Chapter 407 – Alien World
Chapter 407
Prisoners on their knees tied with ropes in a wooden prison cell.
The prisoners captured by the demon king’s army were trembling with anxiety and exchanging glances.
Jerk, jerk.
The Demon King’s officers and soldiers approached.
Squeak, percussion.
“Follow me.”
“””…”””
“Come out.”
“””…”””
Sigh.
“””!!!”””
With the prison doors really open, the prisoners looked at each other.
“I prepared dinner for you guys, aren’t you going?”
“””!!!”””
Feast?
Will the demon lords hold a human meat party with us?!
Or a bloody feast?!
Jerk, jerk, jerk.
Everyone walked out with their heads bowed with sad expressions.
“Ah.”
Stop.
“I have to untie the rope and go.
Hey, set them free.
Don’t think otherwise.
It’s troublesome to clean up corpses in the compound.”
“””…”””
Squeak, squeak.
Indeed, the ropes were untied, and the prisoners began to walk, swinging their arms freely.
“Hmm… Smell?”
“Something smells delicious… !”
Sailors.
Jerk, jerk, jerk.
Stop!
“””!!!”””
“What are you so surprised about?
Didn’t you say you prepared dinner?
Go sit down.”
“””… !”””
A table spread out on a straw mat in the middle of the camp.
Warm white bread piled on top of it, and thick, hearty soup.
Although it is simple, there are also piles of lamb, fruits and vegetables.
Also with dressing.
“I can’t give you much, and there is also watered wine.
Drink.”
“””!!!”””
About 100 human prisoners sitting awkwardly in their seats.
“What if Marquis John finds out?”
“Aren’t you trying to eat this and make us fat?”
“Would you like to have one meal to gain weight?”
“I don’t know.
It’s been a while since I left home, but I’m going to eat and die!”
Bang!
“Hey, no!
If the Commander knows… !!”
“What if I was poisoned… !”
Mumble, Mumble!
Yum Yum… Gulp!
“Booth… Rude!”
Klopp… !
“Me too… !”
“Hey, calm down!”
A few soldiers who had been waiting by his side tried to stop him.
Mumble, Mumble, Mumble!
Clap clap!
“Wow!
It’s not even beer, it’s real wine!
It feels like coming home!”
“This bread, so warm and soft!
It’s freshly baked bread!
It’s not hard or rough like our food!”
“I remember my mother…”
They couldn’t stop the large number of soldiers who had already started eating them.
Chomp!
Gulp, gulp!
The captives drank watered wine with a delicious meal before they knew it.
The Demon King’s army officer surrounded them with his soldiers and smiled happily, refilling the wine from time to time.
He even poured wine for human captives staring at empty wine glasses!
By the time the soldiers were slowly finishing their delicious meal.
Jerk, jerk.
An iron mask appeared.
“Are you guys Alberic’s men?”
“””…”””
The soldiers under Marquis John only noticed and kept their mouths shut.
“Tell Alberic that you thanked him last time.”
“””…”””
“The information you provided was useful.
And I accept the offer.
Because they are good for each other.”
“””!!!”””
The iron mask quietly disappeared, leaving behind cryptic words.
And the prisoners were released unconditionally.
***
Bang!
“Hey, Hero man.
Even if it’s a state secretary, can I come to the commander’s barracks and work on the desk?”
As we talked before the departure, Alberic sat with his legs crossed, his arms crossed and his chin raised, while Marquis John leaned forward and sat cross-legged on the desk.
But now it’s just the opposite.
Alberic isn’t even sitting in his chair, he’s banging his body forward a lot, hitting the desk.
Marquis John greeted him with his back straight.
“Do you think you’ll be the subject of a sermon on me?!”
His voice was close to a growl with anger.
“I’ve heard that discipline is disorderly from long ago, but seeing it in person, it’s even more messy.
What are you talking about when you abandon your allies in a night raid and run away?”
“We lost our troops because of the false information you leaked!
It could have put me in danger too!”
“What do you mean?”
Quaang!
