Chapter 92
Nahun could only open a gate to places he had personally visited, but this case was special. It was possible because Dein, who was imbued with the magic he cast, was here.
Leonardo stared blankly at Nahun standing before him. For some reason, he couldn’t move at all in front of him. All he managed to do was twitch his lips and ask the question he was most curious about.
“Who are you?”
However, Nahun did not respond. He merely extended his hand and placed it on Leonardo’s forehead, which was frozen in place. When Leonardo’s gaze rose to meet Nahun’s hand, Nahun drew in external magic.
The external magic of the human world was significantly weaker than that of the Demon World; thus, even though Nahun gathered external magic with his own magic, the amount was not substantial. However, it was more than enough for what Nahun intended to do.
As Nahun placed his hand on Leonardo’s forehead and channeled the external magic into him, something like a mark appeared on Leonardo’s forehead.
“What, what are you doing…?”
In response to Leonardo’s question of what he was doing, Nahun simply answered.
“I am giving you courage.”
At that moment, Leonardo felt something snap in his mind. He stared blankly ahead, then fixed his gaze on Nahun.
Nahun withdrew his hand and casually asked him.
“Will you live as a mere puppet like this, or will you prepare to fight back against the lioness that took everything from you?”
What Nahun had used was a very simple spell. It was a straightforward psychological manipulation spell that paralyses the rational judgment of the target.
Any spell that makes the target obedient or forces them to act as desired leaves a strong mark. However, since what Nahun used now was not one of those, even if a divine being were to later examine Leonardo, there would be no trace left.
And when a human’s rational judgment is impaired, they tend to act emotionally. Leonardo sprang to his feet and declared.
“I will retrieve what is mine!!”
“Good.”
Nahun informed Leonardo about the arrangements he had made with the Northern Alliance. As he listened, Leonardo said,
“If the Northern Alliance troops approach the border, my sister will surely notice.”
“Therefore, it would be better for you to go directly. It would be a disaster to be isolated in the imperial palace for no reason.”
“But… my sister would never let me go.”
“You could go under the guise of an inspection.”
“In that case, my sister’s forces will follow me…”
Nahun spoke simply.
“Then you just need to eliminate them as well.”
“…!”
“And surely there will be factions wanting to follow you, so you can gather them and bring them along. The one who eliminated the former emperor was the princess, not you, so it would be hard to imagine anyone rebelling against the princess.”
Leonardo nodded, seemingly acknowledging Nahun’s advice. It was true that some individuals who had followed Claude well before must have been dissatisfied with the princess’s actions.
Especially since she had removed reputable and upright figures like Marquis Everde, it was highly likely they harbored more resentment.
“Make them your followers, and seek assistance from the North. Then you will be able to retrieve everything that Charlotte, the princess, took from you. That’s all for now.”
“…Ah, I understand! But who exactly are you?”
Nahun silently twisted the space once again. He gestured for Dein to enter and briefly said to Leonardo.
“I am a messenger of the Northern Alliance.”
Nahun stepped into the passage he had opened, and soon the passage closed, making the figures of Nahun and Dein vanish completely.
And losing his rational judgment, Leonardo muttered upon witnessing that scene.
“There is a remarkable sorcerer in the Northern Alliance.”
After returning with Dein to Eri, he took her along to the next location. There was no time to spare. They had to move swiftly to disrupt the human world before the divine being took notice.
As Nahun simply opened a gate, Eri watched it with wide eyes, filled with curiosity.
“Where are we going?”
“To the Holy Kingdom.”
“The Holy Kingdom?”
“Yes.”
Despite already anticipating the actions of the Holy Kingdom, he planned to meet with the Pope to eliminate any possible variables.
As Nahun stepped first, Dein and Eri followed suit. They moved directly to the Pope’s chamber.
“……”
They found themselves facing the Pope of the Holy Kingdom, Sernius III, who appeared as if he had just awoken. Eri and Dein discreetly averted their gazes upon seeing the Pope in his pajamas instead of his formal attire.
