Chapter 269

Hanchamus Islands.

Below Hobel Bay, even further below the Bururade Peninsula.

Warm southern islands far away from both the Empire and the West.

Wealthy people from the West and the Empire who wanted to avoid the war fled to the Hanchamus Islands, and it had been consistently peaceful until now.

However, everyone knew.

That the war would not avoid only them.

That they couldn’t run away forever.

That it was merely a matter of time.

They just wanted to ignore it and pretended to be cheerful with effort, but seeing Cordis warships right before their eyes, they could deny it no longer.

“…No…!”

“Sh, sh, should we return to our home country even now…?”

“What would you do going back? There is already….”

“H, Hanchamus Islands are a neutral zone. Would there be any big trouble…?”

Many words were exchanged in an instant.

Since they were all futile words, they only incited fear.

Without distinguishing who was first, they agonized painfully, and eventually one stood up abruptly from the dining table.

Even the terribly delicious whole roast piglet couldn’t hold him.

“…I, I will return now!”

“Me too!”

“Then I also….”

Those gathered scattered in no time.

They hurried their steps.

They left toward shelters or places they trusted that they had prepared in their own ways.

Neither Serena, Gwaemos, nor Santia stopped them.

There was no reason to stop them when they said they would look for their own ways to survive.

“…Let’s return too, Gloriosus.”

Kifkos and Gloriosus were the same.

“We have to go to Cesano Island and bring Ofenia and the kids.”

“…Actually, sir.”

Gloriosus opened his mouth hesitantly.

“Everyone is on this island secretly from you, Brother.”

“What? Why!? Then what about the shop?”

“We hung a temporary closure sign. Since Brother isn’t there anyway….”

“…Let me just ask the reason.”

Kifkos let out a sigh.

Normally he would have raged in anger.

Asking what about the sales if we close business because he isn’t there.

But in a situation where Cordis warships were approaching, it was too trivial a matter.

“…Well, isn’t tomorrow Brother’s birthday?”

“Huh…? Is it? …It is?”

“We were preparing a small party.”

“…If you say so, I have nothing to say.”

“Everyone is right nearby.”

“…Rather fortunate. Let’s go there.”

He felt a sense of responsibility.

Gold-toothed Kifkos has a wife.

There are also dozens of subordinates following him.

It is Kifkos’s gang that followed from Sillemol.

He had a duty to take responsibility for those following him.

“We must find a way to live somehow….”

“You said Kifkos, right?”

It was Serena.

Kifkos saw a few people remaining at the table.

There were exactly six people.

The four who created the meal gathering, plus Kukulo and Tibel.

Serena de Verchello spoke without a bit of a sign of fear.

“Don’t go anywhere and call your party to this mansion. Here will be the safest.”

“We are truly grateful for the heart but….”

Kifkos tapped his chest.

His forearm was muscular.

He had pride in his skills.

Of course, it wasn’t cooking skills but talking about two fists.

“We can protect ourselves on our own. Although currently cooking, this Kifkos is a former Centurion of the Empire’s 11th Legion.”

“Cornelius. Please introduce yourself.”

Cornelius? Kifkos felt déjà vu from his name. It felt like he heard it somewhere. Cornelius stepped forward touching his mustache.

“I am Cornelius Merhes.”

“……Merhes!!!”

“As expected of a former Centurion. Know immediately.”

Kifkos opened his eyes wide.

If it is Cornelius with such a mustache, there is only one person.

An excellent mage who was even entrusted with the management of the Imperial Succession War 7 years ago.

“…P, p, perhaps you are Dean Cornelius of the Imperial Academy of Magic?”

“Although the former, yes.”

“We lived!”

He jumped up in relief.

He even hugged his subordinate with bushy sideburns.

“We lived, Gloriosus! We lived!”

“We lived, Brother! He is a mage of four stars!”

“Quickly, let’s bring Ofenia and the kids!”

Ah. Kifkos turned his head slowly.

“…However, the number is quite large.”

