about the east! If there's a few monsters, we'll force our way through--"

"The eastern highway is full of monsters too! Impossible to break through!"

The city is in uproar.
It's full of news about monsters that have occupied the area around the city.

There are some adventurers who are looking for escape routes, but it seems they can't find any.
Even if they do find one, only a few dozens of people could possibly escape.

We go out of the city while watching that.

"How are we going to end the outbreak in two hours!?"

"We'll gather them in one place and annihilate them all in one go! Once they're bundled together, we can blow them away with ranged magic!"

The biggest issue this time is the fact that the center of the outbreak is the city.
If we didn't have to worry about the city getting rolled up in it, we could just use ranged attack magic (or have Iris shoot her breath in dragon form if the firepower isn't enough) after the monsters had gathered in the center.

We ran past the city while thinking about that.
The place where the monsters gather has to be far away enough from the city.

However... there's something amiss.
I feel that the movements of normal monsters and these outbreak monsters... or rather, their actions seem too different.

Monsters basically attack humans whenever they see one.
However, the monsters in front of us now seem different.
Many of the monsters that obviously had us inside their vision ignored us.

"...Let's give it a try."

I tried using 『Enforced Detection』 after saying that.

My hunch was proven correct.
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
"...『Enforced Detection』 can't lure them. Or rather, they aren't even reacting at all."

『Enforced Detection』 is a magic that pour hostile mana onto the monsters in order to lure them.
It consumes little mana and since it's not really a magic but a kind of mana manipulation, even a Disqualified Crest can affect a wide area.

However, the monsters didn't show any reaction at all to 『Enforced Detection』.
I also tried hitting them with an amount of mana enough to make normal monsters running away in terror instead, yet they didn't even seem like they noticed.

"Then, how about..."

Ruli made a magic tool from a magic stone in her pocket and immediately activated it.
It's a spell I taught her before to lure monsters.
The range isn't that wide, but its strong point is the fact that it doesn't need mana to maintain the effect, being a magic tool.

However... The monsters don't look like they're coming together.

"There's no effect! Maybe I made a mistake somewhere!"

Ruli took out another magic stone after saying that.
However, from what I saw, Ruli didn't make any mistake.

"Perhaps..."

I went forward and used several types of magic on the monsters I encountered.
Mana, sound, light, infrared rays, temperature, carbon dioxide concentration....
All kind of stuff that normal monsters utilize to detect humans.

However, none of them had any effect.
Magic that physically pull them seemed to be effective, however none of the magic succeeded luring them voluntarily.
There were even monsters who completely ignored me and tried to slip pass me instead.

This is.... The problem lies not in Ruli's spell, it's something that's even more fundamental.

"These monsters probably move with a different principle than normal..."

"Different principle!?"

"Yea. These monsters aren't seeing things through mana, sound or light!　...We have to look for another mean if we want to gather them..."












Previous Chapter

16-17. To the Country of Sun (2)

 

Satou here. Apparently, internal squabbles have always existed in various era and scales. From my subjective point of view, the way you tactfully handle the aftermath is more important than who the winning side is.


◇


"You referred to them as rebels earlier, however as far as I'm aware, they should belong to Sania Kingdom's army. Did the army revolt and kill the king?"

I urged the daughter of [Clan of Wand]'s head to explain the situation while gazing at the black warships that showed up.

"The king has been tricked. The country cannot be held together without the Cland of Wand yet, he was deceived by the Clan of Sword and threw us the 『Clan of Wand』 to prison..."

Were they defeated in a political struggle <physically>?

"In other words, were you captured by those guys, you would be 『thrown in prison and executed』?"
"No--"

Haifa shook her head to deny it.

"--Like I said before, the country cannot be held together without us, 『Clan of Wand』."

I'm intrigued by why it can't be held together, but since that's not the issue here, I wait for her to continue.

"Thus, they will most likely lock us up in the prison and make us run in battlefields as living weapons. I do not care if the foolish king and the ignorant masses die off even if the country is destroyed, but we cannot go against them because they've held our family hostage."

Okay, I can greatly sympathize with her putting her family first, but her use of words are too intense, it feels like conceit, or rather, haughtiness.
I wonder if this is what you'd become if you were raised with the idea of being the elites?

"If you don't care about your country and populace, how about having the 『Clan of Wand』 run away to a foreign country?"
"Are you telling us to show our back to the 『Clan of Sword』 who can't even act like proper meat shields!"

Oh, she snapped.
Kinda feels like we can't come to an agreement even though we can understand each others?

Haifa looks like a graceful secluded lady outwardly, but she seems to be quite self-righteous and violent.

