Magic-Sealing Doesn’t Guarantee Victory (3)
“No, wait, this is still pre-trial.”
My clone hesitated.
“What’s wrong? Not confident?”
I teased her a little.
“It’s fine. No problem. We just haven’t finished measuring thrust yet.”
“That is a huge problem. Shouldn’t you have some idea at the design stage?”
Kazuhito cut in.
True enough, you can estimate during the design phase. But after incorporating Earth tech into it, the results turned into something incomprehensible.
“See, with the same engine, the thrust changes drastically depending on mana volume and density. Sure, even on Earth fuel quality makes a difference, but with magic it’s way too extreme.”
That was the biggest bottleneck. Engines fueled by magic are fickle. Keeping magic density stable is the hardest part, and even when you make it into a magic tool, output still fluctuates. Getting stable thrust is ridiculously difficult.
Even so, my clone began fixing the engine nozzle, aiming it outward. If this test succeeded, Arland’s space program would make a huge leap forward. Well, I’m the only one working on it, and I still haven’t gotten official permission from the kingdom.
I did request land ages ago, but maybe the papers are still buried in some pile. I’ll ask my brother once this war is done. Satellites are a matter of national security, after all. While the treaties are still unsettled, I should launch weapons too. First come, first served.
It didn’t take long to secure. Looked like it was already prepped for testing.
“All right then, ignition.”
At my signal, the emergency trial began. The engine roared and belched flame.
“Crap! Thrust is way too strong—totally beyond spec!”
“The meter’s pegged out, isn’t it?”
“Forget the amount, the density’s too high—it’s overheating the whole thing! Everybody clear out!”
We all scattered just as the engine blasted free of its restraints and shot off. It smashed straight into a workshop, setting the whole place ablaze.
“That’s… the Seventh Alchemy Hall? Ah, no big deal then.”
That’s where they make the Elixir of Life, but production’s been halted, so it’s fine.
“Just fix it later, okay?”
“Are you serious?! That’s completely wrecked!”
“Then we’ll just build another one. Easy peasy.”
Grumbling, the clone eventually gave in and walked off.
“The road to space looks a little long.”
“This is not the time for that!” T
akuto shouted.
But experiments are my policy—anytime, anywhere. When an idea pops up, you test it right away.
“Look, the Imperials outside got blown away. All troops, charge again!”
““““UOOOOHHH!””””
Since I was safe, the knights launched another full assault.
“Takuto, you can go too.”
“Then I’ll just go kill a few. Especially those two.”
Takuto grinned, sprinting past the knights in an instant. Man, his bloodlust is off the charts.
“Now, Princess, you stay put.”
“Yeah, sure. Let’s go fishing.”
“… Are there even fish here?”
“Well, I’ve got fillets… ah, no, wrong thing. Tadaa!”
I tied my magic-staff blade, Beelzebub, to a fishing rod and expanded the treasury door to enormous size. Floating up high with Levitation, I dangled Beelzebub outside.
“This will win it.”
“… Win what, exactly?”
My combat power outside was below a water flea’s, but inside the Treasury, no one could beat me. Those two otherworlders? Strictly banned. No way I’m letting them in here.
“I thought of a counter. Eat up, Beelzebub.”
Beelzebub gleamed ominously. No other visible change.
Still, with Takuto in the fray, the two otherworlders were cornered badly, though they kept fleeing. The dog pack blocked every escape route, wearing them down.
“Wait! We’re Japanese too—help us!”
“Sorry. Anyone who targets Alice dies. So go to hell.”
Takuto ignored their pleas, slashing without mercy. Sometimes he left fake openings, baiting them into counterattacks, only to flip it back on them. They fell for it—both got their legs cut. Annoying pests, so of course he targeted the legs.
They tried to stand, but collapsed instantly, confusion written on their faces.
“That kind of power, when you can’t turn it off, is just a drawback. Looks like you finally ran out.”
Their nullification abilities couldn’t be switched off. They constantly consumed their own mana to cancel surrounding spells and tools. Beelzebub devoured that effect nonstop, draining them dry.
The Magic-Staff Blade Beelzebub devours all. Even the Goddess’ power was a tasty snack. Not the power itself, but the active force around it.
This time it gorged on their nullification field until their mana ran out. Since they couldn’t stop it, they exhausted themselves to death.
