Read Novel Full Chapter 280
Chapter 280
TN: Please read my translations only on my website since I never give my permission to any site to host my translations. And if you like my translations, please support this site on Ko-fi and Patreon to read several chapters ahead!
Sponsored chapter by Patreon. Enjoy~
Chapter 280 – Flying Wing
In the end, I decided to accept the Republic government’s request.
I knew they were taking advantage of my power, but that was fine. I don’t intend to unilaterally take anything away from them, but I don’t intend to gain anything from them either. As Myrril says―and I get the impression it’s very different from the original language I know―a win-win solution. We give them what they need, and we get what we want. At least for me personally, I still don’t know what that is.
“…We are all grateful to you.”
“Eh.”
In the pilot’s seat of the Griffon, I look at Myrril.
I decided to return to Casemaian without waiting for spring. Rinko and the old dwarves had returned earlier by airship. The Ekranoplan had problems taking off and landing, especially in Casemaian, so it was left in my care and transported with my storage. Though useful, the aircraft had many problems, and it would not be until we had a port in the north that we would be able to make full use of it.
“I’m sorry about that, too. It’s hard for me to say.”
“What is this all of a sudden? Sorry for what?”
“The one-sided situation Rinko told us about. It is a problem faced by many of those who have come in contact with you. As both McKin-dono and Ecla-dono said. They only give and support and have nothing in return. I think it would be easier if you just took everything away from them, since you call yourself the Demon King, even though it is a name that was forced upon you.”
“No… even if you say so.”
“I understand. I do not want to take anything away from the Republic. Even if you are a Casemaian, it will not make much difference. What you are looking for is only within yourself. If that is the case, you will only accumulate debts. This is not something that can be solved quickly.”
But, Myrril muttered.
“Do you understand that there is a big problem at the root of all this?”
“One problem? No, there are too many.”
“You don’t belong anywhere, at least not emotionally.”
“…Ah, yes.”
For example, if this were a family. Even if not to that extent, if it was the same race. Even though I did not talk about what I could take from them, I did not carry the sense of lending and borrowing to that extent. Maybe, though.
“Demon king, huh?”
It might have been a wish… or even a shelf solution for everyone in Casemaian. It’s the idea of equality that makes it uncomfortable. If you make it a hierarchical relationship or a master-slave relationship, the problem disappears on the surface. It’s the same as just taking everything away. I don’t like that solution.
“Of course we consider Yoshua as one of our own. We consider you an irreplaceable friend, a compatriot with whom we will share life and death. Still, at the end of the day, the last place you will return to is…”
I turned to look at her, and Myrril held her tongue, lowering her head in shame.
“…Sorry. That’s just what I said. There’s no ‘if’ or ‘but.'”
It’s a little prick in my heart that won’t go away until the end until I die.
The unchangeable fact that I am not of this world. It binds us. No matter how much our hearts are connected, no matter how much trust we have in each other, we will always think about it. What if…?
――If only I had not met her then.
“When I was born.”
“Huh?”
“No, even before that. No one wanted me. My family was dead and I was estranged from my friends. I didn’t know what to live for. I stopped thinking. I just ate, slept, and worked to survive. Eventually that became the norm. I guess it was easier than I thought, not having to think about anything. I worked to work, and then I found myself…”
I found myself in a dark place.
I kept walking, but I couldn’t see anything, I couldn’t feel anything, and I just kept walking forward. I saw a light in the distance, but I didn’t think there was any salvation there. It was just painful to stop. I thought it would be better to have a destination so I wouldn’t have to worry about this and that.
I can’t remember how much time passed. I walked into the light, which had been approaching before I knew it, and found myself in a completely white place. Ah, yes. I was surrounded by just a little bit of anticipation and a bad feeling that was so clear that I couldn’t even call it a premonition. Then I thought,
Maybe this will change something.
“Your Majesty the Demon King, Your Majesty the Queen.”
A woman’s voice came from a communication device on the dashboard with the headset removed. It was Luvia-san, the leader of the Winged Tribe. Her voice, which I hadn’t heard in a long time, was terribly tense. Something must have happened. Something troublesome and dangerous, as always.
“What is it?”
“The Imperial Army has launched an invasion. Two very large ore golems and thirteen clay golems are moving toward Casemaian.”
“What happened all of a sudden? I have not heard such talk.”
