Rakia, a kingdom situated at the far northwestern edge of the known world, boasts a history spanning thousands of years. According to legend, it was the first kingdom established by humans. As I traversed the path over the Beol mountain, an expansive field unfolded before me. Yet, what truly captivated me were the remnants of ancient walls, towering nearly 40 feet high.
From my readings, I knew that during the age of heroes—a period my mother often spoke of—Rakia faced its darkest times. Then, dungeons appeared, unleashing monsters that spread like a flood, annihilating countries overnight and leaving nothing but ruins and death.
The elves, better prepared for such chaos due to their magic and defenses, constructed walls that withstood the onslaught that destroyed many other races. Unfortunately, humans and demi-humans at that time lacked the strength to hold back the monsters. We elves, at that time—well, you can argue until now—isolated ourselves from the outside world of the forest, but the spirit is willing to lend the strangled human to fight off the monster.
The ruined wall I saw just in front of me stretched as far as the eye could see, leaving a mark that repelled many of the flooding monsters.
"Seeing it firsthand is something else," I marveled at the magnificent wall.
"That wall is a thousand years old, and it stretches for miles. As you can see, it hasn't been maintained well." Phobos spoke with a mixture of pride and embarrassment.
"I see, maintaining it beyond its usefulness might not have been a wise decision," I remarked.
As winter approached, farmers were already busy with their crops. Yet, what drew my attention were the soldiers watching them, clad in full plate armor and bearing swords.
"They look like slaves," I observed, noting the collars around their necks.
"Yes, they are," Phobos replied, her voice tinged with sympathy and sadness.
Oberon, unfazed by the sight, understood the harsh reality. Without machines or a sufficient workforce, slaves had become a necessity, especially with most men serving as soldiers. Despite their status, these slaves appeared well-clothed and well-fed, an unusual sight considering the potential for rebellion. However, the guards were much stronger, ensuring control.
Activating my magic eyes, I saw the soldiers' auras. I am not surprised; their auras were malevolent.
One of the guards halted our march and inspected us, but upon seeing Phobos, they allowed us to continue toward the capital.
"Let's increase our pace. We need to arrive before sunset," I urged.
---
After passing a couple of guard posts and a quaint village along the road, I began to notice a tall structure in the distance, resembling a long bridge that connected toward the heart of the city. According to my knowledge, this aqueduct brought water to sustain the population.
"We're here, Rudeus," Phobos announced.
Just as she spoke, I reached the top of a hill and gazed down at the capital city of Rakia, named 'Enalius.' We were situated to the southeast of the city, separated by a vast river hundreds of meters wide, which connected to the open sea on our left.
Mesmerized by the city's panorama, I could see open fields of weeds and trees bearing fruit that resembled olives I had seen on the internet.
("Lord Oberon,") a familiar feminine voice called out, snapping me back to reality.
("Is that you, Kuro?") I replied.
("Yes, my lord. I can see you from a distance.")
My eyes were drawn to the tallest building, which rose above the outer walls, with another wall within the wall, connecting to the mountain.
("I am glad you're okay. Keep yourself concealed; Phobos is unaware of you, and I want to keep it that way,") I instructed.
("As you command, my lord,") Kuro responded.
The city was surrounded by farm fields, and a protective wall crossed the river, stretching from the sea to the northern mountains, shielding the city from the floods that came with the rainy season. The only connection between the city and the land was a long bridge to our left. As we stepped onto it, I was captivated by the intricately carved stone. Out of curiosity, I placed my hand on it.
'This stone is not ordinary,' I thought, feeling faint mana-like veins running through the bridge's structure. It explained how the bridge had survived the powerful floods of the rainy season.
"Rudeus," Karen called with a displeased gaze.
"I am sorry."
As Phobos told me, fewer people want to go into the city.
"Phobos-sama."
As I called her name, there was a guard gathered at the front gate. when I used my magic eyes each of the soldiers I inspected carefully and most had a darkened aura, but one of them who stood forward caught my attention.
("My lord, the man with brown hair is second in command.")
