Vol 4 Chapter 4 (1/2)

Chapter 4: Chase that back

Part 1

After Raynesia left, thehad an atmosphere of chaos and exhaustion The senate leader of the

Round Table Council left with Raynesia, followed by shi+roe who the nobles saw as a politically

moderate tactician

The only envoy of the Round Table Council left was the hardliner hawk Michitaka

The nobles didn't knohere to throw the clenched fist they held up in the air No, holding fists up in the

air was still fine, whether they could throw out the fist was another proble and

able to pick up the pieces had already left, the group didn't knohat to do

Following Krusty 's departure, the pitiful Baron Craindit lost his ability to , his face

alternated between green and red, even his attendants were unable to help hied

per for air

Even if they were not at the level of Baron Craindit, all the nobles should have a certain degree of the

Baron's confused emotions

As it had co ended temporarily

Michitaka sighed as he walked to the corridor

(This is going to be troublesome)

Michitaka uild, but he was not proficient in negotiating

the details He thought a oods and sell them at an appropriate

price

(And I am a blacksmith)

He still saw hi his hammer everyday even after

joining the Round Table Council With the drop in players raiding high-level dungeons, there had been a

drop in the supply of high-level redients which made him sad But this type of problem could be

solved bythe supplies strictly

He was made a leader by his comrades because he liked to socialize with others and wouldn't reject

conversing with others This was how Michitaka judged himself

The nobles saw hirily at a certain idiot once, he did not bear

any hostility towards the 'League of Freedo military aid

because that was his assigned role a the three, he did not oppose this personally

But he was a production player, he had a lower risk of dying compared to the battle players Even if

there were a war, he and his guild should be responsible for the resupply and support role of Akiba, so

how could he agree to ar so easily? He couldn't deny that he felt a sense of guilt over this

(The situation has already progressed to this stage, I a)

His thick and strong fingers reached through his black hair and scratched his head He felt low-spirited

and unable to let go

Michitaka was followed by acorridor He casually

looked towards the balcony as he turned the corner There was no hiddenbehind his action, he

was just turning his head after seeing the ht on the floor

”Soujirou-sa dessert tasty?”

”Soujirou-sama, please listen to me too!”

”Soujirou-saentle lullaby and let you rest for a while”

There was a luxurious couch in the balcony under the ht, a place suitable for tea parties A

colleague of Michitaka, West Wind Brigade's guildsurrounded by princesses

andMichitaka feel a sense of desolation

The dark clouds were hanging over the future of Akiba, his sense of guilt, an inexplicable feeling of

unease, all these things he was thinking about didn't seem to matter anymore

Co about the Round Table Council and the

'League of Freedo

(Ah ah, the expression on raffiti draith a left hand)

Michitaka did not approach Soujirou and headed towards the zone where his bedroom was

(That's it for tonight, what should we do tomorrow?)

Michitaka thought so, but he found that the development that folloould be complicated

Duke Corwen, grandfather of Raynesia, aiting at the rest area in front of the Round Table Council's

zone The old duke was accoreet Michitaka silently The long

ns of fatigue, which earned Michitaka's respect

The elderly Duke simply said: ”Is it convenient?”

Michitaka realized what he meant and led the way

He invited the Duke to a s room, this here the Round Table Council Krusty, shi+roe,

and Michitaka held their usual s Small was only relative to the size of the whole palace, 2 such

rooh to be Michitaka's home back in japan

Michitaka ushered hi to serve The old Duke looked

surprised, but so, so Michitaka didn't

understand his anore it for now

”Sorry to disturb at such a late hour”

”Please, don't , on't be able to sleep well”

”Hahaha, indeed”

The elder noblehed without reservation

”The Corwen faranddaughter”

He was in a very delicate position right now

Duke Sergead was the chairue of Freedoreat

influence But right now this influence was becoative burden

”As you have judged, it is possible that the girl's actions fractured the relationshi+ps between the league

members”

His words hinted at the doubts the other nobles had of clan Corwen Maiha city under

Sergead's governance, if he pulled in a few other counties and allied with Akiba, their poould be

strong enough to subjugate the rest of the 'League of Freedom Towns Eastal'

Raynesia did not harbor such grand a Michitaka also thought

all the events leading to their present situation happened at the spur of the moment, and there were no

hidden s behind them

But in that kind of situation, thewas how others interpreted it

Even if there were no hidden nificant in the future

(Even this conversation ht be interpreted as some sort of conspiracy)

”Speaking of possibilities, Maiha force of Akiba?”

