5
I made it to the rendezvous point just as the sun was tilting west, and waiting for me was a massive sailship floating out past the reef.
Its sails bore the Fatal sigil—clearly a royal vessel. So that must be my ride, then.
On the shore, a small boat and the silhouettes of a few people who looked like crew.
As I drew near, the shadows waved and bounced up and down, like they were trying to jump right out of their skins.
"Over here! Eld-sama, you did it! You can see the explosion site even from here!"
A woman soldier, puffing and blushing, bouncing up and down. She reminds me a little of Pamila, somehow.
"Good work. We're definitely at the right spot, aren't we?"
“Ah, yes! I’m sorry—I should’ve introduced myself earlier. I’m Emilia, crew member of the Ines, part of the Fatal Kingdom’s maritime division. My sister, Pamila, has been a great help to you all.”
“Sister!? Pamila has a sister!? I didn’t know that at all!”
Funny. She’s part of the princess’s personal guard—official records should’ve been double-checked. At the time, there was no mention of a sister.
“Oh, not a real sister, no. Just a childhood friend. We used to play together all the time as kids. I joined the military a little earlier than her, and ended up assigned to the maritime division.”
“I see. If we head to the rendezvous point, Pamila should be there too. It’d be nice to see her after all this time, wouldn’t it?”
“I’d love to, if time permits. The maritime division’s always busy, you know.”
“Ah—right. Can’t stand here chatting all day. So, what should I do?”
Ah—right, sorry about that. I’ll give the instructions. Just go in a bit further. From there, the ship’s crane will lift it up and store it.
Understood.
That big a ship should handle the Armunale just fine. They’re using the cargo crane—meant for loading supplies—so they’ll probably just hoist this thing aboard.
Emilia climbs into the boat and starts moving out toward open water. I follow behind, slowly guiding the machine into the sea.
The water’s resistance isn’t as bad as I thought. Or maybe I should say it’s not even noticeable—after all, we’ve practiced crossing rivers before. That’s what it is.
“Go forward another five paces!”
I follow the order, stepping five paces ahead—and suddenly, the color of the sea changes sharply, right ahead.
It drops off sharply from there.
“Stay put! I’ll bring the ship back to you.”
I’m counting on you.
Emilia rowed toward the ship, and then a small crane lifted the boat straight onto the deck.
After waving big, she dashed inside.
“Really, like sisters.”
The way she moves—energetic, lively—it’s exactly like Pamela. Well, she claims to be her elder sister, so she’s a bit more steady, I suppose.
A moment after Emilia disappeared inside, a man’s voice came through.
“Ah—Captain Eld. I’m Godwin, captain of the Ines. I’ll be approaching you soon, so keep an eye out for waves. This thing’s so big, even a little movement sends up a decent swell.”
“Understood! Go ahead!”
I crouched low, bracing myself, waiting for the ship to come in.
It drifted slightly sideways, then slowly turned its belly toward us, inching closer.
At the same time, the waves come rolling in—but not as strong as I thought, careful as they were. Just surface ripples, really. This thing’s got Artificius gear on it, so it won’t be swept away.
“Alright, that’ll do. Shut down the engine! Lower the crane! Let’s get this done quick!”
『Ryaaah!』
Men scramble across the deck, and the big crane stretches slowly up, reaching over the machine’s head.
A wire drops from the crane, brushing against the machine’s shoulder.
“Shall we grab it from here?”
“No—tie it down here. Secure it tight. Don’t let it move.”
“Understood.”
Even as they speak, men climb down the crane and leap onto the machine.
“Excuse me.”
Bowing their heads with a soft *pekopeko*, the men tug the thick wire’s split ends and secure them to the machine’s shoulders and back-mounted armaments.
Handy work. They’ve got the balance just right—even though this is their first time handling the thing.
“Secured, Captain!”
“Begin lifting the crane—hold tight now!”
The wire whines as it winds up, and the machine begins to rise slowly.
The crew who’d been securing it now brace their hands on the protrusions, locking their bodies in place. Looks like they’re heading back to the ship.
The view on the monitor climbs higher and higher—then the deck comes into sight.
