Here’s the translation, with improved paragraphing:
Side: Prim
After safely retrieving the Transfer Stone Tablet from the base of the Treasure Tree within Seryado Volcano, we headed to Rio after reporting to the Krater’s Hunter’s Guild.
Since the subjugation of the Slume Lord, S-rank monsters have been frequently sighted in the vicinity of Rio, and there are even rumors of G-rank monsters appearing, which has piqued our interest.
Kraters is similar, but since it’s adjacent to the Golud Great Glacier, G-rank monster attacks have occurred once every few months, and they seem to be handling it.
“Huh? Holy and Lily Wish aren’t returning today because they’re investigating the Golud Great Glacier?”
“That’s right. The Rio’s Hunter’s Guild was also concerned about the ecosystem changing, so we received a request from them as well.”
“But for the reason we were dispatched, it’s impossible for all of us to go investigate, isn’t it? However, it’s a problem that can’t be left unattended, so we’re dividing our forces and investigating on a fixed schedule.”
That’s true.
The reason the Alliance was originally dispatched was to deal with Solemne.
However, for the city of Rio, which is close to the Golud Great Glacier, they can’t ignore the Golud Great Glacier where the ecosystem has changed after the Slume Lord disappeared.
While they want to conduct the investigation quickly, the Hunters currently in Rio don’t have the skill to take on a request for the investigation of the Golud Great Glacier, so they have no choice but to ask the Alliance.
However, since they can’t all go, at least half of them must remain, and they are dispatched for investigations in units of days.
“Then, should we also report on the situation at Seryado Volcano later?”
“Huh? You went to Seryado Volcano?”
“Yes, we were curious about it too.”
Although we had the objective of recovering the Transfer Stone Tablet, we couldn’t just ignore that either.
It seems the Alliance is also interested in the situation at Seryado Volcano, and Yamato is giving a general explanation, but it seems to be mostly as expected.
“There were even Magma Golems, let alone Magma Puppets.”
“Troublesome, as usual.”
Magma Puppets are B to N-rank monsters that are lava in human form, while Magma Golems are G to R-rank monsters that are also lava in human form.
The rank of Puppet-type monsters varies depending on the mineral they are formed from, but their bodies are always made of material.
The most troublesome are those with bodies of Divine Metal, which is a rare metal and thus highly sought after.
However, Magma Puppets, while a rare material, have few uses for their rank, so they are not very popular.
Furthermore, their bodies are covered in lava, making close combat difficult, and even some magic is ineffective.
Outside of Seryado Volcano, they only appear in Labyrinths, which is another reason they are avoided.
“I see, Friezas Tigers were present, but Icequake Tigers and Avalanche Howls were not.”
“Yes. However, it’s still a time right after the Slume Lord disappeared, so we need to remain vigilant.”
“Indeed. While different from Mylight, it wouldn’t be strange to find an Icequake Tiger.”
Demise Species can increase the number of Anomalous Species.
Therefore, even if an Icequake Tiger, an Anomalous Species of Icicle Tiger, still exists, it wouldn’t be all that surprising.
In the recent subjugation battle, we defeated 19 Icequake Tigers and two Avalanche Howls, which are Catastrophe Species. But since the Slume Lord slept for 180 years, we should assume a few more still exist.
“We can’t stay here forever, so we’ll have to leave the rest to the Hunters of Torencia, but I’d like to thin them out a bit.”
“That would also mean more income for us. But that’s only possible if the situation calms down a bit more.”
“I know.”
Rio is south of Torencia, while Seryado Volcano is to the north.
It takes about a week by Beast Carriage, so an investigation would require nearly a month round trip.
It doesn’t take that long from Krater, but either way, it would be a long-term investigation, making it difficult for the Alliance to go.
“Furthermore, we’ve heard about the war situation in Libertà. At worst, if things continue like this, Libertà will fall over winter, and Valentia and Retisencia will be targeted.”
“Especially Valentia, even though you defeated Leonas and the Anti-Beast King Organization, their strength has greatly diminished. With their current forces, I don’t think they’ll last long.”
