New chapter of The Demon King is out! (1/1 chapter)

A Moment Before the Storm

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“That’s how it is. Weapons like spears and equipment other than military armor were mostly taken away. Fortunately, the first and second powder magazines, which were secret to begin with, remained intact.” (??)

A bespectacled, serious-looking man who oversees production management at Hou Company said so.

The powder magazines would explode massively if anything burning was thrown inside. Since they were vulnerable to sabotage, the secret underground warehouses were prepared in the abandoned mine tunnels, which proved effective.

“How is the production capacity?” (Yuri)

“The blast furnace has not stopped during the entire commotion, so it is still running now.” (Production Management Man)

The blast furnace must operate constantly, or the molten material inside would cool and harden. If it ever stopped, the contents couldn’t simply be removed cleanly. They would likely have to dismantle everything. The blast furnace team deserved praise for not missing shifts and continuing their work despite the war.

“We have enough iron ore transported from the Rube territory piled in the ore yard for two months, so pig iron production will continue for that long. The problem lies more with the people than with the equipment.” (Production Management Man)

I felt like sighing.

Since we were controlled by that bastard, it was only natural. But how many people had died? I’m sure Liao had at least given orders not to ruin the golden goose.

“What are the specific damages?” (Yuri)

“We don’t have exact numbers, but the number of deaths should not be very high. The enemy basically tried to respond to resisting employees with arrests and detentions.” (Production Management Man)

That makes sense.

“The most common pattern for absent employees is that many temporarily left Suomi to stay at their family homes. This group is quite large, and production lines are full of holes until they return.” (Production Management Man)

“How many have come back overall?” (Yuri)

“About half, at most.” (Production Management Man)

“Then, it’s impossible to produce the Type-3 prototype cannon.” (Yuri)

That cannon is a terrible weapon anyway, but finishing it at a functional quality required considerable skill. It isn’t something to just shape roughly. If fired once, the breech could break, or it might crack or explode. To prevent that, skilled workers knowledgeable about the procedure has to be positioned at each production stage. This is true especially when the prototype Bessemer converter and casting process, safety management are still not perfect. Without experienced workers, a serious accident could happen.

“We can produce ammunition, dropped incendiary bombs, old-fashioned guns, and melee weapons. Please focus production on those. How about the development department?” (Yuri)

I looked at the young man acting as the development department head. He was younger than me.

“There are only six of us including me. But I think the others will return soon.” (Development Department Head)

“What happened to Gaius?” (Yuri)

Gaius was the development head in the heavy industry area centered on Suomi, mainly handling weapons. The lighter industry around Sibyaku was headed by Lily-san, who doubled as development head there.

“He came to the development department and hit a knight who was acting all high and mighty with a hammer, so he was sent to the jail.” (Development Department Head)

What the hell was he doing?

“Then, he should be released by now. When he comes back, tell him to take the Dragon Killer out of the storage shed.” (Yuri)

“Huh? I thought weapons were taken away.” (Development Department Head)

“There’s no way they’d bother with that junk in the storage shed.” (Yuri)

While the first development department’s warehouse in Sibyaku was neatly organized, this warehouse was a mess. It was filled with things like guns with barrels split like trumpets, and shattered cannon remains from chamber explosions, all mixed together. No one tried to tidy it up. Among those, the Dragon Killer looked like garbage unless you knew what it was for. Even scrap dealers wouldn’t take it.

“I’ll tell him.” (Development Department Head)

“Well then, that’s all from me for now. Anyone else have anything?” (Yuri)

After this, I had to give orders to the logistics team in Suomi. While waiting for a reply, I glanced outside the window and saw a woman standing outside the first-floor entrance. She looked like she was in casual clothes rather than work attire and seemed restless. She didn’t appear to be an employee.

“No one else, then? Alright.” (Production Management Man)

The production management man ended the questions without waiting for my reply. He probably had to run around trying to get the hole-ridden production lines moving.

“Who is that? Doesn’t look like an employee.” (Yuri)

The executives near the window looked outside. The production management man showed a surprised expression. Seeing his face, vivid memories of a wedding came back to me.

“Isn’t that your ex-wife? They divorced six months ago.” (Production Management Man)

There was a rumor inside the company for a while.

The production management job requires someone who pays attention to details, and this man is no exception. But that made his wife snap and leave the house. I don’t know the exact details, but despite earning a high salary, he kept a household ledger every day after coming home. So, one can guess what their arguments were about.

