Chapter 119: Princess Elizabeth
Finally, under the cover of night, our plan was set in motion.
As we were lifted in a large basket to the rooftop of the imperial palace, near the spire, Captain Rahart and his twenty cavalrymen launched a fierce assault on the main gate of the capital city.
News of the commotion reached us, and we waited for the reinforcements to leave the palace.
Then, with a calculated delay, Kaara would unleash her advanced magic, incinerating the front of the palace.
As flames erupted from the main gate, we infiltrated from the hidden spire.
「So far, everything is going perfectly.」
Herman nodded to my whisper. Our rescue team—myself, Oracle-chan, Herman, Zither, and eight soldiers—remained hidden on the palace roof.
We had more rescuers than necessary, but our eight soldiers weren’t skilled in riding, so they couldn’t join the decoy force without risking their lives.
After a while, a tremendous explosion echoed from the palace’s front, and a massive column of fire shot into the sky. Despite the late hour, the surroundings were illuminated.
Presumably, she had used advanced fire magic, perhaps Inferno. 「Quite the beautiful fireworks.」
Oracle remarked, clearly playing the villain.
It seemed that wearing black attire indeed gave her a villainous air. Perhaps I should have dressed Oracle-chan in matching black robes.
「Alright, let’s move.」
We infiltrated the spire and made our way to the stone prison where the elderly emperor and Princess Elizabeth were held captive.
The prison guards numbered only three, and upon seeing our group, they attempted to flee. Oracle-chan pursued them, using shockwaves to incapacitate them.
Inside the cramped spire, my magic rifle was difficult to maneuver.
From the unconscious guard, I took a ring of keys and searched for the prison cell.
Fortunately, we encountered no soldiers defending the spire. We found the elderly emperor and Princess Elizabeth trapped in a cage.
「Your Majesty, we’ve come to rescue you.」
Herman knelt, and the soldiers followed suit, all bowing before the iron bars.
As I fiddled with the keyring, I couldn’t help but think, ‘Is this really the time for such formalities?’.
Finally, I managed to unlock the prison cell, and the iron bars swung open.
「Th—」
「What’s the big deal?」
Emperor Conrad’s gaze met mine.
I recognized Princess Elizabeth’s face, but this was my first encounter with Emperor Conrad.
He had probably been quite handsome in his youth—a romantic gray-haired gentleman. Now, however, his face and limbs were emaciated, covered in wrinkles. He lay quietly on a large wheelchair-like bed.
Despite his past as a hero, he was now an old man over 70 years old, frail and weathered. I had expected him to be more robust, but appearances could be deceiving.
「My grandfather is a great man, you insolent man.」
The platinum-blond princess interjected, standing protectively by Conrad’s side.
For such a petite girl, she had quite the attitude.
Well, I was an adult, and this minor annoyance wouldn’t ruffle my feathers.
It had been a while since anyone treated me with such deference, calling me a hero or a general.
If an eight-year-old girl tried her best to sound authoritative, it only made her appear endearing.
「I am not a subject of the emperor. Despite coming to your aid, your attitude lacks courtesy.」
「My apologies… Allow me to express gratitude on behalf of my grandfather.」
The little princess seemed to understand my point and bowed her head.
A touch of formality, but she had clearly been raised well. Her flexibility was rather endearing.
「Your straightforwardness is commendable. Time is of the essence, let’s proceed.」
「But, considering my grandfather’s condition…」
「He seems fine.」
「Ah!」
Herman single-handedly lifted the large wheelchair with Emperor Conrad. The eight soldiers scrambled to assist, but Herman had already dashed ahead.
「Come on, if you don’t hurry, should I carry you?」
「No, I have legs.」
Indeed, despite her childlike stature, she moved swiftly. She lifted her long skirt and ran with determination.
Elizabeth appeared more lively and intelligent than her initial impression suggested. If such a spirited princess remained, perhaps the future of the Germania Empire wasn’t as bleak as it seemed.
