Episode 287
Episode 101. Advancement (3)
Pitts had no choice but to agree immediately. The captain of the Red Sword of the SS supported Yuma by mentioning Rugal, so going against it meant treason.
“Baron Drake. I made a mistake. I didn’t mean to disbelieve you, who risked their lives to reach Dempir Fort.”
“No, my king. It would have been hard to believe even for me. Didn’t I say Thein, the captain of the red sword? I wish you’d spoken a little more gently to King Faits. He is deeply loyal to Emperor Rugal.”
Tane apologized to Fitz for his rude tone. It seemed to emphasize once more that Yuma’s name was also Rugal’s name.
“Thank you for your understanding. By the way, since the Dempir Fortress has been lost, should we bring the enemies to the Seruca border? It’s embarrassing.”
“I would have done so if it had not been for the Red Moon ceremony, but not now. We don’t know when they will perform the ritual again, so we have to advance to the Central Desert.”
“Huh… Jingun.”
“If the ritual of the demons succeeds and the underworld and the human world fuse, there is no future. It should be understood as not simply a matter of national luck of each country, but a matter of human survival.”
“Even if I do, will neighboring countries really advance their soldiers? Didn’t you see it on your way here too? Sending troops into the desert seems like everyone is just trying to defend the defense line.”
It was natural for those in power not to recklessly use the military, which is the basis of that power.
Especially when it comes to confronting ‘public enemies’ rather than directly invading one’s own country.
Most monarchs still understood Amanzo’s invasion as little more than Ragatino Rollmandi’s treason.
It was a rebellion backed by the power of demons and black magic.
The dragon horse war before returning came to mind.
Even then, those in power who were foolish did not want to let go of what they were holding until the situation reached its worst.
When the demons of the underworld began to occupy Inse in earnest, they hurriedly dispatched soldiers at that time.
If they had united from the beginning without arguing about their interests, the damage from the Dragon Horse War would have been reduced a little more.
Yuma replied with a bitter smile.
“Just because it doesn’t feel right doesn’t mean the threat really goes away. And once the threat begins to be felt, it’s already too late to act. Even if it’s a bit violent, I’ll make them go out and fight. Thein.”
“Yes, man.”
“Do you know how many troops Emperor Rugal volunteered for the central front?”
“It is more than 300,000. Currently, there are only minimal troops left to maintain peace in Kantra.”
When the number ‘300,000’ came up, Pitts’ eyes widened. It was a scale unprecedented in the history of the East.
“The SS must be in command, right?”
“That’s right.”
“What matters is not the lives of the few kings. The key is to save as many humans as possible. Do you know what I mean?”
It means that if the kings do not want to move their troops, it is okay to cut down. Thein nodded with a firm expression and replied.
“As soon as the meeting is over, we will deliver the will of the interpersonal.”
“good. And Thane, cull a few of the elite of the red swords right now and send them to Tempir and Yunin Oasis.
We need someone to check if the red moon is getting closer to the ground.”
“All right.”
They discussed for some time how to deploy the advancing force.
It was not difficult to find the location, but it took a long time to measure variables such as the arrival date and movement time of each troop and climate.
Not to mention Yuma, neither Fights nor Tane were seasoned strategists.
On behalf of the three, Randell drafted a military deployment operation.
“Sir Oh Randall. It’s like that, so it’s like a different person. Where did that twin sword idiot I knew go?”
Yuma said while marking various places on the map, looking at Randel who was seriously thinking.
“Now even my friends call me a double-sword idiot. I’m only making rough drawings. However, it feels strange to think that I am deploying hundreds of thousands of troops in the east myself.”
“Me too. Kuzan and Seruka will be the primary rendezvous. We will stay here until the order is delivered and the troops gather.”
When it comes to military operations, Yuma couldn’t be better than Randell. Yuma didn’t give a damn about what Randel was deciding, just watching.
The meeting was not over until dawn. When the rough plan was completed, Tane ran straight to Seruka without closing his eyes.
Faitz summoned Kuzan’s leadership and spread the news about the current situation, and Randell covered his exhausted face with both hands.
“When I first came to the East, I thought His Majesty Asuka sent me a vacation. what a vacation
Somehow, it looks like I’m going to save humanity here. Why does it feel like a mess just hanging out with a friend?”
“The West is also concerned. The whereabouts of the warlock Shiram are still unknown, and Yohaim was the place where Amanzo first appeared.”
“In the West, there are two grandmasters, so it should be fine. There’s even a blue dragon. And Catherine will take care of it.”
“Haa, my head is so messed up with the damn red moon. Sir Randell, please get some rest.”
“huh? I was going to have a glass of wine with you today and sleep well? They say we ran through the desert for three weeks and got covered in the purple blood of demons. Is it okay to arrange a glass of wine? Miss Natalie, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know if you really need to drink wine, but I know Yuma needs a break too.”
Natalie, too, did not leave her seat until the meeting was over.
