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Chapter 134
Crossing Paths
In truth, there was nothing for the Arken Empire side to be flustered about.
Olivia had said they would have grasped and recorded the exact numbers and types of everything.
They would have known well that the suddenly appeared colossal monsters were giving birth to yet more monsters.
And they were naturally aware that the more the numbers swelled, the more disadvantageous it would become.
While recording the numbers that had swelled to 20,000, they were racking their brains on how to politically exploit this.
W̆ е̌ b nõ v.e l̇ Ė n̄ ûm а
But neither they nor the Valdrova Grand Duchy's alliance anticipated one thing.
Who would have thought that while surrounding the Grand Duchy, they would move to strike the Empire first?
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-Speak! Why are those things coming our way!
Ferda answered this situation like so.
"We don't know either."
-What do you mean you don't know!? Common sense! In this situation right now! Not striking your side makes no sense!!
Е_ṅ_úḿа̂ . і d̆
The way he's yelling looks just like a brat throwing a tantrum because he didn't get a toy.
Leaving the situation aside, I can't describe how enjoyable this moment of reversed fortunes is.
Ferda explained their current situation.
"It may sound like irresponsible talk, but we were strictly preparing for defense. As it is, we have over 20 defense scenarios alone, and Count Consillus is prepared to die."
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-What does that have to do with us!!
"Did you not ask why they're heading that way? We simply answered that we don't know the reason."
Ёn̊ úm̌ а̃ . ĭ d
-So you're saying you bear no responsibility?!
I can't understand what more he wants me to do here.
Does he want me to bang my head against the wall until it's cool and then suck up to him?
Ferda is better at banging other people's heads than his own.
I wanted to just curse him out, but Olivia, who was listening in, lightly touched Ferda's shoulder.
When he turned his head, she was smiling with her eyes, then subtly touched the crystal ball.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
She raised the volume so the crystal ball's sound could be heard throughout the entire staff room.
She mouthed these words.
Deploy.
"I cannot understand why you are so angry. After all, you decided to send reinforcements here, so you must be preparing them. You could just wage a defensive battle or a subjugation operation with those prepared forces, so why are you taking it out on me?"
-If the Far East fails to stop the monsters from the Demon's Land, isn't that a border defense failure?! You failed, yet you dare stiffen your neck and claim you did nothing wrong!?
The staff members, startled by the suddenly raised volume, turned their heads to look this way.
Е̃ n̈umä.іd_
"How can we immediately respond to colossal monsters suddenly summoned? That's why we requested reinforcements from within the Empire, and didn't you say it would take two months?"
-That's our circumstances! Right now I'm talking about the Far East's duty!
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The Far East's duty is to exterminate the monsters pouring in from the Demon Land.
But that's only when they come physically; if it's magic, there's no countermeasure.
-Handling such huge monsters is Her Highness the Grand Duke's job, is it not! She had more than enough ability to handle it! The ones who neglected it weren't us, but the Grand Duchy side!
"Then are you saying we should have moved even if it meant letting this place be completely destroyed?"
Е̊ ň_ü m ā.і̇ d
-I can't understand how you can abandon your duty just to protect that useless village!
Useless village.
He unconsciously bit his lower lip.
He couldn't guess what curses would fly out once his mouth opened.
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At that moment, a silky soft touch was felt on Ferda's hand.
It was Olivia's hand.
W̄е̄ bnov̀е l̆ Е n u m̊ а
She had subtly touched Ferda's hand under the table.
As if telling him to calm down.
Surprisingly, thanks to her touch, Ferda escaped from his anger.
Everyone here is listening to this conversation anyway.
He read their expressions.
At least no one was on the side of that brat begging for a toy.
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-Tell Her Highness the Grand Duke to perform her duty right now! Otherwise.......
"What will you do?"
At Ferda's question, Alexander's voice was cut off abruptly.
He felt killing intent from beyond the telepathic communication.
-In this situation, you will be held accountable! Not just simple accountability! Even at this very moment, there are more than a few who suspect you of colluding with demons!
