The Machine Empire, Laprien.
In stark contrast to the Iron Kingdom, which worships the sword, this nation venerates magic, knowledge, and engineering. It is a strictly hierarchical society ruled by a single Emperor and ten Masters. Known as the “Machine Empire,” it possesses the most advanced magitech on the continent.
This nation, different from the Iron Kingdom in almost every way, has been at war with the Steel Great Empire, Chervil, throughout its long history. This was partly due to their shared border, but mostly because their values and beliefs were diametrically opposed. Driven by countless political grievances and horrific historical events, the hatred between the Iron Kingdom and the Machine Empire had long since ceased to be a mere grudge, festering into something far deeper.
“A fierce war? What are you talking about?”
However, because the conflict between the Iron Kingdom and the Machine Empire had dragged on for so long, it had essentially become an annual event. Whenever the Iron Kingdom needed to strengthen royal authority or restore public sentiment, it would declare war on the Machine Empire. Fundamentally, the Iron Kingdom was a nation that could not exist without war; from the perspective of a state that held power as its primary order, the Machine Empire was the most convenient target. Furthermore, once an external enemy was designated, the unruly citizens of the Iron Kingdom would unite as one.
And the Machine Empire? They were much the same. While the throne was inherited by the eldest son, the Emperor was a purely symbolic figure—one who reigned but did not rule. The practical rulers of the Machine Empire were the ten Masters, whose positions were determined by a vote held every five years. Any noble could become a Master, and public opinion dictated who held power. Thus, the Machine Empire also tended to wage war whenever election season approached or when the tide of public opinion needed to be turned. Despite being entangled in ancient hatred, the elites of both nations had reached a point where they simply used each other.
“The wars between the Iron Kingdom and the Machine Empire… honestly, haven’t most of them been little more than political theater?”
Consequently, both nations had always maintained certain boundaries.
It had been that way for a very long time. Yet, the Witch Elizabeth was now claiming that a war was underway—one so devastating that entire regions were being wiped off the map. That was no longer a mere “event.”
“It was. Until now.”
“…”
“This war is different. For both the Machine Empire and the Iron Kingdom.”
Witch Elizabeth let out a long sigh.
“Descendant of Steel, that land you call your territory is already surrounded by the Magic Corps. The Verdi region of the Iron Kingdom has been neglected for a long time; it has no border guards, let alone a single knight order. An anti-magic barrier? Of course there isn’t one. And in the open fields, where they can strike without interference, the Magic Corps are like fish in water.”
“…”
“It’s a perfect place to infiltrate and use as a fortress, and since most of it is farmland, they can be self-sufficient with food. Besides, there isn’t a single enemy there who poses a threat.”
“…”
“Even my sisters and I don’t know the full details of why the war between the Iron Kingdom and the Machine Empire has escalated to this point. But none of this is a lie. I can swear it upon my name to the Seven Chief Gods and the Nine Goddesses.”
An oath.
She had given her word that this was the truth.
Son of a…
What the hell were they doing to let everything go to shit like this!
This place might disappear from the map soon.
Audrey’s words flashed through my mind at the same time.
And then I understood.
Why she had been in such a hurry.
We need a wizard here right now. Desperately!
Why she had craved “magical forces” so intensely.
Mystery can only be countered by mystery. For a swordsman to deal with a mystical being, they must at least reach the realm of a Sword Runner. Every member of the Machine Empire’s Magic Corps is a skilled magical being, whereas among those guarding the Caravan territory, those who can stand against them are…
Damn it.
…less than five.
This was the worst-case scenario.
*
Through the cloth covering Witch Elizabeth’s face, I could see her lips twitching. It was a meaningful smile.
“Do you understand now? I cannot send my sisters to such a dangerous place. We are exceptional witches, but that does not necessarily mean we are powerful in battle. The ‘War Mages’ of the Magic Corps may not possess deep knowledge, but they are beings who have cultivated magic solely for destruction and slaughter. If my sisters fight them, they will not emerge unscathed.”
“…So you’re saying you won’t help? Even though your youngest, Audrey, is there?”
“Audrey is indeed our precious youngest sister. However, jumping into the water to save someone who is drowning is a dangerous endeavor. One might end up losing even more people in a failed attempt to save one.”
In short, she was saying she would abandon her.
After declaring she would cut Audrey loose without a single change in her expression, Witch Elizabeth fell silent for a moment before continuing.
“However, there is a path where we can all be satisfied.”
“Which is?”
“Descendant of Steel, you have devoured the soul of a legendary adventurer. You have brilliantly succeeded in our difficult request. If you, the Descendant of Steel, solve the immortal cipher left by that legendary adventurer—Labyrinthos—and bring us the witches’ treasure… then everything will be resolved.”
“If I bring you the treasure, does that mean things will change?”
“Yes. If we can only retrieve the treasure we have been so desperately seeking, the gift bestowed upon us by our husband in the distant past… ‘Thunder,’ then that measly Magic Corps will be no match for us.”
Elizabeth’s melodious voice echoed.
“Solve the cipher right now and put the treasure in our hands. Then, not only will we send the two of you to the Caravan territory immediately, but we will also send our dependable sisters. This is the best way.”
“Help us first. Then I will do it.”
“We cannot. If we go to the Iron Kingdom without ‘Thunder,’ my sisters will be in danger. Furthermore, since there is no guarantee we will obtain it, it would be improper to use magic to teleport the two of you all the way to the Iron Kingdom. Teleportation over such a distance, crossing national borders, is a very high-level spell… even we must pay a price. As wizards, we cannot pay a price without gaining something in return.”
Elizabeth proposed that we complete the quest first. On the surface, her words sounded logical. But Audrey’s words kept ringing in my ears: Never tell them what the clue to the cipher is. Use it to negotiate.
