Chapter 276 - Chapter Sixteen: Off the Coast of Primordia
In May, the five thousand soldiers who had departed from the former Cantas territory, the border region with Morandine, received new instructions from their lord, Margrave Mortimer, while en route to their own territory.
They were to divide into several units and, after taking action, board the ships of the Engrio Navy waiting at the designated ports. After that, they were to gather at the Navy's base in the westernmost port of Engrio.
The staff officers tilted their heads at the strange instructions, but what crossed their minds was the incident two years ago.
It was the fact that the fleet carrying five hundred soldiers heading toward Primordia had been attacked by Gargoyles and vanished as the scum of the sea. (T/N: 'Scum of the sea' refers to the foam or debris on the ocean, an idiom for dying at sea without a proper burial.)
Since then, King Seldic has not been looked upon kindly by the nobles of western Engrio for his contact with those of the Ruined Town, and they have effectively refused military service citing the depletion of their soldiers. The reason it has not reached rebellion or defection is likely because they actually have no soldiers, and there is no country nearby that can oppose Engrio and support defection, it was rumored in the Royal Palace.
However, King Seldic is also taking a conciliatory measure of exempting those western generals from military service by having them pay an amount of money that can hire mercenaries.
The staff officers leading the separate unit of Margrave Mortimer's army, who were put on military ships, hired mercenaries centered on those who could use mid-level [Holy] with a considerable amount of war funds given by the King, and prepared silver weapons. It was a countermeasure against Gargoyles. The scale was more than ten times that of the previous time. Furthermore, several people wearing black robes were on board, and those people could not only use attribute magic but also seemed to be able to manipulate monsters.
They calculated that they could fight sufficiently against up to several hundred.
In July, the fleet of over a hundred large and small ships that gathered off the southern coast of the Royal Capital took a course to the west. At night, they entered ports and stayed. And they waited for instructions at the westernmost port in the Kingdom of Engrio. They should be able to reach the coast of Primordia in roughly three days.
Mortimer's staff officers had seen through that their army's goal was Primordia. At the same time, they speculated that the Gargoyles that attacked the Engrio soldiers two years ago were likely controlled by people with similar abilities to those deeply involved with their own master. In other words, the primary goal was to annihilate the enemy's Gargoyles with a naval force of five thousand, and they thought that if they achieved that, Primordia would surrender.
During the voyage and while waiting at the ports, two to four [Anti-Air Ballistae], which were said to have been developed in Sertoria and could fire four silver arrowheads simultaneously, were installed on the ships. Centered on those who used mid-level [Holy] or [Favorable Wind], they conducted training to counter Gargoyles, arranging archers as the second line and heavy infantry on the ship's sides as the third line. They also purchased various scrolls.
While watching the training, the navy soldiers were impressed. Most of them were deeply religious, as is common among sailors. They believed in omens and valued faith. Of course, they were daredevils and brave, but some were intimidated when the opponent was the curse of the Demon Lord.
"This is impressive. As expected of the troops of Margrave Mortimer. They don't care about the Demon Lord's curse."
The chief commander of the navy spoke to the staff officer of the Mortimer army.
"What, the Demon Lord has already been subjugated. Besides, we are those who worship not only the gods of our ancestors but also the Goddess. Monsters must be subjugated."
The staff officer of the Mortimer army, who knew Servetus's methods, had seen through that the painful defeat two years ago was something orchestrated by the West Coast countries that had obtained monster tamers by some method. He did not believe in curses, but he had been strictly forbidden by his master from speaking of it. He spoke like a priest so as not to cause offense.
However, the words that they would defeat monsters because they worshiped the Goddess set fire to the hearts of the religious navy soldiers.
"O-Oh. That's right. You lot! Did you hear those words!"
"Aye! We also believe in the Goddess. We'll fight the monsters along with the Margrave's forces!"
The navy soldiers, who had been discouraged because the opponent was the Demon Lord's curse, regained their fighting spirit and actively worked on training such as coordination with the Mortimer army and the formation of the fleet against attacks from the sky.
"As expected of those directly under His Majesty."
"No, no, it's thanks to you all. As expected of the Margrave's staff officers. I am impressed."
