Chapter 197: Battle in the Sanctuary

“So this is the sanctuary where the magic tool is installed…”

Having left the village and arrived at the foot of Mt. Amatsukami, we came to the place called the sanctuary where the magic tool was installed.

The entrance to the sanctuary looked rather like the entrance to a mine, and something like a red frame with a mysterious shape was half-buried in the wall at the entrance.

If I recall, it’s a symbol called a ‘torii’ erected at sacred places in this country.

“Alright, let’s go!”

As we proceeded deeper into the mine shaft, it didn’t take long before we emerged into a large hall.

That unadorned space was filled with dense magic power, and beneath it sat a massive magic item.

“That’s the magic item protecting this country from disasters.”

It was so massive that my voice leaked out involuntarily.

The technicians of the ancient Eastern Country went so far as to create something on such a grand scale to protect this country, huh.

“Haruomi…”

Brought back to my senses by Yukinojo-san’s voice, I saw two familiar figures near the magic item.

It was the two of them: Haruomi-san and the Majin.

“Hahahahaha, you’re late, Yukinojo.”

The two of them were floating smiles reeking of malice, and from their expressions, it was evident that the magic item had already been placed under their control.

“Haruomi…”

Yukinojo-san stepped forward and spoke to Haruomi-san.

“What do you seek by stealing the key!”

“What do I… seek? It is too late to ask that now. Just as I told you, for revenge. Against the Shogun who abandoned me, against everything that did not save me. And to make you, who stole everything from me, taste despair!”

Haruomi-san directed a gaze filled with hatred at Yukinojo-san.

It seems Haruomi-san’s objective is directed through and through at revenge against the country and Yukinojo-san.

“The magic tool is already at my command. For starters, I weakened the magic tool’s power. If you don’t stop me quickly, disasters will occur all over the country.”

“Haruomi, what have you done!”

“Hahahahahaha! That’s right. That’s the face I wanted to see! Your expression of astonishment and despair! But I should have told you. My name is not Haruomi. It is Shun’ou!”

When Haruomi-san held his hand over the magic item, the dense magic power that must have been emanating from the magic item weakened.

And finally, at the same time the light was completely lost from the magic tool, the magic power also dissipated into mist.

“With this, the magic tool has completely ceased its functions. Rejoice, Yukinojo. I was waiting for you to come, you know? To show you the moment this country is ruined by an irreversible calamity!”

As if responding to those words, the ground began to shake, and with a roar like a beast’s howl, cracks ran through the earth.

“Wh-What have you done!”

The shaking gradually grew larger, and fragments of dirt and stone began to rain down sparsely from the ceiling.

“Wait, we’ll be buried alive at this rate!”

It seems the interior of the sanctuary was more fragile than we expected, and at this rate, it might collapse just as Liliera-san said.

“Activate the magic tool immediately, Haruomi! We will all fall together at this rate! Besides, if the magic tool is buried, you will never be able to activate it again! If that happens, you will no longer be able to rule this country using the magic tool either!”

Yukinojo-san is right. If he becomes unable to operate it, let alone making people obey him using the magic item, his own life will be in danger.

“Hah, I won’t take orders from you! Besides, you are the only ones who will be troubled.”

“What!?”

“The magic tool is designed to listen to my commands without issue even if I am far away. In other words, if the magic tool is buried, even if you kill me, you will be unable to make a contract to become the new master! Furthermore, in a situation where disasters are constantly striking, even if you dig up the sanctuary, the best you can expect is a cave-in caused by another disaster! How many years do you think it will take to reach the magic tool? How many citizens do you think will die by then?”

At Haruomi-san’s words, the Majin floated a smirk.

It seems it was the Majin who put that idea in his head.

However, since it’s the Majin saying it, we don’t know if that idea is even true.

In that case, right here…

“You bastard, to take the citizens hostage… are you still a samurai!?”

“Those samurai are the ones who drove me into this position! Now, if you don’t want any more sacrifices among the citizens, get on your knees and beg for your li—”

However, without listening to his words to the end, I activated my magic.

“GROUND CALM!”

” “Mu!?” “

Thinking they were attacked, Haruomi-san and the other braced themselves, but they were bewildered that nothing happened.

Yes, nothing happened.

“I quelled the earthquake with my magic. This is the end for your ambitions!”

” “…Wh-Whaaaaat!?” “

◆ Yukinojo◆

” “Haaaah!?” “

“I-Impossible! Quelling a disaster with a human body!? And with magic!? Unbelievable!”

Told that the disaster that should have occurred was quelled by Rex‘s magic, Haruomi and the Majin floated expressions of astonishment.

