Ch. 158
Translator: AkazaTL
Pr/Ed: Sol IX
***
Chapter 158 – The Archipelago (1)
The war between the Iron Kingdom and the Machine Empire was now treated like some kind of event. And for good reason — there had been far too many wars already. Everyone knew by now that the wars between the two nations were nothing more than political tools, staged for the sake of public opinion and power games. But this war felt… different.
“It’s because of the atmosphere the Iron Kingdom created.”
“The atmosphere?”
“They broke the long peace and occupied six of the Free Cities. That alone is extraordinary. Sure, there’ve been small, private wars before, but aside from the Great Land of the Eastern Continent, order has been maintained across the Central, Western, and Southern Continents under the rule of the Sky Empire. ‘Do not cross the line.’ ‘Wage only lawful wars according to the Heavenly Law.’ That was the order of the heavens.”
“The order of the heavens…”
“Because of that order, most nations—especially the great powers—moved only passively. Instead of direct war, they competed through diplomacy, industry, and culture. And since trade routes opened both by land and sea, the Sky Empire profited the most. They could freely draw the continent’s wealth without worrying about the risks of war.”
“……”
“The Iron Kingdom shattered that balance.”
Before explaining the current situation, Audrey spoke about the origins of this war.
“The Six Free Cities—classified as semi-great powers—were occupied overnight. As if the heavens themselves had lent a hand, it happened at the very moment the Rhapsody, the Legion of Liberty, and the fleets were all absent.”
“……”
“Under normal circumstances, the Iron Kingdom should’ve been condemned and sanctioned economically. But the Sky Empire wasn’t as aggressive as expected. Why? Because the House Rhapsody, led by Hugo Rhapsody, took all the blame. And since the Free Cities, which practically served as the continent’s marketplace, fell into the Iron Kingdom’s hands, no one could act rashly. If the Sky Empire imposed the wrong sanctions, the image they’d built for centuries could collapse.”
“Their image would collapse, huh.”
“To the Sky Empire, this was something they could overlook with a single closed eye. And the general mood of the continent wasn’t exactly hostile toward the Iron Kingdom either. That’s how Rhapsody ended up taking the fall for everything.”
“……”
“And the people of the continent—they never remember the process, only the result. So, what do you think others would learn from the Iron Kingdom’s example?”
The answer wasn’t hard to guess.
“No matter the process, as long as the results are good?”
“Exactly. In the end, the winner takes all. War offers endless rewards. If you seize the right opportunity, you might even rise to the rank of the great powers.”
“……”
“Just imagine how much the Iron Kingdom must’ve gained from the six Free Cities. You can’t even begin to guess. Everyone forgot, since colonies had long vanished after the Age of War—but planting your flag on foreign soil, erasing the people’s dignity, and enslaving them… the sweetness that drips from that is intoxicating.”
We had forgotten.
A terrifying word indeed.
“If you’d completely forgotten, that would’ve been fine. But once you remember, you can never return to ignorance. The first to burn will be the Southern Continent—a warm, fertile land of milk and honey. A paradise. But one without armies or legions.”
“……”
“That’s where the tide is heading. Now, let’s consider the Machine Empire’s position. They’re wedged between the Sky Empire and the Iron Kingdom. The Sky Empire blocks any expansion toward the Central Continent, while the ruined North isn’t worth conquering. Touch that region, and the monsters contained by the demons might flood southward. The north and east are sealed off. That leaves the south and west—and both are blocked by the Iron Kingdom.”
“Then…”
“They have to strike the Iron Kingdom. They must fight to gain something—war reparations, magical resources from the Free Cities, access to southern sea routes, or perhaps a piece of the Iron Kingdom’s territory where they can build those warp gates they love so much.”
Right. It wasn’t an unreasonable explanation. Listening to it, Liam murmured
「So history flows again toward another Age of War.」
“……”
「Though, I suppose it’s better than before. Back then… It was those damned dragons that led everything. Still, the result will be the same—swords, spears, and shields clashing endlessly for more land, more gold. The second Age of War is coming.」
The Age of War. All the weak who lived on this continent would share my wounds, my pain.
That was not a good thing. Truly, it wasn’t.
“The Machine Empire will try to break through the Iron Kingdom to find a path. They’ve suffered from a resource shortage for ages. They wanted to expand, but the Order of Heaven kept them still. The Six Free Cities only traded boldly because of Rhapsody’s protection, and the Red Bank kept raising interest rates. Meanwhile, in the Eastern Continent, they copied the Machine Empire’s products and sold them cheap—without paying for labor. That nation doesn’t need to pay its workers. In the Great Land, people celebrate even if they die working—because dying for the Khan is an honor.”
“……”
“So war was inevitable for the dying Machine Empire. But it wasn’t supposed to turn out this way. Honestly, it couldn’t have—if not for the Iron Kingdom.”