“Yes. There have been no signs. There was no accumulation of supplies, no conspicuous movement of troops, and they are not currently accompanied by the transportation corps. All the aircraft took off separately from the large hangars scattered around the outskirts of the Imperial Capital and gathered near the East-West border at about the same time.”
Did they sense our air alert? If they were going to engage in a desperate, short-notice battle without supplies, they must have known their forces and their deployment in advance. I heard that negotiations with the Republic had broken down, but I thought the war would start in the spring.
“It is divided into East and West, correct?”
“Yes, sir. Seven large wooden golems are moving toward the western territory of the Republic. They are also not accompanied by any transport units.”
“Luvia-san, what about the accompanying infantry?”
“Both the Casemaian invasion force and the Republican invasion force are less than a hundred, around sixty. The soldiers with magic short staffs are attached to the cavalry.”
Only straddling mages? This is the do-or-die tactic.
“Is it possible to defend Casemaian?”
“Heimann-san and his men have just arrived. The archers and tanks are in place, no problem.”
“What about you?”
“Overhead, northwest of you, two RPG-7 launchers and seven warheads, all equipped with M4s, are waiting in the air.”
I looked up and saw three shadows. I checked with binoculars. Carrying assault rifles and RPGs on their backs are Luvia-san, who has long black hair, and Maeve-san, who has a chestnut ponytail. The short-haired Owe-san is a little further away, probably escorting the two with M4 equipment and a warhead case on her back.
“At their speed, we can overtake them.”
Looking back at Myrril, she raised her eyebrows slightly and smiled. It’s settled.
“Luvia-san, the winged troops should also support the battle at Casemaian.”
“But Your Majesty and the Queen…”
“The two of us, it’s a duet. Do not interfere, okay?”
Nojaloli-san laughed with an enchanted expression on her face.
Yes, that’s right. That feeling. What I wanted then and what I want now. What I was looking for. What I wanted to get but couldn’t. It’s already next to me.
“What, we’re just going to make a little detour. We’ll be right back.”
“…Good luck.”
Myrril’s hand touched my arm, and warmth poured out with a twinkling light.
“I don’t think it’s going to be that easy, you know? The only leg we can use over here is the hovercraft.”
I can’t stop myself from smiling, even though I say it like I’m stunned. My heart is racing; I feel like I’m going to scream. Everything I wanted was here. There’s nothing to be afraid of.
“Don’t worry. Together, we can fly anywhere.”
◇ ◇
“Ancient dwarves? Is that Mir-jouchan?”
I looked at Ecla in the chair of the horse-drawn sleigh on the way to the Central Territory.
“Oh, Morphos boy, didn’t you recognize me?”
With a beauty that resembles a little girl, the witch laughed amusedly. I have not been called by Morphos for decades. If I rebelled against her now, she would start talking about how she changed my diaper and breastfed me. I just nodded my head.
“Isn’t it strange that a mere dwarf is the queen of the demon king?”
“Of course I thought they were outstanding. Those two are abnormal to begin with. Even if they feel strange, it’s not because of their titles.”
“That might be true. The magic is too strong and too pure for a mere dwarf. I thought it might be the influence of Takifu, but I guess she was born that way. Even the ‘King of Blacksmiths’ Kazinair was not like that in his prime.”
“Is that so? I don’t even know what an ancient dwarf is. All I know is that they are a little different from the other dwarves.”
“Yes, they are the “ancestral” dwarves that appear in a certain percentage of the population. They are said to have extraordinary physical strength, magic and talent… There is no difference in appearance. The difference in ability is just a margin of error compared to the original dwarves. What they care more about is the legend.”
Ecla smiled, her eyes gazing into the distance. Can we say ‘smiled’? I’ve seen many cold smiles, sneers, grimaces, and mockeries, but I’ve never seen such a kind expression on her face.
“A legend?”
“Yes. ‘If you turn with the righteous, you will lead your people to paradise.'”
“What’s that?”
“It’s said that thousands of years ago, ancient dwarves and their companions washed ashore on this continent, but… it’s a myth that even the elves don’t remember.”
“With all this devastation, it’s hard to dismiss the idea that it was paradise that led them here. …So according to the legend, if the spouse was… What if it’s the wrong one?”
“I don’t know. Then they’ll probably end up living a boring, mundane life.”
The Witch of Sarz looked to the west. The sky seems to glow in the distance.
“I’m sure it will be peaceful.”