Ｓｉｄｅ: Meena
The Phantom Capital Bestia of the Torencia Phantom Kingdom is a maritime city built on Bestia Island, only several dozen meters away from Aura Island. Surprisingly, the Phantom King’s Castle was built on an even smaller island, about ten meters further from Bestia Island.
This islet, known as the White Demon Castle due to the Royal Castle it houses, is beautiful, shrouded in white snow and surrounded by sheer cliffs, making invasion impossible.
Upon arriving in Bestia, I was deigned to be entrusted with guarding Sayuri-sama and am currently in the Main conference room of the White Demon Castle.
Until recently, we were inspecting the Steam Battleships behind the White Demon Castle with personnel from Torencia. Now that this is concluded, we are to discuss how to respond to Solemne.
“So, Amister will also dispatch the Order’s Guild?”
“We are prepared to do so. However, considering the Anti-Beast King Organizations of Retisencia and Valentia, I estimate no more than 500 individuals.”
“No, even that will be a great help. The participation of the renowned Order’s Guild will surely boost the morale of the Saber’s Guild.”
This gentleman is the Prime Minister of Torencia, the Fairy Elva Cardinale. Many of the attendees, including Elva, have seen Solemne’s new weapon, the Steam Battleship, firsthand. Nobles who happened to be visiting Bestia are also numerous.
“While I cannot make a promise, I intend to contact the Hunters. However, this is an ongoing effort, so I must admit that a firm commitment is difficult.”
“No, even that proposal is greatly appreciated by Torencia.”
Hunters sometimes participate in wars. Torencia and Libertà’s Hunters have indeed participated in Solemne’s invasion. Still, their participation is based on their free will, and we cannot force them. Although it is a request, the reward is not high, even for high-ranked Hunters, and there is no guarantee of their safety. Nevertheless, many Hunters do participate. This time, however, it involves an expedition all the way to Torencia, making it impossible to predict how many of Amister’s Hunters will join.
“The Wing Crest has readily agreed to cooperate. As you may know, the Wing Crest comprises Ancient Humans and Ancient Foxies, and all their Hunters are High Class, specifically G-rank. They possess combat power comparable to a small Alliance.”
A murmur rippled through the conference room. Indeed, apart from the High Elf Carol, all the Wing Crest Hunters are G-rank. Mana and Eos are P-rank, and Yamato and Prim are Ancient Class, making their combat power potentially equivalent to a medium-sized Alliance. But we have almost no experience, having leveled up so rapidly!
“However, Emperor Reinhardt, with all due respect, if you are only now reaching out to the Hunters, won’t you be returning to Amister immediately? It’s not as if Their Majesties can handle this alone, so in that case, won’t the Wing Crest accompany them as guards?”
“Normally, that would be the case, but for this particular situation, you needn’t worry so much. Yamato-kun can use Traveling, so it’s a quick trip to Amister.”
Strictly speaking, he’s not using Traveling, but rather Transfer Stone Tablets or Gate Crystals. However, Alka’s existence cannot be revealed publicly, and it wouldn’t be odd for Yamato-san, an Ancient Human, to be able to use Traveling. Thus, we intend to push this explanation. Naturally, he will use the stone tablets and gate crystals conventionally, and there’s no intention of hiding that.
“Then, will His Majesty, as well as the Order’s Guild and the Hunters, also be going to Torencia?”
“That would be the case. However, as I mentioned earlier, the Order’s formation is still pending, and Hunters won’t be found immediately. Furthermore, having just sunk numerous Steam Battleships, Solemne’s invasion might be delayed. They seem to be attempting to melt the sea ice using the residual heat from the Steam Battleships, but the ice will only thicken and increase in volume. Relying on residual heat from metal will result in an incredibly long duration for their advance.”
“I believe you are correct, but we cannot afford to lower our guard because of it.”
“That is only natural. Therefore, the Saber’s Guild will continue to maintain vigilance, not only towards the Seryado Volcano area but also towards the Elect Sea. Grand Saber’s Master, I apologize for the burden, but I implore you.”
“Leave it to me, Your Majesty.”
Lord Hylamia Blazer Foscora, the Grand Saber’s Master, nodded resolutely to Emperor Hildegard. Normally, during winter, we could focus on guarding the Seryado Volcano. However, due to Solemne’s development of Steam Battleships, we cannot relax our vigilance over the Elect Sea separating us from Solemne. This imposes a significant burden on the Saber’s Guild, but given the circumstances, they cannot ignore it.
“The decisive battle with Solemne will take place once the Order and Hunters are prepared. However, if I may express a preference, it would be before the sea ice melts. Nevertheless, Amister’s role is one of cooperation. Therefore, we will abide by Torencia’s wishes.”
