Chapter 150: “Deploying a Defensive Formation at the Trading Post”

──Just before Princess Sophia captured the intruder. At the border trade post──

Evening. Several travelers were hiding around the trade post.

Clothes the color of grass, cloaks with different colors on the front and back, and bulging leather pouches. Their faces were covered with dust, as if to show they had come from a long journey.

They quietly approached the trade post. Moving swiftly while hiding in tall grass. Sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. They were members of Prince Ricardo’s investigative unit.

“From here on, our First Unit will conduct an investigation of the trade post.”

Said the unit captain.

“This place was built jointly by the town of Nosa and the Demon Lord’s Territory. It’s the perfect location to gather information about the border region.”

He pointed to the trade post surrounded by a wooden fence. There were two stone buildings at the center of the post. Those were the targets of today’s investigation.

“We’ll sneak into those buildings and investigate the interiors. If there are any documents, we’ll take them. To make it look like the work of thieves, we’ll probably need to take some valuables as well. Any questions?”

“According to the documents, the buildings are the ‘Trade Post Administration Facility’ and the ‘Rest Area.’ Which one should we investigate?”

One subordinate raised a hand and asked. The captain shook his head.

“Both. We’ll bring back all the information. It’s possible the demons and demi-humans are plotting to get their hands on that box.”

Humans and demi-humans conducting trade—it was unthinkable in the imperial capital. That being the case, it was likely the Demon Lord had objectives beyond simple commerce.

The people of the Demon Lord’s territory had easily defeated the powerful monster “Beast Gargarossa.” After that, they instantly crushed the giant centipede and giant scorpion monsters that appeared. It was unthinkable that beings with such overwhelming strength would build a facility just for trade.

“I’ve heard that the trade post was established after a new species of monster was defeated.”

Said the captain.

“Perhaps the Demon Lord’s territory learned that the monster had been summoned, and they believe a new hero will be summoned soon.”

“T-That does sound plausible… Captain.”

“That’s why we need to investigate this place. I’ve heard it’s managed by people from the Demon Lord’s side. If we dig into it, we might learn what they’re planning.”

They approached the fence surrounding the trade post. It was a wooden fence meant to keep animals out. It was low and easy to jump over.

Beyond the fence, it was deserted. Trade probably wasn’t being conducted today. Not a soul in sight.

Security was light. Only a minotaur soldier stood at the entrance. Probably because the trade post was closed today.

That made sense… but it still felt far too careless.

“Let’s get a little closer and confirm the situation. If it seems dangerous, we’ll leave and go support the unit that went to Princess Sophia.”

“““──Understood.”””

The investigative unit moved while staying hidden in the grass. And then──

“Captain. There appears to be a signpost.”

“Hmm. Read it.”

“Yes. ‘The trade post is closed for renovations. Please do not approach during construction, as it is dangerous.’──That’s what it says.”

“““…………”””

The soldiers of the investigative unit exchanged glances. Upon closer inspection, there were several other similar signs.

‘Please do not approach as it is dangerous. This is your warning.’ ‘We told you not to come close, didn’t we?’ ‘The trade post really is closed. We’ve informed the town and village chiefs, so please confirm with them.’

That’s what the signs said.

“Is the lax security because of these signs? Do they think people won’t come close if they’re warned?”

“The Demon Lord’s territory has strong combat capabilities. The people of the borderlands should know that. If so, maybe even signposts are enough to serve as warnings.”

“I see.”

“In that case, Captain, I can understand the Demon Lord’s laxity.”

“Maybe the reason for the light security is because they believe in their own strength?”

“Some people believe no one can defy the strongest among them.”

“Sounds like something a demi-human would think──”

They whispered among themselves. After a short briefing──

“──Hide. Someone is coming from the forest.”

At the captain’s words, the members of the investigative unit all dropped flat to the ground. From the opposite direction of their position. From the direction of the Demon Lord’s territory. Beastmen and lizardmen were approaching from there.

They weren’t armed. In their hands were buckets, mops, and brooms. They had likely come to clean the trade post.

“────‘Unbreakable Charging Lance’──Mission is”

“────To overcome fear──Opportunity”

“────Cleaning duty”

“────Make the bath sparkle──And get praised by Master”

They could hear the voices of those speaking.

