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Along the road illuminated by the morning sun runs a handcar at neck-breaking speed.
Two soldiers are silently pumping the car down the rail, drenched in sweat.
Since leaving Arosel they have gone non-stop towards Folkalore, and though are much exhausted they do not stop; their duty to their lord motivates them to return even a second sooner.
And upon reaching their destination, the hand car passed beyond the end of the rail, crashing and sending the soldiers into a mountain of straw, which was there to break their fall.
Even so, one of them fainted from the impact, while the other hurried out from the straw.
「Blegh… it’s rotten, isn’t it」
He said, spitting out straw from his mouth. Soldiers from the gate run up to him,
「Who goes there?!」
「Ah, I am a messenger from the scout division. I can no longer run, so pass my words to Lord Hifumi… Vichy troops have been spotted approaching Rhone. A host of about 13,000 men. 500 of them may be magic casters.」
「So they have come!」
「Alright, I’m heading off to the castle!」
More than tension the soldiers felt exhilaration, and this atmosphere spread through the army. They spoke with the scout for but a brief moment, but had already understood the crux of the report.
The passed out soldier was awoken with a bucket of water, and the soldiers who were otherwise unoccupied went around telling the others the news.
This day began with the lightest mood the soldiers have felt since Vichy began preparing their forces,
Origa knocked on the door to the lord’s office, and waited to be permitted to enter.
Upon entering, she saw Hifumi with his legs crossed on the table, pondering something. Kasha was nowhere to be seen.
「You have called for me, how can I be of service?」
「Origa? A messenger reported incoming Vichy force」
「So it’s finally time?」
「In the end, they completely ignored the matter with Beirevra」
Origa gently shook her head.
「I am grateful for the concern, but the fault lies with Vichy for stepping on the tiger’s tail. The matter of Beirevra can be solved when Vichy is no more」
「Is that so…」
Hifumi said whilst holding onto the paper in his hand.
「What has been on your mind, my lord?」
「Since a while back, I’ve been told to settle on a formal Family name for my domain. I hadn’t thought to do it until the next expedition, though」
He didn’t want to think about it, so he used to write “Tohno” on the documents. He wasn’t particularly attached to the name, but couldn’t think of anything else.
And since then, the region was known as Vagenti’s Domain no longer. It was now Tohno’s Domain.
「Alright. Just as we planned, have the garrison forces return. Have the prototypes prepared as well」
「Understood. I will pass the order along to Alyssa. I am honored to be allowed to assist you my lord on your path towards victory」
「That’s wrong」
「I apologize. We shall show Hifumi-sama how we wonderfully crush the enemy」Currently the plan was to empty Rhone, set traps, and decrease the number of enemies that way. Hifumi, however, would move on his own.
Origa saw is inappropriate to allow Hifumi’s image to deteriorate because of a loss, and thus rejected this kind of tactic, but because Hifumi himself did not care much for victory, she didn’t object too strongly.
After all, he started the war to kill a lot of people; if he won, he would have to plan another battle, and devise schemes to win the next one. Victory itself mattered little to Hifumi.
｢I hear that Vichy has invaded!｣
The door opened with a bang, and Kasha ran in.
｢Yes｣
｢Why are you so relaxed! We have to prepare｣
｢Calm down. You have a task you must carry out. There’s no use shouting around in our Lord’s room. Prepare for Hifumi-sama’s departure.｣
｢Y-yes, but… Origa is also going to fight?｣
Kasha’s face was dyed in worry, while Origa carried a cool expression.
｢What are you saying now? You have your mission, I have mine｣
｢Hifumi-san, surely you can’t possibly let Origa out onto the front lines?!｣
Obstinately, Kasha directed the conversation at Hifumi, but his cool response crushed her hopes.
｢Not really. She should do as she will. She is not my slave, you see｣
｢I will fight together with Hifumi-sama｣
Seeing that no further words could convince either of them, Kasha’s shoulders dropped and,
｢… I will make preparations｣
She turned around and left.
｢Would that be fine?｣
｢She is a part of the larger play. She’s necessary to set the stage as I will it｣
Hifumi wore his katana on his hip, and left.
｢Kasha is just a fool, after all…｣
A whisper that no one could have heard.
By the rail and shuttle one could reach Arosel from Folkare by the following day, and thus in a day the forces were assembled there. This was a speed never before seen in this world.
｢How peaceful…｣
Though it was cloudy, it was not cold.
