Chapter 162

Allen and his party have been asked by the Principal to go to Rosenheim, where they have been requested assistance through the Five Continents Alliance.

Rosenheim is in a crisis, and the Central Continent is about to be invaded by an army of 2 million magical beasts, while the elven troops who are responsible for healing may leave.

“You mean you want us to go to Rosenheim’s defense instead of the Central Continent’s?”

With everyone staring at me, I checked with the Principal.

“The Hero is on the Central Continent.”

The Principal reiterated that he wanted us to head to Rosenheim.

“What? How wide do you think the front line is!”

The front line, which seems to cross the Central Continent, is quite long. The main fortresses alone number more than 50. Cecile shouted, “How much can a single Hero do?”

Even if we can protect the fortress where the Hero is, if every other fortress falls, the Empire and the Central Continent will be finished.

“But we have no Hero to help us!”

The Principal’s words are stifled by Cecile’s words. The Principal’s expression is full of frustration. Maybe the Principal wants to go back, too.

“Allen, what are you going to do?”

Cecile asks me what I will do in this situation.

(Um, I’d like some more information, but… I’ll have to say something.)

“In this situation, I’d choose to save Rosenheim.)

“Oh, really? You will go? The High-speed Magic Ship should be ready to leave tomorrow.”

With glee, the Principal speaks of the next course of action.

(Oh, they have High-speed Magic Ships to travel between Continents and to other countries’ capitals?)

There are 2 types of Magic Ships: Normal and High-speed.

Most Magic ships are Normal.

However, the Principal is saying that the elves will use a High-speed Magic Ship that uses many times more magic stones to move us from our current location in the southern part of the Central Continent to Rosenheim.

“I was wondering if you could give us some more details on the war situation?”

“Of course.”

The Demon King’s army was conserving its strength and looking for an opportunity. I don’t know how much planning went into the current situation, but I still need more information.

“So the Demon King’s army has 3 million magical beasts in Rosenheim, and 2 million about 10 days away from the front lines of the Central Continent. The rest is the Baukis Empire?”

I try to grasp the current situation of war.

There are 10 million magical beasts in the Demon King’s army, but the Principal has only mentioned 5 million till now.

“No, it’s not like that.”

The Principal explains about the division of the Demon King’s army.

The Baukis Empire has not yet made contact with the Demon King’s army, which is said to be camped at sea, a short distance from the continent.

“1 million against the Baukis Empire…”

Merle, who has been looking anxious for a long time, mutters. Merle’s father is a soldier, fighting on the front lines.

“It is twice the previous year’s numbers.”

(Unlike the Central Continent and Rosenheim, the Baukis Empire fights against the Demon King’s army on sea.)

The Baukis Empire has not allowed the Demon King’s army to land. This is because it has more than 10,000 Golems that are over 100 meters big. The military power of the Baukis Empire completely overwhelms that of the Ghiamut Empire.

The Demon King’s army is fighting the Baukis Empire at sea, using large magical beasts that can carry countless magical beasts on their backs as ships.

For this reason, the number of troops that can be deployed against the Baukis Empire is limited due to the number of magical beasts that can serve as ships and the limitations of their carrying capacity.

Even so, the Demon King’s army seems to have prepared an army of 1 million, twice as many as in previous years, to deal with the Baukis Empire this time.

“That’s right, Merle.”

“Yes.”

“Merle, you’ve been ordered to return to the Baukis Empire.”

“!!”

Merle also seems to be thinking about going to Rosenheim with us.

In the order issued by the Kingdom, only my, Kurena, Cecile, Dogora and Kiel’s name is written. There is now mention of Merle, a citizen of the Baukis Empire, or Sophie, a member of the Royal Family of Rosenheim.

(Do you hate me so much?)

I have been on the current King’s radar since he was the Crown Prince.

Only Nobles are obligated to go to the battlefield, but he drew up an order and used the form of a decree from the King to order me and others to go to support Rosenheim, which is about to be destroyed.

“Does this mean everyone, not just Merle?”

“Yes. Both Rosenheim and the Baukis Empire have issued orders for the return of all Elves and Dwarves respectively.”

