Volume 4 Chapter 12 Twists and Turns
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Anyway, the talk can wait! We have to destroy the Gate now!” shouted Melon.
She and Ms. Reina rushed toward the Gate to continue their work, but at that very moment, everyone in the room was struck by a violent headache.
Damn it—this feeling was familiar. A telepathic mental attack! I couldn’t even stay standing. Pressing my head with both hands, I collapsed to my knees along with the others in the Gate Room.
”Ka-ka-ka! The tables have turned, everyone.” General Peacock, grinning smugly, kicked Ms. Sharlin’s greatsword down the hall as she writhed at his feet. He drew his own blade with exaggerated pride. Another figure entered behind Lord Asunabal—a man radiating a heavy, imposing presence.
”Ah, Chieftain, you saved us,” Peacock said, bowing deeply to the newcomer.
”Indeed. If this Gate were destroyed, it would trouble me as well. But, Peacock—what is happening here? I came because of the commotion. If you cannot even manage security, I may have to dispose of you myself.]
”N-no, Chieftain, not at all! Bear, finish off these rebels at once!”
”Yeah, yeah. Guess it’s time I showed off a little.” Bear hefted his axe and strode forward, making straight for Ms. Sharlin.
”Prepare yourself, dark elf. You’re the toughest one here, so you’ll be the first to die. Go on, apologize to Zaharu’s sister in the afterlife!” he sneered, raising his axe high above her head before pausing and bringing it down in a brutal arc.
”Ms. Sharlin!!” I couldn’t bear to watch—I shut my eyes tight.
Clang!
A high, metallic shriek rang through the chamber. Forcing my throbbing head up, I saw it—someone had caught Bear’s descending axe with Ms. Sharlin’s greatsword. But who…?
”Master, stay strong! This damn bear—this time, I’ll finish it!”
”…Stop, Karin. You’re not ready…”
What? Did Ms. Sharlin just say—Karin? I blinked through the haze. Yes, it was her! Karin—grown up, sharper, carrying herself with a new air of maturity. But… was her right hand injured? She hadn’t noticed me at all, standing so far away. My chest ached—I wanted nothing more than to rush to her and hold her close. But now wasn’t the time.
”Well, well, the little runt again?” Bear laughed cruelly. “Didn’t learn your lesson, huh?”
”Don’t be ridiculous! Even if I promised the chieftain, if you dare lay a hand on my master, I won’t just stand by!” Karin snapped back.
”Ugh, what a pain. Hey, Chieftain of the Spirit Clan, mind sealing up this brat too?” Bear grumbled. The chieftain gave no reply, seemingly ignoring him.
”Damn brat. How’d a mere human trick the chieftain? Don’t tell me—you slept with him?”
”I did not!” Karin shouted. “I only begged him. Just five minutes—that’s all I asked. Five minutes to settle my grudge!”
”What’s that supposed to mean? You, beat me in five minutes? Ha! Don’t make me laugh. One minute’s already gone by, hasn’t it?”
”Damn it—!”
”Karin, don’t take the bait!” Ms. Sharlin gasped, voice ragged. “Remember—focus on your left hand, your navel… swing through, as I taught you!”
”Thank you, Master. Hah…” Karin closed her eyes, drawing in a deep, steadying breath.
”Oh, what’s this? Eyes shut? You’ll never win like that. Then I won’t hold back! Take this!” Bear roared, bringing his axe down.
But no—that was the old her. She wasn’t the same anymore.
”Flash Strike!!”
With a fierce cry, Karin twisted her body just outside the path of the descending axe. In the same instant, her greatsword swept out in a flawless horizontal arc. The blade struck clean through Bear’s torso. A perfect strike.
”Wha… what the hell…? How could I… lose to a brat like you…” Bear’s words spilled weakly as blood followed.
”Hmph. You underestimated Karin,” Ms. Sharlin said coldly. “She grows stronger every day. You should’ve fled through a Simple Gate while you had the chance.”
* * *
Bear collapsed, and the duel was Karin’s victory. But the Spirit Clan’s restraints on us still held.
General Peacock stood frozen, staring blankly at his fallen comrade before snapping back to himself. He drew his sword and rushed toward Ms. Sharlin, only to falter midway. No—he couldn’t move. Neither could Lord Asunabal.