Michitaka asked directly, he was not good with testing the waters or sche

”That ht work too, ermmm What do you think Michitaka-dono?”

Michitaka resented being addressed as lord during the ood impression on

hiainst the word lord itself, but this elderly

er Michitaka, which made him want to continue

negotiations

(But I am not as talented as shi+roe)

Michitaka moved his thick neck to tilt his head

There was the gentle sound of door knocks

After Michitaka gave per a cart of snacks The envoy

reinforcement requested by shi+roe included chefs, and they had been preparing all sorts of dishes to

cos and parties in the Round Table Council zone of the palace (they had been

working their asses off)

These snacks and beverages had been arranged for by Henrietta

”Ah ah, you caht time Henrietta-san, please join us”

”No, I'm just here for”

”Ay, please don't hold back”

Henrietta frowned at Michitaka's invitation, but she took a seat besides Michitaka after setting the table

”You are the lady who danced with shi+roe-dono at the party correct?”

”Yes, I am Henrietta from Crescent Moon Alliance”

”Crescent Moon Alliance is one of the 11 guilds that foruild

tactician”

Michitaka took a breath after finishi+ng his introduction

He did not intend to du was too important and

Henrietta should be able to look out for Michitaka's blind spots and hint the direction theshould

take

But first, they helped themselves to the snacks

Cold-cut chicken sandwich, warie salad, fruits, and diluted alcoholic drinks

They chatted casually while enjoying the food

Michitaka and Henrietta gave a brief suead described the streets of

Maiha back to the ht

”I have a general understanding of what you meant let me think”

Henrietta gracefully put down her teacup and said

She continued expressing her views to Sergead who looked like a kind gentle grandfather

”I think theterm plan, I think we can come to a

consensus with that”

Michitaka grunted

This was a si could be summarized in this one

sentence, how pathetic But he should be thankful for Henrietta's intelligence and capabilities instead

They say 2 heads are better than 1, but Michitaka understood from his experience on Earth that such

”You are right, hmmm”

Duke Sergead closed his eyes

”Itfor ress if we keep testing the waters I

want to use this opportunity to find out your straightforward views and what you wish to achieve for your

side”

Michitaka added

He did not want to be treated like a cat or a dog, but this old man would treat him with proper respect If

the chairue also acted this way, there would be no point in further discussion

”To start, I would like for your aid to defend against the goblin ar

years of battle with the de this land that nurtures us is our top priority”

Michitaka agreed with him

nobles who did not want to protect their people and lands were not real nobles

Instead of being a goal or condition, this was akin to the premise of their discussions

”Next, I will not be inviting you all to becoue of Freedom Towns

Eastal'”

This stunned Michitaka

”Right now, I feel that treating the Round Table Council as another fortress or territory's feudal lord is the

reason for our failure I do not wish to exclude or keep a distance from the Round Table Council, to put

simply, I have coanization that is equal to the 'League

of Freedom Towns Eastal' The Round Table Council and Akiba are able to rival the whole 'League of

Freedoth We the 'League of Freedom Towns Eastal' are

an alliance of all the feudal lords while the Round Table Council is made up of clans I remember you

call theuilds, the two of us are very siht only have just

one city, and we have the preconception that one city is too small and underestimated you We have been

ize for our impudence”

Michitaka considered Sergead's words

”That's the way Akiba is, their influence does not match its territory If we force Akiba into the frame of

the League, proble the League Even if we succeed

in putting a bell on the neck of the wolf, there is no e can chain it, it is even more impossible to do

that to the griffon flying in the sky I think the 'League of Freedom Towns Eastal' and the Round Table

