Volume 6 Chapter 60 Outbreak of War
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”It seems they intend to fight head-on.”
Having collected the few belongings they had left at the inn and made themselves ready, the two of them set out. Taking care to retrieve the bag Klock had left behind, Cianie and Suzette headed toward the outskirts of town.
”It seems the sheer number of people they gathered has backfired. Supplies from neighboring towns couldn’t be transported or secured in time, and now they’re facing a food crisis that threatens to dissolve them altogether.”
Boorinel was suffocating under the strain. Everywhere across the town, Beastkin sat cross-legged on mats laid upon the bare earth. Not just in certain quarters—makeshift camps spread across the whole town, even spilling beyond its borders.
They were rebels drawn from all corners of the continent. With no homes to house them and barely enough food to keep them fed, their situation was precarious. Even though Boorinel was large for a town, it could not sustain the sudden influx of tens of thousands.
Lady Cattleya, their lord, did all she could. She appealed to townsfolk for food, drove her fellow Birdkin to work without pause, and scoured every direction for supplies—all to feed the swelling ranks.
But limits had already been reached. Stores were long since exhausted. It was uncertain how many days remained before collapse. The armed masses could not be kept waiting forever. The choice had come down to this: disband, or march to war.
”With Lady Cianie as their banner, they plan a direct assault on Slomvanilla. Time may be short, but charging a fortress head-on seems reckless.”
”Let them do as they please,” Cianie replied calmly. “We’ll focus on our own goal.”
The two made their way to the edge of town, where tents sprawled in haphazard rows. A particularly large pavilion, screened by heavy drapery, had been set aside as a command post. Inside sat the clan leaders, with Cattleya at their head.
”Cattleya. Have you decided when to move?” Cianie asked.
”At dusk, before the sun sets,” she answered without hesitation, her words showing careful consideration for both the dwindling time and the hero’s restless impatience. Reckless though it was, she had judged it necessary—after all, the success of taking Slomvanilla hinged entirely on Cianie.
”We ask that the Hero march with the vanguard. It is composed only of the fleet-footed, drawn from the militia. The command was to be ours, the Birdkin’s, but—”
”I’ll be leading them instead. It will be an honor to fight alongside the Hero.”
The one who stepped forward was a small-framed Beastkin girl: the Wolf Princess. At the tent’s edge, the Foxkin Kuzuha also waited. Though newly rescued, they had chosen battle over rest.
The other chiefs exchanged uneasy looks. That such a young, slight girl should take the front lines—worse, as commander—was troubling. Doubtless it was her title as princess that made it impossible to treat her as an ordinary soldier.
Yet small stature did not mean weakness. The Brave Knight, though short of build, held the title of strongest knight. And the aura radiating from the Wolf Princess carried a force that was unmistakably beyond the ordinary.
”As long as you don’t drag us down, there will be no problem,” Cianie remarked.
”Rest assured,” the princess declared proudly, striking her chest with a fist. “I am a proud warrior of the Wolfkin. I won’t lose to cats.”
Her eyes glittered as she looked at the hero, leaving Cianie flustered enough to glance aside.
”The vanguard will march first, the rest to follow at speed,” Cattleya explained, indicating several maps upon the table. “Most of our force is militia with little training. They will focus on the siege itself. To avoid direct clashes with the army, we ask the Hero to clear the way. Veterans will move to subdue surrounding villages. The goal is not merely the castle’s fall, but the capture of the Emperor of the Hundred Beasts. To that end, we must cut off her avenues of escape.”
”You want these marked sites seized, too? What about this ‘Forgotten Ruin’?” Suzette asked.
”An ancient ruin near Slomvanilla. Its origins and purpose are unknown. We’ll secure it as a precaution. Every settlement in the vicinity must be seized and sealed.”
”So, I smash enemies as I see fit and fight however I please?” Cianie asked flatly.
”We ask only that you lead the frontal assault. The soldiers will support you. Should you encounter enemy forces along the way, prioritize crushing them. Our militias cannot withstand pitched battle.”
”I understand. But a frontal assault on a fortress—can you handle that? I’ll be fine, but what about you?”
