Chapter 0685 Loyalty

Translator: Jay_Forestieri

Editor: Tseirp

The First Assault Group, under the command of the Suje Kingdom Central Navy Headquarters.

In the Suje Kingdom Navy, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they were the strongest unit in deck and land combat.

Leading them was Assault Group Commander Monrashou.

However, the man standing beside Monrashou did not look strong at all.

He had just joined them moments ago after coming from the meeting room.

A middle-aged man who was not very tall, did not seem to have much muscle, and did not look as though he possessed any particular individual combat prowess.

As for his face, it was only the sort of face that some people might say was not bad, but not one that seemed likely to attract a devoted female following.

“Hey, Rockday, isn’t it enough if an admiral doesn’t come all the way to the front lines?”

Monrashou said with a frown, addressing the middle-aged man... Admiral Rockday.

“I thought so too, but I was directly ordered by Lord Kabui Somar... In a sense, I had no choice but to come out here.”

Rockday replied, also frowning.

“Well, if I’m going to attend the meeting while also playing host to those terrifying people... or rather, keeping an eye on them, is pretty nerve-racking. In that case, this way really might be better.”

“Terrifying people?”

Monrashou tilted his head at Rockday’s words.

Monrashou thought of the people at the government’s center and the staff at headquarters, but there was no one he would describe as ‘terrifying’.

At most, perhaps his direct superior Kabui Somar, or the admirable Queen Iliaja?

But he could not imagine Rockday calling those two ‘terrifying’.

“Yes. In fact, two terrifying people are staying in residence: Abel-san and Ryo-san. It seems they joined up with His Excellency in the newly acquired northern Lulu Island of our kingdom.”

Rockday deliberately used the old way of referring to him, rather than calling him Duke Rondo.

“Abel and Ryo? I feel like I’ve heard those names somewhere...”

“Well, of course you have. It was Abel-san who boarded the flagship by crossing a two-hundred-meter-long ice bridge, cut off both your arms, and thrust a sword into my stomach.”

“That magic sword guy!”

With Rockday’s explanation, Monrashou remembered completely.

At the time, they had no choice but to attack the fleet of the Komakyuta Principality, which was transporting Princess Iliaja, then the Sixth Princess.

But during that attack, they had suffered a fierce counterattack, and those swordsmen had boarded the flagship, leaving them badly hurt.

“So that’s right, that swordsman’s name was Abel. Then Ryo must be his partner, the magician.”

“Yes. He built that enormous ice bridge... I heard later that he created it all by himself. Impossible, really.”

“Hey, hey...”

Rockday, who was also a magician, shook his head as he spoke. Monrashou, who could not use magic but understood it to a certain extent by virtue of his position as commander, frowned even more deeply.

“Oh, right. Speaking of Ryo, he’s also famous right now as the author of ‘The Hungry Swordsman Abel’.”

“That one’s hilarious!”

“Oh... an admirer here too.”

Monrashou nodded vigorously, and Rockday was astonished by how widely the book’s influence had spread.

Yes, ‘The Hungry Swordsman Abel’ was steadily on its way to becoming a bestseller.

“So that’s why the name ‘Abel’ sounded familiar... from the character inside the book.”

Monrashou nodded over and over again.

A scout returned.

“Well?”

“There are about a hundred enemies.”

“Headquarters estimated fifty to seventy, but...”

“A little more, huh? Well, that is within the margin of error.”

Monrashou shrugged at Rockday’s report.

“The prince and the Federation delegation staying at the state guesthouse in one corner of the palace have already been surrounded and neutralized. So, according to His Excellency, this base is the main force of the Ghegish-Lu Federation.”

“So if we crush this place, there will be no one left to harm Her Majesty the Queen.”

Rockday reported, and Monrashou nodded firmly.

The assault group’s senior officers around them also nodded repeatedly.

Everyone had determined expressions on their faces.

By nature, the First Assault Group was a unit that boarded enemy ships and broke open the battlefield.

But precisely for that reason, they took pride in their loyalty to the Suje Kingdom Navy and believed that their honor surpassed everyone else’s.

Their loyalty to Kabui Somar, who had led the kingdom’s navy, was second to none.

And recently, their loyalty to Queen Iliaja had become extremely strong as well.

“Wasn’t he the second prince of the late king? If he comes out now, all he’ll do is cause confusion.”

The subordinates nodded at Monrashou’s words.

Even Rockday, who in his position could not openly agree, shrugged and went along with it.

At long last, the Suje Kingdom was settling down, coming together, and beginning to move onto a growth path as a nation.

If he appeared at a time like this... he would not gain popular support, that much was obvious.

Though the Second Prince and the Ghegish-Lu Federation likely were not seeking such a thing in the first place.

The two of them continued with that trivial conversation, but all the while, the surrounding forces were moving.

The operation had already been planned long ago, and the enemy numbers were within expectations... Since Monrashou had called it ‘margin of error’, it was within expectations.

That being the case, there was no need for Monrashou to issue any special instructions, and no need for Rockday to meddle.

What was required of them was...