When Kuro told the man who wore armor with blonde hair he was second in command, I knew his name.
'Solon Alcibiades, the son of the famous Daster. Kuro was right; he was different compared to other soldiers.'
Solon Alcibiades is the son of Daster, but knowing Daster doesn't have his son's back name makes me skeptical about whether they are blood-related or not. However, according to Kuro, the man named Solon did not like his father very much; his father cut ties with his son.
The man named Solon had fierce, blue eyes that gazed upon us. He had brown hair and a large sword on his wrist large enough that I thought that he was a two-hand swordsman.
'If I am not wrong, he is close to a saint-level swordsman. Though Karen still can win against him.'
Just when we were close enough to the main gate, made of sturdy steel, more than 10 feet in height, and yellow walls with red garments that had the symbol of Ares Familia on them.
"Rudeus kept close to me and tried not to provoke any of them."
"I understand, Phobos-sama."
The man named Solon stopped the carriage at the same time he walked toward me. He tried to make himself look intimidating; however, it was not so effective for me, though I don't know about Karen, who was just on the opposite side of the carriage.
I could see him inspecting from top to bottom with a bit of a hostile gaze when our eyes met, but his gaze stopped when he inspected the sword that I had on my wrist.
"That sword, where did you get it?"
With a cold tone and a hostile gaze on him.
'He had pretty good eyes.'
"It was my master who taught me the way of forging."
I tried to conceal the name of the one who created the sword, none other than Hephaestus herself. It was silent for a moment before goddess Phobos stepped out of the carriage.
"Solon, as I promised, I bring one of the great blacksmiths to assist us. If you don't mind, we had much work to do."
Phobos took her demeanor more seriously and showed less weakness in her voice and expression. Not finding any way to rebuke her reason, Salon and the other soldiers let us pass and headed toward the main castle, which, according to Kuro, was just close to the sea.
"Karen." The man named Solon called.
I don't know if Karen turned her back to meet his gaze or not; we only marched forward to the city without a single word I heard from her.
When we passed the gate, I was welcomed by the same vibe I felt when I first arrived at Orario, but there was a big difference in people who wore the same cheap-looking clothes that only had grey long pants with dirty-looking yellow clothes followed by chunks of metal circling each of their necks. None of them look straight; all look down and avoid any eye contact with non-slave citizens.
("Kuro, were you able to grasp how many slaves are in percentage?")
("This city currently has more than a hundred thousand souls, and more than half are slaves. It mixed with other races, but most of them are human, and the rarest one, the elves, there are four of them, my lord.")
("Are they the ones kidnapped recently?")
("I can confirm it, Lord; they match the description of the missing elves.")
'Rescuing them now would be a risk.'
("I want you to keep me updated on their position, and if it turns worse, you know what to do.")
("As you command, my lord.")
What I noticed was that the city buildings were mostly built from clay and marble crafted from the mountain, and they had the same architecture as the Shirone kingdoms from my previous life.
"After spending much time in Orario, I understand how much difference there is between us and them."
Phobos had spent almost a week in Orario. I can understand had a great effect on her. I did notice most of the people were interested in our group, especially goddess Phobos who at least anyone who gazes at the window of the carriage can catch a glimpse of her.
"Thought this place still rich in history. I love to learn more about this city's past."
"You think so, Rudeus?"
"I am."
"Fufufu, when everything is done, I will grant you free access to our library."
"I am looking forward to it, goddess Phobos."
'However…'
Phobos was known to be the most respected goddess, knowing that she was the very reason the city was running as a country and the people were not starving on the street. It reflected their relief reaction seeing the goddess come back to Rakia; however, they were expressing it freely with the children of Ares who were watching us.
'The contrast in their reaction is showing.'
The sun almost sets, and the streetlamp starts brightly lighting the street. As Phobos planned, we head first toward her home, just on the north edge of the city, just beside the tall bridge bringing water that is pouring above that, powering the large watermill that powered the forging gear inside the workshop.
"That workshop was designed by Hephaestus before she left."
"… I am curious why she left the city?"
Knowing she never mentioned it before, I left it to pique my curiosity a bit.