"My wand is a blade to defend our country--"

Haifa smiled abnormally and put her mana into her wand.
The exquisite golden colored wand emits red light.

"But let me alter the rule just for today. Carry us on your airship if you don't want to be killed by my wand. We cannot afford to be caught by traitors in this place."

Now she went with a threat.

Un, let's quickly part ways with her.
Got a feeling that having her around would only lead to piled-up stress.

This would be problematic if it were a trial from gods, but it probably isn't.

I have no intention in the least to ally with them and settle the conflict, however that also doesn't mean that I'm going to hand them over to the warships and let them be used as living weapons, thus I've decided to help them escape.
It's not because I think it's troublesome and want to throw them away somewhere far, not at all.
I pretend that I'll help them escape for now.

"Do you think this is just a threat? I am being serious."

Liza and Nana sent their glances, asking, "Should we seize her?", I gestured them to wait.

I open the Map and look for some handy-looking monster to disturb the warships.
Found a worm-type level 30 monster called Sand Demon in the vicinity, so I caught it with 『Sand Manipulation』 and threw it near the warships.

--Huge.

The part that came out of the sand is huge enough to swallow a Blue Whale.
This thing being level 30 is such an extreme sham.

"T-that's!"

Haifa sounded surprised.

"Sa...Sand Demon. You there, get Haifa-sama on board the airship! Quick while the warships act as scapegoats!"

The lady maid-san said something brutal as if it was only natural.

"I'd love nothing more but to do that, however we have our own Trial of Gods we need to absolutely accomplish."

I bow to her like a stage actor.
I create two [Acceleration Gates] at the bow direction of the medium airship, opposite of the warships.

"Allow me to pray for your success in accomplishing your own trial."

I told them some prayer that didn't really come from heart, directed the medium ship toward the [Acceleration Gates] I produced, and used wind magic [Wind Pressure] to propel the ship forward.
Haifa and the others hold their faces and clothes due to the sudden wind pressure, the medium ship's captains and crews made a commotion.

I float away with Sky Drive from the speeding ship that's going toward the [Acceleration Gates], and take Liza and Nana along with me using [Magic Hand].

"W-wait! What are you--"

The ship reached the Acceleration Gate and made a sudden acceleration while she was speaking, and Haifa's words were lost in the winds.
I was wary of possible magic attacks during the sending away, but fortunately, it ended without any problem.

We watched over the medium ship and Haifa that disappeared on horizon of the Small Sand Sea while floating above the sand.

Please live on toward your rehabilitation.
And if possible, at somewhere far away from me.

<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
◇


"--We're indebted to you."
"No no, it's just right to help each others in times of needs."

The warship's captain said his thanks to me who saved the warships from the Sand Demon.
It might seem hypocritical coming from the one who made the situation in the first place, but I couldn't exactly leave warships sinking before my eyes so I intervened.

This warship's captain and officers are wearing Arabian-like clothing.

A crew with sharp-looking eyes whispered something to the captain's ear.
It's the guy who was controlling mini gargoyles awhile ago.

"Your excellency, those drifting ships were the sand pirate where Belbe and the others had snuck in."
"Just as we thought, so where's Belbe and the others?"
"We couldn't find a survivor inside."
"Which means, we should consider that the medium ship earlier had Haifa-dono on board..."

Attentive Ears skill caught their conversation.

Afterward, the captain turns toward me.

"Earl Pendragon, about the sand ship that was attacked by those sand pirates--"
"A girl on board of it wielded her wand, and then they escaped from the Sand Demon with some kind of magic."

She did wield the wand when she insisted to get on our airship, but I'm the one who used the [some kind of magic] part, therefore it's not really lie.
The officer with sharp eyes has God Urion's gift [Eyes of Condemnation] so I'd like to avoid telling lies here.
I don't think the gift is capable of distinguishing lies, but I'm still wary of the intuition of people who have this kind of gift to see through criminals.

"Who'd have thought that Ha--the 『Clan of Wand』 possessed such hidden technique..."
"Were they your acquaintances?"

The captain stopped speaking when I asked him.
He reworded her name to the clan itself, but I don't think there's any point in doing that.

"No, my subordinate reckoned that they might have been the gang who stole the kingdom's treasured wand..."

The wand Haifa carried with her belonged to the [Clan of Wand] so he's not telling the truth here.
Of course, there's also a possibility that the [Clan of Wand] possessed the national treasured wand due to their influence.

"I see, that sounds terrible."

I replied like it was none of my business.

"We will only get in the way if you're going to pursue that ship. We will be on our way then."
"P-Please wait."

Not wanting to get involved in something troublesome, I was going to leave as soon as possible, but the warship captain stopped me.