Tying the obi of his hakama, Hifumi looked down the road in the direction of Rhone. On one side of the road lay the tracks. Behind Hifumi, in the city of Arosel, the hoi polloi were taking shelter while the soldiers were busily getting ready for war.
By their predictions, the vanguard of the Vichy forces was set to come into view by tomorrow.
｢We have finished preparations｣
Alyssa stated, having arrived with two soldiers.
The soldiers were on the handcart, choosing the direction it would move in.
｢’Tis finally time… Hifumi-san truly does not fear war?｣
｢It’s an opportunity to kill people in broad daylight. Missing it would be a shame｣
｢You never think that you will be the one to be killed?｣
Hifumi answered Alyssa’s question while as he got onto the handcart.
｢Of course I do. When you kill, it’s a privilege to not be killed｣
｢Huh?｣
｢Alright, let’s go｣
The soldiers set the cart into motion upon his order.
The cart accelerated and soon it was out of sight.
｢So Hifumi-san also thinks about dying…｣
Remembering her own close brush with death, Alyssa tried imaging a mortally wounded Hifumi, but could conjure no such image in her mind.
Rhone, on the border, had no garrison and no traps to welcome the invaders.
The Vichy vanguard were able to relax only after a few hours, and came to use Rhone as a rest area. Probably to attempt to reward their soldiers as much as they could.
As Orsongrande forces never used the houses in Rhone, a thick layer of dust was present in every building, but it was still better than sleeping on grass and stones.
The most unfortunate of the Vichy forces were those who had to stand guard.
And observing these boisterous soldiers who were partaking in a meal, was none other than Hifumi.
Vichy soldiers were shabbily dressed, and outside of the captains and generals giving out orders, none looked like a part of the regular army.
The way they moved showed an attempt at discipline but a complete lack of thereof as well, a truly shabby scene.
Observing this horde and separating them into groups of hundreds and thousands, were the captains and the generals. These men came together and started bickering angrily. The eldest among them, a man with a dark mustache, was clearly in disagreement with the rest.
He was demanding that they immediately attack Orsongrande, while the others were demanding a break, leading to discontent and disagreement between them.
When their “meeting” concluded, each commander went into a different building.
(They are probably planning on rearranging the troops after they all have gathered in the city)
Gliding into the shadows created by buildings, Hifumi slept there until it was dark.
Upon hearing that Vichy troops were advancing, an individual took the fastest horse to Orsongrande Castle.
｢…Pajo, as expected｣
｢Ay!｣
Upon learning of the news Imeraria called Pajo and ordered her dispatch reinforcements to Folkalore, as they have previously schemed.
When Pajo had left, Imeraria called in the Prime Minister. He, too, knew of her intentions.
｢Imeraria-sama… are you certain this is what you wish for?｣
｢I have made up my mind. Pajo, too, is satisfied… Yes, it is my fault that Hifumi-sama was brought into this world and subjected to unpleasant happenings｣
Imeraria’s gaze was towards Folkalore.
｢That, however, does not give him a right to trample on this world. I can’t say I am not motivated by a personal grudge, though… Had he fought the beast-men there may have been use of him, but fighting fellow humans is unforgivable｣
｢Imeraria-sama…｣
｢’Tis an underhanded trick, but should Hifumi-sama overcome the predicament before him, should he be such an aberrant of a man, then no one under the heavens could stop him. But I have been told Vichy forces number more than ten thousand. Victory with a handful of men is impossible.｣
And as her tears spilled out,
｢I am powerless. I can’t even strike down my father’s foe without resorting to cheap tricks. Should I fail I too will die. When that happens, please take care of my brother｣
The Prime Minister, without saying anything, bowed and left.
Night had fallen on the city of Rhone shrouding it in darkness and silence.
Some still stood around campfires, their sleepy faces illuminated by its light.
(I guess it’s time)
Hifumi slipped out from his hiding spot and traveled from shadow to shadow.
His targeted the buildings he demarcated as belonging to commanders.
He approached the first building and tried the lock on the wooden door—it was unlocked so he went in.
There were five people inside the house. One in each room, sleeping.
He entered a room and slit the throat of a sleeping enemy.
Then to the next, and the next, murdering as he went.
(Yup, yup, next, next)
Hifumi then moved to the next housing, dispatching of the men he remembered seeing that day and any who were in the house.
Some were embracing a woman, so he skewered both of them.
(Wasn’t there a movie with a similar plot?)
