Chapter 304: The War Begins
The Audience Room was once again abuzz as an Imperial Officer announced the first invasion by the Demon King's army in a year and a few months.
The Bakius Empire had been undefeated in the war against the Demon King's army, but even so, I was anxious.
''An invasion? In this situation? How big is it?"
Helmios responded to the Imperial Officer's words and asked.
"I've heard that it's no different from the previous year, so I'm guessing it'll be around two million in total?"
"That's a number we can't ignore."
Since the audience with the Emperor was followed by a distress signal from the Holy Land and the news of the invasion of the Demon King's army, the flow naturally turned into a military discussion.
The war against the Demon King's army began on the Central Continent.
The reason being that it was closest to the Forgotten Continent where the Demon King stayed, and part of the Central Continent territory was Demon King's army territory.
I expected the war to begin when the magical beasts completed their gathering on the Giamut Empire.
If the scale was the same as before, there would be around a million magical beasts gathering in the northern part of the Giamut Empire's territory, so if a scouting party were to be deployed, they would be able to find them right away.
If such gatherings were spotted, the scouts would use transmission magic tools and inform their higher ups that the Demon King's army had started gathering and the invasion was on the horizon.
The Demon King armies that invade the Bakius Empire and Rosenheim march directly from the Forgotten Continent aboard ocean-carrying magical beasts.
Therefore, at the moment, based on the movements of the Central Continent, it was beyond the realm of expectation that the Demon King's army would attack the Bakius Empire and Rosenheim as well.
However, the Demon King's army was rarely predictable.
The Demon King's army wanted to make it difficult for the three continents to cooperate by hitting them all at the same time.
In the Central Continent, the soldiers in charge of the Magic Ships and scouts were always monitoring the situation of the Demon King's army, but I heard that it was a dangerous role that was most targeted by the Demon King's army.
The Demon King's army would attack the scouts as soon as they were found, so scouting was a very dangerous mission.
"It had to be now, didn't it?"
"Mm? Now?"
Prince Zew raised his voice in question at my words.
"The Demon King's army, they really want what's happening in the Holy Land to succeed. That's why they are invading to distract us."
''I see. Besides, if they invade now, they can interfere with the Talent changing system that starts next month."
"Yes. It is reasonable to assume that this is also the reason for the invasion at this time."
Prince Zew, who was distraught because he was worried about Princess Shea, understood the situation.
The dungeon for changing Talents would be operational from next month.
As for the Demon King's army, they wanted to strike before their enemy could get stronger.
But last year's war had greatly depleted their army.
Because my friends and I had thoroughly defeated the Demon King's army and reduced their numbers.
If the Demon King's army wanted to invade with just sheer numbers, it was probably the best time to do so.
"I'm at a loss. I can't just ignore them and go to the Holy Land, can I?"
Helmios was in a difficult situation.
"Mm-hmm."
So was Admiral Galara.
Both Helmios and Admiral Galara had always been the best fighters when it came to war.
Helmios had defeated the most number of magical beasts on the front lines.
Admiral Galara fought on the front lines, but also commanded the military as the highest ranking military officer.
If an army of the same size was going to attack, the Alliance would have to suffer a lot of casualties due to those two leaving.
(And by that I mean, I'm also Rosenheim's Chief of Staff. I can't leave now.)
I was Chief of Staff of Rosenheim.
While there had been occasions where my position had helped me, I had no choice but to ignore Rosenheim and go to the Holy Land.
Unlike Rosenheim, which had been under attack by the Demon King's army for decades and had set up a defense line with fortresses, the Holy Land had not done so.
The Elmea Church as a whole was in danger of destruction.
The crisis could spread throughout the Confederacy and across the continent.
I could teleport there instantaneously by using my A-rank Bird's awakening skill.
Using the "Nest" of A-rank Bird's summoner, I searched for a way to save Rosenheim and the Holy Land.
(We should be able to overwhelm those magical beasts now. I've spent the last three months creating a battlefield that's easy to fight.)
My A-rank summons could overpower not just B-rank magical beasts, but also A-rank magical beasts easily.
"Sorry about that. It helps."
I bowed my head and thanked Prince Zew.
"Huh. Which is more dangerous?"
"What?"
"The Holy Land and Rosenheim. Which one do you think is more dangerous, Mr. Allen?"
"It's definitely the Holy Land. We don't even know what's going to happen now."
The Demon King's army was about to do something that they had prepared for a long time.
Since the invasion of Rosenheim was the norm, the obvious danger was the Holy Land.
Surely we were not in a simple war.
"Then leave the easy defense of Rosenheim to us. But can I leave the harsh Holy Land to you?"
"... Yes."
My voice choked for a moment.
Prince Zew appreciated my strength to the fullest, and decided to help Rosenheim, so that I could focus on the Holy Land.
But that was not all.
Many Bakius Empire Nobles were here listening to the conversation between Prince Zew and me.
The fact that Prince Zew publicly declared that he was weaker than me was not good for a Royalty's reputation.
Prince Zew stared at me without caring about that.
"You must help me in return."
"Yes, sir. With all my strength."
Prince Zew's help meant protecting Princess Shea, his sister.
But I didn't speak of it.
Prince Zew had killed his personal feelings to save his country.
"Looks like we're going to get caught up in the Prince Zew's folly."
Astrologer Temi grinned saying, "I couldn't divine this."
"What's next, Rosenheim?"
"You, what's your attitude?"
General Hobah was indignant as Lepe the Musician said with a sigh.
Seeing that, the other Heroic Beasts burst out laughing.
No one seemed to be scared of the Demon King's army.
The blood rushed to the Ten Heroic Beasts.
"So, Your Majesty. We must leave now to go and save Rosenheim."
"Yes, yes. Be good."
After all that time, Emperor Pupun III, who had been frozen in his throne, was suddenly asked to speak, and he nodded his head.
"Mr. Allen. Then where shall we start?"
"That's right. Then, since we didn't expect this to happen, let's go back to the base of the S-class dungeon and pack our luggage. What about you guys?"
A large amount of luggage was still at the base.
Because once the audience was over, we were planning to go to the S-class dungeon again.
We were going to teleport from there, so I asked Hero Helmios and Admiral Galara what they were going to do.
"We're going."
"No, we're good. As long as we have this Magic Board, we can take care of the rest."
Admiral Galara and his party didn't have much luggage they needed, so Admiral Galara said that they didn't have to go to the base of the S-class dungeon.
"Then, I've designated the room we were in earlier as a Nest, and I'll be sending relief supplies there later."
"I don't know when you made it. But thanks for the help."
I tell Admiral Galara that I'll send the [Mana Seed]s, [Blessing of Heaven]s, and other relief supplies to that room later for him to use.
Since I had taken the liberty of building a 'Nest' in a room in the Royal Castle of the Bakius Empire, Admiral Galara sighed and thanked me for being so shrewd.
"Now, Your Imperial Majesty, if you'll excuse me."
"Nu? Eh."
The three parties of Allen, Helmios, and Prince Zew disappeared from the Audience Room.
The Emperor and the Nobles in theAudience Room were left wide-eyed.
Allen and his friends began to act in response to the invasion of the Demon King's army and the distress signal from the Holy Land.