Kwajik!
Alberic hit it this time, and the desk reached the end of its lifespan.
“Iron mask!
He opened his eyes and went to the scene right away!
The enemy arrived when the ground troops arrived halfway across the river at good timing!
If that’s not a trap, what is it!”
Half truth, half lie.
A good way to hide a lie is to mix it up with the truth.
It was luck that Marquis John’s ground forces crossed the river safely.
It was discovered after arrival thanks to the efforts of the Demon King’s Beast Tribe Rabbit Soldier.
Whether it’s a trap or not is unknown.
Ie false.
However, the appearance of the iron mask is the truth.
With that, Alberic rationalized the retreat of himself and the dragons.
“Don’t be ridiculous.
There was no iron mask.”
“There was!
I saw it with my own eyes!
You go and take a good look!
Even if it’s up, you’ll be able to see it!”
“Hero, calm down…”
Grasp!
“Let go, lieutenant!
Didn’t you and the stormtroopers see you from across the river too!
An iron mask on the back of a red dragon!
He was carrying his exclusive weapon, the sword of the Purple Swordsman!”
“Is it true?”
Alberic’s adjutant flinched at Marquis John’s words, and then replied in a creeping voice.
“Yes, it is.
All of the stormtroopers who were covering fire from the other side saw it together.”
“…”
John’s adjutant standing behind Marquis John also whispered in his ear.
“It is true.
Observers directly under command also witnessed the same.”
“… I’m sorry to hear that there was a mistake in our allies’ information.
Apologize for me
Calm down and sit down.”
“Error?
Chaaaaah~~?”
“…”
‘A drug-daddy.
It’s like a wolf biting its prey.’
“Didn’t you try to kill me with false information?”
“Absolutely no.
Where else could there be more valuable power than the unapplied warrior Alberic, the ‘Shadow of Death’ feared by enemies?
Moreover, it is all the more so if those who are with Amity are the guardian dragons who have protected the country from the founding until now.”
Marquis John’s explanation was calm, but Alberic’s suspicious eyes were not to be taken away so easily.
So Marquis John decided to counterattack.
“More than half of the soldiers I sent were killed or wounded.
Do you think I seduced you with false information?
You’re welcome.
Rather, it is your behavior in which you are in a hurry to mount a feat while riding a dragon without covering your allies.
Isn’t that the right thing to do?”
“Gibberish!
I took cover with the assault force and drew the enemy’s attention with the dragon!
In order to prevent an air strike, I drew the enemy in and helped them retreat.
Even so, isn’t it because there was a mistake in the information you provided?!
If the information that there was no iron mask hadn’t been wrong in the first place, I wouldn’t have backed down!
It’s entirely your fault that you lost your unit due to misinformation!
Rather, it was because I was in a hurry to retreat, that at least it ended with this much damage!
No, it’s not a mistake, maybe… You, aren’t you colluding with the enemy?!”
“Hero!
Your words are harsh… !”
Chuck.
“It happened. Aide.”
“But… !”
“Stay back.”
“Whoop whoop.
Why?
Do you have any concerns?
Doesn’t it seem like you’ve teamed up with the demon king’s army to trap me, the human hero, and get rid of me?
After all, you are not qualified to assume command of this holy army.
I will go out and announce the fact that you cheated on the entire unit!”
“!”
At the words that Alberic spat out in triumph, Marquis John’s face turned white.
‘Alas!
You did it with the intention of cutting off this guy’s power, but rather gave him an excuse to criticize him.
This guy was going to bite me from the start too!
Trouble.
He’s like a wolf biting his neck, so he won’t let me go easily.’
While Marquis John was contemplating, there was a commotion outside, and soon a messenger rushed into the barracks.
“Dismissal.
Report!
All the captured captives have returned safely!”
“””What?!”””
‘Shit.
It was a chance to bite more of this snarky old man!
Even if I couldn’t take responsibility for the defeat and put him down, I was able to push him pretty hard!
Damn it!’
‘Fortunately, I caught my breath.
