Magic Gems Gourmet Chapter 185

Chapter 185

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ED: LonelyMatter

Chapter 185 – Departure for the Start of the War

Wrapped in the warmth of early summer, the sunlight reflecting off the sea, blinding the eyes, Magna was a little too warm.

The port city of Magna. Here, the largest fleet in Ishtalika’s history waited to set sail.

“Hey, we’re running low on materials over here! What are you doing?”

“Come on, let’s get on board!”

Not only the knights from the royal capital but also knights from different parts of the continent had gathered.

Knights from areas where monsters often appeared were also summoned, and they were all experienced in battle.

“Hahaha! I’m glad you’re so energetic!”

“…Father, you need to be a little more tense.”

“I don’t need that! Instead of being tense and shrinking away, it’s better to be noisy like this so that everyone doesn’t get depressed!”

Standing on the dock were Dill and Lloyd.

“Huh? Why are you so cheerful when you’re about to go to war?”

“You know what morale is. There’s nothing more important than that.”

“N-no… I mean the quality of your happiness… Hah. No, it’s nothing.”

In front of Lloyd, who was strangely enthusiastic, Dill shut his mouth as if he had given up.

“By the way, where’s Martha?”

“Mother’s doing ch.o.r.es with red eyes.”

“…I see.”

Lloyd, on the other hand, was also staring at the sea with a similarly pensive expression.

As expected, Martha looked unusually fragile, perhaps because her husband was going off to war.

“It’s been five days since Heim attacked Rockdam, and Rockdam is about to fall. This is the decisive moment.”

“Yes, that’s right. …Although the response was delayed by the collapse of Warren-dono, it’s not too late. We’ll drive the Heim forces out of Rockdam and advance as far as Birdland. After that, we’ll attack the port city of Roundheart and settle the matter once and for all.”

This was just the beginning.

There was only one reason why Ishtalika decided to move their army.

Normally, the people would not support such a show of force, but this time, Heim had provided them with a new excuse.

“But I never thought they would go so far as to occupy the empty sh.e.l.l of Euro.”

“Yes, but it suits our purposes. There is no better excuse.”

After Duke Amour and the residents were evacuated, Euro remained empty.

But Heim had occupied that empty Euro.

This was a story that could only be described as a complete sell-out to Ishtalika, but for Sylvird and the others, there was no better excuse than this.

“…But does it make sense? Even if they were able to manipulate the Demon King in the past, if they end up incurring the wrath of Ishtalika and being destroyed, I don’t think it will make any sense at all.”

“Hmm, I think so too. But it’s not necessarily the case that the Red Foxes share the same values. For example, they might not have the desire to become such rulers. They might just really like to cause trouble and make a big splash…”

“Hahaha… What a really annoying story.”

Dill smiled bitterly at Lloyd’s words.

“Will the ceremony start soon?”

“Well… yes. It starts in about an hour, so I will go to Ain-sama soon.”

“Just remember to protect His Highness. Do you understand?”

“…I understand.”

“So, what was it that His Majesty wanted to announce?”

What was this person talking about?

Dill replied to Lloyd with a desperate look.

“The enemy from the Demon King War is causing trouble in Heim. …If I had to summarize it, it would be something like that.”

“Oh, that’s right. But it was a good idea for Ain-sama’s. If we talk about it like that, we won’t have to tell the truth about the Demon King Arche.”

Ain and Sylvird had decided to tell the people about the Red Fox.

However, they would explain everything… except for the details of Mark’s birth and feelings.

“How did the people react when they heard the warning a few days ago?”

Even if Sylvird had mentioned it suddenly, it would have been too much of a shock before the fleet set sail.

For this reason, it is not uncommon for information to be released in the form of a warning.

“Of course, they’re confused. But since everyone couldn’t stomach Heim’s actions, it seems that when these circ.u.mstances are combined, public opinion turns to the idea that it’s only natural to attack them!”

“…Well, of course.”

“It is possible to solve several problems at once. It seems that a lot of expectations and festive feelings are mixed up in this.”

“Fufu… a festival.”