I understand, because I was surprised too.

But thanks to that, we can face the battle with peace of mind.

“Now, with this, your ambitions are over! Surrender quietly!”

When Mina and the others readied their weapons, Haruomi also readied his sword.

“Wait, Mina!”

But I restrained Mina and the others.

“Yukinojo?”

“Please, leave Haruomi to me.”

That’s right, I must settle things with Haruomi.

This is my duty as someone born into the Shogun’s family.

“…You have to take responsibility properly, okay?”

Hearing my request, Mina hesitated slightly, but eventually accepted it without asking anything.

Truly, what a good woman she is.

Not shrinking back from stating her opinions to me, the Shogun’s child, and sometimes showing consideration to prop me up.

As I thought, I suppose I am attracted to her.

“…You have my thanks.”

But now is the time for battle; I don’t have the leeway to be distracted by unnecessary things.

Quickly switching my mindset, I pointed my katana, which had lost its handguard, at Haruomi.

“Haruomi! A duel!”

“Wh-What?”

Being suddenly challenged to a duel while agitated, Haruomi furrowed his brows.

“Duel me, Haruomi.”

“You… what are you… saying?”

“You hate me, do you not? Then do not rely on magic tools and fight me directly! Fight and show me that you will carry through with your convictions!”

This is a gamble.

To awaken Haruomi‘s heart by fighting one-on-one!

“Even though you’ve never been able to beat me even once until now… Fine. I will accept that challenge.”

He took the bait! As I thought, Haruomi was also a samurai!

“If I win, you will return the magic tool’s key! If you win, you may do as you please with my life or the Shogun’s seat!”

“You’ve said it! I will make you regret those words!!”

Haruomi floated a ferocious smile.

His face was filled with the joy of being able to strike me down with his own strength.

But it won’t go that way!

“Majin, I will kill Yukinojo. You take care of those foreigners. Especially if that brat dies, the means to seal the disasters should disappear!”

Telling the Majin not to interfere as well, Haruomi drew his sword and confronted me.

But that battle was never to begin.

“…No, there is no need for that.”

“What?”

The one who spoke was the Majin.

“Even without fighting them seriously, my victory is guaranteed if I do this!”

Saying that, the Majin held up a small jewel he had in his hand, and the jewel emitted a strong light.

“Oh no!”

Seeing that, Rex raised an uncharacteristically panicked voice.

At the same time, explosions occurred one after another from the magic tool.

“What!?”

“They got us! He planted single-use explosive magic items on the magic item!”

“Exactly! Did you think I was just waiting around doing nothing until you came? I aimed for this chance and planted explosive magic items! No matter how high its defense capabilities against external enemies are, once its functions are stopped, it has no means to protect itself!”

The destruction caused by the Majin was tremendous, and the magic tool was brutally destroyed.

“Aah! The magic item is…!”

Aah, what a disaster! The great magic tool that protected our country is…

“Y-You bastard, what are you… gufu!?”

Furthermore, when Haruomi, having cold water poured on his duel, tried to raise a voice of anger, his stomach was pierced by a black-iron arm.

“Haruomiiiii!!”

Haruomi‘s body was pierced by the Majin, and he convulsed while spraying bright red blood.

“Kaha!”

“Hahahahahah!! Once the magic tool is destroyed, the disasters can no longer be stopped! Brat, I was surprised by your magic, but no matter how irregular that magic is, sealing the disasters can only be a temporary measure, right? It should be impossible to continue quelling the disasters forever! That is exactly why the humans of this country created a magic item this massive!!”

◆

What a disaster. The Majin betrayed Haruomi-san and even destroyed the magic item.

So the Majin’s goal from the start wasn’t to steal the magic tool, but to destroy it!

“You! Haruomi-san is your comrade, isn’t he!”

Mina-san bared her anger at the Majin, but the Majin in question acted as if the wind were blowing somewhere else.

He seemed to be enjoying the sight of the angrily shouting Mina-san with amusement.

“Yes, that’s right. Going out of my way to entrap someone connected to the Shogun’s family to neutralize the barrier of this land and to obtain the dominion over the magic item was well worth it.”

“Entrap? What does that…?”

“Could it be that the Togo family causing a rebellion was…!”

“So you figured it out. Exactly, I am the one who transported the magic items into the Togo family’s domain!”

“What!? The Togo family’s treason was the Majin’s stratagem!?”

As I thought. I knew it was strange.

Because there was no merit for the Togo family, who was advancing through the political struggles in such an advantageous situation, to go out of their way to cause a rebellion.