Five thousand soldiers, horses, and sufficient supplies. The fleet, which had prepared such strategic materials and was waiting for instructions for departure in high spirits, received instructions to occupy the Primordia Royal Capital and set sail in mid-August. It was at the same time that the Regnentes conquest army advanced toward Regnentes on the border highway.
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A small magic circle glowed.
The man looked at the letter that had been sent and handed it to the subordinate beside him.
"It's finally time."
"Yeah, we're going to change this country."
"I've been waiting and waiting for this day."
"The enemy intends to come to this land in three days, probably early in the morning of the third day. We'll intercept them on the way."
Passing through a place like a crack where bright sunlight shone from a dark hole, the two emerged halfway up a lump of rock. The rock itself was like a small hill, but the surroundings were surrounded by the sea.
It was an island, or rather, a large rock jutting out into the sea.
While placing his hands and feet in the depressions on the surface of the large rock, he climbed near the top and looked east, showing only his face from behind the rock. At the end of his gaze was the Primordia Royal Capital, and there was the Royal Palace. The two had been watching the lonely King who came out to the terrace of the Royal Palace at a fixed time every day and stretched. Today again, he was stretching.
"That man will eventually carve his name into the history of this country as a great king."
"We are the ones who will make him so."
"That's right. Of course, our names won't come out."
"I don't mind. As long as the history of this country changes, that's enough."
"A good thought."
The man spoke to a single [Jaeger] who was behind the rock.
"It's about time to switch."
"Yes. Please."
When the man exchanged glances with his attendant, the attendant held out his hand.
"Phew. I'm tired. At times like this, I envy you all."
"Only at times like this?"
The man smirked.
The man and the [Jaeger] descended the rock and went inside from the crack-like place.
There was a lid deep in the crack, and when the lid was removed, it was a hole. The hole made by hollowing out the rock was only about the size of a bedroom for two people, but it was enough for four men to spend time sleeping together for a short period. In the middle was a hearth, and fur was spread around it. On the walls were shelves that looked like they had been hollowed out here and there, containing food, alcohol, and weapons.
The reason it was as bright as day even though there was no hole for light was likely because a magic circle pasted on the ceiling was shining with a moderately soft light.
There were two [Jaegers] in the hole.
"Departure will be after the sun goes down. After moving once to the cape ahead and staying for one night, we'll intercept them southeast of the cape. I hear the enemy has over a hundred ships."
"That's a big catch."
"Yeah. I'm counting on you."
"Understood. Then, the three of us will have a meal now and rest until evening."
"Umu. Are there enough fish and sea birds?"
"Yes. Thanks to you."
"Then, good."
When the three [Jaegers]' meal preparations were finished, the man took four bowls and alcohol from the shelf and placed them in front of each person sitting cross-legged on the floor.
Each drank a little alcohol. There was no shout for a toast.
They had idle small talk, and when each finished drinking, the three except for the man slept on the fur.
When the man chanted the password, he turned off the light of the magic circle.
And he continued the mission while alternating with the attendant who was outside.
Just before the sun went down, everyone gathered outside the rock.
"The enemy seems to be forming several circles centered on the ships carrying transport supplies. Fran, you manipulate the Gargoyles and have them provide appropriate diversion. You don't have to attack. We'll target the small ships in order."
"Understood, Wilson-san."
When Fran held out his hand, this time six Gargoyles danced in the sky.
One of the [Jaegers] made a bowl with [Wind Barrier], and once everyone had boarded, another applied [Camouflage] with a scroll. They took off from behind the rock just like that and flew low over the sea surface.
Six Gargoyles followed immediately behind them.
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The Engrio fleet advanced as if surrounding the almost defenseless supply transport ships with large and small ships in a double layer.
With silver weapons, mid-level [Holy], and repeated training, they challenged the Gargoyle extermination with confidence.
The time they set sail was roughly noon. They would pass through the sea area where they were said to have been attacked by Gargoyles two years ago at midnight and appear at their destination, the Primordia Royal Capital, early in the morning. Moreover, it was close to a full moon.
A lookout found Gargoyles dancing in the moonlight.
A fire arrow went up. With that as a signal, bonfires were lit all at once on the ships, and the soldiers took their positions. So as not to affect the aim of the arrows and magic they would fire, each ship folded its sails and gathered close together. The [Anti-Air Ballistae] pointed toward the sky, and the lookouts looked up at the sky so as not to miss even one. The black-clad people became desperate to manipulate them back. In preparation for the worst, they spread scrolls of [Magic Reflection] and [Magic Barrier] infused by ultra-high-level magic users and fired them toward the sky, preparing for the reproduction of the cursed highway.
