kscans

Chapter 212 - Episode 10: The True Hypothesis

The conference room was under heavy guard in the early morning. More Imperial knights patrolled outside the windows than during the first meeting.

Craig and Dagobard sat at the front. Behind them were the Kingdom’s envoys, including Hyde and Fabius, as well as the Imperial knights and sorcerers who had accompanied them to Flying Dragon Mountain. Many wore puzzled expressions, having been all but dragged from their beds to assemble here.

The task of explaining fell to Maytyl. I was her assistant, standing by her side.

"I will now present the results of our analysis of approximately two thousand years of magic vein data from Flying Dragon Mountain. Needless to say, I expect this to be kept in the strictest confidence."

Maytyl’s tone was casual, but upon hearing her words, the irritation vanished from Dagobard’s face, leaving it a blank mask.

"Alright, I’ll begin." Maytyl briefly explained the glacial varved clay samples and the measurement methods. In the meantime, I drew a graph on the stone slate they had prepared for us.

【Present】 Purple. ｜｜ Crimson. ｜｜｜｜

【400 Years Ago】 Purple. ｜｜ Crimson. ｜｜

【800 Years Ago】 Purple. ｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜ Crimson. ｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜

【1600 Years Ago】 Purple. ｜｜…… Crimson. ｜｜｜｜……

"Four hundred years ago is one thing, but eight hundred... even sixteen hundred years ago. Is this data not far too old. No, I see there is a cycle."

"I see, so the magic vein activity has a four hundred year cycle. This means it has become even clearer that the next calamity will be the same as the one four hundred years ago. It seems your struggles were worth the effort."

Dagobard and Craig spoke as they studied the graph. The people behind them nodded in admiration, looking proud that the data they had risked their lives fighting monsters for had proven valuable. I suppose we probably felt the same way at first.

Dagobard’s gaze then asked what was next. Maytyl and I remained silent.

"...Why is the data for twelve hundred years ago missing."

"It’s not a four hundred year cycle. It’s double that... then four hundred years ago was..."

The two future heads of state widened their eyes at almost the same moment. A beat later, the expressions of those seated behind them also changed. We must have looked just like that ourselves.

"I don’t think I need to explain. The data for the Purple and Crimson wavelengths, high magic power that doesn’t normally appear. Looking at the pattern, there’s a high probability the next calamity will be closer to what happened eight hundred or sixteen hundred years ago, not four hundred. In fact, compared to the pattern of the Purple magic vein’s activity, the disaster that destroyed the Ancient Nation four hundred years ago looks like a minor anomaly."

As Maytyl spoke, I wrote out our prediction for the future. A grim one.

【Future Projection】 Future. ……｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜｜ Present. ｜｜ 400 Years Ago.

Unlike the trivial great calamity of four hundred years ago, the release of Purple magic power eight hundred and sixteen hundred years ago continued for several decades or more. Considering the preceding release of Crimson magic power and the chronological cycle, this time corresponds to those events.

The data from the glacial lake was ironically similar to the ice ages of my previous life on Earth. It seemed the present day was an interglacial period.

No, it was the other way around. For humans, non-magical creatures, the last eight hundred years had been a relatively easy time to live. But for the monsters, it was a harsh era, a magical ice age.

And now, that ice was beginning to melt.

"...So you’re saying the next calamity will continue for at least several decades."

Even Dagobard’s voice was strained as he forced the words out. Craig was silent and still as a plaster statue. Behind them, Hyde and Fabius had lost all color in their faces.

Even Crenne, who should have known the results, couldn’t hide her frightened expression.

The great calamity that crushed that prosperous ancient city and brought immense damage to lands throughout the Kingdom and the Empire. The period the Magic Insects had rampaged was, in reality, only a year or two. But this time?

Frankly, this was not a calamity. It was a long term natural cycle that transcended human perception. In other words, the very laws of nature were telling humanity to perish.

That desperate truth began to spread to everyone in the room.

"Are there... countermeasures?"

Craig finally spoke. His expression remained composed, as if to say, "Well, this is a pickle," but I understood this was his way of showing profound shock.

And yet he asked, "Are there countermeasures?" He was already accepting the gravity of the truth.

"Honestly, we have no definitive plan yet."

I answered. There were simply too many unknowns. But after showing them this, I couldn’t just say we had nothing.

"However, speaking in terms of principles, there are three important factors."

I shared the strategy that Maytyl and I had devised, staying up all night after the data came in. Then again, the results only appeared just before dawn.

This meant we had all spent the night in the same room, yet Crenne hadn't uttered a single complaint. Well, under the circumstances, that was to be expected.

