Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Demon Realm Standoff (7)
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In the relatively tidy commander's tent, a cold atmosphere hung in the air, at odds with the faint scent of incense drifting through.
The crown prince Siegfried, who had personally led the expedition to rack up achievements in the name of the imperial family, and Cain's adjutant, Morgana.
They were usually staunch allies supporting Cain, but this time, they had no choice but to oppose him absolutely.
The crown prince stepped forward with firm opposition. Even the nobles weren't in a mood to go along with Cain's words this time.
At best, they expressed doubts; for the most part, they sided with the crown prince. Cain let out a silent sigh inwardly.
It wasn't that he couldn't understand. It was a battle they would win just by holding out... yet suddenly, he wanted to flip the board.
"Lord Blackguard, if you wouldn't mind, could you explain in detail? Why must we abandon our advantageous position?"
"That's..."
"The Alliance's supply situation is poor right now. If we hold out for a few more months like this, they'll be forced to retreat first."
Siegfried brought up an irrefutable fact. The Alliance's supplies were indeed delayed—a pure, verified truth.
They had confirmed it through thorough reconnaissance using beastkin and wyverns to scout the enemy and gather intelligence.
For whatever reason, the Alliance's supplies were excessively delayed. At most, they could hold out for two months.
In other words, if they just dragged things out, the Alliance would have no choice but to withdraw. Then, hegemony over the Demon Realm would be theirs.
"But instead of sticking to the original plan, you're suggesting we send an envoy to the Alliance? And cooperate with them, no less? Does that even make sense?"
"......"
He had brought up perfect logic. They had already prepared for a prolonged war and made plans accordingly, yet now he wanted to scrap them.
Not content with that, he was suddenly insisting on cooperating with the Alliance. Naturally, this interrogation was inevitable.
Cain pressed his throbbing forehead and thought. No helping it... he'd have to rely on help this time.
"You make a valid point. But this time, there's no choice."
"Is there a reason that can convince everyone?"
"To save everyone."
In the end, Cain chose the direct approach. Eloquently persuading with words wasn't his forte anyway.
Besides, there was no way to explain Defeat Regression. So, as much as he hated it, he needed her help this time.
Just as everyone tilted their heads at the somewhat out-of-left-field answer, she finally made her appearance.
"I can explain that. Care to hear me out, Your Highness the Crown Prince?"
"Scarlett Royal Blood."
"That wicked witch...!!"
Morgana's eyes blazed with fury at the sight of her entering with her crimson hair swaying in curves.
But given the setting, she said no more. She simply glared at Scarlett with murderous eyes.
Of course, Scarlett was enjoying even that glare from Morgana. Cain frowned and spoke up.
"Act appropriately for the occasion. Is this the time for games?"
"Oh right, it is."
"You..."
"To cut to the chase... I've been secretly searching for the core on Cain Blackguard's orders all this time!"
Cain sighed and shook his head at Scarlett's exaggerated, clownish gestures as she explained.
It was obviously a lie. Cain didn't trust Scarlett in the first place, so he'd never given such an order.
But to convince everyone now, they had no choice but to put on this ridiculous play. It was the only way to save them all.
Siegfried nodded at Scarlett's confession. No wonder he hadn't seen her lately—was that the reason?
"I had no idea Lord Blackguard had given Scarlett Royal Blood such a secret mission."
"Well, no one knows the Demon Realm better than me. Anyway, we got some results."
"Did you find the Demon Realm's core, by any chance?"
"Yep, we did. Or more precisely, we tracked its movements."
Cain had shared every detail he learned from Defeat Regression without hiding anything.
Thanks to that, Scarlett had easily grasped the core's nature. To put it simply... the Demon Realm's core was akin to a living being.
A monster that utterly loathed humans. No wonder he'd never laid eyes on it before. It had been constantly on the move.
"Bottom line: Soon, the Demon Realm's core will come here. And when it does, we're all dead."
"......Proof?"
"None. But I have no reason to lie, either. If you want to sacrifice soldiers to verify the truth, I won't stop you..."
Siegfried and Morgana were at a loss for words at Scarlett's bold declaration. She certainly wasn't lying.
However, she omitted one truth again this time. The source of this information.
In other words, Cain Blackguard's true nature. Something felt off, didn't it? How did he know so much in such detail?
'Future sight? No, too many gaps for that. Could he foresee his own death?'
A wicked, seductive smile crept across Scarlett's lips. His choice had been right after all.
Please keep entertaining me to the end.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ What was the Alliance's strength? The ability to wield immense power that no single nation could even dream of alone.
Individually, the nations and tribes in the Alliance couldn't hold a candle to the Empire.
But by combining forces, they could stand against the colossal Empire. That said, there were drawbacks.
No, the drawbacks were legion. Internal discord, dissatisfaction... leading to fractures within.
These days, the Alliance was held together only by the massive threat of the Empire; its cohesion was that weak.
And that was the root of all problems. For instance... the mishandling everyone complained about.
[Why should we handle that issue?]
[Didn't we agree before? We'd deploy troops if you handled supplies and support.]
[Hah! I'm questioning if we even need those troops. Are you just posturing?]
[And why the informal tone? You're younger than me... This is why dwarves are so rude.]
[You pointy-eared elf punk's got a mouth on him!]
The original Alliance must have cooperated seamlessly against the Empire's threat. But not anymore.
As time turned to history and uneasy peace lingered, greed naturally took root like moss.
The goal of peace and safety became empty rhetoric, and nations banded together for self-interest.
Arnold was one of the few steadfast soldiers still worrying about and protecting the Alliance's future.
That's why he was entrusted with the Demon Realm expedition—he was one of the few reliable masters in the Alliance.
Of course, pure trust-wise, the 'War God' ranked higher... but constraints kept him from leaving the Alliance.
'But still. Delays in supplies for the expeditionary force? Isn't this too much?'
He'd long shed naive faith in the Alliance's pure justice, but he'd thought it was at least the lesser evil.
Lately, watching how things ran, even that scant faith was slowly evaporating.
Sure, the sudden Demon Realm expedition sparked complaints, but supplies should still be provided.
"How's the supply situation?"
"Not good. If we ration carefully, we can last until next month... but."
"......No choice. If supplies are late this month too, we'll have to retreat then."
"But that would put all the blame on you, General!"
"I'll manage. But fighting without supplies is just pointless death. Prepare for withdrawal in advance."
Even powerhouse nations in the Alliance chafed at equal treatment with minor ones.
Conversely, minor nations rebelled against the powerhouses' irresponsibility, banding together among themselves.
Caught in the middle, Arnold had no sharp solutions, leaving him frustrated. But right then—
"G-General! An envoy from the Empire! And, well..."
"An envoy's an envoy—what's with the fuss?"
Arnold was baffled. They were in strict opposition now, but exchanges weren't nonexistent.
In fact, until tensions recently boiled over, the Empire and Alliance had covertly traded intel.
Besides, with armies facing off, envoys going back and forth wasn't odd.
"What, did Cain Blackguard come all the way here himself?"
"Y-Yes."
"......?"
He first doubted his ears. Otherwise, it was some novel insubordination with a ridiculous false report.
But the soldiers reporting were earnest, and the atmosphere outside felt off too.
In the end, Arnold stood and went out himself. To verify if the report was true or false...
"You're here—the Rock Arnold, I presume?"
Incredibly, the report was true. Cain Blackguard... the Empire's undefeated legend had come to the enemy camp in person.