War (7)
"Rather than fight a meaningless war..."
"Shh, someone might hear you—that'd be a disaster."
Grumbles laced with discontent began to leak from the kingdom's military circles.
"How the hell are we supposed to stop the Imperial Army? This is infuriating."
"Damn it. Another defeat."
The prowess of the Empire's knights and mages exceeded all imagination. And the Empire's new weapons couldn't be ignored either. There were no clear countermeasures.
They already sensed this war was hopeless.
But the king had no intention of ending it. If anything, he was demanding reckless engagements from the military.
"This is the worst."
"We're losing more men than the reinforcements we get. Does that even make sense?"
"I can't even look the soldiers in the eye anymore. Forcing them into battles with obvious outcomes—it's shameful."
The military's resentment only grew.
"Why keep dragging out this pointless war?"
"We can't demand more sacrifices from the kingdom's people."
"I'll grant he rebuilt a crumbling kingdom—no denying that. But following the king blindly from here on? I'm doubtful."
"You lot... you're not plotting treason, are you...?"
The war had no more meaning. Yet the king still demanded they halt the Empire's advance. There were voices calling for surrender, but the king punished them for undermining morale.
How could they end this war? How could they stop the king's tyranny?
"We need to curb the king's tyranny now. No more sacrifices from the kingdom's people."
"Even if... by any means necessary?"
"...If it stops him..."
"Isn't that going too far? He was a sage king revered before the war."
The military split into two factions: hardliners who believed the war must end at any cost, and moderates who thought there was still a chance to persuade him. But they all agreed the war was meaningless now.
The generals were aware of this rift. And one of them took action.
"I'll go speak my piece to His Majesty myself."
"...General?"
"...Are you sure?"
"I still trust His Majesty. He'll hear me out, no doubt."
Bayrens Perrin Joachim. A man with ties to the king since childhood. He'd poured his efforts into rebuilding the kingdom alongside him. A respected duke and one of the military's top generals. If he stepped forward, the king would surely reconsider.
"If he goes in person, His Majesty will take it seriously."
"Yeah. He's been the king's loyal servant for years."
"Let's hope for good news..."
The next day, word reached the military.
"Hah. Unbelievable..."
"This is too much..."
Bayrens Perrin Joachim. Even he had failed to sway the king. The king charged him with demoralizing the troops and sentenced him to beheading. He stripped his noble title and vowed to hold his entire house accountable.
"You call this justice?"
"He's lost it. I can't take this anymore."
"We have to stop the tyranny!"
"Down with the tyrant!"
The military could endure no longer. Even the moderates turned.
"Shameful. To think we followed a man like this."
"I won't let our comrade's death be in vain."
"...Recall the kingdom's forces from the front lines to the capital."
The sage king who had rebuilt the kingdom for 38 years was gone. In his place stood a tyrant driving his people to slaughter. Their enemy was not the Imperial Army.
The kingdom's forces began to move.
To stop the tyrant. To halt the people's sacrifices. And to honor the soul of one who met a futile end.
"...Are you sure about this?"
"Sure about what?"
"...Won't it provoke a major backlash from the military?"
The king rubbed his temples at his retainer’s words.
"Those fools are worthless anyway."
"But..."
"Enough. Leave me."
In the end, the king allied with the Demon God Cult. And he gained immense power.
Soon, he would command forces from the Demon Realm. The kingdom's army, unable to hold the Empire properly, was no longer needed. And he could finally achieve his long-cherished dream: vengeance against the Empire.
It was the moment he'd dreamed of since his father knelt before the Imperial Army. When he ascended the throne. When he rebuilt the kingdom. That long-held wish was now within reach.
Of course, the continent would plunge into crisis. The world would drown in demonic energy, and demons would reemerge.
But it didn't matter. As long as the Empire fell.
The king headed alone to the prayer room. He gazed at the altar's former spot. The Sun God's altar and holy relics, once radiating sacred energy, lay shattered. In their place loomed a magic circle pulsing with ominous light and dark aura. Around it stood the Demon God Cult's artifacts and sacrifices. Each breath brought a sticky, repulsive energy tickling his nose. But thinking of the power he'd soon wield made it bearable.
"Your Majesty, the military is plotting treason! Reports say the kingdom's forces are marching on the palace..."
The retainer burst in but froze at the sight in the prayer room.
"I forbade entry here."
"But... it's..."
The retainer stammered in panic.
"Whatever. It doesn't matter now."
The king calmly placed his hand on the magic circle. The baleful light intensified, dark energy surging into him through his palm.
"Grrgh..."
Demonic energy spread through his body, wracking him with agony. Blood streamed from his nose, veins burst in his eyes, turning the whites red.
"Y-Your Majesty...?"
The retainer backed away.
"Heh... grrgh..."
The king's body convulsed. It twisted, swelled. The retainer trembled at the sight.
"Kuhaha... grrgh..."
Madness emanated from the king's back.
"Damn... I have to get out..."
The retainer forced his frozen legs to move, desperate to flee.
"Stay... put!"
But the king's command pinned him with some force. He swallowed a scream, struggling futilely.
"Hoo..."
The king's tremors subsided. He withdrew his hand from the circle and turned.
His eyes were inverted in color, one arm blackened. A horn protruded from his forehead like a warped skull.
"Right. What did you say earlier?"
"That is..."
"Whatever. Doesn't matter."
Demonic energy erupted from the king's blackened hand, engulfing the retainer. His screams faded quickly. With one sacrifice offered, the king eyed the circle. Connecting to the Demon Realm would take a bit more time.
A little early...
But once connected, no one could stop him.
"Where is the king?!"
"We don't know..."
With no one barring their path, the kingdom's forces reached the palace swiftly. But the king was nowhere to be seen. And an alien energy hung in the air.
"No one knows?"
"We saw him heading to the prayer room..."
Following the servants' testimony, the forces moved to the last sighted location.
"Ha..."
"What... the hell..."
The prayer room's state left them speechless.
"You've come."
The king's form had changed utterly. The horn on his forehead marked him no longer human—more demonkin.
"...We knew he was mad, but to abandon his humanity..."
"Insolent."
They ignored his words. Knights gripped swords, auras flaring. Mages raised staves, chants beginning.
"By the Sun God's doctrine and the kingdom's tactical manual, purge the demon, destroy the magic circle and artifacts."
"Yes, sir."
Knights charged, trailing aura afterimages. Demonic energy lashed out simultaneously.
"It failed."
The priestess in black robes spoke.
"Why?"
"Well..."
The demonized king had faced the mages and knights alone. Unfamiliar with wielding demonic energy, he couldn't counter their coordinated assault. In the end, his former retainers slew him. The magic circle was destroyed too.
"Hmm."
The listener stroked his chin with a sigh. Unlike the other priests, horns curved around both sides of his head.
"Whatever. Plenty more chances ahead."
This attempt had failed. But they'd confirmed key details—no great loss.
Disappointing, though.
They lacked enough sacrifices to account for variables. But it didn't matter. Opportunities would arise. Signs of war brewed elsewhere.
All they needed was patience until enough sacrifices gathered.
"Then. Let's move."
She rose and said. Soon, the priests vanished.