"Yes, what is it?"
"I'd like to express our gratitudes for your help. By all means, please visit Clan of Sword during your time in Sania Kingdom. Our clan will gladly welcome you."

Looks like this captain is a direct descendant of the [Clan of Sword].

"I'll be looking forward to that."

I can't promise that I'll go.
I mean, I can just feel trouble brewing there.

I climb up the rope ladder hanging down the airship and leave their ship.
And saw one mini gargoyle flying toward Sania Kingdom.

It appears to be a mini gargoyle functioning like a carrier pigeon.


◇


"Master, lots of mushroom houses around, so I report."
"They rather look like snails instead."

Nana's and Liza's impressions are reasonable.
Peculiar shaped buildings are lined up at the royal capital of Sania Kingdom.

"Master, there are flying objects approaching us."

Some men riding on magic tools shaped like flying carpets with legless chairs installed on board are flying toward us.
It looks like a magic carpet, but if I have to say, it looks more like the time machine a certain cat robot from the future rode.

The magic carpets got near the airship and flew parallel to us while gesturing that they weren't hostile.

"We assume that you're Earl Pendragon-sama of Shiga Kingdom. We will be your guide, please follow us."

Looks like the mini gargoyle was to prepare for this.
I'd have liked them to come after we toured the royal capital from above once.

Chances are high that they'd be attacking us with magic and magic artillery if we really did the tour though.

"Thank you for guiding us."

I shouted that to reply them and informed the brownie in control of the ship.

"Someone's watching from there~?"
"Tama's right nanodesu. It's like, flash flash, nanodesuyo."

Tama and Pochi were dangling on the airship's handrail before I knew it.
I call the two while folding my arms.

"Tama, Pochi?"
"I-it's not like that nodesuyo?"

Pochi shook her head buzzingly.
It seems she doesn't like the cheek squash punishment.

"Break time~?"

Tama asked me with flopped ears.

Fumu, I guess it's fine if it's break time.
I'm not sure if I should really give my consent here, but since I'm intrigued by what Tama and Pochi found, I look at the direction in question.

There's a palace in the center of the capital, boys and girls who look like Haifa are in one of the spires there. The gazes seemingly come from them.
They're probably Haifa's relatives, but they look so similar like they're either twins or clones.

Judging from the intensity of their gazes, I'm guessing that their personalities are also similar to Haifa, I should try not to get involved with them.


◇


"--Trial of Gods?"

I'm having an audience with the king in the well ventilated Sania Kingdom's Palace.

Even though the king is only in his thirties, he looks like a weak-spirited middle aged man.
The military officers from the [Clan of Sword] standing by in the audience room look more important instead.

I'd better deliver a gift one ranking lower than what I gave the king earlier to these [Clan of Sword] people.

"Yes, King of Sania. I came here to Sania Kingdom in order to take a Trial of Gods."

I honestly told him my business since there was no particular need to hide it.

"What kind of trial is it?"
"That will be up to gods. It should be revealed by the gods at Heraruon Temple."

That's why, let me off this already.

"You ought be tired from the long journey. We shall send a messenger to the temple, have some rest in mine own palace tonight."

Well, guess that's only natural.

"This Pendragon shed tears of gratitude for Sania King's kindness."

I ended up using some weird speech due to the old fashioned speech of the king here.
No choice, let's accept the hospitality today.

I just hope that there won't be any weird flag getting raised.








※ Next update is planned for 10/15





Previous Chapter

Chapter 154 Strongest Sage, Helps Escape

 

"...Demons, in the dungeon...? Could the demons' goal be magic stones?"

Eiku asked a question.
Oh right, the world in this age sees dungeons as magic stones.
It's true that dungeons are important resources, but that's all not there is to them.

"Their interest lies not in the magic stones... but the Dragon Vein."

"...Dragon Vein... is it?"

"If they want to cause a global level disaster, the most efficient method is by inserting magic to a large-scale Dragon Vein."

Eiku still doesn't look like he gets it.
Ruli and the other girls who knew about Dragon Vein from the matter with barrier seem like they've got it somewhat though.

"Do you mean that it's possible to cause a disaster by inserting magic to the Dragon Vein?"

"That's about right."

I predict that they've inserted the magic long before though.
And that was quite a while ago.

The movement of the Dragon Vein during the monster outbreak was inexplicably unnatural unless there was a trick behind it, yet the mana didn't look unstable.
It should have been more unstable if the magic was inserted in the Dragon Vein recently.

Those demons mostly came here probably to finish that magic.

For now... We need to contact the Royal Capital.

"Please bring this back to the capital."

I took a paper out of Storage magic, magically wrote something on it and gave it to Eiku.
Of course, I've secured it with magic too.
This letter would look like a reward to a demon trying to peek on it.

