Chapter 175 What ! Why Are You Guys Here…
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
At the same hour — Keldan suburbs, mid-training drill…
”—Hhhhaah… hhhuuhh… The Honorary Count has… hhhuuhh… what kinda monster stamina even is that… hhhaahhh…”
One of the infantry gasped out between ragged breaths as he pounded up the slope, and honestly, no one could blame him. The drill was brutal—ten kilometers from the town streets to the top of the suburbs’ hill, while hauling nearly sixty kilos of marching gear and weapons, and doing it in under twenty-five minutes, all while their own unit leaders screamed at them from inches away like furious demons.
And running right there in formation with them—same weight on his back, same boots chewing into the mud—was Ayumu, who happened to be a Lord. Which would’ve been fine, except he was not even breathing hard. At all. Worse, he had enough breath left over to run alongside the other squad leaders and spit fire into the infantry’s ears with scathing shouts as if he were born for it.
By the time they somehow made it up the hill—thirty whole minutes later—the young infantry collapsed in a gasping heap on the grass, every muscle screaming. Meanwhile Ayumu, Lord of Keldan and same age as them, was perfectly upright, hair barely mussed, briskly handing out bottles from the sixty-liter sports drink pack he’d carried all the way up like it weighed nothing.
The infantry just stared, lost for words, muttering between themselves like they were seeing a ghost. “Figures, nobles are on a whole different level…” “No wonder he got raised from common stock to upper nobility.” “Does he have some kinda body enhancement magic or stamina skill…?” “Nah, the magic corps said they can’t sense anything like that from him.” “What… then he’s just a monster…?”
While they were still whispering, a mounted messenger came tearing up the hill, his horse blowing foam. Something urgent. Every soldier there turned their heads as one, ears pricking, and when the messenger leaned down to whisper something into Ayumu’s ear, Ayumu just nodded once, passed a quick order to a squad leader—”Still twenty-five liters left. Carry the rest back.”—and walked off with the messenger without another word.
* * *
”The Keat caught a suspicious Caesar ship?”
”Yes, Your Excellency. The crew were forced off the vessel, but the Keat’s captain and Guard Squad Captain Oregano both requested that you yourself speak with them. They say they can only speak Caesar Language.”
So that was the reason for the messenger, huh. Apparently, while testing the newly refitted paddlewheel sailship Steamship Keat to establish steam engine tech for defending Keldan’s shipping routes from pirates, they’d come across a Caesar ship wandering aimlessly in their waters.
Honestly, they should’ve just left it alone. Of course it had to turn into trouble. I groaned. “Ehh—seriously? I have to deal with that personally?”
The messenger winced, looking pained.
”Yes! Your Excellency is terribly busy, we are aware. But… they say they do not understand Yugan Language. The captain and Captain Oregano are both at a loss for how to handle them and ordered me to bring you no matter what, so please, we must ask for your presence!”
He looked so desperate I couldn’t keep stonewalling him. With a sigh, I swung up onto a different horse and rode after him.
* * *
After riding at full speed through the city streets and swapping for a fresh horse halfway, we finally reached the site. Scouts under Evri had arrived already, along with Sera Knights Whitney and Alize from the archery corps, and even Guard Chief Velma herself had come as backup.
Yuvus was already with me as a bodyguard, and we were supposed to meet up with Yahaha here. Spotting the rare combo of Alize and Evri standing side by side, I couldn’t resist tossing out, “Yo, my Knight Alize, who’s burned down seven buildings just this month alone…”
Evri answered flatly before Alize could even open her mouth. “Lord. It became eight on the way here.”
”Wait, more buildings than criminals…?”
”Please rest easy, Lord!” Alize declared with alarming brightness. “I have caught sixty-five criminals in total! And only thirty-three buildings were harmed, with zero deaths or injuries among the victims!”
I honestly didn’t know how to respond to that.