Now I can flatten this coward’s nose.’
While thinking differently, both felt the messenger’s expression was strange.
“But what are you worried about?
Why is your expression like that?
Isn’t that good news?”
“That, that, that, that…”
“What you hear, what you see, speak quickly!”
At Marquis John’s threat, the messenger knelt down on him and spat out.
“Prisoners of war were treated kindly in enemy camps and were given unconditional release…
It is said that the Iron Mask thanked the hero on the spot!”
“””What?!”””
“He said that the information the hero gave was useful, and that he would accept the offer.
Because it’s good for each other, it’s possible…”
“””!!!”””
In the operation to assassinate Catherine, when he encountered the iron mask.
[I would like to make a suggestion.]
[What are you talking about?]
[I will put Marquis John in the foreground.
Kill me.]
Alberic’s face went white, and Marquis John’s eyebrows twitched.
“Warrior…”
“That’s bullshit!
It’s all lies!
Think common sense!
There are 100 prisoners, do you think you would say such a thing in a place like that?!
This is a ploy to alienate us no matter who sees it!”
‘The warrior is right.
It’s a cheap trick.
But…’
It is more profitable for the Marquis to use this as an excuse now to attack the hero.
Hadn’t Alberic tried to hold himself responsible for the defeat by increasing his casualties rather than saving his men?
He must have been aiming for this from the beginning and asked for troops from himself.
The appearance of the iron mask was unexpected, but rather it served as a justification for Alberic to solidify his political position.
The retreat was also due to the iron mask, and the misinformation was also due to Marquis John.
Didn’t you use this incident as a pretext to launch a political offensive to force Marquis John to step down from his position as commander-in-chief?
‘I put aside the scandalous thing, if I don’t take the initiative using this as an excuse, I could be kicked out of the military, let alone the commander’s post.
At this point, I have to seize the discipline of this wild foal.’
“Iron Mask will believe you led the raid.
Because you led the dragons and infiltrated it.
What if you mistook those soldiers for your subordinates?
Wouldn’t that be a very baseless statement?
Isn’t the Warrior’s Stormtrooper famous for admiring the hero and being loyal only to him?
He probably leaked something important because he thought there was nothing to leak.
It will be difficult to send messengers across the river.”
Jogon jogon.
But clearly.
Push
At those words, Alberic shouted as if having a seizure.
“It’s a ploy to harm me!
The mouths of ordinary soldiers are lighter than fallen leaves in autumn!
Do you carelessly believe what such people say in front of countless people?!
Under! What an idiot you are!
He’s a hypnotist!
Investigate by dispelling magic on the captives’ heads!”
The words that came out of Alberic’s mouth in anger.
Marquis John accepted gently.
“It is.
Hello!
Bring the priests and nuns right now!
… Don’t get me wrong.
It’s just for fact-checking.”
Even if you wear a dispel on your head, it is impossible to find a magic that can be dispelled.
“Keugh… !
This is not hypnosis!
Isn’t this just a trick to divide us!”
“As a commander, I have to be careful with personnel selection.
I want you to obey my control.”
“Kuu… !”
“The air fortress will arrive soon.
Before the typhoon comes, I will try Doha.
Either the vanguard or the main force.
I believe that if I entrust it to you, I will faithfully practice.”
Dreuk!
Poof!
Marquis John leaves the barracks first.
Alberic stood still and looked at him, gritting his molars.
Jerk, jerk.
The early autumn strong wind, when the heat has gone.
With his gray hair flying, Marquis John was lost in thought.
“…”
“Aide.”
“… Yes? Yes!”
Chuck.
“Did all the letters sent to the Devil Castle arrive?”
“That’s right.
It was clearly delivered to the influential great families.
We have also succeeded in contacting the survivors of the Berthier family.”
“Good job.”
‘Walk there.
As long as he holds Alberic for the time being, shakes it, and uses it as a chess piece, crossing the river and approaching the Devil’s Castle.
Internal reactions can also be expected.
If the enemy comes out to intercept, it’s easy to stir up internal strife and stare at each one.’
