Volume 3 Chapter 31 War Preparation
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Asuka,” Aaron said, his voice calm but serious. “What is happening inside the Empire now?”
They sat together in the Queen’s private room. The soft light from the windows fell gently across the wooden floor. Aaron faced Queen Asuka, his tone polite but full of concern.
A whole month had passed since their wedding and the big party after it. Everything went smoothly. Normally, they would have returned to the Kashiwagi Estate. But Karin had suddenly disappeared.
When they got the news from the Imperial Capital of the Apocalypse Empire, Akari’s heart nearly stopped. The idea that Karin had followed Ms. Sharlin there… it was hard to believe. And while Yuuta was gone too, anything could happen to her. But Karin was almost sixteen now. Maybe it was time to let her choose for herself, Akari thought, even if it scared her.
Aaron seemed to be thinking about Karin too. Maybe he couldn’t relax knowing things in the neighboring country were unclear. That’s why he stayed in the Royal Capital, ready for anything, helping Queen Asuka and Sir Yōmo.
”We’ve lost contact with Ms. Reina for quite some time,” the Queen said, her voice low. “We should assume something happened to her. But Karin and Ms. Sharlin managed to place a magic communicator at the house of a helper in the Imperial Capital. Because of that, we’re getting updates quickly now. That helper also believes Ms. Reina’s trail leads to Ms. Melon. He’s looking into it but…”
Her words faded.
”But?” Aaron asked, eyes sharp.
”The Empire’s army is starting to gather near our border,” she said softly.
”What?! But I thought they were still fighting the spirit clan.”
”The reports we’re getting say that the troops who were fighting the spirit clan in the west are now heading east, toward our border.”
”Don’t tell me… they made peace with the spirit clan?” Aaron’s voice rose. “That’s impossible!”
”Mr. Aaron, please don’t get too excited,” Akari said gently. “There’s some water here if you need it.”
”Oh—thank you, Akari. I lost my temper.”
”Queen, please drink some water too,” Akari added. “You have to take care of your body.”
”Thank you, Mama Akari,” the Queen said with a small smile.
Aaron took a breath. “But why do you say it’s impossible for them to make peace with the spirit clan? If it means peace, isn’t that a good thing?”
”That’s the problem,” Aaron said. “The spirit clan and us Elves are different from the demon race. We can live in different places, but we can’t live together. The spirit clan controls mana and even the power inside the earth. If they live near us, we’d have to stay alert all the time.”
”I don’t fully understand, but… then why would the demon race make peace with them?”
”That’s why I’m saying it doesn’t make sense!” he shouted. Then, catching himself again, he said, “Sorry. I got carried away.”
Yōmo, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke.
”Brother. Is it possible that the demon race made some secret deal with the spirit clan? Not to live together, but to move them… to the human world? If that happens, they’d be free to act as they want there…”
”What? So their plan is to remove the spirit clan from this world to remove the threat—and then invade us?”
”I don’t know,” Yōmo said. “But if they fool the spirit clan and send them away, they could take their time getting ready to invade.”
Aaron nodded slowly. “We don’t have time to find out what’s true. Asuka, send the order. Call troops from the lords. I’ll gather the nearby armies and place them in Yōmo’s territory. That’s the frontline now.”
”Understood, Brother Aaron. I’ll have Prime Minister Rainsheyn start preparations right away.” Asuka stood up slowly and walked to her office. Her steps were heavy, like her heart.
”Sir Aaron,” Akari said carefully. “About moving the spirit clan to our world… aren’t there rules about who can go through the gate?”
”Ah. That doesn’t matter to the spirit clan,” he answered. “They aren’t made of normal bodies. They’re mostly thoughts. Mana isn’t needed for them to build a body. They can probably pass through just as they are.”
”Then… what about us?”
”I’m not sure. But if we don’t know what we’re doing, they might control people’s minds and take over their bodies.”
”N-no way…”
”Don’t worry. I doubt the whole spirit clan would agree to such a crazy plan. They love this land. It’s where they came from. They’ve dreamed of taking it back for thousands of years. But… I see now. That explains something.”
”What do you mean?” Akari asked.
”When I think about who could talk to the spirit clan for us… the name that comes to mind is Asunabal. He had that job during the last king’s time. He must be involved in this. I should have asked Balmstra to hand him over long ago!”
* * *
Later, in another room…
”So Aaron, what will you do now?” Yōmo asked. “Are you going to attack?”
”Don’t worry,” Aaron replied. “We’re only guessing right now. But if we wait too long, it might be too late. I’m just getting ready.”
”That’s good. Still… I had a good relationship with Emperor Balmstra. But now, because of that gate…”
Yes. That gate really is a problem, Aaron thought. Asuka probably didn’t think things would go this far. The idea of becoming friends with other worlds sounds nice… but it’s not easy. Even here, just on this continent, the three tribes have hated each other for thousands of years. And now, other worlds are getting involved too.
Maybe I’m also part of the problem.
Aaron had made the Melon Institute their main base. He sent messages to the lords, asking them to come. It was the fastest way to get news from nearby lands. Usually, wives don’t go near battlefields, but Akari insisted. She wouldn’t stay behind.
I wonder what Yuuta is doing now. Maybe he’s already in that other world. Maybe he’s with Claudel. Maybe… they even have a child by now.
Hm. If that’s true, maybe the people in that world will come up with a way to fight the spirit clan. As these thoughts passed through his mind, Aaron looked across the table at Akari.
She looked back, calm but determined.
Notes:
• Rainsheyn – Male. The prime minister. He assists Asuka in preparing for defense.
• Claudel – The elf captain of the royal guard assigned to Princess Asuka. At first, she had a strong dislike for Yuuta, who is human. Now, Yuuta’s saffle.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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