Chapter 221: Devour the Islands Beasts
「Oh, it’s caught, it’s caught!」
As soon as we returned to Antil Island, the hunt for food began. Trapped within the snare was an Antil Black Boar.
「BUOOOO!」
The massive, jet-black boar let out a roar that sounded like an engine revving. We had driven it, startled by the musket shots echoing through the region, into a large net trap stretched across the valley.
Like the herd animals they are, the boars were packed tight in the trap. When one began to thrash, it set off a chorus of roaring, a deafening symphony of ‘BUOOOO’ echoing through the enclosure.
For the Black Boars, the sound of gunfire and the surrounding nets were unfamiliar, throwing them into utter chaos. Taking advantage of their confusion, Barland and the others easily brought them down, using bows and long spears to finish them off.
「Sorry…」
「BUGIII!」
A spear pierced deep into the belly of a boar, which collapsed with a final, agonizing cry. Killing a living creature always stirs a sense of pity. Yet, given the size of these boars, they looked like they’d make for a hearty and delicious meal.
「Barland, haven’t they tried domesticating these?」 「The beasts of Abysspania are mostly demon beasts, either extremely aggressive or skittish. We’ve never been able to tame them.」
Barland, clearly skilled in hunting, responded as he deftly drained the blood from the boars and meticulously skinned the black hides. The Black Boar’s hide, though nearly hairless, was strong and flexible, often used to craft leather armor.
With proper bloodletting, their meat is said to be tender and flavorful. Though I’ve grown accustomed to this type of hunting, the strong odor of wild meat still seems to come from the blood.
The Black Boar carcasses showed promising quality. If we brine the meat thoroughly to drain more blood before cooking, it could turn out quite tasty.
Guided by soldiers of Abysspania, who knew the land well, our hunt went smoothly. Even the deadly pitfall traps devised by Lyle-sensei proved effective. Soon, we’ll have hunted nearly all the animals in this region.
Of course, it’s not just the animals—we’re also gathering any edible plants we can find. It’s a drastic form of environmental destruction, but it’s a necessary measure to stave off hunger for now.
We can think about restoring the environment once agriculture is fully up and running. For now, our priority is simply finding anything edible.
「Are there any other animals we can catch around here?」
「In the southern wetlands of the island, there are crocodiles.」
「Crocodiles, huh…?」
They’re technically edible, right? I remember tasting some once at an ethnological museum during my travels.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t bad. Louise would likely be eager to hunt them, but I’m unsure of the best way to prepare the meat.
I also wonder how Rara-chan, being half-reptilian, would feel if we served crocodile meat. Then again, we’ve eaten our fair share of not just mammalian animals, but even humanoid monsters, so it probably wouldn’t faze her.
「Crocodiles are quite ferocious and unlike the Black Boars, they attack humans. The southern wetlands are dangerous, and even the locals avoid them.」
「Hunting them might lead to casualties… Let’s leave it for now.」
The island’s tropical climate has likely turned the uninhabited wetlands into a dense jungle. If we hunt all the Black Boars and grow desperate, we might have no choice but to go there.
※※※
「Master, I found copper and iron over there, and sulfur over here!」
「Ah, good job, Roll. Here, a reward for you.」
Loaded with the meat and hides from the hunt, I returned to the port town, where Roll greeted me with outstretched arms, eagerly explaining her findings. I pulled an orange sugar candy from my pocket and handed it to her.
Roll, eager to prove herself after being given an important task, had been scouring the nearby hills and caves for mineral resources. Now, her dirt-smudged cheeks puffed up as she happily munched on the candy.
She’s getting muddy again.
I sighed, wiping Roll’s face with a cloth.
「Mm, Master. The candy is delicious.」
「Glad to hear it, Roll. But don’t rush while you’re eating. You’ve done well.」
For her tired body, the citrusy vitamins and sugar were like medicine.
I patted her head, her reddish-copper hair dried and tangled from the salty sea breeze. I’ll need to get her cleaned up with a bath later.
「And, um, Master, I want to make more saltpeter, so could you gather some, uh, urine for me?」
「Don’t talk about that while you’re eating.」
I understood the need, but talking about bodily functions at the table was a bit much. I couldn’t help but laugh—Roll was still just a child, after all, and her bluntness was endlessly amusing.
「Ahh, oniisama, you’re spoiling Roll again!」
Sherry, clutching a stack of documents, came bustling over with a huff.