The secret underground passage wasn’t far from the prison spire.
If all went well, we could escape without encountering the troublesome Fist Slave Emperor Dyson.
「This way.」
Herman guided us, revealing the entrance to the hidden tunnel.
The mechanism involved pressing specific stone statues several times, causing a familiar RPG-like rumble as the underground staircase opened.
Seeing this in real life, I felt a sense of wonder.
How could such a complex contraption exist without any visible power source? Perhaps I should consult Oracle-chan, our resident expert, about creating similar gimmicks in our castle.
My awe was interrupted by an unwelcome voice.
「So, there really was a secret passage!」
「Dyson!」
The Fist Emperor Dyson arrived with his mohawked soldiers. The timing couldn’t be worse—perhaps our intentions had been anticipated, and we were being led into a trap.
Well, secret passages were a cliché, and anyone with half a brain wouldn’t doubt their existence. Dyson wasn’t a fool either. Maybe he’d sensed something when Herman made his escape wearing the ‘Orichalcum Armor’. Dyson lacked subtlety, after all.
「You all, escort His Majesty. I’ll hold them off!」
Herman instructed, leaving the soldiers to transport the wheelchair-bound emperor. With his ‘Orichalcum Shield’ raised, Herman faced Dyson alone, intent on allowing the elderly emperor and his granddaughter to escape.
As expected, my magic rifle is ineffective against Dyson, so I entrusted that task to Herman.
In return, I systematically sniped the soldiers surrounding Dyson.
As they panicked and screamed under my continuous fire.
However, accuracy suffered due to the rapid succession of shots. I aimed for their heads, but hitting any part of their bodies would suffice.
The soldiers who approached me with spears and swords were promptly blown away by Oracle-chan’s shockwaves.
Our coordination was impressive.
Apart from Dyson, the other soldiers fell into silence in an instant.
While changing the magazine of my magical rifle, I shouted to Dyson, who was locked in combat with Herman.
「What will you do now? You’re the last one standing, Fist Slave Emperor!」
「Hah! If these feeble guards crumble under such attacks, they’re of no use to me.」
With a disdainful laugh, Dyson effortlessly overwhelmed Herman’s stance with his ‘orichalcum shield’ relying solely on his fist. Even Herman, known for his impenetrable defense, seemed slightly pushed back during their intense clash.
Still, does the Germania Emperor have a rule that mandates arrogance? While soldiers fought for their lives and suffered, Dyson’s self-important words needed a response.
「Then try facing all attacks alone!」
We weren’t knights but villains, so we didn’t care about appearances.
Oracle-chan unleashed shockwaves, and I emptied the twelve rounds I’d reloaded into Dyson’s massive body.
Dyson, using his body’s spring-like agility, deftly evaded both Oracle’s shockwaves and my gunfire with precise ‘orichalcum gauntlet’ punches.
It’s hard to believe that not a single bullet hit him, but his boastful confidence was backed by undeniable skill.
「What’s the matter? Is that all you’ve got? Well then, perhaps it’s time for us to take the initiative.」
In an instant, Dyson lunged at us with incredible speed. His massive form resembled a flying boulder hurtling toward us.
Determined to protect Oracle, I swiftly drew my ‘Black Cedar Sword’ from my waist and intercepted Dyson’s attack head-on.
However, I couldn’t quite grasp what had happened. Before I knew it, sparks flew before my eyes, and I found myself thrown backward.
My instinctive strike—my swordsmanship honed through rigorous training—was no mere feint. Yet, Dyson evaded it effortlessly, leaving me uncertain about how many blows had landed.
It was as if he had vanished from sight. This wasn’t merely a matter of weapon choice. It transcended inherent physique, talent, or technique—it boiled down to sheer speed.
While I contented myself with practicing sword swings a hundred times a day, this martial artist had swung his fists ten thousand times, refining his skills.
Speed created an absolute disparity through accumulation.
The difference in reach between a blade and a fist posed no hindrance to him. I realized that in close combat, I stood no chance against this martial arts prodigy.
