Volume 4 Chapter 13 The Decisive Moment
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
[What’s wrong? Hasn’t the Gate stabilized yet?]
The Gate whined at a high pitch, its glow unsteady. Mages had been chanting for over an hour, yet the other side still refused to fix in place.
”We can’t lock the coordinates. There’s no naturally forming Gate to anchor it,” Sheena said.
[What are you doing? Hurry up! The soldiers are already waiting!]
”At this rate, it’s impossible…”
[If you fail me, I’ll blow your head off!] the chieftain roared.
And then it happened.
BOOOOOOM!
The blast ripped through the chamber with fire and shockwaves, the Gate disintegrating in a torrent of flame. Melon, Ms. Reina, and Sheena were hurled aside; mages crashed into walls like rag dolls. The chieftain, generals, Karin, Ms. Sharlin, even Puruun—all were scattered across the floor.
Because I had been standing farther back, shielded by the crowd, the impact hit me less brutally, though my ribs still screamed in pain. But the Gate—its place was nothing but a blasted void.
”What happened…?”
The chieftain’s mental domination snapped. Clutching my side, I stumbled forward toward the wreckage. I had to help them. Everyone.
But then I sensed movement behind me. Turning, I froze.
It was that demon woman. And at her feet—unconscious—lay Melon, Ms. Reina, and Sheena. They should have been vaporized by the blast.
”Phew. Even for me, carrying three at once was tough. I’ll be asking His Majesty for a little mercy later…” She smirked, then vanished into thin air.
* * *
[What happened? Did the Gate explode?] Fedelate groaned, forcing himself upright. The chamber was wreckage—no Gate, no trace but scorched stone and bodies scattered like leaves.
Then a calm voice rang out from behind.
”Ah—everyone all right? I didn’t think my magic would blow it up that spectacularly…”
A tall demon man stood there. Newcomer? Fedelate launched his mental domination instantly—only to find it useless.
[You must be Chieftain Fedelate of the Spirit Clan? An honor. I am Balmstra, Emperor of the Apocalypse Empire. My apologies for this being our first summit.]
The Emperor!? Here!? Fedelate’s mind raced—where were the elders?
[Don’t bother, Chieftain. I’ve suppressed every trace of mental domination, yours and theirs alike. To be honest, I didn’t even know I could wield this much power myself…]
”Your Majesty!” Puruun cried. “So you can do it when you try! But you’re late!”
[Haha, sorry Ms. Puruun. Duke Suicelma needed time to wrest back command of his troops. But hey—the Gate’s destroyed. Just in time?]
Outside, shouts and marching echoed.
[Ah, sounds like Duke Suicelma’s forces are arriving. Chieftain Fedelate—shall we call a truce? Fighting now would only spill pointless blood. Order your people to stand down.]
With a single mental word, the chieftain gave the command. The Spirit Clan froze, laid down their weapons.
[Thank you, Chieftain. I have been a fool. I never saw how possible real communication with your people was. Perhaps we won’t be friends overnight, but—let us sit across a table, at least once, and talk?]
Slowly, Fedelate nodded.
* * *
”Chieftain…” Karin stirred, rose, and approached. His tears caught her breath.
[Karin… you’re safe. Yet my dearest wish slips away again… and Sofia… I’ve lost my chance to see you once more.]
”Chieftain… forgive me, but even if the Gate had opened—you wouldn’t have found Ms. Sofia. Humans… they only live about a hundred years at most. You told me it’s been five hundred since you last saw one.”
[…So… she’s long gone. Hah… ha, hahahaha…]
Fedelate wept openly, and Karin embraced him.
* * *
”Karin…”
I staggered over bodies, ribs stabbing with each breath.
”Eh? No way… is it really you? Father!?”
”Yes, Karin. I finally made it back.”
Her eyes brimmed. “This isn’t a dream, right? Master Sharlin, Big Sister Melon, Big Sister Puruun, even Ms. Reina—they’re all here! Oh—I don’t care if it’s a dream!”
She let go of the chieftain and flew into my arms. Pain shot through my ribs. “Ow!” I yelped, realizing just how bad they were.
But I didn’t care. I crushed her to me with all the strength I had left.
”Yes… it’s me. Your father.”
”I’m so sorry! While you were gone—I broke my right arm!”
”I know… but that strike just now was brilliant. You’ve trained hard with your left.”
”Mm. Master Sharlin worked me to the bone…”
Then a voice thundered in my skull—telepathy. The chieftain.
[You are Karin’s father, trapped in the other world?]
”Yes, Chieftain. I’m Kashiwagi Yuuta. Thank you for caring for my daughter.”
”Not true, Father!” Karin cut in. “I was his slave! He almost tried to get ecchi with me!”
T/N: ecchi—sexual.
”WHAT!?” I shouted.
[We made a pact. When my wish was fulfilled, I would restore her arm.]
”But that wish failed… so I’ll let it go. I can return with Father now, right?” she asked softly.
[Yes. But return when things settle. I will heal your arm then—not through lust, but through uniting our essences.]
At that, the council elders flinched, muttering in alarm. I had no idea what they feared.
”My apologies, Chieftain, if Karin made unreasonable requests. Please continue to watch over her.” I bowed.
Karin and the chieftain only grinned knowingly.
* * *
”Looks like Melon and the others are stirring,” Puruun said, walking toward me.
”Puruun… I don’t understand any of this. Is it really over? I should report to Mr. Aaron before this spirals into all-out war.”
”Yes, the national security crisis is over. But Yuuta—your troubles are just beginning!”
Despite her warning, she threw herself into my arms.
Notes:
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Duke Suicelma – Important noble and military leader who was recently captured by the spirit clan during their attack on his capital. He first appeared in Volume 3, Chapter 18. The protagonists aim to rescue him, believing his capture is connected to the spirit clan’s plans involving the gate.
• Sofia – A human slave in the Spirit Clan. She is diligent, humble, and has a soft-spoken manner. Sofia has a background in farming and develops feelings for Fedelate, expressing her affection openly. She is resilient and survives a severe injury thanks to Fedelate’s sacrifice.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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