“Is it over a hundred?”

“It is not so.”

“Then we can accommodate all.”

Serena smiled benevolently.

“Bring them quickly.”

***

There was not just one Cordis warship.

After the first ship was seen, two or three followed, and soon a swarm of warships covered the horizon. Kifkos and Gloriosus examined the coast holding binoculars.

“With that amount, it’s a level where one Commander of a Thousand came….”

“Where do you think it is, Brother?”

“…Where else?”

Kifkos clicked his tongue.

“If it’s a place that would bring ships of that magnitude to the Hanchamus Islands, there are only three: the 9th Legion, the 11th Legion, and the 29th Legion.”

“…Then it must be the 29th Legion. Is the Legion Commander there still Sudarius?”

“How would I know? It’s been 7 years since I settled in the Hanchamus Islands.”

“Then I don’t know either.”

Gloriosus tilted his head.

Cornelius, who was busy drawing magic circles, intervened in the conversation.

“The 29th Legion Commander is Sudarius, correct. Because he had a talent for flattery, he bought His Majesty Ferbias’s trust. Although not as much as Director Kentil….”

Cornelius glanced at the two men.

“More than that, listening to you talk, seems you were in the 11th Legion longer than thought? How did you happen to become a gang and how did you happen to come here and run a tavern?”

“…Well, you know who the 11th Legion Commander was, Dean.”

“Ah….”

At Kifkos’s words, Cornelius nodded his head. If it’s the 11th Legion Commander, it is Niko Nereyades, the Whale of Hobel Bay. He was famous for being strict with his subordinates.

“…Nereyades tend to be tough.”

“Did you have an acquaintance with Legion Commander Niko, Dean?”

“No. With the granddaughter’s side.”

“Nine-Streams General? Heard her personality is incredible….”

“Incredible…. It was incredible….”

Cornelius shook his head.

In fact, it wasn’t an acquaintance but just doing a mission together for a while.

But even in that short time, there was tremendous suffering.

He sighed and moved his steps.

“I will finish the magic circle. You guys also come inside the building slowly.”

“Yes.”

Kifkos and Gloriosus spoke politely.

Cornelius drew the magic circle chanting spells saying blah blah. The green light was dazzling.

“More than that, Sudarius huh…. A human is not even like a soldier!”

“It is fortunate for us since we avoided it but….”

The gold-toothed man looked at the mansion.

His wife Ofenia and dozens of subordinates were all inside the mansion.

With a grateful heart, they volunteered as servants for Serena’s party.

However, his heart wasn’t just comfortable.

“…Taking advantage of the war, what kind of wickedness are they coming to commit on earth….”

***

29th Legion, total personnel 9,603.

Under the Legion Commander and Chief of Staff, there are nine Commanders of a Thousand. Monia Meranie was the only female among them.

The 1,032 soldiers led by her landed on Cesano Island.

She got off the ship holding an Imperial double-edged sword with a blue blade in her hand.

“-In the name of the great Emperor Your Majesty-!!!”

Monia Meranie was famous for having a loud voice.

As she screamed at the top of her lungs, it resonated throughout Cesano Island.

It was booming enough that one had to hear it even if they didn’t want to.

“-To you, I will grant the honor of participating in the noble war! Participate in the Empire’s labor with a grateful heart-!!!”

Words are grandiose, but summarized, it meant they would take away your property and mobilize you for forced labor.

No crazy person would step forward for that.

Monia Meranie also expected this.

Therefore, she got off holding a double-edged sword from the beginning.

She ordered soldiers with a chin gesture.

“Search thoroughly starting from the nearest mansion.”

“Yes, Commander of a Thousand.”

“Two Squads of Ten and one magi-soldier shall accompany.”

“Yes!”

Soldiers poured down from the 29th Legion’s ship.

It looked to be easily five hundred.

The wealthy people of Hanchamus Islands were each accompanied by guard forces but dared not even dream of resisting.

Because they knew well the dignity of the Cordis Imperial Army.

