Ch.7474. Free City of Lachburg (3)

After the attack was over, I learned that the cave insects that had entered the Free City were not actually the main force of the cave insect colony.

The somewhat ambiguous size of the force, the combat power of the insects, and the small number of insects that initially invaded the city—all of it made sense now.

The insects I had faced were merely “expendables” meant to infiltrate the rear and draw attention.

While the faster insects and flying-type insects outside the city walls were busy buying time, they deployed disruptive insects inside the city to intensify the confusion.

And in this state, it seems the cave insects’ original plan was to send an elite unit to execute a decapitation operation against our leadership…

But from the beginning, this plan only looked plausible on the surface. In reality, it was flawed from its very premise.

The first variable was the “gunpowder weapons” possessed by the soldiers stationed on the city walls.

Separate from magic, these weapons allow anyone to deliver a high-powered strike. Because of this feature, gunpowder weapons have become almost universal in many countries, especially in the Holy Empire, which operates a conscription system and has built a military system centered around infantry.

In the Kingdom, where small-scale engagements are frequent, the number of knights (intermediate warriors) is high, and most of the territory is divided into small fiefdoms, they cannot afford the price of gunpowder weapons.

Therefore, unlike the Kingdom, where at most the great lords operate trebuchets to protect their castles, the Holy Empire is a nation composed of principalities.

A principality has sufficient economic power to properly operate gunpowder weapons, and above all, since they view neighboring principalities as potential competitors, the proportion of gunpowder weapons naturally increases.

Especially in border areas where strengthening military power is essential for survival, or in cities adjacent to undeveloped lands, gunpowder weapons must be operated even if they are expensive.

And the same was true for the soldiers of this “Free City” Lachburg.

Although they still mix in crossbows due to budget issues, the city council provides at least firearms—early-model rifles—to soldiers on guard duty at outposts on the city walls.

For flying-type cave insects that sacrificed their weight class and defensive power for flight capability, this was firepower they simply could not handle.

In addition, the giant armored insects (like beetles) that led their vanguard as time-buyers could be dealt with using large-caliber direct-fire cannons operated by the city as fortress artillery.

Although each shot evaporates dozens of gold coins, the very fact that intermediate creatures can be eliminated without other intermediate-level beings, just with money, demonstrates tremendous cost-effectiveness.

The second variable, on the other hand, was none other than the “suspiciously well-fighting citizens” and adventurers throughout the city.

The forces that were supposed to infiltrate the city and cause chaos encountered citizen militias who were so well-armed they could hardly be believed to be militia, bravely fighting to protect their families and homeland.

Although they couldn’t display combat power at the level of regular troops, they could buy enough time by utilizing the characteristics of urban areas.

And as it happened, a considerable number of adventurers were active within the urban area of Free City Lachburg.

When faced as a group, armies overwhelm adventurers with their numbers, but adventurers have experience dealing with countless monsters.

Therefore, the cave insects that were supposed to cause chaos couldn’t even venture far, let alone create confusion, and ended up self-destructing.

And the final variable was the miserable end of the decapitation unit.

To become a leader in the Western Continent, one needs ability… especially sufficient military power, and the exception to this rule is the elected position of mayor in a Free City.

But as it happened, the mayor of Free City Lachburg, notorious for its poor security, was a former captain of the city defense force—in other words, an excellent soldier who had reached the limit of what an intermediate warrior could achieve.

“…Hup!!”

-Slash!

The mayor, wielding only a ceremonial saber, sliced up all the insects that invaded the council chamber during a meeting, and furthermore, led his personal guard cum mayoral security unit to completely annihilate all four members of the decapitation unit.

Thus, with every part of the cave insects’ plan going awry and failing miserably…

“…Adventurers, I sincerely thank you all for gathering here today.”

With many veteran adventurers of Iron rank or higher currently staying in the city gathered at the city council building, Sophia and I also came to the council to hear the mayor’s “proposal.”

※ ※ ※

In truth, neither of us was in a position to care what the mayor had to say.

The reason we stopped by the Empire in the first place was to receive a griffin egg from the Imperial Pasture located inland.

Furthermore, the reason we briefly stopped in this city was ultimately to verify our identities through the Adventurers’ Guild.

Since this wouldn’t affect the pasture no matter what happened to the city, we could have just left without any problems, having already completed our registration transfer…

“…We’re out of money!”

“The Prophet cannot understand how we ended up like this.”

Perhaps because we spent too extravagantly thinking we had plenty of money, we had valuable materials but lacked cash for immediate use…

So we decided to accept the council’s request to earn even a few coins.

And the mayor of Lachburg City whom we met directly was a woman who appeared stronger than we had imagined.

‘…She looks strong in many ways.’

[The Prophet agrees.]

Wearing a colorful yet well-structured military uniform, the mayor was draped in charisma like a cloak, proving she hadn’t held the position of the army’s supreme commander in the past for nothing.

Judging by her appearance, which exuded considerable experience, she was probably around 40 years old.

This woman, whose image as a seasoned soldier and warrior was evident on the outside, despite her status as mayor, stepped forward personally before the adventurers to explain the city council’s “request.”

“The request I have for you all is simple. —Destroy the nest of those insect bastards that attacked our city, and kill their queen!”

According to the mayor, the request she wanted to entrust to us adventurers was to completely eradicate the cave insect colony by destroying their nest—the cave that could be considered the mastermind behind this attack.

True to their name, the cave insects’ nest is a massive underground cave, and the location has already been completely identified through the combined efforts of the Adventurers’ Guild and the council’s army.

Therefore, instead of just sending in adventurers, the city hall is naturally trying to gather sufficient forces to completely conquer this extremely dangerous cave insect nest.

As various personnel present at this meeting explained:

“From the Lachburg Defense Force, we will dispatch a total of three companies of one hundred, including one veteran company.”

“From the Temple of the Golden Hand, we will dispatch 20 junior priests.”

“…From the Magic Tower, we will dispatch 20 skilled junior mages.”

Three hundred professional soldiers from the Free City Lachburg Defense Force, including a veteran company of one hundred warriors capable of imbuing their weapons with magical power.

Twenty junior magic users each—junior priests and junior mages—who can support our troops with various spells.

This was pushing the limit of troops that could be mustered from a single Free City, and added to this were 94 Iron-rank adventurers and six Silver-rank adventurers, including us.

While this was almost the maximum expeditionary force that could be sent out, we still couldn’t feel at ease.

This was because the interior of the cave insect nest constituted an independent otherworld.

Otherworld. As the name suggests, this term referring to a world different from the ordinary one is almost common knowledge to those who deal with mysteries.

An otherworld is not a different dimension or world. It’s the solidification of changes that occur in the real environment based on a specific boundary. In other words, it’s a natural phenomenon with a fantasy feel.

To put it in terms that modern people can easily understand, an otherworld is like a dungeon depicted in media.

While environments like volcanic regions, deep seas, or dense forests themselves often transform into otherworlds, there are also otherworlds created when reality is eroded by the magical power emitted by powerful beings.

Furthermore, it’s entirely possible for specific beings to intentionally create otherworlds.

Naturally, otherworlds formed by hostile beings are dangerous.

A realm that operates on independent laws different from the outside world. The laws of the otherworld that apply there are completely different from the universal laws of the world, and the danger increases even more when there is a “master of the otherworld.”

And that’s why six Silver-rank adventurers have gathered.

…To break through that perilous otherworld and eliminate the “master of the otherworld” who would be in the deepest location.