「That’s not true.」
「But you only gave candy to her! Right, Viola?」
Viola, who had arrived with Sherry, looked equally conflicted.
「…I think it’s unfair.」
「Viola’s become bold, too, huh?」
Now I found myself surrounded by Sherry and Viola, their combined energy nearly overwhelming me. They used to be such little girls, but in the past three years, they’ve both grown into proper young ladies.
「Oniisama, look! This is the plan for developing the port at Avana. I’ve also drafted an integrated plan for the entire Antil Island. By improving the port and building roads, we can revitalize the island!」
「Master, since we’re short on fabric, I’ve planted cotton and kenaf. In four months, we’ll have enough material for cloth and ropes for the ships!」
They both spoke at once, making it hard to keep up, but it was clear they had worked hard.
「I planned to give you both a reward as well. Don’t worry, I’ve got something for you.」
Not wanting to appear like I was playing favorites, I handed over what was left of my sugar candies, even the ones I had saved for myself. I could always get more from the ship later, so it was no big deal.
Watching them happily bite into the orange candies made me realize that, despite everything, they were still just kids. That’s when Rara-chan approached as well.
「Oh, Rara-chan, you’re here too.」
I fumbled through my pockets, but I had nothing left to give.
「Takeru, it’s okay. I haven’t done anything to earn a reward…」
「No, no, Rara-chan. When we get back to town, I’ll make something special and delicious just for you. So wait for it, okay?」
Rara-chan tried to act mature, but she was still younger than my other slave girls. It wouldn’t be right to let her go without a treat while the others indulged.
Whether she had worked or not didn’t matter. Kids should be shown kindness unconditionally. I’ll make sure to whip up something extra special for her later.
「When did we get another new girl?」
「…She’s got such a strong character. I’m going to get overshadowed again.」
「This is no time to be fighting among ourselves, girls! Roll, you too—come join us. We need a strategy meeting! We may have fallen behind in book two, but we can’t afford to miss our chance by the end of the third!」
「…I’m going to miss my chance to marry at this rate.」
Despite Roll’s reluctance, the girls dragged her into a huddle, chattering away about something. What’s this talk of books and marriage… no more meta-jokes, please.
「What are they doing?」
「Takeru, I’m looking forward to that candy.」
「Right. I’ve got some potatoes, so maybe I’ll cook something special again soon.」
Speaking of potatoes, well, you know what that means.
※※※
Since Lyle-sensei and Sherry arrived, the reconstruction of the port town of Avana has been moving at a rapid pace.
The buildings in town were repaired in no time, and now the expansion of the lodgings and the enhancement of the port facilities are progressing simultaneously.
Both of them are authorities in urban administration. We always had plenty of manpower; all we were missing was the expertise.
In the Abyss Continent, magic other than holy magic can still be used. Lyle-sensei, though not as powerful as Kaara, is unmatched when it comes to adjusting magic power for construction and repairs.
Although Sherry can’t use magic herself, she’s an expert in coordinating construction projects, even incorporating magical support. With these two, who are as effective as an entire battalion of bureaucrats, rebuilding a small town is easy.
For now, we’ve resolved the water supply issue by pumping water from the wells, but they plan to install proper waterworks in the future. Soon, even the soldiers will be freed from their cave dwellings.
Meanwhile, Kaara, who had always done things in a rather haphazard manner, is now sulking in the corner, feeling outdone by their administrative skills. No matter how much of a magical genius Kaara is, it’s impossible to beat Lyle-sensei when it comes to administration.
「Hey, Kaara. If you’re bored, could you help out? Set those plates on the table, please.」
「Yes…」
We’re borrowing the kitchen of a tavern in Avana, cooking up the black wild boar we hunted, but even preparing dinner for us and the generals is overwhelming. When I called for Roll to help, the head chef Colette ended up joining us as well, and it was a blessing in disguise.
Colette, who’s used to cooking under my guidance, handled the new ingredients with ease, expertly preparing the dishes. The sound of black wild boar sizzling in the frying pan was making everyone hungry.
「Master, the black boar tonkatsu are ready.」
「Good, keep them coming. Everyone’s been working hard on the unfamiliar farm work, so they must be starving!」
The oil we’re frying the breaded black boar meat in is pressed from sunflower seeds. It seems sunflowers are abundant on the Northern Abyss Continent, and Damons and the others brought plenty of seeds with them on the ship.
