Volume 3 Chapter 27 Rolling Over
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”See? If it’s this wide, it won’t get in the way of the work. Start making the batteries, now.”
”No way, Mr. Zaharu. I didn’t say I’d help you yet!”
”You… better get your head straight. If you cooperate fast, you won’t get hurt,” Bear snarled from the side.
”Shut up, you damn bear. You think I’ll help just because you threaten me? Even if I get killed, I’m not making any batteries. Even if I die here, the folks at the manor and Sir Aaron can still make them!”
Melon was kidnapped by the Bear in Yōmo territory, dragged through different parts of the empire, and finally locked up at the new gate research base in Suicelma. Zaharu and Bear kept threatening her, forcing her to make the stored batteries needed to fix the gate on the other side.
”So annoying. Usually, I’d have killed you by now, but…”
”Hm. You’re just a little girl, but you’ve got guts,”
Zaharu said, struggling against Melon’s stubbornness. Then a few days later, General Peacock himself showed up.
”Well, well. The alchemist girl. I’m Peacock, supreme commander of the Imperial Guard Division of the Apocalypse Empire. Zaharu told me you still refuse to help finish the gate. What’s wrong? You’re unhappy with something?”
The general asked, his smile soft but cold.
”No complaints. You kidnapped me, now you want my help? That’s ridiculous.”
”I deeply apologize for rough treatment during escorting. But I ask again, sincerely, please help finish the gate. Once it’s done, not just your country Zerlant, but the Apocalypse Empire and the nearby spirit clan will live in peace.”
”The spirit clan? Fine. But General, if this is serious, talk to my queen. I’m just an envoy; I can’t agree on my own.”
”I will ask Queen Asuka soon. When she hears you’re working behind the scenes, she’ll be glad. Besides, you want to find your missing brother-in-law at the gate, right? We’ll help fully with that. The rewards—wealth and fame that a Beastfolk like you could never dream of—will be yours.”
”…Honestly, I don’t care about money or fame. I care about my brother-in-law, Yuuta, but… weren’t you the one who destroyed the gate in the Elf Royal Palace basement?”
”What proof do you have? I’ve always valued friendship with Zerlant.”
”Huh. Didn’t expect you to deny it so easily… Why is the spirit clan involved? Aren’t they your enemies?”
”We were enemies recently, but now we have a peace agreement.”
”Oh? So how does that tie to the gate?”
”That’s a secret. But with the gate open and contact with the human world, the world’s system will change!”
”General!!”
Zaharu cut in, trying to stop him.
”Sorry about that. Anyway, Beastfolk girl, nice to meet you. We don’t want you to suffer needlessly.”
With that, General Peacock left.
”What was that old man’s point? He wasn’t persuading at all,” Bear growled.
”And Ms. Melon, you still refuse? The general said if you obey, good things will come. If not…”
Zaharu’s eyes glinted cruelly. If Melon kept refusing, torture or drugs might force her. But Melon’s spirit wasn’t broken.
”Threats don’t work. If you torture or drug me, I’m ready to die.”
”Geez. If you die, we fail our mission. That’d be pointless. I’ll make you obey, whether you want to or not.”
”What? Even if a couple family members are held hostage, I won’t break.”
”I’m not so petty. I’ll make it more dramatic.”
”Dramatic…”
”Well then, one more month. If the batteries aren’t ready by then, the Empire Army will march on Zerlant. What will you do? One or two lives won’t be enough!”
”No. The general said peace… Oh, I get it. The Empire’s teaming up with the Spirit Clan to invade Zerlant? That has nothing to do with gates or batteries, right?!”
”Hah. Clever kid. So what’ll you do? If this gate works, the Spirit Clan will move into the human world and vanish. No need to march on Zerlant right away. But if not, demons and the Spirit Clan will attack together, split the land, and then we’ll get the batteries too. So… no more help? I could just drug you, take your mind away…”
Crazy thoughts spun in my head. Then I made my choice.
”No, Mr. Zaharu. I’ll cooperate.”
”Huh? What?”
”I’ll help with the batteries. But I have a condition.”
”Oh? What’s the condition? Money? Status?”
”I don’t need that… I’ll think about specifics later. But I can’t make all the batteries alone in a month. So… call Ms. Reina! She’s back in the country, right?”
”Ha! Fine. Lieutenant Reina will assist you. Do your best.”
Good. I bought time. While I still think clearly, I’ll find a way to tell the queen. I don’t know what Reina can do, but I’ll try everything.
* * *
”What? Ms. Melon agreed to help?!”
Reina blinked, hearing Zaharu’s story in the cell. Melon wasn’t the type to cave for money or status. Was this violence?
”You seem worried, Lieutenant. But if I told Melon we planned to attack Zerlant with demons and the spirit clan, she’d agree fast.”
Zaharu sneered.
”But that’s not Melon’s style. And attacking Zerlant? Seriously?”
”So, Lieutenant. You’ll help her with the batteries. Don’t get any ideas. If you act weird, she dies.”
”Kuh!”
”And if she dies, no gate, and you’re in trouble too.”
”Understood.”
Melon and Reina started working on the batteries to stabilize the world beyond the gate.
”Hey, Zaharu. You sure it’s safe keeping those two together?”
Bear asked suspiciously.
”It’s fine. They can’t leave the gate room, and they can’t contact outside. If the gate’s not done, those two are in trouble. You’re responsible for guarding—don’t screw it up.”
”Tch. Fine. But that Beastfolk girl… when I’m done with her, I’ll have some fun, then kill her.”
”Oh my, that’s your taste? Well, deal with those two before they leave. Want to eat the lieutenant too?”
”Nah. Not my type.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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