"Let’s hear it."

"The first factor is understanding the nature of the calamity’s monsters. Given they were on Flying Dragon Mountain where Purple magic power was being released, and they had Crimson magic crystals as their cores, it’s highly probable the Magic Insects we encountered there are the calamity’s monsters. And since past records and prophecies suggest a great swarm flying through the sky, we should assume that swarms of those Magic Insects in their adult form will attack various regions. The problem then is the specific abilities of the adult form."

I continued.

"The second factor is developing sorcery powerful enough to counter those adult insects, which will likely be stronger than any monster we’ve faced."

"Numbers aside, you’re saying your plan, the method of crushing the Magic Insect’s respiratory organs with Spiralflame, will not work," Dagobard stated.

I nodded.

"It would be difficult to aim for the spiracles of a flying opponent."

"The calamity will likely occur next spring. It is already winter. Can you improve that new Spiralflame further?" Dagobard asked, his voice suppressed. His eyes turned to Maytyl.

"An improvement, in the sense of an extension of what we have now, isn’t impossible. Work should be underway in the Kingdom even now to turn the entire sorcery staff into a micro-circuit. But it goes without saying that achieving this will require even greater cooperation with the Kingdom."

Maytyl replied. Dagobard’s brow furrowed.

"...It is only logical that the side that develops the new sorcery will be the first to use it. And it is highly probable that the swarm of Magic Insects will first attack the Empire’s territory. Where will this development take place."

"You saw the design for the improved sorcery staff. It pains me to admit, but the necessary components are basically all in the Kingdom. Even so, I can’t say the chances of finishing in time are high."

"..."

At Maytyl’s words, Dagobard shifted his gaze to me and Craig. There was no anger or other emotion in his eyes. And yet, the sheer sharpness of his piercing stare stabbed at my heart.

I felt a shiver run down my spine and looked at Craig. Our prince met that gaze without a single change in his expression.

This was no time for such thoughts, but it was in moments like these I was forced to realize I was, after all, an ordinary person. Knowledge and ability must exist in a different place from one’s character.

But I couldn't afford to dwell on that. Even if I lacked the makings of a hero or a champion, I had the ambition and dreams of a merchant.

I took a deep breath. Then, I turned to Dagobard and spoke.

"I will now explain the third factor, the decisive battlefield against the Magic Insect swarm. The battlefield I propose is right here."

I pointed to a specific location on the map. If we could establish the planned battlefield there...

"Hah, what a relief. Ricardo never misses a chance to profit from a fall," Craig said with a refreshed look on his face. Well, considering all the hardship to come, I deserved at least this much of a perk.

"...I have several questions. But if your idea is feasible, then there is no better plan," Dagobard said, glaring at the map.

"Then let us divide the roles. I will remain in the Empire until the last possible moment to confirm the information on the Magic Insects with my own eyes. Ricardo will return to the Kingdom and advance the development of the new sorcery staff for the battle against them. Hyde and Fabius will escort Ricardo."

Craig declared. He said it so simply, but he was essentially making himself a guarantee of sorts for this joint operation.

Of course, none of this was planned. The people in this room were all involved parties, bound by the trust of having conducted the investigation together. At the same time, we knew that even with a crisis common to both nations, elements of conflict would remain, so we set up this meeting to ensure the message was delivered to both sides simultaneously.

"...Maytyl will accompany them to the Kingdom. You must complete the development of the new sorcery in time," Dagobard said, in a sense handing over one of the Empire’s greatest assets to our side.

"Understood."

The two of them made decisions one after another, giving their subordinates no time to interject. But as the knights began to rise hastily after the princes’ orders concluded, one person raised his hand.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, may I have a word."

It was Sir Fabius, the oldest person in the room. Um, was there a problem? Well, there were many things we needed to discuss about the battlefield.

"The key to Lord Vinder’s plan is the battlefield itself. For two different countries to move large numbers of troops, a detailed geographical survey beforehand will be essential. And it must be done as quickly as possible."

"...That is true," Craig agreed with Sir Fabius’s words.

"I would like to head to the proposed battlefield from here. I will endeavor to survey the surrounding geography and create a map. Even these old bones can still serve as a scout. Of course, I will not have enough men, so I will require reinforcements later..."

"We will dispatch men from our side as well, of course," Dagobard said. Wait, the prophecy’s image of the calamity occurring from spring to early summer was only for the Kingdom’s territory, if...

"Time is of the essence. We will adopt Sir Fabius’s proposal."

But before I could stop him, Craig made his decision.