{"id":3603,"date":"2025-10-11T12:35:53","date_gmt":"2025-10-11T12:35:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/?p=3603"},"modified":"2025-10-11T12:35:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T12:35:53","slug":"prologue-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/?p=3603","title":{"rendered":"PROLOGUE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TWO MISGIVINGS<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Gadora was at an impasse\u2014about two things, mainly. One, it went without saying, was about who might have been trying to murder him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the assailant didn\u2019t even alert me to their presence, that lowers the range of possibilities greatly. I have my thoughts on their identity\u2026but\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Gadora admitted to himself, he was too afraid to state the name. Because if his forebodings turned out to be true, it meant all his sinister designs\u2014and those of Yuuki and his gang as well\u2014had been playing into Emperor Ludora\u2019s hands the whole time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026No, it may just be possible. The emperor has lived far, far longer than I have. He commands knowledge beyond any average person\u2019s perception, and he has the power to match. It wouldn\u2019t be strange at all if he saw how events would transpire and made his move decades in advance. But if so\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gadora was far away from the Empire. But if his suspicions were true, he thought, then Yuuki was in danger. So now what? Should he warn him or just let him be? That was the problem. Yuuki was hardly a stranger; he had a decent enough affinity for the man. Despite that, Gadora was firmly on the side of Rimuru\u2019s forces at present. He couldn\u2019t rock the boat right this moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If he was truly concerned, he could have revealed everything to Rimuru and sought his advice. But if he disclosed all this uncertain <\/a>intelligence and turned out to be wrong, it\u2019d send Rimuru\u2019s trust in Gadora plummeting. Gadora had already betrayed the Empire once; any further loss of confidence would affect his very position in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pluses and minuses to all his options left Gadora frozen in place, unable to take action. And that wasn\u2019t all. The second doubt in his mind made all his thoughts frazzled, flying in every direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That face, that ambition\u2026 It is absolutely the same as what Emperor Ludora exhibited. But even the sight of me didn\u2019t seem to faze him at all. He truly appears to know nothing\u2026and I doubt he is a fake, but\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was no way Ludora could be there. No matter which angle you debated it from, Gadora concluded there was no other answer\u2026which meant that person was just someone who resembled Ludora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if that person was His Highness\u2026 No, that\u2019s silly talk. Let\u2019s think about who stabbed me. I have to conclude that I know the murderer, but if my hunch is right, that kid Yuuki is in trouble. I\u2019m not sure if I\u2019ll be able to sleep at night unless I at least give him a warning. And let\u2019s inform Sir Rimuru as well.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the end, Gadora gave his friendship first priority. It might damage his reputation, but that was fine. In this nation, after all, might truly did make right\u2014and in Gadora\u2019s eyes, survival of the fittest was exactly what he hoped for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally reaching this conclusion, Gadora quickly sprang into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYuuki, it\u2019s me. I\u2019d like to give you some advice. To tell the truth\u2014\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before even asking what Yuuki was doing, Gadora laid out his main points in a single onrush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhoa, um, this is sudden.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am afraid it has to be. Think about my position, won\u2019t you? Sir Rimuru might start to foster doubts about me thanks to this, so I don\u2019t have time to debate the finer points with you. I\u2019ll do what I can over here, so just keep an eye out for any nighttime assassins, all right?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that, Gadora ended his magical call with Yuuki. Then in the same motion, he walked off to report to Rimuru. In a well-oiled business, he recognized how important it was to stay in touch, <\/a>report what you know, and be open to discussion. He was an expert at raising the apprentices and other people under him, and he didn\u2019t scrimp on those tenets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo the old man\u2019s okay after all, huh? And I guess he\u2019s made himself at home over at Rimuru\u2019s place, even.