"...Understood. I will definitely deliver it!"

"Please do. ...And you might want to make it fast."

The demons must know about the city ruler's defeat.
Which means, the demons who are hiding here will naturally make their next move.
They'd probably try to shift our attentions elsewhere or erase the entire dungeon city--

--The ground shook right when I thought that far.

"...Earthquake? That's unusual..."

Iris sounded puzzled at the sudden shaking.
However, Ruli and Alma... in other words, people who can use 【Passive Detection】 reacted differently.

"W-what's with this mana reaction!?"

"...It's as if monsters have surrounded the city outside..."

I see. It comes to this huh.
Looks like our opponents made their move a bit quicker than us.

Judging from this reaction... They probably interfered with the Dragon Vein and summoned groups of monsters in the vicinity of the dungeon city.
They won't have to worry about us meddling if the entire dungeon city is destroyed after all.

And even if that were not the case, it'd still buy them time.
Those demons probably intend to finish the magic in the meantime.
They didn't make their move until now was probably because they were thoroughly preparing to win the game... it was difficult to act while the city ruler was in power here after all.

"...For now, you should flee from the dungeon city following this route and deliver the letter to the capital."

I drew a route on a paper and gave it to Eiku.
The dungeon city might be surrounded by monsters, but there are gaps in the formations summoned with mana.
The route I gave him will make it possible to slip through those gaps.

"Understood! Then please excuse me!"
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
Eiku ran off after saying that.

I predict our enemy's moves while watching that.
It should be safe to assume that the time they'd gain from this would be enough to finish the magic they had inserted.
I've already gotten a rough idea of the type of the magic in question.
The problem is how to stop it.

Might as well shave down the effect of the lodged magic, not just simply stopping this.
That means, the right timing to put in the jamming is....

"...Two hours."

"Eh?"

I reply to Ruli who looked dumbfounded.

"We'll clean this outbreak up in two hours. Afterward... Let's pay those demons a visit."














Previous Chapter

16-Intermission 1. Royal Capital Then

 

"Arisa, which?"
"Shortcake is nice and all, but it just has to be mont blanc in fall!"
"Really?"

Mia took the plate with shortcake while looking like she didn't really understand.

"Delish."

The cakes Lulu made really are superb.
Eating something sweet and tasty just blows away the fatigue from class.

"Hey, Mia."
"Whaf (what)?"

Mia whose mouth was filled with shortcake tilted her head at my question.
Kuh, cute. This kind of gestures suits Mia well.

"What kind of incidents do you think Master encounter right about now?"
"Mwu--"

Mia frowns.

"--World crisis."
"Ah, you think so too?"

Master's rate of encounter with incidents almost seems like he's been cursed by some god of pestilence.
He blew it all away with his cheat power every single time though so the person himself doesn't seem to be aware of his own misfortune.
I mean, it's at a level that'd normally make people cry out, "Such misfortuuuuuune."

"What kind of person do you think brought about the world crisis?"
"....Cute girl."

Mia replied unwillingly.

Un, I think so too.


◇


"For the creativity time, you are free to let out your passions to your heart's content."

Teach said some difficult things.

"Pochi is writing~?"
"Of course nanodesu. Today Pochi is writing 『A Stroll with Lyuryu』 nodesu."

Pochi declared while taking the shupin pose.

"Tama is going to draw a picture nodesu?"
"Of course~"

Tama draws pictures.
Pictures are drawn by Tama.

That's the natural order of things. Arisa said.

"What's Tama drawing nodesu?"
"Difficult~"

There's too many things Tama wants to draw.

"Pochi thinks Tama should draw the food she wants to eat for dinner nodesu."
"Nice~"

Pochi is a genius.
But she doesn't like vegetables. Cause they're a bit bitter.

Tama's favorite food is meat.
She'd like to eat hamburg steak today.
A piping hot cheese-filled hamburg steak that gushes out flowing cheese when you cut it with a knife.

She also likes one covered in flowing cheese and potatoes.

Cheese and hamburg steak are justice.

Tama puts her passions on the brush.
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
Now--.

"--Tama-san, the class is over."

Teach swayed Tama.
The class was over while she was spacing out.

"Nyu?"

The other kids are looking at Tama.
It feels a bit embarrassing.

"Pochi, drool~?"

Pochi who's peeking at the picture from the side is drooling badly.
Looking closer, even China has drools on the corner of her mouth.

"Ta-Tama-san? Would you be willing to sell this picture?"
"Not for sale~?"

China asked.
This picture is for Master.
Tama's sure Master would praise Tama like, 'Well done, Tama.'

