Kays Translations

Chapter 197: “Events in Imperial Territory (15) — Archduke Kharon and Prince Ricardo”

──A few days later──

“This ‘strength’ produced by this magic is exactly what our Empire aspires to.”

This was the imperial family’s hunting ground, located within the Empire’s territory.

In one of the lodges there, Prince Ricardo spoke.

It had been over ten days since they arrived at this place.

During that time, Ricardo and the others had been able to bring over fifty soldiers under their control using “that magic.” Even Crown Prince Diaz’s subordinates were now part of the “army” that aimed for the strongest together with Ricardo.

When he closed his eyes, he could sense what the soldiers were seeing.

Ricardo’s subordinates, Daphne’s subordinates, and Crown Prince Diaz’s subordinates were all training together. The rivalries caused by serving different princes and princesses were gone. They simply swung their swords and continued honing their magic.

Their perfectly synchronized movements were the effect of “that magic.”

Those drawn into the magic could share senses such as sight and hearing.

As if they had become a single living organism, they could act as one “army.”

Ricardo had been impressed—thinking, as expected, it was magic from another world—when…

“Why does it not work on you? This is strange. Very strange, Archduke Kharon.”

“Why indeed? Why not try investigating with your proud magic?”

In the corner of the room sat Archduke Kharon, bound in chains.

Even while restrained, he wore a fearless smile.

“Your Highness’s magic lets you share senses with your soldiers, does it not? In that case, wouldn’t gathering everyone’s opinion be easy?”

“You… no, you and your subordinates as well. Why does that magic not work on you?”

After much trouble, Ricardo had captured Archduke Kharon.

Yet he did not feel as though he had won.

That was because Archduke Kharon had not used a sword.

He had no intention of harming Ricardo, Daphne, or the soldiers.

Kharon had fought unarmed against soldiers carrying weapons, and neutralized more than ten of them.

The only way to subdue him was to take his subordinates hostage.

After that, Ricardo had used “that magic” on Kharon and his men.

He had shown them images projected by the mysterious board and made them perform magic control.

But he could not make Kharon and his subordinates part of his ranks.

The reason was unknown.

Therefore, he chose to bind and restrain them.

If they could not be made allies, the only choice was to imprison them.

Even so, Ricardo felt uneasy.

Not being able to make Kharon his ally gave him a sense of “defeat.” That was something Ricardo despised above all. Just thinking that such a feeling existed within him made him restless.

To get rid of it, he had to make Kharon submit.

That was why Ricardo was speaking to Kharon now.

“This Ricardo cannot understand your feelings, Archduke.”

Prince Ricardo shouted in frustration.

“If you used our magic, Archduke, you could become even stronger. As part of the ‘army,’ you could gain strength equal to that of a hero. How can you not understand that!?”

“Perhaps because I have no interest in strength?”

Kharon said it in an offhand tone.

Ricardo’s eyes widened.

“Impossible! Did you not regain the use of your crippled left arm? You regained the power you had lost to defeat my brother Diaz and once again become the Empire’s strongest, did you not!?”

“No, my left arm just happened to heal by chance.”

“B-but, I heard you were pleased…”

“Of course I was pleased to regain use of an arm that had been crippled, was I not? Living with only my right arm would cause trouble for Nona. That girl… tends to worry about me too much.”

Speaking as if making small talk, Kharon continued.

“Nona has served me for many years. She is like a dear daughter to me. If both my arms are usable, her burden is lessened. That’s why I was pleased.”

“That is what the wielder of the Empire’s greatest sword technique says!?”

“My swordsmanship is just a hobby, Prince Ricardo.”

“A hobby!?”

“You could call it a means as well. A skill to protect people from magical beasts and enemy soldiers. There is no need to be the strongest. The parts where my strength falls short can be entrusted to others.”

“T-there cannot be anyone who can match you…”

“There is. Although that person’s gift is not ‘strength.’”

