"Your Majesty." He bowed. "The Shapeshifter has brought news. Kazimierz and Ursus have gone to war."
Theresica could not help feeling surprised. He had already expected Ursus and Kazimierz to go to war again, but their revenge had come far too quickly. The ceasefire had lasted only a little over a month before fighting broke out again. Didn't Kazimierz's army need time to reorganize and replenish its forces? Or did it possess such terrifying mobilization capabilities?
"How is the battle going?"
"The Ursus army has lost."1
The King of the Scavengers said, "The old Emperor of Ursus's death dealt a tremendous blow to Ursus's morale. The soldiers no longer attacked with the same ferocity as before. However, Ursus still held the overall advantage. They continued to occupy a considerable amount of Kazimierz territory, so it was still too early to determine the war's final outcome."
"That's not bad. We can continue making money from Ursus."
Theresica felt that Kazdel had actually been rather lucky this time. The tsunami had not affected Kazdel's Originium production. Moreover, Terra possessed medical Originium Arts. When a caster discovered someone beneath the ruins, they could immediately use such Arts to sustain the trapped person's life until they were rescued.
With the assistance of this special ability, the Sarkaz casualties were not actually that high. They remained within an acceptable range.
"However, the Shapeshifter also asked me to remind you that some of our transport ships carrying Originium to Ursus spotted traces of Kuranta people around the anchorage."
"Did you confirm this with Ursus?"
"Ursus replied that they were Kuranta from Ursus."
"Oh. Good. But we should still heighten our vigilance."
Theresica stressed the point. The trade route between Kazdel and Ursus could now be considered an important supply line for Ursus. He did not care if the Kuranta attacked Ursus, but they absolutely could not be allowed to interfere with Kazdel's profits.
"Your Majesty, I think Ursus can take over the transport missions entirely now. That way, even if something goes wrong, Ursus will be responsible for it."
"Hmm... That's possible."
Theresica approved of the Corpse Eater's suggestion. Kazdel and Kazimierz were separated by nearly a third of Terra, and they had no old grudges between them. The likelihood of Kazimierz coming here to cause trouble was extremely small. As for what happened after the cargo left... that was Ursus's problem.
"Ah, the clan leader and His Majesty are both here."
A Confessor entered the tent. She removed her mask, revealing the woman named Salus, who had traveled to Victoria with them last time.
"Your Majesty, we've finished analyzing the wave-height data near the coast. The probability of a second wave is zero."
"Really? That's wonderful."
Theresica breathed a sigh of relief. Although the army's camps had been set up in a safe area, a large number of Sarkaz casters and medical personnel were still working within the disaster zone. If they suffered casualties, it would be a significant blow to Kazdel.
"However, we also discovered something strange. I hope Your Majesty will come and take a look."
Theresica was curious about what the Confessors had found. What could it be that they had specifically asked him to come see?
"The... thing you found?"
He stared ahead in surprise. It was not an object at all, but a person!
"I apologize, Your Majesty. We could not identify any racial characteristics on her, so I referred to her as an object."
Salus bowed slightly in apology. "The wave-monitoring team found her on the beach. She was still breathing, so they brought her back. However, the doctors did not know what race she belonged to, so they chose to use medical Originium Arts to provide her with nutrients."
Theresica moved a little closer. The woman lying on the hospital bed indeed had none of the racial features they were familiar with.
She had no horns on her head, no tail behind her, and her ears did not resemble Terra's animal ears. There was no shell on any of her exposed skin, either. Her height was the only truly remarkable thing about her. She was almost as tall as an adult male Sarkaz, and her clothing... Calling it a dress would be more accurate than calling it clothes.2
What kind of person was she?
Theresica looked at Salus in confusion, but Salus suddenly drew the sword at her side. A glint of cold light flashed past him and thrust straight toward his back.
"Your Majesty, please step back."
Theresica immediately took a step back. Only then did he see what was behind him.
The woman had already awakened. Her hand seemed to be reaching forward, but Salus's sword stopped her, its edge pressed against her neck.
I was careless. I shouldn't have wandered off. Shining stayed in Kazdel today to treat the wounded.
Facing the blade at such close range, the woman showed no panic at all. She calmly lowered her hand.
"I sincerely appreciate your assistance, but I believe our actions may have caused some misunderstanding. I have no intention of bleeding here."2
PS: Please vote!!!!!
PS2: I have exams coming up soon. Between practical training reports and reviewing, I'm afraid my update schedule may become unstable. Please forgive me!!!4
Chapter 40: Seaborn
After specifically asking the oldest Sarkaz still alive, the leader of the Confessors, and the Bloodfiend Grand Duke, Theresica finally figured out the identity of the woman before him.1
She was a citizen of the underwater nation of Aegir. In the distant past, the Sarkaz had interacted with Aegir for a time.
