We had a bitter experience in Fortress City Byakkot, but on that day, after proceeding about an hour from Byakkot, we ascended to an altitude of 10,000 meters and then anchored for the night.
Even though it was a field encampment, the Wing of Order was equipped with facilities comparable to first-class accommodations and also had a spacious training ground.
We had supplies for a month, and anything I personally brought was stored away, so we didn’t feel any particular inconvenience.
Still, the experience in Byakkot was unexpected for us, or rather, something we had intentionally not considered, so it really hit us hard.
However, since the fate of the Helios Orb hung in the balance, the original objective of defeating the Divine Emperor remained unchanged. This was true even if it meant creating more children who met the same unfortunate fate as those we had encountered.
“When a country falls, it inevitably leads to the creation of such unfortunate individuals. Since it’s impossible to save everyone, we strive to understand the limits of our own capabilities and work to ensure those within our reach can live in peace.”
The Kings accompanying us nodded in agreement with Emperor Reinhardt’s words.
Even though I was aware of this, hearing it explicitly stated weighed heavily on me. But this, I felt, was the essence of war, or rather, the struggle for survival.
It’s difficult to simply switch gears after such heavy talk, but the reason we’ve come all the way to the Gradia Continent is to defeat the Divine Emperor. I think we managed to come to terms with it over the course of the night. It’s not that simple, and I can’t say I’m completely at ease, but for now, we must focus on defeating the Divine Emperor.
“Is that Arrogentia, the Capital City? It’s a large city, but…”
“Yes. While the Royal Castle boasts a grandeur befitting a great nation, a building nearby, so large it could be mistaken for a castle, stands out remarkably.”
Arrogentia, as seen from the sky, was a typical Western-style city with a vast Royal Castle at its center, surrounded by Noble’s Mansions, and further out, houses, shops, and workshops of commoners. However, northeast of the Noble’s Mansions stood a structure comparable in scale to the Royal Castle. I felt like I had seen that building somewhere before.
“It’s not the Sagrada Familia. To build something on the scale of the Royal Castle, how much time and money must have been spent?”
Sagrada Familia… Ah, yes, I remember it’s a church in Spain. And Mako, why do you know about it? Also, if my memory serves me right, the Sagrada Familia is a building almost 200 meters tall, isn’t it? While it is indeed massive, it doesn’t seem to be that tall.
“I saw it with my own eyes on a graduation trip. And its height was about 170 meters, I believe. But that’s beside the point. Knowing the Divine Emperor, he probably just mimicked the exterior.”
“Ah, that’s true.”
“I went there when I was young, too, and yes, this one looks to be around 50 meters tall. I can’t say for sure without knowing Abaricia’s technological capabilities, but the Royal Castle is similar in size, so perhaps that’s the limit.”
Sayuri-sama has also seen the Sagrada Familia in person. I went to Greece on a high school tour, but never to Spain. Anyway, that’s not important. I understand what Mako and Sayuri-sama mean. If the Sagrada Familia is a church, then it’s almost certain that Evil God Abaricia is worshipped there. Even if it’s downsized from the original Sagrada Familia, for the Divine Emperor, the exterior was likely enough, and even so, a church on a scale comparable to the Royal Castle would still emanate sufficient grandeur to worship a god.
“It seems they couldn’t build a structure larger than the Royal Castle.”
“More importantly, I would never have imagined that he would build a church to worship a god.”
Prim’s statement was understandable, but Mako’s was as well. Divine Emperors, who are proponents of engraving magic supremacy, are obsessed with the idea that engravers are superior. Therefore, they believe that engravers should rule and guide nations, and ordinary people without engravings should serve engravers. Such a group would never believe in gods; in fact, they often attack shrines, which are frequented by many engravers who oppose them. Shrines are places of worship, similar to temples or churches. So, for the Divine Emperor, a member of their faction, to build a church comparable in scale to his own residence, the Royal Castle, is indeed unthinkable.
“Speaking of which, now that I think about it, what is the connection between the Divine Emperor and the Evil God?”
Mana’s whisper was very belated, but it is indeed a great mystery, and something we hadn’t considered at all until now. We had thought it wasn’t important, but seeing a church identical to the Sagrada Familia, on par with the Royal Castle, it’s impossible not to be curious.
“I agree, it’s unclear. One possibility is that Abaricia was involved in the Divine Emperor’s teleportation, or perhaps they played a role in the creation of Chimeras?”
“Both are plausible, but building such a magnificent church suggests that the Divine Emperor is aware of the Evil God’s existence. However, that alone feels like a weak motive.”
“That’s true. However, we’ve come this far, so there’s no use dwelling on it anymore. Rai, you agree, don’t you?”
“Yes. While I am curious, this is no longer the stage for investigating the truth.”
