Chapter 236 – Escaped!

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After deciding to go and see Remlik, we used the teleportation gate to return to the Leorl mines in the Lang province.

We stepped out of the gate and met up with Shiel, who was studying the place.

“Lord Heal. So you are heading out to Langs then.”
“Aye. How are things here, Shiel?”
“Unfortunately, we have found nothing to report. Just like those who were here before us. The only thing left is the gate and the digging tools. In other words, nothing was left behind by accident.”

I had asked Shiel and the Veluar people to take a look at the mines.

According to Shiel, there was no doubt that the giant hole had been dug by the Veluarians.

The place had been secured as land to build a city in case something happened to Sheorl.

And the black iron and magic defense stones were tools that were used.
They were left so that they could be used to build the city.
But according to Shiel, there was nothing else.

She then continued.

“We also checked the great hole in the entrance. It must be from some meteor… They fell around Leorl mountain as well, but this place was fine.”

Then Rienna said,

“If they built the city here instead of Sheorl… The mountain with the Sylpheum gate was also safe.”
“Yes… At the time, Sheorl was believed to be the safest place. But Sheorl is now under the sea. While Sylpheum and Land still remain… We made the wrong decision.”

Shiel’s people had superior technology to the surface countries of today.
And yet they still made such an error…

It seemed like a warning.

We believed Sheorl to be relatively safe. But it was possible it could be destroyed from that darkness and miasma.
We may not be able to live in Sheorl anymore.
And so it really was a good idea to have a cooperative relationship with other lands and countries.

Shiel said,

“That being said, there is no point in regretting it now. We are now people of Sheorl, under Lord Heal. Thanks to you, we are able to live rich lives again, under the light of the sun.”
“Because of me… No, it is because of you and the others.”
“Hehe. You are very kind. …In any case, there is no need to worry about this place now. I shall help to guard it as well. And so please, go and deal with Prince Remlik.”
“Thank you, Shiel. For the sake of Sheorl, we will succeed with this plan.”
“Yes, Lord Heal! Please be careful.”

Shiel said as she bowed.

I waved my hand, and then we left the Leorl mountains.

The next day.
After seeing that it had become dark, we headed to the dead tree near Langs.

And there, we dug under the tree. A straight line to the center of Langs.

Behind me was Rienna, Fule…and Erevan, Ashton and Haines.

Furthermore, I had a golem that was disguised as a Vader person guarding the entrance to the tunnel.

And so I was able to focus on digging, without worrying.

“Are we under the enemy nest yet?”

Erevan’s loud voice echoed, and Fule hushed with a raised finger.

“…Father! What if they hear us?”
“So-sorry. Sorry.”
“Also, combat is a last resort. Alright? Really…I hope you understand that.”
“I-I understand.”

Erevan answered quietly.

Still, I’m sure they were all curious.

While swinging the pick axe, I felt the magic energy in the area.

There were numerous lifeforms above.
Which made it clear that we were under the city.

“We are under Langs right now. The demihumans are waiting near the plaza so…yes, we are almost there.”

They had scattered around the city, with their heads looking in the same direction.
They were demihumans who were keeping a watch on the mansion for any activity.

Thanks to them, I was able to grasp the location of the mansion.

And farther ahead, there was an even larger mass of magic energy… It was likely Remlik.
Judging by the elevation, he should be underground.

The demihumans had told us that the prison was underneath the mansion.
So he had been imprisoned after all.

I stopped digging and took out my map.

“Alright. Let us go over the plan once. We will open up a hole under the prison where Remlik is being held. After that, it is up to him. But we will leave the same way that we came.”
“Not only should we avoid fighting, but discovery as well.”

Rienna said, and I nodded.

“Aye. It will be troublesome if there are guards or other prisoners nearby… Thankfully, I cannot sense anyone close to Remlik right now.”
“So it is the perfect timing. But if anyone gets close, we brothers will deal with them.”

Said Ashton, and Haines beat his chest.

Fule muttered.

“I guess we really didn’t need father here…”
“Silence! We don’t know…”
“Keep it down! …Besides, you’ll probably slow us down.”

Fule looked exasperated as Erevan frantically covered his mouth.

“In any case, let’s finish this as quickly as possible. Everyone, I’m counting on you.”

They all nodded.

And so I carefully swung my pickaxe and made sure that no one could hear it as we continued.

Occasionally, I could see that Remlik’s head turned in our direction.
Perhaps he had heard us.

However, the other presences did not move.

And no one went close to Remlik.

Eventually we arrived at the spot right underneath him.

Fule then whispered.

“If we popped out here, even the prince would be surprised…”

He might even shout out in alarm.
But as if to erase such worries, we then heard a tapping sound echo from the floor above.

And so I hit the ceiling two times in reply.
And then we heard the tap come back twice.

Yes, so he had detected us after all.

And then I swung my pickaxe quietly.

As the bricks fell into my inventory, a light shone down.

And Remlik was peering down at us.

He looked more impressed than surprised.

