Chapter 445
Chapter 445. Fog of the Battlefield
On the other hand, in a different location, there was the Emperor’s massive carriage.
Emperor Rieken was enjoying an elegant dinner time.
The table illuminated by the chandelier inside was loaded with dishes so sumptuous that one could hardly believe they were in a battlefield. To conceal nothing, the Emperor’s carriage came equipped with a refrigerator capable of carrying several days’ worth of the highest quality ingredients to satisfy the Emperor.
Fresh salad, filet steak grilled by a top chef, freshly baked white bread, crisp wine, and an assortment of bite-sized cheeses and fruits, not to mention pastries topped with honey and jam.
“Hmm, sometimes a simple meal like this isn’t bad after all. It carries the atmosphere of the battlefield.”
Rieken tasted the steak, savoring it. For the Emperor, who typically dined at a massive table in the floating palace with dozens of attendants serving him a full course meal, enjoying such uncomplicated and easy-to-eat food at a ‘small’ table that he could reach across in one stretch was a refreshing experience.
By the way, during lunch, his subordinates had worked hard to make it as formal as possible, but the lackluster meals being brought out one at a time, compared to their usual standards, had been absurd, prompting him to command that they be served as soon as they were ready.
The wise Emperor Rieken disliked wasting time. In the palace, formality and tradition were essential, but…
“Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to travel occasionally. Once this war is over, perhaps I could tour the whole country.”
While pondering this somewhat troubling thought that his subordinates might find concerning for many reasons, the Emperor was in high spirits as the court ladies continued to serve him—
Suddenly, faint cries and sounds reminiscent of earth tremors began drifting in from outside the soundproof double windows of the carriage.
“Mm… it seems rather noisy out there.”
“I’ll check,” replied one of the court ladies, quietly withdrawing. After a while, the head butler came in with a respectful report.
“Your Majesty, I have an update. The Imperial Army is currently under attack by an unknown assailant.”
“An unknown assailant? Is it a night raid by the principality’s army?”
“No…”
The usually serious-faced butler seemed troubled this time.
“Rather, it is a single individual, a demon who calls himself ‘Zilbagias.’”
“…What? Is he the prince who was exiled from the demon lord kingdom? And he’s alone?”
“Yes. At least he claims to be Zilbagias, and there don’t appear to be any companions. We haven’t confirmed this yet, so I apologize for the delay in reporting while you were dining.”
“That’s fine. It is indeed hard to believe. What’s the situation?”
“It seems that there have been considerable losses among the lightly armored soldiers in the outer perimeter due to the surprise attack. Currently, the heavy infantry brigade led by Lord Geenberg is moving out to intercept, followed by a cavalry charge and an attempt to secure the area by the Light Blade Church’s First Brigade.”
“Oh, a formidable deployment. It would not do to let our guard down against the prince of demons. But still, what on earth is he thinking, attacking alone?”
Even with some of their forces diverted to occupy Sokfol, they still commanded an army numbering over ten thousand. For even a barbarian, charging alone like that seemed overly reckless, didn’t it?
Or was there something more at play…
“There’s unconfirmed information, but it seems he’s heard that Your Majesty is advocating the overthrow of the demon lord kingdom, and is audaciously calling out, ‘I will see if the Imperial Army is worthy of the challenge.'”
“Hahaha! So he’s attacking the army alone for that reason? Brave of him, but it seems he’s overestimating his own abilities.”
“Indeed…”
“However, how did he come to hear this?”
Rieken narrowed his eyes, pausing his meal.
“The formal declaration to overthrow the demon lord kingdom was made only after this mobilization was announced. If the demon prince had been hiding out in my vast territories, it would make sense for him to have heard it. However, it doesn’t make sense that he hasn’t challenged my army within the empire and chose to cross into the Hamilton Duchy before taking any action.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty is right.”
“Could it be… they intentionally termed it the ‘Principality’ because they were harboring the demon prince? In the decree I sent to the duchy, I also mentioned the intent to overthrow the demon lord kingdom. Furthermore, this sudden attack seems rather convenient for the principality, don’t you think?”
“Indeed, Your Majesty, you have sharp eyes.”
Not just the butler, but the surrounding court ladies nodded in agreement, saying things like, “Quite so,” and “Truly, Your Majesty.”
“Given that they seem to protect those cat-like beastmen who are agents of the demon lord’s army, their land must be significantly infiltrated by dark elements. It’s good to have one more justification for seizing the duchy, but to see such corruption… it’s disheartening.”
“I can only imagine the depth of Your Majesty’s concern.”
“…I must consider how to deal with the nobles and the citizens of the duchy moving forward.”
The Emperor swirled the wine in his glass with a troubled expression, sighing before taking a sip.
“…Increase the vigilance on the opposite side of where the demon prince has appeared. The principality’s army might take this chance to launch a night raid.”
“Understood. I will issue the orders immediately.”
