Airships dropped shells from the sky and bombed the monsters on the ground.
Each shell boasted high power, and sometimes wiped out monsters in the double-digits, but some monsters survived to the extent of only having their arms blown off.
There were many unseen monsters; a dragonewt monster with four arms, an antelope with an electric horn on its head, a poisonous spider with extraordinary jumping power, etc.
Although it was an open ground battle at the beginning, they found a stronghold in the huge checkpoint at the border, and were now blockading the city.
As such, the Empire was in turmoil as to how much property should be carried along to the stronghold. Although there were no marauders or riots at the last minute due to the nation still functioning, the people still had to throw away most of their propertyăźbecause they couldnât carry furniture and such, obviously, and banks were shut down. The citizens were full of dissatisfaction and anxiety.
ăZerry, how are things outside?ăDante asked as Zerry returned to the tent.
ăItâs the usual~ Everyone is down with a dull look on their face.ăZerry said, shaking her head.
ăI seeâŚă
ăIt canât really be helped, after all.ă
Outside the checkpoint, it was originally a plaza for immigration procedures. It was also where the members of the Silver Balance spent the night.
Soldiers and adventurers can set up tents here â those with âarmed forceâ, so to speak.
The majority of the general public were further outside, housed in a huge tent set up by the country hastily. There were not enough tents for all the people to enter, so quite a number of people were camping outside the tent.\n
Many Lev people had already fled from the Empire, but since the country originally practiced national isolation, there werenât too many who had knowledge of nor connections in foreign countries.
ăThings are still okay since itâs summer, but itâs going to get worse once winter comes around.ăDante-said.
ăDoes it get cold around here?ăZerry asked.
ăItâs going to get pretty cold. Many of the people forced to live in tents will be freezing to death.ă
ăUgh.ă
The two couldnât decide at all whether things would improve by winter.
The âred crackâ in the sky was now called the âRed Gateâ. But if the Red Gate is not dealt with, the nation cannot be rebuilt.
While thinning out the monsters, the Empire was simultaneously sending researchers to the âLabyrinth of 9 Emotionsâ, which was still beaming pillars of light.
ăI heard good news in the Adventurerâs Guild.ăDante said.
The Keith Gran Federation offered to send 100,000 troops, and the neighboring Kruvan Holy Kingdom offered to provide supplies and will accept the migration of citizens of the Empire if necessary. The Saint Knight Kingdom was still âunder discussionâ.
ăHou⌠the Holy Kingdom, huhâŚă
ăApparently the Border Earl has already begun preparing for large-scale migration. Many lives will be saved by the time winter comes.ă
ăIt feels nostalgic talking about that place.ă\năWe didnât stay that long, but you two were there for about four years, rightâŚă
The word âyou twoâ reminded Dante of Reiji.
It wasnât until all was over that he heard that Reiji was âsucked into the skyâ.
The Red Gate was almost completely anchored. Small to medium-sized monsters fell from the sky at a stable rate. Many monsters die from the impact of the fall, but conversely, monsters that survive are extremely dangerous.
At that time, Dante was drinking, and he hurried back to Muge Company after noticing the abnormal incident. Reiji wasnât at the company, so Mimino insisted that they should go look for him, but Dante somehow forcibly persuaded her that Reiji would be able to take care of himself, and that they should help rescue the citizens who were late to evacuate.
At dawn, when Dante was finally able to understand the scale of the devastation to the city, he heard that Reiji was sucked into the Red Gate together with Her Highness Anastasia.
ăDante-san, how are the rest of them doing?ă
ăWell⌠Mimino and Non followed Muge-san to Lulusha-sanâs place.ă
ăShall we go too?ă
ăHmm, letâs do that. Itâll be good to hunt out there for a little while too.ă
The Adventurerâs Guild is operating fine because there was a building outside the checking station. For the first few days the guild issued a series of requests to subdue monsters in the Empire, and Silver Balance, holding onto the sliver of hope that Reiji might be out there, undertook the subjugation.
However, 15 days have already passed without Reiji being found.
The subjugation became more efficient with bombing by airships. The Empire became similar to a deserted land.
The Emperor managed to fix the hole in the âSky Harvestâ somehow. It was then flown to a place beyond the checking station and used as a temporary base for national management.\n\nHowever, the Empire had Anastasia, a High Elf royalty, and two military airships sucked in. Dante thought that the Empire would at least try to confirm whether they were alive or dead, regardless of whether they could be brought back safely. If the Red Gate is closed as it is, the people will see it as the Empire having âkilledâ them.
(Is the Empire already driven so far into a corner?)
Airship fuel, shells, and even food â these are limited in number. How many months will they be able to maintain the current situation? No, maybe it will only be a few more days? The Adventurerâs Guild requested subjugation, but they havenât received the reward for the achievement. It has been shelved because it will be paid by the Empire at a later date. They most likely have almost no cash left.
ăI⌠I⌠couldnât help Reiji-kun yet again!!ă
Tears oozed out of Miminoâs eyes, but she clenched her teeth to keep her tears from flowing out.
In the Achenbach Dukedom, Reiji saved Mimino in the battle with the dragon, and saved Dante from petrification. However, Reiji had to disappear alone because he was being pursued by the country and didnât want to bother Silver Balance.
Dante deeply regretted that he couldnât chase after Reiji at that time, regardless of how serious his injuries were.
Therefore, when they met again in the Kruvan Holy Kingdom, Dante thought it was his turn to protect Reiji next. The joy of repaying the kindness filled his heart.
In the end, he didnât get the chance to give back, but rather, he was saved from the betrayal of his old companion Leon, and Reiji fought the Juggernaut alone to protect everyone in the Labyrinth of Fear.
And now when will he be able to give back to Reiji who was sucked into the Red Gate?
(!)
A realization dawned upon Dante.
The Empire is going to close the Red Gate. If so, before that he shouldăź.