Chapter 195 : Chapter 195
Chapter 195 - The Fifth Son has Two Bodies
After giving the Forest Witch a few orders with the promise of extra pay.
[You have successfully completed the surprise quest.]
[You have acquired the epic title 「Scale Teacher」.]
――「Scale Teacher」――
[Description]
: The dragon, said to be the most sublime of scales, sought learning, and you have accomplished it splendidly. Those who have taught a dragon are rare even when searching through history, and all of them were great intellectuals or martial artists.
[Effect]
: Dragons feel a sense of profound mystery from you.
: The probability of dragons asking you for teachings or opinions increases.
――――――――――
While moving, I checked the system messages.
The epic title related to the dragon race seemed quite useful for the frequent battles with dragons that would occur due to the friction with Wisdom.
Although the dragons were Wisdom's allies, it wasn't unconditional, and some stood in a neutral position.
If I could draw such dragons to our side, it would be a great help.
Even if they were neutral, they were all arrogant just the same.
If I had this effect, the dragons would see me as an equal conversation partner, and that would be the starting point.
“Youngest Son.”
As I was looking around the interior of the black ship, the Head Maid, who had approached like a ghost, followed me.
“I thought you were Kairos. What is it?”
“There is nothing wrong. I was just wondering if you have any predictions on how Wisdom will act for their first move.”
“Doesn't everyone have a prediction?”
“Are you referring to the teleport magic circle?”
The Youngest Son nodded.
“Wisdom's tactics don't change much in the grand scheme of things. Moving high-firepower mages around with teleport magic circles and dropping magic bombardments.”
“Do you think they will use the same strategy this time?”
“I think the framework will be the same. However, how will they install the teleport magic circles close to Millesdusk. That's the problem we need to solve.”
The important thing in defending against Wisdom's attack was the installation of the teleport magic circles.
If we could block and repel this in advance, we could seize the offensive from Wisdom.
Wisdom also knew this, so they developed and improved numerous methods for installing teleportation circles.
They would bring new technology to this war as well, but the framework would still be the same.
“Do you have any predictions?”
“Well. I can't think of anything right now.”
“That's surprising. I thought the Youngest Son would be able to tell me something.”
“Am I a god? To give you an answer every time you ask me something.”
Even if it wasn't to that extent, the Head Maid just lowered her head slightly as if she had really expected some answer.
The Youngest Son walked with his hands behind his back.
“As long as we are an envoy, Millesdusk can't afford to give up the front line, so we will maintain a defensive stance for now.”
The opponent also knew this, so they would throw the first punch. Furthermore, such punches were mostly feelers.
“The attacks that Wisdom throws to see our reaction. Now is the time to carefully observe such attacks and read the opponent's next move.”
“Will Millesdusk, no. Will the blood relatives do that?”
“When it comes to fighting, they are people whose heads spin fast. But still....”
I was not unaware of the Head Maid's worries. I knew what she was thinking, and it was also the Youngest Son's worry.
“A mediator will be needed to gather opinions and prevent overheating in the midst of chaos.”
“Is there anyone in our family who can mediate them besides you, Youngest Son?”
“There isn't. To be precise, it would be the messenger. But that messenger also has to deliver the Family Head's will throughout the eastern region, so it's difficult to assign her another task.”
In other words, there was no one but the Youngest Son. A sharp solution was needed, and the Youngest Son had one.
“So, I sent a mediator in advance.”
“...Don't tell me.”
“There won't be much need for physical strength in that position. The Clone Son is perfect.”
“So it had a name.”
The Head Maid narrowed her eyes and looked this way. Her sharp gaze shot a slight reprimand.
“Yes. Using a clone divides my magical power and has side effects, but we are an envoy. We're not going to war.”
The Head Maid let out a faint sigh.
“Yes. It may not be a war, but as much blood will flow as in a war. In some way. And somehow.”
“It will not be ours. I will make it so.”
***
The commander of the frontmost defensive line, Emma Kisius, had recently been spending days that were not lacking.
