Bel and Cloney were training in the practice arena.
Bel had perfected all the sword techniques inherited from Yuma. A total of four sword techniques.
Balmung remembered how Bel absorbed the swords of the Grand Sword Masters like a sponge.
Cloney had been training in magic with Tisha for over three months.
Tisha was stationed at Baron Amon’s household in the farthest north of the Empire, preparing for the demonic invasion, making it feel a bit lonely.
Bel and Cloney quickly exited the training area as they felt the commotion outside.
Kwarurung─!
What appeared before them was a gaping hole. A crimson whirlpool clearly manifesting amidst the clear clouds.
Bel and Cloney looked at the ominous sign and then exchanged swift glances.
And it was clear to them both who they were going to.
A sense of war began to loom over the Empire.
Even the citizens of the Empire, going about their daily lives, stared at the unusual phenomenon in the sky.
The knights posted notices.
The posters stated that no matter what happens, the Imperial Army would protect the Empire, urging people not to panic.
Yuma looked at those gathered in the conference room of the palace annex.
Due to Brigitte’s orders, the Astes Empire’s entire military, including three knight orders, was on combat readiness.
Michael, the Emperor’s direct bodyguard knight, approached Brigitte.
“According to the mage scholars, it’s in a state where it wouldn’t be strange for the demon races to pour in at any moment.”
Brigitte nodded.
It certainly looked that way to her as well.
“Yuma.”
Yuma lifted his head at Brigitte’s call.
Brigitte gazed into Yuma’s blue eyes.
Her pink lips parted.
“Are we going to follow the plan?”
“Yes, we’re going according to the plan, Brigitte.”
The top priority for protection is, without a doubt, the Astes Empire.
And if there’s a place that asks for help, we’ll go and assist.
The location where they’ll likely face the demons first will bear the brunt of the damage.
*
The current [Intermediate World] where humans and various other races stood was a land that could be considered blessed in many ways.
Those living in the Intermediate World had no need to worry about anything outside of their lives in that world.
They simply survived by farming the land they stood on and hunting animals.
Beings who had no need to be concerned about other worlds.
That was the characteristic of the [Intermediate World].
Excluding the races classified as monsters, wars rarely broke out among the other races.
However, the demon realm was a different story.
The situation was a bit different.
The [Demon World] was a world that craved the blood of other realms.
The blood and lives of the races from other worlds held the power to expand the [Demon World]‘s world power.
As the lifespan of the demon race increased, so did their world power. The breathing and stepping of demons in the Demon World would prolong their lifespan.
That was the reason the Demon World invaded the Intermediate World approximately every 800 years.
Greed.
They did not hide their instinctual desire for conquest.
That was the demon race.
The Great Demon King Kutos was watching his subordinates.
A red lion with giant black goat horns turned its gaze toward the demon lord kneeling beneath him.
[Demon Lord Abystalon] wore armor that shimmered with blue flames.
The hulking demon lord looked at his master while emitting blue flames.
“Kutos-sama, the time for departure is near.”
Abystalon’s helmet had blue flames flowing like smoke from both eyes and mouth.
“I will bring prosperity to the Demon World with the blood of the Intermediate World bastards.”
Great Demon King Kutos slowly nodded his lion’s head.
The red lion gazed down at Abystalon with his pitch-black eyes.
“Very well, go. Abystalon, my dear servant.”
The [Great Demon Kings], of which there were exactly five in this Demon World, were like the roots of the Demon World.
The undisputed five masters of the Demon World.
The [Great Demon Kings] were beings bound to the Demon World.
So, even with his immense power, Kutos could not even think of manifesting in the Intermediate World.
He only assessed the situation and gave commands as he did now.
“Open the gate.”
With their eyes closed, over 3,000 high-ranking demons standing before the massive gate symbolically infused it with magic without pause.
“Open the Gate.”
The landscape of the demon realm was heavy with black currents.
From the edge, a violet circle spun wildly.
The circle continued to turn like a device breaking the boundaries of something.
And finally…
The circle did not reflect the demon realm but another scenery.
A wonderfully clear sky of the Intermediate World.
The gate of the demon realm had opened.
*
A single blemish in the sky had clearly become a hole.
“…Uh-oh.”
A dazed sound escaped Hestia’s lips as she stood awkwardly.
The gazes of Duke Yuma’s party, the Imperial Army, and the Imperial knights all turned toward the rectangular frame that Hestia was staring at.
It was a small screen.
A [Magic Scout] resembling a drone was simultaneously sharing the view it was capturing.
What the Magic Scout was filming high in the air was none other than the sea of Mullen.
Emerging from it were unidentified beings predominantly black in color.
Unidentified beings.
Clearly, from a distance, they resembled insects.
