Volume 4 Chapter 6 Misfire
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Hey! Why isn’t it exploding?!” Puruun’s scream echoed inside the Rock Prison. Just moments ago, Polani had lit the fuse, and the flame had clearly reached the explosives—yet… a dud?
”Major! You didn’t bring damp explosives, did you?!” she demanded.
”No, Ms. Puruun! They were properly taken from the armory—” Major Artemis began, hurrying to check the device.
”Don’t get close! It’s dangerous!” Polani barked, holding him back.
Several minutes passed. Nothing happened.
What now…? We may have to summon His Majesty and have him break open the cell with magic. Just as Puruun thought that—
A crushing blow slammed into the back of her head, like being struck by a hammer.
”Ugh! Wh-what is… this—” she gasped.
[Hmm. Still conscious after a direct hit? A rather skilled practitioner, it seems.]
A deep voice rumbled inside her mind. She turned to see an elderly man—clearly of the spirit clan—standing behind her.
Damn it, reinforcements. She glanced around: Major Artemis, the others, and even the prisoners were writhing on the ground, struck by what could only have been a mental attack. If His Majesty hadn’t given me protective wards, my head might have burst like a watermelon. But… I can’t move…
[Hmph. Pathetic. Disrupting the air around that fuse was child’s play… Now then—bind them all. We’ll interrogate them and report to the chieftain.]
Ropes were thrown around Puruun, Major Artemis, and the others, binding them tight before they were dragged away by spirit clan soldiers.
”Aah—Ms. Puruun! Artemis—!” Emperor Balmstra began to shout from atop the cliff, but Catherine clapped a hand over his mouth in an instant.
”Your Majesty, do not panic,” she whispered firmly.
”But… we must help them—!”
”Impossible right now. You felt that presence, didn’t you? That’s a high-ranking elder. Even you would not escape unscathed in a one-on-one fight.”
”Then what do we do…?”
”They’re alive, which means they’ll likely be interrogated. I’ll find an opening to rescue the secretary team. Your Majesty—stay hidden and follow my lead without revealing your presence.”
”Understood. Whatever you need, I’ll do it. I’m counting on you, Catherine.”
* * *
The next morning, at the spirit clan’s forward headquarters, General Peacock and Lord Asunabal arrived in secret with only a handful of attendants to meet with Chieftain Fedelate.
[Well, well… you must trust me greatly to come here yourselves.]
Fedelate remarked with a wry tone.
”Not at all. Just as you personally inspected the Gate the other day, we too feel we are now comrades. That’s why… we have news of urgent importance, and so came to see you without delay,” said Peacock smoothly.
[Oh? Urgent, you say?]
”Yes… about that Gate you inspected—there was… a small mishap recently, so its full operation has been delayed a little—”
[What?!]
Fedelate roared, rising to his feet.
”Ah—no! The Gate itself is unharmed! It’s just… an issue with the auxiliary systems. Please, calm yourself so we can explain,” Peacock pleaded, bowing repeatedly as he recounted the situation.
[I see… so all you need is to procure this ‘battery’ you spoke of. But haven’t you been saying that for some time now?]
”Yes, that’s true, but the technical challenge is proving greater than we thought—”
[Hmph. Tell me, General Peacock… you aren’t looking down on us spirit clan, are you?]
”Never! I admit we’re behind schedule and apologize, but we would never—”
[We shall see… Bring him in!]
Fedelate ordered.
A side door opened—and in walked Artemis. General Peacock’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
”Artemis?! What in the world are you doing here—”
[Last night, this one attempted to free the prisoner Suicelma from Rock Prison, leading a team inside. My trusted man happened to pass by and stopped them. This one is your subordinate, is he not? Well then, Peacock—how do you explain this? Clearly, the Demon Clan sought to deceive us!]
”No, Chieftain! This is some kind of misunderstanding—Artemis! Say something!” Peacock called out. But Artemis remained silent, perhaps under mental domination.
[Enough talk! Soldiers—seize them! From now on, we will directly control the Gate across the river. These two will serve as our hostages.]
”Wait! Fedelate, you and I have known each other for years! I don’t know what Peacock was plotting, but I—” Asunabal began.
[Silence, Asunabal. I only humored you because of our history, but you too are untrustworthy. You’ll serve as a hostage alongside him.]
”No! This is madness—help!”
The two were dragged deep into the spirit clan camp.
”Chieftain, your orders now?” one of the elders asked.
”We should have done this from the start. We’ll dominate Peacock and Asunabal’s minds, make them our puppets, and complete the Gate. The schedule has slipped, but the plan remains—invade the human world. Move the camp to the opposite riverbank near their base, and summon our forces from all regions.”
”Understood. And what of the ones captured last night?”
”If Peacock can be controlled, Suicelma and the others are no longer needed. Dispose of them all… except Karin. She’ll come with me as a slave.”
* * *
”Utari, please—let my master go too, not just me,” Karin said as she was pulled from her cramped prison.
Utari led her to the river, holding her hand as she washed.
[No can do, Karin. Chieftain only wants you. We’re moving our camp to the Demon Clan base across the river, and you’re coming with me.]
”Then what happens to my master?” she demanded.
[Left in that pit, probably starve to death.]
”That’s horrible!”
[Well, the ones in Rock Prison and those caught yesterday will be executed tonight… so your master has it better, I suppose.]
”You monster! No—wait, you’re not even human… please, Utari. Remember when my master gave you that rabbit leg?!”
[Even so…]
”Then I’m not going! I’ll go back to the pit and starve with my master!”
[Then I’ll get scolded by the chieftain. No—orders are orders. But… once we move across the river, the guard will be light. If you escape on your own… maybe it’s possible.]
I see… it’s risky, but maybe worth the chance. If it’s Master Sharlin, she might just pull it off.
Notes:
• Rock Prison – A high-security prison located near a rocky area. It is guarded by the spirit clan and holds captured dukes and their subordinates. The prison is a key location for the rescue operation.
• 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.
• Fedelate – The clan leader of the Spirit Clan. He is kind, gentle, and shows a unique interest in Sofia. Fedelate is powerful, capable of using telekinesis and healing magic. He is intrigued by human emotions and experiences, especially love.
• Utari – A member of the Spirit Clan that being captured by Sharlin and Karin. His appearance varies depending on the observer; Karin sees him as a human boy of similar age, while Master Sharlin perceives him as a bug-like monster. He communicates through physical touch, directly affecting the minds of others.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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