Book Eater

Chapter 370: Choice and Responsibility (3)

Chiiiik!

It was a strange landscape. The ground was bone dry from a drought, and the countless scattered chunks of charcoal were barely recognizable. There was a slight haze rising from the ground, formed by an oppressive heat. A volcanic pyroclastic flow wouldn’t have explained everything.

“Hrmm.”

The true cause was floating above the carnage, watching the ice golem melt below her. As she descended to stand on the still liquid lava, she looked around and muttered casually, “... Okay, this much is fine without me.”

The beauty, Veronica, flew away as soon as she ascertained that there were no more variants in the area. The negotiations between Theo and Lust had ended, and Veronica followed his instructions to lead the survivors to the Baekun Mountains. Escorting wasn’t her style, so she used her own method. She had ranged ahead of them to obliterate any variants in their path. Yet, she was undeniably effective!

Veronica preferred head-on confrontations due to her nature, but her capability for high speed flight and overwhelming firepower made her a fearsome guerrilla fighter.

Rain attacks from the sky and escape with overwhelming speed. It is the best strategy for one against many.

Veronica had used something of a similar nature to tie down Andras when Meltor had lacked masters. The empire’s swordmasters simply hadn’t been able to catch up to her as she slipped past their front lines and rampaged through their supply chains. That was when she had risen to prominence as the Witch of Heat. In comparison, these monsters were nothing. They didn’t have any tactical ability and couldn’t cope with unexpected situations.

Sometimes strong ones pop out, but… it is useless.

They were so dumb that they would chase her desperately for dozens of kilometers. Once they were exhausted by the chase and unable to fight properly, she would easily kill them. She had laid dozens of traps for variants who were capable of high speed flight. She had killed tens of thousands of variants in just three days.

Tak.

Once she returned to the survivors’ camp, they were packing to leave. The monk, who had been on watch all night, welcomed Veronica.

“Welcome back. How is it at the front?”

“I swept them all away. There were around a hundred that fled, but you can handle those, right?”

“It won’t be a problem. Will you be going back to your husband?” Taeryun said while riding on a bony horse.

“Hey! My husband is coming to me! Are you making fun of me? Yes?” Veronica yelled back grouchily.

Taeryun laughed, raising both hands, “Huhu, don’t be so angry. It is because the two of you look so good together.”

Veronica suddenly looked bashful. “R-Really? Then, well...”

“Thank you for escorting us this far,” Taeryun bowed and thanked her sincerely.

They were saviors from foreign lands. If it hadn’t been for Theo, Veronica and Sylvia, the Central Empire would have no survivors. Taeryun didn’t know what had brought them to help, but he promised himself to return the favor one day. As the two talked, the survivors started moving.

The monk bowed again. “I will be going now. Is there anything else?”

“Um... Ah, yes,” Veronica remembered something. “Once you arrive in the Baekun Mountains, tell that guy something for me. Not in my name but in Theo’s.”

“What is it?”

“That...”

The message wasn’t long. Once she was done, Taeryun nodded and turned away. It would take a day or two for the message to reach Orta’s ears, but that was all Veronica needed to do. She waited as the procession headed toward the horizon and gradually became invisible.

There was something she hadn’t told Taeryun. She could feel the connection from her soul, much deeper than her heart, getting stronger.

Ah, they’re coming.

She had a hunch before the signs of space transfer occurred.

Flash!

Unsurprisingly, two people appeared inside the light.

“Theo!”

Veronica knew he was safe thanks to the contract, but she was excited to see his face again. She was about to jump into Theo’s arms when she paused. He had a passenger.

“... R-Red Tower Master.”

Why was Sylvia staring at her with wet eyes trembling with guilt? Veronica saw the way Sylvia was half-leaning against Theo on rubbery legs and laughed as she grasped the situation.

“Hahaha.”

Sylvia stiffened as she interpreted the laugh in her own manner.

“Well, I knew this would happen one day.” Veronica winked at Theo before looking at Sylvia leaning on his chest.

Red and silver…

Blue and gold…

The two beautiful women of contrasting colors faced each other.

Veronica mused aloud, “But shouldn’t we organize the hierarchy?”

Sylvia looked nonplussed. “Huh?”

Veronica decided. "The title is… Yes, will you call me older sister in private?”

“T-That...” Sylvia was embarrassed.

As Veronica glanced at Sylvia’s legs, she whispered, “You. Did you intentionally not use healing magic? I thought you were old-fashioned, but you’re quite cute.”