Lloyd smiled as if pulling a cheek and rubbing his hair, which Martha had just cut.

“You really never know what public opinion is. Sometimes it’s complicated, but sometimes it seems so simple.”

“Yes… but I think they really want Ishtalika to win.”

“I’m sure they do. Well, leave it to me. It’s a shame that Dill can’t see me fight, but when the time comes, I’ll take Logas-dono’s head.”

“Yes. I have no doubt.”

Perhaps he was slightly embarra.s.sed by the words. Lloyd touched the tip of his nose with his index finger.

“Well then, I’ll be with Ain-sama soon. So, Father… why don’t you go to Mother’s side?”

“No. We said goodbye last night. If I were to ask again, it would only be greed.”

“What are you talking about? What if you die on this continent?”

“Wha… H-hey! What do you mean, telling your father who’s going to war that he’s going to die? Dill!”

Lloyd gave Dill a nudge with an unhappy expression, then folded his arms and turned away.

“Now go. Ain-sama will be waiting for you.”

“Yes, yes… I’ll go then.”

After exchanging lighthearted banter until the very end of the farewell, Dill turned with a smile on his face.

They both had things to do. So Dill made his way to Ain’s side.

“Good luck, Father.”

＊＊＊

Meanwhile, in a room at an inn on the main street of the port city of Magna.

It’s not where they’re staying, but the inn that Ain and the others have reserved for their break.

“Ain, it’s started.”

“…Yes. I can hear the voices from here, too.”

Outside the inn, Sylvird began his speech about the current expedition from the specially set up podium.

The fact that Sylvird himself had left the royal capital and come to Magna was an unusual situation in itself.

A higher level of security than usual has been put in place, and it can be seen from the room that guards are protecting Sylvird.

When Krone, who had gone out for some reason, returned, she saw the quiet Ain and approached him.

“Aren’t you going to talk to Lloyd-sama and the others?”

“I already talked to them before my grandfather’s speech, so I thought it would be better if we didn’t talk to each other again.”

“…I see. Then I won’t mention it again.”

Having said that, Krone sat down next to Ain, who was sitting on the sofa by the window.

At the same time, the scent of Krone drifting through the air calmed Ain’s overstimulated mind.

“I heard about the Ist Grand Magic University. Apparently, they couldn’t get in touch with Professor Oz.”

“Huh? At a time like this? I thought he was out collecting research material, right?”

“Yes. The Royal Knights confirmed it, so I think it’s true.”

Ain decided to ask Oz what he knew about the research on the artificial demon king.

He had even used Sylvird’s name to summon him, but he had been unable to contact Oz.

This time, Oz’s energetic approach would be directed against Ain and the others.

It seemed that Oz was using his own legs to walk around and research.

“Instead, people who know old information are supposed to arrive in the royal capital today. Katima-sama is supposed to meet them.”

“Ah, that makes sense. But can we expect the same level of knowledge as Professor Oz?”

“It’s hard to say, but I wouldn’t count on it.”

Ain laughed as if giving up.

“That is exactly why! We, the Ishtalika, must settle our accounts with Heim and our former enemies! The heroes who have gathered in Magna today will set sail from this harbor to do just that!”

Suddenly, the voice of Sylvird’s speech reached the ears of the two who had fallen silent.

“I wonder if it’s wrong of me to think that… if Warren-sama were here at such a time…”

Krone had heard that Warren and Beria were both Red Foxes without mentioning Chris.

The source of this information was Ain, and it was also the reason why Ain had been so depressed lately.

“I know that too. I think the two of them probably weren’t bad Red Foxes. I guess I’m just immature. I can’t seem to wrap my head around it all.”

“There’s nothing you can do about it. I can’t accept everything either. I’m sure His Majesty is as surprised as you are.”

Ain thanked Krone for her words of comfort.

“I have also thought about it. It’s a contradiction of my feelings, but I was thinking that if Warren-san were here… things would be different. It’s true that my actions have been delayed because of that.”

“But it’ll be okay. Considering the forces Heim has gathered to attack Rockdam, I think it’ll take Lloyd-sama and the others a week or two to push back Heim’s forces.”

