Chapter 112
The declaration of war was made, as if perfectly aimed, at noon on the 10th day.
The words of the Queen were broadcast from the speakers hidden inside the clock towers that had been set up in each district of Lindblum.
It seemed to be almost identical to the letter of declaration of war presented to King Golda, claiming that all the sabotage that had been carried out in Lendia until now, the attempted coup using Marquis Alheus, and even the abnormalities in the artificial dungeon, were all completely the work of Golda.
Perhaps there was also the intention of pushing all the dissatisfaction smoldering within the country onto Golda’s shoulders.
Melt and I listened to that broadcast at the General Guild.
We were there to confirm the details of the emergency requests the guild had begun posting.
“So it’s finally begun… War.” (Melt)
“Everyone’s shocked, of course, but it seems there are some who had suspected this would happen.” (Shizuma)
“Yeah, the people from the Adventurer Guild, the Mercenary Guild, and the Alchemy Guild don’t look surprised.” (Melt)
But for the ordinary citizens, this must have come like a bolt from the blue. Sure, some may have feared the worsening situation, but none could have predicted that right at year’s end, on the eve of the New Year Festival, a declaration of war would be made.
“Adventurers! Just now the guild has posted an emergency request! We are calling for all who can confirm and accept it! This time, only those of Topaz Rank and above may take on missions that head into the battlefield! Those of Crystal Rank and below, please check the rear support assignments!”
The receptionist woman was loudly announcing from the counter.
When I checked the contents, it read…
[Deployment to the Battlefield]
Recruiting adventurers of Topaz Rank or higher for temporary enlistment into the Holy Principality’s knight order.
Fierce combat is expected, but this war was always predicted to break out eventually.
Covert attacks against Lindblum have already been underway.
We are recruiting those who will fight for our homeland.
Reward: Survivors will receive 100 large gold coins each, and those below Emerald Rank will be promoted one rank higher.
Depending on performance, even Ruby Rank may be considered for promotion to Sapphire.
[Packaging, Loading, and Escort of Supplies]
Recruiting people to pack war supplies and load them onto carriages.
Also recruiting escorts for the delivery of these supplies to the forward base.
Since the escort targets are knights, this will still be considered an escort mission, but is available starting from Crystal Rank.
Reward: 2 large gold coins including escort duty.
“So, a request to risk your life for 100 large gold coins, huh. Hard to say if that’s cheap or expensive.” (Shizuma)
“This kind of request… It’s no good. Shilent, I’ll leave this to you.” (Melt)
“Got it. According to the declaration, they’ll be invading in five days, crossing the mountain border. The Scorched Earth Ravine will probably already be functioning as the border. Knights had originally been stationed there, so it’s possible clashes could happen as early as tomorrow. Adventurers may also be dispatched there.” (Shizuma)
It must have already been tested whether that route could be used. And the same would apply to Golda.
If it turned out the ravine’s border gate could be used, it wouldn’t be strange if both armies had already clashed.
“Melt, even the rear support requests might be difficult for someone of your rank, so it may be better for you to stay at home for now. You’re already drawing attention as a newly promoted Ruby.” (Shizuma)
“I see… Understood.” (Melt)
“Let’s go back home together. I need to depart soon as well.” (Shizuma)
…Of course, part of me was worried about Melt.
And the unease I felt for the safety of the other adventurers was genuine too.
But more than that, the exhilaration pushing me forward was undeniable.
On the way home, we saw groups of adventurers heading toward the General Guild.
No doubt they were gathering to take on the emergency requests.
Adventurers too must be aware that war means a chance to earn big.
And of course, mercenaries as well.
“The air feels prickly… Even though this is the same city, it feels like a different place… It’s scary.” (Melt)
“I’ll leave plenty of food. You’d better not go outside.” (Shizuma)
“…Okay.” (Melt)
For Melt, who was still immature in many ways, this wartime atmosphere must have been unbearable.
…I need to end this quickly.
On the way home, we happened to encounter an unusual group entering the city from the south gate.
They were probably coming from the direction of the artificial dungeon… It was the members of Killcrawler.
Leading them was Araza-san, the leader of Killcrawler and one of the Thirteen Knights whom I once met as Seimu.
Among their members, I spotted the First Assault Team led by Livana-san, probably some of the other raid teams, and even Busker.
“Ah, Captain Shilent!”