"After everything became too obvious that Ares assumed control, she left, but not only her, the one who was leaving. It was Poseidon, Aphrodite, and the other gods that lost interest in staying here."
Even without seeing her face, I know she felt the sadness of her knowing some of them were probably her closest friends.
When we closed the workshop, I could see there were familiar sounds and smells that I sensed at the Hephaestus Familia workshop. The closer we get, the more apparent how busy the workshop has been, and just not far from the gate there is pale dark charcoal, and there is a stash carriage that carries the material that has been sent by the Empire.
'It's probably worth millions of Valish.'
However, the most condemned finding was the material called 'Seriros' After I captured a couple of those weapons I knew how devastating it would be in the war.
"Rudeus."
"Yes, Phobos-sama."
"I will leave you here with Karen. She will show you where you can rest. In the meantime, I had to speak with Ares."
"I don't mind going with you."
"No, it's better this way. No worries I should be fine."
I can see and hear there is a bit of hesitation in her face and her voice.
"I understand."
Phobos then went with the remaining guard only leaving me and Karen as I gazed at Karen's face she looked restless. I gaze upward at the roof I can see a faint shadow that none, but only my eyes can catch the glance of it.
("Kuro, keep close on her.")
("As your command my lord.")
"Ehem! Karen, would you show me around?"
Karen eyed burrow flinched with her lips showed displease.
"How did you so calm?"
With puzzeled ceary on her gaze.
"Ares, not that fool Karen. He is well aware goddess Phobos is still useful to him. You had to understand Karen in a time like this we must keep calm and prepare when Phobos-sama needs our help."
Karen's eyes widened and she starts showed a faint smile.
"I was so envious of you Rudeus. You are strong and reliable enough that I could see goddess Phobos become more Optimistic than before."
"*sigh* Karen, you need to understand this sooner or later, so listen carefully. After crossing the border and reaching the town, I felt it - not one of Ares' children is stronger than you."
"Really? Is that true?" With her widening eyes.
"Yes, it is. My duty demands that I assess our opponents' strength, and while there's a slim chance I might be mistaken, you must believe in yourself, Karen."
The grim reaction she now change a to bright smile.
"Thank you, Rudeus. Now, let me show you to your room. It's just opposite the workshop."
'Sometimes small encouragement can do wonder I guess.'
As Phobos headed toward the Ares mansion perched at the city's southern edge, Karen guided me to the Phobos Familia base. Compared to the Twilight Manor, it was far grander. Inside, it was less populated than I had expected; many inhabitants were assigned to the front lines. Yet, what puzzled me was their inaction.
With the time they had given us, my father and aunt should have everything prepared. It felt almost as if they were confident that we were powerless to defeat them.
"Rudeus, this is your room. I must take my leave; there is something I need to check."
"Sure, but before you go, can I walk around the town? I'd love to explore the food and meet its people." Karen paused, considering my request.
"I have no doubt you can travel safely alone, but, as Phobos-sama said, try to avoid any fights."
"I understand."
She nodded once and left the room. My room was surprisingly comfortable, with a bed and table that exceeded my expectations.
"Ah, I forgot to ask about the bath." Looking at the stone floor, I thought,
'I could use magic to create one myself.'
After cleaning myself and changing clothes, I gazed out the window. Night had fallen, and the sound of hammering still echoed through the darkness.
'I need to send a letter to Loki,' I thought.
As I wrote the letter about my journey and my thoughts on Phobos, I couldn't ignore the crucial secret I had set aside: the survival of Zeus and Hera Familia's children, Zald and Alfia. Keeping such a secret could get me in trouble if Loki found out.
'Well, they could understand when I explain carefully,' I reassured myself.
After finishing the letter, I pulled out one of my teleport papers to send it to Siv at the underground manor. Placing the letter on the paper and channeling mana into the magic circle, it disappeared instantly. Within seconds, a different letter appeared, as I expected. Siv's recognizable handwriting reported that the situation seemed quiet, and the forest remained unchanged. This news brought a breath of relief.