“I’ve been wondering—what do you mean by that? You said the Karavan Territory fell because of the Iron Kingdom, because of the Iron Legion…”
“I’ll explain that now.”
Audrey sighed deeply— as if the very thought made her furious. Watching her, Elizabeth chuckled.
“Our youngest speaks well.”
“……”
Didn’t you say earlier that I could be discarded? You people…
***
During the long peace, the center of the world had been the Sky Empire and the great powers under its alliance. After trade agreements were signed, a cold war began—not of swords and spears, but of gold and capital.
The overwhelming victors were the Sky Empire and the Black Archipelago.
The Sky Empire, which held the entire Central Continent as its domain, possessed abundant resources, a strategic central location, and mountains of gold earned from the war industry of the previous age. Their glory was all but guaranteed.
To join that prosperity, other nations had to incur debts to the Sky Empire or the Black Archipelago. Even the continental currency used for trade was the Sky Gold Coin. Gold flowed to the Sky Empire without effort.
The latecomers, or those striving to rise, inevitably clashed with the existing great powers. But who would dare wage war against a nation that hadn’t lost once since the Age of War? Thus, eternal peace—unequal and uncomfortable peace—barely persisted.
And it was the Iron Kingdom that shattered that flow.
By devouring the Six Free Cities, they leapt toward becoming a great power.
Other nations, watching the results, turned their eyes toward the Southern Continent and countless city-states—thinking, as long as the result is good, it doesn’t matter how. To plant their flags on more lands, to leave another line in their records, to seize one more victory— That’s what the Age of War had taught them.
When it’s over, it’s too late.
Those who gained everything through war later decried it as evil and joined hands to kick away the ladder behind them.
A limited continent. The seven ancient races that had lived too long. This was the inevitable result they produced. Many scholars foresaw this. And Audrey, well-educated as she was, understood it too. That war would one day break out. That the Iron Kingdom would be at its center. That the time was near.
But she wasn’t deeply worried.
Arhan’s Karavan Territory lay on the edge of the Iron Kingdom—poor, unprofitable, and close to the Iron City, Ferma, where reinforcements could arrive quickly. If the Iron Legion stationed in Ferma moved, the Machine Empire’s mobile magic corps would strike elsewhere. On the map, this place held no real value.
“War has broken out!”
“As expected.”
So when war erupted, Audrey acted exactly as planned. Arhan’s whereabouts were unknown, but that didn’t matter. War wasn’t decided by one man’s presence—unless that man was a Swordmaster.
“Tom, go to the Iron City and bring back the Legion. Request reinforcements and load up with every anti-magic tool you can. I doubt they’ll come this far, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”
Tom nodded. As a former Arena fighter, he had plenty of connections. And through Arhan, he could even reach Sir Vermartin in Cherville. Everything went smoothly— Until reality intervened.
“What a miserable land.”
Reality never followed plans.
Audrey was wise but inexperienced; she didn’t yet grasp the difference between theory and reality.
“We cannot provide any assistance.”
The Ashen Knights arrived at the Karavan Territory, the Iron Kingdom’s strongest order—guardians of the Blade City, Cherville. And they declared they would not help.
“By His Majesty’s decree. The Iron Kingdom will focus its strength on the capital and the major cities like the Iron City. The accursed magic corps’ mobility cannot be tracked. The outer regions will be abandoned while we rise higher during the enemy’s advance.”
“What the hell kind of nonsense is that!? I’m not asking you to stay here forever—just send a few knights! I’ll even pay you! At least lend us an anti-magic barrier so they can’t open a warp gate in the middle of our land! You’ve got plenty of them in storage!”
“There is nothing to spare. Wasn’t this the land that once defeated Rhapsody? And yet you can’t even handle a single magic corps? How pitiful.”
“That was when they appeared openly! The magic corps are lunatics—they don’t fight fair!”
“Aren’t you a Witch? You should have more magic devices than they do. Can’t you block a warp gate yourself?”
“Magic and magitech aren’t the same! And—”
“Ah, a young Witch then. Too weak to face the corps alone, and so young you didn’t even bring any of your sisters’ mystical tools. Tell me, are you truly a Witch?”
Audrey couldn’t comprehend it. Nonsense was happening. Irrational things.
“The lord is absent too? Ha! The one who led the victory against Rhapsody isn’t here. So all that’s left is one Sword Expert, one immature Witch, a little girl dabbling in sorcery, and a bunch of old men and farmers? Lending you our resources would be a waste. You expect three people to defend this land against a magic corps? Don’t make me laugh.”
“……”
“If the lord were here, perhaps we’d reconsider—but this land? Better to abandon it. We’ll pay you instead. You three, join the Iron Legion. Witches are valuable in war—we’ll pay handsomely. And you, old man… weren’t you once a famed gladiator? Tom! You’re conscripted. Hiding out here, were you? That’s no offer—it’s your duty. Every citizen of the Iron Kingdom must serve the Legion. Prepare yourself—you’re coming with us.”