“Busker, huh. Been a while. And I’m not your captain anymore.” (Shizuma)
“Ah, that’s right! Shilent-san, did you hear the broadcast?” (Busker)
“Yeah, I’m already moving in response.” (Shizuma)
“You’re heading for the battlefield, aren’t you?” (Busker)
“More or less. But as part of a separate unit. I have a different request.” (Shizuma)
“I see… I won’t pry into the details. Let’s both make it back alive!” (Busker)
Araza-san approached me while I exchanged words with Busker, who jumped out from the group.
“I’ve heard my members were indebted to you before. From the looks of it… you’re one of the ‘Brigade’, aren’t you?” (Araza)
“Hm, so you’re Araza-dono, one of the Thirteen Knights and a commander?” (Shizuma)
“So you knew… Indeed, I can sense extraordinary spirit from you. Let’s both make it back alive. You too are quite intriguing.” (Araza)
“That so? I’ll take that as an honor.” (Shizuma)
We parted ways after a brief exchange.
But…
“…”
“…!”
“…”
“Mmm…”
For some reason, I noticed Melt and Livana-san staring at each other nearby.
No, to be precise, Melt was glaring while Livana-san was just absentmindedly looking back.
Eh? What? Do they have some kind of connection…? Oh! Right, Melt’s friend was nearly killed, wasn’t she?
“Melt, let’s go.” (Shizuma)
“Ah, yeah… Be careful out there.” (Melt)
“Mm.” (Livana)
Oh, so kind. As expected, Melt is still Melt.
We returned home after seeing off Killcrawler’s group. I immediately took preserved food out of my item box and packed it into the cold storage.
“Melt, I’m leaving a lot of food here. But even if the war ends quickly, I may not be back for some time, so it might not last until then. Food prices might even rise, so I’ll leave some money too.” (Shizuma)
“O-Okay… Ah, but I actually have quite a bit of money myself! Right now I have 31 large gold coins in savings! Remember the dragon we hunted together, Shilent? I got money from selling those materials!” (Melt)
“Ah, I see. Then that’s reassuring. Melt, be careful with the locks.” (Shizuma)
“Of course, don’t worry! So Shilent, don’t worry about anything and just be careful out there, alright? Promise me…you can’t let your guard down!” (Melt)
“Yeah, of course.” (Shizuma)
I exchanged parting words with her while operating the sunroom functions.
“Melt, I’m off.” (Shizuma)
“Take care! For a souvenir…bring back Golda’s royalty!” (Melt)
“Not bad…” (Shizuma)
Laughing at her completely unrestrained black humor, I teleported to the Dreamhill Great Forest, to the ruins of the Mansion of Greed…
—————-
That day, Golda’s royal capital was in an uproar like a beehive that had been struck.
No, not “like”…it truly was.
That morning, the King realized the abnormality the moment he woke up.
Feeling a letter slipped into his chest, he leapt up in alarm.
Grabbing it, he trembled from the depths of his stomach at the emblem embossed on the wax seal.
It was the crest of the Holy Principality of Lendia, the noble dragon.
The very emblem modeled after the legendary dragon, the Sapphire Dragon Lindblum, who once ruled over the southern continent.
He shook and looked around without even needing to open it. Yet, he barely restrained himself from the shame of calling for others, perhaps thanks to the pride that still remained within him.
But the fact remained…an enemy agent had infiltrated all the way into his bedchamber at the innermost part of the castle and, worse yet, had slipped a letter onto his unguarded chest before leaving.
That reality evoked not fear, but anger.
Because it was no less than being told: “You could be killed at any time.”
The King opened the letter. Written inside, in the same fashion as the way it was delivered, was none other than a [Declaration of War].
“In five days, we shall commence our invasion of the Kingdom of Golda.”
That one line was all it said.
The King trembled with anger, but also grinned, as if to say, “Exactly as I expected.”
He summoned the leaders of the kingdom to the audience chamber.
Generals commanding the knights and soldiers.
The head mage who commanded the magic corps.
Those in charge of negotiations with foreign mercenaries.
And a gentlemanly man named Fus Fan, who had recently taken charge of the newly established department known as the Magic Research Institute.
And in addition…two students.
One, cowering before the atmosphere of war.
The other, rejoicing at the chance to grow stronger.
They were asked how they intended to participate in this war.
“I will head to the battlefield. Only there can I finally become strong. Isn’t that right, Fus-san?”
