Volume 3 Chapter 30 Blast
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Shh. Speak quietly, Ms. Melon.”
”Ah, I’m sorry, Ms. Reina… But we really need to tell the queen about this, or the Zerlant Kingdom might be attacked by both the demon tribe and the spirit clan.”
”I’ve heard that before. But how can we send a message from this place? We’re locked in like birds in a cage.”
They worked side by side near the furnace, preparing the special batteries to power the gate. It was always just the two of them — Melon and Reina — in a sealed room watched closely by Bear, the rough guard. They knew he could hear them. Maybe he just didn’t care, or maybe he didn’t think they were smart enough to cause trouble. Still, if they stopped working, that bear would yell.
”This furnace is better than the one we used at Kashiwagi Manor,” Melon said, lowering her voice. “I wonder if we could secretly make something useful.”
”Like a magic tool? Maybe a way to send a message? But we’re over a thousand kilometers from the capital. Without a relay, we can’t send any signal strong enough… You’re not thinking of building a giant generator, are you?”
”No, no, that’s not possible with the tools we have. I was thinking… what if we just blow this place up? Maybe someone from outside would notice.”
”We’d be caught in the blast too, you know. But if that’s your idea, why not blow up the gate too, just to stop it from being used again?”
”True… but I still want to use the gate later.” Melon looked at Reina. The two shared a serious look.
”Hey! Stop chatting and get to work!!”
The voice of Bear echoed from the observation window above.
”Ugh, so annoying. Can we at least blow him up?”
”Ah, Ms. Melon… That might actually work.”
”Huh? I was just joking…”
”Haha. But think about it. If he’s gone, we might be able to break down this door.”
”Oh, as expected from a soldier. You’re so… rough. But I’ll keep that in mind!”
* * *
Puruun’s POV
”Ms. Catherine, is your magic still okay?”
”Yes, Secretary. I barely have enough left to return. But we can’t go any farther using this simple gate.”
”Haha. I wish I had magic power…”
”Oh? Do you want to share magic with me during break time?” she teased with a light smile.
I remembered: to share magic power, we would need physical contact… often too close for comfort.
We were here to scout the rocky prison, where the dukes were being held by the spirit clan. Ms. Catherine moved carefully, even controlling her breathing. I, being Beastfolk, didn’t disturb the mana in the air, but she had to be careful. It made me wonder: if we ever fought the spirit clan, would humans or Beastfolk be better at handling them than demons?
From a small hill, I could see the prison. Guards stood near the entrance. Could I fight them alone? Probably not. They looked like the demon tribe, but I didn’t know their real power.
”Hey, Ms. Catherine. Are the spirit clan strong? Can’t we just push past them?”
”You always think boldly, Secretary. I admire your courage… or maybe your lack of fear.”
”What do you mean? They don’t look scary. Just like the demon race.”
”To you, maybe. But to me, they look like bugs. Their power is dangerous. The elder-class spirits can crush your brain with a thought. Like dropping a watermelon from the sky.”
”Yikes! That strong? I’m glad I didn’t rush in… But why do they look different to different people?”
”The spirit clan are made of thought energy. Over many years, energy from the land and sky gather to form a spirit. Its body changes depending on who sees it. We demons see them as enemies, so we see them as monsters. You, seeing them as strangers, see their true form.”
”That’s… deep. I guess appearances really are tricky. If one looked like a child, I’d probably drop my guard.”
”Exactly.”
”Still, I didn’t see any elder-class spirits, right?”
”Right. Last time, I got into the prison. Just regular soldiers.”
”The ones inside are demons, right? Can’t they break out with magic?”
”Hard to say. Spirit clan soldiers can block magic. Even strong demons can’t use it easily against them.”
”Then… how have we been fighting them this whole time?”
With simple power: fists, swords, arrows, and guns. Magic that solves everything in one shot only exists in stories.
I laughed, “Then if you, me, and the captain charge in, maybe we can do something?”
”That’s not a real plan. How will we open the prison? Guards probably don’t carry the keys.”
”Right… Then maybe we go with my favorite plan. Blow it up.”
”Blow it up? With what explosives?”
”Well, we’ll ask the captain.”
”Haha… you really think fast. Should I learn from the Emperor and fall in love with you?”
* * *
”What?! Explosives for the rock prison?!”
”Yes, Captain. Only you can make that happen!”
After scouting, Catherine and I returned to Ms. Norca’s house and met Captain Artemis to explain the plan.
”Listen, Secretary! Just because I’m a soldier doesn’t mean I carry bombs around! Besides, if we know where Duke Suicelma is, we should tell General Peacock and let him act.”
”Maybe. But I don’t trust him. What do you know about the facility by the river?”
”Not much. A flying dragon used to deliver something there every few days. The last big cargo arrived a month ago. Since then, no movement — but more guards.”
”So they brought in something important…”
”A warehouse for weapons?” Ms. Puruun asked.
”No, Your Majesty. I think I understand… but I’m not sure.”
”Tell us anyway.”
”You’re all forgetting something — the gate. The one taken from Tokura Village. If they’re hiding it near that river facility, everything makes sense.”
”But why hide it in such a remote place?” the Emperor asked.
”The secret ruler… the military facility… the silent guards… the inactive spirit clan… and the hidden gate. Maybe they’re planning to use the gate with demons and the spirit clan together. If so, it could ruin everything if Suicelma escapes. But he still has value, so they keep him alive.”
”Wow! That all fits together!” the Emperor said, eyes wide.
”No, Your Majesty. It’s just a guess. But because of that, we should not let the general handle the rescue.”
”In that case, Secretary… explosives really are needed. Your thinking is solid. We must handle the rescue ourselves!”
”Thank you, Major.”
”Let’s do this!” Artemis grinned. “And by the way, Secretary… you’re really amazing. Maybe one day, we can go out?”
”Captain!! You have a wife!”
”Major!! You have a wife!”
Both the Emperor and Ms. Catherine scolded him at the same time. Everyone laughed out loud.
Notes:
• Ms. Norca – Orc woman; host of the Emperor.
• Artemis – A commander of the Emperor’s direct guard. Initially acts as a lecherous and aggressive antagonist, but later reveals his loyalty to the Emperor. He has a wife and children in the imperial capital and is afraid of his wife.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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