Audrey felt like she was losing her mind.
They refused to offer even minimal support—and now they wanted to take away the few who could defend the village? What about the people here? The ones who trusted them?
The enemy was coming—and these knights were abandoning everyone without hesitation.
When she demanded an answer, it came coldly.
“This is the Iron Kingdom.”
“…What?”
“The weak and the old do not deserve protection, Witch.”
Those words made Sancho explode.
“We offered to pay! To guard your lord’s land! What do you mean, abandon and take!? We won’t give you a single soul! You filthy bastards!”
“Sancho, wait—don’t get too—”
“Where were you when our young lord was suffering!? When Lord Arhan endured that torment, where were you!? And now you show up only when this land regains value? I will never accept that! Never! When that dog of Ian Cherville turned this land into a sea of blood and brought us humiliation beyond words—we endured! But for the young lord’s sake, we’ll endure no more!”
Sancho’s eyes blazed like fire.
“Now I understand why the old lord went mad. I can’t stand it either. Get out. Leave everything. We don’t need your help—just get out!”
“And who are you to say that?”
“I am the acting lord of this land, under Lord Arhan Karavan. Therefore—”
“How dare a commoner pose as an acting lord? What a pathetic, rootless land.”
“Sancho—!”
Clang! Two blades collided.
A knight of the Ashen Order struck at Sancho, but Tom barely blocked the attack. Even so, he was pushed back. The knight sneered.
“A Sword Expert, huh. But a half one.”
“Everyone… run.”
“Why protect the weak, old man? You once ruled the Arena. You could live in glory under the Iron Kingdom. Come with us—the Iron Legion welcomes the strong.”
“No. I said no.”
While Tom held off the Ashen Knights, everyone else fled.
The Iron Kingdom’s own army had attacked a domain of the Iron Kingdom. Chaos followed.
“This land will fall soon anyway. But there are some valuable spoils. Better we use them than the enemy.”
The Ashen Knights plundered everything—the supplies Audrey prepared, the goods the villagers had built up over years. Food, savings, everything went into their pockets. There was no stopping them.
During wartime, the Ashen Knights were all clad in anti-magic armor. Unless another Witch intervened, Audrey couldn’t possibly fight them. Tom, a mere Sword Expert, became a fugitive, fleeing conscription.
A half Sword Expert with only a single blade— versus the Iron Kingdom’s strongest order, equipped with the finest gear and led by several Sword Experts.
Tom could do nothing but run.
“Ah…”
And so, the Karavan Territory was laid to ruin.
The Ashen Knights Tom had brought conscripted young men, smashed the fences, and looted every store of food and weapons.
“This land’s already finished.”
Then, the magic corps appeared.
Audrey resisted as best she could, but they were cunning. Without anti-magic defenses, she couldn’t fight them in such an open area. They opened a warp gate in the middle of the territory—and whenever she tried to attack, they slipped through one gate and reappeared from another. In an instant, the entire land was surrounded and occupied.
“There’s a noble lady here. Don’t harm her. Lock her up somewhere. Even the Father of Heaven would allow that—so long as no one touches her body.”
Audrey was imprisoned. Driven nearly insane by the chaos, she could no longer think. Reality and theory—worlds apart. While wondering where everything went wrong, she saw Tom stagger into her prison cell—gravely wounded.
“Lady Audrey…”
“What… is this?”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t… protect her…”
Over Tom’s shoulder hung the blood-soaked body of Hailyn.
***
“The Iron Kingdom has no intention of protecting the weak. It never has. It’s practically a sacred tradition here. They even think it’s a good thing—a way to filter out the old and the frail. I’ve always hated this country.”
“…Ah.”
“The Iron Kingdom is gathering every useful resource and able-bodied person from the outer regions to the capital. Once the Machine Empire starts advancing, they’ll seize the contested territories and march toward the center. After subjugating the Machine Empire, they plan to secure a direct route to the Sky Empire…”
Tom spoke as he recounted the information he had learned while fleeing—the Iron Kingdom’s plan, the reason for their madness, how such strategies had always been their way. Each generation, as the old nobles fell, new ones rose from the ashes, and the weak were left to die or became bandits in the mountains. That, he said, was simply the destiny of a nation born through war. But none of it reached Audrey’s ears.
“Hailyn… how did this happen to her?”
“…Apparently, there were some children she had been caring for. Said they reminded her of herself—pitiful, and she wanted to help them. The Magic Corps touched those children.”
“……”
“Hailyn tried to stop them, but she never stood a chance. So the Magic Corps made a game of it. They said if Hailyn could endure what those children suffered, they’d let it go. They’d never touch them again. Then they dragged the little girl to the village square and… placed bets. They made a spectacle out of it. It was madness… utter madness.”