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki mulled this over with a grin, his gaze toward the window. The imperial capital was facing a long rainstorm, all but blocking his view outside\u2014but even through the rain, his eyes detected a suspicious figure. Based on the person\u2019s well-trained movements, it was clearly someone directed to surveil him. The realization made Yuuki smile expectantly, and he stayed where he was. Kagali, the other person in the room, spoke up first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo you mean Gadora? Well, I\u2019m sure he did. Even a former demon lord like me has always found him a wily sort\u2014the kind you\u2019d best never turn your back on. That\u2019s why our relationship was so fruitful for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki nodded. \u201cIt was. I gained my position in this nation thanks to him. And just now he gave me some of the most valuable information I could ask for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gadora, he was sure, wouldn\u2019t hesitate to give him useful intel on Tempest. For example, intel on Chronoa, that sort-of Hero. Her fate was still unknown, but if Rimuru was alive, he must have defeated her. Still, if Rimuru had actually contained all her wild violence, there\u2019d have to be rumors about it by now\u2014but Yuuki had heard nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gadora didn\u2019t mention her, either, so Yuuki couldn\u2019t discount the possibility that Chronoa was dead. Maybe he was worrying too much about it. He decided to move on. He needed to work out the issues Gadora brought up in his emergency report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, did he? And what did he have to say?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo apparently Masayuki is the spitting image of Emperor Ludora.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki grinned at Kagali, who was too flummoxed to say anything else. If someone told him<\/em> that out of the blue, he\u2019d probably react the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight? It makes no sense. I thought that wizard finally lost his marbles, but it doesn\u2019t seem like he\u2019s joking. I really<\/em> don\u2019t think the emperor transformed into Masayuki or whatever, though\u2026 I can\u2019t be a hundred percent sure of that, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki recalled his encounters with Masayuki. His smile dissolved. Looking back, Masayuki hadn\u2019t been summoned to this world. As he put it, \u201cI turned around, and next thing I knew, I was here.<\/em>\u201d He was a visitor, someone who came to this world out of sheer happenstance, or so he thought. But\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I can\u2019t fully prove that Masayuki\u2019s an otherworlder. I mean, he used magic and skills to\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He stopped himself before his mind went any further down this path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026Actually, let\u2019s save Masayuki for later. Right now we need to talk about the guys watching us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh? You were piquing my interest just then. But you\u2019re right. It\u2019s a bit stifling, being observed like this all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight? It\u2019ll hinder our plans, and before that, I think we\u2019re gonna have to dispose of all our preparations anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat was that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou heard me. If the old man\u2019s telling the truth, it\u2019s safe to say we\u2019re in serious danger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Gadora wasn\u2019t lying, moving the Composite Division currently deployed for the Dwarven Kingdom was a bad decision. Yuuki had no idea what would happen\u2014but even before that, he needed to step back and figure out who was friend or foe. It was a complete restart, and that\u2019s exactly how cornered Yuuki and his cohorts were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026Ah. Then yes, now\u2019s no time to be talking about that Masayuki boy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kagali never doubted Yuuki\u2019s words. If Yuuki saw danger ahead, there was never any refuting that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u201cHe told me he sought an audience with the emperor, only to have someone stab him in the back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSomeone? Not Kondo?\u201d Kagali paused, then dismissed the idea. \u201cNo. I assumed that nobody besides Kondo could kill Gadora, but I could picture some hidden talent among the more undercover Single Digits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides, Tatsuya Kondo as the culprit was all too expected. Yuuki wouldn\u2019t be demonstrating so much surprise if it were him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI agree with you on that, yeah. But I\u2019m surprised for another reason. Gadora said he thinks he knows who stabbed him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The room fell silent. Kagali took a breath and peered into Yuuki\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026Someone both of us know well, you\u2019re saying?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her eyes told him the story. They said Tell her, or else.<\/em> Yuuki gave this a half smile and a light nod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBelieve it or not, yes. Of course, Gadora could always be mistaken, but I really don\u2019t think there\u2019s a way to mistake this<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kagali\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cSo it\u2019s someone in our circle?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her smile had vanished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Yuuki replied, nodding. His smile, meanwhile, only grew wider. \u201cOur double-crosser is\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CHAPTER 1<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

