Volume 6 Chapter 39 The Tower Of Hollowvale
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
It took us three full days to reach Hollowvale Tower.
Originally, I could’ve made it there on foot in a single day. Two, at most, if I took my time climbing the mountain trail. But the real reason for the delay wasn’t the terrain—it was Knight Orlan and his merry group constantly making stops, claiming they were “helping the people.”
On the first day, we stopped at a village where an elderly woman had gone missing while gathering wild vegetables. The villagers were in a panic, pleading for help. Orlan’s group immediately jumped into action and started searching the mountains.
Even after I used my Radar Scan, we couldn’t find any sign of people out there. It felt like it was already too late. The mood turned somber… until we learned the old woman had returned on her own and was happily chatting away in the next village.
The younger villagers, having confirmed her safety, had gone home without even telling Orlan and the others. Completely unaware, the search party kept looking until sunset. In the end, we stayed the night in that village.
I wish I could have told them the truth, but I’d been tailing them secretly. Revealing myself wasn’t an option. Besides, it wasn’t really Orlan or his group’s fault. The way the villagers handled it was the real issue. Honestly, Orlan and his companions just seemed like genuinely good people.
The next day, a different village claimed a wyvern was lurking nearby and begged Orlan to slay it. Fired up, the knights headed out to deal with the “dragon.”
What they found, though, was just a rock lizard—a creature about the size of a pig. It looked like a mini T-Rex walking on two legs. You see them all the time around Toyota Village. At first glance, it’s scary-looking, sure, but it’s just a harmless reptile. Eats rats, frogs, maybe some carrion. Runs away when approached. It might bite if you grab it, but honestly, that’s the same with most animals. I’d say it’s about as dangerous as a rat snake back in Japan.
Still, Orlan and his companions marched back proudly, hoisting the rock lizard on a stick carried between two people. The villagers welcomed them like legendary heroes returning from battle.
Apparently, bringing meat to a village—any meat—makes you a hero. In poor areas, meat is a rare luxury. Even I got called the “Quail Hero” back in Toyota Village, just for roasting a few birds. So I guess Orlan’s now the “Lizard Hero.”
That night, the entire village threw a celebration. Another whole day lost. The lizard didn’t yield much—just a few bites per person—but the villagers were overjoyed nonetheless.
…Who knew rock lizard was edible? I wonder if it tastes any good.
Knight Orlan often says he acts “for the people.” That’s admirable, really. But considering he said he was rushing to reinforce the frontlines, his pace is way too laid-back. As a soldier, his priorities feel… off.
Each time they made a detour, I found myself growing more impatient. Even if I had traveled with them openly, I probably would’ve just gotten frustrated.
Still, they always act with sincerity. They never hesitate to help. They believe what they’re doing is right—and so, they see no fault in it.
They’re good people. That much is clear. Every village welcomes them with warmth and gratitude.
In peaceful times, they’d be ideal knights. But… can they fight in war?
I don’t have real battlefield experience myself, but I’ve read enough games and novels to form some opinions. Ever since the Anti-Demon Alliance was established, human-on-human wars have almost vanished from this world. Most people today don’t even know what war is.
There are military treatises, mostly taught to nobles as part of etiquette. But they’re filled with outdated precedent and dramatic speeches. From an outsider’s perspective, they’re more fantasy than strategy.
The basic idea in those books is that the army most favored by the gods—meaning the one with stronger faith—will always win. It’s not that the righteous happen to win, but that righteousness must win. A convenient belief system, really.
Useful in real battle? Probably not. But they do offer insights into this world’s history and mindset.
Still… I wonder. In the wars to come, will knowledge from Earth reshape the battlefield? It seems likely—on paper, at least. But part of me hopes it doesn’t come to that.
Given how many summoned Heroes there are, it’s not surprising that some might be like Kongming or Masatsuna Nussuki. In the royal capital’s Hero Tavern, self-proclaimed genius tacticians gather every night, debating fiercely.
They all say the same thing: “If I just had a kingdom to serve, I’d conquer the world with my knowledge cheat.” Word is, a few have already been hired as military strategists.
Yeah… I’ve got a bad feeling about that.
Anyway, today marks the third day since we left Kasgar. At last, I can see a tower rising in the western mountains. Judging by Orlan’s reaction, that must be the Hollowvale Tower.
Let’s check the map I’ve been updating with my EditorSkill… Yep. If I hadn’t taken all those detours, I would’ve made it here in a single day.
And now, just as we near our goal… another stop. Another village. Are they traveling by scenic tour?
They’ve been marching without water or food. So stopping here makes sense—they need to resupply. Hydration is important, even in spring. Heatstroke is no joke.
