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"How are the war efforts in each region?"
"The North Gate, East Gate, and West Gate! We're somehow maintaining a balance, but it seems like a breakthrough is only a matter of time!!"
"Confirmation of enemy units invading from the south! We are under surprise attack from above in various locations!!"
"Tch, I knew it, but the situation is the worst..."
In the Imperial Castle, Gahard's face contorted in an expression of overwhelming disadvantage as he received reports on the war situation in each region.
"Your Majesty, shouldn't we still request aid from the Kingdom...!"
"How are we supposed to do that when we're completely surrounded? Besides, even if we could, by the time reinforcements arrived, the Empire would have fallen."
"That is..."
One of his retainers suggested this to Gahard, but he curtly rejected it. Gahard knew that if it were possible, he would have done it first. However, with the Imperial Capital currently under siege, it was unlikely that a messenger seeking aid from the Kingdom could easily slip through. They would probably just get captured pointlessly.
"...It's fortunate that the casualties are fewer than expected."
"...Fewer casualties? Hey, I haven't received such a report, have I?"
"...Huh? Ah, m-my apologies!! I thought it wasn't necessary...!"
"Whether it's necessary or not is for me to decide!! Don't you dare make judgments based on your own discretion!!"
"M-my sincerest apologies!!"
The subordinate, subjected to Gahard's roar, trembled and bowed his head. Gahard, annoyed by his demeanor, nevertheless scrutinized the newly brought information, feeling that time was precious.
(Fewer casualties? Is that even possible, given how far behind we are and still at a disadvantage? Besides, if Aldias appeared, ordinary soldiers would be instantly...!?)
Gahard, who had been pondering alone, suddenly widened his eyes as if something had occurred to him.
"Has anyone seen Aldias!?"
"Huh? The Demon Lord? No, there have been no reports of his appearance, but..."
"Perhaps he's commanding from the rear...?"
"You idiots!! That's impossible! He's the kind of man who would go to the front lines to protect his own people! There's no way such a person would be watching from a safe distance!!"
Gahard snarled, his anger evident at his subordinates' cluelessness. However, that anger was also directed at himself. The power of the demon race was indeed formidable. Each one was an opponent not to be underestimated, but the one who had to be most vigilant against was Aldias. No matter how advantageous the situation, his appearance alone could change everything. He was furious at himself for not having confirmed the presence of such an opponent first. Although the battle had been going on for some time, the lack of information on that man's movements filled him with an indescribable sense of crisis.
"Anyway, find him! If you spot him, do not engage, and bring back the information no matter what!!"
"Y-Yourâ"
âThere's no need for that.
"Kh!?"
Gahard was about to give instructions to his subordinates, but a sudden, unfamiliar voice entered his ears. Everyone present turned their gaze towards the source of the voice, the door leading to the room. Click, the door slowly opened, and a person who shouldn't have been there appeared.
"This is the first time we've met face to face, isn't it? Gahard D. Hoelscher, current Emperor of the Hoelscher Empire."
"...Ah, yes, it is. Aldias, current Demon Lord of the Garland Demon Kingdom."
Aldias, the leader of the demon race currently invading the Empire, appeared alone in the throne room.
"You!? How did you get here!?"
"Through the front door, of course?"
"Don't be ridiculous! How many soldiers do you think are in this castle!"
"It matters not! Killing you here achieves the same result! Everyone, attack at once!!"
The sudden appearance of Aldias confused everyone present, but they immediately drew their swords, intending to decapitate him. Aldias, as if he had expected this, showed no signs of agitation and was about to open his mouth whenâ
"Don't move!!"
"Kh!?"
Gahard's roar echoed through the room. At its sheer force, everyone except Aldias jumped in surprise. They cautiously looked back to see Gahard, not even glancing at them, staring directly at Aldias.
"...Your Majesty?"
"...Everyone, stay where you are. I absolutely forbid anyone to move without my command."
Gahard declared with force, but one of the retainers standing nearby clearly saw a bead of sweat trickling down Gahard's cheek. Gahard, who always maintained a dignified demeanor as a king and a strong warrior, regardless of the situation, was clearly flustered. Aldias nodded at Gahard with an impressed look.
"Abandoning thought and charging blindly into an incomprehensible situation is not a good strategy... A good judgment."
"Well, thank you. So, how did you get here?"
"As I said before, brazenly through the front."
"...What about my subordinates who were downstairs?"
"They seemed likely to make a fuss, so I put them to sleep for a bit. Don't worry, they're not dead."
"That's fortunate for us, but... why didn't you kill them? You're not some naive softy who says he doesn't want to take lives, even of enemies, are you?"
"Ah, I'm not so soft-headed as to show mercy to my enemies. Not killing them serves my purpose."
"Your purpose?"
