Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 121: The Hunters Depart

Rikuto calls out, "Enter," when a knock comes at his office door. He's currently working on financial records to restore Mornistae's finances. He had to sell additional treasures and more of the kingdom's stockpile of crops and ores, which he thankfully got a good price for. With the Grand Duchy being invaded by Daniel's forces, he'll have to make due with the current number of reloads for the void artillery, and he has gathered a rather large defensive force.

About a third of the second wave were able to flee, and they confirmed Rikuto's fears; Daniel equipped demon-kin with rifles and pistols, vastly increasing their per-soldier effectiveness. The heaviest armor even the strongest boruans can wear is only effective at defending against the pistols. Rikuto had hoped that battlemages would be able to protect portions of the army with magic barriers partnered with powerful area spells to try to wipe out the enemy squads as quickly as possible, since their numbers are actually quite low.

The otherworlder king wishes he could see the battlefield himself. The survivors described craters on the battlefield. It could have been explosion spells or some other kind of high-impact magic just as easily as it could have been any number of explosives that Daniel could have created.

What's the worst thing he could make? Could he make missiles? Or rockets? I guess anything's possible. The scouts that returned from Twilight said they had rudimentary cannons on the walls, from what they described.

He sighs as he massages his temples. He looks up, noticing the person who enters is none other than King Father Greydald, who made Rikuto king in order to grant him authority to implement his otherworldly policies unimpeded.

Rikuto bolts to his feet. "Your Majesty, my apologies..."

"Nevermind that. I'm here for word of my daughters." Greydald's tone is cold. At first, he spent most of his time trying to console the Queen Mother Orphialxia, which kept them out of Rikuto's hair, as bad as that is to think.

But, now he's trying to be more active in figuring out what's giving Rikuto trouble. And, as if that isn't nerve-wracking enough, the Grand Prince of the Empire, Yaulander kos Strylaph, 'requested' an audience with Rikuto for some reason that he didn't elaborate on over written message. So, Rikuto has to prepare the fanfare and a feast for a couple of days from the present. He also has to set up beacons and additional security to make sure Daniel's forces don't attack during the audience.

For now, Rikuto has to answer to his predecessor and father-in-law. "Your Majesty, Daniel hasn't made any demands or threats, so I've been trying to establish negotiations with his soldiers, but they've been refusing all parlay."

Greydald collapses into the cushioned chair across from Rikuto's desk, groaning as he clutches his head. "I can't believe I allowed this to happen... I thought I was doing right by my daughters by giving them more leeway than Orphialxia's family did in her youth."

Rikuto is quiet for a moment. He replies, "In your own defense, your Majesty, Japan allows a great deal more freedom for women than anywhere I've seen in this world. Women own companies, serve in the military at all levels, and generally determine the course of their own lives. Freedom comes with risks, but the payoff is much greater."

Greydald sighs. "And yet, both of my daughters are now hostage to Daniel." The middle-aged man shakes his head as he stares at the ceiling. "I truly believed he was a decent person. I should have listened to the nobles pushing for execution." He clenches his fingers against the armrests of the chair. "I was just thankful that Erimaya was safe... And now both she and Heralesse..." He grits his teeth, unable to continue the sentence.

Rikuto is unsure how he feels. He has been hearing similar rumors going around about Daniel as were spreading when he saved Erimaya's life. He has a slave harem of demon-kin, he lays with goblins, and Hekate is an underage girl proudly expressing her romantic relationship to Daniel. It's not as frowned upon in this world, since Erimaya was betrothed shortly after her tenth birthday, but the stories indicate that Daniel is not showing any restraint with his harem.