It was a few days later that Marquis John heard the news that both the iron mask and the demon king who had appeared in the castle had inherited the power of fire.
By the time you realize that the strategy to induce internal response is also going awry.
“Your Excellency, a royal knight has secretly visited.”
“What happened?”
“That is…”
It was then.
When Kamyu escaped after the operation to assassinate Catherine, a royal knight who guarded the elevator connected to the ruins came to visit.
“When my colleagues died, I was fortunate enough to pass out from a twisted neck.
And… I have listened.”
“What did you mean?”
“The iron mask and the conversation he and Alberic had.
Alberic, he… I suggested to Iron Mask to kill the Marquis because I will bring him to the fore.”
“!”
Marquis John’s eyes shone coldly.
“Tell me in detail.”
***
A refreshing wind.
Coming fall.
Busy enemy surveying and large and small crossing attempts.
My mind was sharpened by the constant local warfare.
While the enemy suffered countless losses, they managed to gather information about the depth and width of the river, the speed of the current, and the location of the whirlpools.
And, arriving across the river, the magnificent aerial fortress ‘Adim’s Sword’.
“This is a real fortress.
Has your Excellency the Commander ever seen something like that?”
“His Highness the Viceroy.
This old man has also seen weapons that fly and crawl, but he never expected to see a fort flying in the sky.”
Commander Ezio stands alongside me with his hands behind his back, watching the flying fortress.
A fortress that rises on top of an upside-down cone of land.
Catapults, archers, and wizards were lined up above the corridor.
Stone pillars with incantations protruding from the ground supporting the fortress, adding to the bizarreness.
And the dragons that landed on the fortress are decorating the finale.
The aerial fortress will soon be used as an aerial carrier.
It means that a massive dragon doesn’t have to be afraid to fly when crossing high mountains or canyons.
“This is Gunyoung.
Be comfortable.”
I bow and speak to the commander.
Commander Ezio burst out laughing.
“Heh heh heh, His Majesty is also at the military camp.
Where should I not be able to look?
Even newborn beast tribe rabbit soldiers know that His Majesty’s love for Ji-bi is extreme, how can I treat her comfortably?
Besides, since you’re newlyweds, aren’t you sparking even more?”
“Didn’t you see that I made a request to Your Majesty in front of Your Excellency at dinner last time?
No matter how His Excellency calls me, I won’t tell you what to call me by title.”
“Then, what?
Tell His Majesty not to hate this old man for being a baby daddy.
Big!
Heaven’s technology is amazing, but it’s no way that they’re floating fortresses in the air.
This place is not even the heavenly sea.
I want to know how to get buoyancy…
It is as incredible as the fact that both you and His Majesty have been endowed with the power of fire.
… But, did you really overcome it with love?”
The Demon King’s army turned into a festival ground with the powerful bilhyeon and fire wings that Rumika and I showed off in the crowd.
Firm orthodoxy.
The justification for a solid marriage.
His position as a solidified second-in-command.
And my elevated status.
Everything is changing.
“Sure.
Love is great
It was hotter than the fire of the power given by the ancestors.”
The legendary characteristic given by the system, the natural match effect of ‘Playboy’, is possible only when the mutual favorability is 100%.
Even with a 70% favorability rating, I was able to receive the roaring cheers and love of noble ladies.
100% doesn’t even know how much you should love.
So what I’m saying is not a lie.
90% truth and 10% information disturbance.
100% favorability…
Enough to come back to me and swear an oath of love even after knowing that the female knight who left me was pregnant.
To the extent that the saintess who left me forgave me and chose a demon general as her companion instead of Hero.
To the extent that the human queen embraced me as a demon, proposed to her with all her heart, and offered her virginity.
To the extent that the Demon King of Iron Wall, who waited 100 years for them to be connected, proposed marriage first.
And now to the extent of waiting for a sleeping master to meet a stupid disciple for 100 years and continue another 100 years.
That much sensitivity.
That much love.