She breathed smoke from her pipe and looked at her lover with a worried expression.
His skin was pale and his face was emaciated. Since entering the Central Desert, Yuma has not had a single day of rest.
During the day, it was Yuma’s daily life to fight or ride the tulka all day, and at night to go to the underworld and fight another battle.
A normal person would have already been unable to withstand the psychological shock and collapsed.
“Are you planning to go to the underworld today? You should get some sleep for a day.
I heard you’ve been fighting non-stop in the underworld since you killed Gude?”
“It is much easier to fight. Before that, Rakir only tortured me.”
“A madman. So, are you going today?”
“huh. Right Now.”
“Why don’t you follow your friend Miss Natalie’s opinion? If I look at my friends these days, how should I say that they seem to be trying to take responsibility for the whole world alone? You push yourself too hard, like someone paying for something.”
It was difficult for Natalina Randell and other colleagues to understand Yuma. I was so worried too.
However, the sense of mission as a regressor and the terrible memories of the last dragon horse war were making Yuma move.
“Since you received the benefit, you must pay for it.”
And this time, it’s not a situation where you can’t do anything like the dragon horse war before the return.
Yuma swallowed his words behind her back and hugged Natalie and kissed her. She was just about to say something more, frowning.
“I will be back. I’ll stay a little longer this time.”
“what? long? I told you to rest, so you’re going to go longer?”
“huh. In the meantime, I couldn’t stay only in the underworld because I was moving. I’ve been in a lull for a while, so I’ll have to come back with a solid foundation.
Conquering the underworld, you might find another clue, right? Maybe we can end the war in the underworld.”
Yuma was expecting a lot from herself in the underworld.
It was because he wondered if he could end the demon invasion war itself if he subdued the strong men of the underworld and finally defeated Amanjo’s main body.
If the war ended by conquering the underworld, the terrible damage that the human army would have to suffer would not happen. It was the best result out of a number of cases.
“Damn it, I don’t want to go with you! If I become a demon too…
“What a terrible thing. Please take good care of me while I am in the underworld, human Natalie.”
Yuma brushed Natalie’s hair through her hair and went to the room with Rakir to activate the Marilelace.
As soon as Yuma and Rakir arrived in the underworld, they spread their wings and started flying.
The place where they had just left was lined with the corpses of the western demons they had killed last night.
The first thing that caught my eye was seeing Queric and other miscellaneous monsters eating the corpses of demons.
From now on, they had to secure the western part of the underworld and head north, their next destination.
The reason why he wants to deal with Galos in the north, who is the strongest among the current demon lords, before Niackle is because there is Haider in the east.
[My lord. Last time, two general-level demons died at the hands of the master, so we should be able to finish the west side soon.]
Natalie was worried about Yuma, but Yuma in the underworld didn’t feel tired at all.
Rather, even after killing two general-level demons, his strength was overflowing and he could not control himself.
[Who is the strongest left in the west?]
[There must be generals from the south who have fled. They can be a bit tricky.]
After flying for a while, I saw several colonies of demons below. The demons living in that colony seemed afraid of Yuma and couldn’t even raise their heads.
Yuma ignored them and flew to the western throne in an instant.
[Inside that great bone is the throne of the west. It’s the remains of Casillim, the greatest beast in the underworld.]
At the place Rakir pointed to, there were huge bones that couldn’t even be seen with the naked eye.
[It’s hideous.]
[It is also a symbol of respect and fear for a witch like me. Because all demons dream of becoming Kasilim.]
Kujik Kujik!
As Yuma approached, Casillim’s skull opened its lower jaw. as if alive.
And the breath of an enormous size began to gather in the snout.
It was one of the defenses of the western lands. Using the remains of Casillim to blow the breath required more than one hundred high-ranking demons.
Rakir calmly explained these things and waited for the breath to fly.
[If it’s the real Kasilim when he’s alive, the breath that forces the dead Casillim to shoot is no threat to the lord…
Hmm.]
The breath wasn’t even fired.
As Yuma stretched out his hand, his purple demonic eyes glowing, the breath gathered in Kasilim’s muzzle gradually began to diminish.
The mana that had accumulated in Kasilim’s bones was gathered into Yuma’s grip on the other side.
Jigsaw Jigsaw!
Soon, the mana that Yuma stole was replaced with black lightning, embroidering the dark sky of the underworld.
[Leave.]
There was no need to encourage the opposing demons to surrender.
Hundreds of lightning strikes all at once into the remains of Kasile Lim. Each of Yuma’s lightning bolts was of a different size from the one used by Empey on Pora Pora Island.
As the thick lightnings fell mercilessly, Kasilim’s bones collapsed like a mountain range collapsed in a great earthquake.
[A symbol of respect and fear? Witches’ dream? Rakir. From now on, it will be your position, not the dead witch beast, Kasilim or whatever.]
After the rain of lightning died down, Yuma lightly stepped down to the ground and said.
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