Chapter 88: Dissolution of Allied Forces

I felt thirsty when I woke up. I lifted my heavy body and looked around the tent. Nobody else is here. It was dimly lit and I could hear the soldiers drinking from outside. Apparently, it hasn’t been long since the sun went down.

“Water…”

I took out a barrel of water from the bangle and gulped it down. As always, after evolution, I get very hungry and thirsty. If I don’t prepare properly and then just evolve, I will probably die due to starvation. That’s what I think.

“I’m hungry…”

When I got out of the tent, I saw two people eating in front of the campfire. One is Freya. The other one seemed to be Pero but his aura was somehow different. He has this air of sacredness around him that makes it difficult to approach. The color of his fur varies from white to pale silver and I can somehow feel something like a cool cold air from him. I was confused as to whether I should call out to Pero.

“Ah, Father!”

Just then, Pero turned around and smiled as he greeted me. His aura has changed but I am relieved to know that he is the usual Pero. Maybe I can understand a little bit about the feelings of parents who have children that reached a rebellious stage.

I then sat down in front of the bonfire, takes a frying pan out of the bangle, and begins to cook the meat. I’m tempted to bite into the raw meat, but I hold back and wait for the meat to cook. When it was done, I took out a piece of freshly cooked rice from the bangle and scooped it into my mouth along with the meat. Rice and grilled meat are great for an empty stomach.

Yeah-, too delicious!

By the way, I usually store freshly cooked rice in the bangle. I decided to cook a lot of it in my spare time and take it out only when I needed it. I am very grateful for these times.

“Father, look at my evolution! I’ve become stronger!”

Pero stood up, called out to me and asked me to look at him. I was so absorbed in eating that I completely forgot about Pero. When I looked at him again, I get the impression that Pero has become even more muscular after evolving. His white fur was smooth, and there was fluffy fur growing around his chest. The fingernails on his hands and feet have changed from organic metal to metallic luster, it also look like bluish steel.

I wonder if the same thing happened to his fangs?

But when I took a look, it seemed to be different, there were pure white sharp fangs growing in his mouth. I could say that he is a werewolf that specializes in attack.

“It looks like you’ve made a good progress.”

“Yes. Now I can protect Father too.”

I feel like crying. This child wanted to become stronger as he think about me. I feel touched by my son’s heart. I then resumed eating my food. I ate a lot of rice until I felt full. Before I knew it, I finished 20 cups of rice. Well, being satisfied is also a kind of happiness.

“Speaking of which, where did Erna go?”

“She went over there to take a walk.”

There was a large tree growing in the direction Pero was pointing at. I start walking there to see how Erna has evolved.

“Erna… Is that-?”

When I came to the foot of the tree, I saw a woman standing a little further away. She looks up at the night sky and stares at the brilliance of hundreds of millions of stars. I found this scene mesmerizing. Like an oil painting painted by a master craftsman, or like a piece of music played by a master musician, there was such a beauty that could not be put into words that shook my soul.

“Ei!”

I heard Erna’s voice then large wings appeared from her back. It looks a lot like the wings of a butterfly that shines golden. The sudden event left me at a loss for words. Erna soars high into the air, scattering particles of light as she ascends into the starry sky. Her appearance is that of a night fairy. Uh-, No, I don’t mean it in a strange way. It’s just my wordings for it.

I calls out to her, “Erna”.

“Shinichi? You’re up huh.”

Erna, who was flying in the sky, swoops down beside me and with her glowing wings disappearing, she lands on the ground. She has long silk-like golden hair that reflects light and her eyes are big, like jewels. Her pink lips are glossy and attractive, and her sweet floral scent tickles my nostrils. It can be said that she is a surreal beauty. If there is a fairy in this world, it is her.

“You got more beautiful again.”

“Fufu~, isn’t it? Girls will become beautiful as soon as you leave them alone.”

“I see. That’s certainly true.”

Erna and I smiled at each other. It seems that she has also made a wonderful evolution. Suddenly, I was curious about my changes.

“I… has something changed in my appearance?”

I don’t see any major changes in my body. I already had my third eye and the tribal arabesque tattoo on my body so I think nothing is new. In the meantime, I look into my crotch, but my man’s jungle is still clean.

“Hmm, I don’t think there’s much difference but I can kind of tell that you are stronger than before…”

“I see. So I guess there wasn’t much change this time huh.”

I lightly scratched my head with my right hand. Then Erna’s eyes widened and her mouth drops open.  

What? Was there something strange?

“That!”

“What?”

“Look at your arms!”

I looked at my arm as Erna says, but there is nothing unnatural about it. It’s the usual arms.

 ……Huh? If my arms are here, what is the one scratching my head?

“I didn’t see it clearly, but Shinichi, you got another pair of arms!”

Through sensation, I checked my arms. First, my original arms are there. Next, I felt a pair of arms extending from around my upper back. I now have a total of four arms.