UNREST AND RESOLVE<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>A month had passed since my cabinet meeting. Today I was once again back in my Control Center, keeping up on my imperial observations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With all our intelligence being gathered here, Benimaru and I were basically living in this place. We still went back home at night, though. For all I knew, if I left the Control Center unoccupied, Veldora and Ramiris might turn it into their secret hideout. I built that retreat for myself, and I wanted it to be used. Benimaru was keeping up appearances, too, so I imagined he was resting in his quarters as well\u2014not that I needed to worry about that sort of thing, I just didn\u2019t want my top commander collapsing from exhaustion before the final battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had staff assigned to the Control Center at all times by this point\u2014three shifts running the complex twenty-four hours a day during wartime. I wanted to be sure nobody was overworked. Managing our health, at least, was something I wanted to be thorough with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, my comrade Veldora was not a concern of mine on that front, and neither was Ramiris. Both of them<\/em> got ample rest without me having to remind them\u2014or really, they went out and screwed around all the time. They were excited about the war at first, but after a month of no movement, they seemed utterly bored with it. <\/a>They were selfishly back in their own research lab now, telling me to inform them if something happened. Ah well. They\u2019d just get in the way of things regardless, so I let \u2019em do what they wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right now, the top brass in the Control Center was Benimaru, Soei, and me, along with my secretaries Shion and Diablo. Geld was there, too; I shouldn\u2019t forget about him. I felt bad about halting his construction projects for so long. I really wanted to get this war over with fast, before Frey started getting really<\/em> mad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that, of course, depended on my opponents. In war, the attacking side held the initiative; if the opponent never showed up, you couldn\u2019t fight even if you wanted to. The Empire\u2019s tank battalion, which I assumed would enter the scene in around twenty days, was moving far slower than expected. In fact, they seemed to be crawling along on purpose, trying to show off their might as they advanced. My Argos magic system kept a watchful eye on them day and night, but if you\u2019d never seen a tank before, I\u2019m sure they looked like terrifying creatures. Even a real<\/em> monster was still gonna be afraid of giant, horrible opponents, and the magic beasts ranked A or below in the forest had already fled far away from the advancing imperial force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So where were they? Well past their borders, that\u2019s for sure. Entering our nation without permission was fully against international law, as enacted by the Council of the West, but the Empire never did play by the rules. With things as they were, the question was how we could strategically take advantage of this. We could use it as a cover to stage a surprise attack\u2026but we really did need to try talking at least once, I thought. There would be an order from the Empire to surrender, I understood, so until we could reply, I wanted to hold off on any attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know it\u2019s too slow of us, but we haven\u2019t finished our own preparations yet. I see no need to attempt to deceive them. We will decide everything in the first battle regardless.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benimaru agreed with me, not looking particularly concerned. So a bit relieved, I watched over our continued preparations for the anti-Empire war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Finally, all those days of waiting were about to come to a close. The Empire had stopped advancing and begun to assemble into formation. They were no fools\u2014they had zero intention of fighting fair and square from the beginning, it would seem, so apart from the tanks, they had brought platoons of infantry into the forest as well. Vast numbers, in fact. Their total number had exceeded seven hundred thousand, around 70 percent of the Empire\u2019s entire force. We had known about this for days now, but it was worth going over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGuess it\u2019s safe to assume this is the main force,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI imagine so,\u201d Benimaru agreed. \u201cIt appears they intend to trap the dwarven army, and their tanks are acting as decoys.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo they\u2019re trying to avoid being pincered in as they advance into our territory. They\u2019re being remarkably careful, considering the size of this force.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tank battalions seemed slow not because it was a show of force or whatever. They had a more important goal in mind\u2014to attract our attention until they could get their main force of foot soldiers in position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot that we didn\u2019t see through their schemes, of course. Having control over information puts us at quite the advantage,\u201d Benimaru said with a smirk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKeh-heh-heh-heh-heh\u2026 Well played, Sir Rimuru. Dancing on your palm the whole time, were they not?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diablo, wasting no opportunity to praise me, also interjected. I was used to it by now, so I gave him a nod and a \u201cYep\u201d for his effort. Figure out how Diablo\u2019s mind works, and he\u2019s actually really easy to handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRegarding the imperial infantry, I think we slightly underestimated the threat they pose. Each one of the soldiers seems decently powerful enough, and we\u2019ve seen nobody defect from their ranks. They are assembling at a site about nineteen miles away from Rimuru, the capital. That\u2019s where they are building a command headquarters and establishing their position.