High School Hack and Slash Chapter 124 Part 1
Exile
「Sigh… Yet again, it was a waste of time, huh.」
「Yes. It seems there are a lot of『withered』 dungeons in this world.」
「Which means, in the end, we’re back to square one, huh.」
Creatures that had evolved to the point of possessing ego and civilization that had advanced to the point of giving birth to myths.
Connected branch realms that had lost these conditions for『dungeon』 to manifest would naturally became thin and the paths would end up closing off.
It was not wrong to describe ruins that were once dungeons as『withered』.
However, as for monsters produced by the dungeons, they did not disappear as long as they met the conditions for survival, and if they incarnated and even reproduced, they would adapt to their environment.
Members of the Adept Orders club were enjoying tea time in the living hall of their base.
A three-dimensional drawing unfolding on top of the table was projecting a fairly extensive topographical map.
Color-coded areas and points marked with an『×』 sign.
It was the result of their investigation on the dungeons as well as the friendships with the powers controlling the region.
No one said a word about what significance it had, but it was so bright red that the color coding posed no meaning.
「… No matter how you slice it, it’s strange, isn’t it?」
A serious-faced Otoha tilted her head.
「Like, they’d wave white flags simply from us approaching them.」
「I wonder if we will be presented with a messenger of submission and a tribute, too.」
「Ahaha….」
Mikan’s laughing voice was a little dry.
Perhaps having resigned himself in a lot of ways, Seiichi, sporting a strangely eased look on his face, offered a topic of discussion.
「I tried gathering some gossip in the country we visited yesterday, and it seems the whole continent is in a panic over the topic of the Demon King’s resurrection.」
「From the speed at which the information is spreading, it seems like there is some sort of means of information transmission in this world, I suppose. That has both advantages and disadvantages, though.」
Rinko, who poured another cup of tea, was also operating like normal.
In a world where the『Legend of the Demon Lord』 existed as actual history, it had turned into a kind of mass hysteria.
「As expected, it makes me feel sorry about all this, but….」
「It’s not like it’s your fault or anything, Shizuka. Such things, you should just let them make a fuss about it on their own.」
Almost two weeks of time had passed since they were thrown out into this world of Lemuria.
However, due to the ability to be self-sufficient and the overly well-developed infrastructure, the situation had turned into more like a trip abroad than a survival.
「Well, we have no choice but to leave it alone, after all. Rumor has it that they have even done『hero summoning』 from another world, you know?」
「What is it, a light novel?」
Everyone smiled wryly at Touma’s retort.
『The target point. The Kingdom of Camelot has come into view~.』
Chieri’s voice echoed from the newly installed voice pipe.
The end of the trumpet-like metal tube was connected to various places such as the『wheelhouse』 and the『power room』.
「Copy that. Now then, all hands, let’s get in position, shall we?」
「Yes~.」
Those who were already known as the『Demon Lord’s Army』 in this world began to take action.
「Err, Shizuka-chan. I wonder if I can ask you to give out the submission notice… I mean, the usual speech?」
「I understand. But is this really necessary?」
「Well… In the end, the talk progresses more smoothly that way, after all.」
Directing a still gaze at Rinko, who shrugged her shoulders, Shizuka let out a sigh.
On the newly added bridge, a remarkably large voice pipe was opening its wide trumpet mouth.
It was an overboard megaphone.
「Ahem… Listen up. To the people of another world. We are not someone hostile to this world. Our purpose and our demand is to investigate the dungeon. Put down your weapons and comply with the negotiations straight away. I repeat ―――」
◇ ◇ ◇
『The output of the crystal-furnace engine is stable~.』
『Stopping the rotation of the fifth through twelfth propellers~.』
『The Divine Bird Machine Wings (Icarus System) have been activated~.』
『Altitude drop confirmed~. The repulsive force control system is operating smoothly~.』
The voices of the Senpais coming from the voice tube are laid-back and draggy.
It’s not because of the acoustics, but seems to be because they’re actually enjoying it very much.
They must be happy that the work they created with their own hands is running smoothly.
The base, which was built by the Craftsman group of the Adept Orders without the slightest amount of compromise or prudence, has turned into an aerial mobile fortress (strato fortress).
Of the messes, I mean works created by the Senpais, it boasts a size the largest yet.
The largest mass among the floating rock group is in use here.
It’s roughly 100 meters long, 50 meters wide, and 50 meters high, I think.
With this, a single mass of rock is done, so it seems.
From what was known through experiments, it seems that the rock is subject to a repulsive force against the surface of the earth and floats stably at a certain altitude.
It’s more like an airship, not an airplane.
In a lively manner, the Senpais have built in several large propellers as well as half-flesh half-mechanical devices to make a propulsion system.
The materials, such as iron, seem to have been left over collected from『Marvel World』.
Of course, it doesn’t work smoothly from the beginning.
Giving birth to explosion upon explosion, it had even gone out of control and caused explosions a couple of times.
The Senpais happily raising whoa~ and kyaa~ cries was cute, but I think it’s a good idea to exercise some prudence.
I was worried that it might stick out like a sore thumb, but at a quick glance, it doesn’t necessarily not look like an airship.
I suggested that if we attached a little more India-ish decorations, that would make it less conspicuous, but the idea was rejected.
「Now then, where shall we land, I wonder?」
「Large ballistae set up on top of the castle walls are pointed at us… Ah, looks like they’ve been shooting at us.」
Cannonballs, which seem like catapults, are also being fired at us, but they don’t reach us.
Quite the shabby welcome it is.
On the bridge connected to the Demon Lord’s Castle by a corridor, all the members are present except for those in charge of sailing the ship.
「For the time being, should I try firing a long-range, wide-range magic at them?」
「I think we should send out a reconnaissance team!」
Rinko shakes her head at Mai and Saki’s suggestion.
Incidentally, when Saki or Otoha-senpai are sent out, they would not be a reconnaissance unit but a suppression unit.
If they ride on Peperon, who is not good at flying, they would crash and destroy the castle walls.
In order to proceed with the negotiation peacefully, we’ve also tried various contact methods, but for the most part, the other side waved the white flag.
We tried sending out the Senpais’ comical Armed Golems, and since Miharu and Natsumi were eager to do it, we also tried leaving the negotiation to them, but the results were the same.
「Our babies are cute and smart.」
「They are. It is the other party that was to blame.」
The fluffy ones are certainly soothing, but if we send in only the fluffy ones that can’t talk, I think they won’t be able to establish a negotiation.
「If I remember it correctly, the dungeon in the Kingdom of Camelot was located right in the middle of the castle town, right? Even if we were to suppress it, the general public will end up getting caught in it.」
「You can’t cause trouble for people who have nothing to do with it, okay?!」
Mikan-senpai’s statement is correct.
Just because it’s possible to do so, pushing through everything with brute force is the act of a『brute』, so I shall declare.
RELEASE RATE
High School Hack and Slash
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 70 hours
Tftc