Chapter 216: Outbreak of war

Chapter 216: Outbreak of war

It finally started.

When Ryo and Abel returned to the City of Rune and reported to Hugh McGrath about the Wyvern subjugation, the report came in.

The door was opened without knocking, and Nina, the receptionist, came in and reported.

“Excuse me for interrupting you. Master, the Imperial Army has crossed the border.”

“Finally?”

Hugh must have expected that.

He only nodded once and muttered.

But Ryo was not.

That was the first time he experienced his country being invaded.

He was panicking.

“If we lose, I will become a citizen of the Debuhi Empire... a Debuhian... a Debuhi people ... Debuhi Magician ... Magician of Debuhi... mediocre fatty Ryo...”

“Ryo, calm down.”

Abel, who was sitting next to him, placed his hand on Ryo’s shoulder and spoke slowly and powerfully.

Just one word.

But that one word calmed him down.

Ultimately, the effect of words depends on who says them, not the content.

“Thank you, Abel.”

At this time, Ryo thanked Abel from the bottom of his heart.

“The size of the Imperial army that has invaded is about 8,000 strong. An invasion of this scale occurs many times in five years.”

“Is that so? Ah, then you’re used to dealing with it, good then.”

Hugh said after receiving and reading the report. Hearing this, Ryo calmed down even more.

“Even if we lose, a single loss won’t turn you into a citizen of the Debuhi Empire.”

Abel said with a wry smile.

However, the moment he said that, Abel collapsed and held his chest.

“Abel!”

Ryo cried out.

Abel stretched his right hand toward Ryo, as if to say that it was okay, just wait.

He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths.

After about a minute or so, Abel finally lifted his face.

“I’m fine.”

Abel announced to the room.

Then, after glancing at Hugh, he took a glimpse at Nina, who was still standing by the door.

Hugh sensed his intention.

“Nina, thank you for the report.”

“Ah, yes. Excuse me.”

Saying that, Nina left the room.

Something happened to Abel that he couldn’t talk about in front of Nina.

After taking a deep breath, Abel slowly opened his mouth.

“Just now, my brother, His Highness Crown Prince Caindish has passed away.”

That sentence caused Hugh McGrath to turn speechless.

Ryo, too, was at a loss for words.

Although he could understand that Abel probably knew that he had passed away due to some sort of magical connection.

Abel’s older brother, Crown Prince Caindish...

Of course, he, the crown prince of this country, literally a man of nobility, was a total stranger to Ryo.

He didn’t know him at all, but even so, he saw the questions the crown prince drew up.

The questions Abel was desperately trying to solve.

A ‘question’ tests the examinee and also evaluates them.

However, it also reveals the ‘quality’ of the creator of the question ...

If they make a stupid question, they would be scorned in the hearts of all the examinees, saying, “What the hell is with this creator, are you stupid?”

If they make a question that doesn’t make sense, all the examinees would be abusing them in their minds, saying, “Does this guy even speak Japanese well?”

However, if you create an amazing question, that question will remain across the ages.

The famous university entrance exam questions from decades ago are still talked about many times, aren’t they?

Alternatively, some questions withstand history, such as the Seven Great Challenges of Mathematics.

So by looking at the question, you can imagine the creator’s thoughts, tastes, intellectual level, and so on.

Many of the questions that Abel was desperately trying to solve questioned the very nature of the country.

“What is the country for?”

“Beautiful lady... that’s right, I will fight to protect Sera’s country!”

“O-oh...”

Scotty was only stating in general, but Zach seemed to have made a strange connection.

Of course, there was nothing wrong with what he was saying, but...

“Mel, why aren’t they making their move!?”

In the Imperial army’s command tent, Chief Adjutant Linus Warner, Viscount of Kruger, asked with a bitter expression.

Linus’ escort captain, Mel, thought for a few moments before slowly answering.

“I guess they’re checking things out.”

“Checking things out?”

“Yes. If it really worth changing sides.”

The moment Captain Mel said that, Linus’ face flashed with anger for a moment. But it was really a moment.

It was just a moment that even someone like Mel thought it was a mistake.

“I see. Sure. Let’s show them the benefit in doing so.”

“Oscar Ruska, I have come upon your request.”

Oscar Ruska, Deputy Commander of the Imperial Emperor’s Magic Division, nicknamed Explosive Blaze Magician, came to the central tent where the command headquarters was located.

In front of him sat the commander-in-chief of the expedition, Marquis Musel, and by his side stands his son, said to be in charge of the operations of this expedition, and Chief Adjutant Viscount of Kruger, Linus Warner.

“Baron Oscar Ruska, thank you for coming. Actually, I have a favor to ask of you.”

After Marquis Musel said so, he nodded to Linus by his side.

Receiving that nod, Linus began to explain.

“As you know, Deputy Commander, we have prepared a ‘strategy’ against the enemy forces. It is a strategy that His Majesty the Emperor and the Imperial Intelligence Department spent several years preparing, but... unfortunately, it has not yet been put into action. We would like you to ‘wake them’ with your magic, Deputy Commander.”

Linus explained with a thin smile.

To put it bluntly, Oscar dislikes Linus, but that didn’t mean he showed it on his face.

Moreover, his words and actions did not reveal anything.

“Sure. What should I do specifically?”

“It’s easy. It seems that the ‘strategies’ are taking a wait-and-see approach, so please throw in flashy magic that will wake them up.”

“I see......”

Oscar received a direct explanation from the Emperor about the ‘strategy’ prepared before he joined the campaign.

And for other matters as well...

Even considering those advance information, he could understand that those who were taking the wait-and-see approach would be prompted to action if he showed his ability.

Oscar also understood that he was called to this army for such flashy displays.

Both armies took up positions on the Desborough Plains, and after several skirmishes, both armies returned their probing forces to their positions.

Then, only one man from the Imperial Army stepped out.

The Kingdom army also saw that and some people wondered what was going on, but the majority showed no interest.

The Imperial Army, on the other hand, was completely silent.

Not one of the 8,000 Imperial soldiers uttered a word, not a single throat was cleared...a complete silence that was almost unheard of on the battlefield.

That was because everyone in the Imperial Army knew who the person who stepped out was.

‘Explosive Blaze Magician’

A living legend.

A reaper of the living.

And... the strongest and supreme magician.

The Explosive Blaze Wizard chanted something quietly.

At that moment, the sky cracked and countless rocks covered in flames fell and struck the ground.

Flames surged out from the ground where the rocks fell, tossing vegetation and scattering earth.

Indeed, hell was born on earth.

Magic is such a dreadful thing and magicians are to be feared.

The soldiers of both armies who saw it were reminded of that even if they didn’t want to.

Countless flaming rocks were generated from the <True · Earth and Sky Sunder> but the impact points were perfectly calculated.

Neither the Imperial army nor the Kingdom army had a single casualty.

However, it was with a clear intention that he dropped them in places where the nobles’ army, which was placed on both wings of the Kingdom army, could see it well.

The message, ‘Hurry up and switch sides’.

Those who led the noble armies trembled.

Some nobles led their armies and joined the battlefield, while others, like the Duke of Flitwick’s army, were led by the Duke’s subordinates.

Either way, at this moment they had no choice and no time to waver.

They had no option but to order it.

“All forces advance. The target is the main forces of the Kingdom.”

The main forces of the Kingdom army were attacked from the left and right by the northern noble armies.

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