Council should be on equal standing, that is the best relationshi+p for us We need to sign ression

treaties and open up trade routes and use this as a basis of our relationshi+p”

”No problem”

Michitaka's reply ead eyes open wide

”The Round Table Council has no a any intention of invading

other territories We just want to protect our home in this world and realize our own dreams a way back

to our old world, and ill be content For this, we need to live in this world in the meantime, we need

to visit the ruins and relics all around the world, ill also need to trade for food and resources To

achieve this goal, it is not necessary to alienate our neighbors, being able to work together is a good

thing”

Michitaka replied in one shot and looked toward Henrietta Henrietta frowned for a moment and added:

”This is a very possible but rough policy correct? Even if we announce that ill be on equal

standings, we need to see the content of the treaties and confirm to what extent we can honor them before

we can make any concrete promises”

Michitaka nodded and agreed to the words she spoke a little bit too fast

He was hoping that Henrietta would watch out for such details

Duke Sergead was speechless for a while, stunned by the speedy response and sincere attitude of the 2 of

them

”But since we are dealing as equals, signing a treaty of non-aggressionill not attack each

other, and topartners Sorry to be blunt, but the countermeasures of

the goblin attack would not be included in this treaty correct? I a this as an excuse since we

have not signed anything, but for Maiha with the

goblins is a rave importance correct?”

Both Michitaka and Duke Sergead nodded and agreed on Henrietta's point

The topic went back to this point in the end

The burdens on the People of the Land and the Adventurers were not the same

Their positions and views differed,them distant

”Let's not talk about this for now”

Michitaka shrugged as if to tease the increasingly heavy atmosphere

He was thinking about what Soujirou was doing, just re that scene made him feel silly for

thinking so seriously

The Adventurers had limitless powers, the People of the Land envied them and had to resort to schemes?

The dirty side of politicsat Soujirou and his hare

seemed to not th in your legs No matter if

it were envy, anger, or doubts, they were all easy to comprehend in comparison

In the end, Michitaka did not need to burden himself to this extent

”The parties involved, Krusty-dono and Princess Raynesia are not present, so it ht be inappropriate to

say this They ht have some concrete plan on what to do, so it is unfair that only we have to rack our

brains We need to include shi+roe-dono too and make the 3 of them think about it, that is the correct

distribution of labor”

Michitaka's vieas a bit crude, but the other two also felt the same

Even if they caotiations broke down, the events had already been set in

out at dawn, neither Michitaka nor Duke Sergead could

stop them

Since both Krusty and shi+roe were on it, there was no way they would fail

They had always been successful in achieving their goals when they took matters into their hands

For Michitaka, this was a guaranteed result

So they could only wait and see how things turned out

”shi+roe-sa”

Henrietta pouted as if she were angry and her words seemed to belittle shi+roe, but her eyes seemed to be

full of confidence Michitaka grunted in agreement

”And so, I will let hter shoulder the responsibility for this incident”

Duke Sergead's teasing words concluded this conversation

Part 2

(What was that noise? Just in the bushes under that tree Could it be Could it be goblins?)

Beside Raynesia was a fe the conservative military costume from DDD Instead of

weapons, she was holding anonstop through

telepathy

”A big group at 2 o'clock, a strike teaiant beasts”

The sound of sihts, not like anything she had heard of

When Raynesia's eyes were not used to the dark and she was feeling scared, this lady rubbed some balm

gently on her eyelids Raynesia was able to see after blinking a while, her vision was clear and the

surroundings had a rose colored tint

But the sounds from the dark were still scary

This was not deep in the rew up in the city and lacked resistance to

this type of environment She shuddered at every movement in the dark bushes

(Calht, stay calm)

Her emotions were still intact

She could not lose the grit to move on

But her body wasas she felt her life was in danger She

th from her years of education as a lady to push on, but the cat was almost out of

the bag

”Princess Raynesia, if we go further up the ridge, ill be able to have a better vieill rest

e reach there”