Kharon had sent his adjutant Nona and Diaz to that person.

If it was Nona, she would certainly have taken Diaz to the “Town of Nosa.”

There, Princess Sophia and the alchemist she trusted would surely find a way to resolve the situation.

(It is rather shameful that the one I can rely on is not in the imperial capital, but in the Demon Lord’s territory…)

However, the “Town of Nosa” was currently under the Archduke’s domain.

If he borrowed the power of someone Sophia trusted to whom he had entrusted his territory, there would be no problem.

Thinking such things, Archduke Kharon gave a wry smile.

“What are you laughing at!!”

Apparently, that expression displeased Ricardo.

As if resonating with his anger, several soldiers gathered.

The sharing of senses and emotions—that was the effect of the magic Ricardo’s group used.

With Ricardo as the command center, the soldiers shared their five senses and emotions.

This allowed them to become like a single living creature—a colony.

Even Kharon’s subordinates were overwhelmed by their unified movements.

It was certainly a formidable power.

However, the soldiers under Ricardo’s command showed no emotions whatsoever.

It was as if they had lost their own will, obeying Ricardo entirely.

(This is… magic that turns humans into components for the sake of ‘strength.’)

This magic was dangerous.

The price paid for ‘strength’ was far too great.

That was how Archduke Kharon saw it.

“Prince Ricardo.”

“What is it?”

“If you wield only power, without will or emotion, would that not make you the same as a magical beast?”

“We are about to defeat magical beasts from another world. There’s no way we ourselves could be magical beasts, is there?”

Ricardo declared bluntly.

“If we can summon and defeat the ‘Magical Beast Gargarossa,’ we can prove the strength of this magic to the upper echelons of the Empire. Then everyone will gladly use this magic. Anyone who wishes can become like a hero.”

“That is the worst.”

“What did you say?”

“Summoning a magical beast just to show off power is beyond foolish, Prince Ricardo.”

“…Say whatever you like.”

Ricardo looked down at Archduke Kharon, who was bound in chains, and laughed.

“You can do nothing now. And with you neutralized, there is no one who can stop us. All you can do is witness our ‘supreme power.'”

“Indeed. For I am not the one who can stop you.”

Archduke Kharon fixed his gaze on Ricardo and the soldiers, and said:

“The one who will stop you is someone who knows people and observes them well. For a man like you, who sees people only as tools for ‘strength,’ you will never be able to defeat him.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“You simply adopted technology from another world without thinking. You neither understood nor reflected on it.”

“And what of it?”

“I am telling you that, because of that, you cannot win against my acquaintance.”

Kharon forced himself to wear a fearless smile.

“My acquaintance is someone who constantly researches new technology and thinks of ways to make it reality. You, Prince Ricardo, will never be able to defeat him.”

“How ridiculous. Hahaha.”

“Hahaha, hahaha, hahahahaha.”

Ricardo and the soldiers, mirroring his emotions, laughed.

“Who could possibly stop us now that we are the strongest? Not even Sophia with her mysterious power, nor Liana with her holy sword, could defeat us. Enough with the petty defiance.”

“Hahaha, hahaha…!”

—Thud!—

It happened suddenly.

One of the soldiers laughing behind Ricardo collapsed to the floor.

“…What happened?”

The soldiers did not answer Ricardo’s question.

The sensory link was severed. The soldiers appeared to have lost consciousness completely.

Ricardo used the shared senses to check the soldier’s condition.

Across the hunting grounds, guards were patrolling. If Ricardo willed it, he could see what they were seeing.

But part of that scenery… was missing.

Ricardo called out to the soldiers stationed there. Yet, there was no response.

“…Guu… zzz…”

“They’re sound asleep, you say?”

“Yawn…” “Mmm… sleepy…” “Suddenly… so drowsy…”

Other soldiers began rubbing their eyes.

Ricardo immediately issued an order.

“Cut the sensory link with the guards! The drowsiness is spreading to us!”