For now, it seemed that the others hadn’t noticed them.

However, the enemy included beastmen with sharp hearing. Measures were necessary.

“From here on, do not make a sound.”

The unit commander signaled to his subordinates with hand signs.

It was a basic rule of covert operations.

When facing enemies with sharp hearing, they refrained from speaking and communicated using hand signals.

“We will observe them.”

“The route they took is safe.”

“Make sure to completely suppress your presence.”

“If discovered, escape.”

The commander issued orders through a combination of hand signs.

“Understood.”

The soldiers suppressed their presence and lay flat on the ground.

Before long, the beastman and the lizardman entered the central building.

Their figures disappeared from view.

It was a good time for the investigation team to begin their operation.

“Let’s move.”

“Yes, Vice-Commander!”

The unit approached the trading post.

They suddenly noticed a strange object beyond the fence surrounding the premises.

It was red. Cone-shaped. These were placed in various locations around the area. Near the southern gate, one even had a sculpture resembling a bird at its tip.

Was it something to indicate renovations?

Or perhaps it was a cultural practice of the Demon Lord’s territory, incomprehensible to humans?

While they pondered this—

“DON’T COME ANY CLOSER! I’LL EAT YOU ALIIIIIIVE!!”

A massive murderous aura attacked the investigation team!

“Hi—hiiiii!?”

“You fool! Don’t make a sound!!”

The commander instinctively pinned down the soldier who had cried out.

Even then, the overwhelming bloodlust surged forward.

The commander’s body began to tremble, goosebumps rising all over his skin.

(W-What is this… this murderous intent…!?)

There was no voice.

Only the intense bloodlust of “I’ll eat you” assaulted them.

It felt as if fangs had been sunk into their throats.

They were an elite investigation team. Highly experienced in combat.

They had defeated bandits in the dark, fought ferocious magic beasts.

Even then, they had never felt fear.

Yet now, faced with this torrent of bloodlust, their bodies wouldn’t stop trembling.

They wanted to scream.

They wanted to run away—right now.

“—gh! —gh!!”

“Forgive me. Please stay quiet.”

The commander tied up the panicked soldier and gagged him.

Now he could no longer cry out.

“One soldier incapacitated. We will retrieve him on the way back.”

With trembling hands, the commander gave the hand signal.

“The rest of you, wait. I will now use a spell to dull your senses.”

“—C-Commander!?”

“—Isn’t that dangerous!?”

“—That spell is meant for enemies, not allies…”

The spell to dull senses was usually used to support combat.

It had the effect of weakening a target’s vision, sense of smell, and touch.

It was mainly used to lower the evasion abilities of enemies or prey, making them easier to catch or flee from.

It was a weak spell with short duration and often resisted.

But if cast on oneself or allies, it was a different matter.

They just had to accept it without resisting.

“You all remember, don’t you? The hero who was summoned to this world, shaking with fear.”

The commander began speaking in a low voice.

“He used the ‘spell to dull senses’ on himself during his first battle. By doing so, he overcame his fear, called himself a ‘Berserker,’ and stood up to the magic beasts. Let us follow his example.”

Most likely, the source of the murderous intent was outside the trading post.

Proof of that was the beastman and lizardman sweeping inside the central area.

Humming cheerfully, enjoying themselves.

That showed the murderous aura only affected the area outside the trading post.

Then the solution was simple.

Temporarily dull their senses to stop feeling the killing intent.

They could infiltrate while under the spell, then wait for it to wear off to investigate calmly.

“That is all. Any questions?”

“None.”

“Then I will cast the spell. Stay still.”

The commander cast the spell on his subordinates.

Finally, he used it on himself.

His vision immediately blurred. The sound of the wind became distant.

(If I dull my senses, I shouldn’t be able to feel the killing intent…)

—

Unless it’s an incredibly powerful one.

Thinking that, the investigation team began to move.

They reached out to the fence surrounding the trading post.

Then—immediately—

“Ggggh…gaaah!”

Once again, a wave of massive killing intent surged in, and another subordinate panicked.

The soldier curled into a ball, desperately stifling his scream. His trembling back hunched over. Even pulling or hitting him didn’t move him.