I originally wanted to make tonkatsu, but since we were preparing a large amount, I opted for cutlets instead to conserve oil. If we can start cultivating sunflowers here as well, we’ll never have to worry about oil again.
「This is my first time tasting meat fried in sunflower oil.」
Said Damons, the admiral of the demon army, savoring the cutlet I handed him.
「Don’t you use sunflower oil, even though you grow the seeds in your region?」
「We usually roast the seeds to eat them. We know we can extract oil from them, but we don’t typically use it for cooking. I must commend Your Excellency King General’s creativity.」
「It’s not that big of a deal.」
「No, you’re being humble. I never realized that simply putting more care into cooking could make it so much more delicious. When it comes to cooking, we who only know roasting and grilling are clearly no match for you. I wish I could share this with my wife and children back home.」
Despite his intimidating appearance, with his horns like those of a water buffalo, Damons is always saying things that make him seem so domesticated.
「By the way, where does your family live? I haven’t forgotten my promise to protect the families of the demon folk who sided with me.」
「Your Excellency King General… I am deeply grateful. My family resides in the capital of Times Province, Times Square.」
On the map of the Abyss Continent, Times Square is a large port town located in the northeast. In my world, it would be somewhere around New York.
Given that it’s the capital of a province, and considering its geographic position, it’s likely a large city. It’s far away, but I want to find a way to help.
「Takeru-dono, let’s send a secret envoy to Times Square and evacuate Damons-dono’s family first. We can’t risk having them taken as hostages by the enemy.」
Lyle-sensei, who had been quietly cutting her cutlet at the next table, suddenly suggested.
「As expected of Lyle-sensei. We need Damons’ cooperation after all!」
「Yes… Besides, we plan to launch a strike on Times Square in six months, so we need to conduct a field survey anyway.」
「Wait, why Times Square? Shouldn’t we focus on reclaiming the former territory of Abysspania first?」
Barland, who had been poking curiously at his fries with a fork at the adjacent table, stood up in surprise.
We should at least wait until after dinner to start the strategy meeting.
「Indeed, Barland-dono is correct. Once the counterattack against Abysspania begins, it would make sense to first reclaim the three provinces of Daar, Baal, and Linmon, which were once part of our territory. The enemy will likely expect the same.」
「So, the strategist of Silesie Kingdom wants to surprise the enemy by doing something unexpected?」
Barland said, still not looking fully convinced.
From Barland’s point of view, it makes sense to want to reclaim the land the demon army stole from them first.
「Think about it. The Abyss Continent is vast. Even if we send forces to the southern regions to reclaim our lands, how many years—no, how many decades will it take?」
「That’s…」
「Furthermore, most of our strength lies in our navy. Advancing troops deep into the continent would be a fool’s errand.」
「So, you believe we can defeat the demon army by striking Times Square?」
Barland asked, his skepticism still evident.
With a confident smile, Lyle-sensei pointed her fork at Barland and declared,
「Yes, we can. Let me explain. Take a look at this map.」
「Sensei, we’re still eating…」
Ignoring my plea, Lyle-sensei pushed aside her half-eaten cutlet and spread out a map of the Abyss Continent on the table.
And so, the strategy meeting began.
「The purpose of striking Times Square is to cripple the demon army’s naval forces, which are concentrated here. If we succeed, we’ll gain control of the seas. Are you with me so far?」
Both Damons and Barland nodded.
「From there, we’ll sail up the Lawrence River into the Great Lake, and launch a swift assault on the demon capital, Laurentite, located in Nisrok Province on the lake’s shore. Once we take the demon army’s stronghold, the war will be over. There may still be scattered resistance, but without naval supremacy or their capital, the demon country will be divided. They won’t have the strength to hold their territories, and Abysspania’s former lands will naturally return to us.」
Barland was left speechless, his mouth agape.
Damons, however, chimed in.
「It’s true… The Lawrence River is wide enough for even those massive black ships to pass through!」
「Indeed. This plan was based on what you told us, Damons-dono, so a thorough field survey will be essential. That’s the role of the spies.」
Lyle-sensei explained with an evil grin.
Watching this, I couldn’t help but feel that rescuing Damons’ family was just a convenient excuse for Lyle-sensei’s real plan.