Hifumi was not a fan of horror, so he didn’t remember the movie all too well.
Picking methods that would dispose of his enemies quickly, Hifumi felt like he was being a kind person to them.
But he did indeed pick methods like cutting the carotid artery, decapitating, stabbing in the heart, stabbing the brain, cutting a body in half—methods were such that a sleeping person could not react.
Within two hours he had planned to dispose of every commander. Not a single had learned of Hifumi’s presence, nor put up any resistance, causing Hifumi to quickly grow bored. He desperately hoped that some would counterattack, but all disappointed.
He also saw food, but found it boring to kill starving enemies, so decided not to tamper with it.
At last he entered the building where the mustache-commander was.
The mustache-geezer was soundly snoring in his room.
After observing his sleeping face, Hifumi took out not his katana, but a quill and wrote.
Buer, the man feared as the strictest general, awoke with the phrase『Noisy Bastard』written on his forehead. Buer was known as the strongest, most violent general, and his anger was likewise famous.
Thus when he saw the phrase written on his forehead he exploded in anger.
Yet even that anger was incomparable to his rage when he heard that every other commander was killed.
｢Such cowardly tricks! And why leave me alive?!｣
His poor chamberlain could only remain silent through his anger.
｢Is he saying that I’m not a threat?! That my presence wouldn’t change anything?!｣
Hifumi was kind enough upon leaving Rhone to show himself to a patrolling soldier and then knock him out. This way he meant to convey that the slaughter was carried out by someone from the outside. Buer, of course, figured that Orsongrande must have done it.
In his anger, Buer forced the soldiers to immediately prepare for a forced march toward Folkalore.
A few soldiers were so afraid of the sudden demise of their commanders that they fled.
Buer berated these individuals, threatening them with the greatest of punishment, and failed to consider his troops when forcing the march.
｢Orsongrande bastards! I will reach your gates and end you! Just come before me!｣
The soldiers drowning in his constant litany of anger and hatred, were marching towards Folkalore even more exhausted than they were yesterday.
“Some were embracing a woman, so he skewered both of them.”
goddammit Hifumi
He just refuses to let them go at it huh……I wonder if he is jealous deep inside?
Why would he be when he has Origa and Alyssa? Wouldn’t it be logical to off both? Since the woman would just alarm, in some way or another, the patrols if left alive and sobbing in fear.
More so, the women were probably Soldiers frok Vichy as well. No need to think with your dick during a war.
Don’t ask me. i don’t understand how that man thinks…..Couldn’t he just casually walk by them and let them do their thing and then kill them later lol? However, I agree….it is war time….it is not the time and place to get horny like a dog……
Reminds me of blacknail from the ironteeth novel when he assassinated the man and women sleeping in bed together
nah i think the only thing that would arouse him is being able to find a strong opponent.
He’s bloodthirsty but very tactical and quite sufficient in silencing his foes.
At least they died in ecstasy, one would assume
A lest he went out in a good way. There are much worse ways to go.
Hifumi be like….
upon entering the room he hear the woman moaning loudly
Woman: O yeah fuck me harder!
*the bed creaks louder as the commander fucked the slut harder*
Hifumi: …….
Hifumi: (just like the stupid couples in the movie DIE!!)
then skewered them both from the crotch
LOLS
Yeah of course being a complete prick and sexist he would leave the women alive and they would go yell everywhere that there’s an intruder and he would have trouble. Makes more sense to kill the women too, we are in 2016 guys, women went equality so they should die equally too!
I think he mean Jason vs Freddy Krugger
thanks for the chapter
Imeraria will be disappointed hard by the victory of Hifumi
Well… They’ve tried to be sneaky and shit by trying to use Kasha which didn’t work for even a second. The only reason Imeraria and Pajo are still alive is because Hifumi literally wants them to keep sending forces to try and kill him… Kasha is a fool though. Hifumi’s world was focused a lot more on the sneaky shit then this world after all!
She’s not the onlyvone so are imeria and pojo theyvact like they weren’t attacked or hadn’t killed humans before he came,and as for killing the king it was legal according to their laws
What hypocrite s they act like they weren’t killing and fighting humans before he came even him killing the king was within the law
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Those cats are alive, right? Their heads look… cracked open…
Yes, they are alive.
And at the same time.. not..
How will he handle the beast-men and fantasy races? Will he let them join him if they were to bow their heads or would he anatagonize them, even after showing their humblesness and no sign of wanting to fight attitude?