'The empire has become rather quiet lately. Nora... I should meet her after this,' I mused.
I burned Siv's letter with fire magic, leaving nothing but ash.
'If everything goes according to Phobos's plan, there will be heavy casualties,' I thought grimly.
Leaving my room, I headed out of the manor. The keeper barely glanced at me as I stepped outside. The city's atmosphere was quiet, except for the persistent hammering from the workshop. It could be because I was accustomed to the hustle and bustle of Orario, or perhaps most of the people had already been sent to the border, as Phobos and Kuro had informed me.
Walking alone without Orstrid, who had always been by my side despite her silence, felt lonely. She had been my loyal servant for years.
'It's weird. Even though I'm walking in enemy territory, I can stay this calm.' I mussed myself.
I scanned the area for any intriguing shops, but the subdued atmosphere drew suspicious gazes from nearly everyone I passed. Strangers were a rare sight here, given the treacherous mountains. After half an hour of wandering, a sweet aroma in the air piqued my curiosity. Following the scent, I navigated through narrow, winding alleys, unconcerned about potential burglars—I trusted my instincts.
"That statue..."
Standing before me was a tall stone statue of a man, holding a sword that pointed southeast, towards Orario. The face was unmistakable.
'Ares.'
That god had been treating war like a game. Seeing his likeness carved in stone, all I felt was a surge of anger.
("My lord.")
("Kuro? Has something happened?")
("Ares just punished goddess Phobos. He stepped on her finger.")
("... If he threatens her life, withdraw with Phobos.")
("As you command, my lord.")
'With Kuro's ability, she should be able to pull Phobos out of danger quickly,' I thought. It left a bad taste in my mouth knowing Phobos was in pain, but she had anticipated this. Turning my back, I continued my hunt and eventually arrived at a lively tavern. The sweet aroma grew stronger.
Before entering, I checked the money in my pocket. Satisfied that I had enough, I pushed through the door.
"Hahah, you know th..."
The atmosphere turned dead silent as every eye locked onto me. Ignoring the stares, I walked forward, resisting the urge to take in the tavern's interior. My focus was squarely on the lady managing the tavern.
"Wel- welcome to Ares Tavern," she stammered.
As I reached into my pocket, she grew visibly nervous, as if she might faint at any moment.
Feel free to adjust it further to suit your style and vision!
((BAM!))
I dropped a handful of money on the table and turned my back to the tavern customers.
"FREE FOOD AND DRINKS FOR EVERYONE!"
It was dead silent for a moment before someone in the crowd cheered. Just like that, the cheer spread to everyone, and the atmosphere shifted to one of merriment. I was relieved to see the change. Then, I noticed a man sitting quietly, drinking with a friend. Spotting an empty seat next to him, I took it.
"Lady, what food do you recommend?" I asked.
The young lady stood frozen, unsure how to react to the pile of money before her.
"Miss, is the money not enough?" I raised my tone slightly to get her attention.
Like a jolt, she shook and her eyes widened as she bowed deeply. "I am sorry. Can you repeat that?" she asked, her voice shaky.
"I would like to have the best food your tavern has," I repeated.
"R-right away! Mother!" She hurriedly ran back to the kitchen.
While waiting for the food, I scanned the tavern. The initially cold gazes had softened, and the waiters were bustling with new orders. However, the two people beside me, cloaked in grey robes, seemed determined not to be disturbed. Seeing the pile of empty glasses in front of one of them, I spoke up.
"Drinking that much alcohol will be bad for your health," I advised.
"I don't care," came the cold reply.
The woman with the hood took another drink, and as her hood slipped back slightly, I saw her pale yellow hair. Her face became more visible.
'This woman looks familiar,' I thought.
She looked terrible—her hair a mess, her eyes open but lifeless. It was as if she were there but not truly present.
"Did your son or daughter get sent to the war?" I asked sympathetically.
"If I said yes, it's not like you can hic do anything about it."
"I understand your fear. I saw my mother always worry when my father fought on the front line for more than a month. But she said it was bearable when she spoke her mind and shared her feelings with someone," I responded, trying to offer some comfort.
