Chapter 76
Chapter 76
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: A Stab in the Back (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“We're ready!”
At those words, a hammer imbued with spiritual power flew toward the barrels gathered in the distance.
“Unleash your divine power-!”
Following Gleb's command, the priests created a massive barrier of divine power.
Boom-
The demonic energy stored in the barrels exploded in succession, creating a spectacular sight.
“Wow, what a spectacular fireworks show.”
Since the demonic energy of various Seven Deadly Sins was mixed together, I couldn't absorb it. It could only be purified.
Demonic energy of all colors filled the space like a rainbow.
“That's the end of this place. The Empire's resistance is growing fiercer.”
“It means they’re on the defensive. For now, they can’t easily pull their troops, not while they’re dealing with monster waves and trying to keep up appearances.”
Since that bastard Emperor declared himself a god and promised to protect the converted populace, he couldn't afford any casualties.
If harm were to befall them, suspicion would spread like poison. The Empire had no choice but to dispatch soldiers across the continent to prevent any potential harm.
In other words, they lacked the soldiers to fully commit here.
Of course, that has its limits. As long as the Demonic Realm is important to them, they can't just stand by and watch it get destroyed.
“If they're this cornered, they'll try all sorts of tricks. The time for inaction has passed. If the damage keeps piling up, their underlings will be the first to die.”
This was the fifth of their facilities we've destroyed in the Demonic Realm. Though the number of enemy troops was increasing, our party was still dismantling their bases one by one without a single casualty.
And that bastard Ludwig Brandt wasn't the type to let this slide.
Even looking at the situation so far, it was the Central Intelligence Bureau that had been actively moving, not the military or any of the others.
“Those insidious bastards. What in the world are they thinking?”
They were definitely bringing the demonic energy of the Seven Deadly Sins generated on the continent here. There was a sickening amount of it stockpiled.
The only question was, what were they doing with it? They were clearly doing many things. They'd be conducting experiments and creating those enhanced humans I saw before.
But the sheer quantity was far too much for just that.
“By the way, is it possible to summon a demon of the Seven Deadly Sins? With all this demonic energy?”
At Kratos's question, Gleb grimaced as if he didn't even want to imagine it.
The manifestation of a demon in this land. And not just any demon, but one of the Seven Deadly Sins who rule over parts of Hell.
“A possibility.”
Such a thing must never be allowed to happen, but Gleb understood Kratos's concern and recalled the methods for a demon summoning ritual.
“Demonic energy is not the key to the summoning. The key is the sacrifice. A sacrifice worthy of summoning a demon. However, the numbers are staggering. Simply summoning a single mid-tier demon at its full strength requires hundreds, or even thousands, of sacrifices.”
And the number of sacrifices needed to summon a high-tier demon increases exponentially.
“Furthermore, to summon a demon of the Seven Deadly Sins at its full strength would require sacrifices in the millions. After all, they are demons just below the rank of a demon god.”
“If one were summoned to this land, what would its strength be?”
This was a crucial fact. There was no way those bastards were gathering this demonic energy for no reason. There had to be a purpose.
“I estimate they could wield about sixty percent of their power. The last time a demon was summoned to this continent was over several hundred years ago.”
At Gleb's words, Kratos pinched the bridge of his nose as if a headache was coming on. That was the key.
“This land is inherently filled with divine grace. It's an unfavorable environment for them to operate in. However, their power is so immense that even at half strength, the entire continent would have to unite to face them.”
They have enough sacrifices. Isn't this the nation that's already rounding up its own people indiscriminately and using them as experimental subjects?
“They're like madmen. No. Not 'like.' They're just madmen.”
“Pardon?”
“What if. Just what if they were to spread out all this demonic energy we just blew up and then summoned a demon of the Seven Deadly Sins, or its underlings. How much power could they wield then?”
What if they were to terraform this land, a land filled with divine grace, to make it more comfortable for them to operate in?
It's just like it, isn't it? How the Zerg in the classic game StarCraft can only build on creep.
“Ah... good heavens.”
Gleb's gasp was answer enough. A more than sufficient one.
***
“What are the damages so far?”
“Five facilities. Two breeding grounds, two bases, and one research lab... sir.”
Ludwig clutched his throbbing head and reviewed his available resources. Just three days. In a mere three days, five facilities had been destroyed.
Moreover, weren't the breeding grounds crucial for supplying demonic energy? Of course, the ones destroyed were all small-scale, but every one of them existed to serve as fertilizer for the Empire.
“Were the Holy Kingdom's forces always this strong? This is definitely unexpected. Does this mean they had a hidden card up their sleeve...?”
The damage is staggering. No, 'staggering' doesn't even begin to cover it.
Isn't the Demonic Realm where all the key facilities for this entire plan are gathered?
Of course, some are dispersed, and many facilities exist within the continent, but none are as important as those in the Demonic Realm.
Currently, all of the Empire's strength was focused on enabling His Majesty the Emperor to fully rule this land.
Fending off monster waves, eliminating black mages, and keeping the Holy Kingdom in check.
Thanks to this, the populace believed it wholeheartedly. That His Majesty the Emperor was a god, watching over and protecting them.
“Hmph. It's not easy taking care of these pigs and dogs.”
His influence was spreading across the entire continent. Only a few steps remained before He could be truly hailed as a god.