He was completely stunned and unresponsive.

(I-Is it still coming!? Even with dulled senses, it’s no use!?)

The commander instantly restrained the panicked soldier and covered his mouth.

That made two who had dropped out.

Only three members remained, including the commander.

(Should we… retreat?)

For a moment, the commander considered it, then shook his head.

Retreating would tarnish Prince Ricardo’s name.

The investigation team could not be seen fleeing in fear from an unknown terror.

“We’ll retrieve him on the way back. Let’s move.”

The commander and the remaining members climbed over the fence, entering the trading post grounds.

At the same time, the spell to dull their senses wore off.

He looked toward the center—there, the beastman and lizardman were still sweeping.

And before he realized it, a woman was now standing beside the demi-humans.

(A human?)

She seemed to have small horns behind her ears, but… it was too far to be sure.

She might be human.

If that were the case, then humans could enter this trading post without trouble.

She was a beautiful woman. Who could she be?

She served tea and sweets to the beastman and lizardman. She looked happy.

While they, fellow humans, were struggling like this…

“—No matter. Let’s approach pretending to be bandits and get information from her as well.”

The commander quickly put on a mask.

He would disguise himself as a bandit and sneak into the central building. He would restrain the woman and the demi-humans.

That way, he could extract all the information he needed.

Thinking that, the commander gave a hand signal and turned around—

Twitch twitch.

“…” “…”

The two remaining subordinates had fainted.

“I told you not to come iiiiiiiiiiin!!”

“We’re under constuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuction!!”

“We appreeeeeciate your cooooooooperation!!”

(Gaaaaaaah!?)

At the same time, a murderous aura far stronger than before surged toward him.

(W-What!? Wasn’t the killing intent supposed to disappear once we entered!?)

In the center of the trading post, the woman and demi-humans were still talking.

How could they be so calm amidst such a terrifying aura…?

(N-No good. I can’t go on. We must retreat—We must tell His Highness never to approach this trading post…)

The operation was a failure.

Of the five members, two panicked and had to be restrained.

The other two had fainted from the murderous aura flooding the trading post.

Only the squad leader was still able to move. In this state, any investigation was impossible.

(Escape… Wait? From where did I enter again…?)

The squad leader, carrying his comrades, collided headfirst into a crimson cone.

The impact knocked him to the ground, but the cone didn’t budge an inch.

He got back up and looked around.

(W-Why?! I should have been running toward the fence…!?)

His sense of direction was completely disoriented.

The magic that dulled his senses had already worn off.

And yet, he couldn’t tell where the exit was.

Furthermore—

Shhh… shhh…

(…What is that sound?)

Listening carefully, he heard something sliding across the ground.

The demon woman and the demi-humans also seemed to have noticed the sound. This was bad.

“—Wake up! We’re retreating! The operation is canceled. We’re pulling out!!”

He shouted into the ears of the unconscious ones. Their eyes fluttered open.

It seemed they had managed to regain consciousness. Thank goodness.

If they could stand on their own, retreating would be much easier.

“…What in the world is this place?”

Could it be that a giant magical beast was living beneath the trading post?

If not, then what could be releasing such a terrifying aura?

The squad leader looked around again.

There was nothing dangerous in the wavering field of his dizziness.

All he saw were the wide-open tent flaps at the entrance,

and the bright red cone-shaped objects placed throughout the trading post.

Looking closer, there was a particularly special cone in the center of the trading post. It had a statue of a horned beast mounted on its tip. Perhaps these cones were having some sort of effect.

From the center of the trading post, a woman, a beastman, and a lizardman were walking over.

They seemed to have noticed the shhh sound and came to check it out.

“…We have to get out of here fast… Please, walk on your own.”

“…Ugh…”

“…Hiii…”

The squad leader cast a spell of sensory dulling on himself and his comrades.

The murderous aura lessened just a bit. His subordinates were able to walk now.

All that remained was to head for the exit.

This place had something—separate from the murderous aura—that messed with people’s sense of direction.

And yet, the woman, beastman, and lizardman moved around with calm, relaxed expressions, chatting and smiling cheerfully.

