Interlude
“…WHAT did you say?!”
A wrathful voice echoed in the dark.
“The authorities have seized the magic tools that serve as activation keys?”
“I am deeply ashamed.”
The beastfolk servant pressed his forehead to the floor as he groveled.
“But we used a merchant’s storehouse that had no connection to us or the magic tool craftsmen we silenced! How could they have been found just two days after we experimented with activating the growth-sped monsters? It is hardly as if the Shiga Kingdom authorities have the all-seeing eyes of gods!”
The man furiously pounded his fist on the table.
“It may be a small comfort, but it seems the officials are suspicious of the Merkrays, a military family with connections to the merchant. Our only choice is to seek an alternative to the magic tools the authorities have confiscated while they are still distracted.”
In lieu of the servant who was cowering at his lord’s wrath, the task force leader presented a concrete suggestion.
“You make it sound so simple,” snapped the servant. “The ceremony is tomorrow! How can we possibly produce dozens of magic tools in such a short time?!”
“Then are we to simply let the ceremony pass us by?! Do not underestimate our resolve, after we even got ourselves excommunicated to tread upon this land!”
“Resolve alone cannot carry a plan to completion! It takes hard work!”
“Hmph, and is carrying out experiments on the site of those buffoons’ graffiti your idea of hard work?”
By “those buffoons’ graffiti,” he was referring to the made-up runes drawn with curse stones by the casual occult-loving group Wind of Freedom.
“Or perhaps you refer to pointlessly fashioning the magic activation keys after instruments and having slaves use them in the guise of street performers?”
“The gall! You battle-obsessed warmonger!”
“But of course, battle is my aim. I shall see it achieved, even if I must fall into heresy to do so.”
“Heresy, eh…?”
The man interrupted his subordinates’ argument to voice his new idea.
“Is such a thing possible…?”
“Yes, that method could theoretically set off an uprising of our growth-sped monsters. It will be on a smaller scale than the original plan, but…”
“Fine. Better that than to call it off entirely.”
With that, the lord sent his beastfolk servant out to gather the items necessary for the new plan.
“Someone was sniffing around in the tunnels, but I took care of it.”
The task force leader whispered in the lord’s ear.
“I heard about that. He was a spy for the Weaselfolk Empire faction that supports the emperor’s brother.”
They were referring to Siporohhoy, the Sahbe Company mage who Satou and the others found dead in the tunnels.
“Were they after the Monster Seeds, too?”
“They are a useful tool for inciting chaos.”
The man nodded.
“Well, it matters not. By the time the information reaches their faction, the Shiga Kingdom will be gone. What’s more,” he continued, “the demon we had making the Monster Seeds has been destroyed.”
“By a hero, was it?”
“I do not know… But I doubt there are many aside from heroes or members of the Shiga Eight Swordsmen who could defeat an intermediate demon so easily.”
“But they haven’t caught wind of us yet?”
“I believe it is safe to assume so, judging by how our other bases were crushed.”
When their bases within the Shiga Kingdom were recently destroyed, it was all within the same day, even though they were in multiple cities.
“It was wise to have the founder excommunicate us, then.”
“I appreciate your hard work.”
“We are hardly worthy of such praise.”
They believed that their bases had been found because of an analyst whose powers outmatched that of their recognition-inhibiting magic tools.
As a result, they had the task force leader and several others excommunicated in advance and sent them to infiltrate the Shiga Kingdom once they were no longer considered members of the Light of Freedom.
“Tomorrow, it finally begins. Be sure not to let the kingdom dogs catch wind of you.”
“Of course.”
The task force leader bowed at the man’s words.
“All is to guide the unenlightened with the Light of Freedom.”
The man’s words echoed in the dark.
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