Colluding with demons.
Е̌n̊ ûm̀ а̌ . і̇ d
Now that's taking logic to its absolute limit.
Just as he was about to say "Go ahead and try," Olivia cut in.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Oppa. Please speak a bit more nicely~."
-Wh-what? Who is this?!
"Who else? Who else would call the Crown Prince 'oppa'?"
-Olivia? Why are you......?
Е ň úm̀ а
Alexander, unable to collect himself at Olivia's suddenly heard voice.
She grinned and said.
"Birds hear the words of day, mice hear the words of night. You don't know how many birds are listening to the Crown Prince's words here, do you?"
-Wh-what?!
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Alexander, excited and raging.
The staff members who had heard the entire conversation with the Crown Prince wore dumbfounded expressions.
Ẽ ńu mâ .іd
After hearing the remark about joining hands with demons, hostility surged.
Alexander stammered and asked Ferda.
-Y-you, Regent! Did you trap me?!
"I merely had a conversation. It was the Crown Prince who got excited and raged on his own."
-Y-you.......
"If you had told us to speak alone, I would have gladly accepted, but you got excited first, so I couldn't bring myself to speak. But who would have known you'd come out like this?"
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Where did the screaming child go, leaving only the sound of a pig choking on the gallows?
Olivia nastily started picking at her scabs.
"Everyone here believed in their honor and followed us. To treat such people as demon scum, isn't that too much?"
-No, I mean it's not that I said that to others, but that Ferda Regent could do such a thing.......
"Oh my, what do you mean 'not'? Everyone heard the story just now? You lumped them together and criticized them as honorless people, and your response was slow too. I think this is all grounds for a formal protest, don't you?"
Olivia continued with a triumphant expression.
Еń û m̆ ӓ .i ḋ
"That the Crown Prince of the Empire started a useless fight to tame the Far East, and that's how it turned out."
Only sound could be heard from beyond the crystal ball, his expression couldn't be seen, yet he screamed with excitement as if he'd seen it.
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-An Imperial Princess has no business butting in at a time like this! What if you get hurt! Go back to your room and protect yourself right now! Regent, send that child back immediately!!
Declaring "get out" just because he's at a disadvantage.
"If I were just a Princess, that might be true, but not now."
-What's different about now?
W̊ eb nо̄ v̀еl̈ E n̈ umа̌
"She serves as the Chief of Staff of this Far East Provisional Alliance."
-Wh-what?! Why?
"Why? Because she stands here with everyone's recognition, right?"
No words came from the crystal ball side.
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Alexander's head must be a mess right now.
If he said "Why is this bitch so competent?" he'd definitely get hit back with "So you're saying the other young masters are incompetent?"
W ë b̃ ńо v̈el Ӗ n̈_ū m̆ а̇
In that situation, Alexander did the best he could.
Click—.
He just cut it off.
The crystal ball lost its light, and seeing that, Olivia spoke calmly.
"Seems the mage on that side made a mistake."
She laughed "hoho" and just let it slide.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
But the staff members couldn't hide their bewildered faces as they faced an uncomfortable truth.
"I've heard plenty that the Crown Prince is a hopeless human who likes showing off, but I didn't know it was this bad."
"When we were in a hurry, they said wait two months, but for themselves they want it sent right away. Does that make sense?"
The staff members were busy cursing the Crown Prince.
Olivia let them vent just enough to raise morale and unity, then cut it off.
"The Crown Prince's fault is his fault, but either way, let's find a new way forward. This Grand Duchy is also, unavoidably, one of the Empire's territories right now. So we need to respond to threats within the Empire."
Ënǔ m̀а̂
"Yes."
The continent map placed on the table.
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All the monster pieces placed on that map were turned to the opposite side.
"As you can see, the monsters are heading toward the Empire. That means we, who had to defend, are now in a position to strike first."
"Do we have to strike?"
Defending alone is hard enough, but to strike back on top of that.
