Chapter 347: I’m Curious (1)
Chapter 347: I’m Curious (1)
May 8, 1532.
Six months had passed since the Allied Forces of the entire continent emerged victorious in the war against the Yuzef Kingdom, which had been controlled by dark mages.
During those six months, the Schneider Duchy had put tireless effort into the peaceful annexation of the Yuzef Kingdom.
The administrative staff, including Marquis Krupa, screamed under the weight of daily overtime. Even Grand Duke Schneider and his wife, Ava, had to join in the workload.
“Your Grace, here are today’s documents for your approval.”
“Leave them there.”
“They must be processed within the next half-day.”
“…Just leave them.”
At the sound of the Grand Duke’s voice, which sounded as if his soul had been threshed out of him, Marquis Krupa, who was assisting nearby, spoke up.
“Your Grace, wouldn’t it be better to call the Young Lord and have him share the workload?”
“I cannot.”
Grand Duke Schneider replied while reading and signing off on a mountain of paperwork.
“At this rate, you will collapse from overwork. If it is the Young Lord, he is more than capable of taking over a portion of your duties.”
Since Patrick was the sole heir to the Duchy, there would be no issue with him using the Grand Duke’s seal to authorize documents. However…
“That boy has work of his own. As his father, if I cannot cheer him on, the least I can do is not hold him back.”
“……”
“Let us do our best in our respective positions.”
“Understood.”
In truth, Marquis Krupa knew as well.
Right now, Patrick was engrossed in the most important task in the Schneider Duchy—no, in the entire continent.
The state’s affairs were moving at a frantic pace, but one dared not ask him for help.
“Will it really go well?”
“It has to.”
“……”
“It absolutely must.”
The war against the Outer God.
This was no longer a secret.
Patrick had announced this fact to the entire continent, telling everyone to prepare for the massive war to come. Since the very survival of the world was at stake, he had warned them in advance to make global preparations.
Normally, saying such things would be the quickest way to be treated like a madman, but…
[My master’s words are the truth. I shall personally guarantee it.]
Persona, the Dragon Lord, had vouched for Patrick’s words. Furthermore…
[The words of the Young Lord of Schneider are true. I can guarantee it on the honor of the Holy Kingdom.]
The Pope of the Holy Kingdom had also vouched for Patrick.
With two of the most trustworthy figures on the continent providing guarantees, other nations also scrambled to increase their military strength.
However, the place that was spurring on its training to prepare for war more intensely than anywhere else in the world was…
Boom! Roar! Crash!
Grand Duke Schneider turned his gaze out the window.
Terrifying explosions, which wouldn't have been out of place if called natural disasters, could be heard.
Faint tremors even reached this far. And then…
Rumble… Thud!
“A mountain has collapsed.”
“So it seems.”
It wasn't even surprising anymore.
That place, where scenes of destruction on a completely different dimension were unfolding, was where Patrick was training the Duchy’s primary forces in preparation for the war against the Outer God.
Despite having the Seven Sages install shock-absorbing magic circles around the area, terrifying destruction was still occurring.
Without skipping a single day.
* * *
“Huff… Huff… Huff…”
April held her swords in both hands, her fingers trembling.
For an expert of her caliber to be gripping her swords so tightly that the veins stood out on her hands meant she had absolutely no strength left.
And before her…
“Can you still keep going?”
Though his clothes were slightly torn, Patrick stood there without a single scratch on his body.
“Of course.”
April replied, doing her best to steady her ragged breathing without letting it show.
Following her words, several others nearby stood up as well.
“Sister-in-law. I can still go, too.”
“I am also capable.”
“Urgh… I can still do this.”
“……”
Those who could still fight approached April and raised their weapons.
Tutan, who had awakened as a member of the Grand Orc race.
Kenoyer Grass, the Guardian of the Tower of Truth.
Matthias Carvan, the Black Knight who was once the right hand of the Overlord.
And unexpectedly, the Salamander Princess, Catherina von Yuzef, was also standing on her own two feet.