Nahun chuckled and said.
“Did I arrive too early?”
“…It is troublesome when you visit so abruptly.”
“This is the only place I can come to. And it’s the only place we can meet secretly.”
The Pope, Sernius III, sighed softly.
“I will change into my formal attire.”
“No, it’s fine. You can stay as you are. I’m not here for a long discussion. I have something brief to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“In the coming days, the Bismarck Empire will fall into chaos.”
“…Pardon?”
“Since you have complied with my request, I have provided you with useful information.”
Though the situation with Charlotte had ended in failure, the Holy Kingdom had effectively pressured the Empire. Nahun shared this as a token of gratitude, and the Pope briefly contemplated his words.
Considering the current situation of the Empire, there was only one reason that could cause chaos. Sernius III recognized it and nodded.
“Thank you for the valuable information.”
“I hope to maintain a good relationship with the Holy Kingdom going forward.”
“That is something both I and our Holy Kingdom would welcome.”
Though dressed in pajamas, the Pope greeted Nahun with a formal disposition.
“I look forward to our continued cooperation.”
Using the information provided by Sernius III, Nahun would continue to disrupt the human world, ensuring it remains unstable, while Sernius would strengthen the influence of the Holy Kingdom and his own power.
Wasn’t this a symbiotic relationship? Of course, the Pope was unaware that this relationship had arisen entirely under Nahun’s intentional movements.
As Sernius III greeted him, Nahun smiled inwardly and spoke with an indifferent facade.
“Likewise.”
#
The next day, Charlotte received two reports from Garde. There were indications that the Northern Alliance was mobilizing troops. Similarly, she received news that the Holy Kingdom was also gathering the Order of the Holy Knights and the holy warrior troops.
“Have we received any information about an alliance between the Holy Kingdom and the Northern Alliance?”
“No, there’s been no confirmation of their contact.”
Then why were both forces preparing to mobilize their armies simultaneously? While it was possible that the Northern Alliance and the Holy Kingdom might go to war, the positions from which they were gathering forces were too close to the Empire.
“Your Majesty, it seems we’ve found the person responsible for distributing that artifact in the outskirts, as you instructed previously.”
“Whose doing is it? That adventurer named Eli?”
“It seems they were using a different identity, but according to testimonies from the Magic Association, the appearance matches. Even with pink hair hidden under a robe, the distinctive features are evident…”
“There’s no need to report in such detail. In any case, it’s highly likely that it’s the same person.”
“Yes.”
“We’ll issue a nationwide order to search for them and investigate thoroughly. And…”
Charlotte rested her chin on her hand, contemplating her own deductions.
“Find out what’s behind this.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I’m saying to investigate the Demon World.”
Charlotte was almost certain. The current situation around them was surely due to the intervention of an external force, and it was highly likely to be the Demon World.
Quietly listening nearby, General Schwarte advised her softly.
“Your Majesty, I think that’s not a wise idea. You are aware of what happens to humans who enter the Demon World, aren’t you?”
“I am. But is Garde really that foolish and weak?”
“…That’s not the case.”
“I’m not telling you to fight. I’m not suggesting that we go in openly. We need to infiltrate. We need to understand what movements the Demon World is making.”
Charlotte declared.
“It’s a clear fact that the Demon World has been monitoring and understanding the dynamics of the human world; we need to do the same. If we fall behind in information warfare, we won’t be able to respond to them at all.”
“I understand your intent. I will command Garde to monitor the movements of the Demon World.”
This was the conclusion regarding the monster and the artifact that had appeared in the outskirts. The next problem was how to deal with the suspicious movements of the Northern Alliance and the Holy Kingdom.
“Schwarte.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“The current leader of the Northern Alliance is undoubtedly… Lord Delos, correct?”
“That is correct.”
