Kays Translations

Chapter 193: Events in Imperial Territory (14)

──At the Dolgaria Empire’s training grounds──

“The match will be decided by the number of prey taken. Is that acceptable, Your Imperial Highness the Crown Prince?”

This was the Dolgaria Empire’s training grounds.

At the entrance to a forest in one corner of the grounds stood Archduke Kharon.

Mounted on horseback, Kharon turned his gaze toward his companion.

Riding alongside him was Crown Prince Diaz — the one he had agreed to meet here.

Previously, Kharon had crossed swords with Diaz and won.

However, even afterward, Diaz sent letter after letter requesting a rematch.

In the face of such repeated requests, Archduke Kharon had no choice but to yield.

The Archduke’s house was a branch of the imperial family.

He could not keep refusing a request from the main line forever.

Thus, Kharon set a condition.

It was that they would hunt, compare the number of prey taken, and if Diaz won, a rematch would be granted.

Archduke Kharon did not dislike Crown Prince Diaz.

To Kharon, Diaz was like a nephew, and above all, the boy was the one destined to be the next emperor.

Kharon wanted to talk with Diaz.

He thought hunting would be a good opportunity for that.

By riding side-by-side on the hunt, they could deepen their mutual friendship.

It would also give them a chance to talk.

If Diaz won the hunting match, perhaps that would satisfy him.

In that case, the rematch could be avoided. That was Kharon’s thinking.

(I don’t particularly like schemes like this, though.)

On horseback, Archduke Kharon gave a wry smile.

His adjutant Nona had told him, “It’s a kind plan,” but that was probably just her flattery.

Nona was, at that moment, in the forest along with the other soldiers.

They were supposed to be driving the animals toward Kharon and Diaz.

“The soldiers of my domain have entered the forest to drive the game toward us.”

In a calm tone, Kharon addressed Diaz.

“And how about Your Highness’s soldiers?”

“My soldiers are doing the same. More importantly, may I confirm the conditions?”

“Your Highness is quite the worrier.”

“It’s only natural, since the rematch is at stake. Now, about the conditions…”

Crown Prince Diaz nodded.

“If I take more prey than you, Archduke, you will agree to cross swords with me again — there’s no mistake in that, is there?”

“Of course.”

“And if you take more prey than I do—”

“Then we shall set the next match for a few years later.”

“You’re not saying you will refuse all future matches?”

“Your Highness will surely grow even stronger from here on.”

From horseback, Archduke Kharon bowed.

“To never again cross swords with such a man as you would be a lonely thing indeed. A few years from now… before my blade grows dull, I may well be the one to request the match.”

“You are a difficult man to deal with…”

Crown Prince Diaz averted his gaze.

Kharon also knew that Diaz was capable.

However, he tended to rush results too much.

If he calmed down a bit, he would make a fine emperor.

“By the way, Your Highness.”

“What is it, Archduke?”

“The hunt is to be undertaken by just you and me, correct?”

“That is correct.”

“Then why is this person here…?”

Kharon turned around.

Behind the two of them, there was another horse.

Riding it was one of the imperial princes — Ricardo.

“Why is His Highness Prince Ricardo accompanying us?”

“That… I’m not entirely sure myself.”

Crown Prince Diaz tilted his head.

Ricardo was wearing light armor and had a bow on his back.

Until recently, he had been with his soldiers.

There had been a female soldier in a hood concealing her face, so Kharon remembered them clearly.

They had gone into the forest along with the subordinates of both Kharon and Diaz.

Presumably, they were also working to drive the game toward the hunting party, just like the Archduke’s soldiers.

However, the fact that Ricardo was participating in the hunt was news to Kharon.

That was why he had asked Diaz, but apparently, Diaz didn’t know either.

Growing suspicious, Archduke Kharon said,

“Prince Ricardo. This hunt was arranged to be carried out by just His Highness the Crown Prince and myself.”

“That’s strange. That’s strange indeed, Archduke Kharon.”

But Ricardo shook his head.

“Archduke Kharon, you do not understand the circumstances.”

“And what do you mean by that?”

“I, Ricardo, earned the right to use the training grounds as a reward for obtaining ‘that box’—”

“Silence, Ricardo!!”

Crown Prince Diaz raised his voice.

Kharon also knew about “that box.”

Princess Sophia had told him in a letter.

That she had obtained an item called “that box” in the borderlands.