“My arms… Is there really one? It’s my own arm but I can’t touch it you see.”

If I try to touch the arm that I can’t see with my original arms, I can’t feel it. I know it is there but can’t touch it though.

What’s going on?

For the meantime, let’s call the invisible arm as “sub arm”.

“What did you evolve into Shinichi?”

“Oh-, right. I haven’t checked it yet.”

【Status】 Name: Shinichi Tanaka Age: 17 years old (56 years old) Race: Homeless (Emperor) <Emperor Dragoneut | Vampire | High Elf  | High Dwarf  | High Beastman  | High Winged Man> Occupation: Adventurer Magic Attribute: No Attribute Magic:  Restoration Space, Isolation Space Skills: Familiar Creation, Familiar Summoning, Dragon Transformation, Skill Picking, Race Picking, King’s Vessel, Emperor’s Vessel ▹Special: Danger Detection, Sense of Touch Enhancement, Taste Enhancement, Eyesight Enhancement, Hearing Enhancement, Smell Enhancement, Digestion Enhancement, Super Sensation, Shock Absorption, Hardening, Leadership, Indomitable Spirit, Small Dragon Breath, Separation, Intimidation, Division, Sand Walking, Enemy Search, Digestion Strengthening, Flight, Familiar Strengthening, Analysis, Life or Death Technique, Dragon Beheading Slash ▹Advanced: Theft, Stealth, Paralyzing Eye, Limit Breakthrough, Sand Walking, Flight, Hardening, Plant Manipulation, Dragon Breath, Master of War, Danger Prediction,Nerve Strengthening,Limit Breakthrough, Self-recovery, Dictatorship, King Dragon Breath, Plant manipulation(Improved) ▹Intermediate: Underwater Adaptation, Fist King Technique, Metal Manipulation,  Self-recovery, Universal Thread, Dual Blade Magnate Technique, Awakening, Impact Nullification, Oppression, High-Speed Flight ▹Beginner: Slash Impact Resistance

As expected, I have evolved into an Emperor specie. It was the same when he I got the King’s vessel so I wasn’t too surprised. A line of text then appears in my field of vision.

【Evolution has been changed by the skill, Emperor’s Vessel.】

As soon as I thought about it, new text message appeared in my field of vision.

【Report: New skill has been added.】

 When I checked my status, a new skill called “Path to Relentless Evolution” has been added. I tilted my head at the skill I don’t understand. 

What does the Path to Relentless Evolution mean?

【Report: The limit on evolution has been removed by the skill, Path to Relentless Evolution.】

 Limit? Could it be that originally, my evolution should have ended with Homeless (Emperor)?

If that’s the case, it means that the current me is now qualified to evolve further. Hoo-, I’m now quite curious to see how strong I can be.

“Hey, what did you evolve into?”

“Ah, it’s the Homeless (Emperor) race, I don’t know how strong I have become though.”

“Mmm-, you’re one step ahead of me again.”

Erna pouted as she said that. Maybe she wants to catch up with me. I’m not competing in evolution, but I guess it’s frustrating for her that she can’t reach my ability as a team member.

 I smiled at Erna.

“I’m jealous of your wings though, or, are you better off with these invisible arms?”

“Really?”

Erna suddenly smiled brightly. She may have been in a good mood because of my words.

“Okay. Let’s go back?”

“Yes!”

 We decided to go back to Pero and Freya.

◇◇◇

“So, the Empire admits defeat?”

“Yes. The previous battle was a senseless war that was caused by former Emperor Dragnil’s selfish desires. The current Emperor, Scathach-sama, is deeply distressed by this fact.”

“I see…”

I leaned back in my chair whilst facing the messenger from the Empire standing in front of me. Two weeks have passed since the emperor was killed. From then on, the empire must have urgently enthroned the next emperor and began preparations for the end of the war. This means that Scathach has come up with a policy in a short period of time. This was much faster than I expected. It seems like that girl was also quite clever, especially when she casually blamed the former emperor.

“The Empire promises to pay reparations to the five kingdom, and in the future, we vow not to touch the kingdom where Shinichi Tanaka is located.”

The messenger placed a piece of parchment in front of me. The content is as he had just explained. It’s written there that the empire only admitted defeat to me, but did not lose to the other kingdom. In other words, they would like to imply that they did not really surrender. I guess it was the pride of the dragoneuts that made them do that.

I then turned my gaze to the Beast King who is sitting nearby.

“What do you think, Beast King?”

“I have no complaints or whatsoever. If the Empire wants to go to war again, it’s fine with me. That’s what I want anyways.”

I was an idiot for asking. If anything, I think the Beast King seems to be enjoying himself, he even looks forward for another war. By the way, the empire seems to be issuing parchment with the same content to the other kingdom. In other words, what I have in my hands is addressed to the kingdom of Mana. I’m not sure if I should decide on the post-war process on my own, but it would now be too late to ask King Logas for instructions.