The feht informed her

The warriors around her seeed their formation smoothly

Only Raynesia and two People of the Land stood blankly in the middle of the formation The two of them

provided details of the geography to the feht when she queried them There was a small stream

ahead you could cross in one stride, a short cliion, there

was a platform there where you could see the whole valley

Raynesia's group bashed through the vegetation and advanced

The leading warrior would clear the bigger branches, but the sharp and thorny undergroas still in

the way But Raynesia's 'Valkyrie Mail' was quality ar

her

(The perforreat, but this is really)

She was concerned with exposing her thighs

If it inter, she would be able to wear a long cloak using the cold as an excuse But she could not

do that in the su a thin cape that only reached her waist, she was reluctant to

even call it a cape

(Ah)

She had unexpectedly walked a long hile thinking about this Going around a cluster of tall beech

trees and up the slope the height of a man, the view became wide and open This was a rocky platform 6

es and valleys from here The river and forest under the

cliff were also visible from here

There were countless lights dotting the area, probably the torches of the goblin arhts squirmed

and wiggled like a procession of evil bugs

”Please take a seat”

The feht ushered her to a foldable field chair It didn't have a backrest or armrest, but she was

grateful to be able to sit and close her legs

Raynesia thanked her politely and borrowed the seat

Raynesia understood from that speech that Adventurers and the People of the Land were fundamentally

different Not only Krusty and the Round Table Council, she had to be prepared that everyone had the

upbringing and courtesy on the level of nobles

So she could not forget to show courtesy and gratitude in her behavior

But the Adventurers seeratitude adequate?

Raynesia observed the fe the h

telepathy, so it should be okay

The Adventurers around her took out foldable equiped table and several tubes that

were probably telescopes

”It begins”

”Ah?”

The ht's words, a flash of light fell into the valley, followed shortly by

a loud explosion and their surroundings shook because of the treht pointed into a

corner of the dark valley with her white finger guiding the confused Raynesia

Raynesia focused at that area and felt the faraway scenery that was glowing becoer She could

even make out the shape of the trees and leaves

”This is 'Fairy Bal, the view froht? Please avoid

pulling your focus too far It is starting, please watch this closely”

That white flash was only for an instant

The lightning strike right at the center of the goblin group, the bright hammer that fell from the sky was

more like dynaoblins away

Raynesia could see Krusty's body clearly in the bright flash of light, he wielded the double-edged axe

twice the height of Raynesia agilely, his tall bodyswiftly in the forest

In the wake of Krusty's path, about a hundred people followed hi the stream It felt like the cape

fluttering on Krusty's back was elongating and corroding the whole forest

They striked at or pierced the goblins without mercy upon contact

The flashes of light every now and then should be ic spells She could not tell from this distance, but

they probably had overwhel destructive power

But, coroup, she had more interest in Krusty himself

Leading his hts with his back, Krusty was ee air The

different emotion she felt back on the shi+p deck had taken physical forh a

mountain of corpses

He was s with his lips the shape of the crescent moon

His eyes squinted with joy

The glasses reflected silvery lights

Krusty ra around in a festival

He swung his hands

His axe was like the wind, you could not see its tip

A 3-meter wide vacuum suddenly surrounded him

Some monsters attacked Krusty occasionally A wolf the size of an ox charged at him and Krusty stopped

it with his left hand while he sent out an order Dozens of arrow and several swords strengthened by

h the wolf immediately

The beast turned into pieces of meat in Krusty's hand He tossed it aside causally like a wheat bag and

shi+fted his interest to the next group of goblins

Ominous

Eerie

A disgusting feeling of fear

But in Raynesia's eyes, this scene felt very sorrowful

It was ominous and eerie because this was how Raynesia interpreted it But to bear such thoughts for a

warrior protecting her hoht

But what about the feeling of sorrow?

Why was there a feeling of solitude?

”50 ahead, 2 hill giants, healing tea the small teams from the

outside”

She could hear bits of the feht's conversations

Raynesia opened the eyes she closed unconsciously, 2 colossal giants the size of siege toere

approaching Krusty from the front

”!”