Although I want to know the truth, as Sayuri-sama and Emperor Reinhardt said, regardless of the facts, we don’t have the luxury to investigate such matters; that stage has long passed. We have concerns, but having come this far, our top priority is to swiftly defeat the Divine Emperor and save the Helios Orb from destruction. Moreover, the Arrogentia side had also prepared their defenses, and soldiers were swarming out.
“They’ve appeared.”
“Yes. Regarding the Four Spirit Armies, we have no information other than that they are deployed in the four cardinal directions of Arrogentia. Based on our current position, it is likely the Kirin Army.”
The Four Spirits—Ouryu, Kirin, Phoenix, and Spirit Turtle—unlike the Four Gods, do not specifically govern directions. However, I had heard they were deployed in the four cardinal directions of Arrogentia. I had assumed they were assigned to corresponding entities, so I theorized that the Ouryu Army was in the East, the Kirin Army in the West, the Phoenix Army in the South, and the Spirit Turtle Army in the North. It seems my guess was correct. However, unlike Fortress City Byakkot, Arrogentia is our destination, so even if we repel the Kirin Army, it’s certain that reinforcements from the remaining Four Spirit Armies will arrive, and the Chiyou Army, which serves as the Imperial Guard, will also emerge. We don’t know when they will appear, but I believe they are already on the move.
“I don’t see any Chimeras. Given the location, perhaps they are not deployed with the Four Spirit Armies, or there are only a few?”
“It’s hard to say, but we must assume they will appear, or we risk being caught off guard.”
“Indeed. Then, we too shall make our preparations.”
“Understood.”
“Knights and Hunters aboard! Currently, in Arrogentia, forces believed to be the Kirin Army, guarding the west, are deployed. First, we will defeat the Kirin Army and make this the preliminary battle for the conquest of Arrogentia! As announced the other day, pregnant women and their husbands will move to rear support. Those who have not yet overcome their aversion to Chimeras will also be assigned there. The engagement will commence shortly. All personnel, act with speed!”
Rex-san used the speaking tube to rally everyone. After landing on the Gradia Continent, daily simple medical examinations, primarily conducted by Mako-san and Sayuri-sama, revealed six new pregnancies. We intended to send them back to the Philia Continent, but since Long-distance Teleportation Magic, Traveling, could not be used on the Gradia Continent, we had no choice but to have them accompany us. However, we couldn’t have them fight, so we asked them to assist with rear support. On this magical continent of Gradia, being forced to face Chimeras, mutated magical beasts, placed an immeasurable burden on the pregnant women. Mako-san was providing support, but it might not be enough, so we asked their husbands to provide further assistance and assigned them to rear support as well. This situation is truly our oversight.
“Then, General Order, shall we go?”
“Understood. Your Majesty, I’m off.”
“Ah, I’ll leave the first battle to you.”
“Yes!”
For the first battle, or rather, since the Kirin Army is significantly smaller in scale than the Byakkot Army, Rex-san and the top executives of the Ritter’s Guild are taking the lead. This is due to coordination with various countries, but it’s essentially a scramble for accolades. Emperor Reinhardt, Rex-san, the accompanying Kings, and even the Secondary and First Knights probably find it foolish, but they have to make these adjustments because of the incessant demands from some nobles in their respective countries. It’s truly troublesome how people who have no understanding of combat often hold considerable influence.
“What’s the situation on Abaricia’s side… No Chimeras have appeared yet. Are they holding back?”
“Considering the speed of troop deployment, our information has certainly reached them. The fact that they haven’t appeared yet makes me wonder if they truly aren’t there.”
Indeed, as Mako-san pointed out, the absence of Chimeras is unnatural. Furthermore, we are advancing using Airships, even if we have lowered our altitude, which puts us in a superior position overhead. For them not to deploy Chimeras at this point would mean completely abandoning air superiority. As Emperor Reinhardt suggested, it makes one wonder if they really aren’t deployed. I doubt they would hold back Chimeras while losing air superiority, but the concept of air superiority might not even exist for them, so holding back is a possibility. The Divine Emperor should know this, but it’s possible that even if he knows it as knowledge, he doesn’t truly understand it. So, I can’t say for sure.
“Even if the Divine Emperor is incompetent, if his military personnel are competent, they should understand the danger of losing control of the skies. Even in Arrogentia, ruled by the Divine Emperor, such preparations are expected. The fact that they are not implies that not only the Divine Emperor but also the military’s upper echelons are incompetent.”
“I agree with Prim. However, it doesn’t matter if they are competent or incompetent anymore. We just need to defeat them all.”
No, I understand what Prim and Mana are saying. But isn’t that a bit too brute-force? They probably mean there’s no point in overthinking it, but couldn’t they phrase it a little better? I’ll keep quiet because it’s scary to speak out of turn.
Still, I understand what the two of them mean. In the end, if we quickly defeat the military forces and then draw out and defeat the Divine Emperor, it will all be over. I’m also pretty brute-force, but I also want this to be over quickly, so I guess I’m allowed to think that.
