Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 76: Preparations for Retaliation

Heralesse finds Rikuto in a large new construction on the castle grounds; a quickly assembled wooden structure with large doors on the front for cart traffic, and a roof to keep the weather out. It clashes with the basic structure of the castle and the gardens, but he had it assembled in a hurry after returning from his trip to the south, where he hoped to speak with an ancient elven mage said to have seen the founding of most of the kingdoms in the east with his own eyes.

In the apparent congregation building for the mages and magic artisans of the entire continent, by all appearances, Rikuto is inspecting a magic device Heralesse has never seen before.

She approaches cautiously, asking, "Rikuto?"

He looks at her, his expression more grim than it used to be. "Oh, Heralesse. Everything alright?"

The young woman replies gently, "I just wanted to check on you. You haven't been eating, have you?"

"Hmm? Oh. I've been getting quick meals when I have time."

She sighs, approaching to take his arm gently as she looks at the device. "What is so important that you've been neglecting your health?"

"I'm not."

"There are bags under your eyes. You're working harder than ever, and you aren't taking breaks."

He sighs, extracting himself to pace as the magic artisans apparently responsible for the device they're currently looking at return to working on the device. Heralesse studies it for a moment, following Rikuto as he looks at several other projects. "I'm doing alright. I know my limits, Heralesse. I promise."

She is skeptical, but she stays alongside him. She asks, "What are they making?"

Rikuto sighs. "Defense equipment. I have had my suspicions confirmed, and we'll need to prepare for an inevitable invasion."

"From the demons?" asks Heralesse.

"No. From Daniel and Hekate."

This causes Heralesse to come to a stop. "What?"

Rikuto turns, and she can see a deep-seated pain in his eyes. "The Silence that passed over the whole world a few months ago was Daniel testing a terrible weapon. Once this weapon is initiated, it's too late."

"Why would he invade, Rikuto? You heard Erimaya. He and Hekate are open to peace."

Rikuto looks away, and she asks coldly, "What is it?"

"You don't need to be burdened with..."

She slaps him, causing the entire room to fall to silence. The guards nearby flinch, but they hold off for the moment, since Heralesse is more specifically royalty than Rikuto is, no matter their relationship. However, they may need to respond to defend her, given their differences in physique.

She adds sharply, "You are diverting resources to this project, and the bulk of our soldiers have been deployed, haven't they? Where are they?"

Rikuto hesitates, but he sighs. "If all is going according to plan, they are with a joint task force laying siege to the Citadel."

Heralesse gasps. She knows well enough that the Citadel is the castle owned by Hekate and Daniel.

"What have you done!?"

Rikuto glances at the eyes watching them, and he replies, "Can we discuss this elsewhere?"

"What's there to discuss!? You've already attacked! When were you planning to tell me about this!?"

"I didn't want to burden you. We need to do something about Daniel."

Heralesse stares at Rikuto in disbelief. "'Do something about...'? Y-You can't... You can't be serious."