A club as thick as a tree struck doards, Krusty handled his two-handed axe like a dancing sparrow

and positioned hiiants with their devastating size could

crush Krusty in an instant But the sns of fear

Krusty swung his glowing red axe at the giants and they retaliated furiously focusing only on Krusty

The two giants fell into a frenzy and attacked Krusty relentlessly in a fury, Krusty seemed to be barely

hanging on and defending

These two should be the secret weapons of the goblin attacking squads, a large nuoblins

equipped with stone bows and spears scattered around the

see back and attacked at will

The 'Legion Raid' divided roughly into 4 and each splinter group split further into 4 parties, spreading out

and taking on the goblins, surrounding theoblins in the forest

The oblins without a well-defined command

structure could not match them and was cut down one by one in the dark by sword or sorcery

From Raynesia's vision enhanced by the Fairy Balh the forest

Krusty was in theformation

He swung his hand down like a conductor

A volley of fireballs like a burning avalanche sed the group of goblins

Krusty looked so elated

He had so much more freedom than his time in the palace

This made Raynesia sad

Raynesia didn't knohy she was sad and lonely as she watched Krusty

He swung his axe with all hisattacks Both his ar

but his footas strong and steady, Krusty's heroic command inspired the troops like a God of war

The Krusty in Raynesia's eyes was so free that he ht just turn transparent and disappear into the

ht

(This)

This was a sorrow that weighed heavily in her heart

The invincible and strong Krusty in both the palace and the battlefield see to Raynesia,

with her mind

Krusty seehted, but the end of this happiness was probably emptiness and solitude This

doubt rose in Raynesia's mind

The blitz group led by Krusty continued their advance in the forest

Raynesia atching all this straightened her back, following the back of that burly Adventurer

with all her heart

Part 3

Maryele's group used the fisherman's warehouse by the Sand Leaf River as their te

in contact with the tea the up with a

defensive plan

There were no goblin sightings for half a day

The goblins seemed to have pulled back fro in

the hotels or this warehouse

It had been 24 hours since the goblin attack, Maryele's group had successfully defended Choushi+ during

this period

The inners, the ,

Maryele was surprised by this

She thought this was probably natural

(These kids joined 'Elder Tales' because of the release of the new expansion pack, this is all new to them,

so they will not have any bias)

In Elder Tales, new players meant characters with low-levels and immature battle prowess With this

kind of disadvantage, the veteran players would treat the beginners as weaklings

But they did not have any preconceptions of the gae

When shi+roe revealed that the People of the Land were the same as players, they had personalities,

desires, sense, and understanding like hue impact on the veteran players

But the iinners

They had short contact with the garown accustomed to the idea that Elder Tales was just

a game Because of this, they just felt like they had been abducted to this alternate world that had nothing

to do with Elder Tales

Hence, they werethe People of the Land and were

serious about actually doing it, this inners did not

need ht and protect Choushi+

Seeing the beginners volunteering the

The su camp started out on a voluntary basis, so the veteran participants were all kind and

caring to the beginners Under the passionate and burning eyes of the beginners, the veterans had to put on

a brave face and lead them

On top of that there was the s support fro the

her

Minori and Nyanta conspiring to go up the hill made her feel hurt, but it all ended spectacularly well

From what Maryele knew, there were 26 defensive actions at the borders that night, about 4 battles per

hour Co pace

The expression of the beginners changed as dawn broke

Fighting in this world was not the saame Elder Tales, there was another type of

hardshi+p Instead of saying the battle was grueling, it should be the air of the battle that was acrid

Their bodies inherited the high physical abilities of the characters Although it ht differ from class to

class, but staility were not a problem for them They could heal their

wounds by ic, if it was just a scratch, it would recover in half a day without the need for recovery

spells

The horror of fighting was

Even if they wereexperience, soht even

be traus too

If they wanted to carry on battling in this world, they et used to this no matter what Before the

beginners grew accustouidance and motivation from their veteran

companions

In terms of opportunities and e for the beginners, it

was also a rare chance for them as well

The first to notice there was soinners Their high

spirits and determination, but the most obvious effect was the

increase of their concentration