Tartarus Kingdom.
The Royal Capital, Shpirren.
A bombing raid by the “Thief” character at set intervals.
More than half of the Royal Capital was reduced to rubble.
“Well, the bombing will continue though~ ♪”
DOOOOOM!!
“Ugh… Ah…”
The screams of the residents playing the subordinates couldn’t be heard.
Or perhaps, even if they could be heard, they were too faint and difficult to discern. To the Royal Exclusive Machine (King Star), it was merely noise. Ah, should I turn off the auditory sensors?
Sigh, the subordinates’ lack of motivation.
The “Thief” character had also stolen clothes and blended in with the subordinates.
Ah, well. Should I finish this up soon?
“Ah, testing, testing. I declare the end of the “Police vs. Thief” game. Well then, dieeee!!”
I intended to fire magic bullets at the remaining buildings.
However, I detected multiple responses inside the buildings where two distinct magic powers were merging into one.
What the heck, what the heck, what the heck…!!
“If you’re going to hold back because your stamina or survival count has decreased, I’ll stop holding back and participate in the game with the stamina you’re saving for fun!!”
DOOOOOM!! DOOOOOM!! DOOOOOM!!
Next!
DOOOOOM!! DOOOOOM!! DOOOOOM!!
I unleashed a barrage of bombing across the entire Royal Capital (including the rubble) with the intent of depleting the Royal Exclusive Machine (King Star)’s remaining magic power to zero.
“Ughhhhhh—”
DOOOOOM!! DOOOOOM!! DOOOOOM!!
As expected, you still have plenty of stamina.
Oh? Is that the “Thief” character.
I descend in altitude.
“I still have the energy to escape! So! Stop the bombing!”
Ah, yes, yes.
“I told you I, the police, would decide the rules, didn’t I?”
“DON’T MESS WITH ME—!”
CRUNCH.
What an annoying bug.
There should be one more… Ah, there it is.
DOOOOOM!!
“—!?”
Tch, don’t dodge.
What a sharp bug.
DOOOOOM!! DOOOOOM!!
I resumed bombing until all detected magic reactions within the Royal Capital disappeared.
Those who escaped during the game wouldn’t interfere.
After all, they have no food or weapons.
Even if they somehow managed.
They would end up fighting amongst themselves, and if they attracted even a medium-sized monster, it would be the end♪
Well then.
The enemy capital is a scorched plain.
Magic communication to the advance base of the bridgehead is down.
Is it enemy jamming in the interim?
I’ll try to connect to the main base using the enemy’s magic communication.
… … …
No good.
Should I pursue deep into the west?
Or should I attack the backs of those manning the northern and southern fronts?
Or should I return the way I came?
This is troubling.
The Tartarus Kingdom has already perished.
Even if the royalty and nobility not present in the capital tried to establish a new kingdom.
Historians will say.
That the surrender of this capital marked the demise of the Tartarus Kingdom.
Ah, I acted like a poet, how cool of me.
Yet, there isn’t a single woman by my side! Damn it.
I’ll take out some frustration on the surrounding wreckage, then decide on my destination once I calm down.
Possibility of intact combat power exists in the west.
I wonder if there are any talented individuals there.
It was worth flying west all night.
I discovered the lights of intact towns and villages.
I enjoyed embracing women.
I set off again with the sunrise.
“Give us—”
DOOOOOM!!
The customary “We’ll spare you if you hand over the women,” followed by a broken promise.
I’m really playing the villain, aren’t I~♪
“Ah, ah…!?”
Next are the women.
Ah, what a waste. What a waste.
“Stop—”
“What are you—”
CRUNCH! GRIND GRIND.
As if to sever my lingering regrets.
Instead of blowing them away with magic bullets.
I crushed them underfoot, just like the royalty of the Tartarus Kingdom.
“When my dream comes true, I’ll dote on daughters named after you.”
So until then.
Please wait for me in the cycle of reincarnation♪!
◇◇◇◇◇
Sharshar Kingdom.
The Royal Capital’s Intelligence Agency.
“Is that information true!?”
Intelligence Officer Patch. That King Nine His Majesty struck down the enemy’s capital.
“Yes, it is confirmed information. We extracted it from an enemy Vice General under torture.”
“Long live King Nine His Majesty!”
“Long live King Nine His Majesty!”
They offered a salute and praise towards the west… in the direction of the Tartarus Kingdom’s capital (Royal Capital Shpirren).
“We shall contact the Tōyashi in the north immediately♪”
“Yes!”
◇◇◇◇◇
Sharshar Kingdom Northern Front.
“Tōyashi Engineer-dono!? We have good news from the Royal Capital—!”
The messenger called out using both magic communication and an external generator to the machine (Golem), “ōgane,” piloted by the picking specialist Tōyashi.
“Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.”
Trying to establish communication. There’s interference from other friendly army conversations, or rather, shouts.
“Tōyashi Engineer-dono!? Please respond!?”
Ah, no good…
A stray shot flies by. The messenger immediately takes evasive action.
“That was close…”
I look at the trajectory of the stray shot. It appears to be a magic bullet fired in desperation by a remaining unit of the “Jet Black Iron Hammer Corps” belonging to the Southern Garrison.
It was from the Northern Country, Verubaldo.
“Don’t leave behind these near-dead bodies this far inland… Tsk.”
To die from something like that would be the worst.
“Zzzzzz… Ah, ah. This is “ōgane.” Messenger, what is it?”
“Y-yes! We have good news from the Royal Capital.”
Finally, communication with Tōyashi Engineer-dono is established.
“Oh? As expected of our陛下♪!”
Tōyashi Engineer-dono says he will further invade the enemy country Verubaldo. No, surely that requires approval from the Royal Capital… It’s unpalatable.
“Well then, tell Suurl too♪ That I’m going to hog all the credit♪ Gahaha—*click*—”
“Eh? Ah, hello!?”
No good. He cut the line.
Sigh, going back to report… I don’t want to…
The messenger pilot, with heavy steps, informs Suurl, who is in charge of the decoy, of the good news.
“Tōyashi!”
“Yes.”
“That guy~~. Ah, I’ll follow him. End of communication. *click*”
“Yes…”
Just as I expected.
The messenger soldier sighs as he watches the dust clouds rising to the north, accompanied by his subordinates. He heads back to the Royal Capital. The messenger soldier grumbles as he operates the speed-focused support device (backpack) through the cockpit seat.
Several hours later.
At the Royal Capital, upon receiving the report.
Intelligence Officer Patch clenches his fist and remains silent.
The messenger soldier feels like his life is hanging by a thread.
“That is all, sir.”
“You’ve worked hard. Remain in the waiting room.”
“Yes, excuse me.”
After the messenger soldier leaves and a short while passes. The sound of something being destroyed can be heard from inside the room. The guards protecting the door do not enter the room, sensing from the messenger’s fear that it is not an enemy attack.
BANG! THUD!
I wonder when the sounds will stop. I pass down the corridors to the left and right.
“You can earn credit countless times over! Those idiots! Don’t make more work for me, you bastards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
THUMP!
