The Land of the Rising Sun Transfers to Another World

Chapter 94: From the Western Sky...

I'll keep going and going!

- ワイアード

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Arad Great Forest

A lone steam-powered vehicle of the Hardique Empire was rushing through a place that was once a fierce battlefield. As it moved, spewing intense steam, the vehicle possessed a form reminiscent of a "traction engine" powered by a steam engine.

The steam-powered vehicle shook and rattled, but the cause was less the unpaved road and more the vehicle's own issues.

"Quickly! We need to get this to Major General Muont!"

"Even so, it's crucial not to cause any violent vibrations! The handling of the Devil's Breath!"

"But we were ordered to hurry!"

The soldiers drove the vehicle while carefully holding down the wooden crate that had been secured with rope.

"Anyway! The priority is to get this delivered quickly!"

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a sound like something slicing through the air was heard, followed by an arrow piercing the throat of the soldier in the driver's seat.

"Ugh! ...Garrgh! ...Gahh!"

Unaware of what had just happened, the soldier, with a strained voice, fell forward.

"Ah!? Hey!"

The soldier next to him tried to help him up, but of course, he did not respond. The steam-powered vehicle lost control and, caught by the bumpy road, swerved erratically. Another soldier desperately tried to take the steering wheel but crashed into a large tree nearby.

CRASH!

The violent impact threw the soldier forward, and his neck collided with the tree, causing him to fall motionless. In the eerie silence that followed, the only sound was the hissing of steam escaping from the wrecked vehicle.

Then, dark elves wearing black hoods appeared from above. They all carried bows and carefully approached the wrecked steam-powered vehicle.

"This is... the thing? This crate?"

One of them slowly untied the rope and removed the crate. He placed it on the ground, opened the lid, and inside were tightly packed black iron capsules with cotton. At the sight of this, they were certain.

"Alright, we've got what we came for. Now, we just need to hand it over to Mr. Kasuya, and the mission will be complete."

The dark elves quickly dispersed from the scene. A tense silence enveloped the area again, broken only by the steam hissing from the broken vehicle.

・・・

First Defensive Line: High Walls of Ulbargo, Halidom of Alfheim

At the High Walls of Ulbargo, where the fierce battles of the day seemed like a distant memory, the elves were taking a brief respite. Soldiers stood alert on top of the High Walls, holding their bows while keeping watch of the surroundings. Inside the walls, soldiers received medical care for their wounds, and the civilians helped distribute food and supplies.

"...It's too quiet... and the sound of the forest has stopped... what's happening?"

Wenduil felt an odd sense of unease regarding the retreat of the Hardique Empire's army, as though something was wrong.