This time, instead of ignoring me, she stole a glance with her half-open eyes.
"You look almost the same as my son hic. You have beautiful green eyes... Indeed, my son was just sent to the war with my husband. In truth, I don't care how my husband died, but..."
The woman started to bite her lip, expressing her frustration clearly while other customers cheerfully ate and drank.
"My son... he's still a little boy! *hic*"
I didn't recall any information mentioning a young boy on the battlefield, but one name crossed my mind. "If you may, what is his name?"
"His name is Marius. I believe he is now on the frontline with my husband."
As she spoke his name, something clicked in my mind. Now I knew who the stranger I had been speaking with was: Ophelia Victrix, the mother of Crown Prince Marius and wife of King Martinus himself. Despite being a direct descendant of the former king, she had no right to the crown.
Once highly popular, her status had been overshadowed by her husband's decision to relegate her to the background, making her a rarely spoken-of figure. People's awareness of her dwindled, and King Martinus' foolish behavior only fueled their resentment towards her for choosing him as her husband.
Phobos had mentioned her as a key player in a plan to replace the king and let her son take the crown. However, she kept her plan close to her chest, waiting until her son was mature enough to take the throne. This very reason caused a dispute between her and the goddess Phobos, who wanted to dethrone the current king while her son was still young.
'Such a stroke of luck,' I thought.
"There should be a certain goddess who could help you."
"*Hic* If you're talking about Phobos, she won't return."
"Well, it may be hard to believe, but goddess Phobos just came back."
Ophelia's sleepy eyes snapped wide open as if all traces of her hangover had vanished. At the same moment, the waiter arrived with a large meal. The aroma alone suggested it was the tavern's best dish, though I doubted it could rival Mia-sana's cooking.
"This is the best food we have, dear customer, and the drink is our finest alcohol," the waiter announced.
The dish was a fire-cooked fish, its darkened meat releasing a strong, enticing aroma. The scent came from the 'Elia' fruit, which could only be cultivated in Rakia. It looked and functioned like olives from my past world, though I had never tasted one.
'This should be interesting. Maybe I could bring a couple of these back as souvenirs for everyone,' I mused.
"Thank you," I said, flashing the waiter my best smile. Her face turned pink, and she waved her dark, long hair to hide her embarrassment.
"Y-you're welcome," she stammered.
Ophelia tried to stand and leave, but my left hand gently grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
"Do you think meeting her now is a wise idea?" I asked.
"I have to meet her," she insisted, trying to pull away. But she soon realized it was futile, given the difference in our strength.
"Let me go!" she demanded.
"I must ask you to stay. If you meet her now, it will only complicate things. Be patient," I urged.
She glanced around the tavern. Some patrons were sneaking glances at us, while others were already passed out from drinking. But no one seemed to pay us much attention. Ophelia reluctantly sat back down, considering my words.
"Good. If you like, you can have some food too," I offered.
She shook her head. "No, thank you. But... your face is not familiar."
"I am not from here. My name is Rudeus, and I came at Phobos' request," I explained.
There was a moment of silence as I started digging into the food. The freshness of the fish and the oil dominated my taste buds.
'It's hard to describe this Elia fruit's saltiness. The chef probably didn't need to add more salt. The fish still retained its flavor, but it would be perfect with soy sauce,' I thought, savoring each bite.
I closed my eyes, trying to savor the meal, momentarily forgetting the grumpy woman who had just asked a question that seemed to fall on deaf ears.
"RUDEUS!"
"Ugm!" Her sudden call startled me, and I almost choked on my food. "Gulp!... I am sorry."
"I asked why you are here," she repeated.
"This is not the right place to explain the details. Too many eyes and ears," I said, glancing around to see if anyone was eavesdropping while digging out another piece of fish.
"I believe goddess Phobos is not yet aware of the prince being sent to the frontline, but when she meets Ares, she will know what happened to the prince."
Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "You talk like you were aware from the start."
"It's just my logical conclusion. Knowing that Prince Marius is the sole bloodline for the throne, it's in the king's best interest to protect him."
