kscans

Chapter 195 - Episode 10: Part Two, Speed is Key

"A breakthrough in Heyleight territory with a small unit, you say. That’s utterly impossible… Explain yourself."

Marquis Tembelg, who had risen to his feet, somehow softened his tone midway through his sentence.

"Yes. The Empire’s demand is not the subjugation of the Heyleights, but to reach Maldras via a specified route. In that case, this method is rational, both in terms of cost and speed, and in limiting the damage in the worst-case scenario."

I replied.

"Naturally, it won’t be just an ordinary unit."

"Yes. I believe a cavalry unit using the sorcery staves captured from the Empire would be good."

Those sorcery staves do not unleash power by energizing hot air. Since there is almost no recoil, they should be usable even on horseback. A cavalry unit equipped with ranged weapons, on Earth, they would be called dragoons. However, we cannot call them that here, as this world truly has units that ride dragons.

"Nonsense, those cannot be turned into a combat force. Even if all the knight order members tried, only a few could activate them, and then only imperfectly. …You’re not going to tell me that you’ve already completely analyzed the Empire’s sorcery, are you?"

At Marquis Tembelg’s words, I felt the Chancellor’s and the King’s eyes gleam.

"No, we have not yet been able to tamper with the sorcery staves themselves. However, through the research on magic spectrums that I reported earlier, we have found a way to purify the magic power from magic crystals. In Princess Maytyl’s expert opinion, it is possible to simplify both magic power efficiency and control."

"What?! When did this happen…?"

"Even so, whether they can be used depends on one’s aptitude. The number of people who can use them will be limited. While I mentioned a small number, it is also true that we are forced to limit it to a small number."

"Hmm. So much has been accomplished already…"

Prince Craig and Marquis Tembelg exchanged glances. This was where someone should have interjected with something like, "That’s just a pipe dream!" I myself had no guarantee that we could achieve that much in the short time remaining. It was a desperate statement. From the perspective of self-preservation, it was an outrageous exaggeration.

"The calamity is the arrival of flying dragons. In that case, would it not be appropriate to conserve such weapons as much as possible?"

Marquis Tembelg said. While it was troubling if my exaggeration was taken as fact, what he said was reasonable. To truly prevent the absolute worst, that was indeed the case.

"Especially, our reserves of magic crystals are unreliable. Were not sorcery staves supposed to be used in large quantities?"

The Chancellor raised a question.

"From the measurement results of the Tuvil Mountain magic vein, a small vent spouting high-concentration magic power was found. We have discovered that using it, it is possible to replenish the magic power in empty magic crystals."

Fulsy said.

"Such research, I have not received any report about it…"

Grynisias glared at Fulsy.

"It was a complete coincidence. A phenomenon was discovered where the spectrum analyzer could restore normal magic crystals using magic power from crimson magic crystals. Of course, there is no meaning in replenishing normal magic crystals with precious crimson ones. However, in a place where magic power of a similar quality to crimson magic crystals is spouting, magic crystals can likewise be reused."

In reality, it was only about 60% of a fully charged magic crystal, and it took time. However, according to Princess Maytyl, if magic power from the vent was directly applied, it took even longer, and only about 40% could be restored at best. Purifying the magic power and supplying it was a crucial improvement in efficiency.

That was the reason Princess Maytyl told them to investigate Tuvil Mountain. It seems there were remnants of facilities installed by the Empire around the vent.

In any case, a small unit, improved efficiency of sorcery staves, and a means to replenish magic crystals. This meant that resources for a unit of the size we desired could be secured.

At our explanation, the influential figures pondered.

"A drastic improvement in sorcery staves, and replenishment of magic crystals. Our nation’s sorcery has progressed considerably without our knowing."

The King said. A loose interpretation would be, "As expected of our nation’s great sage. So dependable," perhaps?

No way! This felt more like, "The King is surprised that preparations for a rebellion have progressed this far." Cold sweat ran down my forehead. Sweat soaked into the paper where I rested my clasped hands.

"Though the discovery was accidental, all of this research was conducted under this old man’s responsibility."

I tried to make an excuse, but Fulsy bowed his head as if offering his neck to the guillotine. The King silently observed his wrinkled neck. No one could speak.

"…Now that you mention it, you said before that you couldn’t fight against the tide of old age, didn’t you? It can’t be helped if an old man’s forgetfulness increases."

After a moment of silence, the King said.

"Ahem. I understand the explanation, but it is an unknown territory where Heyleight flocks dance. There is no guarantee that we can break through it, is there?"

Grynisias said.

"Yes, this method merely has the highest expected value. However…"

I bowed my head towards the King.

"Even with a small unit, people are needed to handle miscellaneous tasks and transport during the march. I volunteer as one of those menial workers."

