Chapter 26

As the armor screamed, I felt my lifespan being halved.

Yuri and Tia were also screaming behind me, making it even worse.

In the midst of this, Elicia calmly muttered,

"Did the armor speak? Rats can talk too, so I’m not really surprised..."

"Tia and the others can talk! We’re not objects! But armor is an object! It’s weird for it to talk! –Ah!"

Tia and Yuri shuddered.

The armor started to move with a clatter.

"Move! Why can’t I move! Who’s there!?"

I asked the armor, which was making a racket.

"Um, can you hear my voice?"

"I can hear it! But I can’t see anything!"

"Probably the helmet was providing vision."

"Bring it here. Elicia."

Elicia immediately nodded at my voice, picked up the helmet, and placed it on the armor.

"–Huh? Where, where am I!? ...Is this the governor’s residence?"

The armor said, moving the helmet from side to side.

"Who are you?"

"I, I... received orders to rescue Tiars from the capital, and came to this island with my subordinates... but I was defeated by that woman... I was supposed to be dead."

"That woman?"

"The woman in black who attacked all of Tiars... I and my subordinates were defeated by her black mist without any means of defense."

"I see."

If that’s the case, this armor must be from the ancient empire.

The armor turned the helmet towards me.

"By the way, who are you?"

"I am... Prince Alex, the Sixth Prince."

"Prince... Prince!? This is a great disrespect!"

The armor shook again but couldn’t stand up, as it had no limbs.

Yuri and the others also trembled at the sight.

Anyway, it seems they were trying to show respect because I am a prince of the 'Empire.' Well, it’s not a lie, and the bloodline is connected.

I spoke to the armor.

"It’s fine as you are."

"I, I am deeply sorry...! I am Selena Teresia Flaps! The commander of the Sixth Legion!"

The current imperial army is composed of the emperor’s private soldiers and mercenaries. But in the past, all soldiers were under the emperor’s control. The legion was the name given to the group of soldiers at that time.

"Selena, huh. I came to this island as the lord of Tiars."

"How... how could such a lovely person... I, I apologize."

"No, don’t worry about it... more importantly, why are you in this state?"

"My memory is hazy, but it’s probably because of the woman in black. I and my subordinates were instantly defeated by the black mist she emitted. I became one with the armor and existed only to kill those who came here... but suddenly, I couldn’t move."

"You were being used by a slime, then."

By casting magic, the magic power in the armor might have started to recharge. I could sense the magic power stirring inside the armor.

If it moves by magic, it’s probably something like a living armor. It must have been turned into an undead.

Also, the woman in black seems to have caused the empire to abandon this Tiars.

"Anyway, I’ll return your arms and legs..."

"Thank you."

First, Elicia and I returned the right arm to the armor.

"The arm is back... Wow!"

The armor suddenly swung the reconnected right arm at Elicia and me.

But without legs, it couldn’t reach us.

Meanwhile, Selena said anxiously,

"My body won’t listen to me!? What am I doing!"

"Probably, when you were turned into an undead, you were ordered to attack the living."

I immediately used *Dark Slash* to separate the armor’s arm.

Selena, now just a torso and head, trembled.

"I, I am deeply sorry... I seem to be nothing more than a tool... please, end me here."

"Don’t rush. If you become my servant... the situation might change."

"Servant?"

"Yes. It means becoming my subordinate. You’ll have to entrust your life to me."

"I serve the empire! Which means I’m like your subordinate. Please, make me your servant!"

"Alright. I’ll make you my servant."

Then the armor was enveloped in light.

A beautiful human woman with brown hair appeared. She had proper limbs and gave an impression of being composed and reliable.

"A, ah..."

Selena stared at the polished marble floor and touched her cheek.

"I, I’m back to my original form!?"

It seems she returned to her appearance from life. Since she was originally human, it’s not strange for her to return to a human form.

"Thank you! ...Thank you so much!"

Selena cried at my feet. She must have suffered for a long time, and it’s really good that she’s back.

Perhaps because she became my servant, she no longer had any intention of attacking me.

"I’m glad too... I didn’t know anything about this island and territory, so I wanted some information."

"Understood! If I can be of any help!"

Selena answered confidently, but Yuri looked disappointed.

"Ah, no, it was a sudden dispatch..."

"I see, you were sent here..."

Anyway, I told Selena about the current era and the empire.

She seemed to understand only half of it, but she said she would serve me.

Also, due to her long stay here, it seemed that parts of her memory were missing.

After that, I decided to investigate the government building...

"The documents are completely gone..."

Not only that, the furnishings in every room were in a mess.

Was it robbed?

But this island had been inhabited by monsters for a long time, and Selena was also in the government building. It shouldn’t have been easy to break in...

Or perhaps, the woman in black, as Selena mentioned, discarded all such items.

"I intend to investigate other facilities, but it doesn’t look like I’ll find anything here..."

I won’t be able to obtain any materials related to dark magic either.

Selena said apologetically,

"I’m sorry I couldn’t be of help..."

"No, don’t worry... Anyway, I want to make this Ars Island habitable first."

With the current number of Arrows, we can drive them away if we try. For a while, we’ll work hard to establish a base here.

"Can you help me from now on?"

"Of course! The life you saved! This Selena will serve you with all my heart!"

"Thank you. Then, Selena, I want you to be the governor of this Ars."

"Me, really?"

"Yes, I want you to gather the people. They are currently gathered in the main hall. I want you to use your experience as a legion commander."

Since she originally had many subordinates, she must have leadership skills.

Erik and Eleonora are gathering slimes, and Tia is gathering her rat companions in the main hall. I want Selena to manage them on this island.

"Leave it to me! I’ll go meet the representatives of the people right away!"

"Wait, wait..."

Selena opened the door energetically and went to the main hall.

"Everyone, I am Selena, appointed as the governor by the prince! Please, let’s work together... Huh?"

The main hall was covered with a large number of rats and slimes.

"Wh, what are these!?"

Selena screamed again and fainted on the spot.