The Flames of War - Part 2
Belial swept through the 68th floor in an instant. His fury turned the entire floor into a sea of flames, and he sat upon the throne that had once belonged to Decarabia, listening to a report from Eris—one of the Four Fires.
“Most of the territory has been occupied, Your Majesty.”
“Have you located the Nebula Stone mine?”
“I am sorry, Your Majesty. Not yet.”
“What movements have there been from the 69th floor?”
“There have been no notable movements so far, but we have confirmed that Sitri visited the 69th floor.”
“Then they’ll move soon.”
Belial had been listening to Eris’s report and sharing his thoughts when he suddenly narrowed his eyes and asked her,
“Is that the end of your report?”
“Ah, yes. It is.”
“Then leave for a moment. I will call you again shortly.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Eris withdrew with polite deference. Once alone, Belial’s gaze shifted toward the right corner of the audience chamber. A patch of unnatural darkness lingered there.
“I thought you’d run away since there was no news.”
“How could that be possible?”
The figure who emerged from the shadows was the very man who had promised to investigate the incident. He folded his black, bat-like wings and bowed his head respectfully.
“It has been a long time, Your Majesty.”
“Indeed… it truly has been a long time.”
Belial spoke the man’s name.
“Abaddon.”
“Hehe, you even deign to call me by name.”
“So? Did you bring good news?”
At Belial’s question, Abaddon gave a crooked smile. The demon slowly opened his mouth, and a voice as sinister as one that had dragged countless souls into the abyss flowed out.
“Actually, a problem has arisen regarding that matter.”
“A problem? So you failed to uncover it after all.”
“No. I have identified its ‘true nature.’ It is so well-known that there is no one in Hell who does not recognize it.”
Belial was slightly startled. Though the darkness obscured the sight, he had clearly felt it—Abaddon’s body had trembled for an instant.
“…What was that reaction?”
“I will speak honestly, Your Majesty. Please stop this war.”
“What nonsense is this?”
“And wait for my master to handle the situation.”
Belial’s face twisted into a deep scowl. He growled,
“You dare suggest I beg for help from Hell!”
“You must do exactly that.”
“Then give me a reason I should and speak to me like that!”
From Belial’s perspective, it was an unacceptable demand. Naturally, he required a proper, justifiable explanation, and he expected Abaddon to provide one, but….
“…I cannot tell you that. Please understand that I am forbidden to speak until my master permits it. Otherwise, I will suffer a cruel death.”
“Even the identity of what attacked my soldiers?”
“Yes.”
The answer he wanted never came. Belial furrowed his brow fiercely and shouted,
“I reject your proposal! I will not tolerate being told to retreat without a proper explanation! No matter how great your master may be, the affairs of the 67th floor are mine to decide!”
Belial’s eyes burned crimson. The surroundings erupted with a roar of scorching flames.
“I will teach that insolent fool exactly what it has dared to touch! I will show it that reality is far harsher and more terrifying than it imagines!”
“…….”
Abaddon raised his bowed head. As expected of a Demon King who ruled such a high floor, his power was not something even a demon like Abaddon could easily dismiss, yet….
“…If that is Your Majesty’s will, I will not try to stop you any further. However, I urge you to keep my warning in mind. It would be wise to reconsider your position at any time.”
“I don’t want to hear any more! Return to your master!”
“As you wish.”
As Abaddon melted back into the darkness, he said,
“We shall see who ends up learning the truth of reality.”
Once Abaddon vanished, Belial exhaled heavily and extinguished the flames. He calmed his rage and was about to call Eris back in when—
“Eris, come—”
“Your Majesty!”
Before he could finish, Eris burst through the doors of the audience chamber. Belial’s brow furrowed at the rudeness, but Eris, though visibly apologetic, stood her ground.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty! Please excuse my insolence. But there is urgent news I must deliver!”
“…Speak.”
“Seere von Devata’s army has crossed over to the 68th floor!”