“…It’s time to exploit the Alliance’s vulnerabilities.”
The Northern Alliance was a coalition of lords with seven personal territories. When their army moved, the opinions and decisions of the leader were paramount, and the consent of the other lords was also required. Their army only moved when everything was agreed upon.
This meant that their army could easily disperse. If even one person were to fall out, they would collapse.
Charlotte narrowed her eyes. She then simply commanded Schwarte.
“Schwarte, I will allocate 30,000 elite troops and 1,000 magical combat troops to you.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Capture Delos Castle. No, it doesn’t even have to be captured.”
Charlotte clenched her fist.
“Make it so they can’t recover.”
“What about the civilians?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
The imperial lioness was not a person of such generosity as to care for foreign civilians.
“Destroy it.”
#
The First General of the Bismarck Empire, Schwarte Hatzveld. While he was not at the highest rank within the military hierarchy of the Empire, which had up to five-star generals, being only thirty-two years old made him an extraordinary figure in a high position.
This was possible because he was a distinguished general who had led Charlotte to victory in the war against the Northern Alliance. For example, during the war with the Northern Alliance, Schwarte’s 8,000-strong detachment annihilated 40,000 Northern troops.
With such prowess, it wasn’t too difficult for him to launch a surprise attack on a Northern fort with the 30,000 elite troops and 1,000 magical combat troops assigned by Charlotte.
Furthermore, having already received word that the Northern Alliance troops were gathering near the northern border of the Empire made mobilization even easier.
As they quietly paved the way toward Delos Castle through a detour, the fortified Delos Castle would hurriedly recall its troops, and with the leader’s army missing, the coalition would naturally disintegrate.
Additionally, since the number of troops was not overly great, retreating would be easy as well. Schwarte’s army would strike hard, and then escape—that’s all it meant. Though they might have to face war with the North again, it would be difficult for the North to wage a full-scale war against the Empire once more.
Only the lord who suffered the direct loss would be in an uproar while the other lords, who had nothing to lose, would exhibit indifference.
This was a moment that showcased Charlotte’s brilliant judgment, thought out with a cold mind. Schwarte felt a sense of pride in serving such a lord as he quietly moved forward.
However, they were unaware that someone was predicting how the Empire would assess the situation and how the princess would respond.
Crack────!!!
Something swallowed the soldiers whole. It was invisible. Yet, the sight of the ground being torn up and the soldiers from that spot disappearing completely made it clear that something had passed through and consumed them.
In an instant, the army’s cohesion was severed, and even Schwarte was gravely astonished. No, it was understandable that he was alarmed; as a human, one could not comprehend this situation with their mind.
‘…Is it magic?’
If it were magic manifesting mysteries through the strange power of mana, it might be possible. But to Schwarte’s knowledge….
‘Could such magic exist?’
There was no magic that could make over ten thousand humans vanish at once.
“Just as I expected, Princess Charlotte, you would do something like this.”
And at the voice that rang out, Schwarte immediately drew his sword. Simultaneously, the elite soldiers of the Empire also quickly unsheathed their swords and readied for engagement.
However, only two figures appeared. Schwarte suspected his eyes. One of the two looked exactly like the adventurer Eli, who had supplied them with the strange magical artifact.
“Adventurer Eli…!”
“Your appearance stands out too much, Eri.”
“I-I’m sorry….”
Schwarte demanded.
“Who are you! What is your affiliation!? Why have you unleashed such a sinister thing upon the Empire?!”
“You’re asking who we are. What should we say, Lord Nahun?”
Eri asked into the air. Schwarte was puzzled by that action, but it soon became clear to him who she was directing her question at.
The voice that had been heard just earlier echoed once more from above his head.
“I’d prefer if you died quietly, General Schwarte Hatzveld.”
Golden eyes, shining in the darkness, gazed at Schwarte. Behind them, an enormous whale-like figure revealed itself.
“Civil war must occur.”
