Sharshar Kingdom.
The Royal Capital.
Rayos caused a disturbance in a town near the eastern border.
More than that.
The royal castle was facing a major crisis.
“Your Majesty, I implore you to lift the information blockade.”
“That cannot be done.”
“Why? The west is a sea of fire.”
Patch, Director of the Intelligence Agency.
Information warfare and information sharing were meaningless.
Rather, we had been paying too much attention to the east.
From the West Sea. No, from the western sky, a fleet of airships suddenly burned down new western lands.
Perhaps it was because most of our personnel were dedicated to the war in the east, or perhaps not.
The number of reported deaths, such as those from burning and crushing, was surprisingly low considering the damage.
The airship fleet belonged to the West Continent.
The Magic Kingdom [Izul], which had gathered magicians, sorcerers, and mages.
There was no doubt that these were their combat ships.
“Information might be leaked to the enemy.”
“If our Intelligence Agency’s encryption is deciphered…”
“That’s a remote possibility. Director of the Intelligence Agency, and considering the daily performance of your staff, the encrypted messages are unlikely to be deciphered easily. For now, we must keep it secret. Our priority is to gather combat power to crush these invaders. Do you understand?”
I am worried if I am successfully impersonating King Nine His Majesty.
Finally, the Director of the Intelligence Agency spoke.
“As Your Majesty commands.”
“I’m counting on you.”
The Director of the Intelligence Agency withdrew.
I headed to the factory for the mass-produced [Alexy] series.
Inside the factory, refugees who had lost their husbands and jobs were busily assembling the [Alexy] series that I was controlling.
Assembly lines are wonderful.
Much more efficient than having each person build one individually.
Moreover, those who were unskilled were replaced.
They could also be reassigned to other tasks.
“Your Majesty! Entrance!”
“Work stoppage! Bow down, bow down!”
This is tiresome; being a king is such a hassle.
“Continue your work.”
“Yes! Begin work! Show Your Majesty your daily work! You there! No slacking! Private conversations can wait, understood? Come on, work briskly!”
Those chosen to be guards.
They enjoyed ordering around the weak.
King Nine His Majesty said something like that in the past.
Was it “a fox borrowing a tiger’s roar”?
By the time I finally made my way to the warehouse where the finished products were stored.
The guards were all excessively excited, making no effort to hide it.
They were useless as guards.
I wanted to dismiss them, but.
There was a personnel shortage due to the war.
Even if it was just for show.
To the citizens.
We had to show that the country was still operating without any problems.
This is troublesome. I don’t have any talented individuals at hand.
They are all snatched up by those called important figures.
What remains with me are.
mere ornaments.
I am a shadow warrior, not the real king.
This body of mine is also artificial.
It may be sacrilegious to say, but I don’t mind being harmed.
I want to replace these guards before the real king returns.
With someone a little better.
“No abnormalities inside!”
“We will wait outside, understood.”
“I’m counting on you.”
I approached the terminal that checked the condition of the machines.
I operated it with a light tap, or rather, pretended to.
And then, I sent a signal to the completed [Alexy] series.
“
“
The same face as mine appeared on the screen.
“Eliminate the enemy fleet in the west.”
“
“
“
From the [Alexy] units that started one after another.
I accepted the mission from myself.
“Ceiling, open. [Alexy] series, launch.”
“Understood, [Redacted] type [Alexy], launching.”
Outside, the guards were somehow excited by the [Alexy] series taking off.
“All units, form ranks once you catch up with the vanguard.”
“Understood.”
Just like me,
Let’s have the sub-units do their best to defend the homeland.
“I’m returning to the castle.”
“Yes!”
When I called out.
They flinched and hastily saluted.
As if to say they understood the mission.
They escorted me, front and back, along the optimal route back to the royal castle.
They were properly matching my stride.
The guards think that the [Alexy] series that just took off are going to participate in the war.
They believe the war is already over.
They were chatting behind me.
Honestly, I need to replace the guards soon.
◇◇◇◇◇
Sharshar Kingdom.
Above the western sky.
From one of the Sages.
A hegemonic nation will be born on the East Continent.
Stop it.
“How boring.”
“Yes, the enemy has no anti-air capabilities. Our attacks will not reach us.”
“Indeed.”
We were at an altitude of over 10,000 meters.
Even if the Knights (Golems) tried to fly up.
They would be shot down before their attacks could reach this altitude.
If they prioritize evasive maneuvers.
They might dodge our attacks.
But they wouldn’t be able to gain altitude.
“Is the capital in this direction?”
“Yes, if we proceed straight east, we will reach the capital of this country.”
“Excellent.”
After we passed through.
The land melted by the heat of compressed Light Magic.
The remains of buildings that did not burn.
Several hours later.
As we were nearing the central part of the country.
An enemy proximity alert sounded on the bridge.
“What is it!?”
“Enemy machines! The number… No way!?”
The scouting team held their breath.
“What’s wrong? How many enemy machines are there?”
“Three, three…”
“Three machines? Or thirty-three? We won’t be defeated by that number.”
“Thirty thousand!? And the enemy machine response is still increasing… Uhhh…”
“What did you say!? H-hey? Pull yourself together! Take him to the infirmary. Have others continue the scouting.”
“Yes!”
Thirty thousand?
It must be a bluff!
They’re probably trying to intimidate us, and then a small elite force will launch a surprise attack.
“That won’t do. All ships, communicate! The scouting radar is a ruse by the enemy! A surprise attack force is coming! Maintain vigilance in all directions!”
Through coordination with each fleet commander.
We will annihilate the surprise attack force!
Voom! Voom! Voom!
The attack alert sounded on the bridge again.
“Where!?”
“Front! Multiple magic power signatures rapidly—”
BOOM! Tatan!
“Damage report.”
“Yes, impacts on the shields. This ship and other ships have impacts on their shields.”
Just a scare tactic.
“Captain!? A group believed to be a surprise attack force is charging in! Directly above this ship!”
“Increase the shield energy upwards.”
“Understood.”
Batin!! Dosun!
Are they the same model with slightly different armament?
Their appearance, piercing the shields, is comical.
“Clear the shields.”
“Deploy attack magic formations in the upper direction.”
“Fire.”
Bashun! Dokan! Bashun! Dokan!
The enemy machines could barely evade.
Losing both arms and weapons.
They were destroyed piece by piece by the escort ships’ cannon fire.
“The second wave is coming!”
“That’s fast. But they’re weaklings who can’t break through the shields. Shoot them down.”
“Understood.”
The aerial battle between the Magic Kingdom [Izul] fleet and the [Alexy] army (series) had.
just begun.
“The 7th wave!? Here it comes!”
“Shoot them down!”
What is going on? They know this ship is the flagship…
And they’re directing all their forces towards it.
But it’s different.
From the other ships as well, an incredible number of enemy machines are attacking from directly above.
We’re repelling them, but.
“Annoying.”
These fools who don’t understand it’s futile.
Even so…
“How many enemy machines have been shot down by that?”
“469 units.”
That’s a lot.
The amount of magic power to fly to this altitude and get above our heads is abnormal, but.
The pilots’ mentality, charging from the same direction knowing they will die, is also abnormal.
“Increase altitude. Let’s not have them surprise us from above any longer.”
“Understood.”