“Ah, t-that...”

“You’re mature enough not to be a child. I’m looking forward to the future. I hope you can show me the same face you are making now.” Veronica patted Sylvia’s cheek, who turned red because she was unfamiliar with this type of contact. As he stared bemused at the conversation that went more gently than expected, Theo recalled something.

Veronica was much older than she looked. Moreover, Veronica had the blood of the red dragons, who were generous with love. This made her flexible about old-fashioned notions of sex.

“Theo.” After Sylvia melted from a few words, Veronica approached him and spoke quietly. “Let me know what happened.”

“Ah, yes.”

It was a shortcut that was only possible with her. Theo closed his eyes and sent the full story of what happened with Lust a few days ago through their contract.

Veronica grimaced, then she frowned in worry. “Tch, so that’s what happened. What are you going to do?”

Theo replied, “Once we return Sylvia to the kingdom, we must join the supporting forces in Japan and move on Geongun Castle. If I’m right, the defenses will already be complete...”

“Hrm,” Veronica made a subtle noise and poked his side.

Theo twitched, “What?”

Veronica grinned, “That isn’t everything. You’re not the type to just go along with the wishes of your opponent. Did you do something? Just let me know.”

“Let’s see?” Theo smiled with a strange expression. It was neither positive nor negative.

Veronica saw his expression and laughed. It was clearly a suspicious expression. If he couldn’t tell her, then there must be a reason. It was enough to know that he had something in the works.

Theo turned away from the laughing Veronica and smiled coldly. First blood decided duels, but last blood was the only one that mattered in war.

***

The landscape of the East Continent started to change at an unprecedented pace. Lust’s variants roamed the land, and those who refused her had their lands stained with blood and death. Residents fled their homes, shamans retreated to the depths of their mountains, and warriors put their honor on the line as they fought.

There was also another force on the continent. On top of a mountain peak, a voice entered Theo’s ears, “South Army, the 5th unit under Kamiizumi Nobutsuna has arrived.”

Seimei’s strategy was to advance southward and have the forces of Japan meet at one location. Kamiizumi Nobutsuna and his immediate relatives had made it. They were injured, but it wasn’t a big loss because Suzuka and Seimei had enough leeway to heal them.

“Kuahahat! The North Army and I, Shuten-doji, have come to play!”

Shuten-doji was covered in blood and was laughing heartily. He looked far more lively, now that he had fought a few battles. The last few days had been more pleasurable than the one thousand years he had spent on Oe Mountain as the strongest of the Oni clan.

Theo looked over at his army, “Shuten-doji, I don’t see Tsuchigumo?”

Shuten-doji shrugged. “Oh, he died. The feudal lord was quite strong. They left together, so there is no lingering attachment.”

Theo examined him for a moment. “... I see.”

Indeed, it was an oni-like way of thinking. Daitengu had no objections either and just nodded. For yokai, there wasn’t much difference between life and death. Theo decided to go over the situation in his head.

The two feudal lords in the west have escaped to Geongun Castle, and I missed one of them. This means there are at least three sacred creatures at Geongun Castle.

It wasn’t fatal. After all, Geongun Castle’s defense system was the major headache they had to solve. It was troublesome if the feudal lords controlled the variants, but their combat power didn’t weigh that heavily on the scales. The first objective was to enter Geongun Castle.

The last of the troops arrived as he reached this conclusion.

Flash!

Theo recognized the telltale signs of a space transfer and heard familiar voices.

“Theo! This bastard went and left us alone!”

“... I am embarrassed. I’m glad we’re not too late.”

Randolph and Titania, the companions Theo had left behind when he crossed to the East Continent, looked disgruntled but enthusiastic. The danger was just one more reason to avoid defeat. Theo smiled happily and thanked them while apologizing.

Randolph grunted while Titania accepted the apology.

It was at this moment that…

“―Eh?”

“Huup!”

“Heok!”

Everyone went into combat mode as an enormous magic power slammed down on them. It felt like the sky was falling down. Out of nowhere, a massive shadow shrouded the sky. Only Theo was able to greet them with a slightly surprised expression.

“... I didn’t know you would come.”

He didn’t know why they had come to the East Continent despite still recovering from their last battle.

[We didn’t come to help you, human. Don’t be complacent.]

[Huhu, we can’t help you much. Please use us properly.]

The red clan’s Brasmati, and the green clan’s Erucus, the dragons Theo had met during the battle against Sloth were now staring at him with golden eyes.

Theo welcomed them with open arms.

I will win.