Chapter 261: Ignition (3)
Chapter 261: Ignition (3)
Translation: Godtl
After finishing his words, Frondier surveyed the assembly.
He hadn't spoken these words to frighten them. Everything he'd said was an undeniable truth.
And likely, everyone here already knew it. The scenario Frondier had laid out was overflowing with plausibility. It was exactly the kind of approach Manggot would choose.
So if all that remained after hearing these words was despair, then this battle was already lost from the start.
"Frondier."
It was Angper, the head of the Roah family, who broke the silence.
"The Barrier will hold."
Though his words were directed at Frondier, they were meant for everyone in the conference room.
"Whether those bastards come in waves or all at once to die together, nothing changes."
With each syllable of Angper's words, the expressions of those present gradually shifted.
"Rabid dogs deserve a dog's death. This time will be no different."
He wasn't using Aura, nor did his voice carry any particular force. It was simply the unwavering tone of Angper himself.
That alone was more than enough to shift the atmosphere, to reignite the light in the eyes of the strong.
Frondier watched Angper's bold demeanor, quietly closed his eyes, and smiled.
——This was Angper. The very image of Angper that everyone knew.
Confirming the changed mood in the chamber, Frondier slowly opened his mouth.
"...As the Roah family head said, if we prepare thoroughly, the Barrier will hold. Just as Manggot has its advantages, we too have areas where we surpass Manggot."
"Surpass them?"
When someone asked, Frondier nodded.
"First, the enemy still doesn't know we're preparing. They might have caught a whiff, but it's too late for them to cancel their plans now."
Manggot is a blazing flame.
Once ignited, it's not easily extinguished. That's true from the Empire's perspective, but it's the same for Manggot itself.
Like a wildfire that's begun to spread, Manggot can no longer be stopped by anyone's will.
Hearing this, Osprey muttered under his breath.
"So while we can't strike first, we can prepare our defenses in advance..."
"Exactly. Manggot's strategy was originally predicated on the Empire being completely off guard. Manggot desperately hoped—kept hoping—that the Empire would underestimate them. But that won't happen now."
Needless to say, Frondier had already uncovered Manggot's plans.
Manggot still doesn't know that the Empire is aware of their strategy.
"An enemy that expects their opponent to be complacent tends to grow blind to their own complacency."
So if we can make complete preparations, we can minimize damage and exploit Manggot's weaknesses.
"But Frondier, how can we possibly prepare completely?"
This time, it was Monty, one of the Zodiacs, who asked.
As he said, the Empire is vast. Excessively vast. No matter how thoroughly we fill the gaps, weak points will inevitably emerge, and stopping an all-out simultaneous assault by the Monsters is impossible. Especially with Manggot joining in.
This isn't a matter of strength or weakness. It's a matter of numbers and scale.
To this, Frondier responded.
"The second way we surpass Manggot is in individual combat prowess."
"Combat prowess?"
"Monsters are generally stronger than humans, and the members of Manggot who've survived The Outside are likely stronger than most Imperial citizens. But the Zodiacs present here, those with comparable strength, and a few others in the Empire can wield power far surpassing theirs."
Though their numbers may not be large, the Empire does have individuals who can take on a hundred Monsters from The Outside single-handedly. The twelve Zodiacs, the heads of the Roah and Richae families. Constelle's Aster Evans and Elodie de Ines Richae. And though he remains silent, Frondier himself is counted among them.
"Simply deploying these individuals to the right places will suppress the Monsters' momentum as much as possible."
"The right places...?"
This time, it was Sanders who spoke with unease. Understandably so—it sounds plausible, but if we knew the right places, we wouldn't be struggling like this.
Anyone could say we should position our finest talents in the right places to prepare for the attack.
"...Frondier,"
Empress Philly, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke.
"Do you know those right places?"
"...I have some predictions. However."
Frondier's words trailed off there.
His hand, which had been about to point at the map and give directions, froze. A troubled expression spread across his face.
And for good reason—from this point onward, it would involve Frondier assigning the Empire's elite to their positions. That would exceed the authority granted to him.