That a mysterious unit led by a man named Daryl Zannor had been moving behind the scenes.

However, “that box” was a secret even within the Empire.

That Ricardo had spoken of it must have been unthinkable to Diaz.

“Hold your tongue! And leave at once. This is not where you should be.”

“That’s strange. Very strange, Brother Diaz.”

“What?”

“I achieved merit. As a reward, His Majesty the Emperor granted me the right to use the training grounds. Isn’t it you, Brother Diaz, who is interfering?”

“Archduke Kharon and I have His Majesty’s permission to use the hunting grounds of the training grounds.”

“I also have permission.”

“Then why not vacate the area just for the duration of the hunt? That would be proper etiquette, wouldn’t it?”

“…You are asking this Ricardo to comply with an unlawful demand.”

Suddenly, Ricardo glared sharply at Diaz.

“…A hero does not tolerate lawlessness. You will anger me, Brother Diaz.”

Seeing Ricardo’s expression, Kharon felt something was… off.

Ricardo wasn’t reaching for a weapon.

He was simply looking at Diaz with a gaze filled with anger.

Yet to Kharon, it felt as if Ricardo was about to cut Diaz down.

(—What is this? This feeling…)

Archduke Kharon reflexively began to reach for his sword, then stopped.

It was because he felt gazes upon him. From multiple directions.

The premonition of an attack sent tension running through him.

But it lasted only an instant.

Both the gazes and the killing intent vanished in the span of a single breath.

(…Whose gazes were those just now? No—where are they watching from?)

The only ones here were Kharon and Diaz on horseback, and Ricardo.

Besides them, there were just a few guards nearby.

Kharon’s and Diaz’s guards were standing in neat formation.

In contrast, Ricardo’s guards were wandering around in various directions.

Yet when Ricardo reached out his hand, a guard was immediately by his side, handing him a water pouch and a cloth to wipe his sweat.

Ricardo hadn’t even given any orders.

(…It would be unwise to linger here.)

Kharon made up his mind.

(Let’s finish the hunt as quickly as possible. Peacefully, so that nothing happens.)

With that, Archduke Kharon turned his gaze to Crown Prince Diaz.

“What do you think, Your Highness the Crown Prince? How about the three of us hunt together here?”

Hearing Kharon’s words, Diaz replied with displeasure,

“…Even you, Archduke?”

“It seems His Highness Ricardo also received permission from His Majesty the Emperor to use this place. Our arrival must have altered his plans.”

Kharon continued, keeping his tone as gentle as possible.

“Such misunderstandings are common. And… if I may be so bold, both Your Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness Ricardo are like nephews to me. I cannot simply turn down such a request.”

“If that’s the case, then I suppose it can’t be helped.”

Crown Prince Diaz let out a sigh.

He too had made an unreasonable request by asking Archduke Kharon for a match.

He must have thought he couldn’t push too hard now.

“Very well, Ricardo. I permit you to join the hunt.”

“As expected of my elder brother.”

Ricardo showed a stiff smile.

That expression seemed unusually strained.

Kharon had seen a similar face before—on a rookie soldier assigned to a region teeming with magical beasts.

A soldier tense for his first battle wore that kind of smile.

But this was the Empire’s training grounds. There were no powerful enemies here.

The prey for the hunt were herbivores, and even the nearby magical beasts were weak ones.

(And yet… why is His Highness Ricardo giving off such a strange aura…?)

Kharon didn’t think Ricardo bore any harmful intent toward him or Diaz.

After all, he too was a prince of the Empire.

And even if he defeated Diaz, Ricardo would not become crown prince.

There was no merit to starting anything here.

(Still… I should remain cautious.)

Kharon’s hand touched the twin swords at his waist.

—There it was again. The sensation of being watched.

He was being observed. Yet he couldn’t tell who was watching.

The gazes weren’t sharp.

It felt more like a group of people vaguely watching him from all directions. That was the impression.

(It would be troublesome to warn His Highness Diaz without any certainty…)

As Kharon thought this, Diaz released a burst of magical light into the sky.

The signal to begin the hunt.

Soldiers hidden in the forest raised their voices in unison, driving the prey toward the forest’s edge.

A flute sounded in the distance.

It seemed Kharon’s unit had found prey.

“As expected of your unit, Archduke. They move quickly.”