In the surrounding area, 7-Star knights, magic swordsmen, and even Elven Knights of the Elves lay fallen.
Yet, she remained standing.
It was a level of progress she wouldn't have even dreamed of six months ago. And the secret to that progress was…
Whoosh!
“I can still maintain Spirit Transformation.”
It was this.
Spirit Transformation—the technique of turning one’s entire body into flames.
Having awakened the true power of the Spirit Royal Family, she was now essentially half-human and half-spirit.
Her power, which discarded the physical flesh to transform her entire body into a ‘Fire Body,’ had already surpassed the 8-Star realm.
Patrick had awakened her power with nonchalance, but she herself was still dazed by how strong she had become.
Patrick looked at the four of them intently and thought.
They’ve grown much stronger.
April was strong to begin with, and he had heard that Catherina would become that powerful once she awakened.
Still, the progress of the Guardian of the Tower of Truth and Tutan was impressive.
Will this be enough?
He didn't know.
But there truly was no more time. Just then…
“Master.”
A voice called out from the sky.
Looking up, he saw Persona in her dragon form flying toward them.
Approaching Patrick, she transformed into her human form, landed on the ground, and spoke.
“It seems it will open soon.”
“…I see. Is that so?”
Patrick replied as if he had been expecting it.
“It seems you must prepare.”
“Right.”
Patrick sheathed his sword and spoke.
“Training ends here. I’ll give you two days, so recover your bodies to peak condition. And the leadership, come see me separately.”
The preparations were over.
The time for the final battle had arrived.
* * *
The grand conference room of the Schneider Duchy.
The heavyweights of the continent were gathered in one place.
The Seven Sages of the Tower of Truth.
Kilios, the King of the Elves.
Tutan, the representative of the Orcs.
And the heads of various nations were also present via communication tools.
Grand Duke Schneider spoke while receiving all their gazes.
“Son.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Come here and do what you must.”
“…Yes.”
Patrick walked to the seat his father had vacated.
The seat of honor, where only the Grand Duke of the Schneider Duchy would sit.
As Patrick headed toward it, the Grand Duke and his wife watched him with warm eyes.
Father, Mother.
In their gaze, he saw the image of his Master from his previous life.
When the fact that he was a human from another world who remembered his past life was revealed, what he had worried about most was the change in their hearts.
They could have felt betrayed, or they could have severed their ties as parents and child.
However, the two of them treated him no differently than usual.
As if to say he was still their son.
The two of them likely didn't know just how much strength their trust gave Patrick.
I must protect them. No matter what it takes…
Having made up his mind, Patrick stood before them and addressed everyone.
“Greetings. I am Patrick Sky Schneider.”
Patrick continued calmly.
“As you have likely guessed, the resurrection of the Outer God is imminent.”
Just as Patrick said, everyone had expected this.
There would be no other reason to call everyone together like this.
However, even if it was expected, the unprecedented crisis involving the survival of the world did not feel light.
A heavy pressure, so thick it was hard to breathe, weighed down on everyone.
Then, the Grand Duke of the Harbor Duchy spoke.
[Is there no way to do something before the Outer God is resurrected?]
“There is none. That is impossible.”
Patrick denied it firmly.
He then continued.
“To be precise, the Outer God has already completed his resurrection. Right now, he is gathering strength within his own domain.”
“He’s already resurrected?”
“No, when?”
[Then why did you not say anything?]
[Please explain.]
The audience was thrown into a great stir by Patrick’s words. Patrick let out a sigh and spoke.
“I will explain the process of the Outer God’s resurrection in detail. He…”
The Outer God had long been preparing for his resurrection through dark mages, breaking seals and using sacrifices.
The resurrection itself was completed at the point the war with the Yuzef Kingdom ended. However…
“Just because he succeeded in resurrecting doesn't mean he can come out into the world immediately. He must awaken his familiars one by one.”
“Do you know anything about the Outer God’s familiars?”
“They are those called the Demon Warriors of the Heavenly Demon Sect in the world I came from.”
