Chapter 148 Declaration of War
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
On that day, the Coalmine Kingdom¹ army suddenly invaded “Pikeaxe Fort³ a base on the Canaria Kingdom² side. While intimidations and skirmishes had been intensifying for some time, it could be said that the full-scale outbreak of war began on this day.
Leading the way was General Van Valedda, mounted on a horse. He proceeded leisurely, stroking his meticulously groomed mustache. Flanking him was Martin Popol, leader of the “Pink Clan⁴ wearing a helmet that concealed his hair color. Following behind the two were many common soldiers, officers, and members of the “Pink Clan” mixed among them.
Further to the rear were mages and archers. And there, conspicuously displayed on a carriage without a canopy, was a new model of magical weapon. Beside it was the developer of the weapon, the chief court mage Lady Kushe.
”Is the reception fully prepared…” Van Valedda muttered.
What General Van gazed upon while muttering was the Canaria Kingdom army positioned in front of the fort. To be precise, it was a mixed force including the national army, the Badcage Territory⁵ army, and volunteers.
The most prominent were likely the beast-person units standing at the front. In the Canaria Kingdom, where the exploits of adventurers had been notable since ancient times, beast-people—including their descendants—had integrated deeply into the military. It could also be seen that those very adventurers were scattered among the units. Against the regular army wearing matching armor and helmets, they stood out clearly in their self-styled equipment.
Furthermore, archers and mages peeked out from the fort. Theoretically, some mages would appear on the battlefield even in a defensive battle, but perhaps out of caution toward the new magical weapon, they seemed intent on sticking to defensive magic.
Observing that his own strategy was proving effective, General Van smirked. Soon, while hiding that smile, he spoke to Martin at his side.
”Now, everything is as planned. We, the main force, will strike from the front, and after fighting for a while, we will retreat at my signal. You of the ‘Pink Clan’ shall roam the battlefield as a mobile unit and cause havoc before that. Then, expose whether or not a ‘mysterious magical force’ exists on the enemy side.”
”Understood,” Martin replied.
To General Van, who spoke in a low voice, Martin gave a short response and signaled to a pink-haired woman among his subordinates with a hand sign. She then relayed that sign, known only to the “Pink Clan,” to the rest of the kinsmen.
Satisfied with their movements, General Van nodded. After waiting a moment, he kicked the horse’s flank and slowly stepped forward. Then, puffing out his chest, he announced himself in a loud voice.
”I am he! Van Valedda, entrusted with full authority by His Majesty Neymar! It has been ten years since the King and Queen passed away in your country! His Majesty has offered to bring peace to your nation in place of the pitiful princess and the young prince! And yet! Why do you all continue to refuse his benevolence?!”
If Kento had been in this place, he likely would have tilted his head at this self-introduction, which felt like something out of the Middle Ages of his former world, despite being at a civilization level where magical weapons existed.
This was related to the fact that holy arts (miracles of God) and magic had been used since ancient times, alongside the existence of warriors who could repel them. In other words, there were warriors in this world who were undeterred by magical weapons; the strength of the “individual” could not be ignored.
Of course, magical weapons existed to strike down such “individuals,” and it was the “group” that gathered and swallowed the “individual.” While it was a custom that would eventually vanish, the end of the era of the “individual” was not yet in sight at this point.
Therefore, what faced General Van’s self-introduction was not a simultaneous volley from magical weapons or a command to charge, but a response from an “individual.”
”I am Roost Badcage! The one entrusted with the security of this land by Her Majesty Queen Cecile Canaria! For those who seek to take advantage of our country’s misfortune to snatch the royal authority to be so audacious in their thievery is truly something! We enjoy a rare peace under our noble Queen! Leave at once!”
Roost, Duke Badcage. He is the father of Tina Badcage, who has been supporting the front lines from the royal capital with the cooperation of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest⁶‘.
His long silver hair, much like his daughter’s, was mixed with a bit of white, but his cool-headed features overflowed with confidence and pride. Disproportionate to his relatively slender build, his red eyes burned with a powerful fighting spirit.
Standing by his side, equally baring his fighting spirit, was the head of the national army, General Chromans-shi, a bear beast-person. He was the younger brother of Chromans-shi, the manager of the Grizzly Merchant Guild⁷ and chairman of the Beast-person Association⁸. Although he deferred the self-introduction to Duke Roost, the noble and guardian of this land, he wore a look of wrath as if he were ready to bite and tear General Van apart at any moment.
The other officers and soldiers wore similar expressions, showing their high morale. Taking all those gazes upon himself, General Van grinned. Arch-enemies who had supported the young queen and continued to block the border. They were worthy opponents.
”It seems there is no choice but to cross blades!?” General Van asked.
”Indeed! We shall crush you!” Roost replied.
From the start, there was no way their respective claims would be accepted. The two camps broke off negotiations and readied their weapons. General Van felt a hot sense of exhilaration, even though this was a battle intended as preparation for using the magical weapons.
He even felt that he wouldn’t mind annihilating the Canaria Kingdom army in this single engagement. Therefore, he shouted, giving the order to the entire army.
”Beautiful Canaria into our hands!!!”
Beautiful Canaria into our hands!!!
”All forces, charge!!!!” General Van shouted.
Ooooh!!!!
On the other side, Duke Roost glared at the fiercely approaching enemy army while gritting his teeth. The court mages entrusted to him by the Queen had been continuing their deliberations, but in the end, countermeasures against the magical weapon were not ready in time.
The strange staff shown to him by Marsetta, an expert in weaponry, and the magical circuit said to be engraved upon it, along with the prototype PHZ⁹ (Ultra-compact magical weapon), seemed useful, but mass production would still take time.
The old X-types would likely be useless on this battlefield. How to compensate for the lack of magical military force? There was no choice but to rely on the valiant efforts of his own soldiers. Therefore, he shouted, inspiring the entire army.