“Understood. However, this is not an issue that can be resolved at this meeting, so I will report on it again later.”
If there were no sea ice, we could advance towards Solemne as soon as our forces were ready. But with the sea ice, Torencia cannot launch ships either. However, it is precisely the sea ice that can delay Solemne’s advance, so it’s a difficult decision. Amister, however, is maintaining its position of cooperation rather than leadership, and Torencia is more accustomed to dealing with sea ice, so we will leave it to them. I have already informed Emperor Hildegard of this beforehand.
“Please do.”
“Next, we will discuss measures against the crucial Steam Battleships. Yamato-sama and Primrose-sama have already sunk over 50, but to face them without countermeasures would be the height of folly.”
“Naturally. However, even I find Yamato-kun and Sayuri Great-grandmother’s proposed countermeasures to be excessive.”
Emperor Reinhardt smiles wryly, and I share his sentiment. Having evolved into a High Human, I was granted the Bestowed Magic of Barrier Magic. I am also an Outside Order and can use the Knight Magic, Shielding. If used in conjunction, I believe we could withstand a small number of cannonballs, but I am not confident if targeted simultaneously.
“The other idea was to approach stealthily and sink them from underwater. While it might not be impossible for High Undines or Sea Dragons like Hydragonewts, it still requires the Battleships to be visible and for us to approach within a certain range. Furthermore, the biggest problem is the monsters lurking in the sea. A stationary Battleship could be dealt with once close enough, but the monsters would pose a serious challenge.”
Indeed, that is a significant problem. Torencia’s waters also harbor large marine monsters. If attacked while submerged, we would be helpless. Ordinary ships would also be sunk if attacked, which is only natural. Battleships are made of iron, so while I can’t say for sure that they wouldn’t be damaged, it would be difficult to escape unscathed. Actually, Yamato-san and Sayuri-sama proposed these ideas but completely forgot about that aspect.
“What seems realistic is to keep the ship’s front in view and defend with Barrier Magic or Shielding at the moment of impact. This is not easy, but it’s not impossible for a Saber.”
“Depending on the speed of the cannonballs, it seems possible.”
“And then, using water-attribute magic or water-elemental magical tools to disable the cannons?”
“No, if we can get that close, sinking them would be faster. They have over 30 cannons, so disabling them one by one is not feasible.”
I believe Emperor Hildegard is correct. If we can get that close, it means our magic can also reach them. Launching a simultaneous attack would be more reliable.
“Actually, fire-attribute magic or lightning-attribute magic might be effective, not water-attribute magic. Of course, accurate targeting is necessary.”
As I thought this, Sayuri-sama spoke. Fire-attribute and lightning-attribute magic are opposite elements to water-attribute magic, aren’t they?
“Sayuri-sama, I apologize, but I don’t understand what you mean…”
“Is this also considered a weakness of the cannons, and further, the Steam Battleships? Yamato-kun, could you explain?”
“Me?”
“You’d be more knowledgeable about this than I, so it would be better for you to explain.”
It feels like Yamato-san and Sayuri-sama are bickering, but everyone else looks like they don’t care who explains, as long as it’s explained quickly.
“My superfluous knowledge has become detrimental. Well, so be it.”
Yamato-san says strange things like “superfluous knowledge,” but now that knowledge is needed, so please don’t call it superfluous.
According to Yamato-san’s explanation, to operate a Steam Battleship, they continuously stoke a fire to turn water into steam, and the power of this steam drives a mechanism called a screw at the rear of the hull. The rotation of this screw generates propulsion, moving the ship. However, the weakness Yamato-san and Sayuri-sama are referring to is the steam engine at its core. The steam engine is designed to withstand high temperatures due to the constant fire, but it is not particularly strong against external impact. Therefore, if fire-attribute or lightning-attribute magic could be cast upon the steam engine, the surrounding fire from the engine would spread, igniting the Battleship. Of course, the fire might be extinguished immediately, but since the magic is cast from the outside, the impact itself would not be insignificant. Moreover, iron conducts lightning well, so even that alone could cause significant damage.
“If it were magic silver or adamantine steel, it would be a different story, but it’s just ordinary iron.”
“Indeed. It’s like being asked to be electrocuted to death.”
Even an iron ship would be fine if countermeasures were in place. However, based on our inspection of the Steam Battleships, no such countermeasures were found. That’s why the idea of using lightning-attribute magic emerged.
“Well, this isn’t foolproof either, and there might be other countermeasures, so I’ll think about it a little more.”