Perhaps, Master might even let Tama sleep on his lap while patting her head.

"Nihehe~"

Tama smiled unintentionally.
Gotta ask brownies to make a frame when Tama got back.


◇


"--Delicious."

I heard about this store's fame in the capital, but it was even better than the rumors.
It's just a simple tofu nabe, yet it has the umami of the dashi even without condiments and broth added.

"Getting a passing mark from Lulu, that's amazing desuwa."
"But Karina-sama, this nabe really is delicious, you know?"

Karina-sama and Zena-san who came to this shop with me have only been talking while watching me, not touching tofu with their chopsticks.

"You two, this nabe is really good, you should have yours too."
"Yes, you're right, it'll be a waste if the taste spoils because they get overcooked."
"That's true desuwane. It's not as good as Satou's dishes, but it's still really good desuwa."

Karina-sama, Master's dishes are a class on its own.
I mean, Master is the [Miracle Chef] after all.

"Fhy fhe fway (by the way), Zena."
"Yes, what is it?"

『Karina-dono, it's bad manners to speak during meals.』
"Im fowwy"

Raka-san scolded Karina-sama who spoke with her mouth full.
Karina-sama continues after swallowing the tofu.

"What is her highness Sistina doing?"
"It seems like she's currently running about to prepare the ceremony for we--no, for when Satou-san and the others come back."
"Ceremony?"
"U-umm, I'm not really sure either..."

I wonder if it's the thing Arisa and her highness talked about?

"I don't really get it myself, but Arisa said that it was something like a celebration."
"Celebration?"

I supplemented with what I thought since Karina-sama looked puzzled.

"Is that true?"
"Y-yes. She's making dresses for everyone for that celebration."

--Dress.
It's something that doesn't really have anything to do with me.

"For Pochi and the girls too?"
"Yes, Sistina-sama said that everyone in the Solitary Island Palace will get a dress."

...Which means, me too?

I quietly touched my stomach and felt sweat running down my spine.

"Oh my? Lulu, are you done already?"
"Yes, I've grasped the taste--"

--And it's dangerous for my waistline.

I have to slim down my waistline a bit more if I were to stand next to Liza-san and Nana-san.
I've got to the labyrinth city through the solitary island palace and get some exercise.

In order to compensate for my face handicap, I've got to build a beautiful body line!!
It's essential for the upcoming maiden fight.

















Previous Chapter

Chapter 153 Strongest Sage, Hypothesizes

 

"The reason why this raid was found out...?"

Eiku seemed dumbfounded to hear me.

"Yes. Do you have anything in mind yourself?"

"I do not. I never even took the letter out of the mithril case until I met Mathias. The only possibility is if the information was leaked in the capital, and someone brought it here to the dungeon city faster than me..."

Eiku took the paper from the king to me in his hand.

"No, I don't think that was the case. The fact that this was sent through a secret agent means that this entire matter was treated as an absolute secrecy, right?"

"That's right."

"Then, if there was someone who stole this information, that someone must have infiltrated quite deep into the kingdom's inner circle.... And I really don't think someone like that would take the risk for the sake of this small fry."

If that someone had enough intelligence gathering capability to know the inner workings of the kingdom, they would have known that that level of blockade was meaningless.
Thus, that capital mole would have told the city ruler to escape instead of barricading himself.
How would anyone profit from this fool after he lost all power.

"That's certainly true... Then, what did Mathias-sama think have happened?"

This room is very luxurious for a hidden room.
There's expensive looking chairs, desks and even a fireplace.
It must have been used for all secret meetings they had done so far.

"This."

I took a letter from the fireplace.
The corner is slightly burnt, but the content can still be read.

"Letter... Is it. The content is..."

"Looks like I guessed right."

I opened the letter I got from the fireplace.
The letter pertained to the matter of the city ruler's execution and that the executor would arrive either today or tomorrow.

And the last passage is an instruction to burn the letter once it's been read.
The sender probably wanted to hide the existence of this letter.
Unfortunately, looks like the city ruler wasn't even capable of burning things, the sender's consideration is in vain.

"I see... But where was it leaked..."

The sender's name isn't written on this letter.
However... there's enough other info to pinpoint the culprit.

"Rather than leaked, it'd be more correct to say that the letter had been spied on."

I observed the mana reaction--of the burnt letter.
Yup, no mistake about it.

"Spied on? Through the mithril case?"

"It's relatively easy to do that if the case isn't magically protected."

"...Is that true in Mathias-sama's case?"

"I can do it sure... but not this time. There's no doubt, it's demons.　...Since I can sense demon's mana from this letter."
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
I activate detection magic once again.
...It really is demon's mana.

"...It can't be, demons were giving orders to the city ruler!?"