There, in the center, the massive crane hoisting this machine. Behind it, a vast open space.
Normally, this would be a cargo hold for military supplies.
The machine descends slowly into that space.
She bends her knees to match the landing, settling into a crouch without a word.
Would’ve been best to lay her flat, probably. But this thing’s all spikes and jagged edges—set her down on empty space and she’d tip right over.
“Securing the hull! Now!”
“Yesss!”
The ship’s captain’s voice cuts through as the machine’s fastened down quick with wires.
“Good. Got her on board. Time to go. Staying too long’s risky. Gotta go meet the pilot on the other side, too.”
True enough. Even if those mercenaries ran off from the underground base, others might come charging in. No magic shield on the Ines, no way to block spells. Best to get out fast.
The ship began to move slowly, heading out across the sea.
I climbed onto the hull, feeling the sea wind, and looked back at the island still burning.
◇
Three days after Eld’s raid on the Du Librepur base. The news reached the imperial capital of the Overd Empire.
At the same time, the sound of a shattered wineglass filled the room.
The messenger trembled with fear. The high lords said nothing—just silence.
And the source of the sound. Emperor Gandrois Visilburg Overd stood there, clutching the broken shards of the glass, face red, shaking.
Whether the crimson liquid dripping from his hand was wine left in the glass, or blood seeping from a wound torn by the shards—no one could say.
“Ah… so that’s what it was.”
Today’s meeting was about the mercs who’d been due to gather—suddenly pulling out, reneging on their contract, and heading off to another country. Straight to the point: that’s what the latest news was about.
“Pay the ones already here. Keep a close eye on them—make sure they don’t bolt.”
“Understood, Your Majesty… but there’s still the risk of revolt from within.”
“If push comes to shove, seize the machines. Can’t afford to lose any more of our strength. Contact the mercs due to join us. If they turn traitor, no mercy.”
“Understood.”
“We’ll have to change the strategy for the coming resistance. Officers in charge—get to work immediately. Factor in the losses, and come up with a plan we can actually win with.”
“With all due respect, Your Majesty…”
The chief strategist, head of operations, lowered her head and quietly raised a hand.
“What?”
“Any further losses would be fatal. The only strategy we’ve got left is hoping, against all reason, that Fatal makes a mistake. As operations advisor, I recommend we call off the invasion of Fatal.”
“Hmph.”
Gandlois stood up, then walked slowly toward the minister.
And with a sudden lunge, he slammed his boot down hard on the man’s bowed head.
A choked gasp escaped the minister’s mouth—squeals of fear rippled through the other ministers, their shoulders trembling.
“Are you saying our soldiers are weaker than Fatal’s?!”
Even as he shouted, the minister still struggled beneath the crushing weight.
This isn’t some simple thing! Morale crumbling from repeated defeats! Lack of commanders! The whole line falling apart from hiring too many mercenaries! And on top of that—most of the Eight Knight Generals are gone!?
Gandrois cut off the words mid-sentence, kicking himself in the gut to stop them.
He didn’t want to hear those words himself.
The very thought of his homeland—something he’d nurtured all this time—now teetering on the edge of ruin… it made him shake. And so he covered the fear with anger, smearing it over like thick paint.
“You dare insult my empire? Your words are a clear act of treason! I’ll cut off your head right here, right now!”
He drew his ornate sword from the scabbard and raised it high. But the minister wouldn’t stop. Not now.
If you're so worried, then just don’t offer advice in the first place. Figure out some halfway decent plan, butter up Gandrois a bit, and quietly ease the minister out at the right moment. That’s all there is to it.
But not now. Not in this empire. The current emperor thinks the empire itself might be doomed—so the minister’s risking his life to speak up.
“Your Majesty! Look at the situation! We’re headed straight for ruin!”
“Die, will you?”
The sword came down—clanged, stopped mid-swing by another blade slashing in from the side.
Gandrois blinked, eyes snapping to the source of the interruption.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
The blade belonged to one of his own guards.
“Your Majesty, I believe the minister’s words are well-founded. But if you’re going to strike him down in anger, at least let us hear him out—before you cut him down.”
