Book 3: Epilogue 3
Book 3: Epilogue 3
** Silver Balance **
Airships dropped shells from the sky and bombed the monsters on the ground.
Each shell boasted high power, and sometimes wiped out monsters in the double-digits, but some monsters survived to the extent of only having their arms blown off.
There were many unseen monsters; a dragonewt monster with four arms, an antelope with an electric horn on its head, a poisonous spider with extraordinary jumping power, etc.
Although it was an open ground battle at the beginning, they found a stronghold in the huge checkpoint at the border, and were now blockading the city.
As such, the Empire was in turmoil as to how much property should be carried along to the stronghold. Although there were no marauders or riots at the last minute due to the nation still functioning, the people still had to throw away most of their propertyーbecause they couldn’t carry furniture and such, obviously, and banks were shut down. The citizens were full of dissatisfaction and anxiety.
「Zerry, how are things outside?」Dante asked as Zerry returned to the tent.
「It’s the usual~ Everyone is down with a dull look on their face.」Zerry said, shaking her head.
「I see…」
「It can’t really be helped, after all.」
Outside the checkpoint, it was originally a plaza for immigration procedures. It was also where the members of the Silver Balance spent the night.
Soldiers and adventurers can set up tents here – those with “armed force”, so to speak.
The majority of the general public were further outside, housed in a huge tent set up by the country hastily. There were not enough tents for all the people to enter, so quite a number of people were camping outside the tent.
Many Lev people had already fled from the Empire, but since the country originally practiced national isolation, there weren’t too many who had knowledge of nor connections in foreign countries.
「Things are still okay since it’s summer, but it’s going to get worse once winter comes around.」Dante-said.
「Does it get cold around here?」Zerry asked.
「It’s going to get pretty cold. Many of the people forced to live in tents will be freezing to death.」
「Ugh.」
The two couldn’t decide at all whether things would improve by winter.
The “red crack” in the sky was now called the “Red Gate”. But if the Red Gate is not dealt with, the nation cannot be rebuilt.
While thinning out the monsters, the Empire was simultaneously sending researchers to the “Labyrinth of 9 Emotions”, which was still beaming pillars of light.
「I heard good news in the Adventurer’s Guild.」Dante said.
The Keith Gran Federation offered to send 100,000 troops, and the neighboring Kruvan Holy Kingdom offered to provide supplies and will accept the migration of citizens of the Empire if necessary. The Saint Knight Kingdom was still “under discussion”.
「Hou… the Holy Kingdom, huh…」
「Apparently the Border Earl has already begun preparing for large-scale migration. Many lives will be saved by the time winter comes.」
「It feels nostalgic talking about that place.」
「We didn’t stay that long, but you two were there for about four years, right…」
The word “you two” reminded Dante of Reiji.
It wasn’t until all was over that he heard that Reiji was “sucked into the sky”.
The Red Gate was almost completely anchored. Small to medium-sized monsters fell from the sky at a stable rate. Many monsters die from the impact of the fall, but conversely, monsters that survive are extremely dangerous.
At that time, Dante was drinking, and he hurried back to Muge Company after noticing the abnormal incident. Reiji wasn’t at the company, so Mimino insisted that they should go look for him, but Dante somehow forcibly persuaded her that Reiji would be able to take care of himself, and that they should help rescue the citizens who were late to evacuate.
At dawn, when Dante was finally able to understand the scale of the devastation to the city, he heard that Reiji was sucked into the Red Gate together with Her Highness Anastasia.
「Dante-san, how are the rest of them doing?」
「Well… Mimino and Non followed Muge-san to Lulusha-san’s place.」
「Shall we go too?」
「Hmm, let’s do that. It’ll be good to hunt out there for a little while too.」
The Adventurer’s Guild is operating fine because there was a building outside the checking station. For the first few days the guild issued a series of requests to subdue monsters in the Empire, and Silver Balance, holding onto the sliver of hope that Reiji might be out there, undertook the subjugation.
However, 15 days have already passed without Reiji being found.
The subjugation became more efficient with bombing by airships. The Empire became similar to a deserted land.
The Emperor managed to fix the hole in the “Sky Harvest” somehow. It was then flown to a place beyond the checking station and used as a temporary base for national management.
National institutions were concentrated in the vicinity of “Sky Harvest”, as many tents stood around it. One of them was from the Labyrinth Management Bureau, where Lulusha works.
「What do you mean!? If you close the Red Gate, the people who were sucked in cannot return!」Mimino exclaimed.
「But if we leave it as is, many more Lev people will die due to this poor living environment in a few months.」
「I get that, but still…!」
「Mimino-san, even I’m feeling frustrated about this. I can’t do anything to help.」
「…………」
Dante and the rest entered the tent just as Lulusha and Mimino were arguing.
Non, Muge, and Abba, who was there for some reason, sat on a distant chair and simply watched.
「–What happened?」Dante asked.
「Dante…」Mimino called out. Her eyes were red since she had hardly slept since then.
The Empire decided to “close” the Red Gate as soon as possible based on the research results of the “Labyrinth of 9 Emotions”.
「I see……」
Dante had already expected that something like this would happen. If the Red Gate is the root of all evil, the quickest way to deal with it is to destroy it or to erase it.
However, the Empire had Anastasia, a High Elf royalty, and two military airships sucked in. Dante thought that the Empire would at least try to confirm whether they were alive or dead, regardless of whether they could be brought back safely. If the Red Gate is closed as it is, the people will see it as the Empire having “killed” them.
(Is the Empire already driven so far into a corner?)
Airship fuel, shells, and even food – these are limited in number. How many months will they be able to maintain the current situation? No, maybe it will only be a few more days? The Adventurer’s Guild requested subjugation, but they haven’t received the reward for the achievement. It has been shelved because it will be paid by the Empire at a later date. They most likely have almost no cash left.
「I… I… couldn’t help Reiji-kun yet again!!」
Tears oozed out of Mimino’s eyes, but she clenched her teeth to keep her tears from flowing out.
Dante understood Mimino’s feelings painfully well.
In the Achenbach Dukedom, Reiji saved Mimino in the battle with the dragon, and saved Dante from petrification. However, Reiji had to disappear alone because he was being pursued by the country and didn’t want to bother Silver Balance.
Dante deeply regretted that he couldn’t chase after Reiji at that time, regardless of how serious his injuries were.
Therefore, when they met again in the Kruvan Holy Kingdom, Dante thought it was his turn to protect Reiji next. The joy of repaying the kindness filled his heart.
In the end, he didn’t get the chance to give back, but rather, he was saved from the betrayal of his old companion Leon, and Reiji fought the Juggernaut alone to protect everyone in the Labyrinth of Fear.
And now when will he be able to give back to Reiji who was sucked into the Red Gate?
(!)
A realization dawned upon Dante.
The Empire is going to close the Red Gate. If so, before that he shouldー.