The collection and deployment of cursed objects.
Despite being an overtly troublesome task, it is progressing smoothly.
Naturally, with the Demon Lord’s Army and the Empire’s elite troops.
For Tris, a great power that called itself strong, responding to advances from these two directions would be difficult.
Especially when utterly exhausted from previous battles, resistance would be futile.
“…”
Even with movement that was close to a forced march, the lack of resistance is a welcome ally now that speed is prioritized over time.
“Suella, what’s the troop deployment?”
As I straddled a horse demon beast, observing the army deployed on a small hill, I could feel it even more.
The smell of the battlefield carried on the wind.
Perhaps because a decisive battle is about to begin, the fighting spirit of each soldier participating is different.
“Yes, Lord Undead King’s army is positioned to the west, Lord Uuor’s army to the east, and Lord Oni King’s army to the north, surrounding Tris’s capital. To the south, the Demon Lord, Human King, and the Empire’s forces are deployed.”
Perhaps due to that fighting spirit, we were able to advance more quickly than planned, successfully surrounding Tris’s capital with time to spare, two days before the predicted date for the gods’ summoning.
There is no complacency or arrogance. We have taken every precaution to avoid interference and have fully committed all available military strength.
“But still, as expected, the enemy’s final resistance is quite a large force.”
A siege battle is meaningless if you don’t account for enemy reinforcements.
We have neutralized that possibility as much as we could.
The Kingdom, an allied nation, and the subordinate small nations’ reinforcements are being held back by the combined forces of the Empire and the Demon Lord’s Army.
The only reinforcements Tris can expect are from the heavens.
And who knows how long those reinforcements will last.
It’s a decisive battle, I know.
That’s precisely why I can’t help but make a sarcastic remark about the three floating castles above Tris’s capital, all identical to the one I cut down.
The number of angels is also incomparable to that time.
However, the forces prepared for this decisive battle are visible.
“If that is lost, the Sun God’s main headquarters will undoubtedly enter a period of decline. Furthermore, they serve as the summoning array, so they will want to defend it at all costs.”
The more I listen to Suella’s report, my secretary who accompanied me, the more I understand the enemy’s seriousness.
“For us, just being able to surround them is sufficient, but if their bombardment destroys the cursed objects we prepared, it would be a disaster.”
“To prevent that, Lord Uuor’s subordinates are currently digging tunnels underground to secretly install cursed objects beneath the capital.”
“Work that would normally take years, completed in just a few days by that person… It would be a problem if they noticed, but we’ll just have to keep them occupied and prevent them from realizing.”
Tris’s military strength is at its peak.
Naturally, they have retreated all their defensive soldiers from the fortresses along the way to the capital, as losing without even using their full strength would be unacceptable.
Therefore, they are giving their all, driven by the belief that summoning the gods will lead to victory, showing a spirit to protect the city at all costs.
“…Is there any sign of them attacking us?”
Despite that spirit, there is no sign of them attacking.
“From their perspective, it’s more convenient to maintain a standoff and buy time rather than rashly attacking and starting the battle.”
“That’s true. If they can remain unharmed, that’s clearly more convenient.”
If they can preserve such a large force, it’s definitely more convenient for them.
It would be equally convenient for us to quietly wait for time to pass.
“From our perspective, we’d prefer to gather all our forces before clashing.”
As Suella mentioned, we have the tunnel digging operation happening beneath us, so if we can buy time, that would be even more convenient.
There are no lingering concerns.
With Amili-san and Evia left behind to protect them, the remaining forces, Lord Lunaria and the Dragon King, are dealing with the Gate of Light.
As time passes, our forces will continue to increase, and eventually, all six generals will be assembled.
Furthermore, looking up at the sky, the magic battleship fleet entrusted to me by Amili-san is waiting in formation.
Thirty magic battleships, eight magic carriers loaded with giant golems for ground assault, and eighty escort magic ships to protect them.
A total of one hundred and eighteen ships from Amili’s maximum military strength have been lent to Kaido, who is acting as the representative of the Machine King.
In terms of actual strength, it’s a force that would seem like a losing event in an RPG, with all seven generals and the Demon Lord gathered, plus elite soldiers sent from the Empire.
The Court Mage Corps and the Imperial Guard are participating with the strongest equipment the Empire can provide, and they are currently being armed with powered exoskeletons provided by Amili-san through a process of “magic modification.”
Honestly, if we were to attack now, we could capture the city before the summoning.
“Perhaps allowing the Sun God to be summoned is also part of the plan.”
The President explicitly stated that preventing the summoning was not their intention.
This means confronting a god.
If possible, it would be less costly and perhaps even decisive to subdue the enemy before they can summon the god.
However, the President said that would be meaningless.
“Listen, never prevent the Sun God’s summoning. In the event you manage to prevent it, there will never be another opportunity to kill a god.”
This was a directive personally issued by the President to all of us generals.
This is why the generals who love to fight are eagerly awaiting the start of the war.
The two instructors, in particular, are noticeably exuding an atmosphere of patience.
Instructor Kio, because of his natural inclination for battle.
Instructor Fushio, as he seems to have some sort of grudge against the nation of Tris.
Combined, the presence from their respective positions is unnerving.
From Instructor Kio’s position, a crimson fighting spirit is visibly overflowing, while Instructor Fushio’s position emanates a miasma so chaotic it’s beyond description.