Eiku asked me in blank amazement.
He must know how the demons were lurking in the kingdom's inner circle considering he's a secret agent of the kingdom, he's probably worried that it might be the case too here.
However, fortunately or unfortunately, his conjecture is wrong.

My expectations of demons had all been betrayed so far, but I'm pretty confident this time.
I'm sure that demons aren't that stupid.

"They would have advised a better plan if that was the case."

"In other words...?"

"Demons were close by the dungeon city for other purposes, and they helped the city ruler as an extra while they were here. Of course that means they have a main objective... And there's only one reason anyone comes to a dungeon city."

I pointed at the ground as I said that.
To be more precise, at the dungeon below the ground.

"Looks like those demons have some business in the dungeon."














Previous Chapter

Chapter 152 Strongest Sage, Arrests

 

"Wha... Who are you?"

"Did we have this guy in the security?"

The city ruler was perplexed to see me who suddenly showed up.

Huh?
The reaction is not what I expected.
And I've gone all the trouble of coming here myself as a target of his attacks.

Don't tell me...

"...Don't tell me, you were sending assassins without even knowing my face?"

"Assassins? What are you--no wait, a brat wearing adventurer clothes with Disqualified Crest... Could it be, you're Mathias Hildesheimr!?"

...Seriously. He really didn't know how I look.
Yet he wanted to take me hostage huh.

"Yeah. You got that right."

"...Where's the women?"

"Ruli and the others are in the back. Oy, everyone, come on out."

The four showed up with Iris in the front.
I'm in the center of the room while the four are at the entrance.
Seeing that the city ruler sneers at us... and shouts out loud.

"Kuku... All hands, surround him! ...Fool! Straying away from the women on your own!"

With those words, hidden doors on the floors and ceilings opened and the city ruler's underlings came out of them.
...It's way too crude for an ambush.
At least try giving the signal without us noticing.

I threw out magic and fists at coming underlings while thinking that.
The attackers crumbled down without a sound.

Befitting of a bunch under this city ruler, their movements were also really crude.
The most difficult part was preventing myself from killing them by mistakes.
I'd like to squeeze info out of them after all.

"Soii!"

"GYAAAAAAAAA!"
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
...Well, such consideration seems to be irrelevant to Iris as an underling who was going to get pass her got blown off into the wall.

The city ruler was watching that in blank amazement.
Thus, his underlings were annihilated in under 30 seconds.

"Ho... How are you fighting! Weren't you a healer, the weak point of the party!"

Ruli and the others are looking at the roaring reddened city ruler with pitying looks.
They've ceased recognizing him as a threat anymore.

"He really believed that Mathi-kun is in charge of healing..."

"He'd have known that it was a mistake simply by looking at his equipment and stuff...."

"...I mean, did we ever get hurt to need healing anyway?"

Now that you mention it... I don't think we ever did.
We should have some training to cope against injury to prevent inactions in case of emergency... but it's been getting postponed.
Well, putting that aside for now.

"Dogiel Melkia, you're under arrest."

I took a rope out of Storage magic as I said that.

"Wha... Me, under arrest!? On what authority!"

Don't tell me, he really didn't know.
Then why would they hunker down in this place.
I made an eye signal at Eiku while thinking that.

Eiku took out the document from the king and thrust it before the city ruler.

"Your apprehension has been ordered by His Majesty the king's decree. With my presence, the executive proxy, Mathias has been endowed with the authority to arrest you."

"Wha, it's fake! This must be a mistake--gah"

I shot magic at the screaming city ruler and tied him with the rope.

"Now then... Now we can leave it to you right?"

I asked Eiku.

"Yes. Mathias-sama could also execute him if you wished so, however... The kingdom administration would be grateful if I could bring him back alive."

Well, I guess that's so.
Even this foolish city ruler might spit out some useful info with some tortures.

And he probably would get it easier if he died here.
However, I personally don't have any reason to let this guy die off so easily.

"I understand, I'll leave the rest to you... We've got something we ought to do ourselves after all."

"Ought to do?"

"Yeah. ...I've got an idea about how our raid here got leaked."















Previous Chapter

16-16. To the Country of Sun

 

Satou here. I think the cause of internal squabbles is rooted on piled-up disgruntlements. Even if it looks a meaningless venting from ordinary citizens' point of view, it might be a policy to prevent the subversion of state from the leaderships' perspective.


◇


"Master, I wonder what is that?"
"It looks like both black cloud and haze so I report."

Liza and Nana asked me when I was gazing at the Small Sand Sea from the deck.
I could see black haze-like thing on the far horizon of the Small Sand Sea.

"A sandstorm maybe?"

I opened the map and checked it out.