“I did think that if you were going to come, it would be from the ground. But I didn’t really expect you to.”
“It would have resulted in a fight if we came in from the front.”
“That’s true… Still, why take such a risk by coming here? Surely it was not to scold me for not keeping my promise?”

Fule answered.

“Obviously, we came here to rescue you.”
“Rescue me? Why?”

And so I replied.

“Why… Well, because I want to speak to you.”
“About my brother…and Sylpheum, I suppose.”
“You know?”
“After seeing you save that demihuman girl, I felt that I could understand how you thought. If it comes to war, the Sylpheum and demihumans will be harmed.”
“If you are that perceptive, then that will save time. We want to stop the fighting.”

Upon hearing this, Remlik closed his eyes.

“Putting aside the reason that you would want that…why tell me? I am a prince of Vader. Just look at my prison cell. While I am confined here, it is clear that I am being given special treatment.”

Indeed, it was so impressive that it could hardly be considered a prison.
While there were no windows, the furniture was lavish, and there was tea and sweets on the table.

Clearly, this was made for the upper class.
And someone like that would normally side with Vader over the Sylpheum.

However, Remlik was different… I was sure of it.

“Because it is you. When the fighting starts, it’s not just the demihumans and the Sylpheum. The Vader people will die as will. You would understand that.”
“I see. But aren’t you worried that I might betray you?”
“You don’t look like someone who would do that. If you were only thinking of Vader, then you would have kept all the items under Leorl for yourself.”
“Perhaps I was just acting? I saw that I could not beat you, and so I lowered your guard? And perhaps I only want to help the demihumans in order to use their power for my own ambitions.”
“Even though it’s earned you the contempt of so many Vader people?”
“You saw my older brother, didn’t you? And in the palace, I have other brothers who are stronger than me. Even if I expanded my faction, I could not beat them. And so it would not be strange for me to want to grow in strength, by allying myself with demihumans on the frontiers, who no one notices.”
“That is true. It would not be strange for you to aspire to be king… No, if anything…”

Remlik answered immediately.

“Yes. I want to become the king of this country. I want to acquire the great silver, subjugate the forces of darkness, and other kingdoms, and become a ruler that history will remember. Is there a contradiction?”

Erevan then answered.

“Is that how you really feel!? So you deceived our chief!!”
“Father! You’re too loud!”

Fule forcefully covered Erevan’s mouth with water magic, and then pulled him away from the hole.

I could not deny Remlik’s words.
The part about wanting to be king might be true.

It was possible that he was just using us for that end…

But if that was the case, then he would have no reason to tell us that.

That being said, taking him out now still did have its risks.
If he betrayed us, it would not just hurt the demihumans and Sylpheum, but Sheorl as well.

Should we still help him then…?

The answer was simple.

“…Remlik. We have no way of knowing how you really feel. However, we need your help. In order to stop the fighting and save the demihumans. That is all.”
“The help of someone you cannot trust?”
“People will die. There is no time to examine whether or not we can wholly trust you. If it happens, we will stop you with all of our power. But now, I want to negotiate.”
“So you will set me free, and I will help you in exchange?”
“Yes. It is up to you, in the end. I am sure you don’t trust us completely either.”

I said, and then Remlik laughed.

“Well, I am glad that you said you want my help… And not some nonsense about being a friend. After all, it is the only reasonable explanation.”

And then he became serious.

“Very well then. If you set me free, then I will lend you a hand.”
“Good. So it’s settled.”

I offered my hand, and Remlik gripped it tightly.

“Aye. You won’t regret it.”
“I believe you.”

And then Remlik picked up his mithril sword and descended into the hole that we had dug.

“Let’s hurry. The servant will come to check on me soon.”
“Very well. I will seal up the hole and then we will go.”

I took the rocks out of my inventory and filled up the hole. And then I turned around to the others.

“Good. Let’s go then.”
“Aye!”

We ran down the tunnel towards the dead tree.

As we ran, Erevan said to Remlik,

“You. You didn’t react when seeing me or the others.”

Erevan was a goblin.
Ashton and Haines were kobolds.
And they looked very different from humans.

Remlik replied.

“It is no surprise to me that he has demihuman friends. But what are your names?”
“I am Erevan. And this is Ashton. That is Haines.”
“Erevan, Ashton, Haines. It’s nice to meet you. And I have a feeling you are all more than you seem. After all, you came all of the way out here.”
“It just shows how the chief is fond of you. So don’t you dare betray him.”
“Haha. I won’t… Hmm?”

While running, Remlik looked upwards.

At this point, we should not be under the city anymore.
And so I could not sense any magic energy.

“What is it, Remlik?”
“No, it’s…!? Everyone, stop!”

Said Remlik, and we stopped immediately.

At first, I did not know why.

But right after…above. I felt that a powerful magic presence was descending from the sky at a great speed.

“…This is bad!”

I immediately created a barrier of magic energy around us.

At the same time, something huge shot towards the tunnels.

Next Chapter

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I picked up a new series. Please consider checking it out:

Kamigami – 1

The Cave King will live a Paradise Life -Becoming the strongest with the mining skill?-