Gahard frowned at Aldias's words. Humans and demons had been fighting for thousands of years. The objective was simple and clear: the annihilation of the enemy race. While there were differences in how civilians, women, and children were treated, there was no conceivable reason to leave enemy soldiers alive.
"Ah, about thatâ"
"You are the False King Aldias, aren't you!!"
A man interrupted Aldias, who was about to continue speaking, and raised his voice. Aldias looked in his direction to see a large man approaching him with a swagger, glaring at him as if assessing him.
"...Yes, that's right?"
"Hmph, to brazenly appear in the middle of enemy territory, you're either incredibly confident or just a fool... Either way, if I kill you, my name will echo throughout Tortus."
The man, who had begun to grin in a vulgar manner, apparently wished to make a name for himself by taking Aldias's head. There was nothing strange about that. If someone were to slay the king of the demon race, that person would undoubtedly go down in history as a hero of the human race. However, Aldias had something more pressing on his mind.
"You... who are you?"
Given that he interrupted the conversation between himself and Emperor Gahard without any hesitation, he could be presumed to be a person of some standing, but Aldias unfortunately didn't memorize the face of every individual from a distant enemy nation.
"What!? You don't know my face!? Don't be ridiculous!? I amâ"
"Bias!! What are you doing, pushing yourself forward without permission!!"
The man, infuriated that Aldias didn't know him, twisted his face in anger and took another step forward to confront him, but Gahard's roar interrupted his words.
"Bias?"
Aldias recognized the name. He hadn't known his face, but he was sure that was the name of the Empire's crown prince.
"Did you not hear my command? I told you not to move without my instructions, did I not...?"
"With all due respect, Emperor. The top of the enemy nation has foolishly appeared alone, you see? Why not just swiftly decapitate him instead of engaging in leisurely conversation?"
"It's not that simple, you brat...!"
A vein throbbed on Gahard's forehead at Bias's overly optimistic thinking. Aldias, who had been listening to their conversation, calmly noted that despite being father and son, they had quite different inner qualities.
"Bias D. Hoelscher. I had thought a man chosen to be the Empire's crown prince would possess a character befitting that role... Hmm, it seems we might not have needed to bother coming here after all; the Empire might have fallen on its own."
"What did you say, you!?"
"Gahard. I have no intention of interfering in other nations' affairs, but I recommend you choose someone more decent as your successor."
"...Tch."
"Don't spout such nonsense! In the Empire, strength is everything! It's only natural that I, who is stronger than anyone, should sit on the throne of the next Emperor!!"
Gahard's face twisted as if he had bitten into a bitter worm at Aldias's seemingly admonishing words. In a meritocratic empire, there was no problem with Bias ascending to the throne, but his mental maturity was far too lacking. Perhaps one reason was that, as the child of a concubine, he had not received parental affection from Gahard. However, Aldias's words were an unbearable insult to Bias.
"Indeed, strength is one important element for a king. But the people will not follow a king who only possesses strength. Don't you even understand that?"
"Nonsense! The people won't follow me? If they don't, I'll discard them. If they resist, I'll kill them. The weak simply obey the strong! In this country, strength is justice!"
"...I see, it seems we are fundamentally incompatible."
"I never intended to get along with the likes of you anyway! Your insult is a grave one! I won't kill you easily! I'll torture you to death little by little! J-U-S-T L-I-K-E T-H-A-T D-E-M-O-N!!"
"...What?"
Aldias, realizing further argument was a waste of time, cut off the conversation and turned his gaze back to Gahard, but Bias's anger did not subside. He roared instinctively, but Aldias didn't even look at him... until he heard those words.
"What do you mean by 'that demon'?"
"Huh? Oh, what? Are you curious?"
"Answer me...!"
Aldias, who had shown no interest in him, was now clearly directing hostility towards him, and Bias's expression completely changed from before, a sneer spreading across his face.
"Ah, that was about a year ago, I think. I was participating in one of those skirmishes with you demons... and there was this annoying guy. He was weak, but he was acting all high and mighty trying to protect his comrades, it was infuriating. So, I killed him. And not easily, I tortured him to death, little by little!"
"..."
"Bias!! What are you doing on the battlefield, acting on your own whims!!"
"I just killed an enemy of the human race, so what's the problem?"
"You fool!!"
The Empire's strict meritocracy. This theory of survival of the fittest was deeply ingrained in the Empire, and Gahard and Bias were no exceptions. However, their treatment of the weak differed greatly. To Gahard, the weak were like pebbles on the road. If they impeded his progress, he would kick them aside, but if they were just lying there, he wouldn't mind them. Even more so if they weren't his own people. In contrast, for Bias, they were merely toys to relieve boredom. If they displeased him, he would easily kill them. Even if it was on a battlefield, that wouldn't change.