“Ah, but I’m sure Your Highness the Crown Prince’s men will find prey soon enough.”

Diaz and Kharon exchanged words.

Kharon slowly guided his horse toward the sound.

Diaz followed behind, smiling as if to say, “Let’s see what the Archduke can do first.”

He clearly hadn’t noticed the strange presence in the hunting grounds. Certain of this, Kharon turned his gaze to Ricardo.

Prince Ricardo was already in motion.

There had been no signal from his unit.

Yet, as if knowing their movements, he rode his horse toward the forest, drawing his bow while still mounted.

“Kyukyui!”

Moments later, a beast burst out from the forest.

A one-meter-long giant rabbit—the Large Rabbit.

There was also a horned subspecies called the Horned Large Rabbit, classified as a magical beast.

The Large Rabbit was herbivorous but aggressive in temperament.

Its meat was tender, making it ideal prey for hunting.

The instant it appeared, Ricardo loosed an arrow.

“—Gya!?”

The arrow pierced the beast’s hind leg.

“Well done, Your Highness Ricardo.”

“Impressive, Ricardo.”

“—!”

Whoosh.

A second arrow flew.

Without hesitation, it pierced the Large Rabbit’s foreleg.

Then a third arrow followed, striking its torso.

Ricardo’s rapid shots didn’t stop—fourth arrow, fifth arrow, and then—

“Stop this at once, Your Highness Ricardo!!”

Suddenly, Archduke Kharon grabbed Ricardo’s hand.

“A hunt is meant to be enjoyed. It’s not something to be done using body-strengthening magic!”

“It’s not over yet. Not yet. This isn’t the end.”

“…Your Highness Ricardo?”

“This is nothing compared to a Hard Creature. A hunt is training—so it should be done as if in real combat. We will one day become heroes. Then we must fight—until we wipe out every Hard Creature.”

“Your Highness Ricardo… you’re bleeding…”

Archduke Kharon was speechless.

It was because blood was flowing from Ricardo’s hand.

It must have been that the skin on his hand tore from forcing himself to fire arrows in rapid succession.

In other words, Ricardo was not using body enhancement magic.

Without thinking about his technique, he had simply fired arrows quickly. The movements were mechanical and accurate, but they put a burden on his body. Ricardo’s arm hung limply, and blood dripped from the palm of his hand.

Yet Ricardo wore a calm smile as he said,

“Ah. Such things happen on the battlefield. They do, Archduke Kharon.”

“Prince Ricardo, what on earth… happened to you?”

“It’s irrelevant. It doesn’t matter. More importantly, let’s continue the hunt, Archduke.”

“Wait! Prince Ricardo!”

Ignoring Kharon’s attempt to stop him, Ricardo once again spurred his horse forward.

Every time Ricardo drew his bow—as if measured to the moment—beasts leapt out from the forest.

Even with no signal at all, Ricardo understood the timing. One arrow after another flew.

“Brother! If Ricardo here were to have the most game in the end, what would happen!?”

Prince Ricardo was smiling.

As if not even looking at the bewildered faces of Kharon and Diaz, he raised his voice proudly.

“Of course, the right to challenge the Archduke would be given to me, Ricardo, wouldn’t it!!”

“W–what…?”

“Prince Diaz. This is far enough. Let’s call off the hunt.”

Archduke Kharon drew his horse close to Crown Prince Diaz.

Keeping watch on their surroundings, he whispered.

“Something is wrong. Prince Ricardo was not the kind of person to act like this. I am also concerned about the soldiers who went into the forest. Let’s call off the hunt and return to the lodgings.”

“You mean to run away, Archduke!?”

Diaz raised his voice angrily.

“In that case, it will be a forfeit. If someone who was once a Sword Saint were to flee, everyone would laugh. They would say Archduke Kharon has grown old. Your reputation would be damaged!”

“I see. That’s fine. Let those who want to laugh, laugh.”

“Archduke…?”

“My reputation means nothing to me. What I wish to pass on to the next Sword Saint is not a name, but skill and technique… but I have yet to find much opportunity to meet the person I have in mind as the next Sword Saint.”

The candidate Kharon had in mind was in the northern lands.

He had sent an invitation to the ducal territory, but had not received a favorable reply.

The person was the daughter of a foreign general. Kharon knew it would be difficult to pass on the title of Sword Saint to her.

However, there was no talent greater than hers.