Imperial legionaries drew double-edged swords and roamed everywhere.

Not setting fire was the maximum consideration.

They beat and tied up sturdy young men and captured pretty women.

If something looked expensive, they took it first.

Even low-ranking soldiers lit fire in their eyes wondering how to smuggle even one luxury item.

“Hmm.”

Monia Meranie commanded soldiers with a solemn face.

She had a sense of duty to carry out the orders of the higher-ups.

Therefore, guilt could not permeate her heart.

It was proof that she was steadily losing her humanity.

Although she herself wouldn’t think so.

Screams and smoke.

It seemed there were some who set fire even though told not to set fire like that.

Even some forcibly dragged pretty ladies into dark places.

Monia Meranie decided to remember their faces and reprimand them.

Of course, she didn’t particularly stop them.

Because being too strict could kill the soldiers’ morale.

Looting was smooth.

Luxury items of Hanchamus Islands people piled up to the amount of several wagons, and captured women and beaten-tied men exceeded a hundred in an instant.

Monia Meranie smiled with satisfaction.

“Commander of a Thousand Monia!”

“What is it?”

“…One mansion has too many magical defenses. It is impossible to break through. Shall we just leave it?”

“What are you talking about?”

Monia spoke annoyed.

“That magical defense is thorough means there are even more precious items for us to give to His Majesty!”

“…I did not think up to that point.”

“Contact the warship. Tell them to prepare cannons.”

Monia, like a Cordis person, had strong pride in the Empire’s civilization.

Actually, the civilization of the Cordis Empire was also several centuries ahead of other nations.

She intended to bombard Serena’s mansion by mobilizing her warship’s cannons.

“Ah, do you hear?”

[Yes, Commander of a Thousand. Aiming is finished.]

“Then what are you doing?”

She glanced sideways.

Soldiers had all moved away from the defensive circle.

“Fire.”

Roaring sounds followed.

With each bombardment, terrifying sounds like Bang, Ba-ang- shook the earth axis.

Those captured felt grateful not to be hit by such naval guns.

If a person was hit by such a gun, it would be hard to find even a piece of flesh.

As dozens of naval guns poured down like that, soon Monia raised her hand.

The warship recognizing it from afar stopped bombardment.

The smoke was very acrid.

“Behold!”

Monia shouted confidently.

“To the cheeky bastards who dared refuse the work done in the name of Emperor Your Majesty, a lesson….”

“…Um, Commander of a Thousand.”

A soldier opened his mouth carefully.

“The defensive circle is intact though….”

“Huh?”

Monia tilted her head.

“Why?”

“Try firing naval guns thousands of times. See if my magic is pierced.”

Inside the defensive circle, Cornelius giggled.

He had thoroughly covered his face with a mask.

Monia did not hide her displeasure.

“You are the mage who drew this defensive circle! Take off the mask!”

“I don’t want to, you bastard!”

Cornelius stuck out his tongue.

Monia raged in anger.

“Dare to insult Emperor Your Majesty’s Commander of a Thousand!”

“If I insult you, what are you going to do?”

Cornelius was overflowing with confidence.

He is originally a mage specialized in defensive magic.

At the same time, his main research field was magic circles too.

Unless the 29th Legion Commander came personally, his defensive magic circle would not be pierced.

Because he tied a whopping nine four-star spells into one!

Four-star magic, ‘Green Rampart’.

Four-star magic, ‘Entry Strictly Prohibited’.

Four-star magic, ‘Strict Prohibition on Strict Prohibition’.

Four-star magic, ‘Defense’.

Four-star magic, ‘Defense Reinforcement’.

Four-star magic, ‘Defense Reinforcement Superposition-Double’.

Four-star magic, ‘Defense Reinforcement Superposition-Triple’.

Four-star magic, ‘Defense Reinforcement Superposition-Quadruple’.

Four-star magic, ‘Defense Reinforcement Superposition-Quintuple’.

“You guys cannot enter.”

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