“How strong are they?”
At the question from Kilios, his brother-in-law and the King of the Elves, Patrick thought for a moment.
According to the records of the Heavenly Demon Sect and the information Patrick had gathered in advance…
“Generally, compared to a 7-Star knight, they are roughly…”
Patrick held up three fingers and said.
“Three times stronger.”
At that, the First Sage’s expression hardened into a serious one.
“It will be a difficult battle. How many such individuals are there?”
“There are 108 Demon Warriors directly under the Heavenly Demon’s command.”
“One… one hundred and eight?”
[Oh, Yupinel…]
[That’s impossible.]
The leaders of each nation were horrified to hear that there were 108 beings with power far exceeding that of 7-Star knights. However…
“That’s not all. What I’ve mentioned is only the number of direct familiars who crossed over between worlds with the Heavenly Demon. Among them, those called the Elders of the Heavenly Demon Sect are ten times stronger than ordinary Demon Warriors.”
“……”
“Furthermore, there are those who challenged the Heavenly Demon, lost, and were modified into Heavenly Demon Jiangshi. I do not know their number or level… but they will certainly not be weak.”
“Wh-what in the world…”
“I’m not finished. Additionally, there are the ordinary cultists who swore fealty to him after he arrived in this world. And if you include the dark mages and the familiars they’ve summoned, their total strength…”
Patrick thought for a moment before speaking.
“Even if you gathered all the forces of the entire continent, there would likely be a difference of more than twenty times.”
“……”
“……”
Everyone fell silent.
How was this any different from saying there was simply no chance of victory?
Patrick spoke to them, their faces pale.
“Did I not say from the beginning that this is a force capable of destroying the world? If we fight a normal battle, we can never win.”
Then, the Emperor of the Benator Empire spoke for the first time.
[Does that mean there is a chance of victory if we use means other than normal ones?]
Patrick nodded at the Emperor’s voice coming through the communication tool.
As expected of an Emperor, he is different.
Indeed. The difference in power was overwhelmingly despairing, but there was hope.
Even if it was a very small hope…
“I will explain the strategy.”
Patrick calmly explained his plan.
The Heavenly Demon was currently reviving his familiars and building his strength in the Hall of Subjugated Demons.
As soon as those preparations were complete, he would emerge to swallow the world.
Therefore, the best course of action was to attack before the Heavenly Demon finished all his preparations.
However, the Heavenly Demon’s Hall of Subjugated Demons was cut off from the outside world until he opened the doors himself.
So, what Patrick was aiming for was the moment immediately after the Heavenly Demon opened the doors.
The moment the doors to the Hall of Subjugated Demons opened.
Patrick would lead the elite forces of the entire continent and charge inside.
And if Patrick, having broken through the Heavenly Demon’s familiars and reached the Heavenly Demon, could take his head, it would be a victory.
If only the Heavenly Demon was dealt with, the familiars bound to him would also be cast back to the other side of the dimension.
If they did that…
“It will be our victory.”
The leaders fell silent after hearing Patrick’s brief plan. Then Kilios spoke.
“In other words, the moment the enemy tries to attack, we will go in and attack first?”
“First strike wins.”
“Is there a chance of victory?”
“Well? It’s my first time facing a Heavenly Demon, too…”
“……”
“Shouldn't we give it a try?”
“……”
“I told you, it’s my first time facing a Heavenly Demon!”
What an irresponsible man…
Just as the leaders of the continent were about to flare up and protest…
“Then what? Does anyone else have a better idea?”
“……”
“……”
It was a single sentence that silenced everyone.
Patrick smirked at them and said.
“See? In this situation, what better idea could there possibly be?”
Patrick looked at the silent crowd with a serious face and spoke.
“We are doomed if we just stay still and the Heavenly Demon’s Hall of Subjugated Demons opens anyway. So…”
“……”
“Let us struggle with everything we’ve got.”
“……”
“That is the duty of those who live.”
Patrick Schneider.
He declared the final battle with the fate of the world on the line.