Chapter 2 The outbreak of war and the true aim

The army of the Earlshide Kingdom had advanced to a position near the border with the Empire.

In the past, during wars with the Empire, this location had served as a battlefield, and given the Empire’s current advance, it was anticipated to be the primary battleground once again.

On that day, at the military encampment’s headquarters, the supreme commander, Dominic, was compiling intelligence brought by the scout units.

The expected clash with the Imperial Army was two days away. The battlefield would be an open plain with clear visibility, making ambushes or flanking maneuvers difficult and increasing the likelihood of a direct frontal assault. Reports from the scout units confirmed the absence of any detached enemy forces. Yet, this very fact left Dominic unable to discern the Empire’s true intentions.

“…I don’t understand. What advantage does the Empire gain by fighting there? If their goal is to invade the kingdom, an ambush would be far more efficient. Yet, their intelligence is leaking freely, and they’re not hastening their advance for a surprise attack. They’re marching leisurely with a massive army… Is the Imperial Army truly this foolish? Isn’t there some hidden scheme at play?”

“You’re overthinking it, and you still won’t figure it out,” said Ruper, the former Minister of Military Affairs, current commander of the Magic Division, and a strategist in this war. He offered advice to the brooding Dominic. “Maybe they’re not thinking at all. It could just be the foolish actions of a foolish emperor, driven by foolish decisions.”

“Based on the scout reports, that seems the most likely explanation… but it’s almost too foolish, isn’t it?” Dominic replied.

“Well… even a child in the kingdom wouldn’t propose such a military strategy,” Ruper remarked.

“I’d find it more believable if there were some hidden plan.”

“But their army of 80,000 is marching straight toward us, and no detached units have been spotted. This is just their foolish plan in motion, isn’t it?”

“Sigh… What are they thinking?” Dominic muttered, exasperated.

While Dominic struggled to grasp the Empire’s intentions, the Imperial Army was also encamped. Their scout units were delivering reports as well.

“I bring a report, Your Majesty. As expected, the Earlshide Kingdom’s army is struggling to deal with the monster outbreak,” said a scout.

“Is that so?” replied a man with a satisfied nod. “Your Majesty, the kingdom is in disarray, grappling with monsters. If we advance with our grand army, our victory is assured!”

“Hmph, as expected,” said the man addressed as “Your Majesty,” Herald von Bluesphere, the newly crowned Emperor of the Bluesphere Empire. “When I received reports that our Empire’s monster numbers had decreased while the kingdom’s had surged, I was certain. The kingdom is preoccupied with monsters and cannot withstand our onslaught.”

“Your wisdom is unparalleled, Your Majesty,” the subordinate replied, bowing.

The man listening contentedly to the scout’s report was none other than Herald von Bluesphere, the recently ascended Emperor. Unlike a hereditary throne, the Imperial crown was determined by an election among the heads of the ducal houses with succession rights, conducted by the Noble Assembly. Naturally, this process was rife with bribery, favoritism, and coercion, and a truly fair election had never occurred.

Herald had employed harassment, underhanded tactics, and schemes against both the Noble Assembly and rival ducal houses to secure the throne. As a result, he had earned widespread resentment, but now that he was Emperor, none dared to speak against him.

While Herald excelled at toppling others, his political acumen was utterly lacking. He believed only reports that suited him, suppressing those that did not. Driven by an insatiable desire for self-aggrandizement, invading the Earlshide Kingdom was his lifelong ambition—not for strategic gain, but to be hailed as the first emperor in history to conquer the world.

When reports reached him that the Earlshide Kingdom was overwhelmed by monsters, with its army fully occupied and the Empire’s own monster numbers reduced, Herald’s mind conjured visions of a crumbling kingdom unable to resist his forces. The possibility of seizing the Earlshide Kingdom consumed him, and he could not be dissuaded. Even as the march began, every report reinforced the Empire’s advantage, and Herald became utterly convinced of his victory.

The man who delivered the report to the Imperial headquarters, Zest, glared at the command tent as he departed. Subsequent reports from Zest’s scout unit claimed that the kingdom was completely unaware of the Empire’s movements and that its army was wholly occupied with monsters. Each report further solidified the belief in an unshakable Imperial victory.