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Soei, attracting the attention of everyone else in the room, went into further detail. Moss, it turned out, had given him some valuable intel as well, intel that proved accurate beyond complaint. It was a nice complement to our Argos, and it gave us a picture-perfect map of the enemy\u2019s location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf they\u2019re this close to our throats, wouldn\u2019t it seem unnatural if we didn\u2019t<\/em> react?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, I wouldn\u2019t be so sure. They see themselves as the superior force here, and what\u2019s more, they are trying to keep their actions covert. Presumably, they\u2019re preparing to demand our surrender, then spring right into action.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKeh-heh-heh-heh-heh\u2026 I agree with Sir Benimaru. If I could add to his counsel: Nineteen miles is almost the perfect distance for the imperial army. Magic-based observation loses its accuracy at long range. They are safe from any legion magic that might hinder all their forces at once. That, they believe, is how they are operating. It is hilarious to witness, but that is the best they are capable of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apparently my concerns were for nothing. I thought the Empire would suspect our lack of activity to be a trap, but here I was being told that the enemy absolutely believed we weren\u2019t on to them. The only remaining concern was the strength of this enemy infantry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, Soei, how strong are these foot soldiers?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soei brought up their threat level, so they had to pack a punch. Depending on his response, I figured we might have to rework our plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf I could give a broad evaluation using the traditional human-ranking system, they rank the equivalent of a B. There are many advanced troops who rank over A among them, and even the lesser troops wouldn\u2019t rank below C-plus. Even compared to the knight corps of the Western Nations, I would call them quite a superior force.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, that was more power than I expected. But in this world, wars were all quality over quantity. A bunch of B rankers was nothing to trifle with, but a single A rank would be far more dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u2026Of course, I didn\u2019t want to underestimate their abilities as a fighting force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo there are practically no emergency recruits among them? They\u2019re all career soldiers?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight. From their training to the quality of their gear and tactics, they appear to outclass the Western Nation\u2019s knights. Even your Hellflare would have difficulty piercing their magical defense.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way Soei put it, the imperial army had legion magic cast over them at all times. They were a truly impressive force, trained to the hilt, and a platoon of them would be the equivalent of an A in rank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A force who truly worked as a team, such as Gobta\u2019s, could be a menace. It wasn\u2019t just the sum of each member\u2019s skill; it was more like exponential growth. If twenty or so of them deserved an A, simple arithmetic meant we had to fight against thirty-five thousand of these A-ranked threats. Frankly, we couldn\u2019t let our guards down. They were a pretty dangerous foe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAh, we\u2019ll be fine. That\u2019s what the Dungeon is for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKeh-heh-heh-heh-heh\u2026 Force them to scatter inside the Dungeon, and it\u2019ll be easy to destroy the enemy before they unleash their full force. Everything is just as you anticipated, Sir Rimuru.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not really, no. It just meant fending them off inside the Dungeon turned out to be the best strategy of all. But depending on the enemy\u2019s war power\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wait. Hang on. Something dawned on me: No matter how much power the enemy brought with them, this interception strategy was valid either way. Inside the Dungeon, it was possible to disperse their forces as we concentrated ours. That was why, if you really wanted to conquer the Dungeon, you had to do it with small teams of elites, or you had no chance. Raphael strikes again<\/em>, I thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know, looking back, I\u2019m really glad we have Ramiris here,\u201d I couldn\u2019t help but blurt out. Benimaru agreed with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll keep our city from being damaged, and it\u2019ll be a breeze to maintain our advantage. As a military commander, she\u2019s the last person I\u2019d want as my enemy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He could give frank praise like this precisely because she wasn\u2019t <\/a>around to hear him. If he complimented her in person, she\u2019d be sneering and bragging to him all day. Regardless:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo it sounds like we\u2019ve got no problems, but how is Gobta\u2019s force doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My magic was currently powering a set of large screens in the Control Center, displaying scenes from multiple points. One shot depicted the area near the Dwarven Kingdom. Two thousand tanks were there, all in neat formation. They, too, were located around nineteen miles away from the central entrance, the closest access to Dwargon\u2019s capital\u2014exactly where we predicted they\u2019d be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My main