“They got back together. This man, on the day Suomi was occupied, immediately went down the river to check on her safety without hesitation.” (HR Head)

The one who said that was a woman serving as the head of Human Resources. She was known within the company for her poker face. Since she oversaw personnel evaluations, she knew the most about the employees’ information.

“Now they’re lovey-dovey again. Really lovey-dovey.” (HR Head)

She teased with a straight face.

“Please stop. It’s a private matter.” (Production Management Man)

“Call it a blessing in disguise. This time, you should be careful not to make the same mistake twice.” (Yuri)

“You don’t have to tell me that, Chairman. I already stopped keeping the household accounts.” (Production Management Man)

Laughter that seemed like teasing rose from various places in the conference room.

While some people die in war, get trampled, have their lives destroyed, or come to an end, things like this also happen. To me, that reality seemed like an unbearable fact, as if a whimsical god were toying with fate.

—

Three weeks had passed since the landing. The cleanup of the rebellious knights in the territory had ended about a week ago, but it still took time to replenish troops and reorganize the military force. I very much did not want to give Liao any more time, but the absence of Myaro, who was well-versed in logistics, was a major problem. The staff officers were desperately trying, but without a brain to coordinate movements, it felt like the limbs were moving separately. The inefficiency was inevitable.

Meanwhile, I had come to a large village near my family home.

“It’s been a while, Your Excellency uri.” (Adil)

Adil, the crown prince, removed the cloth that had been hiding his ears and face and bowed politely. His humble attitude was unusual for a prince of a great nation. He had probably become accustomed to not being treated like a crown prince, but I was rather worried. I liked him, but I wondered if it was really good for him to be so world-weary.

“Take that off.” (Yuri)

I said to the guards, probably assigned by Satsuki, and they bowed and left the room. This was the reception room of the lord of this village. Of course, the furnishings were not as fine as those in the royal castle, but it was not disrespectful.

“Please sit.” (Yuri)

“Thank you.” (Adil)

Adil sat on a somewhat worn leather sofa. I followed and sat down as well. The cushioning had probably been replaced, and it was not uncomfortable.

“I heard you escaped alone from Sibyaku. That must have been tough.” (Yuri)

“Not really. It was different from when you crashed. I wasn’t being chased by anyone.” (Adil)

He was probably referring to the time during the reconnaissance mission when I encountered a dragon. It was a nostalgic story. Still, for me to decide on my own to escape Sibyaku, travel alone through the forest, and make it to Karakumo was something unthinkable for my previous self.

“I apologize. I promised to guarantee your safety.” (Yuri)

Though it couldn’t be helped, it meant breaking that promise. The rebellion and occupation of the capital were unforeseen by the Kururuan Dragon Empire, so if the news arrived, they would probably panic.

“It’s fine. I was safe, and nothing particularly dangerous happened.” (Adil)

Adil spoke almost reproachfully, as if scolding my overprotection. His tone seemed to say, “For someone trained at the military academy, this level of challenge is nothing significant”.

“I called you here to make a proposal. Given the current situation, your safety cannot be guaranteed as before.” (Yuri)

“Yes, that’s understandable.” (Adil)

“I have brought a diplomat from the Albio Republic to a separate room in this house. They don’t know you are here, but…” (Yuri)

Adil’s face instantly became serious as he seemed to grasp the direction of the conversation.

“As you know, the port has already been secured. If we speak with the Albio Republic, although I cannot say it is absolute, I think you can return to your homeland quite safely. You can say you escaped the capital during the chaos of the rebellion and stowed away on a merchant ship. That could even be a heroic tale.” (Yuri)

It was true that I had escaped the capital on my own.

“Uh… so, does this mean the Dragon Empire officially requests you to do so?” (Adil)

“No. I don’t think the Albio Republic has even received news of the capital’s fall. Even if they had, it would be recent. Of course, no letters have arrived.” (Yuri)

“If that’s the case, I must decline.” (Adil)

He refused immediately.

“Why? To put it simply, staying here involves risks. If everything goes wrong and you are captured by the Rube Household, you probably won’t be killed, but they will exploit your position. You could become a captive for years.” (Yuri)

“Um, well… I’m prepared for that.” (Adil)

Even if he said that, I wasn’t sure.