For some reason, the Gargoyles only danced in the sky and did not try to come down.
Just as the soldiers thought the black-clad people's techniques were going well, one Gargoyle in the sky dived diagonally, and suddenly six small ships on the outside sank.
There was no time even to aim the ballistae or magic.
It was a sudden event. Lightly equipped navy soldiers managed to float on the sea, but the soldiers who were wearing chain mail sank without even a moment to struggle because their equipment was too heavy.
Another Gargoyle dived down.
"Fire!"
It would likely be a random shot, but even just driving them away is effective. There was no aim or anything. They fired arrows, shot ballistae, and fired magic.
Even so, six small ships sank simultaneously.
Before long, the six Gargoyles repeated diving and soaring separately, and each time, six small ships sank. Once an [Anti-Air Ballista] was fired, it took time to reload. Even so, the soldiers felt they would be trapped by fear if they were not attacking, and reloaded desperately.
"Lookouts, look carefully! We have the advantage in numbers."
There were six confirmed Gargoyles. There were over a hundred ships. If they did not panic and finished them off one by one, they would surely win.
While ships were being sunk one after another, they finally defeated one Gargoyle. Seeing the stone statue sink into the sea while raising a water column while stopped, everyone raised a cheer.
However, a navy lookout on one ship raised a scream.
"What happened!"
A ship sank before their eyes. Everyone who saw that sight doubted their own eyes.
This was because they saw something like tree roots clinging to the ship and sinking it as if dragging it into the sea.
"I-It's an octopus!"
The soldiers did not understand what the navy lookout meant. What about an octopus?
"Below! The monsters are in the sea!"
Another small ship sank. At that moment, the soldiers knew the true identity of the one attacking them and were terrified.
A giant octopus was attacking the ships from under the sea.
The [Anti-Air Ballistae], which could no longer aim at a downward angle, were of no use. Even with silver arrows and mid-level [Holy], their power would be greatly reduced if fired toward an enemy in the sea. Besides, the Engrio soldiers had no experience fighting an octopus.
The Gargoyles in the sky were just decoys.
By the time they realized it, it was too late. Another six ships were sunk. Already, one-third of the ships, which had exceeded a hundred, had been sunk as if being dragged into the sea along with the ships.
"M-Magic soldiers! Move to the sides! Aim for the sea with lightning! Bonfires, illuminate the sea surface! The target is the octopus. Those with silver spears, attack from the sides! If you can't reach, throw them!"
The staff officer, who had heard countermeasures from the navy soldiers, shouted.
The octopus crept up from directly beneath the ships, and once it clung to the hull with its suckers, it destroyed the large and small hulls with its monstrous strength and dragged them into the sea just like that.
When that terrifying attack method became clear, the Engrio army fell into chaos. Moreover, because they had given instructions to scatter the ships that had been close together until now to try to disperse the octopus's aim, the psychology of fleeing worked, and it fanned the flames of fear.
The instruction was correct, but it resulted in spurring the chaos of the fleet.
They glared at the sea surface, and if they saw the octopus's legs, they fired arrows and threw spears, but even if one or two legs were injured, the octopus's attack power did not decline, and ships were sunk one after another. The fleet was completely surrounded, and it seemed they were preferentially targeting the ships trying to escape. Moreover, sailing ships move by the power of the wind. Since the wind was blowing in the same direction for the entire fleet, all the ships ended up moving in the same direction, and they could not scatter and flee.
They were attacked there one after another.
Furthermore, the Gargoyles descended very close to the ships. They could not ignore them either. They should be dealing damage bit by bit, but the octopus's fury did not decline, and in the end, almost all the ships were sunk during the battle of about an hour. Especially the large ships all sank.
"Alright. Release the octopus."
Wilson gave instructions to Robinson, who was next to him, and the two of them released the octopus by undoing the [Subordination].
The octopus began to attack the Engrio soldiers who were floating while clinging to the wreckage of the ships.
"Chase the ships that escaped."
The fact that the magic circle for sending letters had been activated could not be perceived. If so, if they sank the ships, the contact to Engrio would be greatly delayed.
