January 24th, Shouro Empire.
"Wood-paper, you say?"
"Yes. Apparently, it is made using the bark of trees."
"How fascinating. Is it thinner and lighter than parchment?"
"So the report claims."
Within the Shouro Empire, the Empress and her Chancellor, Jung Fouls von Kebsler, were reviewing a message from the 1st Advance Team. The information had been delivered via carrier pigeon.
"Just as Jin-kun said, it seems this country might have much to offer us," the Empress remarked.
"Indeed. It is something to look forward to."
The Chancellor and the Empress exchanged a smile.
"We also received a report from Lieutenant Colonel Fritz Randol," the Empress continued. "They’ve managed to reach the Kingdom of Egerea safely, so that mission is finally settling into its next phase."
"Quite so. Though it seems they faced significant hardships within the ruins of the Leonard Kingdom."
The report had also detailed their encounter with the eerie monsters.
"It is terrifying to think that someone once created monsters capable of melting even a Golias," the Empress mused.
"I agree entirely... Finally, it appears the Celuroa Kingdom is once again showing signs of unrest."
"I suppose they’re thinking, 'We won't let you do as you please with the former Leonard Kingdom,' or something to that effect?"
"I shall have the Border Security Guard maintain high vigilance," the Chancellor replied.
Having arrived in the Kingdom of Egerea, Fritz Randol, the lieutenant colonel of the Shouro Empire’s Expeditionary Force, requested that his formal reports be transmitted via manaphone.
"Phew. With that done, I can finally take two days of rest."
Even for a man of his rigorous training, the dozen or so days spent traversing the ruins of the Leonard Kingdom had been grueling. The members of the Klein Kingdom who had accompanied them likely felt the same. All of them were currently staying at the Guest House located in the Outer Palace.
"Ah—Lord Fritz."
On his way back to his quarters, he ran into Cynthia, the female knight. Seeing her face reminded Fritz of a certain matter.
"Cynthia-dono. Do you... do you happen to know how Gloria-dono is doing?"
Cynthia replied with her usual, slightly somber expression. "Yes. She has been admitted to the clinic here."
"I see. Is it possible to visit her?"
"I believe that should be fine."
"I hate to impose, but would you mind coming with me? I feel it might be improper for me to visit a woman's hospital room alone."
After a brief hesitation, Cynthia nodded. "Very well. I don't mind."
"Thank you. Could you wait just a moment? I’ll go fetch the sword I need to return to her."
Fritz had retrieved and kept the sword Gloria had dropped when she was sprayed with the corrosive fluid. Without waiting for a response, he hurried toward his room. Cynthia watched his retreating figure and let out a soft sigh.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Not at all."
After their brief exchange, the two headed toward the Healing Wing. It was a facility for guests who fell ill or were injured, situated on the outskirts of the Outer Palace. Gloria had been given a private room.
"Gloria-sama, it’s Cynthia."
Cynthia knocked and called out. When a voice from inside told them to enter, Cynthia opened the door. Fritz, gripped by a sudden impatience, followed her right inside.
In truth, this was a serious breach of etiquette. Normally, Cynthia should have entered first, announced Fritz's presence, and then invited him in only after receiving permission.
"F-Fritz-dono?! If you were coming, you should have said..."
Startled by Fritz following immediately behind Cynthia, Gloria nearly jumped out of her skin and hurriedly yanked the blanket over herself.
In that fleeting moment, Fritz saw them.
The scars left on Gloria... the hideous marks where the corrosive fluid had scorched her, stretching from the right side of her face to her neck, and down from her right shoulder to her arm.
"...Forgive me. I only intended to return your sword and check on your condition."
"..."
Gloria remained hidden beneath the blanket and did not reply.
"Don't worry about the scars."
As soon as the words left his mouth, even Fritz realized he had made a tactless blunder, but it was too late to take them back. It was different for a man and a woman.
"I'm sorry. Have you been seen by a healer?"
Cynthia was the one who answered.
"Yes, Lord Fritz. According to the healer here, the scars have already stabilized. They said that applying further healing magic wouldn't improve them."
Healing magic essentially amplified a living being's natural recovery power by dozens of times. Consequently, it could not "fix" scars that had already established themselves as old tissue. Regardless of how much time had passed, Gloria had received emergency healing magic the moment her skin was burned. Because she had recovered while her body was still in that damaged state, the injuries had set as permanent scars.
Dense as Fritz might be, even he could imagine the shock a woman would feel upon learning those marks would never fade.
"I apologize. I wasn't being considerate enough. I'll leave right away, so please don't let it bother you."
He turned to leave, but then—
"...Fritz-dono."
A small voice reached him. Turning back, he saw Gloria watching him from beneath the blanket, her eyes peeking out over the edge.
"Forgive me... even though you went out of your way to visit. Will you... come again? Once I have... calmed down a bit more."
Fritz stopped at the door and looked back one last time.
"I will," he said simply, then stepped out of the room.
The Kingdom of Egerea had dispatched troops on January 18th to recover the more than five hundred golems discovered in the Soldrake Ruins. The expedition consisted of twenty members of the 3rd Ritter Corps, two combat golems, twenty all-purpose golems, and Phillip Teefor, the branch manager of the Blue Land Magi Craftman Guild, along with his automata, Dona.
They arrived at the ruins on the 25th of the month. Before them lay an unbelievable sight. More than five hundred golems were lined up in perfect formation outside the ruins.
"What—?!"
"Oh, and who might you be?"
Welcoming the stunned Captain Rei (Paul Reid) with a mocking tone was the Celuroa Kingdom’s Frontier Corps. There were roughly fifty of them, and they were accompanied by their own golems. Rei surmised they were likely the unit stationed at Fort Sonoma near the border.
"You lot! What are you doing here?!" Rei shouted, approaching the unit while still on horseback.
In response, a man on horseback stepped forward. Judging by his armor, he was the commander.
"My, could they be bandits? If so, you'd best disappear. We aren't an easy target, you see."
The man, presumably the Frontier Corps commander, brushed off Rei’s angry shout like the wind through the willows.
"Who are you calling bandits?! Can't you see the flag? We are the Kingdom of Egerea 3rd Ritter Corps!"
"Oh, my apologies. We are the Celuroa Kingdom 2nd Frontier Corps. I am the commander, Trist Clarot."
"And what is this Frontier Corps doing here?!" Paul's voice grew louder, her irritation mounting at his condescending tone.
"We are excavating these abandoned ruins and recovering the golems and magi-crystals within."
"Abandoned?! These ruins were discovered and excavated by our kingdom's investigation team!"
"And do you have any proof of that?"
The only proof they had was the shield bearing Egerea’s royal crest that they had left at the entrance. However, that had clearly been disposed of, and the Frontier Corps commander insisted he knew nothing about it. It was obvious that the conversation would devolve into an endless dispute.
Then, the commander dealt another blow.
"Furthermore, these golems were restarted through the great efforts of our magi craftmen, you see."
"Ugh..."
To have analyzed and restarted golems that even Jade Nephroi—who had accompanied the original team—could not understand was a testament to the superior technology of the Celuroa Kingdom. Though their stiff movements suggested a temporary wake up, it was still a remarkable feat. If they could make the golems walk on their own, even with simple commands, it eliminated the massive labor of transporting them.
However, Rei could not afford to back down.
"There is someone who can prove that we discovered this place first."
"Oh? And where would such a person be?"
"He is not here at this moment, but I speak of the man recognized by all nations: the Lord of Kunlun and Magi Craft Meister, Lord Jin Nidou."