WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 721: The World Is Just

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Gauss Territory played an exceptionally important role within the Arcane Federation.

Beneath its mountains, blanketed in perpetual snow, lay vast mines. It was the Arcane Federation's largest producer of iron ore. Gauss Territory's proprietary Magnet Needle magic could locate and separate iron veins, a mysterious art found nowhere else on the continent.

Iron had a high alchemical cost, making it an exceptionally valuable resource in the Arcane Federation, which relied heavily on alchemy. It would not be an exaggeration to call Gauss Territory the Federation's breadbasket.

That was why it had received special treatment within the Arcane Federation.

"What did you just say...?"

"Hm. It seems you didn't hear me properly. Gauss Territory has decided to secede from the Federation and become independent."

It was a bolt from the blue. The head of the Gauss family continued speaking to the frozen Cyan Tower Master.

"Gauss Territory has served the Federation for a long time. We supplied the Floating Castle with high-quality iron after only simple alchemical processing. Everyone in the Arcane Federation knows we sold it at an extremely low price."

"As far as I know, you were granted priority purchasing rights for the Floating Castle's magical tools in return. Isn't it unfair to leave that out?"

"Priority purchases of magical tools are our rightful due. The materials for those tools come from Gauss Territory. If we processed the iron ourselves and sold it on the market instead of supplying it, we could make far greater profits. Supplying it at that price was a favor. To be honest, the Floating Castle has done little but exploit us for a very long time."

The wording was excessive, but it was not entirely wrong. Gauss Territory really had been supplying iron below its assessed value.

Of course, its mining costs were exceptionally low because it possessed both its territorial rules and its unique magic. Still, that was the result of Gauss Territory's repeated innovations. Who would accept being told to sell even more cheaply just because they had developed a way to mine more cheaply?

"Gauss Territory has long held great respect for the Demon King, who protected the Arcane Federation. But now that the Demon King has disappeared, we have no reason to abide by past agreements. From now on, Gauss Territory will trade with other territories as an equal."

The talk of respect amounted to something simple. The Demon King was gone, so they no longer needed to obey the Federation.

Seeing straight through that attitude, the Cyan Tower Master replied.

"My master is still in the Floating Castle."

"If the Demon King is still there, why doesn't the Demon King appear before us? Why has the heir of Celsius Territory succeeded at will? Why has the Floating Castle settled in Celsius Territory without permission?"

The Floating Castle had been badly damaged by a meteorite, or rather, by the Sword Saint. It had hurriedly landed in Celsius Territory.

There was no grand reason Celsius Territory had been chosen. The floating castle had recently descended in Celsius Territory, so its landing site was still clear. It also helped that Celsius Territory could support the Floating Castle's population.

Yet was that truly the only reason Elisha Celsius chose Celsius Territory?

No. Somewhere in her heart, affection and familiarity for her homeland must have remained. She had not been conscious of it, but that feeling had undoubtedly influenced the Cyan Tower Master's decision.

"If the Floating Castle was damaged and needed alchemical steel, you should have come to Gauss Territory. Gauss Territory is unmatched when it comes to magic that handles iron. Unless you deliberately ignored us, that is."

From a coldly practical perspective, she should have gone to Gauss Territory. That would have been the more rational choice.

The Cyan Tower Master spoke as if making an excuse.

"Gauss Territory is mountainous, with little flat land and low food self-sufficiency. We'd face starvation before we could repair the Floating Castle."

"Then have Celsius Territory 'bring' us food. Just as you ordered Gauss Territory to do."

The head of the Gauss family spoke as though they had already turned away from the Federation.

"Don't make excuses. Why did the Floating Castle land in Celsius Territory? Wasn't it because the Cyan Tower Master, who somehow seized power, wanted to glorify her own family?"

What was right, and what was wrong? It was not clear. Perhaps it was impossible to know.

Even Elisha Celsius, the cold and rational Cyan Tower Master, was human. Her heart had swayed, and she had made a decision that affected the fate of a nation.

It might have been her mistake. If one wanted to criticize it, it might even have been close to corruption.

"We had to move quickly. There was no time to consider everything. I ask for your understanding."

"We're the same. I ask for yours."

"But Gauss Territory's secession would shake the foundations of the Federation. I'll give you a chance to withdraw it."

"We have no need for such a chance."

"Is that so?"

She understood it rationally. Still, she could never accept it.

The Cyan Tower Master made her judgment with cold reason.

"The Gauss family is also a family of sages, taught by Saint Rene in ancient times. Numerous Gauss disciples received instruction at the Red Tower and Cyan Tower. Gauss Territory, which inherited the Floating Castle's magic and knowledge, cannot simply declare independence on its own."

The surroundings froze slightly. Her inner world encroached upon the space around them.

It was the expansion of a completed inner world, unique magic.

Sensing it, the head of the Gauss family hurriedly opened a wooden container. Inside were pieces of iron. High-purity iron powder scattered through the air, aligning itself along magnetic field lines.

Unique magic, Magnet Needle Sword.

The magic of Gauss, which controlled magnetism.

Within Gauss's unique magic, iron powder was both the strongest spear and the strongest shield. This storm of steel ranked among the most lethal of all unique magics. The sharp fragments spinning in place could grind through human skin with ease.

But the opponent was a terrible match.

"Urgh!"

The iron fragments froze. Oxygen and moisture in the air crystallized and oxidized across their surfaces. Their physical properties changed through crystallization. Having rapidly lost their magnetism, the iron fragments fell limply to the ground.

Its ability to slaughter people was formidable, but it showed weakness against other unique magics and magic. That was why Gauss Territory was subtly looked down upon, and why it had developed an inferiority complex.