At this pace a huge number of people will submit to Hifumi’s rule, so he would sooner or later get bored with no decent opponents.
Hifumi: now all are mine. It’s boring…… well, let’s fake my death and start coup d’ etat in the name of revolution :p
That’s highly probable
Touché.
I’m guessing he kills everyone.
If that happens then go with the plan that some of the battle mainacs in other ln do start a dojo and make your opponents by teaching them. He is already trying to up the war ability by letting the girl spy on him yet they all be like how inhumane let’s just send 20k people to kill 200.
“Kasha is just a fool, after all”
Jajajajajajajajajajaja. I can’t wait to see how Imeraria and Pajou will react when they realize they were played.
Keikkaku dori *link fingers and smile*
And in the best part of the movie comes…
?_?
ADVERTISEMENTS
But tis is a novel not a movie and the advertisements are to click on site.
BUT!!!
The break is there and is LONGER.
I shall await next part with mediocre patience
Thanks for the blood.
Imeraria… Truly a disappointing princess~
Yep she making a bad decision.
You obviously haven’t read enough novels. This is already a high standard for them.
I think she is actually very smart. She is outsmarted by Hifume but she didn´t blindly try to get revenge and dealed with the aftermatch of the king´s death in a very capable way.
What kind of of smart politician that fail to calculate the equation: many years no one can expand the country, and one Hifumi push through in a big step. What kind of smart politician that fail to take into account warrior’s estimation of Hifumi. Pajou doesnt count, she’s a dumb bimbo with too much ambition. But her colleague, male colleagues, take Hifumi very seriously.
Imeraria’s only smart to the point of not immediately attack Hifumi but wait until she can do a pincer attack with another country. And only to that extent. What happen after that? She got a mess of a war in her hand WITHOUT a hero to rely on. What make she think she can resolve that in satisfactorily way better than before Hifumi’s time
Las I checked, she was bringing an army with her. Besides, if she doesn’t do something about Hifumi, he’s just going to start another war once he gets bored and bring more trouble to the kingdom.
PS: If he’s capable of dealing with more than 100 armed soldiers by himself and come back unscathed, how would you deal with him?!
The first thing is to gather data on target until the moment you strike. Extensive surveillance. Pajou is fine, but she should use more others than her, as intelligence coming from Pajou is biased by her ambition. This is too soon.
The second thing is to milk this “hero” for all he worth. Face it, you already pay big time for summoning him (a king’s life). As leader of a nation, you bear responsibility to make sure of getting all value you can from such an investment. She should have used him as bulwark against other nations and expand borders. not this halfassed shit of conspiring with enemy to kill him right after getting one area.
The third is to strike with all force, trained and informed. Her moment of betrayal rely on an ex-slave of his, someone he trained, which is too chancy. She strike with only third knight order, which is a third of national force. She doesnt have a strong fighter as an ace in the hole, both for protection against his assassination, and for assassinating him.
bah, small fry~
Consider that Pajou and the princess are afraid that with time Hifumi’s power (political and military) will grow. The more good he will do forthe country the more influence will he gain.
They might be afraid that soon he will have so much power that they won’t be able to de anything against him.
Another thing is that how would you find a better chance to kill him then now? He first will fight against a 10k+ army. If he somehow still manages to win then they should be able to deal with him in a weakened state with their 5k army (at least this is how hey assume). At the same time if he dies they can end the war too with minimal or no further losses.
Also if they let Hifumi prolong the war or start new ones that won’t necessarily benefit the country even if they always win. The conquered land is one thing but a war costs a lot (manpower, money, equipment, food and others) and they will have to spend ever more later to protect those new lands. Orsongrande is already in a tight budget.
So far they were kinda lucky because Hifumi could find some suitable opponents who were also harmful/hostile towards Orsongrande too. They are just afraid what wil he do after this war is over.
That sounds nice until you realize one single fact with your whole being: You only have one chance.
Hifumi wont forgive a hostile intention. Actually, it’s the single fragile reason that keep him from killing you. You will only have one chance to point hostility toward him.
One. Only.
But the war isn’t completely on him as they were already looking into the spies that were killing people in their country
Yeah i know that Vichy and Horant was acting hostile towards Orsongrande and that Pajou and the Imeraria’s plan was very risky/foolish.
I just listed the possible reasons for the behaviour of Pajou and the princess. I just wanted to describe their point of view and their possible reasons for doing what they do.
