Chapter 206
“Wowwww!”
The cheers of the crowd and the booming sound of explosions echoed through the air. It was a common sight at the frontlines facing the demonic race.
And in one corner of the battlefield, there were two people leisurely engaged in conversation.
“Your Majesty. Why on earth have you come out to a place like this? Please, return to the palace at once.”
“Haah, is there a place I cannot go? Do you truly believe that, Isis?”
Contrary to Isis’ worried words, the Emperor asked back with a sigh. In response, Isis let out a different kind of sigh and began to speak.
“Sigh, that’s not what I meant.”
“You worry too much. How about you relax and enjoy life a bit, Isis?”
“…I doubt I will find any leisure until I retire, thanks to someone.”
“Haha! That’s unfortunate. To think someone would dare to trouble the Chief Wizard of the Imperial Court! Whoever it is, they must have some serious guts and skills.”
As the Emperor said, the one troubling Isis had guts, skills, and a background that were all exceptional. In fact, one could say they were at the pinnacle of humanity. And that was precisely because it was the Emperor himself.
Both the Emperor and Isis knew this but pretended otherwise; it was not surprising enough to warrant mentioning.
“…You’ve already seen what you came to see, haven’t you? This place is dangerous, so please return quickly.”
“I trust you, so don’t rush me.”
Being trusted by the Emperor should have been a pleasant thing, yet Isis’ stiff expression showed no signs of easing. It would have been better if she couldn’t speak; instead, every word from the Emperor seemed to push her closer to bursting.
“It’s not strange for anything to happen on the battlefield, Your Majesty. No matter who I am, nothing is guaranteed in a war zone.”
Crack!
As soon as the words ended, an arrow flew towards the Emperor, whether aimed or just some random shot. However, the arrow, hitting the protective shield magic that Isis had surrounded them with since they arrived, disintegrated into dust without leaving a scratch.
Even though it was supposed to be safe, one might be startled by such a sudden situation, but the Emperor’s eyes showed no sign of surprise; he was too busy looking down at the soldiers fighting below.
“In any case, I don’t plan to stay here long. I merely came out to see if I might make some changes to adapt to the shifting tides of war.”
Just as Isis mentioned, the purpose of their visit had been achieved. Just one speech to boost the morale of the soldiers fighting at the frontlines in the face of unusual movements from the demonic race. Although he was merely observing from afar, it still counted as participating in the battlefield.
Of course, there wasn’t really a need for the Emperor to take such risks. While the morale of the soldiers had soared significantly, the cost of putting himself in danger didn’t add up. It would be far more beneficial to use that time to reflect on governance.
But the Emperor didn’t do that. Although he had eyes and ears across the continent, he specifically came to the frontlines to see for himself.
He had no doubt that trouble would arise. He felt no particular danger. Yet, that didn’t mean he was simply trusting Isis. Rather, what the Emperor believed in was his own insights and foresight.
“Don’t worry, my dear Isis. I will never die in a place like this.”
The Emperor’s foresight could see through everything. And included in that was himself.
After all, when looking into a mirror, only what he already knew would be reflected back at him. However, there was one thing he saw in himself that differed from how he viewed others.
That was his lifespan.
Not merely the number of years left to live. One could die from a rogue arrow piercing the heart, or perhaps fall victim to an unexpected terminal illness.
He had no doubt about the lifespan given to him by his foresight.
Most people might go insane as they approach the already anticipated death each day, but the Emperor was not that weak of a person. He actually pondered how he could better utilize his predetermined fate.
Even though he had no heir, he had taken all necessary measures to ensure that the Empire moved in the right direction even after his death. Even if one of the cogs he’d prepared for the Empire broke or decayed, he had crafted everything intricately enough to replace it himself.
“By the way, the movements of the demonic race have certainly changed. It seems serious. Can you guess what might have caused this?”
“Well, it’s hard to say with the limited information we have. I can only make a few guesses.”
After all, the scale of this battle was among the few since the revival of the Demon King. Yet, it had already occurred numerous times recently. If there had been no changes on the human side, it meant something was different on the demonic side.
“Alright. Let’s head back now.”
The battle had already begun, and the fighting before him was the responsibility of the army. It was time for the Emperor to prepare to fight his own battles.
*
Lunia continued her explanation.
The activities of the demons scattered across the continent had gradually decreased, while on the contrary, the size of the armies stationed at the borders had increased. The demons, known for their reluctance to follow orders, were beginning to obey the commands of stronger demons and were formalizing a hierarchy, leading to a more organized movement of the demonic army closing in on the borders.
Demons were inherently selfish beings. They wouldn’t hesitate to stab their fellow demons in the back to enhance their own power. Given this nature, even those who originally commanded armies tended to operate more like large-scale terrorists than united organizations.
And it was clear how little interest the likes of Lilith had in organization, as she was elevated to a Four Heavenly King yet lived as a lonely recluse.
“Thanks to that, civilian casualties have decreased, but… the moment a single area collapses, the damage will be devastating.”
“Could it be that the Demon King has fully regained power? Although the Holy Sword and the Goddess remain quiet…”
The Holy Sword at her waist was silent, and when she turned to glance at Mariel, she shook her head, indicating no revelations had come.
“Certainly, to command all those demons, one would need to be at least a Demon King. But that’s just one of many possibilities, so I cannot say for certain.”
No matter how one looked at it, this wasn’t good news. Even if civilian damages were reduced, it was merely a temporary phenomenon; the moment a defensive line broke, the damage in that region would be unfathomably severe.
“From now on, Lady Elysia must step forward. For whatever reason, she has been operating quietly until now, but her presence will be essential for boosting morale and providing hope.”
“If it’s necessary, then I will of course do it.”
“Actually, I mentioned this as if asking for permission, but the Empire has conveyed that they are utilizing Lady Elysia for propaganda. With the official announcement of having defeated one of the Four Heavenly Kings.”
It seemed the Emperor had proceeded without any consultation with me, but there was no significant issue. He had already provided ample assistance, and there was no longer a need for me to operate in secrecy.
The reason I had not stepped forward before was simply my desire to work alone. When I had to distance myself from my friends, it was more efficient to operate as a lone assassin.
However, now that I have my friends with me, that was no longer necessary. The current strength of our party would even make the Four Heavenly Kings look down upon us. In fact, it would be wasteful not to head straight to the Demon King’s Castle right now.
Originally, I had intended to restore Lindy’s powers and immediately take down the other Four Heavenly Kings. But just as I returned from the Spirit Realm, such changes occur. It was suspicious and certainly something I had never seen in my previous lives.
“I understand your eagerness to head to the Demon King’s Castle, but we lack information. How about we head to the Capital first to gather more intel from the Emperor?”
Selian, who sat next to me, gently wrapped her hand around mine as she spoke. As she said, we were utterly lacking information about the changing situation. While I could gain information through Lindy, that alone wouldn’t be enough. Above all, for the changes that had just begun at the frontlines, obtaining information directly from the Emperor would be the fastest and most accurate.
One could say I was being overly cautious for a hero. Yet, beyond my purpose and resolve to protect the continent by killing demons, I had one even more important vow. A vow to never lose my friends again.
Losing them was already more than enough in my past life. I must never let myself be caught in a situation where revenge against the demons puts my friends in danger.
Yes. My sword, my life, my everything is for them.