“You’d betray me too? You, of all people—my own guard!”
Gandrois took a few steps back, then raised his sword again. Veins stood out starkly on his forehead. He wasn’t hearing a single word anyone said.
The guard looked at him, sighed hard—something no one would dare do before the emperor.
“Looks like his words were true after all.”
“What are you babbling about?! You won’t just die—you’ll be hung in the square, your head on display, a proper spectacle!”
The soldier blocked Gandrois’s blade, locking swords in a clash. Still locked, he called out to the fallen minister.
“You were brave. You truly cared about the empire’s future. You had the courage to speak plainly to the current emperor. I believe you’re the kind of person the empire will need down the road. That’s why I drew my sword too.”
The soldier who’d earned his place as guard, and Gandalois, who’d only ever learned swordplay—there was no mistaking the gap in skill.
The soldier coiled his strength once, shoved his blade hard against Gandalois’s, sent the sword flying wide, then tapped Gandalois’s chest with his left hand.
That was all it took. Gandalois stumbled back, fell flat on his rear.
“W-what…?”
Gandalois, dazed, unable to accept what just happened. And before him, the guard standing calmly, unshaken.
Then the guard inhaled deeply—so deep it echoed through the whole hall—and shouted out, loud enough to carry beyond the conference room doors.
“Live for the empire’s future!”
“Live for the empire’s future!”
The conference door burst open with a thunderous crash. And with it, a flood of soldiers poured in, all shouting the same words, charging forward in a wave.
In a flash, the soldiers seized the ministers and bureaucrats who’d been in the meeting, along with the guards, yanking weapons from their hands and binding them with rope. Of course, Gandalois was among them.
“你们！ 你这是什么意思！ 背叛我？！”
“你亲眼看到的，父亲。”
Gandalois shouts, struggling, but freezes mid-motion at the voice coming from beyond the open door.
“Eldros…”
“Yes, Fourth Prince Eldros. Long time no see, Father.”
“Are these soldiers your doing?”
“Yes. Soldiers who care about the empire’s future. And you too.”
Eldros extends a hand toward the fallen minister.
“You too have worried deeply about the empire, made a choice. Let’s stand together. For the sake of this nation’s future.”
“Will you lead us, Prince Eldros?”
Yeah, I’ve made up my mind. And I’ve done it. What I had to do to become emperor.
“Eldros, you—!”
“Father, your time is over. From this moment on, the Emperor of the Overd Empire is me—Eldros Vislberg Overd. You’ll be retiring to a nice, quiet villa with a view of the sky. Don’t worry—peaceful, safe, no war.”
Smiling gently, he declares this to Gandrois.
“You think this is allowed? You’re not the only brother here!”
“I just said it, didn’t I? I’ve already done what needed doing to become emperor.”
“What?!”
“No more brothers. Only excellent sisters left—and loyal subordinates who support me.”
“…So far… When did this happen…?”
"Since the moment Father turned his gaze away and got lost in his delusions, starting up war preparations like a madman. Now then—there’s plenty to do, so I’ll ask the unnecessary ones to leave quickly. From now on, with my new ministers, I’ll be steering this country."
The ministers, dragged by ropes, are hauled roughly to their feet and shuffled out of the meeting room, eyes glued to the floor. Their destination? A dark cell.
And Gandrois is pulled up by soldiers too.
"Kukuku."
"Something funny?"
"No, just happy. If my child can become this much of a demon, then I’ll quietly step aside. I’ll be watching—see just how you lead my nation."
"Ah yes, do take your time."
A flash of crossed glances—like two venomous snakes, each aiming fangs at the other’s body, locking eyes, then stepping apart in opposite directions.
Gandlois exited. Endros took his seat at the head of the table.
“Let the meeting begin! First, the reply to the Fatal Kingdom—its deadline is closing in!”
The new empire stirred into motion. Quietly announcing the end of one age, and clearly sounding the first cry of a new one.
Next time
Receiving the empire’s reply, Fatal marched to the negotiation table. There, waiting for them, was the new emperor, Endros.
The talks between Overd and Fatal would stir great change across the world.