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A large fleet of over 200 ships. Although it fell short of Jenis’s initial target of 500, that goal was set unrealistically high from the start.

As September rolled in, Jenis could only be certain that her strategy had been completely exposed to the enemy. Even with a less-than-adequate fleet, she was convinced they had to launch their operation right away to get everything on track before winter came and the coast froze.

Moreover, dragging the operation out could cause the unrest in the political landscape, which was still not fully resolved, to stir up again. The royal faction centered around Rose Caprice had shown almost no movement aside from reestablishing the northern defense line, but Jenis had heard strange rumors that Rose was secretly coordinating with Duke Jeffrey. While she couldn’t be certain, if it were true, it meant Rose was ready to use every method at her disposal to suppress Jenis. Secretly, Jenis trembled in fear.

Regardless, preparations for departure were almost complete. Troops, supplies, and strategies were adequately prepared. Now all that was left was to set sail.

Five legions led by Douglas Koesernis, totaling fifteen thousand soldiers, boarded the ships. Twenty elite soldiers personally selected by Jenis boarded the ‘HMS Victory’ alongside Jeongjae and Jenis Harker. This ship was designated to be at the forefront, responsible for spotting and taking down the Kraken before any other vessels.

Thus, this ship had to move ahead and land last. In this world, there was no concept of “cannons,” and merely relying on a rain of arrows or landing with stage cannons would not be sufficient to break through the likely well-fortified defenses of the Demon King’s Army.

“Isn’t it just about landing where there aren’t any enemy fortifications? The eastern coast is wide. It would be unreasonable to think fortifications are placed all along the entire coastline,” Jeongjae suggested. The fastest entities within the Demon King’s Army were the Shadow Knight Order. However, no matter how fast the Shadow Knights were, they couldn’t move faster than a fleet sailing on the sea. Therefore, Jeongjae thought there was no obligation for Jenis’s fleet to engage in combat with the enemy during the landing process.

If this were modern warfare, the speed of ground troops or their intelligence would likely be quick enough to counter the movements of enemy fleets, making such flanking maneuvers ineffective. But the enemy had no tanks or armored vehicles. No fighter jets or transport planes. From Jeongjae’s modern perspective, this battle could be approached with the concepts of a more classic landing operation.

Hearing Jeongjae’s words, Jenis shook her head.

“Don’t assess the Demon King’s Army with a common-sense approach, Professor.”

“What do you mean by a common-sense approach…?”

“You taught me that the enemy has the mobilization capability of a total of three million troops. This vast coastline only benefits us in terms of spreading out the enemy’s forces. There are likely no gaps to exploit, except for dangerously rocky areas where we can’t dock the ships.”

“But if they pushed a million troops onto this coastline, how will they restrain Walter?”

“The enemy has left their fortifications empty,” Jenis replied. Jeongjae tilted his head in confusion.

“What?”

“During the Northern Expedition War. They established impenetrable fortifications in the most rugged terrains but hardly stationed any generals or troops there. Their sole purpose was to annihilate the Eramenian forces. The enemy has also started to focus their efforts. If I were the Demon King, I would determine that this coast requires an even denser concentration of defenses than the Hero’s Northern Expeditionary Force. Let’s not rely on luck; no matter which side we aim for, the enemy will certainly have their fortifications.”

“So, the only one left to defend the coast would be the Gargoyle Queen?”

“Of course. There’s no other option. But let’s not rely on luck when it comes to breaching a fortification without the Gargoyle Queen. The place we’ll be invading is the enemy’s territory, and the Demon King’s reconnaissance capabilities should not be underestimated. On top of that, the Gargoyle Queen is not some slouch; she can’t be forgotten for her wings. She will probably be waiting at the most accessible rear base to move swiftly to any fortification upon receiving intel about our movements.”

“What about showing fake movements to confuse the enemy or to disperse their forces?”

“We will be moving over the sea. And none of the soldiers we have are that proficient at sailing. We spent decades cooped up on land and couldn’t escape the Kraken if we ventured offshore.”

In other words, Jenis’s fleet lacks the technical ability to disrupt the enemy’s intelligence network through skilled maneuvers. After glancing at Koesernis, who was busy preparing for navigation, she added to Jeongjae.

“Moreover, don’t give Douglas Koesernis too much power.”

“Hmm.”