“Commander, all preparations are complete.”

A subordinate reported.

“Good. Then commence the operation.”

What Monrashou did was decide to launch the operation.

The courage of the Central Navy First Assault Group set the charge in motion.

Twenty minutes later.

“We have annihilated the enemy and secured the base. That is the report.”

“Good.”

At the subordinate’s report, Commander Monrashou nodded with satisfaction.

But then he noticed that the admiral-magician beside him had an absent expression, as though his mind were elsewhere.

“What’s wrong, Rockday?”

“I was setting the alchemy tools to prevent escape... Three targets spotted fleeing!”

Having said that, Admiral Rockday immediately started running.

Without a word, Monrashou followed after him.

“But the report said the enemy had been annihilated?”

As they ran, Monrashou asked.

“They probably had underground passages and such dug in advance for escape. With an earth-attribute magician, it is not that difficult.”

“Sure sounds convincing coming from a user of earth-attribute magic.”

Admiral Rockday was an earth-attribute magician.

“Anticipating that, I set alchemy tools quite a distance from the base. I’m glad I prepared in advance.”

“You really are amazing.”

Monrashou praised him as Rockday spoke in an offhand manner.

Since that painful defeat at Komakyuta, Monrashou had held Rockday in high regard.

Of course, even before that, he had regarded him more highly than the other Suje Kingdom Navy soldiers... but now he considered him to be about second only to Kabui Somar in competence.

“All three of them are running west, about a hundred meters ahead.”

“West? There are several coves over there. Did they hide a ship there for escape?”

“A cove? If that is their destination, there is a nearby beast trail. If we follow from there, we can catch them before they reach the cove.”

“How do you know that?”

“Before I became an admiral, I had quite a hard time on land too, you know?”

Rockday said that with a laugh, then moved ahead of Monrashou and took a side path.

Monrashou followed.

Five minutes later.

“We’ve caught up.”

“Hold them there for me.”

Monrashou answered Rockday’s report.

“<Stone Pierce>.”

When Rockday chanted, six stone spears flew.

Of the three running ahead, four legs were pierced.

Only the one running in the center, a person in a white robe, was not hit by the stone spears.

The reason became clear immediately.

“A talisman? That robe’s wearer is a sorcerer.”

Rockday shouted.

He must not have heard the shout, but the white-robed figure stopped and turned toward them.

Monrashou caught up to the two who had fallen to the ground with their legs pierced by stone spears, then kicked their heads up to knock them unconscious.

And then stone spears came flying in.

Of course, Rockday had not launched them.

Clang.

Thunk.

Two stone spears had been launched, both aimed at the two who had been knocked unconscious.

Monrashou deflected one with his sword.

The other was repelled by a stone wall created by Rockday.

The instant after deflecting it with his sword, Monrashou lunged in and slashed at the white robe.

Clang.

The white robe blocked Monrashou’s blow with a sword.

“Silencing witnesses? That’s a nasty thing to do.”

Monrashou said this while continuing his chain of attacks, but the white robe silently took them all.

In the meantime, the two people who had been knocked unconscious by Rockday were enclosed behind a stone wall.

They were prisoners—or, perhaps, witnesses for this incident.

“Tch.”

A small but sharp click of the tongue escaped the white robe’s mouth.

“I knew it, right? That bastard’s cautious to the point of cowardice.”

“If you’re not going to say anything useful, then hurry up and finish this.”

Rockday must have heard Monrashou’s words.

He issued a stern rebuke.

“No, Rockday, this white robe is good with the sword too?”

“The commander of the First Assault Group, right? There aren’t that many swordsmen stronger than you. And that person is a sorcerer, you know?”

“Even if you say that...”

In fact, Monrashou’s slashes were sharp.

The blade he held was a straight sword too short to be called a true sword, but too long to be called a knife.

It was his usual beloved blade, one he also wielded aboard ship.

The sword wielded by the white-robed person was also not long.

Perhaps it was about the same length as Monrashou’s sword.

However, its appearance was completely different.

“You use a strange sword.”

Monrashou murmured without thinking.

The sword wielded by the white robe was undulating.

That did not mean it was soft.

It was probably made of iron.

The iron sword itself had a shape that bent and twisted like a snake.

“I’ve seen one used in ceremonies before, but this is my first time seeing one in use.”

“Then engrave it into your eyes as you die.”

For the first time, the white robe opened his mouth, and immediately stepped in.

Shiiik.

Their swords ‘slid’ against each other.

The sliding blade attacked Monrashou’s chest.

But...

“<Stone Pierce>.”

Rockday’s stone spears attacked the white robe from directly above.

The talisman did not activate in time, and the white robe pulled back his sword and leaped away.

“Annoying...”

The white robe glared at Rockday.

The next instant, his face tightened.

“I remember now—that name Rockday... the admiral of the Central Navy, and the magician known as the ‘Tyrant Stone Emperor.’”

“That’s an old nickname.”

Rockday, on hearing it, also frowned.

It was not a nickname he liked very much.

Clang, clang...

