Chapter 195: The War That Had Already Begun (5)

The Mineta Royal Capital had been busy dealing with the aftermath after the battle ended.

A civil war for the usurpation of the throne, a sudden raid by the Dior Empire delegation, and this time, the appearance of the Demonic Race.

Deborah, the reigning monarch, let out a sigh as she looked down from atop the outer walls at the grasslands and forest in front of the western gate, now completely devastated.

It had been utterly turned into a wasteland.

The surrounding farmlands and houses belonging to the people had been completely blown away.

“Haah…….”

Just thinking about cleaning all of this up made Deborah’s head start to ache.

The southern gate had only just barely been restored after suffering a similar situation.

“What on earth is this… every time I try to resolve one situation, another one pops up, and then another!”

Her chest felt suffocating.

At that moment, Duke Ambraze stepped up beside her.

“Your Majesty, we have identified all those who were sacrificed in this incident.”

“Let me see.”

I took the parchment scroll and unrolled it.

The densely written names made her expression grow even darker.

“Make sure they are compensated sufficiently.”

“Restoring the walls and the villages inside the outer city is also urgent. Reinforcing the troops is the same.”

They had not even been able to properly reinforce the troops last time.

With the additional losses caused by the Demonic Race’s attack, her worries piled up endlessly.

“The cost won’t be small. For now, there is somewhere we can bill, so please proceed as quickly as possible.”

“Where would that be?”

“Where else? We should bill the one who broke everything.”

“Ah……, will that be possible?”

“Well, what choice do we have? They have to pay.”

Duke Ambraze was honestly uneasy.

Raion of the Canel Kingdom was someone who had annihilated two members of the Demonic Race.

On top of that, he had even tamed a summoned beast called Grapheos and used it to protect the Mineta Kingdom.

Could a king of a single nation really order someone like that around?

He even wondered if it might instead invite backlash.

“I will compile a list, estimate the costs, and submit a report.”

“Alright. Ah, did you say the delegations would be gathering soon?”

“You may go after finishing lunch.”

Since dealing with the situation was the top priority, everyone was busy.

They had decided to discuss matters once things were somewhat organized.

Deborah folded the parchment scroll she had been holding and handed it back to Duke Ambraze.

After that, she briefly surveyed the villages inside the castle and then descended from the castle.

.

.

.

It was the same conference hall where they had gathered last time.

The Bachenan Holy Kingdom, the Danas Federation, and the Canel Kingdom.

Representatives from each nation were seated at the table.

After a short while, Deborah, the king of the Mineta Kingdom, entered, and everyone focused their attention.

“The situation is not good. As I proposed previously, how about forming an alliance by designating the Dior Empire as a common enemy?”

A common enemy. Placing the Empire in such a position was not an easy decision.

However, the atrocities committed by the Dior Empire had already harmed not just one or two kingdoms, but the entire continent.

Through intelligence channels, it had even been confirmed that there were kingdoms where royal authority had collapsed.

How could one possibly stand by in such a situation?

Francis, the Holy Emperor, who had been quietly listening, voiced his agreement.

“Just the emergence of the Demonic Race alone means the continent must unite all its strength. And to think the ones behind it are the Dior Empire……, the Holy Kingdom will spare no support.”

“Thank you, Your Holiness.”

The next gaze turned toward the Danas Federation.

Princess Diana, who had been waiting, quietly stood from her seat.

“We feel the same. We have just received approval from the Federation regarding this matter as well. It seems the Federation has already deployed its main forces to the front in preparation to fight the Empire.”

It was no different from saying that war had already begun.

The immediate issue was just how strong the Empire’s forces actually were.

The Holy Emperor brought up a critical concern.

“It is presumed that they have joined hands with the Demonic Race. On top of that, they even created that bizarre existence called MAGUS by using a delegation as bait.”

A magical parasite that increased the power of an infected host by at least two stages.

Who had created it and how remained unclear.

“If a large knight order were to be infected by MAGUS, we might end up facing an enormous number of Swordmasters.”

Everyone nodded.

At the same time, a sense of dread loomed right before them.

Amid that atmosphere, Raion, who had remained silent, spoke.

“For now, it should be possible to deal with them using the power of holy force. And as for all knights… I think it would be difficult. It’s just a prediction, though.”

“What makes you think so?”

At the Holy Emperor’s question, the others also grew curious.

“If they had possessed that kind of power from the start and could use it freely……. The continent would already be finished. Just look at how they even carried out operations to paralyze royal authority. The very fact that those who consider humans to be less than insects still had to plan so meticulously means there is a limit.”

Many people nodded their heads.

Thinking about it a little, it made sense.

The ability to strengthen infected bodies. If they possessed such power, why would they bother to make plans so painstakingly?

There was clearly a reason.

“First, striking the Demon King will be important.”

“You mean directly?”

“If a proper war breaks out, it’ll just end with everyone dying.”

Several kingdoms had already fallen into the hands of the Dior Empire.

Judging by the scale of those kingdoms, a continental war had effectively already begun.

The biggest problem was the fact that the enemy nation was tied to the Demonic Race, who would inevitably demand blood.

There would be no such thing as negotiations.

“Do you know how strong the Demon King is……, that existence?”

