The South Gate of the Capital.
The subordinate candidates, whom Nine had left behind without claiming them as subordinates, were in a panic with pursuers closing in.
“Close the gate!”
“We can’t, the cart is in the way!”
“Do something about the ones still outside!”
“Are you going to abandon us?!”
Half of the Royal Capital Guard were still resisting on the stairs and at the top of the outer wall. Those subordinate candidates who had entered the Royal Capital engaged the Guard, who were obstructing them from being recognized as subordinates by Nine and his group.
At the same time, the work of opening and closing the gate fell behind. The timid and petty criminals, saying “Forget the Guard (for now), close the gate,” caused further chaos at the scene.
“Don’t order me around!”
“Leave the Guard alone (for now)!”
“Whose orders should we follow!?”
“How should I know!? Just do what you want, right!?”
The pursuers were now within range of magic bullets, about 30 minutes away. The ones who held them back were the sacrifices (rivals of the subordinate candidates).
*Waaaaaaah.*
*Uooooooooo.*
The Guard knew that the dust cloud outside the Royal Capital signified reinforcements. They had heard the commotion of the bandits who had entered the Royal Capital. Therefore, they held their ground.
However, the number of bandits and their desperation began to overwhelm them.
“Faster… ugh.”
By the time reinforcements had set up positions in front of the South Gate, they had been wiped out. The subordinate candidates were also wounded all over.
“Close the gate, quickly.”
“We’re trying, but…”
The pursuers, frustrated by the fact that the bandits had inadvertently given them time to close the gate, grew impatient. Their commanders warned their subordinates and the Merchant Guild’s mercenary force not to act arbitrarily.
“We cannot let the Royal Capital become a sea of fire.”
“It will get a bit rough to break down the gate, you know?”
The commanders and the captains of the mercenary force held a strategy meeting. The Merchant Guild was providing not only soldiers but also supplies. They could not disregard the opinions of the mercenary captains. However, their true motive was to minimize harm to the residents of the Royal Capital. They explained the consequences of a forceful approach to the mercenary captains’ suggestions and managed to steer the strategy towards minimizing damage.
The pilots of the Knight (Golem) units waited with the tips of their support devices (cannons) pointed forward. They were extremely dissatisfied. Soldiers and mercenaries wondered if the enemy was not the one next to them.
The battles in the towns and villages to get here. The seemingly excessive attacks when defeating villains. There were those who had committed minor sins on both sides. Such people would suddenly wonder if they would be judged next. They were struck by the same fear that had afflicted the bandits. They worried about when the cannon tips would be turned towards them.
“………”
“…Tch.”
“What’s with the clicking of your tongue? Got something against me?”
“………”
They argued, urging each other to say something. The surrounding people did not stop them. Instead, they glared watchfully, ready to join in at any moment. The maintenance staff for the Knight (Golem) units prayed for a quick decision from above.
The southern part of the Royal Capital.
The baby, known as “Amanojaku” (Contrary Demon), had shamelessly joined Nine’s forced march.
It was purely by chance that “Amanojaku” ended up mixing with them.
While pilfering milk from livestock and nuts for feed.
It was amidst that commotion.
“Bandits, perhaps? They might be useful.”
The baby’s body was small. It consumed a large amount of magic power to move and had to take many breaks to recover. Thinking it would be a means of transportation, it had stealthily infiltrated the village with magic after confirming no one was watching during the plunder. Then, it was chased by the pursuing unit and finally arrived at the Royal Capital, the heart of the kingdom. From there, it no longer needed legs. What it wanted was someone to nurture the baby.
Fortunately, or rather, thanks to those who used their legs, there were shelters somewhere in the Royal Capital. It began to search them out, targeting them based on the size of the buildings. Perhaps. There might be a mother whose family was killed in the battle with them, causing her great sorrow. Furthermore, to avoid being treated as a lost infant and receiving proper care, it intended to impersonate someone’s child. It was confident in its acting abilities.
With a baby’s smile and a discontented cry, “Amanojaku” was determined to find at least one or two women who were mentally distraught.
Charlsharl Kingdom Royal Castle.
Azeroth was being held in an infirmary with the King and others confined.
Nine was told that the King and others had finished their discussion and prompted him to ask for the conclusion.
