kscans

Chapter 76 - The Job's End and the Empire

Two days after completing the Undead subjugation and returning from the ruins.

We were back in the city.

We entered the guild and made our report: the Undead subjugation was a success, and there were no stragglers. The other adventurers had made similar reports.

I felt a small sense of relief. Being accused of providing false information is never pleasant, no matter your position.

Just then, the Guild Master spoke. "…Thank you all for your hard work. Based on the reports, we will consider the Undead hunt a success. …The reward money will be paid out now. …Please line up and receive your payment."

After he spoke, the receptionists began to make preparations.

He was quite gentlemanly for someone with such a rugged appearance. It just goes to show you can’t judge a book by its cover. I got in line and received my reward. After that, we decided to head to the port to see off Glad-san and his party. Since this matter was a success, their ship was granted permission to depart. However, it was only a single vessel.

Seeing Glad-san and the others packing their things, I asked, "…Glad-san. Are you leaving soon?"

At my words, Glad-san replied, "Yes, we can leave right away. …I’m worried about the royal capital, not just the port town. …Are you sure you don’t want to come?"

To his question, I said, "I’m sure. …Honestly, I wouldn’t be of any use even if I did go. …I’m a hunter. Hunting is all I can do."

I said it, feeling a bit of my own powerlessness.

Glad-san said, "…I understand. …Well then, stay safe. …We’ll do what we can on our end to get the shipping routes reopened."

He said, extending his hand.

I shook it without a word. The three women were watching the exchange.

Tina spoke to the woman with the shortsword. "…Please try not to do anything too reckless. …Your Highness?"

The woman with the shortsword, Olivia, replied, "…Very well. …I shall leave it at this for now. …By the way, where do you two plan on going next?"

To this question, Tina answered, "…To the Empire."

When she said that, Olivia continued, "…The Empire, is it? …Then let me give you a word of advice. The Empire is currently in an unstable situation. …First, the Empire has two princesses. One is focused on defensive warfare and is exploring the possibility of reaching an accord with the monsters. …The other insists on total resistance and advocates for the annihilation of all monsters. …I hear the two factions are constantly at odds in the royal capital."

She provided us with the information.

Tina asked, "…I can understand total resistance, but is it really possible to reach an accord with monsters?"

Finding the story hard to believe, Olivia explained, "…I too doubted my ears, but apparently there are groups of monsters that can understand language. She seems to be thinking that if she can negotiate with them, even if she can’t reclaim territory, she might be able to halt the current state of war. …The death toll on the border between the Empire and the monsters is constantly rising, after all."

Tina thought for a moment. Honestly, it sounded like a fairy tale. Even if they could understand language, monsters lived to kill. Suppressing one’s own instincts is difficult even for humans. She couldn’t quite grasp what the Empire’s princess was thinking; there was too little information to judge.

As she was pondering this, Olivia said, "…So, please be careful. …That country is the most dangerous on this continent. Not just its internal affairs, but the power of its monsters is said to be on a completely different level from what you’ve seen so far."

She gave her warning. Tina said, "…Thank you. …Your Highness, please have a safe journey as well."

She offered her farewell.

Hearing this, Olivia felt a twinge of sadness.

…Their journey had been embroiled in enough trouble to spark her creative spirit, and their exploits were wonderful material for poetry. …Just then, a thought occurred to Olivia. They were getting caught up in far too much trouble.

The turmoil at the Church had been brewing for a month, but it only erupted the day after those two arrived. The Undead incident also began after they came to this country. …And those Undead were being controlled by an insect, an insect that doesn't exist in nature. It was almost certain that someone had created it, as she herself had said. …In other words, the incidents at the Church and in the Republic were deliberately caused by someone. …And their target was those two.

…Why? She didn’t know why they were being targeted, but it didn’t seem like an attempt on their lives.

The reason being, the methods were too indirect.

The riot at the Church had targeted men and women. The one in the Republic had targeted everyone. …If someone wanted to kill the two of them, they should have acted more directly, but they hadn't. …At that moment, a dreadful thought crossed Olivia’s mind. …There was no intent to kill, but they were still being targeted. …In other words, someone was causing these incidents for their own amusement.