Academies are not only found in Kingdoms. Because of the ‘One Country, One Academy’ system created by the Five Continents Alliance, there is an Academy in every country in the Central Continent.

Elves and Dwarves who have been transferred to countries other than the Kingdom, such as the Empire, have also been contacted through the Principals of their respective Academies to come back because of the state of emergency.

A dying Rosenheim would likely send the returning elves into battle immediately.

(Hmm, I think I’m starting to understand the situation.)

“So, what is the Demon King’s army’s goal?

“What do you mean goal?”

(Hey, how can there be no goal? The number of soldiers and the timing of the attack are so uneven.)

For a moment, the Principal looks at me like he’s wondering what I’m talking about, and I almost make a comment, but I hold back.

“Do you know what he is after, Allen?”

Cecile seems to understand what I am trying to say. It’s a good thing that Cecile is willing to talk about this kind of strategy with me.

“Maybe, but I wonder if the Demon King’s army has its priorities straight.”

The Demon King’s army consists of 10 million magical beasts, but that number is finite. If it took them more than 5 years to prepare the number of troops, then if they fail, they would have wasted that much time. They can’t afford to waste as much time as possible.

Dogora and Kurena are also silent, listening to me.

I continue my explanation.

10 million magical beasts on paper may sound terrifying but my guess is that it is probably not enough to attack and destroy 3 continents simultaneously. On top of that, they are dispersing their troops and the timing of their attack with a goal in mind.

Their first goal is to attack and destroy Rosenheim.

Rosenheim is using its elven troops to support the Central Continent. The Demon King’s army has experienced that it is difficult to attack and destroy the Central Continent as long as there are elven troops present.

Their next goal is to dissolve the Five Continents Alliance, not destroy a country or continent.

All the continents were cooperating because they could afford to cooperate with each other.

Rosenheim is currently ignoring the Alliance and calling the elves back to Rosenhiem because of the threat to the survival of their country. This is like saying that they will leave the Five Continents Alliance themselves.

Even if we manage to get through this battle, it will create a huge distortion in international cooperation by humanity. Other continents may not cooperate with us in future wars.

Their third goal would be to attack and destroy the Ghiamut Empire, the leader of the Central Continent.

Now that the elven troops are starting to return to Rosenhiem, this should make it easier than ever to attack and destroy Ghiamut Empire.

Finally, there is the Baukis Empire. The Baukis Empire has a strong defense and is difficult to destroy. The Empire has sent Golems and soldiers to the Central Continental front lines for support, but most of them are used to defend themselves.

“So, does that mean the 4 million reserves are going to attack according to this four goals you mentioned?”

“That’s true. If the current 3 million and 2 million are sufficient for both Rosenheim and the Central Continent, then 4 million troops will be directed at the Baukis Empire.”

“Does that mean that if Rosenheim falls with 3 million, 5 million troops including reserves will attack the Giamut Empire?”

“Of course they will.”

I guess that means the reserves will be sent to ensure that the main goal are met. To me, it seems like an operation that does not waste troops.

If we continue to leave Rosenheim to its own, a large army will come to the Central Continent.

So, I said before that I’d go to Rosenheim, including the meaning of saving the Central Continent.

(Well, Cecile, in particular, won’t be able to refuse the King’s order because of the written order.)

The Principal did use the word “request” in his speech, but this time we have received an order from the King. Perhaps he might think that if he uses the word “order,” we might feel bad and refuse. To be honest, I don’t care about the King, but since Cecile, a Noble, is here, we can’t forcibly refuse.

I think I’ll go and say hello to the King when I come, after all I have to show him that I didn’t die in the war.

“But isn’t it impossible to hold off an army of 2 million without a healer?”

Kiel, who has been silent up to this point, speaks up. Kiel is not opposed to going to Rosenheim, but if we don, the front line in the northern part of the Central Continent will collapse.

A lot of soldiers will probably die since there will be no elven healers left.

We might return to a destroyed Ghiamut Empire after saving the Rosenhiem.

“Oh, I’ve an idea about that.”

Allen had a plan to get out of this situation.