Frondier was neither a commander nor even a strategist. At most, he had personally run around persuading various people, and now stood here solely to present convincing reasons and future predictions that could persuade everyone.
Simply put, Frondier's current position was similar to when he had explained the situation to professionals in Phenomenon's headquarters conference room.
Though he could deliver reports and predictions, he had no authority to issue commands to anyone.
"......Allow me to speak strictly as an individual opinion."
Thus, Frondier slightly altered his phrasing. Though he couldn't give orders, he could offer opinions.
If his personnel arrangements seemed reasonable, even the Emperor might lend some ear to his words. As Frondier, he merely hoped there wouldn't be major changes to the deployments he'd prepared.
But then.
"Your Majesty."
Someone quietly spoke up.
The voice was all too familiar, yet the form of address was so unfamiliar that everyone turned to look.
It was Angper.
Angper spoke while looking at Emperor Bartello.
Everyone stared at him with astonished eyes.
'Angper actually spoke to the Emperor!'
After the Emperor had exiled Frondier as an infant, Angper had never once addressed the Emperor directly.
It wasn't that he couldn't—but doing so would have immediately turned the Roah family into a fearsome enemy of the Empire. Surely Angper would never have used honorifics for Bartello at that time.
Thus, Angper keeping his distance from the Emperor and Imperial Palace was both an act of hostility toward the Emperor and, from his perspective, the utmost courtesy he could show. By maintaining no interaction, he avoided committing any discourtesy.
"Though it is presumptuous to make such a request,"
The addition of such formal preliminaries made people's jaws drop. For Angper, this was an unthinkable level of extreme deference.
"Grant Frondier the authority for military deployments."
"......"
Bartello's gaze rested on Angper. The two stared at each other with expressions impossible to read.
The collision of gazes between two who had once behaved like bitter enemies unwilling to face each other created unbearable pressure for those around them.
"If that is too much to ask, then at least lend an ear to his words. Not because Frondier is my child. If you re-examine the achievements Frondier has accomplished over the years, you'll find sufficient validity in his opinions—"
"Angper, this is a meaningless request."
The Emperor cut him off. Angper closed his mouth, but a sharp flame flickered in his pupils.
"What do you take me for?"
The Emperor turned his gaze to Frondier.
"I already told everyone here beforehand. Do you recall?"
"......!"
At those words, Angper's eyes widened slightly, while Philly standing beside Bartello quietly exhaled,
"......His words are the will of the Imperial Palace."
"The will of the Empire."
The Emperor completed the sentence.
Then, as if already tired of speaking, Bartello shook his head and said,
"Whether I grant Frondier authority or not makes no difference. I will deploy forces exactly as he has said. Angper, stop with this excessive deference unbecoming of me. It's truly hard to watch and hear."
Angper's face became one at a loss for words—a truly rare expression for him, making it amusing to witness.
As Bartello observed this with the faintest hint of a smile, he said,
"Were we not all once the Empire's hounds?"
Angper seemed transported back to the distant past.
Osprey, hearing this, smiled in a manner resembling the Emperor. All the Zodiacs grew quiet as if reminiscing about bygone days.
The Emperor turned his head back to Frondier.
"Frondier, continue. Go ahead and try maneuvering everyone here like pieces on a board. If anyone grumbles, I'll personally make them crawl on all fours."
For words coming from the Emperor, they were remarkably vicious—but that was precisely because it was Bartello.
Feeling an unexpected burden, Frondier spoke.
"......Then first, Tyburn."
In Manggot, meetings always took place around a round table.
Though there were no strict limits on attendees, these gatherings were always composed solely of Manggot's highest-ranking members.
Hagley was the only one who could attend without summons despite not being part of the top echelon.
Those seated at the round table called themselves the 'Shepherds of the Round Table'—an obvious imitation of the Arthurian legend's 'Knights of the Round Table.'
Yet they possessed no chivalry and had no land to protect. They merely guided Manggot's faithful lambs. Hence, Shepherds.
Of course, not everyone liked this title.
Among those at the Round Table, aside from Belphegor, the man who spoke the most—Notker—particularly disliked it.
"What kind of shepherd throws all his sheep into a pit of fire?"