“And then, calculating the time when the Shogun’s son was born, I leaked that information to the Shogunate. Thanks to that, the Shogun misunderstood that the Togo family was committing a rebellion and destroyed the Togo family. Leaving behind only a single son.”

“Wh- You… my family…?”

Told the shocking truth, Haruomi-san distorted his face in surprise.

“That’s right. Furthermore, it was also my arrangement that you were forced onto that family. Thanks to that, you grew up harboring a nice grudge against the world. Enough that you wouldn’t hesitate to join hands with me, the enemy of humanity!”

“You fiend…!”

Meguri-san distorted her face in disgust, not hiding her displeasure.

“Hahahahahaha! But I kept my promise, didn’t I. The promise that I would help you destroy this country!”

When the Majin pulled out his arm that had pierced his stomach, Haruomi-san collapsed to the ground with a thud.

“You!”

“Whoops.”

When Liliera-san and Meguri-san slashed at the Majin, the Majin stepped back with light movements as if sneering at them.

“Haruomi! Stay strong, Haruomi!”

Yukinojo-san clung to the fallen Haruomi-san.

“I’ll treat him!”

Norb-san, coming back to his senses, hurriedly began treating Haruomi-san.

“Kuh, the wound is deep! But I will definitely…!”

I want to help with the treatment too, but… right now there’s something I have to prioritize more.

“Everyone, I’m going to repair the magic item, so take care of the Majin! Norb-san, use this potion to supplement the treatment!”

“Leave it to me!”

“Yeah, I’ll beat him to a pulp!”

“I can’t forgive someone who betrays their comrades.”

“This is a great help, Rex-san!”

Receiving my instructions, everyone stood between me and the Majin.

“Repair the magic item, you say!? I won’t let you do such a thing!”

The Majin concentrated his usual dark red magic light in his hand, but before that, Mina-san’s magic exploded.

“I won’t let you interfere! LIGHTNING BUNKER!”

That’s the magic I taught her just recently.

High-density magic power will easily pierce through even a Majin’s flesh!

“Hmph.”

But the Majin took Mina-san’s magic head-on without even showing any sign of dodging.

In that instant, the chest of the Majin’s armor opened, and a giant, bright red eyeball appeared.

“That’s…!”

And when the magic collided with the eerie eyeball, shockingly, it was sucked right into the eyeball just like that.

“What!? The magic was!?”

“Fufufu, fuhahahahahahah!!”

The Majin raised a voice of laughter in amusement.

“Are you surprised, humans! This is the power of my Lost Item!”

“Could it be this guy is also covered in Lost Items over his entire body!?”

“Exactly! I watched your battle where you defeated my brethren! This is anti-magic equipment that neutralizes your magic!”

“Anti-magic equipment!?”

“Fuhahahahahah! If your magic is sealed, humans are nothing but fragile lumps of meat! But I won’t be careless like my brethren. I will reinforce my body to its limits with Lost Items and absolutely obliterate you!”

“Now, this time it’s my turn! Take this, take this, take this!!”

This is bad, the Majin intends to seal everyone’s magic and round us all up in one fell swoop.

If a powerful Majin reinforces his body with the power of Lost Items, that’s a considerable threat.

I need to repair the magic item quickly and join the battle too!

“But the damage to the magic item is severe; this is going to take time to repair.”

The locations where the Majin planted the explosive magic items were quite nasty, accurately destroying the important parts of the magic item.

“I don’t have the blueprints either, so is a repair impossible? In that case, I have no choice but to make it from scratch, but I don’t have that kind of time either.”

If the disasters spread like this, this country will be ruined first.

Right now I’m still pacifying the land with my magic, but just as the Majin said, this magic is strictly for emergency evacuation and won’t last long.

“If so…!”

I made up my mind and changed the direction of my work.

“If a complete repair is impossible, I’ll divert the wreckage of this magic item to create a magic item that temporarily pacifies the land! If I do this, it will last for a few days, so we should have the leeway to defeat the Majin during that time and properly repair it again together with Mikado-san! More importantly, it won’t take much time to create the magic formula this way!”

I immediately took out the necessary materials from my magic bag and began processing them.

Furthermore, while carving out the parts, I engraved the magic formula simultaneously.

The work is a bit rough, but I can fix that later.

“Alright, all that’s left is to assemble the magic formula here and… done! Move!”

Imbuing it with magic power, I activated the magic item on which I had performed a modification rather than a repair.

The magic item emitted a dull light, and as the exposed magic formula circuits began to move, the shaking within the mine shaft subsided.

“Alright, I managed somehow! Now to deal with the Majin… wait, huh?”

I thought about hurrying to back everyone up, but I was wide-eyed at the unexpected sight unfolding there.