With one more commander-class person, the defensive line became even stronger, and it seemed as if the number of dying soldiers had disappeared.
Her Cursed Swordsmanship, which had been in a slump, was also taught several times by the Gatekeeper, who was a former commander and close to a teacher.
Her achievements in the sword had improved, and the supply from her family had also increased.
In the past, it would have been something to rejoice about, but now she couldn't just do that.
“It seems the war is really approaching.”
“It's about that time.”
Watching the supplies being organized, the two commanders flew along the defensive line on Kelly.
As they were doing so, they saw one more thing. It was coming from inside the defensive line, not outside.
Kurururu—
Kelly's body instinctively trembled due to its presence, and the trembling was transmitted to the two commanders.
Something formidable enough to make even a dead being tremble was approaching.
Furthermore, there weren't many beings in this eastern land that could also make the undead tremble.
“This has become troublesome.”
“...I agree.”
The two commanders instinctively sighed.
Because before they could see anything above the clouds, they heard a voice.
“Ah, really! Get away from me!”
“Why are you being like that to Melaine? It's not her fault her legs are long.”
“Ha! I'm sorry to hear that! My legs are short, so I have to stick here, you know?”
“All of you, shut up. It's so noisy I can't control it.”
Along with the bickering sounds, a Bone Dragon descended through the clouds.
It was a Bone Dragon larger than the Magic Dragon I had seen before, but the four humans on its head were more conspicuous.
The four, with a presence larger than the Bone Dragon the size of a hill, had to be served now that they had been encountered.
Furthermore, Emma bit her lip as she saw the one at the very front among the four.
“First Son….”
The Gatekeeper also noticed it and grabbed her shoulder.
“You can't. Emma.”
“...Yes. I know.”
“Whatever the Youngest Son promised you, it must be fulfilled under the Youngest Son. If you suddenly draw your sword, it's just rebellion.”
Emma nodded slightly and killed her emotions with a few breaths.
Next, she drove Kelly and approached the Bone Dragon.
“Greetings. I am Emma, the commander of the frontmost defensive line.”
The blood relatives, who had been fighting for a while, finally quieted down at the appearance of others. The First Son opened his mouth.
“There's no need to say who we are.”
“Yes. It seems unnecessary.”
“I came by my father's order. The blood relatives will live on the defensive line from now on and prepare for war, so guide us.”
“Follow me.”
The First Son, while speaking, sent his eyes back and looked at the Gatekeeper. Although his appearance was hidden by armor and a helmet, he knew who he was.
He wasn't seen in Eclipse either, so he was here.
The Youngest Son, who had come to the defensive line, must have planted him here and left. Considering his origin and the current situation, it was an excellent choice.
The blood relatives followed Emma's guidance to the 15th gateway.
The 1st or 30th gateways were the widest, but both were too skewed in direction.
“You can stay here. I will guide you to your rooms separately, so for now, please get rid of the Bone Dragon and come inside the gateway.”
“Alright.”
Since the commander was in front of them, the blood relatives did not fight out loud.
Because they knew that arguing with each other here would be of no help.
So Emma was also a little relieved. It was a relief that these guys knew how to save face.
Shwaaaaaaaaaaaaa—
As it got closer to the ground, the Bone Dragon became a bone amulet and entered the First Son's hand.
Kelly sat on the ground, and the two commanders dismounted.
“The one standing behind is the Youngest Son's guard, right~?”
“That is correct. I am on standby at the defensive line by the Youngest Son's order.”
“I guess we found out why he told you to be on standby~.”
Unable to deny those words, the Gatekeeper could only sigh inwardly. Emma took a step forward and stood in front of the blood relatives.
“I will show you where you will be staying. The soldiers here will be moved, so please do not mind them and live here.”
“Send the moved soldiers to other places as reinforcements. The 15th gateway will be temporarily reorganized as the blood relatives' residence.”
“As you wish.”
From the perspective of a commander, it was actually better. They could increase the troops elsewhere, and if the sleeping quarters were uncomfortable, the blood relatives would fix them with their own money.
“There's no need to guide me~. I brought my own house.”
