"Please, may I ask, then, what is the highest tier of weapon that Momonga-sama is capable of using, the legendary one?"
Legendary one? Momonga seems a bit puzzled, but after seeing Mare eyes sparkle, he realized that the question was honest without any malice in mind.
"This is it…… the weapon every guild member worked together to build. A weapon of the highest order, Staff of Ooal Gown." Momonga raised his wand and it immediately radiated an ambient, beautiful light. However, around the light a quivering, ominious shadow appeared, one only visible to the evil.
Momonga sounded prouder than ever before and his voice had become more excited:
"This staff, engraved in it, seven snakes and gems, each of artifact and relic level. Because it belongs to an entire series of items, upon completed the collection, one could display immense power. We spent tremendous perseverance and time to complete the entire collection. In fact, a member of the guild wanted to give up on the idea during the collection. I don’t know how many monsters we fought to get the treasures…. not only that, this staff can overcome the artifact level itself and is even comparable to a legendary item. And its most powerful ability is, the automatic engagement…… Ahem. "
. . . Momonga got too excited. Although in the past his companions built it together, because it exited the throne room, there was no opportunity to show it off. Since it is out now, he wanted to show it to others. Although Momonga wanted to continue to showing it off, his emotions stopped him.
He was too ashamed……
"… That’s it."
"Wow, So strong……"
"You are the strongest, Momonga-sama!"
The two children's sparkling eyes, almost made Momonga laugh. The efforts to resist it almost blew away his expression — originally, there were no expressions for this skull ─── he continues:
"So I would like to make an experiment with this staff and I hope you can help me with it."
"Yes! We will prepare it immediately. Then…… we can see the power of this staff?"
"Well, of course. I will let you experience the most powerful weapon I can hold."
"Awesome!” — Aura shouts excited and did a cute jump.
Mare tried to conceal it, but his long-ears failed to stop shivering, evident of his excitement.
This is bad, I need a serious expression, and therefore can not relax. Momonga reminded himself to maintain his dignity.
"… There is one more thing Aura. I have ordered all the floor guardians to come over here. They will all be gathered here in less than one hour."
"Huh? Then we have to get ready — "
"No, it is not necessary, we'll wait here until they come."
"Ah, each floor's guardians-?? Then Shalltear will come as well?"
"Yes, all the floors' guardians."
"…… Oh."
Aura’s long ears suddenly start to droop.
But unlike Aura, Mare seemed less animated. Going by their body language, Aura and Shalltear didn’t like each other, unlike Mare. What will happen from now on? Momonga sighed softly.
Part 2
Soldiers, fifty in number, rode through the grasslands. Each and every one of them was muscular, vigorous and eye-catching. The men could only be described by the word "Robust". Even while wearing breastplate, once could see the well toned muscles underneath.
A man, around thirty years of age, with a sunbathed dark and wrinkled face, short black hair, black eyes, and sharp like a sword looks to the man beside him.
"Captain, we are approaching the first village on our route."
"Yes, indeed, Lieutenant."
Georgiev Stolonov, Re-Estize Kingdom’s proud warrior, has yet to see any of the villages.
Suppressing his eagerness, Georgiev implores his horse to maintain the steady gallop. Although the current speed should not normally wear down the horse, it has still been forced to march all the way here since the Capital. Insidiously, fatigue builds up and penetrates its body. Even a horse would be tired after the long trip and he could not afford to burden the horse any further.
"I hope nothing happened."
Uneasiness subtly lies beneath the Lieutenant's words. Georgiev shares the same thought. The king, who issued the command, implored Georgiev to investigate the sightings of Imperial Knights near the border. Should any be found, Georgiev is to promptly subdue them.
Initially, since it was at the outskirts of the city Lantiere, sending troops from there would be faster. However, considering that the enemy were well armed and trained Imperial Knights, doing so would be unreasonable.
In Re-Estize, the only ones who can rival the Imperial Knights were the soldiers under Georgiev. As such, the task of suppressing raids from the Imperial Soldiers fell upon the rightfully frustrated Georgiev's shoulders.
One can mobilize soldiers to protect the villages before Georgiev's arrival, and doing so would be enough to resist the raids, gaining them valuable time. And while there were a myriad of other possible methods of resistance, nothing was done… no, it's that nobody could do anything.
Georgiev, knowing full well exactly why it was as such, was restless. He tries to calm down yet his hands tightly grip the reins. It was certainly difficult to suppress the burning sensation that torments his heart.
"Captain, it's mindless that nobody began searching before we arrived. Not just that, why didn't they send anyone else to search besides us? For example, they could commission adventurers. They could also search for Imperial Knights. Why hasn't anything like that been done? "
"…Stop it Lieutenant, if Imperial Knights appeared in the territory of the Kingdom in broad daylight, the situation would be much worse."
"Captain, there is no one else around. I hope you can tell me the truth."
The Lieutenant, showing a derisive grin riddled with malice, spoke with disdain:
"It’s because of those nobles, right?”
Georgiev did not answer back, because it was the truth.
"Those damn nobles actually use people's lives as tools in their struggle for power! Not only that, since this territory is under the king's control, they wouldn't pass up this chance to ridicule the king!”
"…… Not all nobles think that way."
"Perhaps the Captain is right, there are also nobles who live for the sake of the people, and example of which is the Golden Princess. However they are few and far between…… If only we could centralize the power as the Emperor*, then we can oppose those damn noble for the sake of the people right? "
"But If you rush things, perhaps it may lead to civil war and our country will be torn apart. Even now, our Kingdom is facing the neighboring empire’s ambitions to expand its territories. A calamity the likes of a civil war would become a national predicament."
"I know, but……"
"Let’s stop for the time being……"
All of a sudden Georgiev hushed up and gazed straight ahead. Smoke curled out from behind the small hill in front of them. The people present all knew that meant.
Georgiev could not help but to click his tongue. A he galloped to the small hill the scene that welcomed him was exactly as he expected. The whole village was scorched to ruins. Some of the wreckage and burned roofs looked like tombstones erected in this ruin.
Georgiev ordered with a firm voice:
"Everyone be ready. We need to act fast."
The village was completely burned and the wreckage of houses barely showed their original appearance. Walking through the ruins, Georgiev smelled the stench of burnt flesh mixing with the smell of blood.
Georgiev's face seemed very calm, as if he felt no emotional turbulence. But if one were to look closely, once could see his true disposition. His lieutenant walking beside him bore the same expression.