Chapter 14: Demon’s Lair – Part 15
After stopping by the guild to appraise the silver staff, I discovered it was a weapon named “Saint’s Prayer.” It boasted multiple magical effects, and the guild staff who appraised it was visibly excited, indicating it was quite a remarkable weapon. Given its name, it was undoubtedly a weapon meant for Freinir.
By the time I returned to the marquis’s residence, it was well past noon.
As I approached, I noticed an extravagant carriage parked in front of the entrance. It was adorned with a flag bearing a crest, suggesting it belonged to the royal family of Mecalinan.
The timing of their visit made me wonder if they were here to deliver a veiled threat akin to a declaration of war. As the entrance opened, I decided to hide behind a tree in the garden to observe.
A man in his thirties emerged—a noble with a robust build and a prominent mustache, his face radiating an unmistakable air of arrogance. He was the very embodiment of the corrupt aristocrat one might envision in modern Japan.
He sneered at Marquis Lagantz, who had come to see him off, saying, “You will surely regret disregarding the king’s generous heart,” before climbing into the carriage and departing.
As I approached the entrance, the marquis spotted me and called out.
“Soushi, it is finally beginning. I would like you to accompany us from tomorrow onward.”
“Understood. I have made all the necessary preparations on my end.”
“Thank you. By the way, I heard that Ryusha received a ring from you. Is that true?”
“I obtained one with ‘Poison Resistance’ the other day and thought it best to give it to her. Was there an issue with handing it over directly?”
“Well, since it is technically a gift, I would have preferred it to go through me. However, what I really want to say is that it must be quite a high-ranking item.”
“I heard it has ‘Poison Resistance +3.’ While I was told it could fetch a high price if sold, I didn’t think it was that extraordinary.”
At my words, the marquis furrowed his brow, wearing a peculiar expression.
I recognized that look. It was the same expression my party members made when I said something odd.
However, I had recently acquired quite a few magical effect items, and compared to the “Saint’s Prayer” and the “Immovable Fortress Wall” I obtained today, I thought the ring’s effect was rather trivial.
“Most magical effects are around ‘+1,’ and anything above ‘+2’ is already quite rare. A ring with ‘Poison Resistance +3’ would be hard to find even ten of across the continent.”
“I… I wasn’t aware of that.”
As I answered honestly, I sensed the marquis’s gaze sharpen slightly.
“From the way you speak, it seems you possess several powerful items. You should be careful not to let others catch on.”
“I appreciate the warning. I will be cautious.”
“Indeed. That ring is a valuable asset. With ‘Poison Resistance +3,’ it could nullify even the most lethal toxins. It is unfortunate that such a necessity exists.”
“I understand that point. I hesitated a bit when I decided to give her the ring.”
“Heh, you are indeed an interesting one. Once all of this is over, I would like to have a proper conversation with you.”
With that, the marquis vanished into the depths of the entrance, a smile gracing his lips.
It seemed that accessories with a magical effect of ‘+3’ were rarer than I had anticipated. The items I had “plundered” from a C-Rank boss both had high-level magical effects, and if I could continue to acquire such items, I wouldn’t have to worry about money. However, if that became known, it would likely lead to more complications, and it felt like I was merely adding more ambiguous issues to my plate.
The next day, there was movement from the national army, and the marquis’s forces prepared to deploy.
I had thought we would be defending from the walls, but it seemed that being surrounded by a horde of Undead was more challenging to deal with. Indeed, the number of adventurers was limited, making it impossible to defend the entire wall. If we had to charge out and take the enemy’s commander’s head, it was better to fight on the plains to minimize damage to the city.
By the way, the route from the royal capital to Marquis Lagantz’s territory was flat, so we couldn’t utilize the terrain for ambushes. In the end, it would be a straightforward clash between large armies, reminiscent of the old-fashioned wars that an amateur might imagine.
In terms of strength, the national army had around 30,000 regular soldiers, but there were also 200 to 300 adventurer dropouts known as “Special Duty Soldiers,” along with the summoning of Undead, making their effective fighting force around 50,000.
In contrast, the marquis’s army consisted of 15,000 regular soldiers, with around 200 former and current adventurers. Reinforcements from other territories were expected to arrive in a few days, but even combined, their numbers would only reach around 15,000. It seemed reckless to engage in battle under normal circumstances, but due to the high ranks of the adventurers, the military’s training, and morale, combined with the national army’s low morale, it was said that the actual balance of power was even.
I was to head to the battlefield among the adventurer squad. While the adventurer team would march among the regular soldiers, their diverse appearances and equipment made them stand out as distinctly different from the uniformed troops.
“I never thought you would join this battle. You’re not here on behalf of Lagantz, are you?”
A young adventurer with a sharp face approached me as we walked. I recognized him from the recent Demon subjugation, so he must be B-Rank.
“Well, I’m not from this continent. But it seems I need to defeat the marquis to leave this country.”
“Huh? You’re participating for such a reason? You could just smash through the checkpoints and escape… though I suppose that’s not really an option.”
“Illegal activities would be recorded on my Adventurer Card, after all.”
“Still, joining a war is something else. But with you here, I feel like we might win easily.”
“Exactly! The other day was incredible. You took that magical storm head-on and shattered that monster in one blow!”
A mage-like woman, presumably a member of the young man’s party, chimed in.
“I’m used to fighting those Demons. But this country is in dire straits. I’ve traveled through Vermilian and Oz, and everywhere I went, there were Mecalinan agents up to no good.”
“That treacherous king and the nobles who flatter him are the root of all evil. They indulge in luxury while squeezing the common folk dry. They say that taking Oz will make life easier, but their meddling has only made things worse for us. Honestly, if we reach the royal capital, the people there will probably welcome us with open arms.”
“I visited the royal capital once, and it was a dreadful sight. However, to reach it, we must win this battle.”
As I said this, the young man made a bitter face.
“Fighting against our fellow countrymen is the height of foolishness. The soldiers probably lack motivation, so if we can wipe out the Undead and those adventurer dropouts, it should lead to a total collapse.”
“If that’s the case, it makes things easier. Honestly, I don’t relish the idea of fighting ordinary people.”
“Once they see your power, they’ll probably drop their weapons and flee. It would help if you could make it flashy.”
As we chatted, we marched into a vast plain that seemed perfect for battle.
Orders were given, and the soldiers began to set up their formations. It appeared that a tent would also be prepared for the adventurer squad.
Now, I had heard that the national army would arrive at our doorstep by the next morning. I never imagined that I, born in modern Japan, would participate in a war like this, especially as part of the vanguard. But having come this far, I had no choice but to steel myself for what lay ahead. I constantly felt as if I were being swept along by some current, so all I could do was take action.
Yet, I should have been overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. Despite that, I felt completely calm, even eager to engage in battle. It was truly strange. What had caused my aversion to war? If this was due to my Skill, then perhaps there was some solace in that. However, if I was genuinely becoming a battle-crazed individual, that would be a troubling situation indeed.