“Hah…”
The speed with which the report had arrived meant the enemy had made no attempt to hide their approach. They had advanced their forces openly, with full intent to confront him.
“They also sent this letter to Your Majesty.”
Hear me, Belial, Demon King of the 67th Floor!
I, Seere von Devata, shall pass judgment upon you—who has mercilessly massacred the inhabitants of the 68th Floor—as one of the lords of the Demon Realm. This is a righteous judgment, delivered in place of vengeance for every demon who was unjustly sacrificed!
I will sever your head and hang it in the square of the 68th Floor to honor the souls of those slaughtered. Whether you face us directly or cower like a coward within your fortress, it makes no difference. The result will remain unchanged: I will claim your neck.
Await your end.
After reading the letter, Belial let out a hollow laugh as if he couldn’t believe what he had just seen. He pressed his thumb firmly against his forehead for a moment, then burst into laughter.
“Hah, so the little bitch is practically begging me to kill her.”
“Your Majesty.”
“Prepare to march. I will make sure that girl meets the exact same fate as her father.”
“…Understood!”
#
“Seere.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
Beside Nahen stood Seere, neatly dressed in formal Demon King attire. Unlike her recent appearances, she wore no adornments today. She had simply donned the formal robes, a cloak, the massive greatsword at her waist, and the bracelet on her wrist. She was prepared for battle.
The upcoming clash between Demon Kings weighed on her expression—nervousness was visible, yet so was confidence. Nahen asked, a touch of worry in his voice,
“Will you be all right?”
“Pardon?”
“We didn’t have time for much special training.”
“Oh, that? Of course I’ll be fine.”
Seere smiled brightly.
“You’ve taught me so much already, Teacher. I’m confident.”
Nahen was genuinely surprised. The young Demon King’s eyes shone with boundless self-assurance. What astonished him even more was that he, more than anyone, knew this confidence was not unfounded.
…That’s an expression I never saw in the game.
One of the main reasons people played simulation games was the sense of accomplishment. Watching a character you had raised grow and flourish brought satisfaction. Now that it had become reality, that feeling was magnified. Without realizing it, Nahen felt a swell of pride. He gently placed his hand on top of her head, careful not to touch her horns, and stroked her hair. Seere beamed with delight.
“Your role is crucial, Seere. Since this is a battle between Demon Kings, its outcome will decide the entire war.”
“Yes, I’m keeping that in mind.”
Nahen had been about to tell her to call for him if things grew dangerous, but he hesitated and swallowed the words. This was the first battle she had declared she wanted to fight on her own, and he had permitted it. The result could greatly influence her future growth.
Then I should trust her more.
It would be better not to voice concerns about her possible defeat. Instead, he should cheer for her victory.
“I believe in you. You will do well.”
“…Yes, Teacher.”
Seere took his hand gently, a soft smile on her lips. With a faint, affectionate glint in her eyes, she said,
“I will definitely live up to your expectations.”
“Good.”
It was a smile that could captivate anyone. Her appearance, more mature than her twelve years of age, made it even more striking. Anyone who saw that smile would instantly realize the feelings Seere held for Nahen. But Nahen interpreted it entirely differently.
This child truly values my teachings.
He felt a deep sense of reward for teaching her, moved by how dutifully she spoke.
At that moment, someone approached from behind Nahen.
“Nahen, we’re ready.”
“We have finished our preparations as well.”
It was Sitri. She glanced briefly at Seere beside Nahen, then asked her carefully,
“Lady Seere, are you truly all right?”
“Yes, Lady Sitri.”
“…May I offer one piece of advice?”
“Of course. I would be grateful.”
When Seere welcomed it, Sitri spoke cautiously.
“Belial is exceptionally skilled with fire, just as his title suggests. To be honest, he isn’t particularly adept at other types of magic, but his fire-attribute spells are so advanced he can activate them without any incantation. He’s a genius in that regard.”