“We will hire you.”
“That is a wonderful decision, Your Majesty ♪”
“…” “Grrr.”
“The ministers have also agreed.”
” “We will follow His Majesty’s decision.” ”
The Right Minister and the Minister of Left bowed their heads to Nine’s group with hostility evident on their faces. Seeing this, Nine wryly smiled and thought, “If you’re the top, you shouldn’t show your emotions on your face, right?”
” “—!” ”
The ministers’ faces turned even redder at that attitude. They whispered to the King. As mentioned before, they will surely betray us, they said.
“It’s okay. We are in a state of war. We should utilize anything that can become combat power,” the King said quietly to the ministers.
However, Nine, whose body had been modified, could hear their conversation clearly.
(I will not be used and discarded, Your Majesty ♪)
Nine and his group headed to the South Gate with the King and the others. At the King’s order, servants arranged for a royal carriage.
South Gate of the Royal Capital.
When the royal carriage appeared, the subordinate candidates became aggressive. However, upon seeing Nine and his group emerge from the carriage, they withdrew.
*Waaaaa—♪! Yoshhhaaa♪!*
The royal carriage was gorgeously decorated. It was clear at a glance that it was for people of noble status. Nine and his group appeared in such a carriage. They had taken royalty hostage. They could drive away the enemies outside. This would prevent further fighting. They rejoiced from the bottom of their hearts and praised Nine and his group.
“Banzai! ♪ Banzai! ♪ Banzai! ♪”
Those arrayed outside the gate, hearing the voices, reached for their weapons, thinking it was time for battle. The superiors who had been strategizing also sought information, wondering what was happening.
“They… they wouldn’t take the citizens of the Royal Capital hostage!?”
“That’s bad! Force a breakthrough!”
“Wait! It could be a trap by the enemy!”
Dismissing them as being too slow, they broke free and rushed to their subordinates. The Knight (Golem) pilots launched and forcefully broke through the South Gate.
*Dodon!!* *Dodon!!* *Dodon!!*
Both physical and magical attacks were reinforced with defensive enchantments that diffused impact. The outer wall was the same. If they could smash the hinges of the gate, they could enter. Fortunately, there were no weapons on the outer wall capable of stopping the Knights (Golems).
“Push! Push!! The attacks from above aren’t that strong!”
“Don’t let those guys get ahead of us!”
“Stop!!”
Then, a clear, resounding voice from above commanded them to stop.
“What?”
“H-hey, watch your mouth.”
The Knight (Golem) unit immediately halted. The voice’s owner, His Majesty the King, was made known to the rear through the external speakers.
“His Majesty has been taken hostage!! Are the people serving in the Royal Capital incompetent!?! Are they just for decoration!?! Their execution is deserved! I will kill them myself!”
“Calm down! His Majesty is hostage, but—”
“Someone!? Stop him! *Gofuuu*”
One of the soldier commanders lost his temper. Shaking off the Merchant Guild’s strategists, he boarded his exclusive machine and set off to rescue the King. Activating the jump assist system of the support device (Back Weapon), he tried to hook his fingers onto the high outer wall, but the machine suddenly became uncontrollable and crashed into a friendly unit below— no, it pulverized the stone pavement. The friendly unit did not attempt to catch him.
“Gafuuu.”
The safety belt tightened around his body. The commander, experiencing pain inside the cockpit, thought that if the friendly unit had acted as a cushion, the impact wouldn’t have been this severe.
“That bastard.”
He spat a curse at the Knight (Golem) unit and attempted to reactivate it.
“Stop!”
The King once again issued a command to all Knight (Golem) units to halt. No, it was a command now.
“Damn it, move!”
*Clatter.*
By the time he managed to reactivate the Knight (Golem), the bandits had become mercenaries hired by the country, and any interference was strictly forbidden.
“Are you kidding me…”
The King’s command. In other words, the command from the highest superior. To defy it would be treason. They would be hunted down as bandits. Their positions would be reversed.
“—! —!”
He vented curses and abuse inside the cockpit. Although not satisfied, he calmed down and disembarked from the Knight (Golem). Then, he followed the King’s next order.
What will become of the Sharshar Kingdom?