“I think it would be safer to return now, but…” (Yuri)

“Um, well… I want to see my mother’s hometown in the Tyrellme region before I go back, once the situation calms down a little.” (Adil)

Visiting, huh. Indeed, escaping alone from a state of house arrest and then, taking the time to see one’s mother’s hometown before returning is quite a bold story. It would make an interesting tale of youthful valor for an emperor.

“If you think there is no chance to win the fight against the Rube Household, that might be a different matter. I trust Your Excellency’s abilities.” (Adil)

Although he was proposing safety, it was awkward to be told he trusted me.

“Well, since no reply has come from them and you don’t want to return, that’s fine.” (Yuri)

I gave up easily.

Adil clearly had considerable ability. Since I did not intend to return, forcing me to obey would be difficult. Even if restrained, I would try to escape. Now that no request had arrived from the homeland, they would not consider it disloyal not to send me back so forcibly. Melissa must have made a wasted trip.

“Also, Your Excellency, if I may, I would like to learn from this upcoming battle up close.” (Adil)

So, that’s how it is.

“…Ah, I don’t suppose you misunderstand, but I’m not an invincible general. I even lost just recently. Also, I’m sure you haven’t forgotten that a defeated army is exposed to unimaginable chaos. I can’t guarantee your safety.” (Yuri)

“I understand. If the worst happens, please do not hesitate to act.” (Adil)

Even if he said that, it was a matter of international trust, so there would be hesitation. However, for an independent young man, jumping into danger might feel like a kind of right. If all such foolish acts were prohibited, youth would be unbearably constrained. Having trained both body and mind, I probably wanted to test my abilities desperately now.

With his intelligence and analytical skills, he must have thought of several safer ways to reach Karakumo while hiding in Sibyaku, such as contacting the hidden Royal Sword network or using merchants connected to the Hou Company.

Yet, he escaped Sibyaku alone without anyone’s help, camped outdoors, passed through the forest, and suddenly appeared in Karakumo. From that action, I sensed a certain youthful pride. It might be the baseless confidence of youth. Still, I understood the feeling, and it seemed like a healthy arrogance.

“Alright. Well, that’s fine. But as long as you are under my command, even if not a subordinate, you must obey orders.” (Yuri)

Though the only order would probably be to run away.

“Of course. I will definitely obey.” (Adil)

“Good. Then prepare to buy a horse and be able to ride it. Our army only has pack horses.” (Yuri)

Upon saying that, Adil’s face suddenly grew troubled. He likely thought it was much harder than escaping Sibyaku through the forest.

—

After that, I took Melissa, who had made a wasted trip, to the family graveyard.

“What a pleasant place.” (Melissa)

Melissa was looking happily at the world below from the open space. Within this view, bloody incidents had occurred. A knight who was the village head resisted, was killed, and although briefly, the ruler changed. Such things should not have happened in the world visible from this graveyard.

The graveyard was well maintained, with trees trimmed and seasonal flowers blooming here and there. The caretaker was thoughtful. Except for the three graves, it looked just like a beautiful garden.

Seeing Melissa walking away, I stood in front of one grave.

“I’m going to fight against Liao.” (Yuri)

Liao was Carol’s comrade in arms. If Carol had spoken to me, I would have shared anger over Liao’s actions. I might have complained. She might have scolded me for how I treated Myaro until now. I wanted to talk.

“I made a big mistake since that time… but well, I’ll do my best. Watch me.” (Yuri)

I laid a bouquet at the grave. Likewise, Melissa laid flowers at the graves of her parents, finished praying, and stood up.

“May I pray too?” (Melissa)

Melissa had come close without me noticing. She was not very devout but was a believer of the Isus Church of Kalghi Set. She had been baptized as a child.

“Sure. Anyone who prays for the repose of souls shares the same feeling.” (Yuri)

When I said that, Melissa offered simple prayers at each grave. When she stood, she asked.

“Whose grave is this, to stop by here despite being so busy?” (Melissa)

“My wife’s.” (Yuri)

“Wife?” (Melissa)

Melissa showed a questioning expression for a moment, but the next moment seemed to realize the meaning.

“Eh, but her grave is in the capital.” (Melissa)

“Just kidding.” (Yuri)

“Oh, I see…” (Melissa)

Melissa said this with a stunned look.

“It’s the grave of a local friend.” (Yuri)

Leaving those words, I left the graveyard.

Melissa was right, my schedule was tight. The army was being organized. The war would start soon.

—

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