“Ah.”
Audrey closed her eyes. She placed a trembling hand on Hailyn’s head, who lay collapsed and gasping, and invoked a spell—magic to read the past. Through Hailyn’s memories, Audrey saw it all. The horrifying scenes. Her dear friend’s body being broken, her screams, her sobs, her despair—she felt every emotion that Hailyn had endured.
And she could no longer hold back her tears.
“AAAAAAAARGH—!”
The scream of a Witch resounded across the ruined village.
Blood-tears streamed from Audrey’s eyes—the mark of a Witch’s fury reaching its peak.
“Tom.”
“Yes.”
“I want revenge.”
“……”
“If I were to forsake myself as a Witch—tear away these bandages, this cloth, these clothes—and destroy myself in wrath… if I were to die in disgrace, the Heavenly Lord would bring down calamity. Lightning would sweep the earth, and the heavens would sing of wrath… just as it happened once before.”
“No. Don’t do that, Audrey.”
“I know it’s wrong. Then what should I do?”
Neither as a Witch nor as a sorcerer could Audrey find a way through this. Tom, gravely wounded, could barely move. The mere fact that he had rescued Hailyn at all was a miracle.
Who would help them now?
Audrey wept blood again. She was still young. Chosen or not, wise or not, she was still only a girl—one who had never been broken, never tasted despair, never known such unbearable rage. And so, the girl sought wisdom from the old. And so, the girl prayed for salvation.
“How…?”
To the shattered girl, the old man spoke.
“Let us call for Young Master Arhan.”
“…Do you really think it’ll change anything? What can a single person do? Even I couldn’t manage this—what difference could he make?”
“It will change things.”
In the old steward’s eyes, there wasn’t a hint of doubt.
“The Young Master is someone who can make a difference.”
“……”
“By now, he must have become someone else entirely. But even if he hasn’t changed, it doesn’t matter. Even if he’s gained nothing all this time—if Young Master Arhan comes, everything will be different.”
Tom continued.
“I remember when he was a nobody—a mere fighter of little renown. I remember how he stood unbowed even before dragons. Young Master Arhan will save us. A flame that never withers, no matter the hardship—that flame will save us.”
Audrey was silent for a long time. She watched Hailyn’s shallow, trembling breaths, struggling to survive. Even after Tom slipped out to avoid the soldiers’ eyes and the night grew dark, she remained in thought for hours.
Finally, she whispered—
“…Descendant of Steel—!”
Yes. She would believe.
***
“…And that’s how it happened.”
“How is Hailyn now?”
“She’s fine. She’s a strong girl. Thanks to Tom, she survived. Your steward will recover soon, and so will those who suffered. They’re people like you—they’ll endure.”
“Thank you. Truly.”
Audrey started to say something, but stopped. Then, in a low murmur—
“But… it was so hard.”
“What was?”
“The feeling that everything had vanished—that the whole world had turned against me. The helplessness, the rage that gnawed at me… it felt like hell.”
“……”
“And realizing that you endured all that alone… I finally understood what kind of insane person you are.”
Audrey’s face darkened. It was clear she had gone through hell.
“Then let’s go back, my little one.”
It was Elizabeth who spoke then.
“Your eldest sister will take care of everything. You, my youngest, should go home and rest with your sisters. This wasn’t meant to be your trial. Trials ruin beauty. A trampled flower is never beautiful, Audrey. You must remain a flower.”
“…Big sister.”
“Do you want me to escort you?”
“No.”
“Then—”
“I’m not leaving.”
Audrey’s eyes gleamed.
“But it’s too hard, isn’t it? You’re too young, too weak. You still need to grow within the safety of the garden. You don’t have to face such things. Honestly, those people and you… were born different, weren’t you?”
At that, Audrey shook her head.
“Maybe so. But I’m staying.”
“Audrey—”
“Even if I lose what I have.”
Audrey’s expression was resolute.
Elizabeth looked at her youngest sister with a face half pity, half irritation.
“No—”
She started to say something, then fell silent. And suddenly, Elizabeth’s head snapped around.
“…We’ll talk later.”
“Big sister?”
“It seems we have more guests.”
“Elizabeth? What do you mean?”
This time, even I grew curious. Someone was coming? My question was answered almost immediately.
“We have visitors.”
And then—lightning flashed across the sky.
My gaze turned outward.
“Guests—whether uninvited or divine, I can’t tell.”
Far away, a fierce, overwhelming presence was approaching.
“The Descendant of Steel.”
My body awakened with superhuman clarity. My vision stretched wide— and at the edge of it, I saw a flag fluttering in the wind.
“…Have you prepared enough gold?”
The flag of the Black Archipelago, the banner of the most greedy men on the continent.