Seriously, what is Keldan, Gotham City? I’ve crushed half the crime syndicates here, why are there still so many criminals wandering around?!
”I… see. Well, that’s very… Nelrearia Temple Knight of you,” I muttered weakly.
”Yes, Lord! My heart burns with justice like the buildings I burn! I shall capture more criminals for Keldan’s peace and safety today as well! Burning desu!!”
”Right. I’ll cover the repairs, so please, burn only your heart from now on. And leave the criminals to the guard squad. No more solo crusades.”
”I cannot turn my back on evil before my very eyes!” she shot back at once—but I was the one who had to deal with the angry property owners afterward, not her. Seriously, give me a break.
Shoving that dread aside, I straightened, putting on my best intimidation face as I stepped up to the line of captured Caesar sailors and began questioning them.
* * *
”—Ow! Damn it—”
One of the sailors, freshly dragged off the ship, yelped as a guard shoved him forward. Then, in perfectly smooth Caesar Language, came a sharp voice: “If you want gentle treatment, try a luxury shop, Caesar scum.”
Everyone froze. Until now they’d only heard the awkward half-broken Yugan of interpreters, so that voice hit like a gunshot. Heads snapped toward the speaker—and there he was. A young man, flat-faced, slant-eyed, black hair falling loose over his shoulders.
He stood there like he owned the sea itself, radiating pressure as he barked, “Now then! What business does a Caesar ship have in the glorious Emperor of Yugan’s waters?! Which of you is the captain? Answer me!!”
The guards around him suddenly shifted into stiff, respectful postures. Judging by their reaction and his clothes, he was probably a noble of Yugan.
But when no captain stepped forward, the black-haired youth began fidgeting, then leaned toward his guard squad leader and started whispering in flawless, native-sounding Nelrearia Language.
”…Oh~ the captain’s already dead? Jesus.”
…Jesus? What does that even mean? What language was that?
Even his own guards looked confused, like they hadn’t understood it either.
But just as that bewilderment started spreading through the captured sailors, someone twitched at his strange words.
* * *
I had been speaking in Japanese—and throwing in totally American reactions—when I heard it.
”Japanese?! Sanai?! Please—save us! Help us!!”
Japanese. No mistaking it.
I ordered my men to search the hold, and then—
(Huh? Why the hell are you girls here…?)
When I saw the faces that emerged from below deck, even I had to blink. It was the girls who had always hung around Takuya Kiritani.
”Uh… okay? What, how—why are you here? Please, just… explain…”
They were pale, trembling, and the way they flinched at the sailors… the bruises on their arms and thighs, the crusted streaks trickling down their legs from under their torn tunics…
They couldn’t even lift their eyes to answer. Their expressions had that hollow, downcast look that said they had things they couldn’t talk about—not to me, not to any man.
”…Velma. Get three stretchers. And three carriages.”
I didn’t know the full story, but the smell alone made it clear. They needed warm showers, real food, clean clothes—and a healer, and probably counseling too. So I gave the order, and Velma was already moving to make it happen.
I’d sent a fast rider ahead to Luruna and Vanya, telling them to get guest rooms and hot meals ready. They’d know what to do—clean sheets, warm broth, soft voices.
”Alright. That leaves the matter of the Caesar sailors…”
Whatever ugly secrets clung to those girls who used to trail after Kiritani, they weren’t my concern right now. They hadn’t wronged me personally, and I didn’t hate them enough to want blood.
But still—just letting the sailors go wasn’t an option. If they actually sailed home to Caesar, fine. But with their captain dead, chances were they’d ditch that idea, hang around our waters, and try their luck as pirates. If they pulled that kind of stunt, it’d turn into a whole mess.
Honestly, the realistic route was to mark them as criminal slaves—Galley Convicts or Mining Slaves. Not “slaves” officially, of course; the old Yugan Empire had abolished slavery on paper. But everyone knew what “criminal laborer” really meant.