Of course, they get roped into yet another problem. This time, it’s a bear hunt.
My Radar Scan confirms it: a mother bear with cubs is nearby. She’s tense, probably trying to protect her young. Honestly, it’d be better for everyone if they just left her alone.
But since no one else is going to act, I step in. Quietly, I extend my ‘arm’ and place a few rusty, unused arrows upwind of the bears.
Sensing the iron scent, the mother bear retreats swiftly into the woods, carrying her cub. No way Orlan’s group can catch up with that.
That’s when I realized something: a skilled hunting dog isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
I don’t think I did anything especially noble. And I don’t know what’ll happen to those bears now that they’ve fled their territory. But maybe the mother sensed danger even without my help.
Either way, the bear hunt is a failure. Who knows how many days they’ll waste trying again?
I’ve had enough. I’m going ahead on my own. The tower’s right there—I don’t need an escort anymore.
Let’s check the road with Radar Scan. There’s a fork ahead, but both paths lead to the tower.
I’ll take the closer one.
The road is solid enough for peddlers to use. Horses can pass through, though it’s nothing compared to the national roads back in the Sabroa Dukedom. No wonder merchants keep asking me to build new roads.
Some even say I should conquer the world. But really, what’s in it for me? The dwarf king seems obsessed with spreading roads like a network, but… I don’t think I’d enjoy this world becoming too much like Earth.
Hollowvale is shaped like a crater. At its center stands a striking conical mountain, and atop that mountain is the tower. The crater isn’t very large—less than a kilometer across—but it’s definitely a volcanic caldera.
Right now, I’m climbing along the outer rim of that caldera. The closer I get, the stronger the sulfur stench becomes.
This path is steep—barely a trail at all. I should’ve taken the longer, gentler slope. My shortcut wasn’t worth it.
But once I reach the edge, the view is… something out of a fantasy epic. No lava, but instead, a swamp filled with toxic fumes spreads out beneath me. It looks like a scene straight from hell.
This must be the summit of the outer rim. The central mountain is taller, of course, but this is probably the highest point of the caldera wall. There are even divine-looking statues carved into the stone, as if guarding the path.
The swamp covers everything inside the caldera except for the conical mountain. From there, two narrow causeways stretch out, one toward Kasgar territory and the other toward Gorigan. They seem too precise to be natural—maybe someone built them long ago.
I wish I could descend from here straight onto one of the causeways, but the cliff is unstable. Not worth the risk.
Sometimes, the longer route is the smarter one.
Still… my adventurous side stirs. I want to keep going.
No, I’m not climbing that cliff. I’ve got another idea: I’ll fly across the swamp using my Hover Shield.
The tower is so close now I can almost reach out and touch it. I can even see someone on the watchtower with my bare eyes.
Using Radar Scan, I confirm that Ms. Shirakaba and Tizzy are inside the tower. They’re probably not expecting me, but still—motivation matters. If I believe they’re waiting for me, that’s enough.
Besides them, there are three other young women in the tower. On the watchtower, I spot an old man and a boy. Likely part of Shirakaba’s team.
But there are also four figures hiding around the base of the tower. Enemies, most likely.
Further out, along the Gorigan-side bridge, I see military tents tightly packed on the narrow road. Looks like a full army encampment—far better equipped than I expected.
Strangely enough, I hear music. A few soldiers are playing instruments outside the tents. They’re good, too. Is this a military band?
Still, the ones I need to worry about are the four hiding around the tower. Their Stealth Skills are sharp—they’re probably thief-types with Searching Skills too.
Even with my own stealth at max, I can’t let my guard down.
Based on their position, their goal seems to be blocking escape routes rather than reinforcements. They didn’t expect anyone to come from the swamp.
Perfect.
Once I make up my mind, I don’t hesitate. Lately, I’ve gotten used to moving without fear. Feels like I’m the protagonist of a shonen manga or something.
Courage… maybe it’s just a matter of experience.
I leap onto the Hover Shield and speed across the poisonous swamp. Even holding my breath, the stench of rotten eggs clings to my skin.
Once this mission is over, I’m designing a gas mask. No exceptions.
This place is worse than I imagined. I land as soon as I can—detection be damned.
Thankfully, no one notices.
That was terrible. Was it hydrogen sulfide? If not for the breeze, I might’ve passed out. Dying from poison gas in a fantasy world… yeah, not how I want to go out.
The river of toxic gas slithering near the ground was invisible to the eye. But a closer look revealed yellow bands staining the muddy surface—subtle signs that I would’ve caught if I hadn’t rushed in recklessly.
Sometimes, strong gusts blew the gas off course, drifting it toward the overpass where Gorigan’s forces were stationed. Faint screams and startled shouts echoed from that direction.