If I was to take this level of risk, the only collateral I could offer was my own life. For my part, I would prioritize speed this time.

"Yeverg."

Into my bowed ear, I heard the name of the duke in charge of foreign affairs.

"I omitted it earlier, but the Empire’s demand stated that the person in charge of the new city must also accompany the group."

"…"

My participation had been decided, regardless of my resolve. "You should have said so from the start!" I inwardly retorted.

"…I bestow upon Ricardo Vinder the qualification of a royal envoy."

The King himself declared it. I had many things I wanted to say, but it meant our proposal had passed, and being present at negotiations, it was a necessary title.

"That being the case, next is the commander of that unit."

At this point, I could only hope for Prince Craig’s choice of personnel. In the first place, it would be limited to people who could use the improved sorcery staves and cartridges.

"In that case, I shall command that unit."

What, that’s not good. At the words spoken suddenly, I doubted my ears. The one who stood up was the next king of this country.

Not only I, but everyone, directed an impolite gaze at him, as if asking, "What is this guy saying?"

"If we adopt the previous hypothesis regarding the calamity, this is not a situation where we can hesitate about danger."

Prince Craig said.

"Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince. The dangers of Heyleight territory are certainly a concern. But if the Empire has some vile scheme…"

Grynisias admonished him. Naturally, thinking logically, the King and the Crown Prince should be in different locations until the calamity is resolved.

In the history of my previous life, there were even cases where a rebellion occurred when both the ruler and the successor were in Kyoto at the same time, and both were overthrown.

And what if the Second Prince returned after that? That guy would surely cause as much trouble as a combination of Nobukatsu and Nobutaka.

"The Empire’s representative is Prince Dagobard. In that case, this demand means to directly demonstrate our strength. I have judged that there is no hidden agenda in this."

Prince Craig said it as if it were nothing. If I recalled correctly, Dagobard had been a prisoner under Prince Craig.

"However, in the worst-case scenario, we would be caught between the Heyleights and the Empire…"

I tried to object.

"Ricardo. Speed is important, isn’t it? If I go, we can significantly shorten the negotiation process."

Having my own strategy turned against me, I fell silent. In terms of speed, he was absolutely right. With Prince Craig and Dagobard, it would essentially be top-level diplomacy. The advantage of being able to make immediate decisions was far too great.

After that, leaving Fulsy and me aside, Grynisias and Marquis Tembelg continued trying to persuade Prince Craig to change his mind. The King did not stop them. Did he, after all, possess knowledge of the great calamity 400 years ago?

"Anything else?"

Grynisias said with a tired face, having failed in his persuasion. My responsibility had also grown almost infinitely, but it couldn’t be helped.

"There is one more thing. Information gathering for the prophesied calamity will naturally continue, won’t it?"

"…Naturally."

Grynisias said with a slightly pained expression.

"For Princess Alfina to gather information about the calamity, there is an effective method other than using the crystal."

I presented the list of candidate cities that Luiza and others had created. It was a list in order of population, with locations that Princess Alfina had been able to confirm from her visions on the left, and those that she had not on the right.

"The ones on the right are cities where the calamity’s arrival has not been confirmed. It is extremely important whether these cities are indicated in the prophecy, isn’t it? To confirm, I believe it is best for Princess Alfina to go to these cities herself and confirm with her own eyes if they match the crystal’s images."

While keeping Princess Alfina away from the crystal, we could obtain effective information about the candidate locations for the calamity. It was the same as when Princess Alfina forcefully came with me during the first prophecy to confirm the state of the village.

"Whether these cities will be struck by the calamity or not is crucial information indeed."

Grynisias nodded in agreement. Marquis Tembelg nodded, his temple twitching. After all, the center of your territory was also quite high up on the right side of the list. I didn’t manipulate it, you know. …Though I don’t know what Luiza was thinking.

In the first place, since it was certain that the Royal Capital was the target of the calamity, selecting candidate locations for relocating capital functions in case of emergency was essential. If the relocation destination was already destroyed, or if it was attacked after relocation, that would be useless.

"I permit that policy."

Grynisias said after confirming the King’s expression. Good, with this, I could keep Princess Alfina isolated from that hateful purple light for a while.

A bridge that balanced Princess Alfina’s safety and countermeasures against the calamity had been built. It was thin and unreliable, but a bridge was still a bridge.

However, for some reason, my path to self-preservation led to the exact opposite side, straight into Heyleight territory. This was an act of God, I supposed. It wasn’t that I failed to protect myself. It was the Empire’s fault for making such an unreasonable demand.

Right, as for us, let’s use that to our advantage and advance the situation as quickly as possible. I felt that "all’s well that ends well" was the complete opposite concept of self-preservation, but it couldn’t be helped.

All that remained was how much those sorcery staves could be improved.