“Still… this is rough on me too.”
Beelzebub happily ate my magic as well—about thirty mages’ worth, enough to make me dizzy. I tossed it into a corner of the treasury. Strong, but way too demanding. A normal mage would’ve died from that drain.
Anyway, this was our chance. With magic-tool nullification gone, the field was ours.
“Golem Legion, advance. And Kazuhito, take this Kalashnikov, just in case.”
“… This is a real gun, isn’t it? Not a magic tool?”
“Since when did you think I only had magic guns? I just don’t mass-produce because gunpowder’s a pain to make. I’ve got plenty.”
Not just magic rifles—I’ve got Earth-grade firearms too. Just no one to use them. Give them to the knights? They’d treat them as clubs. Never underestimate their meathead ways.
“Anyway, Kazuhito, go save Helios. He’s been crying for help forever and everyone’s ignoring him.”
“Yeah… poor guy. Guess I’ll lend a hand.”
As his master, I owed Helios some help. But since Alicia had me pinned, I couldn’t move. Sorry, Helios. Any more reckless stunts and Alicia’s scolding gauge would max out. Better to play nice for now.
“God bless us!”
“Justice is ours!”
The Imperial zealots kept their fervor. No, they’d already discarded reason, raging blindly. Total pain in the neck.
“Kill them all. Taking prisoners is pointless.”
““““Yes, Princess!””””
The knights understood. Persuasion was impossible. Calm, coordinated, they cut the zealots down one by one, always going for the head to prevent feigned deaths.
Still, morale dipped slightly. Facing enemies screaming the goddess’ name while thrashing like maniacs was unnerving. But the outcome was set—our victory. No escape remained. The hounds made sure of that.
After three hours of battle, the Imperial army was annihilated. The two otherworlders, still trying to crawl away, were finished off—one beheaded by Takuto, the other crushed under Mr. Coote.
“Tougher than expected?”
—Master, otherworlders are troublesome indeed.—
Mr. Coote sounded exasperated. If anything, we should praise those two for lasting so long.
But there must still be hundreds more like them.
Not good. Data so far suggests otherworlders are physically stronger than Arlandian knights. Must be that “isekai buff.” A real nuisance.
Of course, I don’t plan on losing. Kingdom troops are hardy. But we’ll need to be more wary.
Maybe it’s time. Should I design knight armor for the kingdom? I’ll consult with my brother. We need the ultimate muscleheads, or casualties will pile up.
The Imperial war was already won. The seeds were sown. The Empire would never again rise as a hegemon.
All that remained was to claim reparations and force the captured Emperor to cede land to our allies. If he refused, we’d torture him until he agreed. They struck first. They can’t complain about the beating.
After stripping the fallen of their gear and burying the corpses in shallow pits, we returned to the capital.
Sure enough, rebellion stirred—but when I appeared unscathed, they scattered like spiders. The Imperial army and nobles stayed silent. Likely the church had tried to rouse them.
We lost many golems, but only had injured, no dead. And all the wounded were healed. Zero casualties.
Yep, total victory. Still, new tasks lie ahead—expanding anti-magic counters, and strengthening the knights. I’ve got ideas. If we can give the kingdom’s soldiers Father’s level of strength, we could take on the whole world. For that, we need to hurry the rocket launch. The prototype’s ready, but we still have to complete durability trials. Unless armor can endure the deep sea, lava, and reentry alone, I won’t accept it. The knights’ safety comes first.
Three days after the Imperial assault, the Arland Air Force finally arrived in the capital.
A fleet of nineteen ships—or so it seemed to the Empire. In truth, one armed airship and eighteen large transports. The transports weren’t combat vessels, but to anyone outside Arland, an airship meant a warship, inspiring overwhelming dread.
We’d planned for twenty, but two turned back with engine trouble.
Onboard were about five thousand soldiers—the maximum the kingdom could currently spare.
I ordered them to march proudly through the Imperial capital’s main avenue. The people needed to see that their city had fallen to the very races they scorned.
At the same time, we sent out requests for allied envoys. Negotiations for reparations would begin with whoever arrived first.
The pale faces of the Imperial citizens were delicious to behold. They’d surely looked down on others until now. Their humiliation and terror were sweet. Let them rest easy—we’ll leave once reparations are settled. But their glory days will never return.
What do you think about this chapter?