It seemed Karin and the chieftain were speaking.
”Please, Chieftain. Release these people. They’re all precious to me. I’ll explain to them how to use the Gate cooperatively,” Karin pleaded.
Her words carried, but the chieftain’s response was telepathic. The pressure in my skull eased slightly—I realized he wanted us all to hear.
[No. I cannot wait any longer. To achieve our great aim, we must invade the human world. There, we will enslave countless humans with Mental Domination and summon them here as soldiers. Humans may lack mana or energy, but they are sturdier than us Spirit Clan and wiser than the Demon Clan. With them, we will drive demons and elves alike from this continent, and under Yggdrasil, restore the glory of the ancient clans.]
”What? Fedelate! That wasn’t our deal! You said the Spirit Clan only sought migration to the human realm!” General Peacock’s eyes bulged in outrage.
[Hmph. We were your enemies from the beginning. Deception is part of warfare. But now there’s no need for pretense. If I enslave everyone here, that will be enough to complete the Gate, will it not?]
”This can’t be…! Asunabal! You lied to me? What kind of negotiations have you been running with them?” Peacock spat, cursing Lord Asunabal, who stood equally stricken.
So that was it. The true purpose of the Spirit Clan was to enslave humans through Mental Domination and use them to seize this continent. The Gate might not be large enough to bring tanks or fighter jets through—but it could still carry weapons capable of obliterating a city in one strike.
”I understand that’s the chieftain’s great wish,” Karin said, her voice breaking with urgency. “But please, stop enslaving humans. Treat them with the same compassion you’ve shown me. Humans can talk with you, they can cooperate of their own free will—just as I have!”
[Karin. Compassion and cooperation are concepts beyond me. I did not Dominate you because it was unnecessary. But if you interfere any further, I will show no mercy.]
”You stubborn fool!” Karin shouted. “Then kill me already! If all you want is to sleep with me, then just Dominate me and make me your puppet! Why didn’t you do it before?”
[Because I had no need. Enough questions. Silence now, Karin. Watch quietly.]
Karin tried to scream again, but her voice broke off. She stood frozen, her movements and speech cut off as if bound by invisible chains.
[Now then, engineers. Bring the Gate online. My lieutenants will soon arrive with the mages needed for stabilization.]
Melon, Ms. Reina, and Sheena staggered free of their restraints, but their eyes were hollow. Moving like marionettes, they began reconnecting the power lines with strained, painful expressions. Soon after, more figures appeared—undoubtedly Spirit Clan warriors—escorting a host of mages. They too shuffled in half-trances, preparing to chant.
By the time dawn threatened, the Gate stood ready.
[It is prepared. Open the Gate.]
Ms. Reina flipped the switch, and the mages’ incantation rolled like a wave. The hall outside filled with footsteps and hushed voices—soldiers lining up, ready to march through as soon as the Gate stabilized. The chamber was packed, bodies pressing in so tightly I could no longer see Karin or Puruun.
Then the Gate began to hum, a piercing note ringing higher and higher, light swelling until it seared my eyes. My chest clenched with dread. If the Gate truly opened now, what would happen to our world? Could the AWCC possibly stop what was coming?
Notes:
• Melon – Puruun’s younger sister who is close with Ms. Akari and wants Yuuta and Ms. Akari to be together and have children.
• Reina – Lizardman lieutenant from the Apocalypse Empire who was part of the gate research team. She is trying to find her missing sister Sheena. She infiltrated Zerlant to gather intelligence but ended up helping Melon and the others escape, making her a traitor to the Apocalypse Empire.
• Asunabal – The uncle of the queen, a former Duke in exile.
• Zaharu – Male. A specialist in charge of transporting and installing the gate. He works closely with Reina to ensure the gate’s functionality and security.
• Fedelate – The clan leader of the Spirit Clan. He is kind, gentle, and shows a unique interest in Sofia. Fedelate is powerful, capable of using telekinesis and healing magic. He is intrigued by human emotions and experiences, especially love.
• Sheena – A Lizardman from the Apocalypse Empire, specifically a junior researcher in the teleportation research team of the empire’s army. She is the 47th resident (hence ‘No. 47’) of the secret underground facility in Nevada, where she has been living for several years after accidentally being transported to this world through a failed gate experiment. Yuuta’s saffle too.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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