It wasn’t lethal, not when thinned by wind, but the stench—sharp and sulfurous like rotting eggs—must’ve been unbearable. Truly, this was a cursed land.
It wasn’t the kind of place anyone would want to stay in for long, yet Gorigan’s army had set up camp here. Just the armored soldiers numbered over twenty, and counting non-combatants, their force easily reached fifty.
Feeding that many mouths every day couldn’t be cheap. Even if wall barley cost next to nothing, transportation fees alone would pile up. People often say that armies are expensive—and it’s true. Any large-scale operation burns money like firewood. Military campaigns bring only costs, rarely profit. And even in defensive wars, minimizing losses can be seen as a kind of gain.
The more developed a territory becomes, the more attractive it looks to enemies. Wealthy lords are said to spend about ten percent of their income on military upkeep. Still, there hadn’t been any human-on-human wars in nearly a century. Many peace-soaked nobles had let their armies rot in complacency.
On the other hand, those whose lands bordered the Demon King’s territory had been forced to funnel everything into military readiness, constantly on edge. The Anti-Demon Alliance gathered riches from those who could afford to pay and funneled it into the frontline—but their tactics often lacked fairness.
And now, with the Alliance nothing more than an empty name, it’s only a matter of time before the bloated pigs get devoured by hungry wolves.
Not that I can change the world, but as a lord myself, I need to prepare.
Step one: secure rations.
Thankfully, the wall barley harvest season was near. Our storage was still well-stocked, but I planned to harvest as much as possible. Since our land bordered unclaimed territory, I had free range.
Should I head toward Wolf Forest? No… I could even go as far as the Puppeteer Dungeon. Beyond it, endless golden fields of wall barley stretched across the horizon. Tens of thousands of tons… maybe even millions. I had no idea how much.
Even if storage space ran out, I could use my magic bag—it had no limit in theory. It would cost a ridiculous amount of MP, sure, but I could always return to Uno and fully recharge with Pii-Pii Chaa.
Honestly, it’s the perfect plan. Kinda feels like cheating.
The four scouts patrolling near the tower carried their own food—hard bread in their packs, and grapes soaking in waterskins made from animal stomachs. They could probably go three days without resupply.
Bread was expected, but wine? That was pricey. Did they just like alcohol? Or maybe it was because wine doesn’t spoil like water?
Though stationed near the tower, they weren’t returning to the camp to eat. Maybe they weren’t on friendly terms with the main force. The atmosphere around them felt off, like they were operating under a different chain of command.
They might be in ninja-style roles.
In any case, I managed to slip past unnoticed and reached the base of the tower. The drawbridge was raised, but compared to the toxic swamp behind me, a simple moat was hardly an obstacle.
It wasn’t very wide, so I crossed it using bamboo stilts instead of activating Hover Shield. Long poles were surprisingly useful. With enough creativity, I could probably build siege weapons out of them.
The gap in the pulley used to raise the drawbridge was wide enough for me to squeeze through. Inside, the stone tower stretched upward in a plain but solid design—cylindrical, built of tightly packed stones. A common structure in this world. But this one stood out for its sheer height—easily over fifty meters.
Even the royal capital had nothing this tall. Maybe it was the Puppeteer Dungeon, though that place looked more like a spaceship than a building.
But no need to jump to alien theories. This tower had its peculiarities—its large stones were fitted so precisely that not even a knife could slip between them. The construction didn’t match dwarven styles. It used lost techniques, relics of another age.
People said a legendary group of stonemasons once lived in this area. Maybe this was their work.
Let’s give credit to those ancient craftsmen before blaming aliens again.
The massive stone tower was divided into floors, each sectioned by thick ceilings. Normally, ladders were used to move between them, but now they’d been pulled up—probably to delay attackers. It was a decent defensive measure. If it were me, I’d just smoke out the enemy from below until they surrendered.
I thought about asking Tizzy to lower a ladder, but even that felt like a hassle. So instead, I began to climb.
Gripping the shallow grooves between stones, I shifted my weight carefully, inching upward. Indoors, there were no gusts of wind to worry about. Once you got used to it, no skill or magic was required. Just a gecko-like focus on balance.
I should’ve had a safety harness… but I wasn’t planning to fall. If it came down to it, I’d use flying magic.
I’ve been imitating ninja techniques so much lately, climbing rocks was starting to feel like second nature. I probably could’ve done it back in Japan—if I had the motivation.
In just a few minutes, I reached the platform where a ladder could be hooked in. If I could do it, so could those four suspicious scouts. Better stay alert.
At the top, three women in maid-like outfits were posted as guards, but they were chatting away, barely watching below. Not great security. If I were an enemy, I could’ve taken them down before they noticed.