Ricardo and the soldiers were connected through “that magic.”

Because of it, the drowsiness afflicting the guards had been transmitted to them.

However, thanks to “that magic,” Ricardo and his soldiers were always in a heightened state of tension.

The magic was designed to maintain constant combat readiness. Normally, ordinary sleepiness—or even magically induced sleep—would be blown away by that tension.

So why… had the soldiers suddenly fallen asleep—?

“It seems you’re having trouble, Brother Ricardo.”

“Ah. I expected you would come. I truly did, Daphne.”

Without knocking, the door to the room opened.

Standing beyond it was Princess Daphne, Ricardo’s younger sister.

Princess Daphne wore a sly grin.

She, too, should have been under the effects of the same magic as the other soldiers, yet she was still in control of herself—because Prince Ricardo had willed it so.

He wanted to display his strength to others.

For that, there had to be a sane observer at his side.

That was why Ricardo chose Daphne and granted her command authority like his own.

Daphne also controlled soldiers, using them as extensions of herself.

That must be why she noticed the abnormality.

“Whether it’s a flaw in the magic or some lowborn approaching the hunting grounds, I shall investigate.”

“Can I rely on you, Daphne?”

“Yes, if Brother Ricardo will grant my request.”

“You want the holy sword, don’t you?”

“Indeed. After we eventually bring Liana into the ‘army.'”

“I don’t mind. But what if a formidable enemy has come?”

“My subordinates have already become part of the ‘army.'”

Princess Daphne twisted her lips into a smile.

“My subordinates are fearless. And now that the magic has made them part of the ‘army,’ they have completely forgotten fear. No matter the opponent, they will never retreat.”

“Very well. Then go.”

“Thank you.”

With a bow, Princess Daphne left the room.

Ricardo then turned toward Kharon.

“You must have thought help had arrived… How unfortunate for you, Archduke.”

──He shrugged his shoulders and laughed.

“Daphne’s subordinates are bold and fearless. No matter the opponent, they’ll crush them completely.”

“…I wonder about that.”

Archduke Kharon left his words vague.

He decided there was no need to give Prince Ricardo any information.

There was no doubt that help had arrived.

The only one capable of instantly causing soldiers to lose consciousness would be that boy Kharon trusted.

His power was immeasurable.

In martial arts terms, he had no “fixed form.”

He was ever-changing, boundlessly adaptable, pulling out mysterious magical items without warning. That was who he was.

It was dangerous to hold preconceptions. If one didn’t understand, then it was better not to think about it.

Better to go with the flow, and be ready to unleash one’s full strength when the time came—Kharon decided as much.

(Come to think of it… that girl I met in the Demon Lord’s Territory also had no fixed form.)

Archduke Kharon recalled the girl he once sparred with—Agnis.

She too had no fixed form.

Making use of tremendous physical ability and combat instincts, she moved as the situation demanded.

That was why even Kharon had been overwhelmed. It was why he had wanted to take her as a disciple.

However, Princess Daphne had already decided on her approach.

She intended to find the intruder and smash them with brute force.

(But if you start out so rigid, Your Highness Daphne, you will not be able to defeat those without form.)

Kharon took a deep breath.

He gathered his strength, ready to escape at any moment.

He resolved not to drag down Sophia or Thor.

Those two were the ones who would open a path for the Empire and the Demon Lord’s Territory… and perhaps even the future of this world.

If it were them, they might be able to change a nation trapped by the concept of “the strongest.”

He could not sacrifice them for his own sake.

(Wait for the right time. So that when it comes, you can use all of your strength.)

And so, with such thoughts in mind, Archduke Kharon continued quietly observing the situation.

──After that, Princess Daphne──

“What exactly… is going on here?”

Before Princess Daphne and her subordinates lay soldiers still fast asleep.

They were lying on the ground, curled up like fetuses.

They wore expressions of bliss.