… Wouldn’t it really be hotter than the fire of power, even hotter than the black flame of the Magic Flame Cannon?
Without that love, would I have been able to exchange the power of fire with Rumika?
Maybe I told the 100% truth.
A stupid woman who is still sleeping in with a hole in her chest.
She looked up at the sky for a moment, feeling that her tears would well up at the heat she had cherished for her 100 years.
“? What are you looking at?”
“Oh, no.
Just in case it rains.”
I just rubbed my eyes.
“The measures you mentioned earlier have been completed.
A lot of cowhide was used.”
“What else?”
“I am ready.
It was prepared in each castle and bulwark along the river bank.
But are you really going to do that?”
“The enemy outnumbers us, and the difference in strength is over 100,000.
Besides, it’s even fully conserving power.
As long as the wounds of the 2 enemy dragons recover to some extent, there will be nothing to deal with.
Even if the fighting power of each demon army is high, it is difficult to overcome the difference in numbers.
It is time to raise the odds.”
“Yes.
I don’t know if it’s a small army.
The more troops there are, the longer the skirmish will be, even if the ratio is the same.
The sacrifices of allies increase, and fatigue is bound to accumulate.
If it’s not a hand that can be overturned at once, it’s the end.
And if this is pierced, you will be pushed all the way to the Demon Castle.
There aren’t many places along the route that have a geographical advantage for defense.”
“It must be stopped.”
I looked at the sandwich and bread I received when I returned from the castle.
Eat, eat, and remain.
[Hey, it’s Kamyu!
How’s my son?!]
Among the ladies clinging to me, I was the only one who wasn’t interested in me.
Jessica Grid.
She is Van Dark’s mother.
After receiving a message that I had suddenly appeared in the castle, I rushed over and handed over a bundle the size of a mountain.
[Oh sure.
I’m fine.
Hey, what is this, mother?]
[I made you and Van Dark to go and eat.
Ayu~ Since I made it, it has become a bit more~
Did you and my son eat a lot since we were little?
Oh my gosh, look at him!
My skin and bones are so close together that I’m skinny!
It’s a law that you have to eat well to do big things.
It’s fresh from above, so eat it up, oh your majesty!
Please join us on the way!
Oh my, who is this little girl?
Hey, if you take these, your height and chest will grow rapidly.
Baby, don’t refuse and take care of it.
Kamuya, take good care of my son.
Say hello!
Oh, eat this now!
I can’t possibly go into the bag.]
Munching!
[Oops… Mother… Stop…]
[What? Are you choking?
Would you like some juice?
There are also pancakes.
Oh, this too…]
Haha…]
[Kuhm!
Jim is in a hurry, so excuse me.
I will eat well on the way.]
[Kamyuya, there are also boiled eggs~]
[Thank you, Mother!
I’ll tell Van Dark!]
Thanks, I’m still eating.
From the middle of the lunch box, there were preserved foods such as dried fish, beef jerky, and dried fruit, so I could eat them steadily.
… It reminds me of my mother for a long time.
Sniff
I miss my mother
Suddenly, after a long time, I opened the pendant.
“Hey. That sausage was given to me by my mother.
Give it here.”
“Ah, shamefully!
When you’re feeling emotional, leave me alone!”
“You keep eating raw ham and jamon too!
My mother gave it to me!”
“I brought it!
Gotta get a fee dude!
Your mother told you to eat me too!
Can’t you see how big the bag is?!
There will be leftovers anyway, let’s eat some!”
“Not even a child…
It’s embarrassing, so stop fighting, Kamyu-nim.”
Marie mediating between me and Van Dark.
Behind him was a little queen who was grinding her teeth while drinking the special drink given by Jessica.
“Clap, clap, clap…
Ugh, that old lady…
To say I’m tall… !
Wait and see!
Your height and breasts will grow rapidly!”
I heard that milk is made from soybeans.
That’s interesting.
And.
The time for the decisive battle is getting closer.
“The enemy is crossing the river.”
It was one autumn when the enemy’s full-scale crossing began.