This place is located to the west of the Great Desert where Labyrinth City Selbira is, beyond the southern central mountains, it's a desert where the sand is smooth like water.
It's called Small Sand Sea, but its total area is as vast as three Japanese islands bundled together.

It seems there's a dead dungeon called Sandstorm Labyrinth at the place where the black haze the two found is located.

Looking with space magic [Distant View], there are several tornadoes, with the dead dungeon in the center, as if they're protecting it.
This must be the reason it looks like black haze.

I'm a bit intrigued, let's get the airship near it.

"Looks like it could get dangerous if we got too close to it."

When the airship came to a certain distance, several of the tornadoes approached like they were watchdogs.

"Tornado typhoo~n?"

Tama was already looking at the tornadoes on top of the deck's handrail before anyone noticed.
She probably crossed through shadows with ninjutsu.

"Tama, you shouldn't cut class."
"It's okay~?"

Tama laughed nihehe and continued, "I'm not playing hooky~?"
Confirming with space magic, I could see Tama's figure taking the class in the royal capital's childhood school.

"Shadow clone~?"

Shadow clone isn't for that kind of ninjutsu.

"You're not allowed to use ninjutsu during classes."

I punished Tama with the [Cheek Squash] while saying that.

Tama burst into laughter, "Nyahahahahaha~"
This is fun.

"Master, a sand ship is being attacked by bandits."

Quite a bit beyond the dead dungeon, a medium sized ship is being attacked by more than 10 yacht-like small ships.

"Emergency~?"

I catch Tama who was going to investigate there and put her down the shadow.

"Nyu?"
"Nevermind here, go back and take the classes."
"Aye~"

Tama sunk into the shadow while saying "Nin nin" even though she looked disappointed.

Now then, shall we go and do some ally of justice-like stuff?


◇


"--I guess there was no need to help them?"

We were going to save the medium ship that was being attacked by a group of yacht-like small airships, but huge fireballs shot from the medium ship had begun to annihilate the small ships one after another.
Doesn't seem like they need help, so I tell the brownie in the cockpit to circle around it from a distance.

"Master, are the small ships seafaring pirates? So I ask."
"No, looks like they're called sand pirates."

There's no doubt that those guys are outlaws, so I don't intend to stop the one destroying them.

"Oh looks like they don't have it easy either?"

The medium ship has been sinking one small ship with each shot, but it seems that's not from the ship's armaments, they're relying on one magician on board.
Judging from the information on the AR reading, the magician is fast losing their mana.

The sand pirates seem to be aware of that too as they don't seem to be fleeing even though several of their allies have been sunk.

"Master, should we go and dispose of the sand pirates?"
"Right--"

I gave an affirmative to Liza.
For some reason, Liza and Nana are looking at me with eyes full of expectation about something.

"Go and punish them a bit."
"Acknowledged."
"Launching catapult so I inform."

One part of the deck split and a catapult rail stretched out of it.
Four stacks of Acceleration Gate magic circles appear above the rail.

Liza and Nana take out surfboard-shaped float boards and head to the catapult.
Those float boards are playing tools I made for the Acceleration Gate experiment in the Great Desert back then.

The medium ship had sunk half of the sand pirate ships right before our eyes, but the magician seemingly had exhausted their mana, as the remaining six pirate ships approached the medium ship to raid it.

"Here I go."
"Master, I'll be going so I gallantly announce."

Liza and Nana took off from the catapult, glided with the float boards and landed on the last pirate ship on the line.
Liza's magic spear neutralized the sand pirates one after another, Nana's sword and great shield infringed upon both the pirates and the ships.

"Have the airship pass over the medium sand ship."
"Yes sir~"

I gave an instruction to the brownie pilot and checked the ship from above.
One of the sand pirate ships has successfully gotten next to the medium ship, and a battle has already started on board the medium ship.

Among the sand pirates, three of them including the captain are unusually strong.

"I'll be going for a bit."
"Good luck!"

I jumped off onto the medium ship right when the airship passed above it.

"●●●"
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
>[Sania National Language] Skill Acquired.

It's a language of a country I'm visiting.
Might as well allocate skill points and activate it now.

I do have force magic [Translate] but the skill for a particular language is better at deciphering subtle nuances.

"The hell are you!"
"Just a meddling tourist."

The striking sand pirate captain with an eye-patch asked for my identity.

"Allies of the Clan of Wand are our enemy."
"Receive the special move of the Clan of Sword with your body."

It's two of the three unusually strong sand pirates I saw from above.
There's lots of unfamiliar terms, but it appears they're no mere sand pirates.