”For Her Majesty the Queen!!!”
For Her Majesty the Queen!!!
”For our Canaria!!!” Roost shouted.
For our Canaria!!!
”Repel them!!!!” Roost commanded.
Ooooh!!!!
The battle began with a magical attack by the Coalmine Kingdom. As if overtaking the galloping Coalmine army, various colored magics rained down upon the vanguard of the Canaria army.
The Canaria army could not defend against this with defensive magic. This was because they could not afford to let the mages, who were preparing for the bombardment from the new magical weapons, consume unnecessary magical power.
Instead, the beast-person units stationed at the vanguard brought their large shields with magical defense power to the front and braced for the impact. Soon after, the offensive magic set upon them.
Thump thump thump thump thump thump!!!
”Urgh…!!!”
”Gah…!!!”
”Aaaargh…!!!”
With the relentless barrage, the front line was shaved away to some extent. These were magical attacks that would have mowed down ordinary human soldiers. They desperately gripped the handles of their large shields, their knees nearly buckling under the ceaseless impact. However, the stalwart beast-person soldiers managed to stay standing, guarding the rear.
They were the very ones who had enabled the young queen to maintain the nation. The shield that would never be broken, the spear that would strike the enemy.
But without a moment to catch their breath, the cavalrymen who arrived first now set upon the beast-person soldiers. The only reason the magical attacks had stopped was to avoid hitting their own troops.
”Out of the wayyyyy!!!”
Ooooooh!!!
The cavalrymen let out battle cries as they delivered blows with their spears to the hated beast-person soldiers. To the Canaria Kingdom, they were heroes; to the Coalmine Kingdom, they were nothing but the loathed enemies who had continued to block their invasion.
Due to having been exposed to the magical attacks, the beast-person soldiers’ posture was not steady. Common soldiers stepped forward from the rear and began to fight as if to protect them.
”We can win…!” Van Valedda thought.
General Van was already convinced of victory. Against the magical attack, the enemy did not use their “mysterious magical force.” No defensive magic was deployed, and even now, they were not receiving a counterattack.
Is it today? The day we set foot in “Beautiful Canaria”…! However, he would soon learn that the blueprint he had drawn would not become reality so easily.
Just as the legend of the “Pink Demon” was passed down in the Badcage Territory, a single warning was passed down in the Coalmine Kingdom. It was a legend that was already being forgotten.
’No matter how desirable that bird may be, one must never reach out for it. One must never try to capture it. For if you do, that hand shall be torn off by the “Witch of the Fresh Verdure”…’” ,
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Summary:
The Coalmine Kingdom army, led by General Van Valedda and the Pink Clan, launches a sudden invasion of Pikeaxe Fort. Facing them is a mixed defense force led by Duke Roost Badcage and General Chromans-shi. Following a traditional exchange of self-introductions and declarations, the battle commences with magical barrages and a cavalry charge. While General Van feels confident in an early victory, a dark legend regarding the ‘Witch of the Fresh Verdure’ looms over the invaders.
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Character Insight:
This chapter highlights the contrast between General Van’s opportunistic arrogance and Duke Roost’s defensive pride. Roost, burdened by the lack of prepared anti-weapon magic, is forced to rely on the sheer physical and mental fortitude of his beast-person vanguard. The tension between the ‘individual’ strength of traditional warriors and the ‘group’ power of modern magical weaponry is personified in their duel of words.
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Behind the Scene:
The transition from medieval-style combat (formal introductions) to modernized warfare (magical artillery) is a central theme here. The PHZ weapon is a reference to highly compact, high-output technology that bridges the gap between traditional mages and mass-produced military hardware.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Van Valedda – The General and Marquis overseeing the operation. He is the father of the current Queen and grandfather to the First Prince. He has black hair mixed with white, a neatly trimmed beard, and carries an air of calm dignity. He is elderly and suffers from old wounds in his knees.
• Martin – Lily’s non-blood-related younger brother. Considered the strongest candidate to succeed the Popol family due to his lineage and manifested ‘power. He has pink hair.
• Kushe – The Chief Mage of the Coalmine Kingdom. She has dark green hair grown out haphazardly and wears a mage robe loosely over her shoulders. She has a blunt, informal, and somewhat insensitive personality, focused on her ‘thinking experiments.’
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
• Cecile – A high-ranking, powerful woman in the capital who possesses the authority to regulate business and commerce, particularly concerning moral or public order issues. She is currently investigating Kento’s shop, ‘Harvest.’ Have long golden hair, elegant, and wearing expensive white dress with gold accesories.
• Roost – Duke of Badcage and father of Tina Badcage. He has long silver hair mixed with some white, a cool-headed expression, and red eyes. Despite a relatively slender build, he possesses a strong fighting spirit.
• Tina Badcage – Silver-haired, red-eyed woman with a very formal, old-fashioned way of speaking, often ending sentences with ‘no ja’. She is the only daughter of the Duke Badcage, tasked with guarding the North for the Canaria Royal Family. She is described as a beauty. Her inexperience suggests a slender build, and her dress is likely formal and aristocratic, though not explicitly stated.
• Chromans – President of the ‘Royal Capital Beast-person Mutual Aid Association’ and the manager of the ‘Grizzly Merchant Guild,’ a top-tier weapons and armor dealer. He’s powerful, influential, and very business-savvy. Have round, cute bear ears (sooty brown), bushy beard and hair (sooty brown), and large build with muscular physique under a expensive gown.
• Marsetta – A senior court mage and specialist in magical weaponry. She has disheveled hair tied back, wears glasses, and has deep dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep. She hasn’t eaten in two days and is under heavy pressure to find a countermeasure for the enemy’s weapons.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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