“Suella, how much longer do you think those two can endure?”
“They will hold out until the start of the battle. However, once it begins, they won’t stop.”
“I figured.”
With a wry smile, I can only empathize with their feelings.
A decisive battle with a god.
For me, with my short military career, I cannot comprehend it all.
However, there are still parts I can sympathize with.
“What about the Empire’s forces?”
“They are deployed behind us, preparing spells.”
And in this circle of empathy, the humans of this world are participating.
Not content to be simply annihilated by a god.
The human army has risen.
Those preparing to act in accordance with our strategy, centered around the Court Mages, are putting aside past history and lending us their strength.
For a moment, I considered their betrayal, but if they were to do that, they would be swept away in the world’s destruction.
The King would not allow such a futile act.
If it were to happen at all, it would be after the decisive battle.
“However… I never thought I’d feel pain from the fact that there’s nothing to do. Under different circumstances, I’d welcome it.”
With a sigh, the mission of continuously guarding against the opponent’s movements proved to be a more ill-suited task for me than I imagined.
Is this a side effect of my generally busy daily life?
“The calm before the storm seems to be torturous for the generals.”
“Undoubtedly.”
For us and the instructors, waiting time is simply painful.
Lord Uuor still has work to do, so he can distract himself, but we are merely waiting.
No, I understand that it is an important mission to keep the opponent in check.
But whether one finds it preferable is a matter of personal preference.
It’s better to have this time for trivial conversation, I thought.
“…Seriously?”
I thought there was still plenty of time left.
Naturally, the other side should think the same.
However, there seems to have been a slight discrepancy.
A subtle change.
The air changed.
Sensing it, I fixed my gaze on the capital, and the ground trembled slightly.
For a moment, I thought it was an earthquake.
But based on the way it shook, I knew it wasn’t.
At the same time, I had a premonition of something bad.
It manifested visually into reality.
White towers.
They appeared on all four sides of the capital.
“This has become troublesome.”
A barrier deployed, a troublesome object for defense, and the castles waiting in the sky also began to move.
“Suella!!”
“Combat readiness!! Combat readiness!!”
As the magic cannons of the floating castles began to activate, I shouted, and Suella issued orders to the surrounding troops.
I don’t know their intention for starting the battle at this timing.
But I have a premonition that it will be a long battle.
Two shadows darted into my field of vision.
Understanding who those two were, I let out a soft sigh.
“Transmission via telepathic communication network!! We will now proceed to attack the Tower of God!! Request Lord Uuor to expedite his work!! Send the Imperial Army’s mage divisions to establish defensive positions!! Notify the aerial fleet!! It’s a bombardment battle!! Do not let the enemy castles do their work!!”
I issued the orders in one breath.
Originally, the instructors, being older and more senior, should have given the orders, but I rushed ahead.
If that’s the case, I have no choice but to give the orders.
The mages serving by my side probably relayed my words exactly as I spoke them.
The army moved swiftly.
“Transmit to Lord Oni King’s army: Charge! Transmit to Lord Undead King’s army: Follow the Oni King and provide support! We will be in reserve!!”
They understand who is doing what.
They act without questioning orders, without hesitation.
“““Ooooh!!””
Lord Oni King takes the lead charge, Lord Undead King provides support, and the Human King guards the main camp.
“Summoning arrays around the floating castles!!”
“Leave the sky to them!!”
This is quite a flashy opening.
The main cannons of the floating castles fired towards the magic battleship fleet.
However, escort ships moved forward and deployed a barrier.
Blocking it, a brilliant light scattered in the sky.
Initiated by that, summoning arrays were deployed around the floating castles, and I could see their movements becoming more active.
If we are shot at, we shoot back.
As if to showcase the full capabilities of the mobile fleet, the main cannons were aimed at the castles and fired.
“Our attack was blocked by the barrier!!”
The barrier of the white towers, the Tower of God, seems to extend up to the sky, preventing the attack from reaching the castles.
What a troublesome thing they’ve done.
“Do not let up on your attack!! Even if the enemy’s barrier is strong, it is not invincible!!”
We must reduce the enemy’s combat power while minimizing our own damage.
The balance is difficult.
However, it’s strange that I don’t think it’s impossible.
A smile naturally forms on my lips.
Ah, it’s alright.
I can still smile.
I’ve found myself commanding at the last minute, yet I can still calmly assess the situation.
Above, a bombardment battle is raging between the floating castles and the magic battleship fleet, and before me, the Oni are about to engage the barrier.
I am smiling amidst the prediction of a fierce battle to come.
“We’ll manage.”
I tell myself that and earnestly wish for the preparations to be completed quickly.
The enemy forces began their counter-attack from the city walls.
However, they could not stop the Oni, and instead, their defenses were overwhelmed by the approaching undead legion from behind.
“Well then, let’s begin.”
Seeing that, I took a deep breath to calm my slightly excited feelings.
“God Killer.”
A small matter before a grand event.
Thinking it’s ridiculous for such a massive war to be just a prelude, I decided to laugh heartily.
A word for today:
Perhaps it is necessary to gloss over the hardship.
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Pandora Pandemic Panic – Pandora’s Box has been opened again, but I’m confronting it with things like my secret base! Please check that out as well!