"Your logic is correct, but you're mistaken if you think my husband's idiotic mind can grasp that logic," she retorted.
Oberon knew this to be true after researching and gathering information about the king. However, hearing it from someone close to the king himself highlighted the unpredictability of his actions, much like the god Ares.
("My lord.")
("What is it, Kuro?")
("Goddess Phobos just left the castle and is heading back to the workshop.")
("I see. Keep an eye on her until we meet.")
----
"Phobos!"
Ophelia rushed to the goddess, who had just stepped out of her carriage, and embraced her tightly.
"Lia, you reek of alcohol," Phobos remarked, her voice tinged with concern.
As they hugged, I noticed the bruises marring each of Ophelia's fingers.
"I'm sorry; I was wrong," Ophelia whispered, her voice filled with regret.
"It's okay, Lia. We all were," Phobos replied softly.
As they separated, I stepped forward and gently took Phobos' hand. Just as Kuro had reported, Ares had indeed stepped on her fingers with his boots. The pain must have been excruciating. With a healing spell, I erased the bruises and pain, though her saddened expression remained unchanged.
"Lia, we'll continue speaking in my room. Rudeus, I hope you'll join us," Phobos said, her tone inviting yet weary.
"I understand," I replied.
Back at Phobos Manor, the goddess recounted her encounter with Ares. Initially, Ares was furious and displeased with her prolonged stay in Orario. However, as she shared some filtered information about powerful Familia, he began to soften. This information, already vetted by Loki and Captain Finn, posed no real danger to anyone.
The tension peaked when Phobos inquired about the prince's whereabouts. Learning that Ares had dispatched both the king and the prince of Rakia, Phobos could not contain her anger and disbelief at Ares' reckless disregard for their safety. This revelation led to a heated argument.
"If something terrible happens to Prince Marius, there is no hope for us," Phobos declared, her voice heavy with worry.
Phobos and Ophelia shared a look of hopelessness, each knowing the futility of reasoning with the god of war and the foolish king. They weren't aware that I had an automaton keeping an eye on critical individuals in the army, including the prince.
'I could kidnap him from the front lines to safety, but it would cause chaos both at the front and here,' I thought.
"Phobos-sama, when did Ares head to the frontline?" I inquired.
"Three days from now. He needs to gather all the soldiers and the materials of war. Tomorrow, he will inspect the workshop to see your skills as a blacksmith, Rudeus," Phobos replied.
Ophelia gave me a skeptical look, inspecting me from head to toe. "You... don't look like a blacksmith at all," she remarked.
"In Orario, blacksmiths don't just refine their skills in workshops, Lady Ophelia. They venture into dungeons to improve their stats, hoping to find skills that enhance their blacksmithing abilities. With higher levels, they can delve deeper to obtain rare and expensive materials themselves," I explained.
"A- I see," Ophelia responded, taken aback.
"From what I understand, it's crucial to save Prince Marius. Without him taking the throne, this kingdom will fall into chaos. Someone must go to the frontline to protect the prince," I stated firmly.
Phobos' eyes reflected her frustration. She only had Karen as a trusted warrior, and she didn't want her children under Ares' command, risking their lives. Both women looked reluctant and distressed.
"*Sigh* Lady Ophelia, Goddess Phobos, it may be too much to ask, but can you give me time? We have just arrived and need to reassess the situation," I requested.
"I think it's the best choice we have now," Phobos reluctantly agreed.
Understanding her hesitation, I nodded. "Then I will go back to my room."
Leaving the room, I headed to my quarters on the second floor. Inside, I placed a sound barrier around me. The room was dimly lit by a candle lamp, casting shadows that seemed to resist the light.
I sealed the windows and sat on my bed while my gaze was on the corner of the room.
"Kuro, come forth," I commanded.
The shadow in the corner crept forward, merging with my shadow like a portal. Within moments, a woman with dark hair, wearing a fox-like mask and a shinobi outfit, emerged. Her long dark hair reached her wrists, and two daggers rested on her back, the same length as her arms.
"Hakuro, at your service, my lord Oberon,"