Emperor Herald, ever eager to trust favorable reports, accepted them without question, his confidence unshaken.

The Imperial Army, certain of their absolute victory, crossed the Earlshide Kingdom’s border in full armament.

And then, the two armies sighted each other.

The Imperial Army was the one taken aback. According to their intelligence, the kingdom’s army should have been tied up dealing with a massive monster outbreak within its borders, not waiting here in formation.

“What is this?!” Herald roared. “The kingdom’s army is fully prepared and waiting for us!”

“Call Zest! Bring Zest here at once!”

“Tch… that is…”

“What is it?!”

“Zest has been missing since last night. We’ve also lost contact with the scout unit under his command…”

“What?!” Herald stammered, stunned.

“Your Majesty! We can no longer retreat! We’ve led a massive army into kingdom territory, giving them ample justification to attack. We have no choice but to press forward!” a general urged.

“Damn them… The scout unit is just a rabble of commoners, isn’t it?! How dare they, mere commoners, deceive me!” Herald bellowed. “All forces, hear me! We were going to crush the kingdom’s army regardless! The only difference is whether it happens sooner or later! Show the kingdom’s army the might of our Empire! All forces, charge!”

The Imperial Army began its charge. Meanwhile, on the kingdom’s side…

“They’re actually charging. What are they thinking, those idiots?” Ruper, the Magic Division commander, muttered in disbelief.

“Alright, as planned, the Magic Division will deliver the first strike!” Dominic ordered.

A barrage of spells erupted from the kingdom’s Magic Division, raining down on the charging Imperial Army and inflicting significant casualties. Typically, battles began with an exchange of magical attacks, followed by knights and soldiers charging once the magic subsided. However, the Imperial Army, caught off guard and in disarray, had devolved into a disorganized mob, serving as little more than easy targets for the kingdom’s Magic Division.

Even so, some Imperial soldiers survived the onslaught and drew closer to the kingdom’s lines.

“There’s no need to meet them head-on like fools. Right and left wings, flank the Imperial Army! The center will hold their advance!” Dominic commanded.

“Raaah!” the kingdom’s soldiers roared in response.

Unlike the chaotic Imperial Army, the kingdom’s forces, fully prepared, maneuvered to envelop the enemy in a pincer formation. Already weakened by magical bombardment, the Imperial Army was halted, unable to break through. Attacked from both flanks, they were powerless to resist and suffered heavy losses. By the time they retreated just before nightfall, their numbers had been drastically reduced.

The delay in their retreat stemmed from Emperor Herald’s pride, which refused to allow a withdrawal.

Of the 80,000-strong Imperial Army, nearly half were lost in a single battle, while the kingdom’s losses amounted to just over a hundred—a historic and catastrophic defeat for the Empire.

As the first day’s battle concluded, Herald raged within the Imperial headquarters.

“What is this disgrace?! At this rate, our losses will only mount!” he screamed, rampaging within the tent. Yet, no one dared to intervene, knowing that speaking out could mean death.

In the end, Herald’s tantrum produced no concrete strategy, and he retired for the night.

The cause of this debacle was the entirely false reports from the scout unit. Everyone sensed a malicious intent to harm the Empire, but no one could act. The Emperor alone decided strategy, and any suggestions or plans from his staff risked incurring his wrath due to his towering pride.

His aides, gripped by a despair-like dread, spent a sleepless night.

Meanwhile, the kingdom’s forces discussed the day’s battle.

“Just as Ruper said,” Dominic remarked. “A foolish emperor led a foolish march and fought a foolish battle. Honestly, that’s all I can say.”

“Seriously, what was that?” Ruper added. “Just charging blindly over and over…”

“Will tomorrow be more of the same?”

“Probably,” Ruper replied with a shrug.

The kingdom’s commanders sighed, though for reasons far different from the Empire’s.

As expected, the Imperial Army continued its reckless charges over the next two days, devoid of strategy. By the end of the third day, their 80,000-strong force had dwindled to under 20,000. Save for Herald, the Imperial Army began to contemplate the possibility of total annihilation.

Rewinding slightly to the moment the kingdom and Imperial armies clashed…

The kingdom’s scout unit witnessed something unbelievable and hurriedly departed to report it.

