Chapter 304: QC Duchy

Chapter 304: QC Duchy

Editor: Tseirp

“What is that...? It looks like something is raining from the sky.”

“A red light... waterfall?”

Ryo threw out the question to no one in particular, and Priest Etho answered as if muttering to himself.

The scene did not seem very real.

It was as if a glowing red waterfall was spilling down from the sky into the walled city....

“Is that...magic or...?”

“I’m not sure...but the flow of magic power is a little...”

Harold, the swordsman of Room 11, asked, and Zeke, the priest, answered.

The dual swordsman Gowan watched the scene with his mouth gaping open.

“I had heard that the magic system of the Western Countries was quite different from that of the Central Nations...but this...”

Priest Etho muttered.

“It somehow reminds me of...that Explosive Blaze Magician’s magic...”

Amon nodded at swordsman Niels’ muttering.

Perhaps what they both felt was Oscar’s <True Universal Collapse>.

The original <True Universal Collapse> is an AOE annihilation magic for attacking cities.

If used against a city, it could very well produce a scene similar to the one before them....

Even as the six of them said various things, Ryo remained silent the whole time.

To Ryo, it looked as if a swarm of angels were descending from the sky.

Perhaps it was because of his knowledge of the ‘Bible’ on Earth.

The Book of Daniel in the Old Testament describes a vision that the prophet Daniel saw.

In its seventh chapter, the supposed angels were described in thousands upon thousands and ten thousands upon ten thousands....

Just a thousand times a thousand is already a million.

Let alone ten thousand times ten thousand, a hundred million....

The sight of such a staggering number of angels descending....

Etho, who had closed his eyes and was apparently sensing something, opened them and then muttered:

“For some reason, I can feel the magic power coming from that red light waterfall this far out...”

“Yeah. And doesn’t it oddly feels kind of familiar?”

Responding to Etho’s words was Zeke, also a priest.

“Oh, you feel it too, Zeke?”

“Yeah. I can feel the magic power of that ‘priest’-looking man who teleported us.”

“Hey now, are you serious...”

Etho, Zeke said, to which Niels replied with a frown.

Naturally, not only the Kingdom delegation but also the Empire and the Union delegations that had arrived at the hill earlier stopped and watched the scene.

The heads of the two nations, namely, former emperor Rupert and former king Roberto Pirlo, went to Hugh McGrath, the head of the Kingdom delegation.

“Now, leader McGrath, what do you think we should do?”

Former emperor Rupert, the leader of the Imperial delegation said at the outset.

Hugh turned to Rupert and Roberto Pirlo.

Naturally, Rupert’s question was not about wanting to hear Hugh’s opinion because he did not know what to do.

Those in the same standing as them, as they should, already have the answer within themselves before asking.

Still, they asked because....

‘Prove that you are worthy of your position with your answer.’

In a nutshell.

How condescending?

Of course.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to run the nation for decades as the highest authority.

Certainly not a feat anyone could pull off.

Only answers that are at least as good as or better than those thought up by the questioners are considered a pass.

Needless to say, Hugh understood that.

(No one can deny the fact that both the former emperor and the former king have accrued tremendous achievements, and are monsters in politics...honestly, the pressure is too much for me.... I seriously resent you, Your Majesty Abel, for pushing me into this position.)

Such thoughts were going through his mind, although didn’t show on his face at all.

“The main group should stay and remain on standby while we send out a reconnaissance team to check out the city and its surroundings. It is a long way to the city, and it would take too much time to get there on foot or by running. So, we’ll need those who can ride horses. And those who are proficient in magic. I’d like to send the people from our group, but most adventurers can’t ride horses, so... allow me to apologize for that.”

In other words, the dangerous reconnaissance mission would be left to the Empire and the Union to sort out.

Shortly thereafter, the waterfall of light disappeared.

“So, the waterfall of light has vanished. And there’s no one outside the city walls.... I was hoping we could maybe pick up some clues if anyone was there, but... there’s no choice, we’re going in.”

“Yes!”

All members of the unit replied to the captain’s words without hesitation.

They were elite.

Four hours later.

The Kingdom delegation was informed that the scouting party were back and would be giving their report.

Not only to former emperor Rupert, but also to the Union and the Kingdom. The scouting party would be reporting directly to them all together.

Therefore, Hugh McGrath, head of the Kingdom delegation, proceeded to the designated location... but.

“Why are you following me, Ryo?”

He noticed that the water-attribute magician was sneaking after him and called him out.

He had noticed him much earlier, but he thought he was going somewhere else and happened to be going in the same direction... but it seemed he was trailing him.

Ryo, on the other hand thought he was doing a good job tailing them.

“Hey, Mr. Hugh, if you speak so loudly, the others will notice too!”

Ryo hurriedly retorted.

“Nah, they already did, obviously...”

Hugh said, totally dumbfounded.

“No way...”

Ryo looked around steathily.

“I didn’t see a thing.”

Former emperor Rupert.

“I didn’t even notice until you mentioned it.”

Former king Roberto Pirlo.

“See!”

Ryo said proudly.

“This is absurd! Why are you guys playing along with this farce too!”

Hugh yelled.

“Mr. Hugh, you’re being disrespectful. Even though you’re currently in the same standing as them, they’re still a former emperor and a former king. Please be careful with your language.”

For some reason, Ryo said in a high-handed manner.

“As expected of Sir Ryo, who is known as King Abel’s most trusted vassal. The premier duke of the Kingdom really is different from the bunch after all.”

“Master McGrath too, you are a hero of the Kingdom. Don’t forget that your words and deeds are always under the spotlight.”

“Ugh...”

For some reason, Hugh McGrath was being pissed off by the big three, Ryo, Rupert, and Roberto Pirlo....

The reconnaissance team’s report was given amidst Hugh’s slight, or perhaps quite significant, frustration.

As for the content....

Many of the buildings were on fire. Or had burned to the ground.

The city was empty.

There were no bodies.

“We can’t go into the city.”

“I agree. Sooner or later, the garrison of the Duchy or some other city will probably show up. Since we were able to see what was happening from this hill, I reckon so would others.”

“Then it’d be better to remain on this hill.”

“If we put out a flag, the troops who come to check on the city will try to make contact with us. Since the news of our coming has been conveyed to the Duchy from the Kingdom of Sufouh.”

Between former emperor Rupert and former king Roberto Pirlo, a decision was made on how to deal with the situation one after another.

The other leader, Hugh McGrath, simply watched on with his arms crossed.

Ryo, who was watching beside him, was fretting.

Then he whispered to Hugh in a hushed tone.

“Mr. Hugh, don’t you think you should say something, maybe?”

“Hm? I don’t think that’s necessary, do you?”

“Something to show that Hugh McGrath is also present! Cuz if you don’t create such an impression, they’ll take you lightly, don’t you think?”

“Oh goodness me...”

Hugh was exasperated by Ryo’s proposal after what he had done just now.

In the end, it was not until ten days later that the mission was able to enter QC Duchy’s capital, Deale, after making contact with the troops who had come to investigate the city’s oddity.

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