The butler bowed and began to withdraw when the Emperor stopped him, saying, “Ah, and…”
“—The demon prince is not to be killed. Capture him alive. He shall serve as a living witness to the ‘betrayal of humanity’ by the ‘principality.'”
At the Emperor’s command, the butler responded, “Yes, Your Majesty!” with another bow, then finally exited.
As the Emperor resumed his dinner, the butler descended to the first floor of the carriage and opened the soundproof door to step outside.
Instantly, the cacophony of the battlefield—shouts, screams, the thunderous sounds of hooves, and the peculiar vibrations in the atmosphere as mana crackled—came rushing in.
“What’s the situation!?” the butler shouted at the high-ranking officers and subordinates waiting outside the carriage. Because the surrounding noise was so overwhelming, he had to raise his voice to communicate at all. Moreover, the flashes of light from what seemed to be members of the Light Blade Church burned his eyes, obscuring his view of the battlefield.
There were too many screams to suggest anything good—
“Under Lord Geenberg, the heavy infantry brigade is in full retreat! The status of Lord Geenberg himself is unknown!”
“The first and second cavalry units are charging! Their success is unconfirmed! The messengers have yet to return!”
“The First Brigade of the Light Blade Church has deployed! The details of their situation are unknown! Similarly, messengers have not returned yet!”
“I see! Good work! Relay any information back here as it comes in! Also, beware of a possible night raid from the principality’s army taking advantage of the demon prince’s assault. Intensify the perimeter security!”
“‘Intensify the perimeter security against the principality’s night raid.’ Understood!”
“Moreover, send instructions to the front lines! The demon prince is not to be killed! Capture him alive!! This is a royal decree!”
“‘Capture the demon prince alive.’ Understood! I’ll head out immediately—”
“Messenger! Messenger! The first cavalry unit has been annihilated!”
Then, a muddy, breathless messenger rushed in on foot for some reason. Usually, such messengers would be riding horses—
““!?””
“Due to the demon prince’s curse, the cavalry was rendered uncontrollable! Many of the messengers fell and got injured! The second unit has abandoned their charge!”
“W-what on earth…!?”
To think even the heavy infantry brigade, as well as the cavalry, would fall—everyone trembled at the overwhelming combat prowess of the demon prince.
“Messenger! The First Brigade of the Light Blade Church has engaged the demon prince! They’re pushing forward, having deflected the demon prince’s curse!!”
Then, a cheerful-faced messenger rushed in.
“Oh…!”
“That’s the Light Blade Church for you, so reliable!”
“With the empire’s elite behind them, the demon prince should have a tougher time!”
The butler and his subordinates exchanged relieved glances. However, at that moment, the butler suddenly realized something.
“This won’t do! At this rate, the demon prince will be slain! The decree was to capture him alive, so the announcement must be expedited!”
“Yes! Understood!!!”
Without a single complaint, the messenger rushed off again. Such exchanges in battle always take time even without delays, but the demon prince’s curse had rendered the cavalry unusable, only adding to the lost time.
(Please, don’t let him die… if the demon prince dies, His Majesty’s mood will worsen drastically…)
The butler watched the messenger’s back with a prayerful heart.
In battle, accurate information and prompt, appropriate orders are of the utmost importance.
However, due to the inherent time delays in communication, the fluidity of the enemy situation, and various uncertainties, it was difficult to grasp precisely what was happening at the front lines.
The front lines appeared hazy, as if shrouded in fog—
(They really do call it the fog of war…)
Grumbling, the butler gazed towards the front lines, where he believed the demon prince to be.
Suddenly, an immense pillar of light shot up, piercing the sky, and the sight of a massive sword-like light crashing down to the ground burned itself into his eyes.
“Whoa! So bright!”
What an enormous display of magic! It could only be attributed to the Light Blade Church—but—
“This cannot be! The demon prince will perish~~!”
Desperately praying for mercy, the butler cried out—
†††
“Sei!”
“Tha—wha?!”
The last Light Blade Cultist I struck was blown away in a cloud of blood.
It looks like I, Zilbagias, have just finished off a hundred fake heroes.
Phew… because I was practicing my curse attack while methodically killing them off one by one, it took me quite some time to finish the hundred. After all, to kill a hundred, I have to swing my arm a hundred times.
A glance toward the center of the formation showed that the main force of the imperial army was gathering. The Emperor’s carriage better not have fled yet. I had cropped out the messenger soldiers busily flitting around the area, so I thought their upper echelons ought to be slow to react…
If I could see from above, this would all be over in a flash, but down here, my field of vision was too narrow. Well, that’s just how battlefields are.
“Alright, time to go claim another head.”
—The Emperor’s.
At this point, there’s no one left to stand in my way. All around me, the lowly soldiers are either paralyzed with fear, fainted, or whimpering.
Stepping onto the blood-soaked ground, I slithered my way toward the heart of the imperial army.