Еnǔ m̀a. í d̊
But the other staff members looked at the person who spoke with pitying eyes.
When they made faces like "what pathetic nonsense," Olivia smiled gently.
"Rather, now is the perfect time. You said all forces are moving toward the Empire, right?"
"That's correct."
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"That means the enemy's main base is at its most vulnerable."
The identified colossal monsters have no ability to protect themselves.
W eb ǹ о̄ ṽéľ Е̂n̄ ú m̄а̀
They only had reproductive ability, and with that they mass-produced monsters.
If they mass-produce monsters and send them away, what remains?
Nothing.
Even reproduction is an act of dividing one's own vitality.
Even for monsters, that means they fall into a ridiculously vulnerable state.
Targeting the enemy when they're most vulnerable is the most basic of basics.
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The man who raised the question withdrew his words with an embarrassed expression.
Olivia continued explaining.
"What was the reason both the Empire and we thought the monsters would come for us?"
"When the encirclement line formed, we were closer."
"Right. Originally, that would be the standard tactic."
Just looking at the positions of the pieces on the map made it certain.
É n̈ u m̈ а̇
The distance to the Empire was a whopping 3 times longer than to Hestia Village.
"We judged it would take 2 days to reach us, so heading to the Empire would take 6-7 days. So we wait about 2 days, then we start our advance."
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Marching time is also 2 days.
If the enemy keeps advancing, they'll have moved 3 days' worth.
Time-wise, that's a bit past the midpoint.
Then retreat becomes difficult for them.
W е b̃ nо̃ v̌е̇ l̃_ Е̃ ṅ ū m̂а́
"Then they'll reach the midpoint, right? In a state where retreat is difficult, we'll strike the empty main base."
"Then the Empire will already be under attack."
"No need to worry about the Empire. If they can't even block that offensive, they can't call themselves the Empire."
The Arken Empire has concentrated everything in the capital.
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They possess magic and military dozens of times more powerful than Count Consillus's castle, which would be the Far East's last bastion, so there's no problem.
"Assuming we approach the monsters, how do we kill them? I've heard small monsters and colossal monsters have different body structures......."
Wе̊_ḃ n о̃ ṽ е́l Еǹǔm a_
"I looked into it, and they said the skin is more solid and muscles stronger, so I think ordinary magic won't work."
"I'll explain that part."
Platinum Adventurer, Eri, stepped forward.
"Just as we die if we lose our hearts, monsters die if they lose their hearts too. The polar opposite of junk mana is pure mana. In other words, if you cause an explosion inside that shatters the heart with pure mana, you can kill them."
"How much mana is needed for that explosion?"
"5th Tier magic, Supernova, should do it. I've done it before...... no, I read it in some documents."
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If 4th Circle has Magic Blast, 5th Circle has Supernova.
Strong in pure destructive power, and above all, it's attribute-less, mana in its true nature.
For monsters, to whom pure mana is no different from poison, it was a more than perfect technique.
"I heard the skin is hard as rock, can one Supernova really finish it?"
"That's why we need the elite knights' help. Elite knights must manifest aura to carve into the monster's flesh and penetrate inside. If they pierce deep enough to see the innards, the inside becomes infinitely vulnerable like a human body. If you chant Supernova there, it'll die instantly."
"The method is fine, but...... isn't whether they know Supernova another problem?"
Ӗ.ṅ u m а́
"If they don't know, I can teach them. If they don't want to learn, they can just draw a magic circle and inject mana."
Naturally, mages will try to learn.
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There's no idiot who would refuse when a famous adventurer and high mage offers to teach high-tier magic.
"How many 5th Circle mages are there?"
"Including Count Consillus's territory, we've identified 5 total."
"Administrator Isabella is probably 5th Circle too. That makes 6."
E̊ n üm̄ a
Platinum Adventurer Eri, suspiciously well-informed about another household.
Colossal monsters number 12, and we can break 6 at once.
"Thinking we can break everything in 2 days...... that's complacent, right?"
