The Altar of the Demons
Perhaps we have already crossed paths with the demon race without even realizing it.
He recalled the setting of the novel he had read in his previous life. Among the demons, those of the higher ranks were said to command powerful transformation abilities and magic.
But that was only a story within a novel.
Yet in this world, that novel might well be reality. He no longer denied the word novel. The secrets of this world were far vaster than anything he knew.
When he arrived at the western border, a desolate landscape little different from a few days prior stretched before him. The area around the ruined village remained gloomy, with scorched traces still lingering here and there. He decided to search the vicinity of the village together with the mages.
"There is a strong residual mana signature remaining in this area."
One of the mages raised his staff and scanned the surroundings.
"However, some time appears to have already passed, so it has grown faint."
He asked in a tense voice, "Which direction is denser?"
The mage turned his staff, probing the energy.
"It feels stronger beyond the northwest hill. It would be best to investigate there."
He immediately led the soldiers toward the northwest hill. The day grew dim during the march, yet he did not rest for even a moment.
It is certain the demons were in this vicinity. I cannot afford to lose the trail.
As they climbed the hill, a barren stretch of land unfolded as though every plant had died. The grass had withered, and black stains seeped into the bark of the trees. When a chill wind blew, the soldiers felt a shiver crawl down their spines.
"This... is filled with some strange energy."
One soldier muttered under his breath. Adolf surveyed the surroundings and gave a low order.
"All of you, exercise caution. There may be traps. Do not break formation as you move."
The mages continued striving to sense the dark energy, yet the remaining traces were so faint that pinpointing a location proved difficult. At last, when they entered the small forest beyond the hill, an oddly twisted crevice in the rock caught their eyes.
"There may be something inside there."
He signaled to his men.
"Dispatch a scouting party. The rest are to secure the perimeter."
The scouts entered the rock crevice, and before long an urgent voice rang out.
"There is a strange cave-like passage inside. Something that looks like an altar facility..."
His gaze sharpened.
"An altar, you say. It could well be a site for a demon ritual."
It was dangerous as things stood, yet it was an opportunity he could not afford to miss. Taking only a few elite soldiers and one or two mages, he entered the cave.
The interior was damp and dark. When they lit the torches, humid air could be seen trickling down the walls. Animal bones lay scattered across the floor, and incomprehensible graffiti had been carved into the stone in places.
"These are presumed to be demon patterns. This is... the ancient demon tongue."
The mage spoke carefully as he examined the wall. Adolf's heartbeat quickened further. Even in the novel he had read in his previous life, the demons had used the ancient demon tongue to perform rituals and strengthen the power of darkness.
"If demons were present in this area, they may not have completely departed yet..."
Moving deeper into the cave, he discovered a small altar. Atop the stone platform rested a black chunk of rock, suspicious patterns glowing faintly across its surface. The energy seeping slowly from it pressed uncomfortably against the soldiers' chests.
"Is this... a mana crystal?"
The mage said, hands trembling.
"It is certainly something the demons used. Most likely... a medium for conducting a dark ritual."
Adolf looked about, yet no traces of demons or any other living creatures remained. They seemed to have already left. Even so, the meaning of this place was clear. The demons had unmistakably performed a ritual in this region and attempted something.
Are they preparing the Demon King's resurrection? Or are they simply moving for the sake of destruction and chaos?
His thoughts grew complicated. What was certain was that the demons' activities had now risen to the surface. The empire—no, the entire continent—could no longer turn a blind eye to the demon threat.
"We will recover this stone."
He carefully examined the object upon the altar.
"Mage, can you transport it safely?"
The mage prepared a protective spell as he answered.
"It is possible. However, there may be strong resistance. Residual mana still resides within that stone."
Adolf made his decision.
"Even if it is dangerous, we must take it. It will serve not only as proof of the demons' existence for the empire, but through analysis we may also discern their purpose."
The mage swept his staff and cast a simple sealing spell. A veil of blue light formed around the rock, the radiance slowly enveloping the black stone. The rock vibrated faintly and developed cracks, yet the fissures soon subsided.
"Fortunately, it succeeded. The seal should hold for the time being."