This world wasn’t like my old one. The lower classes barely had any freedom to choose their work—most had none at all. If these men were lucky, they might get stuck as water-hauling or farm labor slaves and eventually buy their freedom, or get released for years of loyal service, or maybe by the mercy of some sentimental master’s will after he passed.
If they were unlucky… well. They’d end up as entertainment gladiators in the arenas. Or, like me once, disposable war gladiators sent to die on the frontlines. Either way, none of these dirty old men were cute girls, so I had no reason to go easy on them.
I pointed straight at their line. “Restrain the Caesars.”
And that’s when it all went to hell.
The moment my order left my mouth, the Caesar sailors exploded into chaos, thrashing and shoving to break free. Guards lunged forward, shouting, “Stop this useless nonsense!” and “Drop your weapons—now!” but the sailors were already drawing their cutlasses with wild yells—
”Screw this!!”
”I’m not going back to Caesar!!”
”If you won’t take us into your damn town, we’ll kill you all!!”
”Whether we crawl back to Caesar or die as slaves here, it’s all the same!! We’ll kill you and live however we want!!”
—And then some of them were charging straight at me, blades flashing. Trying to grab me as a hostage.
”Wait wait waaaait—! Whaaaaat?! Hiiiieeeeee!! No no no no no—Yuvus!! Yahaha!! Save meeeeee!!!”
Shameful, I know. As a man, and as a noble. But being outnumbered sucked. I darted back behind them, yanking out my dagger as Yuvus and Yahaha stepped forward to actually earn those obscene salaries I paid them.
Yuvus was still green, but Yahaha—ahhh, Yahaha was a former mercenary. Even facing several at once, she didn’t twitch, didn’t blink, just moved with that cold, practiced ease that made your hair stand on end.
I couldn’t help it. Watching her cut them down, I got hyped. I slashed a few of my own, booted one screaming off the pier into the sea, and then—
”Yes! Yes! That’s it, Yahaha! So cool!! Wreck them all!!!”
…Which might’ve been the mistake.
While I was riding that rush, I wandered too close to one sailor who’d dropped earlier.
”…Huh?!”
His hand shot up, grabbing my leg—and then pain. Blinding, ripping pain.
”Ahhh—AAGGHHH!!!”
He stabbed me. The bastard stabbed me. Right in my right side.
It hurt like hell.
Warm blood came pouring out, fast and thick.
”No no no no—aaaghhh!!! I’m gonna die I’m gonna die I’m gonna die—!!!”
Yuvus’ head snapped toward me at my scream. “Lord?!”
Too late.
”You bastard—!! You actually did it!!!”
I roared and slammed him back down, grinding his face into the dirt, then swung my boot up and kicked him in the face as hard as I could. Yuvus looked like he’d just watched me strangle a puppy, but whatever—I’d been stabbed.
Gritting my teeth, I tore open my clothes, splashed iodine with painkillers into the wound till it burned, then dusted it with the powdered coagulant I made from Gynsar shell—the giant crab monster that still haunted my nightmares.
By the time I tied off the cloth and sucked in a shaky breath, the fight was over.
Most of the Caesar sailors lay dead, though a few had bolted. Velma and Oregano were already tearing off after them, bellowing, “Chaaaase theeeem!!! Don’t let them escaaaape!!!” Evri and Sera, meanwhile, were calmly finishing off the wounded ones, no hesitation at all.
The girls who’d once followed Kiritani were curled up and trembling, having apparently screamed themselves half-hoarse earlier when the fight broke out. A couple had even peed themselves.
Though, honestly, that might’ve been because Whitney had chopped several men into pieces with water blades right in front of them, while Alize flambéed a few others into blackened charcoal.
”…What a damn scene,” I muttered, staring at the carnage. “Guess this is all my fault, huh… kinda.”
The stench hit me first—sharp and greasy, curling in through his nose before his mind could even name it.
Burnt flesh. Human.