Perhaps he could grant one of the ducal nation’s treasured items to the boy who was close to this candidate. If he requested that she accompany him to the award ceremony, there might be an opportunity to teach her his techniques.

Kharon’s thoughts went that far, but—

“In any case, my name is of no concern. Confirming the situation comes first.”

It was also troubling that he could no longer hear the sound of the whistles.

Kharon’s subordinates should have been blowing whistles as they moved to signal the location of the game.

At some point, the sound had ceased.

“I will enter the forest and check on the lieutenants. What will you do, Your Highness?”

“…Understood. I will accompany you.”

Crown Prince Diaz nodded.

“However, if nothing has happened, I will insist we continue the hunt.”

“Agreed. Also, it would be wise to place guards around Prince Ricardo.”

“Around Ricardo?”

“That man is in a dangerous state. Soldiers should be stationed nearby in case something happens.”

“…I don’t quite understand, but I will follow your instructions, Archduke.”

Kharon and Diaz turned their horses around.

When they looked back, they could still see Ricardo continuing the hunt.

Perhaps because his hand was injured, he was now attacking the game with magic.

Fire magic, wind magic—he unleashed one high-powered spell after another.

(…Prince Ricardo. What you are doing is not a noble’s hunt.)

Kharon had intended to conduct a noble’s hunt.

To fell the prey without causing undue suffering, to serve its meat to his vassals, and to give thanks for the bounty.

That was the etiquette of a noble.

But—Ricardo’s way was entirely different.

He burned the beasts leaping from the forest to a crisp with fire magic, then tore them apart with wind magic. That way, neither meat nor materials could be salvaged.

Kharon and Diaz’s subordinates stood in stunned silence, watching Ricardo.

The only ones not shaken were Ricardo’s own men.

(Those soldiers… it’s as if they have become part of Prince Ricardo himself. Reading his mind… moving entirely according to his will.)

It was abnormal.

He understood instinctively—this was a situation beyond his knowledge.

In that case, the right thing to do would be to confirm the situation and seek help from someone.

For example, from the alchemist in that strange northern land.

It had been fortunate to have made his acquaintance—or so Kharon thought as he urged his horse forward.

“Let’s hurry, Prince Diaz!”

“Y–yes!”

Kharon and Diaz entered the forest.

There, the soldiers should have been driving the beasts forward.

But what Kharon and Diaz saw was—

“This is training before fighting a ‘Hard Creature.’”

It was the sight of their subordinates surrounded by Ricardo’s soldiers.

Kharon’s men had not drawn their swords.

Likely because their opponents were fellow imperial soldiers.

And the one commanding those imperial soldiers was—

“This won’t do. Not at all. If you can’t go all out even against Daphne, you can’t fight the new breed of magical beasts.”

It was Princess Daphne, the Second Princess, wearing a hooded robe.

“Princess Daphne!? S–stop this!”

“What is the meaning of this!?”

“…We can’t break through. Can humans really coordinate their movements so perfectly…!?”

Kharon and Diaz’s men could not understand the situation.

If their opponents were merely imperial soldiers, they could have taken up their weapons and broken the encirclement.

But their opponent was Princess Daphne.

And since the imperial soldiers she commanded were Ricardo’s men, it was no wonder they were bewildered.

“Break through Daphne’s soldiers’ encirclement.”

Raising her sword, the Second Princess Daphne shouted.

“Otherwise, you will not be able to fight the new breed of magical beasts that will come in great numbers. You will not become heroes.”

“Princess Daphne, what are you doing!?”

“…Daphne, just what are you…?”

“Archduke and Brother Diaz, you are too soft. You spoil the soldiers too much.”

Daphne looked at Kharon with an emotionless gaze.

“This way, the world cannot be saved. We will be the ones to save it. We. We ourselves.”

“…Daphne…”

“We—we ourselves—have become something akin to ‘heroes.’ This is training. A valuable experience. Now, please try breaking through our encirclement.”

Under Princess Daphne’s command, her soldiers began to move.

As if they were a single organism, they moved with unnervingly perfect coordination.

Like soft-bodied creatures, they tightened their encirclement—capturing Kharon and Diaz’s soldiers and absorbing them into their formation.

“Now, let’s begin training, Archduke. Brother. Because this is, after all, a training ground.”

And so, the Second Princess Daphne smiled at Kharon as she said this.

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