Ms. Shirakaba was in the adjacent room. She was surprised to see me, but Tizzy smiled like she’d been expecting me. A girl’s intuition, maybe—not a premonition.
I gave them a quick rundown of how I followed Orlan’s group and what happened along the way.
”Orlan’s still a fool~ desuwa,” said Ms. Shirakaba, her voice full of disdain. “And their performance ends at dawn tomorrow.”
”Chasing a bear and failing to catch it… useless,” Tizzy added coldly.
I felt a little bad—it was kind of like I’d tattled on him.
”Come to think of it,” I said, “they were performing like crazy at Gorigan’s camp. Is that some kind of ritual before a battle?”
”Not exactly,” Ms. Shirakaba replied. “It’s a ceremony to have the gods approve the land’s ownership. If the performance continues for three days and nights without interruption, the land is considered transferred.”
That… was a bizarre rule.
”I’ve interrupted them a few times,” she said with frustration. “But once they realized I was the only one who could do it, they tightened security.”
She sounded like a real war hero.
”I can fight too, you know,” Tizzy said softly.
”Recognizing your own strength is courage, Tizzy,” Ms. Shirakaba answered.
Hard to believe these words came from someone who once challenged a dragon alone and returned alive. Then again, when it’s Ms. Shirakaba, anything she says feels noble.
Not that I want her to go overboard showing off. She’s one of my precious wives, after all.
Her occasional gentle moments were… well, very moe. She had that rare charm—pure, yet dangerously alluring. Gap moe at its finest.
Right now, though, she seemed a bit guarded—probably because the maids in the next room might be listening. The wall was paper-thin.
When I appeared out of nowhere, they were shocked. But once Tizzy explained that I was Ms. Shirakaba’s companion, a Hero, they accepted it without much fuss.
I guess to them, a Hero was someone who handled crazy stuff on the regular. Should I feel proud? Or like some kind of walking anomaly?
”In other words, if that performance finishes, we lose our land?” I asked. “I read through the legal documents Miss Floria gave me, but I must’ve missed that part.”
Shea-Shea helped me study them. We learned together, and it felt like one of those bonding moments Miss Floria probably planned out on purpose.
Still, I didn’t recall reading anything that outlandish.
”It’s not formal law,” Ms. Shirakaba said. “More like customary law—regional rules passed down to reduce war casualties.”
I nodded. That made sense. Total destruction benefited no one. In older times, like the Genpei War, battles were settled with one-on-one duels. Less bloodshed that way.
So if someone plays music for three days near a key stronghold—and the other side doesn’t stop it—the land changes hands. A strange rule, but a peaceful one.
If the Hollowvale Tower fell, three nearby villages would become Gorigan’s. I didn’t want that. Not if it meant hurting Tizzy.
”Then we just have to stop the performance, right?” I said. “That’s easy.”
According to the rule, destroying the instruments was enough. No need to kill. That suited me just fine.
Gorigan’s troops were positioned just outside of arrow range. But if I fired enough arrows in a high arc, I might land a few hits. I’d seen something similar in a Hollywood movie once.
Ms. Shirakaba gave me a doubtful look—one that said, What can a level 4 do? But Tizzy’s expression was full of hope.
Japanese people get too caught up in levels and stats. Even after I saved Ms. Shirakaba from Schulz, she still saw me as weak.
Fine. I’ll show them.
Level isn’t everything.
Notes:
• Knight Orlan – Male. A knight whose daughter has been kidnapped and brainwashed by Little Castor. His appearance and relationship with other characters are not detailed, but he is mentioned as a potential ally against the Castors. His daughter is forced to commit heinous acts, including killing her parents and herself.
• Kasgar – The capital of Duke Mineley Territory. Located in a mining region, it is known for its acetylene lamps and mica windows. The city is bustling, with taverns and merchants, but it lacks the exotic charm of the royal capital.
• Shirakaba – A paladin who seems to be a skilled fighter. He’s introduced as someone with a strong defense and healing abilities.
• Tizzy – Claims to be Duke’s daughter, a noble with advanced magic skills. MC and Ms. Shirakaba lover.
• Miss Floria – Elegant, silver-haired noblewoman in her 40s, referred to as an ‘older sister’. Judge of the Supreme Court and Baroness. Former tutor of Princess Auroora. Initially stern but warms up, showing a playful side. Close with Ms. Nina (Princess Auroora’s doll copy), treating her like a sister. Trustworthy and explains legal matters clearly.
• Shea-Shea – Mauro’s daughter. Hurt by Alexander. Became an eager fiancée after advice from protagonist.
• Schulz – A male dragon who collects human women and holds the rank of Duke within the Anti-Magic Alliance.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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