“No… impossible!” the scout muttered, spurring his horse to full gallop to deliver the intelligence as quickly as possible.

By the morning of the fourth day, critical information reached both armies.

“Report!” a scout shouted.

“What is it?” Dominic asked, sensing something amiss from the scout’s grim expression.

The news was staggering.

“monsters… a massive outbreak of monsters has occurred!!”

“What?!”

“Large numbers of medium-sized and larger monsters have appeared and begun an invasion! Their destination… is the Bluesphere Empire’s capital!!”

“What?!” Dominic exclaimed.

“There’s more…”

“What else?!”

“We’ve sighted… a demon!!”

“No! Impossible! A demon?!” Dominic gasped.

The same report reached the Imperial Army.

“Absurd! Weren’t the monster numbers supposed to have decreased?!” Herald roared.

“Your Majesty! We cannot continue this advance! We must return to the capital immediately!!” a general urged.

“Damn those monsters, daring to attack my capital?! How dare they!!” Herald’s face flushed with rage as he addressed his army. “All forces, hear me! We have no time to bother with the kingdom’s army! Return to the capital at once and exterminate those monsters!”

The Imperial Army immediately reversed course and began retreating toward the capital.

Meanwhile, the kingdom’s forces hesitated over their next move: whether to advance toward the Imperial capital or return to the kingdom.

“Another demon, huh?” Ruper muttered. “Only one demon has appeared in recorded history, yet this is the third in just a few months. What’s going on?”

“Shouldn’t we return to the kingdom?” a commander suggested.

“No, with a demon involved, leaving it unchecked is too dangerous,” another countered. “We should temporarily ally with the Empire to defeat the demon.”

“But will the Empire accept us?”

“They’d have to, wouldn’t they?”

“I wouldn’t be so sure. They might turn on us after the monsters are dealt with.”

“That’s a possibility…”

The impromptu meeting yielded no progress, and the decision fell to Dominic, the supreme commander.

“Leaving a demon unchecked is dangerous. We must eliminate it now. However, the Empire may not accept our presence. Thus, we will position ourselves behind the Imperial Army and observe the situation. If the Imperial Army can defeat the demon, all the better. If they struggle, we’ll advance as reinforcements. This is the best we can do for now. Any objections?”

“Sounds good to me,” Ruper said. “I don’t have a better plan.”

“Then, toward the capital—” Dominic began, but another report interrupted.

“Emergency! A massive horde of monsters is heading this way!!”

“What?! Is there a demon with them?!” Dominic demanded.

“N-no, sir! No demon has been sighted! But… their numbers are overwhelming!”

“What’s the breakdown?!”

“Mostly small to medium-sized monsters. Almost no large ones!”

“Then we can handle it. All forces, hear me! Exterminate the monsters immediately! Once they’re eliminated, we advance to the capital! Go!!”

“Yes, sir!!” the army responded.

Thus, the kingdom’s army engaged the monster horde. Though primarily small to medium-sized, their sheer numbers required considerable time to eradicate.

Casualties were minimal, with only a few soldiers sustaining light injuries and a handful suffering heavier wounds like fractures or lacerations. However, following three days of combat with the Imperial Army, the monster assault pushed the kingdom’s forces to the brink of exhaustion.

By the time the monsters were eradicated, night had already fallen.

“Damn it! We can’t advance until dawn now!” Dominic cursed.

“Yeah, night marches with an army this size are too risky,” Ruper agreed. “Plus, after fighting the Imperial Army and that monster horde, the men are exhausted.”

“What is this situation?! It’s almost as if… we’re being deliberately delayed!!”

Thus, the kingdom’s army was stalled by the monsters, forced to wait until morning to depart.

Meanwhile, the Imperial capital, attacked by the monster horde, was overrun in an instant.

With the army meant to protect it absent, the capital faced medium-sized and larger monsters, including Calamity-class threats like tigers and lions. The presence of a demon made resistance impossible for the defenseless citizens.

What unfolded was a hellish scene of screams and carnage.

The capital’s residents were slaughtered, devoured, or incinerated by the demon’s magic. monster hunters in the capital fought back, but overwhelmed by the monsters’ numbers and the demon’s power, they were swiftly killed.

Amid this inferno, a figure walked leisurely.