”Have no fear. In Beast Country, none are ignorant of the Hero. Knowing they face you, the males’ morale will falter. Even so, we know well the true difficulty of such a siege. That’s why we have a secret plan prepared.”
Silke clenched her fist with conviction. Cianie and Suzette exchanged a glance. If they were confident, then so be it. The operation was settled: with the Hero, near-certain victory; without her, inevitable defeat.
And so, the Liberation Army was born. Their banner carried one cry: freedom from the cats’ rule. Husbands, sons, and lovers—taken from their homes—would be brought back. It was a cause all Beastkin could stand behind. The quiet anger in their hearts had turned into a weapon, aimed at the Cat King’s throne.
The people cried out for the cats to be overthrown. Wearing only simple armor, they charged toward the king’s castle.
* * *
”What speed! Such a face of calm—and yet, running at an unbelievable pace!”
The vanguard had set out, with Cianie leading at an effortless stride. Behind her, the Wolf Princess pushed herself desperately to keep up. The rest of the column lagged far behind, panting as if in a marathon, weapons clattering as though they longed to be thrown aside.
No ambush came. No enemy troops appeared along the road.
By the time they reached the forests before Slomvanilla, the soldiers were utterly spent. Yet Cianie had not so much as broken a sweat. Only the Wolf Princess panted, though she still had strength left.
”Hero! You’re too far ahead of the rest—you should wait—”
”Rest if you want. I’m going on.”
She ignored all protest and strode out of the trees. The Wolf Princess tried to stop her, but her instincts rebelled, her body refusing to draw closer.
The hero’s left hand rose into the sky, slender and fair. As the sun dipped, painting the heavens crimson, black-silver steel split the fiery clouds.
It was a blade, shrieking and writhing with the scent of death. A presence so heavy with malice it made the air shudder.
Patterns rippled across the steel—faces twisted in agony, as though lovers torn apart were eternally screaming within. The sight alone sent chills down the spine.
She thrust out her right hand, palm open. A small orange flame appeared, glowing like a beacon, like a seed of light. The Wolf Princess ran, ears flat and tail high, knowing that to stay meant death.
”――――――――!!”
A great column of holy fire shot into the sky.
The walls of Slomvanilla, strong and unbroken for centuries, turned red-hot, melted, and burst apart in seconds. A fortress built to last a hundred years of peace was destroyed in one strike.
The gate yawned open. From the walls came shouts and screams, echoing like the fury of ants whose nest had been kicked.
”Klock… where are you…”
Ignoring the men drawing bows on the battlements, Cianie strode into the city. War had begun. Not with tactics, but with raw, overwhelming might.
Even the Wolf Princess, confident in her courage, was shaken. This was no ordinary hero—this was something otherworldly. Gritting her teeth, she rallied the dumbstruck soldiers and charged after her.
With claws bared and backs bent low, the Liberation Army stormed the breach, the Wolf Princess at their head.
* * *
”We must consider ourselves in grave danger.”
So declared Flona, as Hero Anna turned her blade against Beast Country. The cat princesses froze. Elna’s tail twitched, and she shook her head vehemently.
”No—it must be Mother. The Hero is a savior. The people rose with her because they’re angry at Mother’s rule.”
Her words were solemn, yet Lona averted her eyes, frowning. Even she seemed to recognize that the Empress’s policies had gone too far. Neither Flona nor Lona voiced any rebuttal. The oppression of other races, the hunting of males—such madness could not be excused.
And so the conclusion was clear: it was not the nature of their people, but the tyranny of a single empress, that had driven the nation to ruin.
”I always thought this day might come, sooner or later. Honestly, she’s gone too far in a lot of ways. But of all things, for them to arrive with the Hero… We might be cut down by the Hero ourselves.”
”The possibility is not small,” Flona replied quietly. “The two of you are the Emperor of the Hundred Beasts’ own daughters—her heirs.”
Heirs. That meant successors—future Emperors of the Hundred Beasts. If the armed populace wished to overthrow their ruler, naturally the empress’s children could not expect to be spared.
