Chapter 596 – The Empire’s Losses
A large fire raged at the director’s residence.
By that point, however, it was already a minor concern compared with what was happening throughout the research facility.
Inside the defensive walls, monsters released by Tauro were overflowing from the underground sections. Amid the chaos, guards continued fighting at scattered points while trying to protect the staff.
Meanwhile, Tauro’s Rock-series puppets systematically demolished the facility, leaving its structures in ruins. No one had the manpower to worry about the fire at the director’s residence.
Thus, the secret research facility hidden in the Antas Mountain Range was destroyed in a single night. Its personnel were devastated by the monsters, and its valuable research materials were reduced to ashes.
The monsters that remained as the “results” of that research would continue wreaking havoc throughout Imperial territory for some time.
As a result, the army that had been preparing to invade the northern region of the Kingdom of Sart was forced to turn its attention toward suppressing the chaos. The Empire’s large-scale operation would collapse under heavy losses—but that was a story for a little later.
Dawn broke over the Antas Mountain Range.
Tauro and Black-Gold Wings had moved south from the facility with Tauro’s teleportation ability and safely crossed the border back into the Kingdom of Sart.
Because Tauro had used the Rock-series puppets, there was a chance that surviving witnesses might report his involvement to the Empire. Considering the chaos caused by the monsters he had released, however, it was doubtful that anyone who knew enough would survive to give a useful account.
The monsters created at the facility were simply that dangerous.
The released Olog-Hai and Bloodsucking Wolves would undoubtedly leave deep scars across Imperial lands.
The Empire itself had created those monsters, so Tauro felt little sympathy for the consequences that would follow.
“You’re strangely harsh when it comes to things like this, Leader.”
Ankh commented on the ruthlessness of Tauro’s plan.
“If we had been the ones attacked, it wouldn’t have ended with monsters. The Imperial army would have invaded afterward, and the entire northern region would have become a battlefield. The Empire tried to carry out something that dangerous. They need to understand, even a little, how terrible what they were trying to do really was.”
Tauro answered without hesitation.
“People in the Empire will suffer because of it, but Tauro is right. They were conducting forbidden research and tried to use its results against us. They should bear the consequences of that.”
Aeris understood the logic behind his harsh decision.
“…Yeah. If their plan had succeeded on our side, the damage would have been even worse. They brought this on themselves.”
Ragune agreed.
“We’re just making the Empire take responsibility for what it created, so I think it’s fine!”
Zion also supported Tauro.
“…True. Lately the Empire has been doing nothing but dabbling in taboos and war. We stop their scheme, and then they clean up the mess they made themselves… I suppose that’s fair.”
Ankh finally conceded the point.
As a former mercenary, he disliked causing suffering that produced no practical benefit. The idea of monsters rampaging through populated Imperial lands still troubled him, but he also understood that retaliation was part of conflict between nations.
And so the forbidden research facility, built secretly over many years with immense resources, was destroyed by Tauro and Black-Gold Wings. One of the Empire’s long-term ambitions had been crushed.
In the aftermath, the Empire remained in turmoil as monsters released from the facility rampaged across its territory, forcing the military to devote substantial forces to suppressing them.
Amid that confusion, news spread that General Barbatos, one of the Empire’s Four Heavenly Generals, had died in an accident.
In truth, he had fallen in single combat against Tauro. Admitting that fact, however, would also expose the secret invasion plan against the Kingdom of Sart—and the humiliation of having that plan thwarted by a single adventuring party. His death was therefore officially recorded as an accident.
The damage caused by the incident was far greater than expected. Yet because the research facility itself had been a secret both inside and outside the Empire, no one could publicly be held responsible for it. The official explanation became nothing more than a “large-scale monster stampede involving a new species.”
In a corner of the Imperial Palace in the Imperial Capital—
“…What happened at that research facility?”
The Imperial Crown Prince demanded an explanation.
“We don’t know. It appears that Viscount Ivan, the director, may have made some mistake. The site was devastated by rampaging monsters… There were no survivors, so we can’t confirm the details.”
“…The Empire has suffered an enormous loss. We lost the great General Barbatos. A research facility into which we poured vast sums has vanished. The monsters it created are now ravaging our own lands—and we still don’t know who’s responsible? Pathetic…!”
“My apologies, Your Highness. His Majesty appears inclined to erase this entire incident from the record. The dragonfolk who serve close to him have advised him to do so, so I believe that’s what will happen.”
“…Those dragonfolk always make grand promises, but when something actually happens, what can they accomplish? They said they would wipe out the southern dragonfolk with a plague, and they failed. They said they would destroy the Kingdom of Sart by manipulating its nobles from within, and they failed. They said they would seize control of the kingdom by manipulating its crown prince, and they failed. Then they proposed unleashing a new species of monster to throw Sart into chaos before invading and taking the north—and that failed too. All they ever do is fail!”
“Your Highness, please lower your voice. We don’t know where they may be listening. The dragonfolk are a legendary race, and they have contributed greatly to the Empire. With the southern dragonfolk still thriving, we can’t afford to turn our own dragonfolk into enemies and lose their support.”
“…Fine. I’ll overlook this yet again. But at the very least, bring me the head of the adventurer who killed General Barbatos. It would be a disgrace to leave his death officially recorded as an accident.”
After giving that order to his elderly steward, Imperial Crown Prince Arthur returned to his duties with a displeased expression.
“…I suddenly feel a chill.”
Tauro murmured while organizing his belongings at an inn in Swen.
“Are you catching a cold? Do you want to stay here a little longer?”
Aeris asked with concern.
“No, I’m fine. With [Longevity], I shouldn’t get sick. Maybe someone is speaking badly about me somewhere.”
Tauro gave a wry smile and finished packing.
“Tauro, we’re ready to go.”
Ragune and Zion appeared in the doorway.
“I’m all set too, Leader.”
Ankh called from across the hall.
“Alright, then—let’s head out on our next adventure!”
“Yeah!”
“Right!”
“Let’s go!”
“Yes!”
Seth nodded as well, while Pella bounced excitedly on Tauro’s shoulder.
Then, using Ragune’s [Dimensional Corridor] and Tauro’s [Spatial Transfer], the group vanished from the inn.