(We’re going through all this, and they’re just smiling like that? When they get close, I’m gonna punch one of them—)

With such thoughts, the squad leader began to walk, supporting his subordinates.

He slowly advanced, brushing against the nearby tent.

He couldn’t rely on his internal sense of direction. He had to follow the tent for guidance.

There was a fence just beyond the tent.

He just had to leap over it without thinking about anything else.

(The operation was a failure, but I managed to obtain information. There’s something unknown in this trading post. I must report to Prince Ricardo…)

Thus, the squad leader made his way to the fence.

His vision was swaying violently.

Still, he took a running start to leap over it—

SHHH!!

A signboard with a smiling child passed right in front of him.

(W-What the—!?)

It was a metal signboard.

On it was an image of a child running with a cheerful smile.

It was speeding around the outer perimeter of the trading post.

(Wh-Whhaaat!?)

What was this?

That wasn’t there before.

The investigation team should have been able to climb over the fence just fine.

And yet now, signboards with the image of a child were speeding along the inside of the fence.

Not just one—two, three, maybe four—no, they were too fast to count.

It was as if children with cheerful smiles were dashing around the trading post.

(C-Could this be… a safety mechanism of the trading post!?)

They had underestimated the Demon Lord’s domain.

There were so few guards because non-humans were the ones protecting the trading post.

A mysterious murderous aura to intimidate intruders.

A system that disorients the intruder’s sense of direction.

And signboards of children to prevent escape.

With such defensive mechanisms, there was no need for guards.

This trading post was heavily guarded by multiple enchantments and magic items.

(To investigate this place… a small force won’t do. We’d need at least a hundred soldiers…)

But if they did that, it would be an act of war.

They couldn’t afford to make enemies of people who possessed this level of power.

And even if they did send a hundred troops, there was no guarantee they could take control of the place. They might all just faint from the murderous aura and lose their sense of direction.

(A-Anyway, I have to escape.)

The squad leader steeled himself.

(The second unit that went to Princess Sophia’s side should be achieving results. If only we fail… We’ll be looked down upon. My pride won’t allow me to be beneath them!)

The squad leader took a deep breath. He timed it carefully.

The plan was set.

As soon as the next “child signboard” passed, he would leap over the fence.

After that, he’d pull his subordinates over from the outside. That was it.

(—Now!)

He took off running. His dizziness caused his steps to falter.

He thought he was running straight toward the fence, but his trajectory was slightly off.

Still, it didn’t matter. With all his momentum, he jumped—

Stop.

Immediately afterward, the signboard stopped right in front of the squad leader.

The child depicted on it looked at him.

And then—

Wham!!

—The signboard suddenly sprang out and sent the squad leader flying.

“…Th-this can’t… be happening…”

Impossible.

They were elite soldiers chosen by the Imperial Family, professionals in covert operations.

There was no way their mission could fail.

“…How am I supposed to report this… to His Highness…”

We entered the trading post, were overwhelmed by some unknown fear, got lost in a wide-open area, and then got blown away by a fast-spinning child-shaped signboard… Who would believe such a story?

We’ll have to bring Prince Ricardo here… and let him experience it himself…

Thinking such thoughts, the squad leader lost consciousness.

—A few minutes earlier. From the perspective of the civil official Erte—

“…The ‘Jump out Kid’ is active.”

“…Which means, there are intruders?”

“…I’ll go take a look!”

The civil official Erte, along with a Lizardman and a Beastman boy, exchanged glances.

The Lizardman and Beastman were members of the “Unbreakable Lance of Relentless Charge.”

They had been assigned to guard Erte by order of General Reisenga.

That’s because they personally knew the terror of the “Traffic Cone.”

“It seems we’ll need more soldiers to monitor the entire trading post.”

Erte sighed.

She had only recently been dispatched to the trading post.

Her role was to inspect the renovation work and send a report to the Chancellor’s Office.

That’s why she was currently staying here.

“There are just too many blind spots when you’re working with a small group. It was the right decision by the alchemist to bring in the ‘Traffic Cones’…”

“Erte-sama, you seem to be wearing a complicated expression.”

“The ‘Five-Element Defense Formation’ and the ‘Jump out Kid’ are truly terrifying…”

“In any case, let us go check the situation.”

