Chapter 192 Observing the Demon Forest
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”…Hey, Clary. Just how long do we have to stay in the middle of nowhere like this?” Judiette asked.
Several days had already passed since the Purple Dragon Knights¹ I lead arrived at the frontier facing the Demon Forest².
Sending me on such a damn boring mission…!
”Sigh… Guarding the Intelligence Department personnel and Princess Listarte, who is able to ride a Skygoon³, is a very important duty, you know? It’s a military assignment given precisely because you are the Purple Dragon Knights,” Clary replied.
”Tch.”
When leaving the Imperial Capital, the number of royals that the Beastman Knights directly escort is quite limited.
In the first place, while I have royal blood, I don’t have any right of succession. Rather, I’m in a position tasked with the role of being the ‘Sword of the Imperial Family.’
On the other hand, it’s a different story for Listarte. That girl has succession rights, and more than that, the fact that she can ride a Skygoon is huge.
She’s a talent the Empire can’t afford to lose. Of course the Beastman Knights would be assigned as her guard.
But she can fly to begin with…! Just because they’re using this frontier town or settlement as a base, she’s using my Purple Dragon Knights so conveniently…!
”Don’t make such a scary face. The local Lord is getting a stomach ache every day because of it,” Clary said.
”Hah? Why the hell do I have to worry about a mere human Lord? Huh?” Judiette snapped.
”Sigh… My Lady, you are technically royalty. I don’t think there’s any point in going out of your way to make a bad impression on a frontier noble.”
What’s with that? There’s even less reason to care about a frontier noble. It’s not like I’ll ever see them again anyway.
As I was thinking that I still have no idea what’s going on in Clary’s head, a knock sounded at the door. It was Tianic who opened it.
”U-Um… Lady Judi…”
”Huh?”
”That… Princess Listarte has returned… and she says she would very much like to hear Lady Judi’s opinion on something…” Tianic stammered.
”………”
* * *
For the past few days since arriving in this town, Lista had been scouting the Demon Forest from the sky.
She was probably moving forward with the exploration while checking the information found by the Intelligence Department… though naturally, I haven’t heard any of that talk.
To begin with, the Intelligence Department and the military have different areas of control. Even if they cooperate, their chain of command is different.
But it’s not like I’m acting out of spite. I stood up and headed straight to the room where Lista was. Whether she had already heard I was coming or not, the door was opened immediately.
”Dear sister. I apologize for bothering you while you are busy,” Listarte said.
”Hmph. Is that a sarcastic remark?” Judiette asked.
There hasn’t been a single moment since I got here where I’ve been ‘busy.’ The only ones working are Lista and the Intelligence guys.
In the room, besides Lista, there were only a few people from the Intelligence Department.
Clary and Tianic couldn’t enter the room. The information handled by that department often includes highly secret stuff.
”So? What did you want to ask me?” Judiette asked.
”First, I would like to share the information we have gathered over these last few days with you, dear sister…”
”Is that okay? Fine, talk.”
”Yes. You are a member of the imperial family, after all,” Listarte replied with a smile.
Tch… she’s totally serious.
”So… did you find out anything?”
”Yes. First, regarding the King of the Magic Labyrinth⁴… I have found where he lives. The distance from here has already been measured -desuwa.”
Oh… I heard the Demon Forest was a massive forest, so big that its full shape hasn’t even been mapped. And she already located the place?
”That was fast. You did well to find it.”
”Thank you. We also had info on the Kingdom’s Skygoon riders, so in truth, I had an idea of where to look from the start -desuwa.”
Ah… right, there was that pro-Empire noble.
”If I recall, the Kingdom’s Skygoon rider was shot down despite coming from the sky, right? Were you okay, Lista?” Judiette asked.
”Yes. Since we had that info, I watched from a distance beforehand using a Secret Treasure Orb⁵ that makes your vision better -desuwa.”
”So, you had a Secret Treasure Orb on you.”
A Secret Treasure Orb that boosts eyesight, huh… That in itself isn’t particularly rare. There are probably many items with the same effect.
But Lista is a beastman. Aside from her physical strength, her eyes are much better at tracking movement than a human’s.