「…Strategist-dono, and how many years do you plan for this operation to take?」
「Hmm, since we start in six months, we’ll have the demon capital, Laurentite, under our control within a year.」
「A year, you say?!」
「This is a blitz operation using sea routes. If we take too long, we lose the element of surprise. We must strike while the enemy is unprepared, giving them no time to counter. That’s why the Kingdom of Silesie is sending a grand fleet. The people of the Abyss will need to steel themselves for this.」
「Incredible… Or perhaps my thinking is just outdated. With the speed and power of those ships, maybe it’s possible…」
「You say it so easily… But to me, it sounds like a reckless, if not outright insane, plan…」
Damons and Barland exchanged uneasy glances, their faces betraying their uncertainty.
「Sensei, this is all still far ahead. Let’s finish eating first.」
I interjected, hoping to keep the conversation from spiraling further into war planning.
「Ah, you’re right. I needed to prepare the commanders mentally, but let’s keep this discussion confidential for now.」
Lyle-sensei said, tucking away the map and resuming her meal. I sighed in relief; at least the food wouldn’t grow cold now.
「Sensei, right now, securing food is more pressing than the war. Speaking of which, our stock of giant sea dragon meat is running low.」
「King General! If it’s sea dragons you’re after, there should still be some around these waters. I’ll go out and bring back more meat! Can’t let those land-dwellers outdo us!」
Admiral Drake boomed, his peg leg clacking loudly as he laughed, boasting about taking down yet another sea dragon.
Ever since his string of victories, which included sinking a fleet of 500 ships and defeating a hated sea dragon, Drake had been feeling overly confident. If this continued, I wouldn’t be surprised if he declared himself a pirate lord of the Abyss.
「Hold on, Drake. Damons can control that sea dragon. We might be able to use it as an asset, so let’s not kill it just yet.」
「Well, if you say so… But, I gotta say, just playing at being a fisherman doesn’t exactly thrill me…」
Drake grumbled. For now, he was helping us by using his fleet to drag massive nets through the sea and haul in fish, a critical food source. I intended to keep him focused on that for a while.
「King General, my ability to control the sea dragon comes from the red dragon scales taken from the body of the Great Demon King Ifriil. If my betrayal is ever discovered, that power will vanish.」
Lyle-sensei, ever the schemer, casually suggested,
「Then why not send a messenger to report that our conquest of Antil Isle is proceeding smoothly?」
「You’re asking me to deceive the Great Demon King Ifriil?!」
And here we go again, another strategy meeting…
「Damons-dono, as they say, ‘In for a penny, in for a pound’. Half measures won’t do. You’ve bet on Takeru-dono, haven’t you? At the very least, ensure your family escapes safely from Times Square before the Demon King learns of your betrayal.」
「For my family… Hmm…」
Damons murmured, clearly torn.
As always, Lyle-sensei’s arguments were dangerously persuasive, as if holding Damons’ family hostage through sheer logic. Despite his hesitation, I had no doubt that soon Damons would be swept up in Lyle-sensei’s plans, moving exactly as instructed.
「What a headache…」
It seems like everyone’s a bit too eager for this upcoming war event, probably because it’s been a while since the last one. Even Lyle-sensei, who’s quietly returned to her meal, has that sly smile on her face. She’s definitely planning something, though I bet she hasn’t revealed even half of what she’s got cooking in her head.
After all these years working together, you start to pick up on these things.
Well, I’ll just keep doing what I do best, as usual.
With the meal wrapped up, I headed back to the kitchen and decided to make a snack: thinly sliced potatoes fried up nice and crispy. Potato chips, the perfect treat.
A dash of salt and they’re done.
I tried one, and it turned out great—crispy, light, and tasty. Maybe a bit thick-cut, but hey, that’s the charm of homemade.
「Hey, Rara-chan, this is the snack I was telling you about. It’s called potato chips.」
Rara-chan smiled sweetly after taking a bite.
「…Delicious.」
「Glad you like it.」
「Aww, oniisama! That’s not fair, treating Rara-san special!」
「Alright, alright, Sherry, I’ll make more for you guys too. Just wait a bit.」
「Master, I’ve been watching how you make them, so I can take over from here.」
「Ah, sure thing, Colette. I’ll leave it to you.」
In the end, it’s Colette, quietly playing the role of a mother to the kids, who’s always the most helpful.
With the work done, we all kicked back, relaxing and munching on a mountain of homemade potato chips.