They made strange noises like “suya-suya,” “fumyuu,” “babuu.”

But there was no sign they were suffering.

“There are traces of strange magic having been used! Everyone, stay sharp!”

“““Ooooooh!!”””

Smack! The soldiers slapped their own cheeks.

The pain and shock roused Daphne and her troops’ awareness.

There should be no one who could defeat Daphne’s “Army.”

If such a thing existed, the magic of the “Art of Army” would be meaningless.

And Daphne’s dream—of obtaining the holy sword—would vanish.

She had always admired Liana. She wanted the position of “Holy Sword Princess.”

As a child, she once asked, “How can I become like Liana?”

But Liana’s personality was far too nasty.

To Daphne’s serious question, she had replied with something incomprehensible like, “You hold your sword with a shuba! and swing it while breathing out a shururu!” Honestly, Daphne had been disillusioned.

She never imagined her sister could be so mean-spirited.

She had heard that Liana would soon head for the borderlands.

Daphne planned to attack her there, and make Liana part of her “Army.”

Then she would take the holy sword.

If she could do that, Daphne would become the “Holy Sword Princess.”

As part of the “Army,” she would be able to wield the holy sword Dolgaria.

Her dream would come true.

For that, she had to deal with the enemy before her.

“We’ll share senses as the ‘Army.’ Search for any sign of the enemy.”

“““Understood!”””

The convenient thing about the “Art of Army” was being able to borrow others’ vision and hearing.

The search range expanded several dozen times over.

Everyone would be watching together—no slight presence or human trace could escape them.

It was thanks to this ability that Ricardo had been able to shoot down the beast that leapt out of the forest during a hunt.

“──Found them.”

Near the forest, there was movement.

They didn’t know who it was. But the fool underestimated the “Army.”

To deceive Daphne’s eyes—eyes seeking “the strongest” through magical unity—was impossible—

『Omawarisaaaaaan!』

Jolt!

Suddenly, Daphne and her soldiers sensed a massive presence.

For a moment, they nearly buckled under its pressure, but endured it through the power of the “Army.”

Daphne’s subordinates knew no fear.

The stronger the enemy, the higher their morale.

“It may be meant as intimidation, but it’s having the opposite effect.”

Looking at her troops, Daphne said,

“That voice just told us the enemy’s location. We’ll strike at once!”

“““Yes, ma’am!!”””

Daphne and her soldiers began running.

Thanks to the “Army,” their morale was at its peak.

No matter how formidable the foe, they felt no fear. In fact, they welcomed it.

Which is why—

『Omawarisan! It’s not Isaac, Omawarisaan!』

“They’re over there! Follow the voice!!”

“““Yes, ma’am!!”””

They kept running toward the voice.

It never even crossed their minds… that they were being guided… by the voice itself.

『Over here! Omawarisaan!!』

“Such presence… What kind of enemy could it be?”

“““No matter who it is, we won’t lose!!”””

“I know. Let’s go!!”

Before long, they reached the hunting forest.

Ahead, they saw a figure clad in red armor.

A helmet was on their head, the faceplate lowered—no face was visible.

That had to be the formidable foe—Daphne was certain.

She gave the order.

Using the power of the “Art of Army,” she strengthened the “shared senses” among the soldiers.

No will, no heart, no thought was necessary.

They just had to become the “Army” that obeyed Daphne’s commands.

Daphne had the soldiers spread out.

If the enemy is few in number, the basic tactic is to surround and annihilate them.

But they didn’t know what kind of traps might be lying in wait.

Normally, one should be cautious—but──

『O- Omawarisan! Please come quickly!!』

Gradually, the enemy’s presence grew stronger.

Even the most famous new breed of magical beast couldn’t compare to this.

“…This should be just right for the strongest Imperial soldiers to face.”

The “presence” before her was far too enormous.

If Daphne and her troops were in their normal state, they would have been too afraid to advance.

But right now, they were an “army.”

They would not falter before any foe.