"My knowledge is not extensive. The existence of a nation beneath the sea is truly beyond my imagination."1
"The erosion of time cannot be resisted. You confirmed my identity without asking me, which proves your wisdom. I extend my respects to you and your people."
Every movement Gladiia made perfectly met the requirements of etiquette. Looking at her clothing as well, Theresica felt that it symbolized status and upbringing anywhere in the world. She was certainly not an ordinary person dragged in from the street.
Moreover, the woman's physical strength was astonishingly high. When Theresica observed her physical strength, the woman in his eyes became a single-colored figure, as though she had lost her "texture." It was the first time he had ever seen anything like it. Even the Confessors and the Bloodfiend Grand Duke had vulnerable parts on their bodies.2
Why would someone with status and standing, who also possessed a warrior's physical strength, be lying on a beach?
A simple dining table had been set up inside the command tent. Theresica felt that it would make the atmosphere more relaxed under the circumstances.
"Lady Gladiia, why were you lying on the beach? Was it because of today's tsunami?"
"You are correct. The tsunami's waves indeed carried me ashore. However, the danger posed by this tsunami has not yet been fully revealed."
"Can I learn the full story from you?"
"Of course. As the leader of this region, I am relieved by the excellent patience you possess."
After offering a small compliment, Gladiia said, "A disaster is brewing in the ocean. The Seaborn, a group of creatures with astonishing learning and adaptive abilities, are expanding their population throughout the sea and endangering other races."
"The Seaborn... Are they highly intelligent lifeforms?"
Theresica tried asking, but Gladiia's brows lifted slightly. "That term you just used is something I have heard outside Aegir for the first time. It surprises me."
"Is that so? What a coincidence."
Theresica played along. This was knowledge from his former middle-school biology lessons: humans were Earth's only highly intelligent lifeform. When he heard Gladiia describe the Seaborn as a disaster in the ocean, he assumed they were opponents capable of fighting the people of the sea, and subconsciously treated them as creatures like humans.
"There is an information gap in our understanding of one another. If you witness them for yourself, you will gain a more accurate understanding."
As Gladiia spoke, she stood up. Various noises immediately arose outside the tent, among them the especially urgent whistle calling the soldiers to assemble.
"You can sense them?"
Theresica stared at her in surprise. Gladiia removed her hat and gave an elegant, slight bow.
"Even a trace of those filthy things nearby is enough to set my nerves on edge."
Over the sea, several Sarkaz drones hovered in midair. The scene before them was continuously transmitted back.
At the headquarters of Experiment Division One, Theresica saw a sizable island on the screen, moving extremely slowly toward Kazdel's coastline.
"Report! It has no territorial identification data, but the Iberian national emblem is engraved on its exterior. It is expected to reach the coastline in seven days."
After hearing the mech-caster's reconnaissance report, a trace of confusion appeared on everyone's faces.
On Terra, Iberia was the only nation known to build mobile cities at sea. Even without any markings, everyone knew this belonged to Iberia. But the Sarkaz had never had any contact with the Iberians. They had always kept out of each other's affairs. What did Iberia want today?
"If it has no territorial identification data, will sending our drones closer cause a diplomatic incident?"
Theresica asked cautiously. Iberia and Kazdel were separated by Laterano, but Iberia was not a nation to be trifled with. Its economic prosperity was renowned throughout Terra.
At that moment, Gladiia's figure quietly entered everyone's field of vision. She gave an elegant, composed bow. "Its name is Saltwind City. All the equipment on this solitary island stopped functioning a month ago. According to the rules of the land, you may go over and ask whether it requires assistance."1
Inside the command center, the clan leaders silently activated their Originium Arts. Their wary gazes turned toward the woman who had appeared so suddenly. Theresica hurriedly raised a hand to stop them and issued an order.
"Send the drones into the airspace above the city for observation."
The drones hovering over the sea suddenly began flying forward. They skimmed over the water and soon arrived above the city. The full appearance of the mobile city on the ocean was displayed inside the command center.
In the gray-white city, the Iberians' faces were devoid of vitality. They wandered aimlessly through the streets like walking corpses, or rummaged through the collapsed ruins for something. At the far edge of the city, one area had already been destroyed beyond recognition.
"Did the Seaborn turn this city into this state?"
"Land-dwellers were involved as well. Some ignorant people worshiped the Seaborn as gods and led them to invade their own homes."
Gladiia said, "However, some Iberian Inquisitors remained in Saltwind City. They attacked the Seaborn that swarmed toward them, which then caused this tsunami. I was unfortunately caught up in it."