About six days have passed since the battle against the Solemne fleet that attacked Esperanza and the Anti-Beast King Organization. Also, Bascion’s subjugation has been reported to Torencia.
Therefore, it’s not strange that the Alliance is aware of Valentia’s current situation.
And Valentia has indeed lost significant fighting power, as the Alliance stated. If they were attacked by Solemne now, they wouldn’t stand a chance.
The reason for this is the subjugation force organized by the Beast King.
From the interrogation of Holiner, Rein, the Eastern Baron, admitted to the involvement of Prime Minister and Central Baron Streihait, and Southern Baron Gilfa.
Therefore, to hunt down the Prime Minister Streihait and Gilfa, who had become rebels, the Beast King organized a subjugation force and attacked Freihait Baronial Territory, ruled by Streihait.
Streihait escaped, but Gilfa was defeated. Freihait Baronial Territory and Trial Baronial Territory have been confiscated as direct territories of the Royal Family, leaving only Sister Neige.
The Eastern Estait Baronage has been annexed by Amister, but with the reconstruction of Rodpeace in the North and Trial in the South, which were attacked by Solemne, and the fact that Streihait and his allies resisted with their own forces, if Solemne were to attack now, Valentia would likely fall quickly.
Centro is inland, so the bombardment from the Steam Battleships won’t reach it, but dispatching soldiers from the fleet stationed there would suffice.
“What concerns me is the number of remaining Steam Battleships.”
“Yes. Including those sunk in the Elect Sea, Ovest Baronial Territory, and Esperanza, the number exceeds 100. Yet they are attacking Libertà. We must assume Solemne has prepared at least 200 Steam Battleships.”
I certainly agree.
We sunk 54 Steam Battleships in the Elect Sea, 20 in Ovest, and 40 in Esperanza, for a total of 114.
However, considering the battleships attacking Libertà and those in Rodpeace, it’s not unreasonable to assume they have around 200 prepared.
The crew members, which Yamato estimated to be around 200 people per ship, were actually about 50 people, much less than we expected.
While the total number of Solemne’s forces is unknown, assuming 200 battleships means 10,000 naval personnel alone. So we can assume a similar number exists in the army.
In that regard, their naval strength is halved, but the army is largely unscathed. Moreover, their cannons can be used on land. Leaving them as they are is problematic.
“It’s troublesome, but since Valentia has defeated a Baron, there should be no more worries about civil war. Should we focus on the battleships attacking Libertà?”
“I need to discuss it with my older brother and Sister Hilde, but that would be the better course of action.”
I agree with Yamato’s opinion.
Besides, not a single Steam Battleship can be left behind, so if possible, I’d like to go to Libertà.
“Speaking of which, Yamato-san, you mentioned before that Abyssal ships might already be obsolete, even Steam Battleships. Why is that?”
Lydia reminded me, and I remembered it too.
Indeed, Yamato and Sayuri-sama speculated that they might have leaked the information about Steam Battleships to Solemne precisely because they were obsolete.
It may be that way in the guests’ world, but in Helios Orb, it’s undoubtedly a revolutionary technology. Yet both Yamato and Sayuri-sama advised against its use.
Therefore, Yamato intends to create a ship propeller that utilizes water flow, and I want to know the reason for that as well.
“Ah, that talk. It’s simple: they don’t achieve high speeds. I had the Steam Battleships investigated, but with that structure, they wouldn’t exceed 10 knots, maybe not even 20 kilometers per hour.”
“Huh? That slow?”
Rudia asked in surprise, and I was also astonished.
Even when monsters pull ships, they can achieve double that speed. The fact that Steam Battleships can only go about 20 kilometers per hour is incredibly slow.
Oh, Yamato used the term “knots” to measure ship speed, but that’s not a unit used in Helios Orb.
That’s why Yamato keeps rephrasing it.
“Ah, well. Since it was screw propulsion, it might be a bit faster. Still, it would probably only be around 30 kilometers per hour.”
“It’s still slow, though. Well, the fact that it can move without being pulled by a monster is practical enough.”
“Right. So, are Abyssal ships faster than that?”
Cesar-san and El-san are also curious about the performance of Abyssal ships.
