| Author: Kisasaki Suzume | Original Source: Syosetu |
| Translator: Mui | English Source: Re:Library |
| Editor(s): Deximus-Maximus | |
To prevent casualties from monsters, people built walls and lived inside them.
The size of the city walls… in other words, the size of the city, was determined by the ability to fully protect the walls when monsters attacked.
While increasing the population allowed for more guards to protect the walls, compared to fortified rural villages that were created under the assumption of monster invasions, cities tended to become compact, with people and buildings squeezed together.
However, the infamous mobile walled city, Raza, was different.
The original city walls existed around the middle of the city, and outside of them, buildings were haphazardly arranged, and the city sprawled beyond.
These areas outside the city walls, known as the ‘lawless districts,’ were surrounded by makeshift ‘private walls’ or military-grade barricades, cobbled together in a patchwork fashion, offering some form of protection. These walls shifted outward as buildings increased and people multiplied, and inward as structures were maintained.
Located close to iron mines, Raza was an industrial city. Where there was work, people gathered. Even those with no money to live inside the walls still moved outside for work, leading to this chaotic cityscape as a result.
For people accustomed to towering buildings, the sight of endless rows of low buildings in the lawless district was truly fascinating.
Gazing down from the top of the hotel within the walls, the view of the lawless district was a spectacular scene not easily witnessed elsewhere. However, those who came to see such sights certainly didn’t venture into the lawless district on their own.
Many residents of the lawless district saw outsiders as walking treasure chests, sometimes greeting them by brandishing swords and taking their wallets as a form of salutation.
In a city like this, when a diplomatic bureaucrat guided guests to accommodations, it was naturally within the walls.
Lucella and her companions chose to stay at a hotel named Black Tortoise. In reality, this place stood out even among accommodations within the walls, making it the only noteworthy option.
Lucella found herself in the innermost private room on the basement floor restroom.
Without lifting the toilet seat, she sat on it like a chair, her pants, of course, still in place.
“Are you there?”
“Yeah.”
Wondering if this was really correct, Lucella called out, and a response came from the wall behind her.
It was Ivar.
“Of all places, the restroom…”
“It’s practical, isn’t it? Standing out from the crowd, a place where you won’t be suspected even if you don’t come back for a while. This private room is soundproofed to ensure nothing leaks outside. Quite a few bloody dramas have unfolded here.”
Before setting out on the journey, Lucella had arranged to talk with Ivar here.
It was fine, but she was dumbfounded when she heard that the restroom’s private room was set up as a secret meeting place.
“Don’t worry. This hotel has the backing of my… buddy 1? Yeah, well, people like that. From the manager to the kitchen staff. Not even ‘The Seventh’ can sneak in.”
“A buddy, huh…”
“He’s a good guy, at least for me.”
The lawless district was a nest of the mafia.
Could there be any better place where people gathered, money accumulated, and the authorities had a hard time keeping an eye on? This place was a heaven for such people.
And when they had such influence in the lawless district, how could mere city walls stop the mafia from infiltrating? Thus, the refined city inside the wall is not entirely free from connections to the mafia.
The conquered territories underwent a reshaping of societal and behind-the-scenes dynamics due to the invasion of Maltgartz.
On the other hand, this region, part of the old kingdom’s territory, was controlled by a well-established mafia in the underworld. The intricacies and depth of its reality were complex, likely beyond the complete understanding of even the imperial palace, unless one was completely immersed in it.
Ivar’s connections played a significant role in this context.
“There’s something I want to know first. Was it a coincidence that my childhood friend from the lodging was assigned as my guide?”
“Seriously? I had no idea.”
The most unexpected part of this journey was Efrain’s presence.
Even when Lucella spoke with Ivar through the Caller shortly after entering Maltgartz, this information didn’t come up. What kind of conspiracy was at play here? Lucella thought Ivar, being aware of the underworld intricacies, might have insight, but his response was bitter.
“Let me make it clear, even I can’t read the confidential documents of The Seventh or overhear the secrets within the imperial palace. I don’t understand the intentions of small movements. But with that said, I think it’s just a damn s̲h̲i̲t̲t̲y coincidence.”
“So… it really is just that?”
“I’ll look into it, just in case.”
“Please do.”
Although Lucella didn’t vocalize it since it deviated from their goal of stopping the Regalia, she had a slight expectation.
She hoped to understand the path Efrain, once a friend, had walked to reach this point.
“Now, let’s talk about our side. The vassals of the old kingdom received a strict command from the imperial palace and started preparing for war. They are gathering reserve forces not yet deployed on the Gufare front.”
Lucella’s body temperature rose about ten degrees for a moment at Ivar’s straightforward words.
“Are they targeting me?”
“Seems like it.”
“They seem to be pushing themselves here…”
“They are squeezing every last bit of strength to mobilize the army. If they stumble here, the vassals of the old kingdom won’t be able to move for a while.”
“So either situation would be convenient for Prime Minister Weaver… huh?”
Lucella was well aware of the dynamics of conflicts in the imperial palace and within Maltgartz.
For the vassals of the old kingdom, it was a dilemma whether to advance or retreat.
Still, they had no choice but to fight. Both Lucella and them.
“Wisdom Eye Vortex is still slowly advancing towards the Gufare front. It would be absolutely disastrous to have it arrive at the battlefield where Maltgartz’s Regalia are gathered. With this route, it will collide first with the rear lines of the front where Gufare can’t intervene.”
“So the plan is for me to take it away before it gets stolen. …It’s okay for Mom to come along as a puppet, but Monica…”
“Let Monica use the Regalia.”
Lucella wanted to discuss how to get Monica out. But Ivar responded with a single sentence, cutting through her words.
“I understand you don’t want to do that. But don’t underestimate the enemy. Even if they’re reserve forces, can you handle an opponent several times more formidable than Earl Angus’ army you faced the other day?”
Ivar’s tone was matter-of-fact. It was a straightforward, emotionless calculation, just a tactical analysis.
As an optimistic point, unlike the battle at the northern base of Mount Kuguse, the plan here was not to repel the invasion but to escape.
On the pessimistic side, it involved facing the coalition forces of neighboring vassals, and the opponent had likely arranged their formation anticipating a battle “against Lucella.”
If Monica were to use the Regalia, it would be a significant help. Lucella suspected Monica might have intended to do so from the beginning, considering her temperament; she probably had that level of determination. Still, Lucella’s reluctance to let her fight might be seen as an unwarranted concern.
“Just a thought… how about mixing several feints before we actually get to stopping the Wisdom Eye Vortex?”
“Sounds like a good idea. Go ahead and do that as you please.”
Lucella desperately thought of any way to improve the situation, even if just a little. If she could avoid relying on Monica’s power, it would be better.
“…By the way, I heard something happened on the eastern front. What was that about?”
“So they’re here…”
Ivar muttered, looking somewhat annoyed. It wasn’t a response to Lucella.
“Sorry for dragging you into this. Think of it as my information fee and give me a hand.”
“Huh?”
A rough sound of something being torn down echoed from upstairs, accompanied by a simultaneous scream.