The problem was that, even if they were insects, there were thousands upon thousands of them.
The [Demon Army], aiming for the World Power of the Intermediate World, boasted a fearsome number of troops that didn’t quite match the term ‘army.’
Gulp.
Someone swallowed dryly and opened their mouth.
“…It seems like this surpasses the concept of a racial war.”
The man with striking red hair, Eldrie, the master of the Red Tower and a 7th-circle wizard specializing in fire magic, was speaking.
Led by the court magicians,
He was in charge of the combat magicians summoned to face this ominous cloud.
Eldrie’s light brown eyes were fixed on the pouring demons.
“Given this, it seems we should consider it a collision between worlds…”
The clash between the Intermediate World and the Demon World.
Eldrie muttered blankly.
Duke Yuma also agreed as he gazed at the countless black dots pouring from the clear sky beyond dozens of ridges.
Cloney frowned.
“Of course, the first place they invade would have to be the northernmost part of the continent—Mullen.”
The Mullen tribe of the merfolk.
Yuma had personally forged an alliance there, and now that place was in crisis.
Cloney was worried about the Mullen Tribe.
She had bonded with some of their wizards, including Tisha, and with the children of Mullen.
Beep—! Beeep—!
Yuma took out the loud, round signal beacon, [Emel].
The signal number was 6.
Number 6 signified the Mullen Tribe.
He had distributed [Emel] to other races that participated in the [Racial Conference] and, upon returning to the Empire, had asked the Amon family to provide one to the Mullen Tribe as well.
A clear signal for help.
Cloney’s golden eyes trembled anxiously.
Yuma looked at Eldrie, who was using a magic telescope to track where the demons were descending from the door.
“Are all of their targets heading to Mullen Island?”
In response to Yuma’s question, Eldrie slowly nodded his head.
“Some are heading towards the Resen Kingdom, but it seems most of the troops are aimed at Mullen. History shows they are essentially planning for a prolonged war. The ones sent today seem to serve as a scouting party to confirm the situation in the Intermediate World. It seems that no more troops are pouring out for now… I wonder how many more will flood out by tomorrow.”
Eldrie shook his head slowly while looking at the now-stopped outpouring of troops from the demon gate.
“Probably, they aim to seize Mullen Island and its surrounding seas, gradually taking control from there.”
There must be strategists even in the Demon World.
It was a pretty sound judgment to prioritize capturing Mullen, a nation divided from others due to the sea.
It was quite a wise decision to first seize Mullen, a nation divided from other races due to the sea.
Yuma looked at Cloney.
“Are you worried? Tisha from the Baron Amon’s household and about twenty members of the White Night Tribe, along with a thousand Imperial soldiers, should already be on their way to Mullen.”
Cloney slowly shook her head.
“No, I trust the preparations you and Princess Brigitte have made. I am a bit worried, though.”
Yuma turned his gaze back to Eldrie.
“Do we know exactly what types of magic users have come out as scouts?”
Eldrie bowed his head.
“I’m sorry. We can only scout the area so much at this point. We can’t confirm anything clearly.”
“Is that so.”
Yuma stood up.
“Since they sent scouts, I’ll go scout as well. I’ll ride Ethan and figure out what we’re dealing with.”
Brigitte sprang up.
“Yuma…!”
“It’s fine. With Ethan, it should only take half a day round trip.”
Yuma had flown countless times over the past two months with his friend, the Griffin, Ethan.
He had become just as skilled as a high elf by now.
“I’ll let them know they’re not the ones controlling the war.”
Brigitte let out a deep sigh at Yuma’s unwavering gaze.
“…I understand. Yuma.”
Brigitte was worried sick about him, but she didn’t show it.
“Just don’t get hurt.”
“Don’t worry.”
Yuma patted Brigitte on the shoulder.
Then he approached Cloney.
“Let’s go together.”
Cloney smiled brightly and nodded vigorously.
“Yes! Yuma!”
All that occupied Cloney’s mind was the thought of helping the Mullen Tribe.
There was no fear of demons whatsoever.
Yuma helped Cloney onto Ethan first.
Grrur…
The Griffin, Ethan, quietly let out a sound and remained still.
This wasn’t the first time Yuma had ridden with his group, after all.
“Make sure to hold on tight.”
“Yes, Yuma!”
Cloney stroked Ethan’s soft fur.
“Please take care of me… Ethan.”
Grrr…
Yuma tightened his grip on the reins.
‘Siege warfare?’
Yuma knew that the demon realm wouldn’t let their forces play around in the Intermediate World for long.
‘There’s nothing good that comes from prolonging this.’
After quickly scattering their forces,
he would eliminate them all. Yuma’s sapphire eyes settled quietly.
For today, he just planned to get a look at their faces.
Ethan spread his wings and glided away.