Notker was currently lying in ambush in the forest with his subordinate unit.
His position was at Tyburn. Strictly speaking, to observe Tyburn from outside the Barrier, the dense woodland known as the 'Sacred Forest' would have been the most suitable location. However, since Belphegor had strictly forbidden entering it, they had taken cover in the forest further west instead.
He had no intention of opposing this operation. His loyalty toward Belphegor remained unwavering.
He simply didn't want to call himself a 'shepherd.' Everyone in Manggot was willing to burn themselves alive as fuel for their cause. He wasn't the kind to send his flock ahead—he would charge into the flames alongside them.
"Even if it's the same pit of fire, we can't afford to burn up here. Stay alert."
One of his unit commanders spoke up. Notker chuckled dryly.
"Right. If we get swept away by the Monsters, it'll all be for nothing. Our attack will come when the Monster invasion throws them into chaos."
Frondier had called it an 'alliance,' but Manggot and the Monsters weren't exactly on the same side.
Not that Monsters cared about such distinctions. Manggot was merely taking advantage of the Monsters' relentless assaults on the Barrier.
In other words, the so-called alliance between Manggot and the Monsters could only employ one strategy—overwhelming numbers. That alone was enough, though.
"Right, wasn't this place originally guarded by Ludwig Urfa?"
"Now, someone named Hector has taken over as family head. Since Ludwig became a Zodiac and vacated his position, they needed a replacement. Rumor has it he's Ludwig's secret son."
Notker, with his sharp eyes, was the first to scan the top of the Barrier. If the Empire bastards were truly prepared, they'd likely be peering over the ramparts. Even Ludwig, who rarely participated in Barrier battles, would make an exception this time.
"If we could just get a glimpse of that bastard's face... Hm?"
Then, Notker's expression shifted. Just as his subordinate had said, Hector was indeed atop the Barrier. Notker had seen his face in photos beforehand, so there was no mistaking him.
But beside him stood a man who was impossible to overlook.
"...Hey, isn't that... Aster Evans?"
"Huh?"
His subordinate's eyes weren't as keen, so he conjured a magical telescope to inspect the Barrier.
It was a somewhat cumbersome spell, not often used, but most scouts knew how to cast it.
"...Yes. That's Aster Evans."
Golden hair, a well-groomed appearance. Clear blue eyes gazing down from the Barrier. It was unmistakably Aster Evans.
"...Keh heh."
Notker, who had been silently observing, suddenly laughed.
"Perfect. I was just getting annoyed by that nonsense about some brat who hasn't even reached adulthood being Zodiac-level."
"...Notker, sir. It's not yet time."
"I know, I know. Do you think I'd recklessly charge in like some brainless cannonball?"
"My apologies."
"Well, when the time comes—"
A vicious glint flashed in Notker's eyes.
"That one's mine. No, even calling it 'mine' doesn't sit right. I'll bring you his head within thirty minutes."
"...Understood. As you wish."
The subordinate nodded, cutting off any further elaboration.
When Notker got like this, it was best to leave him alone. Strangely enough, things tended to work out.
......Meanwhile.
Hector briefly glanced at Aster standing beside him atop the Barrier.
"...Hey. You came from Constelle, right?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Then you must know Frondier too?"
"You know Frondier? He's my classmate."
Just as I thought.
Like Frondier, this kid also had an unusual aura about him. Hector sensed it immediately.
Hector had received the Empire's Barrier deployment orders through Ludwig.
Since it was an imperial command, Hector had followed it without protest. But when Ludwig sent this man, Aster, here, one particular remark had stuck oddly in his memory.
——A hero needs a sword, or so they say. Got any idea what that means?
'A hero?'
When Hector looked at Aster again, he couldn't deny that the young man's appearance and presence were undeniably fitting of the title—no, if the word 'hero' were personified, it would probably look exactly like this.
Then, Hector's gaze unconsciously drifted toward the Sacred Forest.
'...A sword, then?'
The legendary sword said to slumber within the Sacred Forest—its very existence uncertain—
As that thought crossed his mind, Hector shook his head.
If someone had actually sent this kid here with that in mind, then the person behind this operation was out of their damn mind.