Two days have passed since the crackdown on the resistance was discovered.
We are currently on high alert with comrades who have trained their mana control to see mana in the eyes and perceive mana in what appears in their vision.
Organizing war situation reports via communication devices.
“…Gon…. The sound of bells was heard in the last communication.”
“Did all our comrades in the Royal Capital perish? He’s alive, isn’t he!?”
The enemy is the main topic of discussion in the conference room.
Berringo.
An orphan.
One of his parents was well-versed in music.
He enjoyed creating sounds from birth.
He aspired to be a bard in the future.
However, he was tragically tone-deaf.
He gave up his dream.
Became a fruit seller.
He sells various unusual fruits, mainly colorful apples, on the main street.
In secret, he is like a costumed monster from somewhere.
He wears a helmet with a bell-shaped bell for a full face.
Metal plates are attached all over his body.
His weapon is a rapier with a hilt shaped like an inverted bell flower.
“He probably told us the enemy’s identity in the end, Berringo and us.”
“Wooooooh. I’ll definitely take down the enemy!”
Enemies near the Royal Capital.
Traveling merchant Wire, Marcel, Poppo.
Mercenary groups [Hounds], [Mad Hand], [Trantran].
“All these enemies are cooperating.”
“The continuous combat capability of merchants and mercenary groups. We resistance fighters are simply lacking in supplies.”
“That’s because those evil merchants sell things at high prices to our resistance collaborators!”
Hubbub hubbub hubbub
Urgent news arrives at the conference room that a new base has been attacked.
“Too soon!”
“Why are our bases being targeted like this…”
“There isn’t… a traitor among us, is there!? Huh?”
“Isn’t that what you’re implying about yourself?”
“What did you say? Are you looking for a fight?”
“Everyone, please calm down!?”
If this continues, the enemy will overwhelm our base in this inn town as well.
Everyone raises their voices, calling each other traitors and denouncing them.
◇◇◇◇◇
King Ernestie’s older brother.
His older brother, who is 15 years his senior.
The brother who should have been the first in line for the throne but never wore the crown.
Eklites von Elgaire.
“Your brother’s soldiers are almost all gone, aren’t they? Tell me, how do you feel right now?”
“I don’t want you calling me “brother”! Release me at once! I am the rightful king of this country!”
They are half-brothers.
The elder brother is the son of the former Queen.
The younger brother is the son of the current Queen.
There is a 15-year age gap.
The elder brother is in his 30s.
The younger brother is 9 years old, not even ten.
Even though Eklites shares the same father.
He does not recognize Ernestie as his brother.
He sees him only as an enemy who stole his mother, stole the throne, and stole his freedom.
How can he possibly expect me to acknowledge him as a brother? Don’t be ridiculous!
“My stubborn brother is quite entertaining to watch… Oops♪”
Through the bars of his cell, he throws small objects from the room.
“Begone! Never come back!”
“Hmph, I won’t♪ See you later~”
To Ernestie, who leaves saying he’ll visit again in a little while.
Eklites throws small items, but they are dodged.
The number of furnishings in the room decreases, and he throws a tantrum as the neglected atmosphere intensifies.
Some of the furnishings become unusable.
“I’ll definitely kill youyyyyyyyyyyy!”
Hearing the commotion.
The maid ordered to look after Eklites appears.
Behind her, a humanoid monster emerges in a wriggling fashion.
“Don’t come near me!”
“Lord Eklites, please be quiet. If you continue to make noise…”
“Hmph. Kill me if you want! How dare you confine royalty like me in such a small space! I’ll kill you too!”
“You mustn’t. Ah-”
“…”
The monster approaches the iron bars.
It slides its body through.
And crawls up Eklites’ body.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“Ah, I told you to be quiet… I warned you… (shivering)”
The maid, as if she were experiencing it herself.
Shaking, she waits for Eklites’ punishment to end, trying not to wet herself.
“Get off meeeeeeeeee. My mouth! My ears! Help me, Ughhhhhh!”
“Eeeek… I’m so sorry…”
◇◇◇◇◇
“Oh, Lord Heiggel♪”
“My, my, Your Majesty the King♪ Have you been to see your elder brother? Is that so, and is he well♪?”
He bumps into King Ernestie and they walk together, chatting animatedly about the resistance.
“It’s thanks to your connections, Lord Heiggel♪”
“Not at all, this is all thanks to Your Majesty’s dignity and trust♪”
“You’re quite the flatterer♪”
“Not at all, I’m just stating the facts♪”
Ahahaha hahahaha!
“Your Majesty the King, I think it’s about time I made my move as well.”
“Is that so? I look forward to your success♪”
“Yes, please wait for good news.” He parts ways and wanders through the castle town. He arrives at a street where bloodstains have yet to disappear. He magically cleanses the bloodstains and launches a signal into the sky to activate a grand spell that will affect the entire country.
“Now, pour mana into the keystone stones hidden in the towns. We’ll draw the resistance to our side♪”
Several tens of minutes later.
A magic circle flares at their feet.
The residents stop in their tracks, as if under a spell.
Those affected by this spell will no longer harbor ill will towards us.
We’ve been preparing for several years.
This is the third time.
From this moment on, the resistance survivors become members of the mercenary group, the low-ranking ones.
“Well, well, I hope there are a few women among them♪”
If they don’t harbor strong hostility or ill will towards us, they won’t be swayed.
That’s why, as a show of force, I had them slaughter without restraint, centered around the Royal Capital.
Please, don’t let any ugly women be there, it takes too much effort to give them plastic surgery.
Rayos walks elegantly towards the hideout with the communication device.
In the country at the eastern end of the Central Continent, Rayos’s domain is steadily expanding.
He claims to be a god, abducting and sending beings from another world.
However, they are turned away by Rayos’s large-scale spell.
Even if the spell is broken, it is quickly repaired. They are mediated through other villages and towns, resulting in a complete waste of magic power.
He takes his frustration out on his Homunculi.
By the time he starts moving to increase the number of brainwashed countries.
Rayos and his group have already accumulated sufficient combat power.
“I will not be deprived of eternal life. This is a divine revelation. Destroy the Elgaire Kingdom. That country is evil.”
The self-proclaimed god.
He shows the King a divine revelation in his dreams, which is actually a mental magic spell.
” ” ” O, God. We shall surely… eradicate the evil Elgaire from this continent. ” ” ”
The four manipulated kings bow their heads to the statue of the god and swear their oaths.
They promptly form an alliance and allied forces, declaring war on the Elgaire Kingdom.
The neighboring countries are also caught up in the war.
Although complaints are sent daily.
” ” ” As the Wise God commands! To vanquish the wicked! Please postpone the apology until after the war! ” ” ”
“Are you kidding me!! Diplomat! What kind of ridiculous response is that? Don’t underestimate us! You barbarians! If you want to go to war, shall we too? Be prepared!”
The Central Continent is instantly engulfed in red flames and black smoke.
The large-scale continental hegemony war has begun.
A battle for the survival of each nation.
They fight under the banner of god, justice, and holy war.
They fight while engaging in plunder and murder.
The war lasts for six months.
A temporary ceasefire is declared due to a shortage of personnel.
“It will be years from now. In a few years, I will reveal our faces to you all.”