concern was the capabilities of these tanks. Their turrets were pointed straight at the large main gate, one I had visited many times by now. These so-called magitanks, or whatever, were supposed to be stronger than the tanks I was aware of from Earth. Perhaps those cannons had more range than those from my old world. I sincerely doubted their fire could actually reach the gate, but\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the public square on the other side of the gate, Gobta\u2019s and Gabil\u2019s forces were on standby. Both were leading their respective troops, diligently performing their duties. There were no unexpected skirmishes along the way, and the residents of the inn town were already fully evacuated. Now, as planned, Gobta\u2019s and Gabil\u2019s soldiers had rendezvoused here to serve as Dwarven Kingdom reinforcements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Dwarven Kingdom has accepted Gobta\u2019s and Gabil\u2019s forces. This will be a united front, so they have not given up their command,\u201d said Benimaru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wasn\u2019t worried about that, since Gazel already gave us his permission, but it looked like the dwarven army kept their promises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSounds like there\u2019s no problem, then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have my concerns about how well they\u2019ll mesh with the dwarven force\u2026but if the Tempestians attack, and the dwarves focus strictly on defense, I imagine things will turn out well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A military situation like this ran the risk of a jumbled, confused chain of command. Being a joint effort between armies of differing nations, they\u2019d have to decide whose orders took first priority. If <\/a>Benimaru was there, he could use his Born Leader unique skill to force his command on them all; even in a battlefield where allies and enemies were mixed among one another, with that they\u2019d never have to worry about accidental friendly fire. With the dwarves on the scene, however, things could potentially end in chaos. Therefore, strictly dividing responsibilities between offense and defense would actually make things more efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe I\u2019d better talk things over with Gazel one more time, just in case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIndeed, with the Empire deploying, there is little time left before the start of hostilities. It\u2019s about time for us to deploy as well, so would you like to contact him to make your final confirmations?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benimaru seemed to agree with me. So without hesitation, I reached out for our newly installed contact terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

This contact terminal was a magical telepathic device that Vester had invented. The great thing about it was that it could convey not only voice but visual information as well. It was shaped like a desktop computer, complete with a monitor, mouse, and keyboard\u2014well, not a mouse\u2014more like a palm-size crystal ball. The terminal activated when you touched that ball. After that, just point out the person to contact among the figures etched into the keyboard, and you\u2019d be connected to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We kept it to a simple design so anybody could use it, although it did have its flaws. I said it conveyed visual information, but these were more like thoughts reconstructed in your brain. In other words, when you were jacked into your contact terminal, anything you thought could be picked up by the other side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was the same fundamental concept as Thought Communication, and while I was used to it enough that I could shut out extraneous thoughts, newbies might wind up unintentionally leaking intel. Any wicked ideas you came up with could come through loud and clear to your partner\u2026 And forget about hiding any secret intentions. I definitely wouldn\u2019t use this terminal to go cruising <\/a>for dates. The average, untrained person was better off using the device\u2019s audio functions only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But hey, they\u2019ll address that in version two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHello? This is Rimuru. Is King Gazel there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I began with \u201cHello\u201d in this world, too, as if that was the only logical option. It was too much of a habit to drop by now, so I didn\u2019t hesitate. But thanks to that (much to my bemusement), it had already become established contact-terminal etiquette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHello. I will call for His Highness. Would you mind waiting a few moments in the meantime?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I could hear panicked activity on the other end. I\u2019m sure they had someone trained in handling the terminal, but hearing my name must\u2019ve unnerved the person on the other end a bit. If the CEO of my old company called my desk phone out of nowhere, I\u2019d probably be freaking out, too. Maybe I should\u2019ve been a little more considerate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow rude to keep Sir Rimuru himself waiting!