"...What were his characteristics?"
"Huh? Why would I remember details about a small fry... Oh, he did mention your name. 'Aldias-sama, I'm so sorry~,' something like that. It was so pathetic, it made me laugh. And there was a woman's name too. I think... Shylia, was it?"
"Kh!âI see."
"Shylia, is that his lover or something? Then maybe she'd cry tears of joy if I told her about her beloved boyfriend's end! Hahahaha!!"
Bias's boisterous laughter echoed through the room. In contrast, Aldias remained looking down, his expression unreadable. Just as Gahard felt a bad premonitionâ
Bias was pierced by a sword from behind.
"Uwaaah!?"
"Hiegh!?"
"Aah!?"
As Bias screamed, similar screams rose from the surrounding soldiers. All of them were covered in a torrent of sweat, clutching their chests in the same way.
"I-I'm alive...?"
Bias trembled, placing his hand over his chest where he had been stabbed, but there was no wound, as if the sword had never been there in the first place. Amidst this, only Gahard truly understood what had happened.
(Kh!?âWas that killing intent just now!? What a ridiculous amount of killing intent! For a moment, I actually mistook myself for dead!)
"...Don't say another word."
A shiver of dread ran through everyone in the room. Unconsciously, their bodies trembled, unable to move from the spot as if turned to stone. Especially Bias, who was at the receiving end of that killing intent, his expression was even worse than those around him.
"Ah, ah... ahhh."
His face drained of color, he collapsed to the ground, a faint smell of ammonia wafting from his crotch.
"About a year ago, a young demon soldier died in battle. His recovered body was severely damaged, his face so mangled it was unrecognizable... So, it was you."
Aldias took one step, then another, approaching Bias. The scene from that time vividly replayed in his mind. The expression of the young man who had happily spoken of admiring him... The sight of his fiancée collapsing in tears before the grotesquely disfigured young man who had returned... Many battle casualties' bodies did not return intact. However, the young man's injuries were so severe that they were difficult to attribute solely to combat. It was as if he had been tortured...
"It shouldn't be permissible to bring personal grudges into war, but... even I have my limits."
Aldias stood before Bias, looking down at the man trembling in fear.
"What's wrong? You were making such a fuss just now. Is that sword at your waist merely for show?"
Looking up at the man standing before him, Bias was utterly bewildered.
(I-I'm the Crown Prince of this country... the next Emperor!? To look down on me like this... I absolutely cannot allow it! But why can't my body move!? Why are my hands trembling!? I... I...!)
Bias was, for better or worse, blessed with martial talent. However, because he was so gifted, he had never experienced an overwhelming defeat, and any instructors he was given would become no match for him within a few days. Only Gahard could serve as Bias's opponent, but he was busy with his duties as Emperor and, in any case, felt no paternal affection, so he rarely made time for him. That was why he was bewildered by the overwhelming killing intent, a sensation he was experiencing for the first time. He didn't even realize that what he was feeling was fear...
"Kh!?âDon't underestimate me, I am the man who will become the next Emperor!? You, like, no one... no..."
Even so, suppressing the terror welling up from deep within him, Bias stood up and reached for the hilt of his sword... but he couldn't draw it. The golden eyes staring at Bias. The black, burning flames of resentment he felt within them. That was his limit.
"U-Uwaaaah!!"
He screamed, turned his back on Aldias, and ran towards the door. His ignoble scramble, tripping over his own feet as he fled, showed absolutely no trace of princely dignity.
"If you'd at least had the spirit to land one blow, there might have been some saving grace... You're not needed."
"âGah! What is this!?"
Bias, who had been running in a straight line, strongly hit his forehead on something. Confused, he hastily looked around and realized he was encased in a transparent barrier.
"Let me out! Get me out of here!! Hey, you, what are you doing just standing there!? Help me quickly!!"
He appealed to one of the soldiers near the door, who looked confused but showed no signs of moving to help.
"What are you doing!? I am the Crown Prince of this country! I'm not like you dispensable commoners!? It's your role to die for me, isn't it!?"
"..."
They still didn't move. On the contrary, their confusion grew stronger. However, it was inevitable. After all, not a single one of Bias's words reached them...
"â!â!?"
"It's useless. Your voice within this barrier won't reach us."
"Silent Space"âan concealment barrier formed around a target. A magic that completely erases any sound or presence emitted by the person or object inside. Aldias had used this magic when he escaped human territory with Cattleya. If he wished, he could also blend in with the surrounding scenery, but he wasn't using that ability this time. And...
"H-Hey... Isn't that barrier shrinking?"
"...Huh?"