The two from the “Unbreakable Lance” took the lead as the group began to walk.

Currently, the trading post was protected by a “Five-Element Defense Formation” using “Traffic Cones.”

It was a security measure to guard the trading post during the holidays.

“Moreover, the current ‘Five-Element Defense Formation’ is the ‘Intimidation: Jumping Type,’ correct?”

Inside each “Traffic Cone” was a single strand of human hair.

If someone from the human race approached, the cone would react to their magic and emit an overwhelming presence.

Furthermore, the intimidation effect was said to be amplified by the power of the “Five Elements.”

Its power was several times stronger—enough to knock out even experienced soldiers.

“But we don’t feel anything at all…”

Though Erte and her companions were inside the formation, they felt no fear at all.

In fact, just moments ago, they had been enjoying a peaceful tea time.

It was so calm, even paperwork had been progressing smoothly.

“The ‘Traffic Cones’ only react to humans. Since I’m a demon, and you two are a Beastman and a Lizardman, there’s no effect. There’s no need to be so scared.”

“B-but…Erte-sama…”

“The ‘Traffic Cones’ really are terrifying.”

The two from the “Unbreakable Lance” trembled, hunching over.

They had apparently gotten lost inside the cone formation a few days ago, and it had really scared them.

“It’s okay.”

To the two, Erte offered a reassuring smile.

“That’s exactly why the alchemist gave us the ‘Health-Boosting Pendant.’”

Erte touched the pendant she wore at her chest.

It was a metal pendant engraved with the figures of the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Qilin.

This pendant had the effect of converting the wearer’s magical energy and enhancing it.

And within the “Five-Element Defense Formation,” it had one more special function.

“While wearing this, your sense of direction won’t become distorted. That’s what the alchemist told me.”

“Y-yes. He made it specifically for us, who fear the ‘Five-Element Defense Formation.’”

“The alchemist is a good person. But I didn’t really understand his explanation. With this pendant, it’s like… you’re always carrying the true cardinal directions, so you don’t get lost… or something… Yeah, I still don’t get it.”

“I don’t fully understand the theory either. But I trust the alchemist’s creations.”

Saying that, Erte smiled.

When he gave her the pendant, Thor had explained it clearly.

The pendant bore the images of the “Divine Beasts” representing the four directions.

In other words, the person wearing the pendant would always carry the true East, West, South, North—and the center.

No matter how much the surroundings spin, the center point remains fixed.

That’s why the wearer wouldn’t lose their sense of direction even inside the “Five-Element Defense Formation.”

—That was the explanation.

Just to be sure, she had consulted her uncle, Chancellor Kelve.

She sent a letter, and a response came back immediately.

“Thor-dono can be trusted. But trying to understand his theories will give you a headache. Literally.”

“…I understand why Uncle trusts him.”

Of course, Erte trusted Thor too.

She even used the “Volume Enhancing Hairpiece” that Thor had made.

Thanks to that, her horns appeared smaller. From a distance, people said she looked human.

With this, she might even be able to become friends with humans.

However, ever since Thor had arrived, Uncle Kelve constantly had a headache.

Even the walls and pillars of the chancellor’s office were starting to suffer damage. That was her only concern.

“There they are. The intruders.”

Erte pointed toward the fence surrounding the trading post.

Just before it, people dressed like travelers were collapsed on the ground.

“They just look like travelers…”

“What do you mean, Erte-sama?”

“Look beyond the fence. You’ll see people tied up and gagged. That level of restraint can’t be managed by ordinary travelers.”

Erte looked out beyond the fence as she spoke.

“These people are likely imperial soldiers disguised as travelers. They silenced their panicking comrades who freaked out at the killing intent of the ‘Traffic Cones,’ and snuck in themselves.”

“Then let’s tie them up and escort them away.”

“Erte-sama, please stay somewhere safe!”

The two from the “Unbreakable Lance” began to restrain the intruders.

There was no resistance.

All of the intruders had lost consciousness. There were no visible injuries.

Only one had been hit directly by the “Jump out Kid.” He would need medical treatment.

“So this is the power of the ‘Five-Element Defense Formation: Intimidation: Jumping Type’…”

Erte murmured in amazement.