「Cah!」
「Takeru!」
I dropped to my knees, coughing involuntarily. Oracle-chan supported my now-heavy body, allowing me to stand despite the pain.
My chest, abdomen, and shoulders throbbed. Despite the supposed protection from Asama’s blessing and the ‘Mithril Armor’, my bones creaked under the onslaught.
To think that a single attack could inflict such damage—it felt like facing a close-range assault amplified by the powers of a hero and a demon lord.
Is Fist Slave Emperor Dyson truly just an ordinary human, devoid of any external assistance?
「Ho, relying solely on feeble projectiles, are you nothing more than a weakling? Can you withstand my Crushing Fist: Press-Out?」
「Weakling…」
Damn it, it’s been a while since I’ve been treated this way.
But if he underestimates my strength, it might work to our advantage. It’s not yet time to reveal my true identity by summoning the Imagination Sword.
Indeed, it would be ideal if we could finish him off decisively, but this opponent doesn’t seem like someone we can defeat head-on. Rather, revealing our strength might only make him more troublesome. If he’s underestimating us, that could be our chance—a vulnerability to exploit.
「Black-robed man, I suppose I’ll ask for your name.」
「I am Drift Gunner, the wandering black marksman. Unlike you, I despise those who arrogantly consider themselves the strongest!」
Dyson laughed out loud.
「You find me intolerable… Interesting. So, what will you do, Drift Gunner, the wandering black marksman? Whether you wield powerful weapons or armor, I doubt you can defeat someone with a fragile spirit who relies on ranged attacks.」
「Allow me to demonstrate!」
I slung my backpack over my shoulder, carried my magic rifle, and gripped the ‘Black Cedar Sword’ tightly as I sprinted forward—not toward Dyson, but toward the secret staircase leading underground.
※※※
This wasn’t fleeing; it was a tactical retreat.
Oracle-chan and Herman seemed to understand my intent and followed suit.
Herman, wielding the ‘Orichalcum Shield’ miraculously withstood Dyson’s relentless barrage of Crushing Fist: Press-Out attacks. Truly, his reputation as the ‘Iron Wall’ was well-deserved.
「Hahaha! What’s wrong? You won’t win by merely running away!」
As he continued pummeling Herman, Dyson pursued us with evident enjoyment.
Despite the strain etched on Herman’s brow, he gritted his teeth and endured every blow.
「Alright, this should do.」
Herman, with a resolute cry, pushed back against Dyson’s attacks using the ‘Orichalcum Shield’. Seizing the opportunity, I opened fire once more, forcing Dyson to stagger backward.
「Hahaha! Such attacks are futil」
Dyson couldn’t finish his sentence.
Suddenly, the ceiling of the underground passage collapsed, and a deluge of soil and debris cascaded down upon Dyson’s head.
Next, a torrential flow crashed down exactly where Dyson stood. Its force resembled that of a mudslide.
「Alright, everyone, let’s retreat!」
While it would be ideal if he perished, his superhuman physique made that unlikely. Still, traversing through the debris-filled torrent was physically impossible for a human.
By the way, the collapse of the underground passage was orchestrated by Oracle-chan’s water manipulation magic. The area directly above Dyson happened to correspond to the castle moat, filled with copious amounts of water.
This was the contingency plan Kaara had mentioned—the hidden ace up our sleeves.
The underground passages of the imperial capital were extensive and ancient. According to her estimation, they were in a state suitable for use as a ‘dungeon’.
Indeed, if this was a dungeon, Oracle-chan could tap into the magical energy accumulating underground and unleash her powers as a Dungeon Master.
Her usual water manipulation magic, which she casually played with in the bath, now transformed into a force capable of piercing through the foundation of the underground first floor, flooding the second-floor passages.
And so, we calmly advanced through the underground passage, escaping beyond the city limits.
As long as we saved the elderly emperor and the imperial granddaughter, defeating Fist Slave Emperor Dyson was unnecessary for mission completion.