Volume 6 Chapter 25 Deterrent
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The entire military of the Zerlant Kingdom was commanded by Duke Aaron, the older brother of Queen Asuka. Military headquarters sat on the outskirts of the Royal Capital, a short distance north of the palace walls.
”Sir Aaron. Have you reviewed the briefing for the Three-Tribe Council?” a high-ranking bureaucrat asked, catching Aaron after the morning strategy session.
”I’ve given it a once-over,” Aaron said. “Is there a problem?”
”Well, sir… the report from the spirit clan exchange student keeps mentioning a ‘Deterrent¹.’”
”And?” Aaron asked. “That’s hardly news. Both we and the Demon Empire keep our blades sharp for that exact reason-to keep border squabbles from turning into full-scale wars.”
”True, sir. It’s a foundational concept for us. But the spirit clan has never operated that way. It looks like they’ve finally woken up and started playing catch-up, however late to the party they are.”
”Maybe it’s for the best,” Aaron mused. “If they feel they have some real teeth, maybe they’ll stop being so twitchy. Balance creates stability. It might finally get them to stop looking at us like we’re about to pounce.”
”Perhaps… but it means we’ll need a new playbook to counter whatever they’re building.”
”Hmph. The arms race is just a treadmill to nowhere,” Aaron said, sighing. “No matter how much gold you throw into the pit, it’s never enough.”
Aaron knew the irony of his own words. Years ago, in his bid for the throne, he had been obsessed with the “Gate²,” desperate to drag human-world weaponry into this realm to cement his power. His sister, Asuka, had ended those ambitions when she took the crown. But now, with formal trade opening between worlds, that nightmare was finally bleeding into reality.
”Good grief. I guess the Demons and the spirit clan aren’t the only ones I have to worry about,” Aaron muttered to himself.
* * *
Near the border of the Demon Empire and the spirit clan territories lay the town of Moniera³. Though officially the capital of the Suicelma Territory, its proximity to the Three-Tribe Exchange Center made it a chaotic melting pot. Merchants, spirit clansmen, and Elves moved through the streets, trading secrets in the shadows. To the regional authorities, it was a den of spies; to the locals, it was simply the “City of Vice.”
In a cramped back alley near the Suicelma estate sat a dive bar called the Tanuki Inn⁴. Inside, tucked into a corner booth, a spirit clan man and a Demon shared a meal. Because the spirit clan communicated without sound, their exchange remained a ghost in the noisy room.
[So… give it to me straight. Can we build it?]
”Not yet. We’re still flying blind, Lord Berylart,” the Demon replied. “This technology is a total black box. I need a physical sample-or at least the guts of one.”
[A sample is impossible. You know the Gate security-they scan everything. I can’t just waltz through with restricted hardware on a civilian transport.]
”Then get me the blueprints. Detailed ones,” the fixer said.
[I’ll do my best. But tell me… can I really put my neck on the line for you?]
”Oh? Losing your nerve?” the Demon asked. “If you don’t trust the work, walk away now. I don’t pull heists with partners who are looking for an exit strategy before the job even starts.”
[No… forgive me. That was out of line. I know your reputation, Pathos. You’re the best fixer in the underworld for a reason. I’ll stop asking. I just need results-something to put Elder Zeu’s mind at ease.]
”Fair enough,” Pathos said. “I’ll keep digging into this ‘Deterrent’ of yours.”
* * *
A few days later, Pathos returned to the Imperial Capital, Desmostown. He slipped through a side door in the red-light district and headed into a basement where another Demon was waiting.
”How was the trip?” the man asked.
”They’re sweating,” Pathos replied. “Nobody thinks a war is starting tomorrow, but they’re desperate for an edge.”
”I was in the service, so I get the feeling,” the man said, grinning. “You don’t sleep well when you’re the only one in the room without a gun. The spirit clan is finally growing up. Either way, it’s a payday. Let’s play it cool, partner.”
”Yeah… sure,” Pathos muttered ssu.
He didn’t like being called “partner” by Thirstin. The man was an ex-soldier with deep pockets and a benefactor Pathos couldn’t see, which usually meant trouble. Thirstin was far too interested in the Deterrent. Pathos wondered if he was an Imperial plant, but his code was simple: finish the contract.
