War.
There’s no way to romanticize such a horrifying act with any words. However, as long as not everyone can solve things peacefully with words, war will never disappear. In other words, it’s here to stay forever.
Let alone a war for survival, there’s no choice. If they don’t fight, they’ll all just die. Just like right now. Hans joined the Racial Alliance Army with his comrades.
The reason the Racial Alliance could form an army in just a short time of fifteen days is that they had prepared in advance. So when the time comes to launch an offensive in the future, they wouldn’t be hindered.
Yuyoung was selected as the commander of the alliance forces. She was chosen because she had significant experience in large-scale wars. Of course, just because she was the commander didn’t mean she could do whatever she wanted.
“Why is the vice commander you, Maquenis?”
“At least there should be some restrictions, right?”
“These restrictions are too heavy!”
Maquenis and Yuyoung had both previously served as commanders in the war against the Beastmen. They probably never would have imagined they would join forces like this.
But they could acknowledge each other’s abilities. That’s why the Racial Alliance chose them as commanders. The war between the Beastmen and Elves influenced both of them greatly.
At least that’s what Cluna told Hans. He tilted his head. Wasn’t that just a situation where the Beastmen lost to the Elves and retreated? What could they possibly have learned from that…?
“Anyway, it means they’re reliable talents.”
And as expected, Yuyoung and Maquenis demonstrated their capabilities in personnel management. They placed talents in optimal positions to maximize efficiency.
Those who were dissatisfied with their positions were pacified through persuasive conversations, additional compensation, and other methods. Truly suitable for a commander.
Thanks to that, the alliance army could finally set out after about three days past the initial fifteen-day plan. If it weren’t for Yuyoung and Maquenis, the departure would have been delayed even more.
“The map provided by the Anti-Demon Alliance was really helpful.”
“Plus, they say they’ll guide us at the forefront.”
“If it weren’t for the Anti-Demon Alliance, the war could’ve dragged on longer.”
The large army led by the Racial Alliance entered the Demon territory. But surprisingly, the ambushes from the Demons and Monsters were fewer than expected. Not even a trace of Blood Demons could be spotted.
Monsters did appear little by little, but they were mostly at a level that could be managed easily by the army. Rather, the worry was the soldiers getting exhausted from the hotter-than-expected weather.
“That’s strange; it’s supposed to be late autumn, but it’s this hot?”
“Well, to some extent, we did anticipate it.”
“Are you serious?”
“Of course.”
It turned out that the Anti-Demon Alliance scouts had noticed the unusual climate during their prior reconnaissance and passed on the information. Thanks to that, the alliance forces were prepared not just for the heat, but for the cold as well.
Hans was at the center of the alliance forces with the commanders. He was considered an important asset. However, they didn’t prepare a carriage or anything; they were simply riding horses together.
Hans looked around. The Demon territory was a complete wasteland. All that remained were traces and the ruins of homes. There were no signs of human activity.
The desolate landscape looked like it had been erased with an eraser, giving him chills. The soldiers were quite unsettled, but each time a commander stepped up to encourage them.
“The march is faster than expected.”
“If the information from the Anti-Demon Alliance is true, we should reach that so-called queen in about a month.”
“That’s what worries me even more.”
The alliance forces were like a blade piercing the heart. If they were to be stopped, the Demons would face annihilation, and the remaining stragglers would die from lack of blood. But why was it so quiet?
“Chances are high that the main force is setting up traps.”
Yuyoung, hearing Hans’s concerns, immediately shared her thoughts. It was a tactic often used to lure in the opponent—drawing them into a deeper area until they couldn’t retreat, and then ambushing them.
“Typically, it’s the overconfident ones who get caught in this kind of strategy.”
“Is that so?”
“Surely the one who leads the Demons won’t just sit back and watch, right?”
Hans nodded. But deep down, he might have been hoping for that. Unlike in stories or comics, he knew that even the soldiers dying on the battlefield had families back home.
Please, let it end safely.
*
The alliance forces arrived at their destination smoothly. The leader of the Anti-Demon Alliance, Revel, claimed that it was a land that remembers all history, the end of history. And it used to be the ancient kingdom’s home.
There wasn’t anything special there. Among the completely crumbled castle walls and buildings, only one thing stood tall: the palace. A palace in a barren land devoid of castle walls or villages.
Surprisingly, it created a really eerie atmosphere. Perhaps because the sense of dissonance had risen to its peak. At first, the overwhelming atmosphere prevented anyone from acting properly.
“Is that where the queen is?”
“There’s no doubt about it.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“The queen cannot leave that place.”
Only Revel and Hans were planning while looking at the royal castle. According to Revel, the queen had never left that place even once, and this was supposedly due to her knights.
“The queen originally intended to completely annihilate the continent.”
“Was that what Zaiha stopped her from doing?”
“That’s right. Even though she’s fallen, her pride remains.”
It’s not to say that Zaiha and the Demons were right. They were ultimately invaders who intended to conquer the continent. It just means the queen was so insane that even they couldn’t go along with her.
“Zaiha said he would dedicate this continent to the queen.”
“That’s why the queen put it on hold?”
“Yes, but now that Zaiha is dead, the queen will start to move again.”
Hans let out a deep sigh at Revel’s words. He had heard it directly at the Racial Alliance meeting before, but hearing it again right in front of him felt surreal. Just how crazy must she be…?
Would the likes of Zaiha and the other Demons really say they’d conquer the continent instead? Wait… something feels a bit off. Let’s think this through slowly.
The queen clearly stated she would destroy the world. However, the original story didn’t feature either the queen or Zaiha. Instead, Revel—the one right next to him—appeared as the final boss, the Demon King.
But no matter how he looked at it, Revel didn’t seem like a villain bent on demolishing the world. Now that the original scenario’s point had arrived, even the heroine from the Dwarf Republic was appearing.
Was there going to be an incident in a short time where Revel would turn into the Demon King? Or, if it’s not that, was there something else in the place of the Demon King? The questions he heard before surfaced once more.
“Revel.”
“What is it?”
“Do you have any plans to destroy the world?”
“That’s quite unexpected. You don’t strike me as the suspicious type.”
“…I had a strange dream last night.”
Hans’s pure curiosity confused Revel for a moment, but he managed to deftly shift the conversation. Hans clicked his tongue.
I must have been crazy to directly ask Revel like that. Of course, I can’t trust the attitude he shows outwardly, but at least I shouldn’t be so direct in my questioning.
Hans shook his head to clear his thoughts. Focus only on defeating the queen in front of him right now. After all, worrying here wouldn’t yield any answers.
“Anyway, we should rest a little and then start the attack right away.”
“Yes, we should. Who knows what the queen might be plotting…?!”
He didn’t lollygag. After taking a minimal break, they planned to attack the queen immediately. First, they would attempt a siege using siege weapons. If that didn’t work, they would use magic.
If that still didn’t work, the dragons would team up to unleash their breath attacks. Only then would they assemble the Royal Knights and elite knights to breach the castle. That was the plan.
Until suddenly, the ground shook and a red vine-like tendril shot up. It was something similar to a thorny vine, which began to engulf the living in an instant. Like a carnivorous plant.
“Damn…! What a grand entrance!”
“This isn’t the time for that! Look at the scale!!”
“!!!”
Hearing Revel’s words, Hans slowly surveyed the area and was left in complete shock. At first, he thought it was just something that sprang up from the ground. However, it was no trivial matter.
With a rumble, the soil and dust shifted to reveal their true forms. In other words, all the dirt, dust, and rocks present were actually vines. Hans shouted loudly.
“Everyone fall back!!!”
His scream echoed like a scream of horror.