Ayumu froze for half a second, blinking at the scattered scraps of blackened cloth still smoking on the stones, the faint hiss of cooling blood mixing with seawater lapping against the pier. A breeze tugged at his coat and carried the smell deeper into his lungs, bitter and metallic and stubborn, and something in him winced.
(…Wait. Is this… really my fault?)
The thought slipped in so quietly it almost didn’t sound like him.
Screams had faded into ragged silence. Guards were stamping out lingering flames with the heels of their boots. Yahaha stood off to the side wiping her blade on a torn sail, perfectly calm as if she’d just finished sharpening it instead of cutting through people. Yuvus still had her sword raised, trembling just slightly, her lips pressed thin as her wide eyes flicked between the bodies and him.
Somewhere behind them, Alize was still catching her breath, her armor faintly scorched from her own magic. She clenched her gauntleted fist like she was holding the last echo of her own fire, muttering under her breath, “Justice… served.” Whitney hadn’t said a word since the fight ended, only stood among the puddles of seawater and blood with her bow slung over her shoulder, watching the waves like nothing had happened.
And Ayumu just stood there, half-slumped against a splintered post, pressing a blood-sticky hand to his bandaged side while the smell of roasted flesh clawed at the back of his throat.
The question wouldn’t leave.
(…If this really is my fault… then what does that make me?)
Notes:
• Whitney – Elandric knight from Keldan, sharp-featured with silver hair and pale eyes | First in Ch.163 | Skilled duelist and loyal swordswoman | Family unknown | Close friend of Sera and often seen at her side | Competed fiercely over cream puffs with Alize during the welcome party | Unique note: calm and poised yet instantly turns competitive over desserts
• Velma – Human, tall and rugged with cropped ash-brown hair | Captain of Keldan city guard | First in Ch.162 | Elite swordmaster and squad tactician | Family unknown | Loyal to Ayumu, trusted to maintain order | Meant to stop brawls but arrived drunk, slurring threats at Myucel | Unique note: famed for discipline yet caused chaos by missing her cue completely
• Alize – Nelrearian knight from Keldan, dark bronze skin with wavy chestnut hair | First in Ch.163 | Agile swordfighter and quick thinker | Family unknown | Rival toward Whitney despite working alongside her | Fiercely fought her over cream puffs at the welcome party | Unique note: normally composed but loses all restraint when sweets are involved
• Evri – Recon squad junior from Keldan, sharp and fiery; first in Ch.163; skilled scout and quick with blade; family unknown; serves under Yoluminette, often competes with her; bold yet respectful; unique note: turned a welcome party into chaos by dueling Yoluminette over a cream puff.
• Sera – Leader of Keldan’s bowguard squad, calm and reliable yet fiercely competitive; first in Ch.163; best friend of Whitney; known for her sharp aim and discipline; usually the peacemaker but has a secret hot-blooded streak; unique note: once escalated a petty cream puff dispute by declaring her claim with drawn bow in front of everyone.
• Yuvus – Human from Domain Army, handsome and disciplined; first in Ch.163; skilled knight swordsman; no family mentioned; rose quickly and was made Ayumu’s young knight; clashes with Half-Elves, especially Myucel, but loyal to Ayumu; cold pride hides strict loyalty.
• Kiritani – The class president who takes leadership and questions their situation. A smooth operator, laid-back and calm. The handsome one.
• Takuya – The class president who takes leadership and questions their situation. A smooth operator, laid-back and calm. The handsome one.
• Vanya – Half-Yugan half-Caesar cook, deep-blue hair and scarlet eyes with a voluptuous figure | First in Ch.138 | Former Imperial Court chef, now Keldan’s head cook | No family mentioned | Hired through Emperor Rai’s recommendation, now indispensable to Ayumu | Known for miraculous flavor and calm mellow tone | Unique note: walked in with fresh cream puffs right after the party room was blown apart
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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