If she uses an eyesight-boosting Secret Treasure Orb, it means she can see the Magic Labyrinth King’s base even from a very far distance.
”So… did you find out anything interesting?” Judiette asked.
”Yes. I never imagined he would truly have such a great castle built deep within the Demon Forest -desuwa.”
”A castle…?”
According to Lista’s story, there is a certain part deep in the Demon Forest that is actually flat land. Right in the middle of it stands the Magic Labyrinth King’s castle, surrounded by a nice moat and walls.
She said the length of the walls alone was quite long, and within the grounds, there were huge farms spreading to the north and south.
”Then what, is he really growing crops from the Demon Forest?” Judiette asked.
”There is no doubt -desuwa. Many maids were busy harvesting them. And among them, there were fruits I have seen before -desuwa.”
”………”
Huh… I see…?
In other words, not just the Kingdom and the Republic, but the Empire has now confirmed that ‘someone is growing strange crops deep in the Demon Forest.’
Currently, only merchants from the Republic can get those crops. For the Empire, this is definitely not a good situation.
”But how the hell are they moving those crops all the way to the Republic?” Judiette asked.
”It is simple -desuwa. They are transporting them using magic-users who fly through the sky -desuwa.”
”…Did they really exist?” Judiette asked.
I think Clary said before that the Kingdom was sure the King of the Magic Labyrinth had flying magic-users under him… or something like that.
”Yes. I was surprised as well -desuwa. Although it was only a few times, I saw girls flying through the sky -desuwa.”
”If flying magic actually exists… that changes everything…!?” Judiette muttered.
”Yes, indeed -desuwa,” Listarte replied.
Flying magic is a magic that no country, including the Holy City and the Kingdom, has been able to use yet.
If the theory of flying magic is finished, the world will change. High-ranking nobles understand this very well.
Better shipping is one thing, but the biggest deal is definitely how it can be used on the battlefield.
If you scout from the sky, the enemy army’s position and size are completely clear, and you become much stronger against surprise attacks. Most of all, hitting someone flying through the sky with arrows or magic is not easy.
If you are fighting an army on the ground while also being attacked from the sky… the opponent wouldn’t stand a chance.
If a country finishes the flying magic theory, it will likely take over the world.
There are even rumors that the Imperial Army bosses fear the Emmeld Kingdom⁶ finishing flying magic right now more than anything else.
If an organized group of flying magic-users were used, every nation would be on guard.
”By the way… there was more than one flying magic-user -desuwa.”
”What…!? Are you serious…!?” Judiette asked.
”It is for real -desuwa. I saw at least three of them. And they were all young girls -desuwa.”
Whoa, whoa, seriously…!? This King of the Magic Labyrinth guy has at least three flying magic-users working for him…!?
That alone makes the range of available moves much wider. And knowing that, the path the Empire should take is limited.
”So… what is the Intelligence Department thinking?” Judiette asked.
It was a beastman man who answered my question.
”The threat level of the Magic Labyrinth King will be raised. He controls fertile land and flying magic, after all. First, we will tell His Majesty the Emperor… but His Majesty will likely…”
”Move to seize it… huh,” Judiette finished.
”There is no doubt.”
I thought so… His Majesty even has his sights on the Holy City. Besides, the Magic Labyrinth King having all the flying magic is far too bad for the Empire.
If the Empire and the Republic go to war later… there is a chance the Magic Labyrinth King will side with the Republic. If that happens, he might send flying magic-users onto the battlefield.
Of course, the Empire has no way to fight flying magic-users. It’s not something that can be fixed overnight. In any case, flying magic is a very annoying skill… if it belongs to an enemy, that is.
But if the Empire takes it, that’s a different story. It would all turn into an advantage for us. We might even be able to plan for the fall of the Holy City.
Plus, if we can take the Magic Labyrinth King’s land, it would be a huge hit to the Republic. Because all the crops from the Demon Forest would belong to the Empire…!
”But it is not a simple matter -desuwa. Dear sister… if you were to lead the Purple Dragon Knights, are you sure you could reach the Magic Labyrinth King’s castle? ” Listarte asked.