“I believe they are faster. If it’s the propulsion method I recalled earlier, it should reach over 70 kilometers per hour.”
“…What?”
“70 kilometers per hour… Huh? Isn’t that too fast?”
It certainly is too fast.
While the speed varies depending on the monster pulling the ship, the fastest doesn’t exceed 50 kilometers per hour.
Yet the ship Yamato is thinking of, which utilizes water flow, travels over 70 kilometers per hour, making no sense to have monsters pull it.
“Furthermore, the ship hulls and cannonballs are likely made of Divine Metal, and the cannons would be refined, so their range would be considerable.”
There are rumors that Divine Metal is abundant on the Gradia Continent, where Abyssal is located, so that’s understandable.
This is just Yamato’s speculation, but even hearing it makes it understandable why Solemne’s Steam Battleships are considered outdated.
“Ah, I see. Emperor Abyssal was also a guest, just like Yamato-kun, wasn’t he?”
“Yes. Furthermore, he appears to be an Engraver like Yamato, so in terms of era, he would be closer to me and Mako than Sayuri-sama. Given that he knows about things like Steam Battleships, there’s a possibility he was involved in the military.”
This is problematic.
As far as we know, Emperor Abyssal is an Ancient Human with a higher level than Yamato, capable of generating sword-like Engraving Tools, and has even assimilated Demon Crystals and become a demon. Pope Idea, the Grand Priests Master, stated that even we Ancient Classes cannot stand against him.
Adding to that, if he was involved in the military, there’s a possibility he’s using that military knowledge to enhance and improve Abyssal’s weaponry. If they were to resume their invasion, it wouldn’t be a simple matter of dealing with them.
“But that doesn’t mean we can leave Solemne unchecked!”
“Of course not. If Solemne were to seize hegemony over the Philia Continent, the demise of Helios Orb would be sealed at that point.”
That’s undeniable.
According to what Yamato heard from the Grand Priests Master and the Homunculi, there are still nearly 300 years left, but the demise of Helios Orb cannot be prevented unless the Emperor is defeated.
However, even though they have created a new race called demons, it doesn’t quite explain how the Emperor is involved in the demise of Helios Orb.
“I don’t understand that either. But the Grand Priests Master seems to have received a prophecy to that effect, and the Homunculi are saying similar things, so there must be some reason.”
Indeed, the Grand Priests Master and the Homunculi are bound by oaths, so they cannot reveal everything.
It’s not impossible that there are hidden issues beyond our comprehension.
“Perhaps, for me to understand, an oracle must be delivered to Aria after certain conditions are met. That’s why Aria has been dispatched.”
“Ah, so that’s why there was a Priest here.”
“Didn’t you explain that?”
“This is the first I’m hearing of it.”
I thought I had explained it. Since there’s no reason to hide it and it concerns the demise of Helios Orb, Yamato begins to explain the circumstances of Aria’s dispatch to everyone in the Alliance.
“I see, just like the first Pope.”
“W-what are you talking about?”
However, after the explanation, everyone looks at Yamato with a rather lukewarm gaze. Well, I can understand their feelings.
“No, seeing the tales of Shinichi-sama and Lunaria-sama, I think it’s only a matter of time for Yamato-kun and Aria-chan too.”
“Why!?”
Actually, we’re thinking the same thing.
Currently, Yamato’s wives are me, Mana, Meena, Flam, and Rika-san, a total of five. His fiancées are Yuri, Lydia, Ludia, Athena, and Sister Hilde, also five. However, Yamato is to have a total of twelve wives, so there are two spots left.
We predict that those two spots will be filled by Aria and Mako.
Perhaps because for Mako, Yamato is the son of her close friend, she acts like an older sister to him. However, as they are from the same world, they often talk.
Since monogamy is the norm in the guests’ world, whether they can overcome that might be the deciding factor.
With Aria, it’s still uncertain, but although she received a prophecy, she’s barging in. If there’s a trigger, it seems like things could quickly progress.
As for us, we’d prefer the remaining two to be decided as soon as possible, but if those two are Aria and Mako, we have no complaints.
So, Yamato, do your best, okay?
