7-C: The Enemy to be defeated is?
Five days after the Himuro Insurrection, Karuta, Salis, and Aria, who had finished their tutorship with Manoru, returned to the capital and visited Kurimu’s office. Placed before the trio were three materials thought to be related to the Magic Tools of the Lust Deity.
“Currently, I couldn’t easily leave this place, so it wasn’t me who researched it by my best subordinates. After confirming the accuracy of the information, I took responsibility in compiling the materials so please be at ease.”
“Even though you’re so busy, you managed to put together this much material for us !? Thank you so much!”
“Thanks, Kurimu-nee!”
“Thank you very much.”
(Even if she started research from the start of the capital’s reconstruction efforts, it only took her 5 days. And to prepare all this material, not only Kurimu-san but also her subordinates are frighteningly skilled as well…)
“In the first place, no ordinary person knows about the existence of magic tools. Most probably the owners of the magic tool think so as well, so the presence or absence of this information is truly significant.”
“Until now, we have had no choice but to fall behind against opponents who could finish us with but a single move. If we can set things up against them first, then we should have more options♪”
While their hearts danced at the information provided to them by Kurimu, the trio picked up the materials.
“…certainly, the empire’s movements are clearly strange.”
“Since the Emperor-san newly came into power, he began to invade other countries at random, but all of them ended in failure, right?”
“There was also a request related to the empire previously, yes? Thanks to the incompetent and arrogant Emperor-sama, I have the impression that their national power has fallen considerably.”
“Just as can be seen from the material, there is no story of the country having been successful in their rebuilding. Even so, there is information that they seem to be starting to procure weapons. To tell the truth, I knew of this even before I had a full-fledged investigation launched.”
“And the empire started to show such movement two days after the Magic Astral Stream, huh?”
“Don’t tell me they’re trying to use the Magic Tool of the Lust Deity on a country-wide scale…?”
The Valandre Empire is a large country on the same continent as Aria’s homeland, Whispered. In this country, the “Emperor” holds the power to make all decisions, hence the name [Empire]. In the past it was tyrannical but about 200 years ago it had gradually changed to a republic and was held in high regard.
In short, it was getting softer but the only son who became the Emperor because the previous Emperor fell ill several years ago began to resume acts of aggression in order to regain the former Empire.
However, the empire is no longer as powerful as it once was. On top of that, the current Emperor was so-called “riding on his parent’s coat tails”, and because he was so sure that he would succeed them he grew arrogant despite his incompetence. Naturally, the current Emperor has no popularity and so there is no end to the influential people who rebelled against his sudden changes of policy and defected, and he was even unable to break through Maruanne, the No-War country which was located between the Empire and the Kingdom, the invasion ending in defeat.
As expected even the incompetent Emperor had to reflect, and the Empire became more docile but seeing how they started to move at this time, one couldn’t help but suspect the existence of a Magic Tool of the Lust Deity.
“It’s certainly very suspicious, but I couldn’t say anything definite yet. It’s possible that the stupid Emperor is just being crazy again.”
“It’s written here that they will have a meeting with Maruanne soon, but before anything happens at that meeting the Kingdom will set something up…or would that be really difficult?”
“Maruanne and our country are in an alliance, so it’s not like there is no way for us to persuade them to refuse the meeting, or to collaborate with them to crush the Empire.
However, there are some political problems. That country is called the No-War country and is basically exclusively defence-oriented. Even though the Empire is originally a problem child, it’d be difficult for us to persuade Maruanne as we don’t have any reason to ambush the Empire.”
“Currently, the only thing that can be done is for the three of us, who can move unrelated to countries, to set up an ambush independently.”
“It would seem so. However, it’s a matter of concern that you’d easily give up the ghost if manipulated.”
After pondering for a while, the trio decided to take a look at the next document.
“Koman Sek Cult? What a strange name.”
(TL Note: RAW is コマンセク, which narrowly dances around ‘pussy sex cult’.)
(I wonder if it sounds significant because my heart has been stained…?)
“? What’s the matter, Salis-san?”
“Oh…my apologies. I hate religion, so-.”
“I see. I don’t really like it either, but the country’s policy is that people are free to be religious so it’s difficult for us to lay a hand on this almost-guilty religious founder unless we get evidence.”
The Koman Sek Cult is a new religion that appeared about a week after the exorcism. Its teachings are normal and commonplace matter one may have heard somewhere, but there are reports that the number of believers are increasing at a considerable rate.
In the Whispered Kingdom, the Hartun Religion holds the greatest power, among several other minority groups. However, if the momentum of the Koman Sec Cult continues at this rate, it is expected that in a month or so it will be on par with the Hartun Religion.
According to the research, the founder of the cult, Kabai Kuzon, not only has an outstanding track record but was originally from the empire and was a so-called racketeer type. It was unthinkable that he’d become the founder of a new religion with such momentum without some kind of power.
“Although there hasn’t been any solid evidence found, there is a suspicion that they are procuring drugs that cause paralysis and hallucinations…”
“Even if he’s not an owner, there’s a high chance that he’s an evildoer. It helps that it seems we can crush him without hesitation.”
“Eh…? Um, Kurimu-san. What does it mean by missing, here!?”
At the place where Karuta pointed, the words [Investigator Missing] and a film taken with a movie projector was pasted.
“That is…that’s exactly what I meant. The person who was in charge of investigating this matter was Hato Mirisha, but I lost contact with her after the drug-related report.”