“I don’t. Considering the Demon Realm counts and viscounts we’ve fought so far……, judging by their strength, he definitely won’t be weak.”

“You’re saying you’ll personally jump into a kingdom where such an existence resides.”

“There’s no other way.”

The war had already been accelerated at an enormous pace compared to the original schedule.

Raion judged that this was due to his own actions.

As the situation of the pieces he had begun to poke at little by little changed, it was clear that the Demonic Race’s behavior had changed as well.

Of course, he had started out with the desire to make the continent peaceful.

‘I never even imagined the Demonic Race would be involved. And a goddess’s blessing, at that…….’

Raion thought that the reason he had been able to grow so quickly was also thanks to the goddess’s help.

The power and abilities needed to deal with the Demonic Race.

Some additional parts he had created himself, but it felt like a puzzle that had been missing pieces was finally coming together.

“What method do you have? Do you perhaps know a weakness?”

“The weakness is holy power. What’s important right now is how to get there, how we fight, and who goes.”

“Then a large-scale force is out of the question.”

“Probably. It’d be too easy to draw attention.”

Deborah’s opinion matched what Raion had already been thinking.

However, Francis and Diana thought differently.

“It’s the Dior Empire! We don’t even know how many Demonic Race members there are!”

“Going there with only elites is basically saying you want to die!”

It wasn’t wrong.

But there were limits to the methods if they wanted to prevent a much larger war.

“Please provide support. We’ll form a group made up only of those with the greatest skill.”

“Are you serious?”

“Striking the head is the fastest solution.”

A decapitation strike.

It was something Raion had heard so often when he was a soldier and mercenary that his ears had practically developed calluses.

And it was exactly what was needed right now.

The Demon King was the king of the Demon Realm. The head of the Demonic Race. Only by eliminating him would it become easier to deal with the remaining Demonic Race.

‘It’d be nice if we could strike directly…….’

Raion didn’t want to fight one by one like in the novels Lewis used to read, only to end up struggling at the end.

An encounter where he could unleash his full power was important.

“The Holy Kingdom will also dispatch people. Instead……, I will join as well.”

“Your Holiness! That cannot be allowed!”

Holy Knight Commander Larsen Heights, who had been standing behind, was startled.

Even so, Holy Emperor Francis’s decision did not waver.

“Holy power is fatal to the Demonic Race. And its effectiveness varies depending on its depth and density.”

“We know that as well.”

“Then who among those belonging to the Holy Kingdom and the temples is the strongest?”

“T-That is…….”

Everyone was left at a loss for how to respond.

But because it wasn’t wrong, it made it all the more difficult.

“Your Holiness. We will go. Wouldn’t the High Priestess be sufficient?”

“I will go as well. So please, Your Holiness, protect the Holy Kingdom!”

Even though Helion tried to stop High Priestess Marianne, her response was minimal.

Instead, with an even more agitated expression, she reprimanded them.

“Of course you’re going. Priests who can wield strong holy power will be crucial. From the Holy Knight Order as well, select only the strongest.”

“All of them?”

“Didn’t you see the power of the Demonic Race? If a real war breaks out, no situation can be predicted. In fact, it’s utterly daunting. That’s precisely why I’ve made this decision.”

To follow Raion’s plan.

It wasn’t an easy decision.

But thinking continuously about the Demonic Race’s power, it seemed clear that the continent itself would be in danger.

Perhaps it was the intuition of one who acted as a proxy for the goddess.

Of course, the repeated revelations that had come down also played a part.

“I’ll go as well. From the kingdom’s knight order and mage division, we’ll select only Swordmasters and above, and only those at 4th Circle and above.”

It was Deborah.

When she stepped forward, Duke Ambraze tried to stop her, but after a moment’s thought, he stopped.

With even the Holy Emperor stepping forward, he couldn’t see how he could possibly persuade Deborah.

On the other hand, Raion offered a different opinion after hearing her words.

“Exclude 4th Circle. Minimum 5th Circle.”

“So 4th Circle won’t be of any help?”

“They’ll only help in a fleeting moment.”

“You’re sharp. Alright. I’ll gather them that way.”

Approval from the Bachenan Holy Kingdom and the Mineta Kingdom had been given.

While such discussions were going on, Princess Diana of the Danas Federation spoke.

“We’ll take responsibility for the mages above 5th Circle on our side. Instead, I need to go as well.”

“Wasn’t Your Highness only at the early stages of 3rd Circle now?”

“How did you know that?”

Princess Diana had used magic when the Mineta Royal Capital was attacked.

But at that time, Raion had been outside fighting the Demonic Race.

Raion hadn’t been present when Princess Diana used magic.

“I can roughly gauge it.”

“To be able to surpass 5th Circle in magic as well……, is that really possible?”

“It just sort of happened.”

“That’s truly impressive. What about a royal marriage? Have you given it some thought?”

It seemed his outstanding ability was still tempting.

When such words came out during a formal discussion, Holy Emperor Francis and Deborah both looked at her in surprise.

“You’re getting married?”

“Are you getting married?”

It was a reaction whose cause was unclear.

“No. I have no such thoughts. And in a situation like this, what marriage are you talking about.”

“I’ve thought it through thoroughly, so feel free to give me an answer anytime. Ah, and I have no intention of giving up.”

Even though he had already refused several times, it was no use.

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