"Special Move--<<Shell Breaker>>"
"Special Move--<<Hair-splitting Pierce>>"

The moves seem to make use of Physical Reinforcement as the two charge at me with weird aura covering them.
I'd like to see what kind of techniques they are, so I stand by with the fairy sword covered in magic edge in position to parry them.

The eyepatch captain earlier will bring about bloodshed on the deck if I'm occupied by these two, so I use [Magic Hand] to get in the way of the eyepatch captain and other pirates.

The [Pierce] swordsman on the left is unusually fast and sharp.
He's only level 30, but he's not inferior to Shiga Eight Swords if we're only talking about the speed of his sword.

But--.

"--It's too straightforward."

I thought it was a feint, but it really was a single blow finisher, so I parried it just like that.
There might be other techniques chained from this, so I let him off without countering.

"NUOOOOOOOOOO"

The [Breaker] swordsman on the right swung down his sword while screaming out loud.
Whirling wind is coiling about the sword, like it's been enhanced by magic.

Getting hit by that looks like it'll hurt, but avoiding it might break the deck.

But well--.

"--Too slow."

I jumped to his bosom, caught the hand with the sword and threw him down.
I thought of a technique that could break the wrist bone while doing the throw, but since even thinking about that sounded painful, I refrained from doing so.

I turned toward the swordsmen anticipating for their next move, but they don't seem like they're coming.

"This cannot be, he evaded the certain-hit 『Hair-splitting Pierce』 that absolutely can't be evaded?"
"This guy evaded the 『Whirlpool』 of 『Shell Breaker』 in his first try."

They began to leave comments like in some kind of battle manga somehow.
They're a bit too relaxed.

"Belbe, we're goint to use that."
"However, the Secret Special Moves are to never be shown outside. Doing that in a place like this--."
"That thing is a monster. We cannot accomplish our secret order without using it."

Ah hey, do that kind of confidential talk elsewhere.

"Can I say one thing?"

The swordsmen turned their exasperated gazes at me.

"If you're too relaxed--"

I was going to say it'll be dangerous, but SQUASH and THUD sounds reverberated on the deck before I could finish.
Needless to say, Liza and Nana who jumped on from other ships knocked down the two swordsmen.

"Master, pardon us for our tardiness."
"Master, we have suppressed the other ships so I report."
"Thank you for your hard work."

Half of the sand pirate ships have their sails destroyed, while the remaining half have the crews knocked out so they've all begun to drift away.

"Throw away your weapons!"

That cliche line roared on the deck.

Looking there, the sand pirate captain is holding a magician girl wearing a luxurious-looking robe.
Most people in the countries around here have tanned skin with black hair, yet the girl has white skin almost like she's an albino and golden hair.

"I said throw them away now!"

The sand pirate captain points his curved sword on the girl's neck.
I see, looks like he's saying that he won't guarantee the hostage's life if we don't throw away our weapons.

I put the fairy sword into its sheath.
The sand pirate captain grinned when he saw that.

"Liza."
"--Acknowledged."

Liza lowers her magic spear.
During the interval Liza swung down her magic spear, a red light ball--Magic Edge Cannon shot out of its tip.

The light ball shot out so fast it couldn't be chased by eyes, pierced through the sand pirate captain's shoulder, and blew him to the deck with the after-wave.
I've constrained the sand pirate captain's curved sword with [Magic Hand] to prevent it from injuring the girl.

"Haifa-sama, are you injured anywhere?"
"No I'm fine, these people have saved me."

A woman who seems to be her lady attendant went out of the inboard and helped the girl called Haifa.

Coincidentally enough, the girl called Haifa seems to be one of the ruling classes of the country we're heading to, Sania Kingdom.
She belongs to [Clan of Wand], and apparently, she's the daughter of the clan's head.

"Young master! Five warships are coming from southwest."

The brownie in the sky above us reported with a loudspeaker.

"--Ha-Haifa-sama."
"Looks like they're our pursuers."

Haifa and her lady attendant exchanged words of unrest.

"This damaged ship can't hope to outrun them--"

The flustered lady attendant caught sight of the airship standing by in the air.

"--You!"

The lady attendant appealed while pressing her voluptuous breasts on me.
It feels great, but I just can smell trouble.

"You appear to be a visitor from another country. Please save Haifa-sama from the rebel's clutch."

I peel off the seducing lady attendant, and look at Haifa.

I could see black warships on the sand dune behind Haifa.
Those warships are furnished with organic looking armor. Wonder if they're using materials from monsters.

Saving Haifa is trivial, but that's not the problem here.
It's the fact that those ships belong to Sania Kingdom, our destination.

Now then, what to do here.

This can't be one of the imposed trials by the gods, can it?


※ Next update is planned for 10/8

















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