The discussion shifted to the largest formation under our influence—the Western Reserve Force.
A scattered, continent-wide military body numbering nearly two hundred thousand.
Benimaru opened the topic with a clear assessment.
The Western Reserve Force
"Looking at sheer numbers, this wing forms a massive army of two hundred thousand," Benimaru reported. "But I don't intend to move the one hundred fifty thousand Reserve troops. They'll remain stationed where they are."
I folded my arms, my presence filling the chamber with quiet pressure.
"They may technically be under the Council—and therefore under my authority—but recalling them serves no strategic benefit right now," I replied.
"Keeping them spread across the region prevents the Empire from launching diversions or covert strikes unnoticed."
Solarys, the Sovereign of Wisdom, silently processed logistical implications behind my words, providing clarity without interrupting.
"If I gathered all one hundred fifty thousand in a single location, teleportation magic would be simple for me," I added, voice calm and decisive. "But coordinating them as a unified force immediately? Impossible without a command structure already in place."
Benimaru nodded. "Exactly. Organizing them quickly would be possible for me if needed, but stability is our priority."
He continued, "Since the corps commander is absent, I'm considering having Testarossa assume that role."
"That's acceptable," I said, then added with controlled gravity, "But if war breaks out, she'll be required in Eterna. Maintaining communication with forces spread across the Western Nations will be difficult."
Fortunately, we had prepared. Through magical communication networks—transmission crystals, magisteel-thread webs, and wizard units—major cities were connected.
Remote villages were another story.
"Don't worry," Diablo said smoothly. "Moss can handle a few hundred companies."
Benimaru added, "He's assisting Souei with intelligence. He can take care of inter-unit communications in his spare time."
I raised a brow.
"Moss is proving… uniquely capable."
"Then why not appoint him as corps commander?" I asked.
Benimaru immediately rejected the idea. "It would be miserable for Moss."
Diablo agreed, "Testarossa's leadership style would make his life… unpleasant."
I understood. As a king, I never ignored the
emotional or psychological strain on my subordinates—loyalty must not be crushed.
"Very well," I declared. "Testarossa will serve as provisional commander. When a suitable permanent leader appears, she will be replaced."
And so, the Western Reserve's structure was set. Their role: hold the frontline at home, prevent sabotage, and maintain security.
I shifted focus.
"Next—the Mixed Majin Corps."
Benimaru bowed slightly. "I recommend Rigur-dono."
Rigur was strong—rank A—and experienced. But as Rigurd's assistant, he was already overburdened. Leading an entire corps would stretch him.
More importantly, the Empire's numbers were unknown.
Reports hinted at:
300,000 minimum
Possibly up to a million mobilized if they committed fully We needed every corps functional and prepared for real combat.
I thought for a moment.
"No. Benimaru, I will entrust this corps to you."
His eyes sharpened.
"As of today, the Mixed Majin Corps will be renamed the Red Numbers," I declared.
"Choose several members of Kurenai. Each will command a battalion of one thousand. This will be our Fourth Corps, and you will lead it directly."
The name carried weight—danger, power, blood, determination.
Benimaru bowed deeply. "Understood. I anticipated this. Please leave it to me."
His Unique Skill, Generalissimo, ensured unmatched battlefield coordination. I could think of no better commander.
The Volunteer Corps
The last organization remained.
"What about the Volunteer Corps?" I asked.
Benimaru frowned. "A problem, Your Majesty. They consist mostly of humans. Appointing a monster commander may cause avoidable tension."
Shion scoffed. "Anyone who complains is weak. We do not need the weak."
"Strength is important," I said sharply, "but
appearances influence loyalty. And I will not let our reputation suffer over something so trivial."
Eterna had become a beacon for humans and monsters alike—and I intended to keep it that way.
Diablo asked, "Is there truly no human commander suitable?"
Benimaru shook his head. "We've considered many. None fit."
He proposed Girard, but I denied it immediately.
"He cannot appear publicly," I said. "His existence was erased by agreement with Ingracia. Forcing him into the open would compromise that arrangement."
We cycled through more names—none suitable.
Then Shion spoke again.
"In that case… what about Masayuki-dono?"
The room fell silent.
Benimaru and I turned toward her.
Masayuki.
The Hero.
The man whose very presence swayed hearts.
The one the world already believed in.
Not a warrior—but a symbol.
And symbols command armies just as effectively as generals.
A faint, knowing smile touched my lips.
"Masayuki… yes. That may work."
"That's it!"
"That was impressive, Shion."
Benimaru and I said it at the same time.
And with that single moment, I — Atem, Pharaoh of Eterna — had already decided how this would go.
Masayuki would become the commander of the Volunteer Corps.
Whether he agreed or not was irrelevant.
The battlefield didn't wait for doubts, and neither did I.
The others quickly caught on to my intent. Masayuki, however, held his head in both hands.
"W-Why should I…?"
His voice cracked with panic.
I could empathize, but it didn't matter. War was approaching. And in times like these, hesitation was a luxury I would not indulge.
He was the "Hero," after all — the people believed in him. And belief was a weapon louder and sharper than any sword.
Solarys, Sovereign of Wisdom, whispered calmly within me:
"His presence will stabilize morale. This choice increases victory probability by 27%."
