Chapter 74 Mercuria Kingdom Uprising (Part ⑤)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Wow, they’re finally thinking,” Tsubasa said.
Five days after Mercuria’s army lost five hundred soldiers, things started to change.
For those five days, Tsubasa had little to do. To avoid Haruka’s teasing, he stayed busy helping at the Residential Area in the Dungeon or the Human Race settlement in Aaren Plain.
Using his “Creation” Gift, he solved many community problems, earning some popularity. Even the girls who once saw him as “Kanata’s enemy” began to warm up.
”They’re forming six-person parties now. Good job,” Haruka said, peeking at the monitor.
”Uh, Haruka-chan, you’re too close,” Tsubasa said.
”No big deal, we’re close, right?” Haruka said, hugging his arm.
”Anyway, what’s the plan?” she asked, curious.
The Setsugekka trio managed the Aaren Plain settlement, with Haruka handling land clearing. But with farming tasks done, she was bored and often clung to Tsubasa, who she clearly liked.
”Well, El-san said the priority is securing DP,” Tsubasa said.
”DP? You’re gonna kill them?” Haruka asked.
Trapping large groups of soldiers was fine, but killing small parties felt wrong to her. Tsubasa understood but was more practical. If needed, he’d kill without hesitation.
Kanata had said something similar, likely due to mental interference from their summoning. Everyone summoned faced it, but reactions varied. Haruka’s empathy, even after interference, showed her kind heart. In this world, that wasn’t always a virtue, but Tsubasa wanted to protect it.
”Killing’s not the only way to get DP,” Tsubasa said. “It ends things, but capturing them—keeping them alive but contained—is better. We need info first, though.”
As he spoke, the monitor room door opened, and a man burst in.
”Muho! Tsubasa-chan, degozaru! Haruka-tan too… Muho! A yuri couple! Feast my eyes! Keep flirting, please!” Taichi said.
”Gross, Nomura. Sit down,” Tsubasa said.
”Tsubasa-chan’s so mean, degozaru! But that’s the charm!” Taichi said.
”I said sit!” Tsubasa snapped, kicking Taichi toward a chair.
”You know your job, right?” Tsubasa asked.
”I know, degozaru, but why me? Free labor sucks, degozaru!” Taichi whined.
”Listen, creep,” Haruka said.
”Muho! Haruka-tan called me a creep, degozaru!” Taichi said, ecstatic.
”Seriously gross,” Tsubasa muttered.
”If you don’t work, Kanata-kun said to make you drink this and live with the Orcs until it wears off,” Haruka said, waving a vial.
”That’s the feminization potion… the painful one,” Taichi said, paling.
A month-long potion and Orcs? He got the hint.
”I’ll work with all my heart, degozaru!” Taichi said, facing the monitor.
But his enthusiasm faded. “No reward, no motivation, degozaru…”
Tsubasa sighed.
”Fine. If you do better than we expect, I’ll ask Archem-chan to spend time with you.”
At Archem’s name, Taichi froze, then sat up straight.
”Haha, no way, degozaru! Archem-tan with me?” Taichi said.
”Wanna test it?” Tsubasa said, pulling up a monitor.
A young Succubus girl appeared, looking ten to twelve, with long black hair in a ponytail tied with a red ribbon. Her gothic lolita dress was proper but had a tiny skirt.
This was Loli Succubus Archem, Succubus Tribe No. 3, famed for her large chest and skills, with rumors of a five-year wait to meet her.
”Hey, Creep-sama. Work hard. I’m waiting,” Archem said, blowing a kiss before vanishing.
”So coy… I need her lessons,” Haruka muttered.
”Muho! I’m pumped, degozaru! Tsubasa-dono, give me the info!” Taichi said.
Tsubasa, exasperated, handed over documents.
”They’re getting smart, forming Dungeon-ready parties. Nomura, I need their party setups and skills.”
”Easy, degozaru!” Taichi said, scanning the monitors showing Mercuria’s parties.
”This party’s unbalanced, degozaru. Two Swordsmen, two Miners, two Gatherers,” Taichi said.
”Muho! This one’s tough, degozaru. Three magic users, not bad,” he added.
”What’s this, degozaru? Two Thieves, two Trappers, and… an Item Master? Never heard of it,” Taichi said.
He quickly detailed each party’s info.
”This is probably the leader party, degozaru,” Taichi said, pointing.
Tsubasa looked over.
”First, this girl. Likely the leader.”
- Taniella, Level 31, Job: Rune Knight [T/N: Magic-enhanced knight class]
Skills: Fire Magic, Wind Magic, Magic Sword (Fire Attribute)
”Next, this girl. Pretty strong, degozaru,” Taichi said.
- Mary, Level 30, Job: Two-handed Warrior [T/N: Heavy weapon specialist]
Skills: Two-handed Technique, Short Sword User, Throwing, Concealment, Presence Detection
”And this one,” Taichi said.