There were two people with good night vision. The ships that were caught up with were hit by Wilson's magic and sank one after another.
"Alright. That should be enough. We'll return after resting at the cape once."
The [Paratroop Jaegers] pointed the bowl toward the coast. Five Gargoyles manipulated by Fran followed behind.
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The day after the Engrio Navy sank into the sea along with five thousand soldiers, the King of Primordia summoned his vassals.
While they wondered what was going on for a brief moment, he suddenly ordered the royal guards to restrain the largest noble in the country and the nine high-ranking nobles connected to him.
"Y-Your Majesty! Just what is the meaning of this! Do you think such selfishness will be permitted!"
The nobles shouted loudly at their own King, but the King took out a single piece of parchment from his breast pocket. On that parchment was a letter addressed to Servetus, the Chairman of the Council of the Ruined Town, stating that they wanted him to help with the secret communication to Engrio.
"N-No way..."
At the end of the Prime Minister's gaze, the Archbishop was smiling.
"You! You betrayed us! And you call yourself a priest! You liar!"
He shouted, but the Archbishop was not moved at all.
"I never said a single word about delivering that letter to the Chairman of the Council of the Ruined Town. I merely received it from you. As a priest, I cannot overlook such actions. It is only natural for a priest to inform His Majesty. Besides, as one who inherits the blood of the ancient people who value faith, betrayal is not permitted."
While swearing at the Archbishop, who had said it while smiling, the Prime Minister and the others were thrown into prison just like that.
A trial was immediately held by the King's ruling, treason was applied, and they were executed along with their families the next day.
Furthermore, what surprised the people were the policies the King issued afterward.
"The territories of the traitors who were executed shall be redistributed to the lords, including the Royal Family. Furthermore, with the property they had accumulated, the Royal Family shall buy the serfs held by the lords. Also, the lords must give enough land to all the released serfs so they can live and make them free farmers. The Royal Family shall pay the serfs' debts that are appropriate. Those that are inappropriate do not need to be paid. Naturally, they must pay taxes to the lords who hold the land ownership. The amount of tax will be communicated later. Also, the lords' military service shall be exempted by paying money. Free farmers shall bear the obligation of military service, and I want the lords to lead them in times of emergency. These things shall surely be implemented within the year. No opposition will be permitted. Our country shall abolish serfdom."
These words were received with shock by the people. Especially the joy of the serfs, no, the former serfs, was extraordinary; they called the King the Liberator King, and festivals were held in various places.
The nobles had their own thoughts, but they feared the skill with which he had executed the largest noble in the country and those involved for treason, and they were satisfied that the redistributed territory was of sufficient area. Besides, since military service was mandated for free farmers, they did not have to hire soldiers themselves all the time. The portion leading to a significant reduction in military spending could be put into the management of the territory. In the first place, if they opposed, they would undoubtedly be targeted by the rebellion of the serfs throughout the country. There was no way to oppose.
While watching the former serfs flocking to the Royal Palace almost every day and thanking him loudly, the King was talking with the Archbishop.
"Archbishop. Thanks to you, our country seems likely to become a slightly better country."
"Yes. I thought that Your Majesty, who always put the lives of the people first and was prepared to throw away even the name of the Royal Family if necessary, would surely understand."
"My only wish is to not let the bloodline of my house die out. Whether it be the Royal Family or a local noble does not matter. If Engrio had attacked, I intended to surrender without fighting."
The King had been advised by the King of Sertoria from before to reduce the military power of the high-ranking nobles. When he grasped the decisive evidence to bury the high-ranking nobles and received a letter promising that the King of Sertoria would destroy the Engrio army that would likely attack by sea, he made his decision.
"However, you spent time with those people well."
"A title may never have been so useful in the world. I myself am from a noble family, though the family rank is very small. It's just that because I am the Archbishop, those big shots approached me on their own. They kept each other in check and refrained from producing the position of Archbishop from among themselves, and made it so that someone from a small house like mine was appointed. As a result, I was appointed to this office. It has been five years since my appointment, but every day has been thrilling."
The King, who had been fighting loneliness daily and regretting his own unworthiness, and the Archbishop, who, although of noble birth, had keenly felt the need for social reform after seeing many tragedies in the battle against epidemics during his time as a priest, laughed from the bottom of their hearts.