I gave a small nod. I already knew.
Masayuki was essential.
"Masayuki," I said, my tone firm, commanding, leaving no room for escape. "You will lead them.
This is not a request."
"But—!"
"No buts."
I walked toward him, my gaze sharp enough to cut through excuses.
"You've improved your Unique Skill, 'Chosen One.' Your influence is stronger than you claim. Don't hide behind false modesty."
He flinched. He knew I saw through him completely.
"As for me," Masayuki muttered, "I've gotten pretty good with 'Chosen One.' I don't feel like I'm being praised for everything anymore… b-but now I can't use it even when I try, so don't expect too much…"
A blatant lie.
Even without Solarys analyzing him, I could feel the truth. His popularity had not faded in the slightest. His influence alone could sway a whole army.
I folded my arms.
"Don't you want to show Kenya and the others how impressive you are?"
"That—! Ugh…"
"If you accept this role, I'll overlook the… 'lessons' you've been teaching those children. You've been gaining their respect through some questionable means."
His face went pale.
Solarys hummed in amusement.
"I— That— Atem, that wasn't—"
"Don't worry." I placed a hand on his shoulder — gently, but with a Pharaoh's authority. "You can do it."
"But—!"
I cut him off.
"Masayuki. Didn't I help you in your fight against Gozer?"
He stiffened.
When he and his team challenged the 50th floor of the Labyrinth, I had quietly stepped in — using an avatar to weaken the guardian so he could win.
"T-Thank you for that…" he muttered.
"Then you understand your debt," I said.
"… Yes."
With some persuasion — and the barest hint of threat — his resistance finally broke.
"Yes… I understand. I owe you a great deal, Atem-san… I'd like to repay just a little of that."
The volunteers erupted in cheers the moment he accepted, yelling:
"We did it!"
"Victory is ours!"
"We have the Hero!"
Masayuki looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
"This is exactly how I thought things would end…," he grumbled.
He lied about mastering 'Chosen One.' He lied about losing the effect. Or maybe… this was simply his natural luck.
A paradox in human form.
Even Leon, with all his strength, always looked villainous no matter what he did — the opposite of Masayuki.
"Well." I smiled lightly at him. "I'm sorry to force this onto you. But shine bright, Masayuki. Be the symbol that leads everyone forward."
He sighed in defeat.
And so…
The 20,000 members of the Volunteer Corps rallied behind Masayuki.
A Hero in name, a Hero in fate — and now, a Hero under the Pharaoh's will.
In the newly revised military structure, the right wing consisted of 52,000 soldiers, while the left wing held 50,000.
At the very top stood Benimaru, my appointed Supreme Commander of the Eterna Army. Beneath him were the corps commanders, each leading their own elite divisions.
All together, we had over 100,000 troops.
It sounded powerful — but compared to the sheer scale of the Imperial Army, even that number felt uncertain. The Empire was vast and relentless.
Still, I felt no fear.
Our preparations were moving forward with precision.
As a reserve force, the Western Nations held 150,000 soldiers on standby. Each country also prepared additional reinforcements from their knightly orders. When the worst came to pass, the West would unite into a final defensive force of no fewer than 200,000.
Calling it "a lot" or "pitiful" depended on perspective.
Against the Eastern Empire, even "large" forces could feel small.
Testarossa, as I heard, had… persuaded the Council more aggressively than necessary. But their cooperation was inevitable. If Eterna fell, they would be the next to be devoured. They had no choice but to pledge their support.
At the very least, those forces would stand ready until my defeat became undeniable.
And I did not intend to be defeated.
We had the advantage of fighting on our own land.
We had Veldora nearby.
We had the backing of Demon Lords such as Luminas and Leon.
Milim herself promised support.
Karion declared that the Beast Master's Warrior Alliance would deploy anytime at my command.
And as my personal trump card, Diablo's Black Numbers were waiting to be unleashed.
Many wondered why I didn't simply handle the Empire myself — why the Pharaoh of Eterna, with power far beyond Demon Lords, would allow an army to fight.
The answer was simple:
"Power must grow. And they need to learn to defend our paradise without relying on me alone."
I am more than capable of annihilating an invading force, but an army that cannot stand on its own has already lost.
That is why I entrusted full command of the entire military to Benimaru.
Officially, I commanded no unit.
In truth, an important exception existed:
The Black Numbers would follow only Diablo and his demoness trio.
They operated independently of Benimaru's authority.
This was the true structure.
"War, huh…" I murmured in my room, staring out over Eterna.
Did the Empire truly seek to annex the Western Nations?
Guy had spoken of a "game." That suggested something deeper — a larger design, a hidden motive behind their aggression.
But even if so…
My jaw tightened, and my voice dropped into a calm, dangerous certainty.
"It doesn't matter who they are. If they threaten our paradise… we will crush them."
Those words came from the very core of my being.
I have made mistakes before — trusting too much, depending too much on chance.
Never again.
I am the sovereign of Eterna.
A Demon Lord.
A Pharaoh.
And I will never again misjudge what must be protected.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the continent — in the Eastern Empire — preparations moved forward with terrifying scale.