”So, Pathos. What kind of ‘Deterrent’ are we talking about here?”
”I don’t have a clue,” Pathos admitted. “Some big-wigs read a student’s report from the other world and lost their minds. All they’ll say is that it’s ‘too powerful to use.’”
”What? That’s idiotic. What’s the point of a weapon you can’t fire? How big of a boom are we talking?”
”No idea. That’s why I told them to bring me better intel or shut up about it.”
”Hahaha! Well, I guess we play the waiting game,” Thirstin said.
Hahaha, my ass, Pathos thought ore. If this got any hotter, he was going to cut his losses and vanish.
* * *
At the same time, deep within the Imperial Palace of the Apocalypse Empire, Emperor Balmstra sat across from his shadow-agent, Catherine.
”Catherine… are you certain?” Balmstra asked, his voice tight.
”It’s not fully confirmed, Your Majesty… but the whispers from the underworld are all saying the same thing.”
”The remnants of the Peac**k⁵? Plotting in the dark?” the Emperor asked. “What am I supposed to do with this?”
”Sire, don’t move yet,” Catherine said. “We need to find their leader first. I’ll keep my people inside. But stay calm-this isn’t ten years ago. The military and the Guard are yours now. Even if the Peac**k is rubbing shoulders with criminals, they don’t have the muscle for a real coup.”
”I hope you’re right. During the Gate incident, we were caught flat-footed. I won’t let it happen twice,” Balmstra said. “We hit them first. Coordinate with Artemis in the Guard-keep this strictly off the books.”
”Understood gyoi,” Catherine replied.
—
Summary:
The chapter explores rising tensions as the spirit clan attempts to develop a ‘Deterrent’—a concept derived from human-world reports. Duke Aaron reflects on his failed past attempts to weaponize the Gate, while the underworld fixer Pathos facilitates the spirit clan’s quest for technology. Meanwhile, Emperor Balmstra learns of the return of a shadow organization known as the Peac**k.
—
Trivia:
- Aaron is Asuka’s brother and was once the primary antagonist.
- The spirit clan uses telepathy, not speech.
- Moniera is a hub for all three tribes and acts as a neutral ground.
- The ‘Gate incident’ happened exactly ten years ago.
- Thirstin is suspicious to Pathos, hinting at double-agency
—
Character Insight:
Aaron shows growth through his weariness of the arms race, a contrast to his younger self. Balmstra remains haunted by past instability, indicating he is a cautious, perhaps fearful, ruler.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The term ‘Deterrent’ (Yokushiryoku) is a direct linguistic parallel to nuclear deterrence, suggesting the ‘other world’ reports are describing WMDs.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Aaron – Duke and Supreme Commander of the Zerlant Kingdom’s military. He is the older brother of Queen Asuka. Formerly obsessed with Gate development to seize power. Positioned north of the Royal Castle.
• Suicelma Territory – Located within the Apocalypse Empire. It is a demon tribe’s territory, situated about 3 days northeast of the Spirit Clan’s land.
• Berylart – A male member of the spirit clan. He does not use vocal cords to speak. He is coordinating with Pathos to obtain technology from the other world to create a deterrent for his clan.
• Pathos – A Demon Clan male known as a famous ‘fixer’ or handyman in the underworld. Operates with a personal code of completing contracts. Currently based in the ‘Tanuki Inn’ and Desmostown.
• Thirstin – A Demon Clan male and ex-soldier. Highly connected in the underworld with deep pockets and a mysterious benefactor. Described as ‘fishy’ by Pathos.
• Catherine – A highly skilled ninja and loyal shinobi to Emperor Balmstra, debuting in Volume 3, Chapter 12. She runs an underworld informant network, enabling covert ops and intel for rescuing Duke Suicelma and foiling the spirit clan’s schemes. Strategic and combat-savvy, she’s indispensable to the protagonists.
• Balmstra – Emperor of the Apocalypse Empire. He resides in the Imperial Palace. He is wary of the ‘Gate’ due to a traumatic incident ten years prior.
• Artemis – A commander of the Emperor’s direct guard. Initially acts as a lecherous and aggressive antagonist, but later reveals his loyalty to the Emperor. He has a wife and children in the imperial capital and is afraid of his wife.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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