Stupid nobles and royalties caring about their own hides and benefits
Thanks for the Chapter! I look forward to more of your work ^_^
“Alyssa tried imaging a mortally wounded Hifumi, but could conjure no such image in her mind.”
well,if anyone ever said that Hifumi is dead the first thing I would do is to check whether its 1st april or not
and Imeraria,I doubt Hifumi would kill her,she give him a stage that he yearn for,and worst case scenario he would just kill the queen later 😀
I pity Kasha. Not knowing what to do with her life and all. I mean, I know it’s normal, and human, to have that mindset. Hell, Hifumi is obviously the abnormal one but, if she in the end join Hifumi in the end after what she has done… I hope not though. Would not want a person who would sway for every shitty self-righteous words other party throws at him/her and just say “sorry i was mistaken, please take me back” in the end. But since it’s Hifumi, he clearly enjoys this since he can kill more due to Pajou’s scheme.
Thanks for the chapters 🙂
I love reading the chapters where Hifumi doing the killing. Bonus if theres a part where Hifumi purposely leaving the enemy alive just to make the war more interesting for him.
But I never thought he would make fun of them in the cheapest way lol. Writing on the face while sleeping, so childish, yet very effective. He got a good sense of humour.
Personaly, I would have drawn a penis on his cheek and shaved the mustache.
Can you do all that without waking him up?
Fufu …. fufufufufu … childish it may be, but he doesn’t do it without a purpose. You will thoroughly enjoy where it leads to, I can guarantee it. 🙂
“Had he fought the beast-men there may have been use of him, but fighting fellow humans is unforgivable”
Yes, attacking the beast-men who show no aggression beyond defending their own lands from invasion is so much more righteous and meaningful than destroying a nation or two that have been proven to be using human experimentation and having spies/conspirators within her own government and armies. Truly, Imeraria is a wise and just queen!
It makes me laugh that the king and Imemaria are complaining about the hero being batshit insane. Look girl and king, karma doesn’t exist but I believe the hero you summoned is a better human being than you. At least he kills women and men equally, I’m betting he’ll kill beasts equally too. He also treated slaves and nobles equally. Simply put he’s a good guy although he likes killing a little but who can blame him? In Japan you can’t go around fighting everyone, here he can so he does it, he repressed himself so much.
He kills equally rather just ones. Killing one is just discrimination and ethnic crap.
Tactics. Thanks for the chapter
The way they moved showed an attempt at discipline but a complete lack of thereof as well
complete lack thereof would be more correct, no?
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And now we wait and see/read how Hifumi’s “handful of soldiers” drives of an army exceeding 10000 soldiers and the awkwardness of the arrival of the unneeded reinforcements as well as the potential part where Hifumi blackmails Pajo and Imeraria with the letter…
Still, it’s amazing how the only time Hifumi felt something even remotely close to fear was when thinking about getting married…
“’Tis an underhanded trick, but should Hifumi-sama overcome the predicament before him, should he be such an aberrant of a man, then no one under the heavens could stop him.”
Yet, somehow I doubt that she will give up after this…
Thanks for the chapter!
She doesn’t realized that Hifumi already sliced something from the heaven and that was the Shinigami that given him darkness attribute.
｢That, however, does not give him a right to trample on this world. I can’t say I am not motivated by a personal grudge, though… Had he fought the beast-men there may have been use of him, but fighting fellow humans is unforgivable｣
Yeah, because the cute beast race is so horrible. Such hypocrisy, saying that he, who she selfishly summoned, is evil for wanting to cause war and kill some enemies who attack him, while she herself lied about the beast-men and wanted him to massacre them, causing a huge war leading to countless innocents dying. Typical case of someone believing they’re more righteous than someone else when they do something similar… I support the beast race more than the human race, if I went to another world, I would join the beast-men without a second thought. Animal eared girls for life.
Not right to trample on the world? She is seriously naive as she can be.
That world already trampled many times and now Hifumi seen as a larger threat?
They don’t really admit change and Hifumi is bringing change by throwing down the world in blood and tears.
I think this guy is just like the real Dracula
What a boss strategy. See what he did there? He killed all the possibly competent ones and left the trash to lead. Thus destroying morale, energy, and ability of the entire army. Now its just a group of trash.
Hifumi knows who’s the smart and who’s the fool. He choose the fool to be alive knowing the fool would lead his men to hell..