A powerful enemy was exactly the kind of opponent worthy of them—possessed by that thought, they charged forward.

That was why they could not… stop…

“Let’s go! Wipe them out all at once!”

“““Oooooohhh!”””

At Daphne’s command, the soldiers broke into a run.

They slipped between the gaps in the trees, approaching the armored figure—

—and noticed that behind the armored figure was a human boy.

“As Thor Canaan-sama predicted, we were able to lure them here with the ‘security buzzer’!!”

“Thanks. Then let’s launch it! ‘Soft Cushion’!!”

The boy’s voice rang out—and immediately afterward, something soft fell from above the soldiers’ heads.

It was huge.

Its size could probably cover an entire tent.

One after another, they fell from the branches above.

They draped over the soldiers, tangling up their bodies.

They hadn’t seen them. Hadn’t noticed their presence.

Because every one of those sheets was transparent…

They descended all at once, swallowing up the soldiers.

The ones that fell to the ground began crawling at high speed toward the soldiers.

“…Is it a slime? Or a magic item?”

“…Pathetic.”

“…With our strength, something like this—”

The soldiers swung their arms, trying to fling off the mysterious cloth—these cushions.

But—their arms, swung with full force, were swallowed by the cushions.

The cushions were terrifyingly soft.

They stretched and shrank freely, absorbing the soldiers’ strength.

Blades could not cut them.

The cloth possessed both incredible elasticity and toughness, wrapping around the soldiers.

“…What is this?”

“…Something like this means nothing.”

“…We fear nothing. We’ll remove it right away—mghhh. Mmmphh.”

Daphne’s subordinates knew no fear.

In the words of the Demon Lord’s alchemist, they were in a state of “calm berserker.”

That was exactly why they didn’t flinch at the “Omawarisan” voice—and were guided straight into a trap by the alchemist.

Determined to challenge the overwhelming presence ahead, they had charged forward without looking to the sides.

What struck them was a “soft enemy.”

Neither sword nor magic worked. It wasn’t even attacking the soldiers.

It simply absorbed them. Wrapped them softly.

Neither Daphne nor her subordinates had ever fought such a foe.

And then—

…thump

Suddenly, they heard a heartbeat.

The cushions enveloping the soldiers gradually grew warm.

The moment they felt it, strength drained from their bodies.

Their hearts, which had been filled with fighting spirit, began to relax.

The unrest in their minds began to quiet down.

It was as if they were being held in the arms of a gentle mother.

What they heard was a kind heartbeat. It soaked into their very being.

They didn’t know that this sound was what the hero’s world called “alpha waves.”

They simply felt more at peace than they ever had before.

If it could be described, it was a “status ailment: super relaxation.”

Their shared senses became their undoing.

The relaxed state of the soldiers who had become an “army” spread to those around them.

Even soldiers not yet caught by the cushions fell into the “status ailment: super relaxation.”

It took only a matter of tens of seconds.

In that time, Daphne’s entire unit had fallen into a peaceful sleep.

“…N-no way…”

With a thud, Daphne dropped to her knees.

The mysterious heartbeat echoed in her ears as well.

She felt a comforting warmth. Her eyelids grew heavy. She was on the verge of sleep.

She had never experienced anything like this.

Since she was a child, Daphne had been educated as a princess.

She had trained endlessly to become the strongest.

Neither her father, the Emperor, nor her mother had ever embraced her.

She had never felt a gentle warmth, never heard a loving heartbeat.

“…N-no. I must take the holy sword from Liana. Take from that girl the title of ‘Princess of the Holy Sword’—and rise higher. High enough to stand alongside Crown Prince Diaz—”

The holy sword.

Status.

Work.

Honor.

All of these flashed through Daphne’s mind.

And then—

“…Ah, maybe… none of it matters anymore.”

Thud.

Princess Daphne collapsed to the ground.

And she fell into a peaceful—dreamless—deep, deep sleep.

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