The back of my head is stinging quite a bit. No, it's more than stinging; it feels like it's bleeding.
Umber 0 Team has been wiped out. I only asked them to slow them down, and those failures couldn't even manage that.
“Useless pieces of trash. I have to stop them here...”
There's no competent talent around. They're all garbage. Vermin who can't even pull their own weight.
I hastily dispatched troops from the Intelligence Bureau and the private soldiers of nobles, but they couldn't hold them back at all.
Contact was lost with every unit I sent, and the only reports coming in were of destroyed bases.
“Is that my only option?”
It's infuriating, but it's better to ask for help than to let the grand plan fail and be eliminated by my political rivals.
“Get ready. I'm going to see Ivan Pons. Damn it. I can already see him mocking me.”
The Commander-in-Chief who holds full authority over the Imperial Army, a master swordsman. No, a powerhouse whose skills are presumed to have surpassed even that level since he embraced demonic energy.
A cruel and ruthless man, filled with ambition, who seized complete control of the military after the Night of Slaughter.
.
.
.
.
.
“Hehe. So even the high and mighty Ludwig Brandt needs my help, does he?”
A training hall filled only with darkness. The floor was scarred by sword energy, and fallen knights writhed on the ground.
Watching the man in the center, shirtless and flaunting his muscles, Ludwig Brandt sighed and narrowed his eyes.
This was why he hated coming here. He didn't want to see that bastard's mocking smirk. But if he hadn't come in person, the man would have flatly refused his offer.
“The Demonic Realm is under attack by the Holy Kingdom. The Intelligence Bureau doesn't have the resources.”
“How many?”
“Hundreds.”
“Hah, barely a snack. To think you'd come begging for help because you can't handle a few of them. Khahahahat-”
Ivan Pons sheathed his sword and wiped the sweat from his face with a towel.
“I'll send some men over.”
“Just sending 'some' won't be enough.”
“We'll see if it's enough. We'll find out if the Intelligence Bureau is useless, or if I'm mistaken. After all, when it comes to military might, the army is the main force. Not some pathetic backstabbers.”
“Do as you please. I'll have my subordinate share the location.”
Insufferable to the very end. On the way back to the Intelligence Bureau, Ludwig Brandt was overcome with a sudden rage, grabbing the neck of the attendant following him and crushing it.
*Lick-*
Licking the blood from his hand, he felt better.
“Clean this up.”
“Yes, sir.”
Annoyance flared within him. He didn't say it out loud, but he hoped that man would fail.
He couldn't just leave it all to him and let him take the credit. He had to do something himself.
“Any word from him? He's taken enough of my money; it's about time I put him to use.”
He had made many preparations here and there. Now that the fruits were ripe, all he had to do was pluck them from the tree one by one.
It seemed the time had come to take a bite out of the most luscious fruit of all.
“I will proceed with it.”
Beside Ludwig Brandt, his aide bowed his head deeply.
Perhaps this particular fruit would give *them* a bit of a sting in the back of the head. No, quite a big one.
***
Even after communicating with Provino, Gleb couldn't shake his worries. Everything Kratos had mentioned wasn't just some far-fetched possibility.
No. In fact, it was all too plausible. The Empire was more than capable of such a thing.
Even His Holiness had said he would keep the possibility in mind.
He was plagued by worries and deliberations over what he should do amidst this chaos. The thoughts tormented him.
“Oh, God... please show me the way.”
He sighed, looking up at the dark sky. It was encouraging that much of the Demonic Realm was being purified through this expedition, but it felt like they were climbing one mountain only to face another.
This wasn't the end. The Seven Deadly Sins, black magic, demons, the Empire.
“And please, protect us.”
“You can't just pray; you have to get your hands dirty. What's the use of only asking for protection? The people will want to be protected by the Holy Kingdom.”
Kratos, having just woken up, yawned and approached Gleb, who was radiating anxiety.
“The world is not an easy place.”
“Nothing in this world is easy. Especially in a chaotic situation like this.”
But worrying about it won't change anything. The threat is real, and it's right in front of us.
“A trial of immense proportions has come upon us.”
“No. It has never *not* been a trial. Even the moments that felt like peace were just time for evil to steadily make its preparations.”
It's simply that the time has come for evil to make its move. And as it happens, the head of that evil is the target of my life's revenge.
Besides, I had a certain affection for this continent. And those bastards are trying to erase and defile everything about me.
How infuriating is that? Trying to deny and erase my very existence.
“If you want peace, prepare for war.”
“If you want peace, prepare for war.”
Gleb nodded deeply, as if the words resonated with him.
“No matter how difficult it seems, we can't postpone our preparations. Everything must be done simultaneously, even if it seems impossible.”
“You are right. It seems my vision was clouded for a moment.”
He gazed at the purified land, which could hardly be called the Demonic Realm anymore.
It had reached a point where one might think people could live here.
Even when facing an enemy so colossal it seemed insurmountable, he just calmly and silently did what needed to be done.
Gleb nodded at the sight of Kratos, who never once uttered a common complaint.
“This task is by no means small, is it...?”
“It's a very big deal. We're aiming for the Empire's back. By now, they'll be scrambling to send reinforcements. The resistance will only get stronger.”
Kratos took a breath and murmured quietly.
“We must prepare for war. If it's for the sake of peace.”