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shion was fuming about it already. If that\u2019s what you think, maybe I should\u2019ve had you<\/em> make the call, huh? Because I think that kinda falls under the job description of a secretary, doesn\u2019t it? But Shion never touched the contact terminal, and the reason was simple: She didn\u2019t know how to use it. Or maybe not that, exactly. I kept teaching her how it worked, but her thoughts were apparently too strong for the device to handle. Ever since she blew out one terminal, she\u2019d been kinda reluctant to try again\u2026 So really, she had no right to complain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPersonally, instead of relying on some gadget like this, I\u2019d use Spatial Transport to meet the man himself. In fact, I could bring King Gazel here, but what do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diablo was being his usual Diablo-ish bossy self, but I wasn\u2019t too concerned. The king had his own business, no doubt, so it\u2019d be more polite to set up an appointment first. It was my fault this time for calling him out of nowhere. It was natural that I\u2019d have to wait a bit\u2014and unreasonable to get angry at all about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u201cWell, if Sir Rimuru called for me without warning, it would be difficult not<\/em> to panic. I sympathize with the dwarf over there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hearing Geld say that, I silently wished some of that common sense would rub off on Shion and Diablo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In not even three minutes, I heard from Gazel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSorry for the wait. I was just thinking I should contact you before long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gazel\u2019s voice boomed from the speaker adjacent to the monitor. There was no image. Raphael was handling all the operations for me, so I could transmit whatever video I wanted\u2014but Gazel was still getting a grip on this, so he was probably sticking to audio only. Smart choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAh, good. I just wanted to confirm with you one more time about the way we\u2019ll divide up roles in our united force.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMmm, yes. That is important, but before that, I need to inform you of something. The Eastern gate into Dwargon is being blockaded by the Empire\u2019s force.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just as Gadora had warned. That was probably the force led by Yuuki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, we have it on-screen here. I\u2019ll send it to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pointed the Argos system toward imperial lands. It was a long distance, with a magical barrier in the way as well, so the image wasn\u2019t exactly clear\u2014but we could still see a crowd blocking the highway leading to the East gate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just like you told us, isn\u2019t it? When I heard about the enemy defector, I suspected it was a trap, but perhaps we can trust that man a little.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, I don\u2019t know yet. There\u2019s no doubt that Gadora\u2019s given up on the Empire, but I\u2019m not sure I\u2019d trust him right now. There\u2019s every chance he\u2019s being used without being aware of it, too. I\u2019d keep a watchful eye on him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHa! Tell me how you really feel, then! I\u2019m quite glad to hear that from you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gazel flashed me a joyful smile. I guess he was testing to see if I <\/a>was on my guard. He never stops playing the \u201cold training partner\u201d card with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow, Rimuru. The envoy I sent to the Empire is just being given the runaround by them, it seems. By our laws, Dwargon can launch the first attack only as a last resort. That\u2019s a disadvantage for us, but we dwarves pride ourselves on it, and so we must wait for the Empire to act. You don\u2019t need to join us in that credo, but what are your plans, exactly?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gazel\u2019s smile rapidly dissolved, replaced with a look of concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How should I interpret his intentions here?<\/em> I turned my eyes to Benimaru. He returned my gaze with an easy smile. We didn\u2019t even need to exchange words, so tuned in we were to each other. I exhaled, straightened myself up, and turned back toward the monitor. Watching the totally blank screen, I tried to sound as formal as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe imperial forces have invaded our territory without warning or permission. We cannot shut our eyes to this, and we are considering strong measures in response, including military options. Along those lines, as part of our alliance, I wanted to confirm your compliance with these measures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That sort of thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benimaru seemed satisfied with it. Shion happily nodded. Geld was virtually quaking with excitement, and Diablo was giddily taking down notes about something or other. I had no idea what he was writing or what he was going to do with those notes, but I was sure it was nothing good. Resolving to seize those from him afterward, I waited for Gazel\u2019s response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMmm! You\u2019re starting to sound more like a king every day. Excellent. You invited them so deep into your territory because you intended to intercept them here from the start, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course. We could have fought them at the border, considering the potential damage to our town\u2026but if we do that, they might try framing it as self-defense against a monster invasion or something later on. If they\u2019re in our lands, that stops them from claiming that, and it instills a sense of danger in the Western Nations, too. We\u2019ve already evacuated our citizens, and by this point, we\u2019ve got just cause to strike.