Early TNG Vol. 23 Chapter 1 Part 2

Full title: THE NEW GATE

Note: If you found any typos/mistakes, pls write them in the comment. Thanks.

Translator: Canon

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“Given the situation, the command post would be our best bet, wouldn’t it?”

“Exactly. The shoreline was left like this because there’s nothing to block the destruction. The inland should not be nearly as bad. And if monsters had breached, the command post was the designated rally point, so there’s no way it’s empty.”

Before speaking with Parzan, Shin had considered whether he could contact the evacuees through the long-range communication tool, the Denchan, installed in the nearest watchtower.

But when he looked toward where he remembered the tower should stand, he saw nothing of the sort. Like the other weapons and equipment, it had most likely collapsed.

As Parzan said, the command post was a designated fallback if the barrier was breached.

Although no monsters remained, it was possible the wounded had been taken there for treatment.

Staying alert, the group advanced toward the command post.

As they drew closer, people gradually came into view.

Parzan asked one of the officers issuing orders about the situation. The man explained that Nuva’s roar had torn the defense line to shreds, forcing a temporary retreat and reorganization.

Everyone they saw wore grim, desperate expressions, working frantically to prepare again as quickly as possible.

“With no intel coming from the frontline and then reports that the defensive weaponry had been disabled—well, no wonder they’re like this,” Shin murmured.

Parzan shrugged in response.

“Most likely, they received word about the defensive installations at the very last moment. And then I show up here of all places, surprising quite a few folks, let me tell you.”

Some even thought the frontline had collapsed when Parzan appeared, and it had taken a while to calm them down. When he explained that the forward units were intact, and that Shin’s group had gone searching for the faction members after seeing the devastation along the coast, several people nearly collapsed in relief.

“So Druk and the others are at the command post? We should inform them quickly and spread the news.”

They quickened their pace. A few people called out when they saw Shin’s group, but he merely told them not to worry and continued on, explaining in detail would have taken too long.

When Shin opened the door to the room where Druk and the other leaders were gathered, all eyes turned to him.

“Sir Shin!? What are you doing here?” Druk exclaimed.

“We’ve come to report the situation’s resolution. Nuva and all the monsters it spawned have vanished. The battle is over. Since the coastal communication facility was unusable, we came directly.”

“What…! After the transmission that holding the line was impossible, we lost all contact with the units manning the defenses. And yet in such a short time… what happened? And Lord Armaiz is not with you. Don’t tell me—”

It wasn’t just Druk who was bewildered. The other department heads, assembled in response to the emergency, bore the same questions on their faces.

“No, Armaiz is absent only because he’s keeping watch to ensure no other monsters wander near now that Nuva is gone,” Shin explained.

When he added that Armaiz had not been seriously injured, the atmosphere in the room eased slightly.

“Now, as for what actually happened… It may sound unbelievable, but I’ll explain. However, before that, I want you to announce across the island that the battle is finished. There’s no longer any threat, so the evacuees and sentries should be redirected to rescue and damage assessment.”

“…It seems you speak the truth. If manpower no longer needs to be held in reserve for defense, we can assign them elsewhere. We’ll make arrangements immediately. Operator! You heard that. Relay to the functioning towers—announce that combat is over and that anyone available should turn to relief and recovery!”

“Understood!”

The operators seated before the devices began contacting the still-intact watchtowers. There were no facilities for an island-wide broadcast, so it would take some time, but at least people would no longer be running about in confusion.

“Now then, to the real matter. If the fighting is over, does that mean every monster was slain?”

“‘Slain’ isn’t quite the right word—”

Shin raised his voice enough for all to hear.

He recounted the battle against Nuva, the devastating roar that likely wrecked the shoreline, the fused Hevin–Corpus entity, and finally, the disappearance of them all.

For the last part, as with Parzan, he explained it as the intervention of another high-ranking partner monster, separate from Yuzuha.

“So… they desired to be defeated. For those attacked, that’s hardly comforting, but hearing that, one cannot help but feel sympathy, even if the foe was a monster.”

These were not simply enemies of mankind, but beings that existed to maintain the world’s cycle, and, because of that role, they suffered.

Hearing how Nuva faded away, Druk and the others wore the stern expressions of scholars grappling with a difficult problem.

“Perhaps the calamities that followed the ‘Dusk of Majesty’ have left lingering effects elsewhere as well,” Shin suggested.

Druk nodded gravely.

“Now that we’ve seen a precedent in Nuva, the concern cannot be dismissed. Will you and your companions be seeking out such cases?”

“No. It’s only a possibility, and even if we did, it would be like chasing smoke.”

If they encountered another by chance as they had this time, they would act. But scouring the continent for the express purpose of finding such beings was impossible.

“For now, restoring the island’s facilities comes first. We saw the shoreline with our own eyes; there must be damage elsewhere as well, no?”

“Indeed. Even from what we know, the losses are substantial. The watchtowers especially suffered, probably because of their height and lack of shielding. Even though they were hastily built, they should not have collapsed so easily.”

It was testament to how far beyond the norm Nuva had been.

Still, in what might be called a small blessing, there had been few casualties reported.

Not zero, but thanks to cooperation between factions, personnel had been equipped with potions more potent than those on the market. Even those gravely injured had been able to receive first aid before the medics arrived, keeping losses low.

