Chapter 18

"Indeed, it is the empire's strongest fortress."

I was looking around at various parts of Roburion.

I can understand the calm expression of the Count of Roburion...

The walls are lined with fully armed soldiers, and the important facilities in the city are heavily guarded. On the streets, the guards constantly keep a sharp eye out for suspicious individuals.

Elysia, seeing this, says,

"There's not even a gap for ants to crawl through... Do you think something is going to happen in this city, Your Highness?"

"...There's always a chance, you know."

I don't know the cause of the city's fall.

However, to break through this ironclad defense, something must happen from the inside.

"The walls and gates are perfectly defended... so then..."

I turned my gaze to the sea.

From above, Roburion's port looks like it's at the bottom of a horizontally placed pot.

At the mouth of the pot... the entrance to the bay, there are two sturdy towers on each shore.

These two towers are connected by several thick iron chains.

Though they are now submerged and invisible, raising them to near the surface prevents ships from entering from the outside.

But if those chains fail to operate for some reason, or are destroyed...

A fleet from the neighboring magic kingdom will land in this port.

"Elysia, let's go see those towers."

"Yes!"

It's already evening, so there are few people around.

We left the city walls and headed toward the towers that operate the chains, using the *Transfer* spell.

First, we went to the tower on the north side.

The entrance to the tower was guarded by more than ten sentries.

The tower itself is like a small fortress, with hundreds of people stationed inside.

As we approached the entrance, a sentry, brandishing his weapon, said,

"No entry allowed here!"

"I am Prince Alex."

The sentry looked displeased.

"There's no way a prince would come to a place like this... oh."

When I showed the medal on my chest, the sentries' expressions changed.

"Y-Your Highness, I apologize!"

"Don't worry... it's good that you're following the rules. No one except authorized personnel is allowed in here, right?"

"Um, yes, even we need a pass to enter."

An important facility like the city gates. The management is indeed strict.

"I see... one more question, are there any demons or monsters inside?"

"No, there are none. This is one of the most important facilities in Roburion. We can't trust demons, and the same goes for the tower to the south."

"I see."

In Roburion, demons are oppressed.

I thought if there were any collaborators, they would target this place...

"Are there any demons who come and go?"

"No, there are none. However... we humans can't maintain those huge chains. We rely on the strength of demons for that."

"By the way, did they repair them today?"

"Yes. They are currently reinforcing the central part. Look, can you see those tall figures?"

In the sea, there were people hammering the iron chains. Though they looked like dots from a distance, about thirty of them were working.

"That's... the ones we saw earlier..."

Elysia muttered.

I couldn't see them from this distance, but Elysia could.

"The ones we met near the city gates?"

They are likely Cyclops-human hybrids.

I've heard that Cyclops are skilled in forging. Those huge iron chains were probably made by them.

"They look similar. They all have the same appearance... perhaps..."

Elysia looked worried.

"Sentries... contact the Count of Roburion immediately!"

"What for?"

"The iron chains are probably no longer usable."

"Are you joking?"

"Then, try to raise them, even a little."

"But the chains can only be raised on the Count's orders."

"If we delay, Roburion will fall."

"Alright... raise one chain!"

The sentry told his comrades in the tower.

After a few attempts, a rumbling sound, like the earth shaking, echoed.

The winch for the chains was probably moving.

"It can't not move... what?"

The sentry realized that no chain was appearing on the surface.

"What? Why not! Hey, the others!"

"We're trying! No good!"

The tower was suddenly in an uproar.

I told the sentries,

"There's still time! Tell the Count to gather troops at the port!"

"Yes! Raise the signal flares!"

The signal flares immediately rose from the tower.

I also climbed the tower and looked out to sea.

In the distance, over a hundred ships were floating.

However, the ships were all heading towards the distant opposite shore.

They probably intended to launch a surprise attack at night.

They must have realized they were detected when the signal flares went up in the evening.

The sentries were relieved.

"That's good..."

"Don't be foolish! We're still vulnerable! The enemy might still come in!"

They prepared for battle, considering it might be a feint.

One sentry said,

"Capture those demons! It's getting dark! Catch them before they escape!"

The ones hammering the chains were swimming towards the shore, apparently realizing they were detected.

I told the sentries,

"No, it's better not to divide our forces here. I'll go after them."

"Will Your Highness? Thank you!"

Elysia and I nodded to each other, and in the growing darkness, we used *Transfer* to head towards the shore where the demons were heading.

When we arrived, we ran to the shore.

"Your Highness, can I have some rope?"

"No, we don't need rope."

"Then, all of them?"

"No, Elysia. We don't intend to kill them or hand them over to the Count."

"Then, you're going to let them go?"

"That would be difficult. So... Elysia, I don't want you to kill them either."

"Understood. As you wish."

Elysia gripped her sword tightly.

We soon reached the shore. It was already getting dark.

On the shore, the first of the figures, drenched, were just arriving.

"Ha, ha... I'm sorry, everyone."

"Don't worry, Yuri... we didn't have much of a chance anyway."

"The magic kingdom isn't guaranteed to help us either."

Someone was apologizing, and the others were consoling them.

But one of them eventually noticed us.

"H-Human...! You're the one from earlier!"

The one who shouted was the giant who almost fell near the city gates. He was also the one apologizing. His name is Yuri.

Yuri, wielding a hammer, asked,

"Are you going to capture us?"

"We won't capture you. But don't try to escape. The guards will chase you wherever you go."

"You want us to surrender... I'm sorry, but we can't do that!"

Yuri swung his hammer at us.

"Everyone, I'll hold them off! Run!"

But Elysia swung her sword, sending the hammer flying.

"!"

Elysia then pointed her sword at the giant.

"..."

Realizing it was over, Yuri knelt and bowed to me.

"Please... at least let the children go. Let them escape..."

"I already said, we won't let you escape... because you can't."

My answer made Yuri and the other giants look resigned.

That's right, they can't escape on their own. They need help.

"...So, surrender to me."

"Huh?"

"I'll... help you."

At these words, Yuri and the other giants looked at each other.