Did Audrey say that knowing this would happen? Are the witches lying? Would they really tell such a lie when their youngest sister’s life is on the line? What if my territory is destroyed while I’m sitting here agonizing over this?
I was conflicted.
I glanced at Sherizik.
Should we try talking in the “orc way” again?
“Just so you know, a clumsy orc act won’t work on me, Sherizik, daughter of the Star Guide. I am well aware that you are a wise orc. Furthermore, I do not shy away from settling a conversation in the orc way. If you wish to decide this by force, then go ahead—if you think you can handle me, who has existed since the moment this empire was born.”
At her words, Sherizik muttered.
“This is tricky.”
“Tricky? What do you mean?”
“I don’t think I’d lose if we fought, but I wouldn’t be able to win quickly either. This is a witch’s domain. Nothing is as persistent as a wizard fighting in their own territory. It seems I must set aside the refreshing and certain orc way for a moment.”
Dammit.
It was a dead end.
If things continued like this, I would end up doing exactly what they wanted, but there were too many risks. First, I had no idea how long it would take to retrieve the treasure called Thunder. Even with their help, the situation might already be over by the time we arrived. It meant I might only get there after my territory had been razed and everyone was dead.
Besides, what guarantee was there that they wouldn’t stall for time again? Once they had the treasure, the witches might completely change their tune. They might back out, saying, “We’ll help you soon, but we never promised a specific date.” No, they might even kill me once their goal was achieved. I couldn’t trust anyone. Witches didn’t exactly have a stellar reputation. Why should I devalue myself to beings with such low credibility? I shouldn’t.
My mind raced.
The suspicion wouldn’t stop.
To the witches, my value was high. I was the Last Caravan, and without me, there was no way to find the treasure. Therefore, I had to get what I wanted right now. I took stock of everything I had and the overall situation. I closed my eyes for a moment.
Soon, I reached a conclusion.
“I’ve decided.”
“So you’ve decided to help. Then I shall bring the map—”
“Send us to the Caravan territory. And if the danger to the witches is the problem, then you come with us personally and help. If you’re a wizard more powerful than Sherizik, what are you afraid of?”
“…What are you talking about all of a sudden? As I said before, stop talking nonsense and—”
“There is no compromise.”
I had no reason to back down.
So?
“Don’t stall for time. You’re the ones in a hurry. Do you know why? Because now, that land is the only thing I have left to lose. The moment I lose that land, I become someone with nothing left. Then, I’ll have no reason to fulfill your request, and I’ll lose any lingering desire to keep living.”
“…”
“If the Caravan territory is destroyed and all my precious people die, I will take my own life. With nothing left to protect and no motivation for revenge, I’ll just die. Oh, and did you know? I’ve made a contract with a young dragon. I’ll take that dragon with me to the grave, and the enraged mother dragon will come looking for the cause of her child’s death. The Master of the Sky will come for you.”
“We do not fear dragons—”
“And I will go find my ancestor. The greatest, the First Caravan. Liam Caravan, who even now stays by my side. I will go to him and explain how his descendant died. I will declare that the reason the Caravan line was completely wiped out, the reason the bloodline was severed, was solely because of the witches. I will appeal to him for revenge. I will curse you so that you meet the same end as I did and fall into ruin.”
You won’t help?
If you won’t…
Then we all die together.
“Will you, the strongest among you, go with me to resolve this matter peacefully, save your lovely youngest sister, and get your treasure back? Or will you endure the onslaught of a dragon and make an enemy of my ancestor in the spiritual world? Is this even a proposal worth agonizing over? As an ignorant swordsman, I really wouldn’t know.”
Witch Elizabeth’s body faltered.
“So please, make your judgment quickly, wise Witch.”
She was visibly flustered.
Pfft, puhuhu, puhuhuhu.
I heard Master’s laughter.
I stared silently at Elizabeth.
That’s some crazy bluffing, young descendant.
Yes.
It was a bluff.
Why would I die? Until I killed Swordmaster Carlos, until I crossed blades with him, I could never close my eyes, no matter what happened. I knew this, and Master knew this. But did that lofty Witch know? Not a chance.
Indeed.
Even a wise witch who sat and looked out over the world would not know that such mad insanity existed in my head. Never.
This is it. There’s no reason to bow your head to those things.
What? The orc way doesn’t work?
So what.
The blood of someone far more formidable than an orc flows in my veins.
This is the Caravan way.
Care for a taste of the Caravan style?
*
Witch Elizabeth was momentarily speechless.
It was true that she had pressured the Descendant of Steel to get what she wanted without any loss. But for him to be this extreme? Furthermore, there were contradictions in the Descendant of Steel’s words.
Dragons are powerful, but a mere three or four dragons cannot touch the witches. And revenge after death? Beings of the spiritual world cannot intervene in the middle world. If they did, they would pay the price for defying the laws and the order of the world…
Yes.
It was contradictory.
However.
[My Elizabeth.]
It was different if the subject was a “Caravan.”
[Do as that audacious child says.]
A divine voice, like thunder, echoed in the mind of the first witch, Elizabeth. The husband of all witches—one of the great Seven Chief Gods, the “Father of the Sky”—was speaking directly to her.
But if I do, we will suffer a loss. If I provoke him just a little more, we could gain so much without losing anything.
[Just this once. Just this once… do not weigh the profits and losses.]
Pardon? Why…
The voice of the Great Sky.
Strangely, however, the voice was trembling.
[I am asking you. Do not ask further and just do as I say.]
It was as if…
As if he were afraid.
[…Unless you want to become a widow.]
The one who had fallen for the Caravan’s bluff…
Was not just Witch Elizabeth.