A cult?
Theresica suddenly remembered that, like Laterano, Iberia seemed to be a theocratic nation.
"Your Majesty, they've noticed us."
The mech-caster suddenly shouted. On the screen, the Iberians on the ground could be seen excitedly stretching their arms toward the sky. However, several of them carried weapons and wore uniform clothing, and they were staring over with solemn expressions.
"Send down a communications device. I want to speak with them."
Theresica instructed, "Call Mostima. I want to submit a diplomatic letter to Iberia."
After giving all the necessary orders, Theresica stood before Gladiia and looked up at the exceptionally tall woman.
"You said you could sense them. Are there still Seaborn in Saltwind City?"
"Yes."
"I want to know what the worst consequence will be after this city reaches the coastline."7
"They will notice this place, and then come ashore once more."
Gladiia's voice sent a chill through him. "They have no emotions and no sense of pain. They know only survival and reproduction."6
PS: I have a nucleic acid test at 6:40 tomorrow, and I still have two exams in a row...2
Chapter 41: Aegir: Let Me Be Alone for a While
Mostima delivered the letter to Iberia, but Iberia's response quickly revealed something unusual.
Mostima had not yet left Iberia to begin her return journey, but Iberia had already used long-distance communications to send its diplomatic letter to Siracusa, from where an ordinary Calamity Messenger delivered it to Kazdel.
Oh, my dear friend. I will come visit you soon. Please do not announce it publicly or come to welcome me. Let's make it a little more surprising, all right? Thank you.
That was the entire content of the letter. It was signed Carmen.
It did not look like a diplomatic letter at all, yet it was undeniably sealed with wax bearing the shape of Iberia's national emblem.
After reading it several times without discerning any deeper meaning, Theresica could only set it aside and first deal with the matters before him.
After learning about the Seaborn from Gladiia, Theresica designated the entire coastal region of Kazdel as a military zone, prohibiting ordinary civilians from entering. The Sarkaz residents who had originally lived there were all relocated to settlements around Kazdel. The Planning Committee had prepared a complete set of daily necessities for them, along with one temporary tent per household. Construction of their permanent homes had also begun.
After learning about Kazdel's Planning Committee, Gladiia commented, "It is a very peculiar social model. It is unlike Aegir, or any other continent I know. It appears dull and monotonous, yet it guarantees the survival of the entire collective."
"I will do my best to make it better."
Theresica said this after spending the past few days with Gladiia. Gladiia learned about Kazdel through him, while he learned about the Seaborn and the things he did not know through her.
To deal with the threat of the Seaborn, Aegir had established the Abyssal Hunters, a force used to fight the Seaborn. Gladiia was the captain of one such unit.
Aegir had fought the Seaborn for a long time. At first, they used powerful weapons against them, but the Seaborn rapidly optimized their weaknesses during battle, adapted to Aegir's weapons, and grew stronger and stronger.
After repeated testing, Aegir had discovered a method of exterminating the Seaborn without causing them to evolve. That method was to use the simplest cold weapons, killing them cleanly before they noticed anything. This would not trigger the Seaborn's adaptive mechanism at all.
"So, the Sarkaz's backwardness in weapons has turned out to be just right."
Theresica laughed at himself.
"Not exactly. The true key to fighting the Seaborn is ensuring that no Seaborn survive an attack by high-tech weapons and return to their group, triggering their adaptive mechanism."
Gladiia explained, "The reason for using cold weapons is that, even if some Seaborn escape under those circumstances, they will not optimize themselves."
After learning the key to dealing with the Seaborn, Theresica immediately summoned the leader of the Confessors, the leader of the Banshees, and the King of the Scavengers. Together, they began searching through the distant history of the Sarkaz for combat techniques suited to dealing with the Seaborn's characteristics.
These people were living histories of the Sarkaz. They barely had to search at all before pointing unanimously to a continuously sustained area spell.
Soul Erosion.
"Your Majesty, since the lady beside you says that the Seaborn can rapidly adapt to our methods of combat, then we simply need not fight them directly."
The Confessor said, "Within the area affected by this spell, the enemy's vitality will continuously be drained by us. They will grow weak, and then unknowingly meet their deaths in their weakened bodies."
"Why have I so rarely seen this spell's name recorded in books?"
Theresica asked in confusion. If something was useful, it should have become widely known. How could it have been buried in this sea of books?
"Your Majesty, it is not a spell meant for direct combat, and it takes a long time to affect people. Moreover, it is an area spell. Constructing its nodes on the ground is not only restricted by the terrain, but also requires people to protect them. That would make them an extremely conspicuous target. However, our current enemy is not human..."
Before you continue