This time was no different. Gauss Territory lacked the strength to resist even the Cyan Tower Master alone. If the Floating Castle truly wished it, Gauss Territory would have no choice but to raise a white flag.

'But the head of the Gauss family must know that as well...'

As suspicion crossed the Cyan Tower Master's mind, flames surged forth through the split-second opening.

A spear wreathed in fire fell between them.

'Energy arts! This is...!'

Fast. Yet she had faced plenty of flames while fighting the Red Tower Master.

The air vanished around the fire. The Cyan Tower Master's Crystal Theory deprived it of air and smothered its breath. At the same time, condensed ice covered the flames.

Flames trapped in ice.

They should have gone out at once.

They should have, but they did not.

No, they burned even redder, engulfing the world. Resisting as though they possessed a will of their own, the flames engulfed the world.

That was not a simple ignition phenomenon.

Having broadened her knowledge by watching the Sword Saint and the Demon King fight, the Cyan Tower Master immediately understood what she was seeing.

'Li!'

The realization came too late. She had allowed a Master to approach and underestimated the Master's ability. If the Master wished it, the Cyan Tower Master would die.

But the spear's owner did nothing.

"Now, now, now. Talks should be peaceful. Why resort to force?"

He was a pleasant-looking man with brilliant golden hair. He had rounded eyes and a genial smile as he picked up the spear. At the same time, the flames naturally wound around him.

His muscular body could not be hidden by his clothes. He was tall, with a straight posture. He wielded the heavy spear freely with one hand, casually shattering the crystallization binding the space around them.

This went beyond ordinary energy arts.

The Cyan Tower Master asked warily.

"You hired a Master as an escort. Is a mere Master the only source of your courage?"

"Hmph! This person isn't just any Master. Nothing like those cheap mercenaries!"

Freed from danger, the head of the Gauss family cried out triumphantly.

"A shining star of the Empire. One of the twelve strongest. A member of the Empire's Twelve Zodiac Seats. Lord Antares, Scorpius!"

The Empire, ruler of the continent.

The Empire had written its history through war since ancient times. From the King of Humanity and the Five Lords, through the rise, absorption, and unification of countless nations, the dual-power system of the Victorious King and Conquering King, all the way to the united Empire and its present imperial-vassal structure.

How much blood had been spilled before the current order took shape?

The Empire's code of law was written in dried blood.

While the Arcane Federation pursued truth and studied magic, the Empire revered martial arts and cultivated energy arts. Through its long and brutal history, through war and battle, conflict and strife, energy arts had developed while drinking blood.

Countless forms of energy arts had appeared and vanished. Some were transmitted through a single-successor lineage, others through vast martial sects. Only the exceptional survived.

Humans and energy arts alike.

Among the masters who had attained a Principle, the twelve energy practitioners personally chosen by the Empire as the finest were the Twelve Zodiac Seats.

Antares was one of them.

The figure before her was that important. His influence was as immense as his strength. There were even military units and mages devoted solely to supporting him.

"...The Empire. Are you trying to betray the Federation by borrowing the strength of an outside power?"

Antares answered for the head of the Gauss family.

"It's not an outside power anymore. The Empire came to restore justice to Gauss Territory."

Antares took a scroll from his chest. The purple silk scroll bore a dragon's head carved from gold and was sealed with threads of precious golden silkworm silk.

Selling even one piece of it could buy a house, but Antares carelessly spread the scroll open.

Riiip.

The scroll tore because it could not withstand his strength. Antares paid it no mind and began to read.

"By imperial decree of His Great Imperial Majesty, master of the Seven Patronage Merchant Guilds, guardian of freedom and justice, devout worshipper of the Celestial God, and executor of Holy Scripture, this proclamation is delivered to the country calling itself the Arcane Federation."

An imperial decree could cast a vassal state into hell or raise it into heaven in a single moment. The Arcane Federation might have been another nation, but it could not ignore the decree of an Empire that ruled hundreds of millions.

"The Arcane Federation has exploited Gauss Territory under the pretense of a federation. With money squeezed from the blood and sweat of its people, it has threatened the peace of the continent and the Empire, throwing the world into chaos. The Empire shall take all necessary measures against this act of aggression."

All necessary measures included economic measures, diplomatic pressure, and even war.

A justification had been all that was lacking, but now even that had been fulfilled.

"Furthermore, as Gauss Territory intends to become independent from the Federation, the Empire respects and shall protect Gauss Territory's decision to stand on the side of justice and civilization."

"Interfering in our internal affairs..."

"Interfering in internal affairs? No. Gauss Territory asked for help, didn't it? The Empire is simply answering that request. To protect the people of Gauss Territory."

The head of the Gauss family nodded vigorously, as if adding weight to those words.

Gauss Territory had surely been dissatisfied with the purchase of its alchemical steel. It had only been unable to escape because the overwhelming existence of the Demon King had quietly suppressed that dissatisfaction.

The Empire had neatly resolved that dissatisfaction while creating a justification to intervene in the Arcane Federation.

"The Empire has now decided to protect Gauss Territory. If you try to retaliate against Gauss Territory with force, the Empire won't stand by. The Empire is the guardian of freedom and justice."

Gauss Territory had asked the Empire for help.

The Empire would answer that request.

Simple. Just.

No other question was necessary. To save the people of the territory, a single sentence was enough.

Naturally, beneath the surface, the Empire's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had likely offered support, persuasion, and inducements. But who cared?

Justice did not concern itself with such trivial matters.

A few years ago, a philosopher standing in the middle of a war had cried out:

It was only natural for justice to win, because only victors were just.

The Empire was the world's answer to that cry.

Antares, Scorpius of the Twelve Zodiac Seats, declared proudly in the heart of the Arcane Federation.

"The Empire is justice itself. Arcane Federation, you picked the wrong fight."

Footnotes:

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