From Druk’s words, Shin concluded that Nuva’s attacks had been aimed at Armaiz, and the island had only suffered collateral damage.

If they had been directed intentionally at the island, the devastation would have been far worse.

𑁋

After sharing information, Shin and his companions split up to help assess the damage. Making use of his mobility, Shin leapt toward areas where communication had been cut off.

“There it is.”

Through his enhanced vision with 【Far Sight】, a collapsed watchtower came into view.

Built near the peak of a mountain, it had served as a relay point between the other towers. Now, as if struck by a direct blow, it had snapped in half.

“This looks bad.”

Three people were outside. Two of them, however, were lying on the ground.

Since their injuries might not be fully healed by potions, Shin accelerated and descended to the surface.

Noticing the sound of his landing, the one crouched near the fallen pair turned toward him.

“You are…”

The woman looked startled; it was Retoneka, the Dragnil who, after witnessing his smithing, had asked to become his apprentice.

She looked exhausted, with blood seeping through the cloth wrapped around her forehead.

The two on the ground showed no reaction to Shin’s arrival. Their expressions were twisted in pain, and splints on their arms and legs suggested broken bones.

“Don’t mind me, those two take priority. What’s their condition? They should have been issued potions for injuries.”

“It’s just… the tower suddenly shook, we were thrown into the air, crashing against the walls everywhere, and then…”

“Take your time.”

Seeing Retoneka struggle to recall, Shin gently urged her to calm down.

Enough time had passed since the tower’s collapse. Rescue had been delayed, but even so, Shin felt something was off about her reaction. Just in case, he glanced again at the two still lying down and checked their HP.

Both had about seventy percent remaining. No status ailments were displayed, and their HP wasn’t decreasing; meaning their lives weren’t in immediate danger.

Summarizing Retneka’s account: Nuva’s roar toppled the tower, the three were violently shaken and knocked unconscious, and she had awakened first, dragging the other two outside. But they hadn’t regained consciousness, and unsure what to do, she stayed.

Their potions had all shattered during the chaos, leaving no recovery options. Believing bones were broken, she had improvised splints for first aid.

“I understand the situation. First let’s heal everyone. Don’t worry, they’re not in mortal danger.”

Shin spoke in a deliberately steady tone to reassure her, masking his own concerns.

Still, he worried about shock from blunt trauma, or possible brain or internal injuries.

Though he wasn’t a medical expert, Shin had picked up knowledge about health from the internet and television. Comparing it with his in-game experience, he analyzed the situation.

【Heal】 and potions both restored injuries, but he had never tested their limits in detail.

Physical damage should be fixable.

But what about the head?

Given her bandaged forehead and her story, Retneka had probably struck her head hard.

Would damage to the brain, blood vessels, or nerves—things the game never depicted healing—be cured here? He had no certainty.

(No, it should be fine. Lost limbs regenerate. Schnee said even organs are restored. If surface wounds on the head heal, why wouldn’t the inside as well? It would make no sense otherwise.)

These doubts had surfaced precisely because so much testing had been done. Forcing away his darker thoughts, Shin poured full-strength healing into all three.

Gentle light enveloped them, mending their wounds.

When it faded, their HP gauges showed full recovery.

“Just to confirm, do you feel any pain or discomfort anywhere?”

“…No, I don’t think so.”

Retoneka moved lightly to check her condition, then unwrapped the cloth from her head. Beneath, her skin was uninjured.

Satisfied, Shin turned to the other two. Their pained expressions had eased, leaving them looking as if they were simply asleep. Relieved, Shin let out a small breath.

“They’re fine now. No issues with their limbs either. All that’s left is for them to wake. At the command post, they’re already preparing to send support to facilities that lost contact. We came ahead in case anyone needed urgent treatment like this.”

“I see… Thank you. I… I didn’t know what to do…”

“You were in the same disaster yourself, cut off from outside contact. Yet you rescued two comrades and gave first aid. That’s more than enough. The potions being unusable was just misfortune.”

She had acted admirably under impossible circumstances.

“One thing—no one else is still trapped here, right?”

“Yes. This post was always lightly manned, since any invasion would only happen after landfall.”

“Good. Then you’re safe here. I’ll check the others, so wait here for the rescue team.”

Judging he had done what he could, Shin turned to leave for the next tower.

But as he stepped forward, he felt a tug on his coat.

“Hm? Did you forget to mention something?”

Turning back, he saw Retoneka clutching the hem of his coat.

“Um… no, not really…”

It seemed to be an unconscious action. She herself looked confused.

Remembering what Druk had told him about her past, Shin guessed she was feeling vulnerable from those old wounds.

Even if he was mistaken, he decided to say something to put her at ease.

“No more monsters are coming. No one else will be hurt. I promise.”

“…Yes. I’m sorry.”

At his words, Retoneka released his coat.

(Was that the right thing to say?)

Her expression remained tense, but time was pressing. There might be others still suffering like the two on the ground, unable to receive treatment.

“I’m fine now. Please, go.”

“Understood. Rest a little, Retoneka.”

Shin pushed off the ground and soared into the sky.

Several towers were still unresponsive. He poured strength into his legs, determined to finish as swiftly as possible.

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