”If this were an invasion from another nation, they might have replaced the crown with a puppet. Her Majesty could have abdicated, and Lady Elna enthroned, preventing rebellion. But when the enemy is the common people, it is another matter entirely.”
”Ahh… Then we’ll be dragged out of this tower and killed. Beaten to death with sticks, or tossed into a cat stew pot. Damn it—we’re disciples of the Great Mage!”
The black cat scratched her head furiously, brow furrowed. They were princesses of the largest nation in the world, and even part of the hero’s own circle. They were strong in their own right, with enviable standing. Yet they had never imagined being cornered so suddenly. By the time they realized how precarious their position was, it was too late. The thought must have stung bitterly.
”It’s too soon to despair. We need to confirm if the Hero really is here.”
”No—that’s dangerous. If the Hero truly stands against us, then we have no time. Even holding back, she’ll overwhelm us in an instant. Our aunts can’t stand against her. After all, the hero’s skill is—”
”Stellar Skill. The Hero and the Saint Lady both possess them. Unlike ordinary Unique Skills one is born with, they’re powers bestowed directly by the gods. Divine abilities of unimaginable scale. If she’s an enemy, she isn’t just a threat—she’s a natural disaster.”
That much was true. Cianie’s Stellar Skill—Stellar Manifestation. To summon the sun itself into her body. Klock had seen her once unleash large-scale destruction, her gaze transforming sunlight into a scorching wasteland that burned everything in her sight. That had been merely one technique among many.
She was as though she was the sun itself. Her destructive power was only one aspect; she possessed an array of abilities. With endless magic like a shimmering mirage, the power to vanish like a setting sun, charisma that rose like the dawn and compelled all around her—fear, awe, rapture. The effects of her skill stretched wide and deep.
No matter how great a Unique Skill someone was born with, none could reach her. She was designed by the gods themselves. World’s strongest—literally, not as metaphor. No human could match her. To stand as her enemy was to guarantee ruin.
And worse still—she possessed two Stellar Skills.
”Slomvanilla may be an impregnable fortress, but against the Hero, it’s hopeless. And if the rebellion spills this way, they’ll pour into the Cat Tower too.”
So, the Cat Tower really was near Slomvanilla. With every word, the twins’ expressions darkened. Klock, however, listened with a kind of detachment. He had trouble feeling the urgency; after all, to him, Cianie was an ally.
Still, he found himself surprised at how rational the twin princesses were. If someone had told them the Hero was attacking, it would not have been strange for them to laugh it off. They were Hermine’s disciples, after all. But instead, they were calmly considering reasons why she might attack, and what would happen if she did.
Such clear-headed reasoning was no child’s thinking. With time, they might well become excellent rulers.
”We should run. If the Hero comes here—or even if it’s just the rebels—we won’t be able to escape if we wait too long.”
”Wait. That’s too hasty. If the opponent is the Hero, running won’t matter. Instead, we should plead our case. Face the rebels here until she arrives, then surrender immediately. That’s the wisest course.”
”What? This tower is only a hidden refuge, designed to be hard to find. Its defenses are worthless. If they attack in numbers, we’ll lose. And if we lose, everyone gets captured! Not just me and Elna—everyone else here, who’s never had anything to do with war. We have to let them escape!”
”But if we flee, the Hero will grow suspicious! She’ll think we’re hiding something! It’s better to go to her first, apologize for what we’ve done, and ask forgiveness! The Hero is merciful—she’ll smile and stroke us kindly between the ears!”
It seemed the debate had split—between flight and surrender. Both had their merits and flaws.
To Klock, though, flight seemed the wiser option. Elna’s suggestion hinged on forgiveness—and if forgiveness was not granted, it would mean the end. Too great a gamble.
”Please wait. I have a proposal.”
It was Flona who cut between them, ever the secretary-cat. She clearly had a plan. When her eyes turned to Klock, he had a sinking feeling.
”The Hero has been pursuing Klock Livorno. If we present him to her—”
”That’s it!!”
Lona clapped her hands sharply. Klock, for his part, had wondered why he’d been brought here in the first place. Now the answer was plain. Flona knew the Hero was after him, and thought offering him up would prove their loyalty.