- Kusuha, Level 26, Job: Sorcerer [T/N: Versatile magic user]
Skills: Illusion, Shadow Magic, Spirit Magic, Presence Control
”And this last girl, degozaru,” Taichi said.
・Maeya, Level 27, Job: Saint
Skills: holy magic, healing magic
An all-girl party of four, but well-balanced.
High levels, too. Why they’re in the kingdom’s Knight Order is a mystery—they seem more like hired adventurers.
As Taichi said, Taniella’s party led the charge, giving orders to others.
Watching them, Tsubasa started to see Mercuria Army’s plan.
Taniella’s group carefully scouted the Dungeon. After checking an area, they called other parties to gather resources like minerals or plants.
At the same time, they summoned soldiers from outside to guard the workers. Once done, Taniella’s party moved forward, repeating the process.
”What are they doing?” Haruka asked, bored by the slow progress on the monitor.
”Well,” Tsubasa said, “Taniella’s team checks for safety. Then others collect materials, guarded by soldiers. They’re probably building a base in safe zones. It’s slow, but in a month, they could take over the first floor.”
”That sounds bad,” Haruka said, worried. “I don’t want Kanata-kun yelling at me for messing up. He’d love to pick on me!”
She shivered slightly.
”Don’t worry,” Tsubasa said, chuckling. “Mercuria’s already doomed. Kanata’s been controlling this Dungeon and its rare materials forever. Their best move is to go home, fortify, and find their own Dungeon first. But that’s impossible.”
The longer Mercuria lingered, the more they’d collapse, Tsubasa explained.
”Anyway, we need to earn DP,” Tsubasa said, frowning.
From Kanata’s actions and El’s advice, trapping Taniella’s all-girl party seemed the way to go. But Tsubasa hesitated.
I’m not like Kanata, he thought. A philanthropist at heart, Tsubasa hated being cruel to girls.
Though physically male, his mindset leaned feminine, especially under the feminization potion’s effects. He recoiled at ideas like assault or coercion. Capturing girls was fine, but he wanted to be gentle—probably because he craved that himself.
As he pondered, the door opened, and El and Millie walked in.
”You look troubled, Tsubasa-dono,” Millie said, setting tea in front of him.
”Not really,” Tsubasa said, sipping the tea. Delicious.
”It’s tricky, right?” El said.
Tsubasa blinked, surprised. He’d expected El to say, “Just grab and ravish them!”
”Even you get stumped?” Tsubasa asked.
”Of course,” El said. “Do you charm them first, then break them, or break them and then charm them? What would you do, Tsubasa?”
Tsubasa froze, thrown by her question.
Notes:
• Tsubasa – A classmate, and a gift holder of Creator. He has an androgynous charm, popular yet approachable, bonds with Taichi’s group. The only son of the Ninari Conglomerate family.
• Aaren Plain – Grassland east of Florence, flanked by Mercuria (south), Alefgard (north), and Alfheim (west). Trade artery for food, steel, and elven goods; lifeline in peace, choke point in blockade. Reminder: Florence’s survival hinges on this crossroads.
• Haruka – A classmate who have Harvester gift. She keeps her distance from Ichiro, focused on her role in training. One of Setsugekka.
• Setsugekka – Trio of Yukishiro Kotono, Tsukikage Maria, and Hanasaki Haruka.
• Taichi – A fierce friend of Otaku Hero with the Brawler gift, protects Taichi’s group, united by their sacred oath. Appears: Mentioned in Taichi and Ichiro’s plans, training with others. Reason: Summoned as a hero, serves as group protector. Event: Set to go to town with Kimura, accompanied by Taichi and Ichiro.
• Nomura – The cunning otaku hero, wields Analyzer to master information, plotting a lavish harem empire in a foreign realm. Appears: A scheming figure amidst maids and training fields. Reason: To exploit his summoning for wealth and pleasure. Event: Enjoys maids’ service and schemes with friends for a harem.
• Archem – Young-looking Succubus No. 3 shown on monitor. Encourages Taichi to work. Known for charm and short gothic style. Trait: coy succubus idol.
• Taniella – Commoner knight of Mercuria’s Knight Order appearing after failed mass invasion of the Dungeon. Challenges commander Nui Tanggamus’s tactics to save soldiers. Commands 100 troops to prove her plan. Ally of Mary. Trait: brave, duty-bound.
• Mary – Former adventurer serving under Taniella. Appears after Nui grants command. Teases Taniella playfully and supports her Dungeon strategy. Trait: cheerful ally.
• Kusuha – Sorcerer in Taniella’s party using illusion, shadow, and spirit magic. Trait: versatile spellcaster.
• Maeya – Human Saint in Taniella’s four-woman party. Level 27, skilled in holy and healing magic. Appears during Mercuria’s Dungeon expedition, supporting allies as healer and balancing the team. No direct ties to Kanata’s group. Trait: calm, devoted support mage.
• Millie – A desperate female knight, sheds pride for survival, her trembling pleas and fiery spirit captivating Kanata’s interest. Captured on Chapter 19, when squad raiding the dungeon.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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