"I'm the Emperor! I still have so much left to do! You can't kill me!"
The voice was hysterical. By the end, it had dissolved into begging.
"Forgive me — whatever you want, I'll give it to you! Just name it!"
"Is that so? Didn't you say you would never forgive betrayal? Then why should I forgive you — a traitor?"
The throne was stained red. The crown tumbled from on high. The scepter rolled across the floor.
"The Empire really has fallen so far from what it once was..."
---
Year Eleven of Nanoda's otherworld journey —
The Northern Empire declares war on Gaderia!
"Ha — going to war with the Empire. Not even my grandfather's generation managed that. And here I am, pulling it off."
Aaron stood atop the city wall, his sharp eyes fixed on the distant horizon.
The wind was a little rowdy today. Above the battlements, Gaderia's banners snapped and rippled in the breeze.
A gust swept in from the side, sending Nanoda's long white hair flying across her face and blocking her view.
"...Looks like I need a haircut."
Somehow, without her noticing, her hair had grown surprisingly long. She tucked it behind her ear with one hand, revealing the fair, delicate line of her jaw.
"Why don't you just shave it all off like me?"
"Aaron, did you eat something weird today?"
Meeting Nanoda's flat, unamused stare, Aaron rubbed his bald head and offered a sheepish explanation.
"I'm just cracking a joke to ease the tension, alright?"
Among humans — setting aside wars with the Demon Race and civil conflicts — there was generally a code of conduct when it came to warfare. Formal declarations were issued before nations went to war.
And today would mark the first clash between Gaderia and the Empire.
Aaron and Nanoda were positioned in the northern section of Gaderia's outer city — the front line facing the Imperial army head-on.
Ever since the great expansion of Gaderia, Aaron had overseen a series of fortifications: the original city walls were reinforced and designated as the inner wall, while a new outer wall was constructed around the newly developed perimeter to strengthen the territory's defenses.
"So — when are they actually going to hit us?"
Beside them, Aura stood with her arms crossed, looking faintly impatient. It had been a long time since she'd led troops into battle — not since the fight against the Hero had ended in her defeat.
Right now, she was absolutely itching to show Nanoda what she was made of — her brilliant strategy and her commanding genius.
Over five hundred Demon Race soldiers were already assembled and waiting in formation behind the outer gate. Beyond them stood two thousand of Gaderia's own troops — a mix of settlers and professional garrison soldiers.
Near the eastern wall, Qual held the line alongside his apprentices. The western wall was under Lugner's command, with Jane as the main fighting force, backed by Demon Race generals Draht and Schulek.
Linie was tasked with defending the inner city and ensuring logistical support from the rear.
To Gaderia's south lay the Central Lands' feudal lords. Regarding the Empire's assault on Gaderia, they had chosen to watch and wait — no threat to Gaderia, but no aid either.
---
Inside Gaderia's inner city, amid the murmur of voices —
"Mama, why are we all gathered here? Where did Papa go?"
"Hush now, sweetheart. There are bad people outside. Papa went to drive them away for us."
The woman gently patted the child's head. Her gaze drifted to the bronze statue of Nanoda standing tall in the square, and she offered up a silent prayer.
---
On a mountain peak overlooking Gaderia's outer city —
"This looks like a fine spot to watch the battle."
The expressionless Macht stood at Glück's side.
Once word reached them that the Empire and Gaderia had formally gone to war, they had come to observe how things unfolded.
"That daughter of yours — doesn't she have a soft spot for the broken-horned demon of Gaderia? Even now, you're still choosing to watch from the sidelines?" Macht asked abruptly.
Glück held his cigarette between two fingers, exhaled a long breath of smoke, then set it down.
"I have my own position to consider. This is different from our previous cooperation with Gaderia. The opponent is the Empire — if we move to aid Gaderia too rashly, we'll have 'traitor' pinned on us as well. What matters most to me, still, is the medicine that can treat Lektire's condition. If Gaderia collapses completely, I'll have you step in at the critical moment — protect Aaron and his key subordinates long enough for them to escape, in exchange for the formula. That's the extent of what I can do right now."
"As it happens, I've also been wanting to see the strength of that broken-horned demon for myself."
Macht gave a slight nod. It made no difference to him what became of Gaderia — he simply honored his contract with Glück.
Back in Gaderia, that demon had seen through his plan with a single glance and declared outright that he would stop him. That had planted a small seed of curiosity in Macht toward this fellow member of the Demon Race.
---
The earth began to tremble.
Across the open plains stretching out before Gaderia, over ten thousand elite cavalry thundered into view. In the dying light of the sun, mithril armor and spears caught the last rays of day and shimmered in an unbroken silver sea surging forward. A bold red-and-blue banner rose tall among them, proclaiming it loud and clear: the Imperial army had arrived.
Charging cavalry at a fortified city was not the most optimal strategy — but elite knights were formidable fighters even on foot. The horses were simply a means to close distance faster and to cut down infantry that sallied out from within.
"Wait — something feels off. Why are there so many of them?"
Aura's expression shifted. Over ten thousand Imperial cavalry against Gaderia's combined force of barely three thousand — counting the Demon Race troops and every other garrison across the walls. How were they supposed to fight this?
The thought flashed through her mind, and she tugged at Nanoda's sleeve.
"Hey — let me use Magic of Obedience. Now."
"Ten thousand men, Aura. Can you actually handle that?"
The numbers were roughly what Aaron had estimated, but Nanoda knew the limitations of Magic of Obedience. Against that many high-ranking knights, could Aura really sweep them aside without breaking a sweat?
"Honestly? I'm not certain. A thousand — absolutely no problem. Ten thousand might take a while. And if these soldiers have strong enough willpower, the effect I can actually exert is pretty limited."
Aura raised the battered, battle-scarred Scales of Obedience in one hand.
Scales of Obedience: To put it plainly — even if the magic actually takes hold and hampers their ability to act, you'd still have to lop off each head individually before they'd fully comply.
(Ugh, my life is miserable. A while back I was used as a knife-shield, and by the look of things today I'm about to get my soul blown apart again.)
Just as Nanoda was turning this over in her mind, a series of magic circles suddenly erupted along the eastern wall. Precision Killing Magic rained down like a meteor shower, streaking toward the oncoming Imperial cavalry in the distance.
Never mind that Qual these days had the look of a kindly old researcher — back during the war between humans and demons, he had been an absolute war criminal of the highest order.
This time, Nanoda had told him to let loose and kill to his heart's content. Qual had promptly decided to use the Imperial army as a testing ground for his magic.
Warhorses screamed. The knights astride them were pierced through by Killing Magic and toppled stiffly from their mounts. Wave after wave of Killing Magic crashed into the cavalry formation, sowing chaos among the ranks.
Seeing results, Qual unleashed Killing Magic like it cost him nothing, picking off targets with sniper precision.
As an old demon who had lived through the age of the Demon King — older even than the Seven Sages of Destruction — his reserves of mana spoke for themselves.
Aura: Excuse me — is he seriously stealing my spotlight right now?
____
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