“Yes, indeed. You will feast on the final spark of life and grow ever stronger. For now, you may not yet rival the Thirteen Knights. But by the end of this war…you will have consumed countless lives and obtained unparalleled strength.” (Fus)
Isaka flushed with excitement at those words, and the King too placed his hopes upon him.
“Then we cannot afford to lose Isaka, can we? If all that is needed is for people to die nearby…then he should be preserved for now.”
“Indeed. And if my hypothesis is correct, lost lives return to the land. Normally, returned lives vanish into the center of the world. But within a dungeon, that is not the case. They are absorbed into the Dungeon Core, and the overflowing life then spills forth as treasure. I have implanted the workings of a dungeon into a human, transforming the overflowing life not into wealth, but into strength. Isaka-kun is now a living dungeon. As long as he remains in this country, the whole kingdom itself is his dungeon. You will continue to grow stronger without even stepping onto the battlefield.” (Fus)
A forbidden technique, attainable only to those who fully understood the mechanisms of both dungeons and the world.
Isaka, who had been subjected to it, failed to even notice how his thoughts were being warped, and only rejoiced in those words.
“Then…I won’t be going to the battlefield immediately? Instead, I’ll wait until my power builds up, to overturn the stalemate in one decisive stroke… Is that the role I’m meant to play?” (Isaka)
“Yes, that is correct. You are the secret weapon, the ultimate weapon. Now then, Inami-san, what about you? With your magic, you would already be capable of playing an active role on the frontlines.” (Fus)
Inami hesitated at that.
Fear of the danger awaiting her.
Desire to shine gloriously on the battlefield as the story’s heroine.
Unable to decide, she was offered words that seemed like a helping hand.
“Inami-san, it’s better if you don’t leave my side. Besides, we’ll still need to keep troops here in the castle. And you yourself are already stronger than most of this kingdom’s soldiers.” (Isaka)
“Indeed, that is true. Inami-dono, I too would prefer if you remained in the castle. We are keeping watch, but there’s still the possibility that he might come through the Dreamhill Great Forest.”
“Him… you mean the Summoned One who abandoned us so quickly? I’ve never met him myself, but is he really that formidable?” (Inami)
“Yes. Perhaps by the end of this war, even Isaka will have gained the strength to match him. But as of now, it would be impossible to win no matter what. Which is why you and Isaka must both be preserved.”
As King, he wanted to keep strong pieces close, to ensure his own safety.
For Inami too, safer was better. And above all, she was satisfied with her position as the “heroine being protected by the strongest, Isaka.”
Meanwhile…Fus thought: “If he’s that powerful, then wouldn’t he be more useful than Isaka?”
His true intentions were still unclear. But what was clear was that he sought a strong vessel.
Whether Shilent…or Shizuma…truly ought to expose himself before this man…
Shizuma doesn’t have the knowledge nor the experience to predict what might come of unleashing his power.
—————-
“That’s right. I cannot do it alone. That is why I need the help of you, the only one who has achieved it! You seem to truly understand the real risks of wielding power! That is why you left behind ‘those words,’ right?”
“Yes…but now that I’ve completely assimilated with everyone, I can say it clearly. Leaving those words was a mistake. You are far too dangerous… Your ideas, your thoughts, your goals.”
“No, no, no. That’s only the knowledge of me back in the game days, isn’t it? Please, trust me, Shire-san. I am only making these proposals for the sake of My Lord! This too is the same! The final decision always lies with My Lord!”
In the darkness.
Two shadows were at a floating round table.
Shire, and another man.
“Only you were able to summon My Lord into this world… Only because of your deep trust and immense hidden power could you achieve that miracle! Please, make that miracle happen once more!”
This man was a character once called a Fanatic by Shizuma.
Apparently, he was now begging Shire to summon the Lord again, so he could meet him.
Shire considered it. Was it truly right to let this dangerous man, who seemed madly obsessed with his faith in “something,” meet Shizuma?
“…Promise me. Once your goal is achieved, you will return this body to Shizuma. Because your methods…they will bring her grief. I care about her, about Melt, just as much as Shizuma does. If you try to hurt her needlessly…then even if it’s impossible, I swear I will kill you.” (Shire)
“Oh, what splendid love! That itself is a kind of faith! I will never deny another’s faith. Let us respect it. So please, summon My Lord without worry.”
And Shire chose…
To let this Fanatic meet Shizuma.
Believing it would lead to Shizuma’s happiness…
—————-
(´・ω・｀) The 7th Arc ends here.
(´・ω・｀) Due to work on the book publication, the next update is expected to be delayed.
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