The soldiers, who had been silently watching Aldias continue to emit killing intent, noticed the anomaly. The barrier surrounding Bias was gradually shrinking. Bias must have noticed it too. He finally drew the sword at his waist and frantically struck the barrier, but it showed no sign of even cracking. Eventually, he couldn't even swing his sword, and the barrier began to intensely compress Bias's large body. Bias contorted his face in agony, letting out a desperate scream, but his voice reached no one. Gradually, his arms and legs bent at strange angles, his flesh tore, and fresh blood began to fill the barrier. The surrounding soldiers couldn't bear to watch and averted their gaze. They must have realized Bias's inevitable end trapped within the barrier. Bias, tears streaming down his face, looked at Aldias standing before the barrier. The arrogant demeanor he had previously displayed was completely gone, replaced by a look that seemed to plead for Aldias's forgiveness. However, that was not enough to stop Aldias.
"Normally, I'd listen to a dying wish or two... but your words aren't worth listening to. Vanish without leaving anything behind for posterity."
Aldias's words were the last, and the barrier's contraction accelerated sharply. Without a sound, it shrunk to the size of a dark red marble and then dissolved into the air as if melting away.
The shock was too great for anyone to speak, and silence enveloped the area. In the midst of it, only Aldias, as if nothing had happened, turned his back on the spot where Bias had been and returned to stand before Gahard. He then met Gahard's gaze, who was still glaring at him vigilantly. His own son had just been brutally murdered before his eyes. Normally, he would surely be looking at his opponent with eyes filled with hatred, but from Gahard, Aldias only sensed a simple wariness towards his power; no negative emotions like anger or hatred were conveyed.
"No agitation even when your own son dies... huh? I heard that in the Empire, even family members would duel for the throne of Emperor, and it seems to be true."
"You know a lot. He proved his strength in the duel to decide the next Emperor. That's why I gave him the title of Crown Prince. Nothing more."
He had strength, so he was given a position befitting it. This was a philosophy incomprehensible even to the human Kingdom, let alone the demon race, but this was precisely why the Empire was called a meritocracy.
"However, he displeased me. For a warrior, the battlefield is the one and only place to demonstrate one's strength. A man who constantly strives for greater heights, cutting down enemies and engaging in life-or-death struggles with the strong, is worthy of the Emperor's throne. It's not a seat for a scumbag who gets conceited over the weaklings swarming at his feet. If you hadn't killed him, I would have cut off his head myself... The man Bias killed... was he a man who could become strong in your eyes?"
"I don't know if he qualifies as 'strong' in your terms, but he was a man capable of risking himself for his country and to protect those he loved. Perhaps in the future, he could have risen to become a general in the Demon Kingdom."
"I see... To toy with life on the battlefield is unforgivable. Shylia, was it? His lover, you said. Apologize to her for me."
"Understood."
Shock ran through the soldiers present when Gahard offered words of apology to Aldias, but those close to him understood the true meaning behind Gahard's actions. He was a being who embodied the Empire's philosophy, but he was also undeniably a warrior, as well as a king. Therefore, it was not uncommon for him to show a certain respect to warriors, even if they were weak, who possessed unshakeable conviction or the talent to become strong. If this had merely been about torturing an enemy soldier captured for information, Gahard wouldn't have cared, nor would he have apologized to Aldias. And of course, Aldias wouldn't have shown such anger.
"Now, we were interrupted earlier. You mentioned a purpose, didn't you?"
"Ah, we've wasted quite a bit of time. It wouldn't be good to keep the others outside waiting too long. I'll get straight to the point... surrender."
The sudden surrender demand instantly filled the room with tension, but remembering the previous scene, they were too terrified to raise any objections.
"Sudden, isn't it? What if we don't accept?"
"I'll bring down the Imperial Capital."
"I thought so... I refuse. Don't underestimate the Empire. I don't know what you're thinking, but surrendering without a fight is impossible. The fate of a defeated nation's royalty is only death. With thousands of years of accumulated hatred, it's possible that the common people would also suffer. I, and the soldiers of this country, will continue to resist until the very end."
"As I said before, I have no intention of needlessly taking lives, but...?"
"Do you think I'd just believe that?"
"Well, probably not."
For a moment, he considered revealing his purpose, but it lacked credibility, and even if it wasn't as bad as the Kingdom, if he suddenly told the truth to them, who were followers of Akitus, it was highly likely that it would be perceived as a fabrication meant to cause confusion, rather than gaining their trust.
"Perhaps proceeding with the plan is still the best course of action."
"What?"
Gahard, his brows furrowed, questioned Aldias, who had sighed and muttered softly to himself. Aldias, ignoring Gahard, placed a finger to his temple. The soldiers, though unsure what he intended, heightened their vigilance. However, the next moment, they were all uniformly speechless.
"...All forces, attention. Effective immediately, operation is to proceed to Phase Two. All forcesâwithdraw from the Imperial Capital vicinity."
" " " ...Huh? " " "