“N-no, it’s only just been confirmed, and you’ve already come up with so many countermeasures. We are nothing but grateful…”
Elva manages a strained smile. Indeed, under normal circumstances, facing a completely new weapon like a Battleship would lead to a considerable amount of time spent devising countermeasures, and there’s a possibility the country could fall during that period. Therefore, the existence of Yamato-san and Sayuri-sama, who quickly came up with countermeasures, regardless of their feasibility, appears like a godsend to Torencia.
“Excuse me for interrupting the meeting. Primrose-sama and the others have returned. They claim to have completed effective countermeasures against the Steam Battleships and wish to participate in the meeting.”
At that moment, the conference room door opened, and a Saber entered. It seems Prim-san and the others have returned. But what does it mean that they’ve completed effective countermeasures against the Steam Battleships? Prim-san and the others were supposed to be at the Priests’ Guild for Supplication Magic.
“What did that one do this time…”
Emperor Reinhardt holds his head in his hands. It seems it’s already a foregone conclusion for His Majesty that Prim has done something.
“Please, have them come in.”
“Understood.”
Shortly after, Prim-san, Flam-san, Athena-san, Aria-chan, and Mako-san entered. Mako-san is here too.
“Excuse me for interrupting the meeting. I apologize for barging in, but we were able to perform Supplication Magic that is highly effective against the Steam Battleships just now, so we boldly decided to participate in the meeting.”
As expected of Prim-san, coming from a ducal family, she answers without hesitation.
“That is very welcome news, Supplication Magic, you say?”
“Lately, several new magics have been confirmed, and to have more is truly the mark of Primrose-sama.”
“No, the magic I performed was only possible with the cooperation of our guest and husband, Yamato. However, for Mako here, also a guest, the magic she performed is, in my opinion, superior in both usefulness and applicability to mine.”
Indeed, Mako-san expressed her desire to attempt Supplication. It seems both of them succeeded. Well, I wasn’t that surprised, as I expected Mako-san to succeed, but I didn’t expect Prim-san to succeed as well.
“I will explain first.”
With that, Prim-san began explaining the Supplication Magic. The magic she performed is called Flying, a Supplication Magic that allows those with wings, such as Dragons, Harpies, Fairies, and the Winged Tribe, to fly freely in the sky. She mentioned that they tried it, and it consumes less magic power than using Fly Wind, feels like truly flying with one’s own wings, and has no time limit.
“Th-that is an amazing magic…”
“Indeed. Fortunately, the Saber’s Guild has many Harpies and Fairies, so approaching from the sky would not be difficult. It seems the cannons, as they call them, cannot fire shells very high into the sky.”
In fact, for that very reason, Yamato-san and Prim-san were able to neutralize the Battleships’ cannons. Well, they did fly directly alongside them and investigate the Battleships’ offensive capabilities.
“And for Mako’s Supplication Magic, she will explain it herself.”
“My name is Mako Katagiri. I arrived at the Helios Orb only a few hours ago, but I could not stand by in such a situation. I wished to offer what little help I could and asked Primrose-san to allow me to attempt Supplication at the Priests’ Guild.”
Mako-san’s greeting is also composed. It seems the esteemed individuals were not aware that Mako-san was a guest who had only arrived at Helios Orb a few hours ago, and they are all curious about what kind of magic she has performed.
The Supplication Magic Mako-san performed is called Scaffolding, a Supplication Magic that creates pseudo-footing with magic. It can be used on terrains with poor footing, as well as in mid-air or on water. She also mentioned that after deploying the scaffolding, one can stand on water or in the air. It’s not just for bouncing but can also be used for running normally. It seems that the footing created by Scaffolding can be extended for several meters, depending on one’s imagination. Prim-san was able to run at full speed without any hindrance, so it is truly amazing magic.
“You can run on water too…”
“The reason why Battleships are difficult to deal with is that they float on the sea. Therefore, our only option was to approach them by ship. However, with Flying and Scaffolding, we can approach them regardless of whether it’s the sea. It will be bare-handed, but I understand that High Class individuals can cleave even iron with a single sword, so it’s not a bad countermeasure.”
“You are quite right. Rather, it allows us to act as if we are running on land, nullifying the Battleship’s advantage of being on the sea. We can deploy our forces on land, sea, and air. It’s about as close to a perfect countermeasure as you can get.”
I agree. I have envied Yamato-san and Prim-san’s ability to fly, and by observing them, I understand the usefulness of aerial combat. Therefore, it is not only a countermeasure against Solemne but also a significant countermeasure against flying monsters.
However, Yamato-san and Sayuri-sama were greatly dejected. They said, “If only we had thought of Scaffolding,” although Flying was understandable. They seemed to lament not thinking of it sooner. But I feel that’s perfectly normal.