Right before her eyes, the “Jump out Kid” who had been running around the perimeter of the trading post stopped.

They automatically collapsed, became flat boards, and were pulled into the tent.

If intruders appeared again, they would activate once more.

The “Five-Element Defense Formation: Intimidation: Jumping Type” used the power of the Five Elements to confuse intruders, the “Traffic Cones” to intimidate them, and the “Jump out Kid” to attack—

—It was truly a formation combining both offense and defense.

Alchemist Thor had said:

“Within the ‘traffic cone’ formation that incorporates the power of the five elements, magical power circulates at high speed, right? So, if we place the ‘Jump Out Kid’ into that flow, it will begin to move rapidly along with the magic, right? In that case, wouldn’t the ‘Jump Out Kid’ be able to prevent intruders?”

— Or so he said.

With a really cheerful smile.

Erte didn’t understand even half of what he was saying.

There are only a few people who can understand his explanations.

Erte is not one of them. Lately, for some reason, she finds that a bit disappointing.

(The only ones who can even partially understand his theories are probably the Demon Lord, the elf Mabel, and Princess Sophia from the town of Nosa…)

Of course, the ‘Jump Out Kid’ has a safety mechanism, so it only attacks humans. When the demon Erte approaches—it just casually avoids her.

“But for human intruders, it must be a nightmare.”

In any case, the safety of the trading post had been secured.

It might be a bit excessive… but it served as a warning to intruders.

For now, that was enough—so thought Erte, nodding to herself.

“The intruders will be interrogated in the Demon Lord’s domain, and afterward handed over to Princess Sophia. Why did they break into the trading post? Do they have any accomplices? …I hope they’ll speak honestly.”

“Erte-sama, I’d like you to take a look at something.”

Suddenly, one of the beastfolk from the “Unbreakable Assault Lance” called out to Erte.

“There was a strange piece of parchment among the intruders’ belongings. I’d like you to look at it.”

“Understood. Please let me see it.”

Erte took the parchment and began to read through it.

What was written on the parchment was a list of names.

There were around twenty individuals.

At the top was written: “Commander Geralt Zenger.”

Below that, it listed the vice commander, then regular soldiers, and names of temporary hired soldiers.

“This is… could it be a list of the soldiers from the fortress where the magic beast appeared…?”

Erte murmured in a daze.

“If that’s the case, these intruders might have come to investigate the ‘mystery box.’ They probably thought there was some clue at this trading post, and attempted to infiltrate.”

Erte recalled what the Demon Lord had told her.

As the one entrusted with managing the trading post, Erte had also received an explanation about the “mystery box.”

That Commander Geralt Zenger had summoned the “mysterious box.”

That during the chaos caused by the giant scorpion magic beast, the box had been taken away.

That the one who took it was most likely a temporary hired soldier.

Which means—

“One of the ‘temporary hired soldiers’ on this list is the person who took the ‘mystery box’…”

Of course, there was a possibility they used fake names.

Even so, this was an important clue.

She would need to report to General Reisenga immediately, and have a letter sent to the Demon Lord.

“Everyone, please restrain the intruders and lock them in the branch office’s room. I’ll write letters to Her Majesty and the General right away. As soon as I’m done, deliver them along with this list to General Reisenga.”

“Understood!”

Erte dashed toward the central building.

With this list, the Demon Lord’s domain might be able to recover the “mystery box.”

If that happened, it would become an advantage against the Empire.

The matter of the intruders could also serve as a bargaining chip.

And then—

“If we obtain the ‘mystery box,’ the alchemist will surely be overjoyed and try to open it.”

Without a doubt, that’s exactly what he would do. That’s just the kind of person he is.

And no matter how long it takes, in the end, he will open it. He will absolutely make it happen.

The “mystery box” is an unknown. No one knows what’s inside.

But he’ll open it.

Because that’s the kind of man Thor Canaan, the alchemist, is.

“…Is it really okay to hand this list over to Her Majesty and the General? If the Demon Lord’s domain gets its hands on the ‘mystery box,’ won’t that cause serious trouble…?”

With the valuable list in her hands, Erte couldn’t stop her body from trembling.

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