”Let’s take him to her at once! If she spares us, perhaps she’ll overlook Mother’s crimes as well—”
”No! You can’t! Kuro belongs to Elna!! I told you, Klock Livorno is dead! You can’t decide this on your own!!”
So, was this how he would end up back in Cianie’s hands? The thought barely formed before Elna stepped forward, pulling Klock protectively behind her. Lona and Flona’s eyes narrowed on him at once.
”Elna… why are you so obsessed with him? You’ve been acting strange ever since he appeared.”
”Lady Elna,” Flona pressed, “whatever you and Lady Lona may decide, the other maids must be kept away from danger. They cannot endure a life of hiding or siege. We should at least offer their protection.”
Lona’s glare turned on Klock. He remembered when he first entered the room, the cats had been discussing something—it must have been about Elna’s behavior toward him.
”No. Kuro’s fate is mine to decide. Worry about yourself, Lona.”
”What? Don’t be ridiculous! That’s not allowed! And didn’t you say we should surrender? If we hand him over, then—”
”No! Kuro is mine! This discussion is over! Elna and Kuro’s future will be decided by Elna alone! I’m taking a nap—now get out!!”
”You little—! Don’t just throw tantrums—”
Lona’s words cut off. All their ears flicked sharply toward the door. Klock understood why at once—someone was calling Elna’s name from outside.
”Lady Elnaaaa!!”
”Sebasnyan! You’re back!”
Sebasnyan. What kind of ridiculous name was that? The newcomer was a refined-looking Cat Beastkin, likely another secretary-cat. Breathless, she dropped to her knees, and Flona hurried to steady her.
”Lady Elna! Slomvanilla—it’s burning red!!”
Sebasnyan shouted with all her strength.
The air froze. The cats turned pale as they exchanged looks.
So she was already moving. The Hero’s advance had come far sooner than they expected.
Notes:
• Suzette – The older maid from Viscount Fennec. The head maid at the Viscount Fennec’s villa. She is confident, clear-spoken, and professional.
• Cianie – A noble girl with a fluffy white and light blue dress, indicating her high status. She has a hesitant and flustered personality but is kind and courteous. Her relationship with Klock begins as an accidental encounter and develops into a romantic interest. She has a fiancé but expresses feelings for Klock, complicating their relationship.
• Boorinel – A town east of Ryzan, where Lord Cattleya’s manor is located; said to be a long journey from Ryzan.
• Cattleya – The lord; resides in the town of Boorinel, east of Ryzan, past the Mesa; wants to confirm Klock’s humanity.
• Slomvanilla – The white fortress, also known as the empress’s residence; a gigantic bedroom on the scale of a fortress.
• Silke – Silke is the acting lord of Belandi, a Beastkin from the bird-beast clan that was relocated to Boorinel. She has chestnut-brown hair and first appears in chapter v6c9 along with Annerose to meet with Cianie.
• Anna – The legendary Hero, chosen to defeat the Demon Lord. Her past life is Sylvia Croce. She is described as a heavenly being with overwhelming skill and a merciless attitude.
• Elna – Female. A young apprentice mage. Her appearance is that of a child with white hair reaching her shoulders. She wears a black hooded mantle with strange patterns. Her relationship is as an apprentice to Hermine, the Great Mage. Her power involves advanced magic, including spatial teleportation. Her combat style is magical, and she is described as childish and easily provoked.
• Lona – Female. A young apprentice mage. Her appearance is that of a child with black hair reaching her shoulders. She wears a black hooded mantle with strange patterns. Her relationship is as an apprentice to Hermine, the Great Mage. Her power involves advanced magic, including spatial teleportation. Her combat style is magical, and she is described as childish and easily provoked. Elna’s sister; a black cat Beastkin who’s relatively normally developed physically compared to Elna.
• Hermine – Daughter of the Emperor of the Second Empire of Dusselhelm. A companion and friend of Anna. The mage. She is pragmatic and encourages Anna to focus on her duties as a hero rather than her personal revenge.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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