“So, Miria-san, how does it feel to be a demon?” a voice asked.

“Yes, Schtrom-sama, I feel an unprecedented surge of power. I believe I could wield any magic now,” replied Miria, a woman who had tended to the injured man, now revealed as Oliver Schtrom. Astonishingly, Miria had also become a demon while retaining her rationality.

“Fufu, splendid,” Schtrom said. “Yet, you seem remarkably calm while your countrymen are being slaughtered.”

“These capital dwellers thought themselves chosen, looking down on other Imperial citizens,” Miria replied coldly. “I’ve lost count of how many times I, a fellow commoner, was insulted by them. I feel not the slightest pang of remorse for their deaths.”

“Fufufu, hahaha! Wonderful, Miria-san! Truly, these people are nothing but scum,” Schtrom laughed.

“Thank you for your praise,” Miria said with a bow.

“Now, the army that marched out will return in two or three days, yes? By then, the capital will be entirely ours. Zest-kun and his group should return as well, so shall we prepare to greet the Imperial Army?”

“Yes, Schtrom-sama,” Miria agreed.

“I’m eager to see how much the kingdom’s army has weakened them,” Schtrom mused.

The two walked toward the Imperial palace, the screams of the capital’s dying citizens echoing behind them.

Three days after Schtrom’s assault on the capital, the Imperial Army finally arrived. What they saw was a city ravaged by monsters and teeming with their kind.

“Damn you monsters! Not one of you will escape my wrath!!” Herald roared.

Under Herald’s command, the Imperial Army charged once more. Initially, they managed to slay monsters, but the appearance of demons turned the tide.

The Imperial Army was ravaged by the demons’ magic. Among them were Zest and his scout unit, who had fed the Empire false intelligence.

“Zest!! Because of you! Because of you!!” Herald screamed, as if madness had overtaken him. But Zest and his group paid him no heed, slaughtering the Imperial forces.

In the end, the Imperial Army was annihilated, so thoroughly that even the Emperor’s killer remained unknown.

When the kingdom’s army, delayed by the monster horde, arrived at the capital, they were met with the sight of the Imperial Army’s corpses strewn across the ground.

As the kingdom’s forces stared in stunned silence, a voice called out.

“Oh? Aren’t those the people who helped me in the kingdom?”

“That voice!” Dominic gasped. “Could it be… Oliver Schtrom?!”

“Fufufu, indeed,” the voice replied. “What’s this? Did you think I’d been defeated by Wolford-kun?”

Dominic and his men were incredulous. They had believed no one could survive the magic Shin had unleashed—a spell of unimaginable power. Yet, the voice they now heard was unmistakably Schtrom’s, the same one they’d encountered at the guard post.

They scanned their surroundings, but Schtrom’s voice seemed amplified by magic, his form invisible.

“Oh, my, with such meager forces, you can’t possibly hope to defeat us,” Schtrom taunted. “Why not seek aid from other nations?”

What Dominic and his men saw next defied belief.

Across the field of Imperial corpses, a group appeared.

Every one of their eyes… glowed red.

“Impossible… Was the sighted demon not Schtrom himself?” Dominic whispered.

“Three demons in a few months was bad enough,” Ruper muttered, despair creeping into his voice. “But dozens? This is a sick joke…”

Ruper, who had assumed the reported demon was a single entity, was overwhelmed by the sight of dozens.

“Oh, and thank you for reducing the Imperial Army’s numbers,” Schtrom added. “Thanks to you, we annihilated them with ease.”

Realizing they had been manipulated by Schtrom, Dominic struggled to contain his fury. Facing a group of demons—an unprecedented and almost laughable threat—he judged that their forces alone were insufficient. Heeding Schtrom’s mocking advice, he ordered a return to the kingdom.

Upon their return, Dominic’s report left the kingdom’s leadership speechless.

The rational demon, Oliver Schtrom, believed to have been defeated, was alive. Worse, he had created numerous demons and brought down the Bluesphere Empire’s capital.

Recognizing that this information could not be concealed, the kingdom’s leadership made it public:

“The rational demon, Oliver Schtrom, who caused chaos in the capital, is alive. He has created numerous demons and conquered the Bluesphere Empire’s capital.”

——.

ToC