Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Became the Greatest Genius in History
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The news of Dargishkal's egg appearing sent massive ripples across the front lines.
"Dargishkal?"
"Isn't Dargishkal a dragon?"
"I thought it hadn't shown up even on the eastern front in the last thirty years. Why would a colossal demon like that appear here of all places…."
The atmosphere was chaotic.
Dragons were formidable foes even among demons.
The kingdom's history proved it.
They were opponents that could never be taken lightly.
This thing was an enemy on a scale that could determine the territory's very survival.
Porto would normally have watched from afar to test his children, but upon hearing about Dargishkal's egg, he hurriedly returned to his position as overall commander.
Afterward, he gathered Tristy's heavyweights, excluding Kenneth, for a meeting.
"We must prioritize eliminating Dargishkal's egg."
Porto warned that the existence of Dargishkal alone posed a greater threat than all the demons currently in the eastern kingdom combined.
"The distance between the secondary defense line and the spawn point is about 20 km—close if you consider it close, far if you think it far. We have to carve a path through the demons swarming the plains to reach and remove the egg."
Porto raised his index and middle fingers together.
"As far as I know, there are two ways to eliminate the egg. One is sealing it, and the second is destruction."
The depth of knowledge Porto had accumulated was impressive; he continued smoothly.
"Sealing takes a week. It also requires a massive amount of mana, from what I understand. Our territory has plenty of mages, but they're woefully insufficient to contain Dargishkal's egg. Plus, a dragon's egg isn't exactly an object—it's more like a phenomenon—so we can't just pick it up and move it somewhere safe."
He looked at me.
His eyes sought verification, so I slowly nodded.
"Sealing is impossible during the polar anomaly when demons keep spawning. A large-scale sealing spell becomes irreversible if the channeling breaks even once, so we must go with the second option."
Porto turned to Haniel.
Haniel spoke up.
"Dargishkal's egg isn't particularly easy to destroy compared to other dragon eggs. Physical interference is possible, but it's harder than mithril, so nothing short of high-tier spells from the flame school can deal meaningful damage."
And even high-tier magic couldn't resolve it in one go.
You had to keep pouring spells on it to see results.
Otherwise, the damaged parts regenerated, according to research from the Blue Tower.
"I'm pretty sure there are only about three mages in our territory who can cast high-tier magic, including me and the academy professors. Four if you count the one student. Mages alone can't do it…."
It was an absurdly insufficient number to destroy the egg.
But.
"The Hell Tank's hellfire main gun should manage it. It has far superior destructive power to high-tier magic… and the biggest advantage is that it can fire repeatedly as long as there's enough fuel."
Nob AI had said the same thing.
"Then our top priority is clearing a path for the Hell Tank to reach the spawn point and destroy the egg."
Porto also discussed supplies, strategy, and troop morale.
"We'll notify the other territories and request support. Also, send letters right now to the academy professors who can use high-tier magic."
In my view, Porto's decisions were mostly sound.
Even Nob AI acknowledged it.
"Ester Tristy."
"Yes, Father."
We spoke alone in the now-empty conference room.
"When the polar anomaly ends, I'll pay you ten million credits."
I looked at him quizzically.
"This isn't a gift from the family head to a family member. It's fair compensation to a mercenary supporting Tristy. You have no obligation to defend the territory after renouncing the successor position, so this is payment for your efforts."
Since he was offering money, there was no reason to refuse.
It was my rightful share.
I even thought it was too little.
The only reason I was still in this territory was purely for Haniel.
But.
I'd let all the past favors—room, board, and meeting Dalpi—slide without further mention.
I stepped out of the conference room.
By the way, why was Kenneth being treated like such an outcast? Had he gotten on Porto's bad side while I was away?
It was starting to get pitiful.
Unlike his brothers, he stood alone in the corner, and I soon averted my gaze.
"Young master."
"Yeah?"
"A letter from the Red Tower Lord has arrived."
"Oh. Let me see it."
I read the letter Dalpi handed me.
It was full of praise for how badass the Hell Tank was, but the ending was intriguing.
『I know you designed the Hell Tank. I've told everyone else it was Lady Haniel out of respect for your wishes, but I want to have an in-depth discussion about this overwhelming, magnificent machine. Come to the Red Tower as soon as the polar anomaly ends…』
Between the polar anomaly observations and the Hell Tank, the backlash coming afterward was growing more frightening by the minute.
I'd been too complacent.
"Young master."
"Yeah."
"There are nearly a thousand backlog letters at the mansion. What should we do about them?"
What was done was done.
Something more urgent mattered now.
"We'll think about that later."
"Understood."
Afterward, I lightly headed to where the demon corpses were gathered.
I collected the unrotted flesh chunks into a sack, and Dalpi asked in a puzzled voice.
"What do you plan to do with that?"
I entered the camp and began experiments with Nob AI's help.
Dalpi tilted his head.
"Like making provisions or something? You're not thinking of eating it, are you…?"
"I wouldn't eat it even if we were starving to death. It's just in case."
Preparation was always better in abundance.
I hoped we wouldn't need it, but having it ready couldn't hurt.
***
Porto held one last meeting before mobilizing the entire army.
"Ester."
"Yes, Family Head."
"What's the maximum range of the hellfire main gun?"
"2 km."
Porto spread out a map and pointed to a hill.
It was free of obstacles, elevated, with a clear line of sight—perfect for shelling Dargishkal's egg.
"The key to this operation is safely transporting the Hell Tank to the target point."
Porto shifted his gaze to me, as if confirming one last thing.
"How accurate is the shelling?"
"100%. You don't need to worry about that part."
There was no such thing as error for a Hell Tank controlled by Nob AI.
If a human were piloting, you'd have to account for various conditions, but Nob AI was the strongest, invincible.
Everything it did was precise.
Except for the occasional weird remarks, it was the most flawless existence in this world.
『I'm happy.』
『(՞⸝⸝> ༥ <⸝⸝՞)』
Porto issued final orders to the commanders.
They moved in perfect unison, directing the soldiers.
The defense line began to stir.
Tristy's forces, which had only frantically held the line until now, launched their first offensive.
"Is it really okay to go inside…?"
"Yes. Please, make yourself comfortable."
Haniel smiled brightly as she boarded the Hell Tank.
I couldn't make my frail sister, who struggled with walks, trek on foot.
Haniel asked about the machines inside the tank, and I satisfied her curiosity appropriately.
"Ian, Dalpi, you two come here too."
"Got it."
The Hell Tank was originally a four-seater.
Nob AI handled everything from loading to driving and sighting, so one person could operate it, but normal operation required four trained people.
Anyway, I closed the hatch.
Before closing, I caught sight of my second brother staring blankly at the Hell Tank.
With Porto back as supreme commander, he had no choice but to pull supply wagons with the other soldiers for the Hell Tank's fuel and food.
Logistics was crucial in war.
Haniel assisted me, and neither Ouriel nor Kenneth suited supply duties due to their natures, so Zephyr had to handle it.
But the moment my eyes met Zephyr's, it felt like seeing a friend being bullied, leaving me uneasy.
"Then we're setting off."
Familiar faces sat beside me.
How nice it would be if this were just a simple drive.
Vroom—
With a roar of the engine, the Hell Tank surged forward.