Volume 14 Chapter 8 The Road Leading East
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
*Yaalan’s Perspective
Mild and the others had wiped out the bandits and thieves running wild in the northeastern peninsula, taking control of the area.
Meanwhile, it seemed Nokin and his group decided to secure the buffer zone between them and the True Demon Kingdom, avoiding war with our nation.
Neither side had the energy for a pointless war, so… I guess we got lucky.
After taking control of the peninsula, Mild reported finding something strange in an old fortress built during the Demon-God War, which had been used as a hideout by a thief gang.
He had gone to check it out personally.
Four days after leaving Kranschtadt with the report, we arrived at the fortress, where Mild and his group greeted us.
”Apologies for the early welcome. About that matter I reported──turns out it’s something from before the Demon-God War, and no one here knows much about it. I heard Sir Yaalan is well-versed in ancient texts, so I called you here in urgent need of your expertise.”
”Well, I didn’t live this long for nothing. Back when I holed myself up in my room, I poured my energy into studying succubi’s love rituals and historical texts about the True Demon Kingdom. I think I can figure it out.”
According to the report sent by Mild, they had found a large hall underground in the fortress, and at the center of it, a stone gate still seemed to be operational.
This fortress, freed by Mild and his group, had been used as a base and supply point for the Demon Lord Orphée Bleu’s invasion of the eastern continent during the First Demon-God War.
It was called the Lyorock Fortress, a name that brought back memories.
”I can’t believe the Lyorock Fortress is still standing. I’m no stranger to magic, but the indestructible enchantment on this place is truly impressive. This fortress must date back to the time of Demon Lord Orphée Bleu.”
The place was covered in moss, but the whole fort was still wrapped up tight with indestructible magic──just like Fort Felward over in the South District.
According to the old history books, Demon Lord Orphée Bleu used this Lyoloc Fort as a base when invading the Eastern Continent during the First God-Demon War.
And the same records claim Orphée Bleu built some kind of special return gate here.
We’d come to check if the gate Mild found was the real deal.
Together with Mild, who came out to meet us, we headed down into the fort’s underground.
A huge stone hall, big enough for hundreds, glowed with magic lights.
In the center of that wide-open space stood a stone gate──big enough for 3 people to walk through side by side──right next to an old monument.
As we got closer, a deep rumbling came from below… The gate felt like it was still alive.
”Can’t believe it’s still running… but the gate’s shut tight. What’s the monument say?”
I scanned my eyes over the monument sitting next to the gate.
The inscription was written in an old style, but it was definitely in Western Language.
The monument said this gate could take you straight to the Eastern Continent──what they used to call the Humanlands.
It had to be the actual return gate from the old stories.
But according to the monument, if everything was working, there should be a blue ring of light floating in the center.
The gate now? Just empty.
No light. Nothing.
”I can hear it humming, but… you think the gate itself’s busted?”
Mild wandered through the empty gate, poking around and inspecting every corner.
If the return gate was really working like the legend said, Mild should’ve been whisked off to the Eastern Continent in an instant.
Since he was still standing there, guess that meant the thing was dead.
”Hmm. Looks that way. So much for the legendary shortcut to the East…”
While I was still checking out the gate and monument, a high-pitched ringing filled my ears.
Out of nowhere, a blue ring of light appeared in the center of the gate──glowing, bright, and undeniable.
”Wait… did it just come alive?!”
As I rushed forward to make sure it was real, Mild called out behind me to stop.
”Sir Yaalan! First, I’ll send my subordinates ahead. If we can’t confirm it’s safe, we can’t let you through.”
For a moment, I forgot I was the head of state… I almost jumped straight into the portal out of pure curiosity, without even checking if it was safe.
Luckily, Mild stopped me.
”Sorry. When something piques my interest, I just have to investigate.”
”That would’ve been fine if you were still locked up, but right now, you’re the king of the True Demon Dukedom. It’d be a problem if you got sent to some foreign land and couldn’t return.”
Mild signaled to his subordinates with his eyes.
A few officers, fully equipped, slowly walked toward the center of the blue light.
As they reached the center, the blue light rippled like a wave, and the officers’ figures vanished.
”They’ve vanished… So, it’s really activated now… What’s going on? It suddenly switched to active status.”
After waiting for a while, the blue ring of light rippled again, and the officers who had entered returned.
”What happened inside?”
I couldn’t wait for the report, so I called out to the leading officer.
”Ah, yes! Inside, we found a shrine-like place, and there seems to be an exit, but it’s covered by trees. We’ll need to remove them to get out.”
”I see… So, it really connected… Mild! Immediately prepare the Reconnaissance Unit! I’ll lead it myself. Leave the fortress to Lynthia and Denise. You’ll join my Reconnaissance Unit as well. We’ll take Lyla, Rhea, Malte, Claude, and 50 soldiers with us.”
Hearing the officer’s report, I felt the urge to see for myself what lay beyond the portal.
So, I immediately gave Mild my orders.
”Huh!? Huhhh!? Sir Yaalan is leading the Reconnaissance Unit!?”
”That’s right. Let’s go.”
Thus began our Reconnaissance Unit’s scouting missions across the Eastern Continent, setting up base at a shrine just beyond the Return Gate, and spent a week surveying the area.
Along the way, we stumbled upon a human village. Unlike the distinctive Majin Clan of the Demon Continent, their culture was a step below the True Demon Dukedom’s standard of living.
Posing as traveling traders, we sold goods from the fortress in the village, gaining their gratitude and trust, which led to even more detailed information about the surrounding area.
The villagers spoke of the Abraham Empire ruling this land, with Emperor Romelo commanding vast territories across the Eastern Continent.
They mentioned that this place, known as the Outermost Province, was where criminals were exiled.
After a week of reconnaissance and information gathering, it was clear that the Abraham Empire’s scope was vast, with a national power far surpassing our True Demon Dukedom.
This difference in numbers… we stand no chance in a fair fight….
That’s when I thought of a plan to weaken the growing power of Kent in the South District and the True Demon Kingdom.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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