Through the gaps in his conversation with the white robe, Monrashou once again lunged in and unleashed a flurry of attacks.

But every one of them was perfectly blocked by the white robe...

“What is this toughness?”

“First Assault Group Commander Monrashou was it? You’re certainly trained differently from the rest of them.”

“Stop spouting nonsense!”

An enraged Monrashou.

He increased the speed and force of his chain attacks... but the result did not change.

Rockday, watching the duel between the two swordsmen, began to tilt his head.

Monrashou caught sight of that out of the corner of his eye.

“What is it, Rockday!? Stop spacing out and give me a hand!”

“That white robe’s swordsmanship is probably royal palace swordsmanship.”

“What?”

Monrashou did not understand Rockday’s words.

No, he understood what ‘royal palace swordsmanship’ meant.

It was the sword style handed down in the Suje Kingdom’s royal palace.

It was not particularly amazing in itself; the people who could use it were special.

Aside from the successive swordsmanship instructors, only the royal family of the Suje Kingdom could use it.

Which meant that if someone could use it...

“That white robe is His Late Majesty’s Second Prince, Hendrawa-sama.”

“Oh...”

At Rockday’s words, Monrashou frowned.

“Hmph, so you figured it out.”

The white-robed Prince Hendrawa smiled with the corners of his mouth raised.

“What are you going to do? The Royal Navy that serves the royal family wouldn’t be able to raise a sword against me, a prince, would it?”

“It’s the other way around.”

Saying that, Monrashou swung his sword with even greater sharpness.

“If you disappear, the people threatening Her Majesty’s rule will calm down. There’ll be no one left to prop them up. For the future of the Suje Kingdom, I’ll kill you here.”

Monrashou said ‘you’, not ‘the prince’ or ‘Your Highness’.

“I am a member of the Suje royal family, you know?”

“So what?”

“...Is that the extent of the Royal Navy’s loyalty?”

“Don’t misunderstand, you little prince.”

Monrashou said it with a clear frown.

“Do you think that simply because you’re royal family, we’ll devote loyalty to you unconditionally? That’s why you’re no good.”

“What did you say?”

“The late king truly devoted himself to the people and the country. Because we knew that, the navy swore loyalty to him. And so did Her Majesty Iliaja. Not because they were royalty. We swear loyalty to the one who acts by casting everything aside for the sake of the people and the nation. That is what the Suje Kingdom Navy is.”

Even while saying this, Monrashou never slowed the movement of his sword.

“Hmph. It was an interesting speech, at least. It didn’t reach my heart at all, though.”

“What?”

Hendrawa said it with a laugh, and Monrashou narrowed his eyes.

Clang.

Hendrawa knocked Monrashou’s sword away hard and jumped back a great distance.

At the same time, a rain of fire descended.

“<Stone Wall>.”

Rockday chanted, and a stone wall appeared in front of Monrashou.

It repelled the fire attribute attack magic.

Then came a rain of arrows.

“This is...”

“Enemy reinforcements.”

Rockday frowned as he answered Monrashou’s words.

He expanded the stone wall further, covering the two of them and the two unconscious prisoners twice over.

“I suppose that’s too much even for you?”

“Yes. Even now they’re getting farther away... Ah, even the alchemy tool can no longer track them.”

“Damn it.”

“It cannot be helped. Just these two prisoners alone... that is already a sufficient result.”

Monrashou looked frustrated, while Rockday shrugged.

And thus, the Ghegish-Lu Federation’s assault unit was routed and destroyed.

The day after the Ghegish-Lu Federation’s diplomatic delegation left the Suje Kingdom.

Ryo stood at the port looking northwest.

In that direction should be the Kingdom of Knightley.

By the way, Abel stood beside him.

“Shall we just cross the sea to the west? Rainshooter probably came through this sea too, so if we’re lucky maybe...”

“I’d love to do that, of course...”

Ryo glanced behind him.

There, as if they had been brought out for a walk, were their two beloved horses.

“If something goes wrong, they’ll be thrown into the sea. If it were just Abel and me, we could handle it somehow, but Andalusia and Feiwan...”

“What if Ryo protected them by surrounding them with ice?”

“I think the magic would still be taken away.”

“Ah...”

Ryo looked frustrated, while Abel wore an expression of understanding.

Yes, even Ryo—who had come this far mastering water attribute magic and polishing his control over it—would have his magic constructs taken away by a Kraken.

Put simply, he would not be able to use magic.

If they were made through alchemy, they would not be taken away.

So if he were dealing with one of them, he should be able to manage somehow.

But if he were dealing with several of them... there was a pretty good chance they would be smashed by sheer physical violence.

“In the end, I’m still weak.”

“No, that’s just a matter of comparison.”

“But this is not the end!”

“Y-yeah...”

“One day, I will definitely bend even the Kraken to my will with magic!”

Ryo declared this, raising his fist.

Abel watched over him.

In the rear, Andalusia and Feiwan were making small sounds.

Perhaps they were celebrating Ryo’s declaration.

Join my Patreon and continue to the next chapter early here on Patreon!