Kays Translations

Chapter 58: The Villainous Aristocrat Attack the Imperial Capital

"Boss!! The imperial capital is in sight!!"

"All right, fire!!"

As soon as the imperial capital comes into view, I activate the cluster pepper spray.

No time to waste.

After all, it was the Empire that started this fight.

Well, for unrelated imperial citizens, indiscriminate terrorism is just the beginning. If you want to hold a grudge, hold it against the leaders of the country that started the war.

"...Over the imperial capital, clusters... intense chili pepper extract has exploded. It's raining red."

"It must be a hellish scene by now."

Listening to the report from the sharp-eyed Katia, I can't stop grinning.

Immediately, I load the next cluster of intense chili pepper extract into the barrel and pull the trigger.

No hesitation whatsoever.

"Second shot, fire!! After firing five or six more rounds, assault the imperial capital. Break through the defensive walls surrounding the capital, then proceed to invade and abduct every member of the royal family in the imperial castle!!"

Upon reconfirming the rough flow of the plan, Ayano complained.

It seems there's some resistance to my plan.

"Uh, um, Kunou-san. Can't we reconsider the attack? I mean, it could be disastrous if we accidentally run over civilians."

"Hagane wouldn't have that kind of accident. I'm not the one driving."

"Yeah!! I'll drive safely, Ayano!!"

Well, I did cause a traffic accident once.

But Hagane isn't the type to drive recklessly at high speeds. It should be fine. Probably.

"But, but, you know, if we have a policy not to kill and we get surrounded by enemies, we won't be able to escape."

"No worries. If push comes to shove, we'll just use the emperor as a hostage. 'Clear the way, or we'll kill your country's emperor!'"

"Ugh, I'm sorry, Felsy-san. I can't stop Kunou-san!! I'm scared because I don't understand why such thoughts come to him so quickly!"

"Hmm? Ah, it's probably my sister's influence."

It seems Felsy opposes this counteroffensive.

Or rather, she seems to dislike indiscriminate attacks.

"Kunou-kun. Even if it's a non-lethal plan, indiscriminately attacking civilians who aren't involved in the fight is a bit..."

"It's a bit late for that realization, but my sister is so normal that she's abnormal, isn't she? Right, Ayano?"

"Oh, yes. I thought that. Or maybe it just looks that way because Kunou-san is the point of comparison..."

"Uh, um? What do you mean?"

"What do you mean? Ayano, I'll ask you about it later. And sister, don't worry, it's all in good fun."

"Onee-sama, onii-sama is the type who, once he decides something, will definitely go through with it. It's better to give up."

Support fire comes from Wendy. That's right, that's right, give it up.

"Now then, I wonder how the imperial capital is doing? Listening device, activate!"

"..."

"Huh? Hm?"

"...Is it malfunctioning?"

"No, it's brand new. There's nothing wrong. It seems the imperial capital is just unusually quiet."

Strange.

Even though it's the time when the sun is starting to set, for the imperial capital, the number of people should be anything but ordinary.

It's unlikely that everyone in the imperial capital had evacuated into buildings beforehand...

"...Hagane, cease the bombardment and proceed to enter the imperial capital."

"Boss? But if we charge in with the Juggernaut, we might involve the civilians."

"It's fine. At least near the main gate, I can't hear any voices or sounds. It's definitely deserted. Go ahead and charge."

"Understood!!"

The Juggernaut advances, reaching the vicinity of the main gate without any action from the imperial capital.

By that time, the rain of cluster intense chili pepper extract has stopped.

"As I thought, not a single sound."

With heightened vigilance in the eerie silence, I use the drill to pry open the closed main gate.

The main gate was a bit small for the Juggernaut, but with determination, we break through.

We successfully infiltrate the imperial capital.

The inside of the capital is filled with mist, and the limited light that penetrates through the defensive walls creates an even more eerie atmosphere.

In the midst of the mist, the Juggernaut proceeds down the main street of the capital.

Suddenly, Hagane screams.

"Uwaaah!!"

"What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"Lo-look, Boss! There's something, like a doll!!"

Doll?

I glance around, believing Hagane's report, and indeed, there is something like a figure.

Just a mannequin.

A mannequin dressed in intricately crafted clothing, looking so lifelike that it could start moving at any moment.

If it were in a clothing store, it would make sense, but why are there mannequins in the middle of the main street?

"Boss!! There and over there too, there are mannequins!! It's scary!!"

"No, seriously, it's like a horror scene. Mannequins everywhere. Is this some kind of trend in the imperial capital?"

Then, Katia, who had been watching the mannequins from under the gunner's seat where I was sitting, tilts her head.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"...It's just that the mannequin seemed to move..."

"Mannequins don't move. Maybe you're just tired?"

Even as I say that, I'm at a loss for words.

As we approach the castle where the royalty of the imperial capital would reside, the number of mannequins wearing armor seems to increase.

As if guarding the imperial castle.

In the capital city, there were plenty of knights on guard and soldiers patrolling near the royal castle. 

In other words, the attire of these mannequins might be modeled after actual people in the imperial capital.

No, rather than modeled after...

"Everyone, please step away from the communication device for a moment. I want to talk privately with Ayano."

"Huh? Uh, yes. What's going on?"

I speak to Ayano in Japanese.

"Ayano, in the 'Fantasista Stories' you know, are there characters who can turn people into dolls or something like that?"

"Uh, n-no, there shouldn't be any characters like that."

"Yeah, you're right. It's just my wild imagination."

"Kunou-san? Is something wrong?"

Perhaps I'm overthinking things.

The people in the imperial capital probably found out about our counteroffensive somehow and evacuated.

The idea of people turning into mannequins is too horror-themed.

"All right, let's infiltrate the imperial castle and abduct the royalty. Hagane and the others, stay on standby."

Breaking through the gate of the imperial castle, I board the Droid and infiltrate.

Fortunately, the ceiling of the imperial castle is high, and the Droid should be able to move without any issues.

It seems there are mannequins inside the imperial castle as well, and combined with the dim lighting, it was quite eerie.

"How about taking one with us?"

I toss a random mannequin from the magic bag for later examination.

At that moment...

A not-so-small noise, "Gatan," came from a nearby room.

"...Someone's there. Come out!!"

Saying that, I enter the room myself

The room is like a storage room, covered in an excessive amount of dust. As I enter, a small figure moves nervously.

"H-Help... someone..."

"A child...?"

"...Huh? Aren't you a puppet soldier?"

I peek out from the Droid and visually capture the child's form.

He's still a young boy.

Probably much younger than Wendy. I would guess around seven or eight years old.

Despite his age, he answers quite clearly.

He seems to be wearing expensive clothes. Could he be one of the abducted royal family members?

"N-No, you have to run!!"

"Huh?"

"T-The one is coming. When it comes, everyone will be turned into dolls!!"

"H-Hey, calm down—-"

I try to calm the excited child.

"Really. I'm a busy person, you know."

"Demon race!!"

The next moment

Apart of the Droid's armor is severed by something sharp.

Ooh, Jesus.

I used quite good materials for that armor.

This demon might be a monster surpassing even Kito.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter