It took three days to prepare.
First, we needed to replenish the ammunition used underground. Most of the bullets Rena and I used were just standard lead rounds, but we had also burnt through a lot of the Marmaros rounds we brought along.
Luckily, the processing itself didn’t take too long.
“There were beast corpses scattered around underground. We had to clean them up anyway.”
When I smashed the device, it seemed that most of the beasts being controlled were already dead. Even if they were alive, they were too messed up to stand and attack us.
Many soldiers spent the entire day clearing the beast corpses.
“If it were usual, we’d need to refine the Marmaros from the corpses…”
But there was no need for that. Just like in the original story, chunks of Marmaros had been released from the strangely mutated beast corpses.
Just a little bit shaved off could be inserted into the bullets.
“Honestly, if we knew the method, we would have loved to try using that magic.”
Charlotte said that while conveying the information to me.
Of course, trying to find out the method was likely to endanger those who responded, making it impossible to learn the method perfectly.
“And I also called the expert Sylvia mentioned. Because of the device she was wearing back then?”
“That’s right.”
The reinforced outfit I had on was now a ragged mess. The most important frame and moving parts were relatively intact, but the outer layer designed to fend off attacks was all twisted and bent. The creaking sounds coming from the moving parts indicated that some of the internal gears were damaged.
It was such a complex device that it was still a long way from being mass-produced, so I hadn’t expected it to be perfectly fixed. I just hoped there would be spare parts available, no matter how unique the piece of equipment was.
“From the report you wrote, it seems she is quite eager to come.”
“I guess so.”
I didn’t really know what the real ‘Browning’ was like. Although he was a historic figure, being famous enough that photos remained, information about him was spread everywhere. However, all I knew about the real Browning was that he was an “incredibly famous firearms manufacturer.”
But regardless of what the real Browning was like, the ‘James Browning’ in this world was undoubtedly a weapon enthusiast.
To explain more accurately, he was a stereotype of a ‘weapon otaku’ often found in this kind of setting.
He usually acted quite respectable and sensible, but whenever something peculiar was needed, he would dish out odd devices with ease.
“It seems certain that he chose to fix the equipment over meeting me first.”
I shrugged at Charlotte, saying this.
“Well, that’s okay. If we can fix that equipment, it will be a huge boost in battle.”
Charlotte didn’t push for more details. There were a lot of things to figure out anyway.
“Have we confirmed the personnel?”
“If there’s anyone else you think would be good to bring, I’m open to recommendations.”
“…I can’t say whether those recommended can even enter.”
In fact, even if Charlotte recommended additional people, I wasn’t sure if everyone I was bringing along qualified to enter.
…Even if that’s the case.
Of course, since it seemed the Goddess’s power was involved in me coming this way, it would be odd if I couldn’t enter, but…
“Phew.”
Charlotte sighed deeply with her eyes closed.
Her dark circles were a bit pronounced. Usually, she managed her dark circles so well that they were almost unnoticeable, but with how busy she had been over the past three days…
It seemed she had spent time convincing her father.
“Since we are charging in tomorrow, it’s probably best to rest a bit.”
“…Sylvia should do the same.”
“…”
In response to my advice, Charlotte remarked with a somewhat exhausted expression.
“Well, fine then. Charging into battle while exhausted is dangerous. It seems checks are all done, so let’s call it a day.”
Charlotte stretched her arms and let out a yawn.
“…When I become Emperor, I won’t undertake military operations in other countries again.”
Alice, who had checked off all the details alongside Charlotte, sighed deeply and said this. I wholeheartedly agreed with that statement.
“Honestly, such tasks shouldn’t be ones that Emperors or Kings directly handle. It’s truly the job of the ‘soldiers going into battle.’ The only difference this time is that we are the soldiers going into battle.”
…Hmm.
It was hard to refute her when the ones affected directly spoke that way.
*
The day after, we finally reached our destination.
Just as we had discussed earlier, I had a sound sleep and departed, even managing to relax on the train ride here.
I woke up about thirty minutes before we arrived and jumped straight into meditation.
Thanks to that, my mind felt clear.
It doesn’t mean I wasn’t nervous, but in a way, it was even a little relieving.
If the story had really unfolded just as in the original, this wouldn’t be the end of it. I would have only met Sophia the following year, and the Sophia I would meet then would undoubtedly be entirely different from the one I knew now.
…I had no idea what had happened in just a year, but I couldn’t be sure I’d have been able to accept Sophia after all of that pressure had passed.
Yes, right now was better.
Claire knew her true identity, and Alice had a firm handle on the situation.
And nobody had died yet. I hadn’t seen a single indication that anyone was about to die.
So let’s not worry.
“…Alright.”
When I had seen it from the royal capital, it was literally a ‘pillar of light,’ but up close, it turned out to be an unbelievably vast and tall ‘wall of light.’
I had met soldiers who had failed trying to enter here, and they had stories of laying metal plates or even wearing thick protective gear to escape the flames. And they all suffered burns that were said to ‘override the laws of physics.’
“Isn’t this a bit too much, even for magic?” Ms. Ada remarked.
Though it was said to be a flame that burns people, standing this close to it still didn’t feel hot. It seemed like so long ago that my memory was faint, but that light was probably much cooler than the light from an LED lantern.
“In that case, I’ll check first.”
As I said that while turning back, Alice nodded with a stiff expression, tense from anxiety. Claire looked like she was about to leap out and enter in my place, but Leo was holding her back, and Charlotte was looking at me with an extremely serious expression.
“If anything seems off, come right back out.”
“I’m aware my life is precious.”
“Hmm.”
I replied to Alice, who said that, and Jennifer gave a small huff like she had something to say, but I chose to ignore it.
I turned back again to look at the infinitely rising wall of light above.
Then, I stretched out my left hand and gently poked my fingertip into it.
I felt nothing.
It didn’t seem like my nerves were burned out—if they were, I would have felt pain for at least a moment.
My body was just absorbing the light.
It wasn’t like anything spectacular was happening, but neither did it block my fingers like a regular light would. The light seemed to continue past my hand as if passing through transparent light.
I took another step forward.
Still, I wasn’t hurt.
My entire left arm went in, followed by my leg, chest, and head, and nothing was there to stop me.
The light was blinding, but it was merely a mystical light as if to signify that I was there.
I looked outside from within that cluster of light.
My anxious friends were watching me, and the soldiers who had seen what happened to the ones who entered were wide-eyed at me.
I turned my gaze back and moved forward.
And I passed through the thick light and entered into the Papal State.
What entered my view at the end of that cheerful light that felt like a blessing was—
“…”
Just an ordinary city scene.
No, it would be better to say it felt strangely foreign rather than ordinary.
There was no vibrancy to it, as there were not a single person wandering outside. No guards, no patrols. Despite being in such an obviously strange situation, no one came out to confirm what was happening.
It was as if the entire city had ceased to function, divided by that wall of light.
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