“You… brought it?”
The Fourth Son's hand pointed to the sky. A faint outline could be seen through the dark clouds.
But what was clearly visible was a pitch-black castle, a flying Black Giant Castle.
Furthermore, the Fourth Son was not the only one with a moving residence.
“My residence will also arrive tomorrow, so the commander doesn't need to worry too much.”
“Hmph. Your house is slow because it's running, right? Why didn't you have those so-called wyverns pull it?”
The First Son didn't even bother with the Fourth Son's taunts and pointed to the ghost sisters.
“Only the Daughters need anything.”
“Well. We're not the type to be picky about our sleeping arrangements, but the Butler will rebuild it on his own.”
Emma swallowed her saliva. She had momentarily forgotten what it meant for the blood relatives to be gathered in one place.
The defensive line, where their main camps would also merge, was clearly going to become chaotic.
She didn't expect the blood relatives to stay quietly in the 15th gateway, but she could already predict their huge residences.
Furthermore, the 15th gateway had to fulfill its role as an important resting place and maintenance depot for the trains.
The soldiers would be moved, but that had to be close to the 15th gateway.
But if the blood relatives gathered near the 15th gateway and the Daughters held out inside, the soldiers would be in a difficult position.
Would the people here sleep together in a building used by the soldiers, or in the residence of one blood relative?
Would they listen if she explained the reason? Emma was not confident.
But a person who could be confident flew to the defensive line.
“I'm a little late.”
Flap—
A griffin that landed on the ground, folding its red wings. Another blood relative riding on it smiled.
“I see what the situation is.”
The Clone Son, who was playing the role of the Youngest Son here, approached his main body's siblings.
The Fourth Son blinked in surprise, but the others knew his identity.
“It's a clone.”
“That is correct. The main body said that I would be absolutely necessary here.”
“Yes. We were feeling that way too.”
“Main body? What? Is this a clone?”
Leaving aside the Fourth Son, who hadn't grasped the situation, the First Son took over.
“The commander here is very uncomfortable with us regarding the residence issue.”
“……”
Emma couldn't deny it and just lowered her chin slightly.
“Yes. Since Older Brother and my older sisters have all brought their residences and camps here.”
“If we're going to fight centered on the blood relatives, we have to use all our strength~.”
At the Fourth Son's words, the commanders understood the family's intentions and strategy.
The fact that they were only finding this out now meant that the defensive line was not moving beyond a supportive role.
Nevertheless, the reason the quality and quantity of supplies had increased so much was the same as the reason this strategy had emerged.
“The family is also preparing for the battle after Wisdom.”
“That is correct.”
The Clone Son, who affirmed Emma's words, clapped his hands lightly.
“Let's solve the residence issue first. We blood relatives will live in the Skeleton Giant Horse that will arrive tomorrow.”
“As expected. The Youngest Son is wise.”
“Aah~! I don't want to!”
“Melaine and I aren't particularly fond of it either.”
The First Son chuckled at the Daughters.
“Didn't you say you weren't picky about your sleeping arrangements?”
“We're picky about you, not the sleeping arrangements.”
“That makes sense.”
“But.... If the Youngest Son sleeps with us, it's okay. Because we'll be sharing this pain.”
“Pain? It's a much cleaner place than your marsh.”
“What do you mean, clean! It's covered in the smell of Death Knights, so it's just a running cemetery~.”
The Fourth Son openly sneered but patted the Clone Son's back.
“But well, I agree too~. I've never lost anything by listening to the Youngest Son.”
“Then let's make a plan until the Skeleton Giant Horse arrives.”
“Let's do that.”
“Commander Emma. Is there a suitable space for a meeting?”
“...Follow me.”
Emma walked ahead, glancing back slightly.
Even though the Youngest Son had only sent a clone, he had succeeded in commanding these problem children.
He solved the residence issue, which could have been a headache, as soon as he arrived and even led the meeting.
Was the fate of the war really on the shoulders of that blood relative?
Furthermore, it didn't take long to confirm that that was indeed the case.