Chapter 301 Before daybreak (1/2)
[My lord, Reinhart-sama is calling.]
Reinhart was calling Jin using the mana cam.
“It’s Jin, what’s up?”
[Ooh, Jin! Sorry for today!]
“That’s what you’re calling about? I didn’t really mind.”
He had thought something might have happened but was relieved to find out he was wrong.
[Matheus didn’t have any ill intention. He just misunderstood a bit.]
“Misunderstood?”
Jin wondered if he did anything which could be misunderstood.
“What did he misunderstand?”
And when he asked, Reinhart laughed and answered,
[That you and I are in a love relationship…]
“Eeehhhh?!”
[Right? Hilarious.]
But Jin couldn’t laugh. He didn’t think Matheus would have such a misunderstanding.
“I-it’s all cleared up now, right?”
[Of course.]
“…Then it’s fine.”
[Well, either way, I will try not to trouble you with these from now on.]
They gossiped for a while after which Reinhart cut the call.
“….I am tired.”
Mentally exhausted, Jin decided get into the hot spring once again.
“…Haa”
Stretching out his limbs in the hot water, he murmured to himself,
“Shorou Empire, eh… Sounds fun.”
＊ ＊ ＊
“Gyaaa–!”
“I-it’s a rebellion!”
“The criminals have escaped!”
On the afternoon of the same day, the Inado mine’s administrative building was filled with agonizing cries. The item keeping the criminals in check was the ‘Criminals’ collar’. This was an item equipped onto the criminal with which one can inflict pain on the wearer by pouring a specific mana into it.
And to pour that specific mana, a specific magic item is required.
Two of those magic items, the dominators, were set up in case of unforeseen circumstances but they were rendered useless somehow.
“Hyahahaah! Free! We are free!”
“Go, go! We will head for the north!”
“Don’t even go south by mistake! There are soldiers there!”
52 of these criminals descended the mountain with pickaxes, hammers and clubs in their hands. After going down for about 20 kilometers, the Toka village was south and the Kaina village was north.
There was food in the rest hut on the main road. The criminals devoured those and headed quickly towards north, being wary of pursuers.
With eyes full of lust, they climbed the mountain pass. After climbing to the top, they could see the Herme river shining below.
And beyond that, lied a peaceful village.
“I can see it! It’s the village!”
“Hyouhou! Food! Women! Warm beds!”
“Let’s go!”
“Ah, you! I will be the first!!”
The criminals went down with momentum.
The villagers of Kaina weren’t yet aware of this.
＊ ＊ ＊
The Kaina village exclusive defense/monitor magic intellect, Koushin, had informed them at Hourai island 15 minutes before.
It was past midnight in Kaina village and there was still a while to go before daybreak.
At Hourai island, dawn was just about to break.
Laojun pondered for a while about whether he should alert Jin about the situation. Since Jin had gone to bed early last night and it was a question of Kaina village, he decided to wake Jin up.
[Assailant detected]
[They are aiming to invade from the Togo mountain pass]
[Reconstructing conversation. Assailants identified to be criminals who received the labour penalty. Their objective discerned to be to attack Kaina village]
[Assailants will enter the defense circle in within a minute]
“As expected of Laojun.”
[Much obliged. I would like to affirm the defensive capability of the system taking this opportunity and as such will not neutralize the offenders all at once. Please give your approval.]
“Yeah, I don’t mind. If no harm comes to Kaina village, that is.”
[Thank you very much. Please relax and watch the situation from here, my lord.]
There was no need for Jin to do anything. He just had to look at the screen provided by Koushin, listen to the reports and watch as Laojun took the necessary steps.
[52 assailants have reached Togo mountain pass. Collision with defense circle confirmed.]