“What was this report?”
“This is a report from two days ago. Originally, there should have been a regular contact from the transmission bird yesterday morning, but there has been no contact since yesterday. As a result, I have reported her as missing.”
“…this might be the first time I’ve seen Kurimu-nee make such a face.”
“Hato was my right-hand woman, and she was the first to get back on her feet even after the Himuro Insurrection. Well, she’s just as an affectionate girl as you are.”
“Wha-, d-don’t say such weird things.”
(A-chan and Kurimu-san really get along well~)
“In that case, looking into this new religion should have a higher priority than the other two, yes?”
“…Salis-san. To make it easier to lure out enemies, all the people who went to investigate this matter were women. Of course, I told them what the subject of the investigation was, and even so I only sent those who volunteered. As such, all of them were prepared to suffer the same humiliation they experienced by Himuro once again.”
“B-But…!”
“Karuta.”
Aria restrained Karuta, who tried to refute Kurimu’s words and actions that seemed as though she were abandoning her investigators. As though Aria were telling her not to worry.
“Everyone should prioritise collecting the magic tools, and there is no need to worry about my subordinates. Or so I must say if I were being proper…
I’ve heard people call me the Ice Woman, but even for someone like me, all of my subordinate maids are as important to me as my own children. Although it may be strange for me to say this after letting them do investigations that may lead them to their deaths, but apparently I cannot abandon them.
It doesn’t matter if the two cases other than the new religion are resolved, so would you please go and rescue Hato?”
“Of course, we’ll definitely save her!”
“As usual, Kurimu-nee is so roundabout.”
“For these matters, I should be submitting a request. After all, before talking about etiquette, you all are adventurers.”
“Fufu, I see. Then we will respectfully accept Kurimu-san’s request.”
Having decided on their anti-Koman Sek Cult goal, they began to read through the final material.
“This town…I remember going there before. I’m pretty sure it had a slightly lonely impression.”
“But after the Magic Astral Stream, things suddenly got better. After a possible country-wide use, there’s a possibility of a city-wide use of the magic tools.”
Amayaki Town was at the northern end of the Whispered Kingdom. It was located in a place not blessed with resources or a good climate, and it was a city with many opportunities to receive support from the government.
However, a few days after the Magic Astral Stream, the city gradually became active and its debt to the country began to be repaid smoothly. That alone would be nice, but the source of their funding was unclear.
“Kurimu-san, I feel that there are fewer materials here than the others, but did something happen to the investigator here as well?”
“No, this town is located on the edge of the country so an investigator has yet to be sent there. Since it would take three days for a one-way trip, I decided to research as much of the country as I could while doing reconstruction work and found this place to be suspicious. Due to the lack of field surveys, there is little information available. It’s just…”
“It’s just…what?”
“I don’t remember doing a part of the research, or rather I don’t have the slightest idea of how such matters were investigated without doing a field survey, so I’m worried about how such information got mixed in.”
“…certainly, it’s a bit strange.”
The page Salis opened was pasted with a photograph of the city’s exterior. It was not of the old Amayaki town that Salis remembered, but a building that had apparently been recently renovated.
“I received a report on the completion of the reconstruction of this town three days ago. There were no photos attached to said report, and since I was in the capital there was no way to obtain photos of Amayaki Town after the reconstruction by myself. In the first place, I don’t have any memories regarding this picture.”
“S-Somehow that’s kind of creepy. Ah! Perhaps, could Kurimu-san have been manipulated and her memory erased…!?”
“In which case, perhaps you didn’t make this report yourself? No, maybe it’s a trap to lure us in?”
“There is that possibility, but if they have the power to control Kurimu-san, this is quite the roundabout method.”
“I also hold the same opinion. Anyways, there are still many things I don’t understand here compared to the other two cases, and it might be better to put investigating this city on the back burner. In the first place, I’m wondering why I didn’t send an investigator in the first place…”
Valandre, commonly known as the [Empire] where the stupid Emperor was showing disturbing movements.
Kabai Kuzon, the religious founder of the new Koman Sek Cult, which has become a most suspicious existence as of present.
Amayaki Town, a town where information that combines suspiciousness and eeriness gathers.
An owner of the Magic Tool of the Lust Deity is hidden in one or all three of these cases. Karuta and the others concluded so, and decided to narrow down the destinations of their journey to these locations. With that decided, the problem now becomes which order to tackle them in.
“I wonder which we should crush first…?”
“As expected, the most suspicious is the Koman Sek Cult. Let’s quickly help Hato-san!”
“While I understand Karuta’s feelings well, I want to see the state of the Empire first. No matter how much it has declined, if a country is using some kind of Magic Tool, it’s power of influence wouldn’t be comparable to the others, right?”
“That may be so. If things come to a head, then it’s possible that the Emperor has several articles.”
(But personally, I can’t help but worry about that eerie town…in the unlikely event that Kurimu-nee is being manipulated, I want to release her before something happens. However, it’s not good to make decisions based on personal reasons…)
Unusually, all three had different opinions, and Kurimu participated from a neutral standpoint as the four of them continued discussions. After worrying for dozens of minutes, Karuta and the others made a decision.
➔【We should crush the Empire before something is done to our allies】
【I think we should prioritise rescuing Hato-san!】
【I’m still worried about leaving that spooky town alone.】
Author Note:
I like cults that have obvious innuendoes in their names.
(I might post once a week in the next two weeks…)
Dominant Programmer 