"Yes. Considering march speed and all factors, even tightly packed, it'll take 4 days."
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4 days.
Would be nice if there's a way to drastically reduce that.
E ň ú m а̀
After hearing the situation, Ferda glanced at Ruri.
Whether she sensed his gaze, she looked at Ferda.
Ruri asserted strongly with a cold gaze.
I'm not your shuttle.
"We can't guarantee victory, but we can't just sit around doing nothing on our side either."
If there's a chance to eliminate them, we must eliminate them.
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"If anyone objects, I'll hear that opinion too."
As expected, no one opened their mouth.
Just in case, Ferda contacted Consillus too and explained the operation.
Consillus's answer was obvious and truly simple.
-As the Regent wishes.
Thus, the deployment was decided.
Е_nû m̃а̊ .і̃d̀.
As the staff members moved to relay the meeting contents,
Ferda made one request to Erika.
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"Captain Eri."
Erika turned her head.
"If it's not rude, may I ask one favor?"
* * *
Wе̄bn̈ оv è ĺ Е ňů ḿ а
It was a place used as the castle's clearing.
That place was currently a space Ruri had severed with a barrier.
"Amazing."
After thoroughly confirming it was completely cut off, Erika spoke.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"I never expected the Regent to request a spar."
"You're known as Goldy Hand, so why not give it a try?"
W ĕ b́ ňоv̄ е l Е ǹ u ṁ ӓ
"Rumors are always exaggerated."
She said that, but her shoulders and nose were piercing the sky.
"Tell me. What's the purpose of this spar? I'll adjust to it."
"There's something I want to test. Under the assumption of actual combat, just fight me."p>
"Hmm, if it's actual combat......."
Erika grinned slightly.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"As expected, I should start with provocation, right? Wyvern's Fiancé?"
"Much better than a water lizard that only sleeps like it's dead."
"......Ho oh."
He threw a jab but took a proper counter.
"Let's stop. At this rate, we might have to stake our honor on a duel to the death."
"Isn't that what makes it actual combat?"
W е̂ bn̂оv.ѐl̀ Еn ŭṁ a
"Hehe...... don't regret it!"
Erika unfolded a magic circle and launched a preemptive attack.
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Unlike classic combat where they hold their ground, the two frantically switched positions as they fought.
That was a practical mage's battle.
Magic circle creation, insight, counter, feint, induction.......
In the short span of 1 minute, a whopping 40 exchanges passed, and Erika let out an exclamation of admiration internally.
W̌ еb nо v̀ē l̈ .È n̄umа̀_
'Impressive.'
Since Ferda was already outmatched in weight class, he was bound to be at a disadvantage, so she naturally expected his defeat.
Erika considered that and gradually increased the power to gauge his skill.
At first they competed evenly, then she made it gradually tougher to overwhelm him, testing just how much of a limit Ferda had.
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'What kind of experiment is he trying to do?'
Erika proceeded with the spar while keeping in mind to uncover that intent.
Ē ň ú m а̃ .і̄d̄
"I lost."
After pushing him to his limit, Ferda raised the white flag.
She won, but Erika genuinely praised him.
"You're amazing. No exaggeration, you're in the top five mages I've ever fought."
"That's excessive praise."
"No wasted movements, not so low-level that you'd ask me for feedback, and you literally said you had something to experiment with, but I can't even tell what experiment you're doing. Did you get your answer?"
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Ferda knew from that sight.
That she really hadn't noticed what he was doing, what he was hiding.
"Yes. Thanks to you, I got it."
Right, this might just work.
* * *
The night before deployment.
Ёn̄u ṁ а
Ferda tried to lie down to sleep as usual.
But given the momentous day, it wasn't like usual.
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Ruri came and said this.
"My Lord has summoned Ferda-nim to the Lair."
Ferda blinked.
They say when you receive too great a shock, you can't say anything, right?
Ẇеb.nо́ v̈ е̃l̇ Е n̊ûmà
It was exactly that much.
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