Considering that modern magic typically required at least two verses of incantation—unlike ancient magic—Belial’s mastery of fire magic was extraordinary. Even if omitting the incantation reduced the power somewhat, the difference in activation speed was on another level. It was something to watch out for. Nahen himself could cast ancient magic without incantations, but for Seere, who had not yet reached that level, it could prove dangerous. This was something Nahen had already warned her about. Seere nodded.
“Yes, I’m aware.”
“But there’s something people often misunderstand. No matter how powerful they are, Belial’s flames are still magically created. At their root, they are made of mana, not natural fire. So….”
Both Seere and Nahen realized what Sitri was trying to say at almost the same moment.
“I understand what you mean, Lady Sitri.”
“…Good.”
Sitri looked at Seere for a moment. It was astonishing that the tiny child she once knew had grown enough to face Belial directly. The little girl who once seemed destined to remain forever in Seir von Devata’s shadow had now become a reliable ally.
“Be careful.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
“Your Majesty Sitri, Your Majesty Seere.”
A sturdy man came running toward them. Despite his hurried approach, his voice was remarkably calm. It was Albert, the Right General who ranked third in Sitri’s army.
“Belial’s forces have appeared.”
At the report, all three expressions grew deadly serious. Seere drew the sword at her waist—the Sword of Blood Tears—and said,
“Lady Sitri, I leave command to you and Teacher.”
“Understood.”
Just as Albert had reported, Seere could now see them in the distance: a massive, seething army and, at its head, the Demon King of Fire, Belial. Even at the sight, Seere kept a smile on her face as she bowed to Nahen.
“I’ll be back, Teacher!”
#
Seere departed for the battlefield. Nahen and Sitri also intended to head there eventually, since command would be necessary. But first, there were preparations to make.
“So, what’s the specific tactic? You wanted to force a field battle, but I need to know what you’re planning so I can coordinate the command properly.”
“The most straightforward approach—the hammer and anvil tactic.”
“That’s rather basic.”
The hammer and anvil was, simply put, a pincer maneuver. The infantry would act as the anvil, holding the enemy in place, while highly mobile, high-destructive-power units—acting as the hammer—would smash into the trapped foe and shatter them.
“Do you think Belial won’t see it coming?”
It was a tactic so famous it was considered textbook for field battles. Its renown meant its effectiveness was proven. Of course, it wasn’t invincible; it had weaknesses and counters. Especially since its fame made it easier for opponents to notice the signs.
But….
“If you destroy the enemy before they realize what’s happening, that’s all there is to it. If the hammer strikes before they even recognize that a hammer is coming down, they will break.”
“…What?”
“We have a unit that can perform the role of an excellent hammer better than anyone else.”
Sitri’s eyes widened. She seemed to half-accept Nahen’s words.
“…Is it possible with just them?”
“Don’t you also have quite excellent soldiers, Your Majesty? Those who have served you since the old days….”
“How do you even know about that? I kept it completely hidden….”
“My intelligence network is rather good.”
When Sitri had her power sealed, most of her forces had been killed or scattered. However, during that time, she had secretly diverted a portion of her troops, faked their deaths, and brought them back under new names and identities. The unit led by her Grand General, Belcarus, was exactly that force.
Belcarus’s First Legion was ironically small for a unit bearing that name—only about three thousand soldiers. It was even smaller than Seere’s Fourth Legion. Still, it had been the best Sitri could manage at the time, and even now they continued to serve her, even after changing their names and identities. While their numbers and individual skill were slightly inferior to Seere’s Fourth Legion, they were still soldiers who had once served under the 12th-ranked Demon King. They were undeniably far superior to ordinary troops.
“Together with our Fourth Legion, they should be more than enough to serve as the hammer.”
“All right, let’s go with that.”
Sitri agreed with Nahen’s tactic, but she couldn’t hide her curiosity about how he knew a secret she had told no one. The more she learned about him, the more she felt it was necessary to maintain their alliance—yet his true identity remained a persistent mystery.
“Is something wrong?”
“…No, it’s nothing.”
I’ll find out eventually, Sitri thought, deciding to focus on resolving the situation before her eyes first.