The mage let out a breath of relief. They carefully placed the stone into a box and exited the cave. The soldiers waiting outside wore expressions of relief. A gloomy air still lingered around the hill, yet at the very least they had secured an important clue left behind by the demons.
"Now we must return to the capital and report."
He ordered the escort unit to prepare for departure. With the demon threat now made visible, the emperor and the military would have to take more aggressive measures.
That night, in the temporary encampment, he could not easily find sleep. Outside the tent, sentries stood watch in rotation, and the wind shook the canvas roughly. He recalled the grotesque patterns he had seen within the cave and the sinister energy of the black stone.
"If this continues, the demons' movements will only grow larger. And the possibility of the Demon King appearing will rise still further."
He felt fear welling up from deep within his chest. At the same time, a resolve not to stand by and watch burned fiercely.
"I must act. If the hero does not appear, then by some other means I must protect this world."
He vowed once more in his heart.
At dawn the next day, he set out for the capital with his troops. He had a premonition that before long, new tidings surrounding the demon traces—and a far greater maelstrom—would be waiting for him there.
Upon returning to the capital, his party headed straight for the imperial palace. When they presented the demon traces and the evidence, the military and the imperial household were thrown into an uproar all at once. The council continued late into the night, and those present feared the worst scenarios that the demons' appearance might bring.
He spoke firmly from his seat at the council.
"We must now accept the demon threat not as hypothesis, but as reality. The entire empire must enter a state of alert, reorganize its mages and forces, and prepare to respond to any invasion."
After deep consideration, the emperor issued his command.
"I shall immediately send orders to every regional lord. Strengthen the troops and protect the people. And Kareha—you will take the lead from the center in reforming the military as a whole and devising countermeasures against the demons."
Adolf bowed with proper formality.
"I shall devote myself wholeheartedly."
That night, he gazed at the moon from the window of his residence. No crimson aura shone upon it, yet the cold moonlight wavered strangely. The shadow of the Demon King—or the energy of the demons who followed him—was already writhing somewhere in this world. Still, no trace of the hero could be found.
He clenched his fist and made his vow.
"Even if the Demon King appears, or even if there is no hero, I will do everything within my power. I will retreat no further."
This might well be the reason he had awakened in this world. Within a fate already beginning to twist, he was running toward a single goal.
Perhaps seizing the moment when the empire's situation had grown unstable because of the demons, an untimely war broke out.
Adolf Kareha gazed out across the endless dust of the battlefield. Imperial soldiers had established positions here and there; the neighing of horses and the metallic scrape of helmets were gradually fading, and the sun was already tilting from its place overhead.
The battlefield was by no means small in scale, yet thanks to the supplies provided by the empire, the sturdy defensive lines, and Adolf Kareha's outstanding command, the fighting had developed not into a prolonged war of attrition but into a relatively swift advance.
That day as well, a mobile unit of the Liberia Empire had attempted to drive into the flank, yet the mobile guard Adolf Kareha had dispatched blocked them with clever precision. Even amid fatigue and tension, the morale of the imperial soldiers remained high. They took pride in belonging to a force led by the young war hero, and the successive victories in both large and small engagements held their hearts firm.
"We've passed one hurdle in today's engagement as well."
An adjutant muttered low as he removed his helmet. Dust clung to his hair, and beads of sweat stood upon his brow. Adolf Kareha heard the words without answering. He too had parts of his armor coated in dirt and dust, his body covered in the marks of having traversed the battlefield, yet his gaze remained sharp.
A knight standing nearby approached him.
"Will you return to headquarters shortly?"
The knight asked in a careful tone. Adolf Kareha gave a short nod.
"From this point we must join the main force and review the situation. We still need to ascertain the remaining enemy movements."
He turned his horse and walked slowly toward the temporary tent that served as headquarters. Sentries stood watch in front of the tent; inside, officers and aides had spread out a battle map and were exchanging opinions with fierce intensity. When Adolf Kareha entered, they all rose as one and offered their respects.
"I shall report the results of this engagement."
One officer unfolded a paper and began to read.
"The Liberia Empire's mobile unit attempted to cross the western high ground, yet our cavalry company responded with a surprise attack and repelled a considerable number of the enemy. We have taken some prisoners, and the enemy's losses are estimated to be quite substantial."
The other officers who heard the news nodded in agreement.