“Should I sign here?”

“Yes.”

I lightly picked up the pen and wrote my name smoothly.

I also heard from the messenger that the previous emperor had suddenly died. It seems that Scathach has decided not to publicize our conversation. The death of the sacred beast, the invasion on the Imperial City and the death of the Emperor, she was trying to hide all of that in darkness.

I think that was better though. The skeleton army is not something to be exposed to the public. They have the power to blindly frighten people after all. If the Empress says she’s going to keep everything a secret, it’s convenient for me.

As I thought of that, I suddenly had doubts.

“You crossed Fort Marsei right? Didn’t you see anything?”

“Uh-……..I-, I haven’t seen anything. All I can say is that I went through safely.”

The messenger stiffened his face and squeezed out a reply. He must have been surprised by the skeleton army guarding the fort. Well, I ordered them not to do anything unnecessarily so there should have been no problem. It seems that the skeletons frightened him more than necessary though.

Looks like I have to get my army back to the dungeon soon huh.

“Then take this. And as for the reparations to the kingdom, send it to King Logas. I don’t need it.”

“I understand.”

The messenger received the parchment and bowed deeply before leaving the tent.

The war is now truly over. My three-fold repayment has been completed. I should be freed from troublesome things and now be able to live with peace of mind.

Shortly after, the Beast King asked me,

“Does this mean that the allied forces will be disbanded?”

“Well, yes. We will be leaving here in the next few days. Please tell that to the Naji army as well.”

“Understood. Haaa-, It’s lonely after the festival though.”

“You are the only one who thinks so you know.”

After casually giving him a nudge, I went out of the tent.

The allied forces were disbanded and three days later, each army returned to their respective kingdom.

◇◇◇

 (A week before the dissolution of the Allied Forces.)

In the throne room of the royal castle of the kingdom of Logas, two figures bowed their heads to the king sitting on the throne.

“So, that head belongs to the Empires’ Supreme Commander?”

“There is no doubt that it is the head of Gaen Dragnil, the first heir to the throne of the Estent Empire.”

The head of the man placed in front of King Logas is cut in half, and only the face of his terrible death can be seen. The ministers and dignitaries watching on the side were buzzing. It was a man and a woman who delivered the head to the king.

One is Arvish Gloris. The other is Feria Benesse.

They used their stealth skills on the battlefield to successfully collect Gaen’s head. Everyone in the room mistakenly thought that the two had killed Gaen. Of course, that’s what the two of them are aiming for. They wanted to mislead them and defraud a reward from the king.

In his mind, Arvish was full of laughter while thinking, “If I am lucky, I will be able to reconnect with the Gloris family.”

“Very well. Then, let us honor Arvish Gloris for his exploits and allow him to be a hero of this kingdom. You are a living legend of this kingdom from today onwards.”

Arvish looked up in surprise after hearing the king’s words. He was overjoyed by the reward that was beyond his imagination. Hero. It is a testament to the fact that the person involved was able to make his mark on history. It was the strongest title in the kingdom that anyone who fights would dream of at least once.

“Your Majesty! That can’t be done! It’s ridiculous to bestow such title to someone who we are not even sure where they got that head from!”

Duke Medil raised his voice to King Logas. The fat king, who sits deep on the throne, just gave the duke a side glance and waves his hand lightly.  It was a signal to “get out of here”.

“I-, yes, pardon me…”

The Duke bowed and walked out of the throne room. The ministers and high-ranking officials who were watching the situation were silent. King Logas, who was in a good mood when the Duke left, picked up a fruit resembling an apple from a nearby bowl. With a crunch, he took a bite at the red fruit and tosses it towards Arvish.

“I gave you something special. I reward you the leftover fruit that I have bitten. Go ahead, eat it.”

“Thank you very much Your Majesty.”

Without any hesitation, Arvish picks up the fruit thrown at him and sets his teeth on the part where the king had just bitten. His mouth is filled with just the right amount of acidity and a refreshing scent that passes through his nose.

“While you eat, I’ll assign you one more request.”

“Anything for Your Majesty.”

“Actually, during this recent battle with the Empire, there is a person who has smeared dirt on my face. Although he has the appearance of an adventurer, he has stolen the soldiers of the other kingdom that I have gathered. I want that thief to be punished by God. If there’s anything you need, say it. I’ll provide you with whatever you need. What do you think? Will you do it?”

“Of course Your Majesty. I’ll make sure that I, Arvish, will put an end to that great sinner.”

“You are indeed a hero. Then, I guess I’ll just wait for that stupid man’s head to arrive. Guhihi.”

King Logas let out a vulgar laugh and looked at Gaen’s head with a smirk. In his mind, an image of a man he didn’t even know was begging for his life.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

---

Previous ⚜ Table of Contents ⚜ Next

---