Jeongjae slightly nodded. They managed to momentarily suppress Jeffrey, but just because they teamed up with Koesernis for that purpose didn’t guarantee complete trust. He had originally supported Sally Jeffrey only to later drive her out and seize control of the southern region, aiming to lead independent military operations.

It’s not that he was inherently evil, but there’s no doubt he was a man with ambitions beyond his own limits.

“So… we’re basically going with a straightforward approach then.”

“We will board the ships, kill the Kraken to secure a route, then land and confront the Gargoyle Queen, who has been waiting to smash us.”

“Sounds incredibly difficult.”

“It truly isn’t easy,” Jenis nodded. If she didn’t have the certainty that the dragons were temporarily pulled back from the war through the Eramenia battle, she would never attempt such a fight. They couldn’t fight on the sea, stripped of the skies.

A plan that could turn the tide of the war if successful. The temptation was sweet, but the sweetness came with a risk. Jenis was well aware of that—not just anyone, but she understood that fact better than anyone.

“Jenis.”

Jeongjae called out to the Great Sage who was about to board the ironclad. Jenis turned, standing still.

“Yes, Professor?”

“Last autumn, you were trembling at the sight of hundreds of orcs approaching.”

“I nearly fainted after recklessly casting magic on the Kraken, terrified.”

“It’s hard to believe how much a human can change in a year… But I still worry for you.”

Seeing the concern in Jeongjae’s expression, Jenis let out a delighted giggle.

“You’ve probably been here for… about four years, right, Professor?”

“Yeah, probably around that.”

“I remember hearing rumors when I was preparing for college. A strange being appeared. There was a wizard with the most powerful magic, who was so scared of killing a single goblin that he got nauseous just seeing blood.”

“So that’s what the rumors about me were like.”

Jeongjae scratched his head awkwardly. Jenis nodded and fully turned to him, asking.

“Professor, in the year since you arrived here, how many deaths have you witnessed? Regardless of enemy or ally. How many lives have you seen, bound in flesh and blood, perish?”

“Countless.”

“I’ve probably seen even more. If we only consider what occurred within the same timeframe.”

Jeongjae had no choice but to accept her words. From the moment Jenis was appointed as Great Sage, she was sent to the Northern Expedition front lines, where some of the fiercest and most intense battles in the great demon war took place one after another.

“I witnessed my father’s heart being crushed, and I also saw you come back from the brink of death. And above all…”

Jenis stared intently at the staff she held.

“I first learned who I truly am.”

“Who you are is not determined by your bloodline.”

“That’s only true within the confines of a class system, Professor.”

Jenis spoke with her head held high.

“Just because you’re born the son of a king does not mean you are a king. Just because you’re born the child of a noble does not mean you have to be noble. That’s faulty logic. It is indeed strange that noble blood is passed down through noble titles, as you could say. But ultimately, when you trace it all back to the source, what defines who I am is nothing more than who my parents were.”

“You are the daughter of Count Harker.”

“Abraham van Helsing. A scholar who came from Earth and was a politician of unparalleled brilliance. A half vampire who sought to be human. And from my maternal side flows the blood of the Sereum family. The renowned Reina Sereum is likely around my direct ancestor. My body is infused with the greatest talents, and the bloodline is what determines my fate and propels me forward.”

“If your words are true, then I have nothing special to offer. My parents were indeed great, but they weren’t as remarkable as you say.”

“True enough. That’s the very reason I respect you, Professor. We—namely, the Hero and those of us who assist beside him—are different from anyone else. Not just because we are strong, but because inherently, only those who are truly unlike ordinary humans can stand beside the Hero. Don’t you think so?”

Jeongjae felt he understood what Jenis was saying. Even if Rose lacked Iron Wall’s Protection, she would still be a great ruler. Even if Walter lacked the Holy Sword, he would still be a brilliant strategist.

“But you, you’re no different from anyone else. Just a bit kinder than most.”

Jeongjae didn’t know how to respond. As Jenis turned and walked toward the ship, she muttered to herself.

“Even if I gain the world, I won’t be able to keep it for long. But someone like you… If you gain the world, you possess the strength to protect it forever.”

Jeongjae did not hear her words. Yet, her sentiments had already been conveyed to Jeongjae. Margaret had already spoken to him in a similar vein.

While Jeongjae stood there in a daze, the ship was ready to set sail. Toward the sea, toward the north.

Ultimately, in order to return the sea to humanity, the ship named after Horatio Nelson’s flagship slowly opened its gates and began boarding people.

 

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