”…It would be hard. We’d need to get ready… but most of all, since it wouldn’t be a fight against an enemy army, the Knights’ spirits wouldn’t be easy to fire up.”
Opening a map she had made over the few days, Lista showed the distance and direction to the Magic Labyrinth King’s castle.
”It is closer to go there from the Kingdom’s land than from the Empire’s -desuwa.”
”I see…”
The Magic Labyrinth King’s castle was indeed deep inside, but it was closer to the Kingdom side.
The next closest was the Republic to the south. The Empire to the north was the furthest away.
”If we’re serious about taking it, it would be better to enter the forest after going through the Kingdom’s land.”
But to do that, we’d first have to take over the Kingdom. More importantly, His Majesty might decide it’s better to attack the Magic Labyrinth King’s castle even if it’s a reckless move.
After all, it’s a land that promises great wealth and glory.
”Thank you for your thoughts -desuwa. Everyone in the Intelligence Department, please make a report using my sister’s views as a reference -desuwa.”
”That’s fine, but how long are we staying here?” Judiette asked.
”Hmm… I think we will watch just a little longer and then go back to the Imperial Capital -desuwa. There might be other flying magic-users hiding, after all.”
”Suit yourself.”
Tch… so the boring days will go on for a bit longer. …No. Lista’s story just now was pretty interesting.
The Magic Labyrinth King who has fertile land and flying magic… I don’t know why the hell he decided to farm deep in the Demon Forest, but… I’d like to meet the guy and see what kind of man he is!
—
Summary:
The Empire’s recon team, led by Princess Listarte and guarded by Judiette’s Purple Dragon Knights, has pinpointed the residence of the ‘King of the Magic Labyrinth.’ They confirm the existence of a high-tech fortress and vast farmland deep within the forest. Most shockingly, they observe multiple girls using flying sorcery, a technology no nation has yet mastered. This intelligence prompts the Empire to begin considering the annexation of the forest to secure these strategic advantages.
—
Character Insight:
Judiette displays a typical martial mindset, finding peace-time guarding duties beneath her, yet her curiosity is piqued by the prospect of a strong, unknown opponent. Listarte shows herself to be highly competent and strategically minded, utilizing her racial traits as a beastman and magical items to gather intelligence that could shift the global balance of power. The sisters’ dynamic highlights the hierarchy within the Empire: one is the ‘sword’ (disposable military force), while the other is the ‘brain’ (political and strategic asset).
—
Behind the Scene:
This chapter sets up the Empire’s inevitable conflict with the protagonist’s hidden domain. It highlights the technological gap regarding ‘flight,’ which in this world is treated as a nuclear-level strategic asset. The mention of the Kingdom’s internal pro-Empire faction suggests future political sabotage.
—
T/L:
Notes:
• Judiette – An Imperial Princess of the Egdia Empire and leader of the Purple Dragon Knights. A beastman with orange hair styled in an outward-pointing short cut. She has a brave, fierce face, visible abdominal muscles, and a powerful build. Usually wears a midriff-baring tank top and hot pants in private. She is extremely confident in her physical abilities and her second-grade Secret Treasure Orb.
• Clary – A rare beastman sorceress and follower of Judiette. Older than Judiette, she speaks bluntly despite the princess’s status. She has light purple hair split in the middle and reaching down to her waist. She is described as having a large bust and wears dresses with loose necklines.
• Listarte – Judiette’s younger half-sister. A beastman sorceress and the only Imperial citizen capable of riding the Skygoon. Have long dark hair.
• Tianic – A promising new recruit and follower of Judiette. Despite a timid and stuttering demeanor, she has a sharp, dignified face. She has silky grey short-cut hair and wears modest, military-style clothing.
• Ami – A palm-sized fairy-like being from a world separate from both Earth and the isekai realm. She has light blue hair tied in a ponytail, mischievous blue eyes, and tiny wings that flutter behind her. Her outfit consists of a provocative high-cut leotard and a short jacket that looks like a miniskirt from the back, leaving her legs bare. Despite her playful appearance, she is actively searching for a contractor who can protect her from dangerous pursuers in exchange for the powers she offers.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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