“Yes. If everything goes smoothly, it will.”

The two of them then stiffen as if something was bothering them.

It’s because they don’t believe that the woman who controlled the Demon King in the past will be defeated so easily.

However, in the current situation where even their only concern was completely unpredictable, they couldn’t help but be on the back foot.

“Well… Are you still frustrated?”

“Haha, it’s not just frustration.”

“I know.”

Krone asked Ain, who was unable to go to the scene, how he felt at the moment.

“If I could, I would have wanted to finish them off with Marco-san’s sword. But I understand my position, so I know it’s not okay for me to go there.”

“I’m glad to hear that. ――Ah, if I told you not to go, would you stop?”

“…Eehh, what is this? Is this payback for the time with the sea dragon?”

“Ara, you understand.”

She wanted him to stay because she wanted to do the things she wanted to do to his body.

When the sea dragon appeared, Krone tried to stop Ain by saying this, but Ain brushed aside her restraint and went off to defeat it.

With Ain’s understanding, Krone nodded in a good mood.

“So, what do you want me to say?”

“Hmm… I don’t know…”

Ain asked with a certain cheerfulness.

“But I think you’ll go anyway. You really are a horrible person.”

“Hey, I didn’t say anything!”

Krone laughed happily and took Ain’s hand.

“I’m going to get in trouble for doing this at a time like this… It’ll be okay; I’m sure it’ll work out.”

Despite the many uncertainties, Krone took Ain’s hand firmly.

On the other hand, Ain looked at Krone’s hand and opened his mouth with a heavy expression.

“It’s not cool for a guy like me to be like this. Alright!”

Then Ain stood up cheerfully, surprising Krone.

“Let’s go downstairs, Krone. We’ll take Chris with us on the way and wait for Grandfather to come back.”

＊＊＊

“Hmm? Oh, Ain. What did you think of my speech?”

“It was very much like you, Grandfather, and full of the majesty of a king. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Fufufu… I think so, don’t you?”

Half an hour had pa.s.sed since Ain had gone down to the inn, and Sylvird, having finished his speech, returned inside.

Perhaps because he had spoken for quite some time, Sylvird had large beads of sweat on his forehead.

Seeing this, Krone handed him the towel she had brought.

“Oh, I’m sorry. As I thought, I sweat when I do things like this…”

Taking the towel, he wiped his face with such force that it sounded like he was scrubbing it, and he looked refreshed.

“It seems we’re the only ones who feel threatened.”

Chris, who had been looking outside, suddenly muttered.

“Don’t say that, Chris. This is a good thing… if the people of Ishtalika are not driven by fear, then there’s nothing better.”

“…But.”

The knights are about to leave for the battlefield, but the people who have come to listen to the speech are making a big fuss like it’s a festival.

For the people of Ishtalika, their trust in the knights runs deep. However, considering that they were about to go to war, Chris couldn’t watch the scene with a light heart.

“Besides, I don’t take it lightly either, but I can also predict that it won’t cause as much damage as the Demon King War. After all, this time, it’s a battle between humans. If that’s the case, I don’t think they’ll be able to manipulate them like monsters. If they’re hiding their powers, then it’s hopeless.”

After Sylvird finished speaking, Ain, Chris, and Krone smiled ironically.

However, they could not take the foolish step of doing nothing, and they also had an unspeakable difficulty.

“We also brought a lot of weapons. Even though we’re going to defeat the Red Fox, there’s something about taking the life of a person from another country that weighs on my heart. But I guess there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“…The operation started immediately after their arrival, didn’t it?”

“As Krone said, Lloyd will probably move on to the next stage of the operation immediately after his arrival. In other words, within half a day from now, our knights will be in conflict with Heim.”

Krone’s words made everyone feel even more of a sense of reality.

“With my speech, the fleet has just set sail. From now on, we will also return to the royal capital, but we will pray for good news from the knights… and wait for victory.”

The Ishtalika fleet, with Lloyd as its commander, headed for the battlefield.

It would be several hours before they entered the battlefield.

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