…The thought disgusted Olivia.

Taking human lives for fun. No matter the reason, it was unforgivable. …She thought about telling Tina, but it was just her own speculation. …With insufficient information, she shouldn’t say anything carelessly. …Besides, if the two of them thought that others were getting hurt because of them, they might go into hiding somewhere. …The Kingdom’s guild was counting on them to continue their activities as adventurers. …It was too soon for them to retire.

Having reached that conclusion, Olivia boarded the ship.

I heard the information about the Empire from Tina.

…It sounded like a pretty standard and easy-to-understand conflict. …Well, I prefer simple relationships to complex ones, so it’s a development I quite like. …Not that I have any intention of joining an imperial faction. In a way, it seems like a normal thing for royalty to be doing. …But there’s no point in thinking about that.

…My goal is to get stronger.

I want to strengthen my weapons as much as possible.

Considering that, the Empire’s internal affairs are irrelevant. If they’re busy with that, then the soldiers, and even the citizens, probably won’t have time to fuss over adventurers from the Kingdom. Or so I hope. …The plan is set. First, to draw the teleportation magic circle.

…I’ve already drawn the first one in front of the ruins. I did it as practice.

After that, once we leave the Republic, we’ll go to the Church and draw a magic circle in the nearby forest. We’ll conduct a teleportation experiment there. If it’s a success, we’ll return to the Republic and take a ship back to the Kingdom. …The mountain route is dangerous; I don’t feel like going that way again. Besides, I want to see the state of the port town. Once we’re back, we’ll go to the city of Alum and draw a magic circle in front of my house. And that’s that. We’ll be able to travel freely to any location we choose. …I immediately told this plan to Tina.

To which Tina replied, "…I think that’s a good idea. …In the unlikely event our identities are exposed, we’ll need to escape quickly. …Considering that, going back to draw the magic circles is a good idea. …But why didn’t you get on the ship with Glad and the others?"

To her question, I said, "…The port town is half-destroyed. If we showed up there, what would the residents think? …They might think we came to save their town. …It would feel bad if our purpose was just to look around and pass through, wouldn't it? …Even if we are worried about the town. …That’s why I was thinking of hiding my face as much as possible when we go back. …Being with Glad-san and his group would have been rude. …A knight of the Kingdom acting alongside a masked man would damage his credibility."

To this line of reasoning, Tina said, "…I think some parts are a bit forced, but… well, if that’s what you think, Shinsuke, I have no objections."

She seemed to have accepted it, for the most part.

I wrote my regular report and sent it off with a messenger bird. I was about to go to sleep when I saw Tina putting on her green armor.

I prepared myself without a word.

Tina lay on her back on the bed. I restrained her four limbs with iron fetters and chains, getting her into an X-shaped crucifix position. With Tina unable to move, I kissed her. It was a very deep and long kiss.

After the kiss, I touched every inch of her body, slowly stroking and wiping away the sweat that flowed from the gaps in her armor. As I did so, Tina moaned with a sweet voice, writhing in pleasure.

On the open sea.

There were two mermen. One was Daios the Sea General. The other was a tuna merman—a tunaman. The tunaman asked, "…Daios-sama. …What should we do?"

To this question, Daios replied, "…Hmph. …To be honest, I haven’t thought of anything. How to stall those two… …I considered an attack from the sea, but… this country’s navy is quite skilled. Annihilating them in a short time would be difficult. …It would be simple if I went myself, but I can’t step onto the main stage just yet. …And using you all would take time. …What should I do?"

As he was thinking, another merman, a kiss-fish, approached. "Daios-sama. A message from the Dragon King. …Word is spreading in the royal castle of the Republic that the recent Undead incident may have been a plot by some unknown party. …He suggests that you might be able to use this."

At this message, Daios mused, "…Because of Lord Thousand Poisons’s actions? …Indeed, that might be usable. …Alright, Madero. I have orders for you."

The tuna merman, Madero, replied, ‘As you command,’ and awaited his orders.