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u201cHa-ha-ha-ha-ha! I like your force of personality, but I have to take points off for revealing all that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gazel laughed at me. He was the one who prodded me about it, and this was how he thanked me? But he wasn\u2019t done yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBe that as it may, I don\u2019t want anything slogging us down. With our militaries in particular, we can\u2019t afford to have any discord. So let me spell it out for you. I am going to leave our negotiations with the Empire to the Jura-Tempest Federation. If, after that, you decide open warfare is the option to take, then let the Armed Nation of Dwargon act on their alliance with Tempest and join the fray! And to avoid command-chain confusion during the war, we in Dwargon will focus strictly on defending our lands. Is that all right with you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ooh. That was a clearer answer than I expected. I thought that since the Dwarven Kingdom had a position of absolute neutrality, they wouldn\u2019t dare to interfere unless they were invading our territory. Benimaru and I had anticipated that as well, so I accepted the proposal without particular alarm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you. I feel a lot better hearing that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be silly. You must have expected this to happen from the beginning. It\u2019s the safest tactic, to be sure, but if our alliance forces ever run into trouble, at least we\u2019re justified to take action now. If you ever need us, feel free to tap our resources.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ah, how reliable of him. I had the backing of Dwargon, a nation undefeated for a millennium, and just having a place to run to in the event of defeat was enough to give me peace of mind in this fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll right. We\u2019ll send off our envoy as planned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will need to divide our forces between Central and the East in order to protect them. It\u2019s in our own interests to keep our army on the defensive, too. And be careful. This new \u2018tank\u2019 weapon is a complete question mark on the battlefield. Even looking at the Empire\u2019s equipment, something tells me that the age of the sword may be coming to an end. Forgive me for putting you in such a dangerous role.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gazel, perhaps out of concern, added that statement. No, I sure couldn\u2019t tell him to rest easy. As he said, we didn\u2019t know how these <\/a>magic tanks performed. So I decided to give him a warning, even though I didn\u2019t think it was necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBased on my own knowledge, I am aware of a weapon called a tank from my own world as well. They use controlled explosions of gunpowder to send metal shells flying through the air. It\u2019s a simple principle, although the mechanism it runs on is a lot more complex\u2014but with their power, range, and accuracy, it\u2019s an incredible weapon, I think. If these Empire-made magitanks run on a similar setup, there\u2019s a chance that current tactics can\u2019t handle them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gazel was right. The age of the sword would soon be over, and it was likely to bring about an even more violent battlefield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What would happen if you used magic instead of gunpowder to send shells flying? I had Raphael simulate that for me, and the results were terrifying. It turned out that, depending on the spell invoked, you could create a magical artillery shell (a magishell?) that was overwhelmingly more powerful than what a tank, the epitome of modern Earthly science, could launch. And we\u2019re talking a massive weapon, too\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you telling me that magic defenses won\u2019t work?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExactly. You\u2019d need a full Magic Barrier to fend it off. And given the power involved, you\u2019d need to redouble your defense with things like trenches and earthen walls.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI knew it. I suppose all of us think the same way. We, too, have been working on a \u2018magic-armor-soldier\u2019 project to prepare us for the new era. They might\u2019ve beaten us to the punch, but it\u2019s not like we have any right to complain, eh? So can we beat them, or what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tough question to answer. All I could give him was this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a matter of \u2018can we\u2019 or \u2018can\u2019t we,\u2019 really. We\u2019re just going to! That\u2019s all I can tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The words seemed to satisfy Gazel just as much as my friends here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHeh\u2026 Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Well, ain\u2019t that reassuring! Best of luck out there!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re on it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s how I ended my exchange with Gazel. As final confirmations went, I thought it was pretty good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u201cThat\u2019s all the confirmation you need, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt will suffice. We have a pledge from him that we can do whatever we like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I nodded my agreement with Benimaru. The time had come. Now that we\u2019d reached this point, we didn\u2019t have to wait for the Empire to make a move. We were all ready to go here, so why not kick things off officially? Justice was on our side. The imperial forces had invaded deep into the Forest of Jura\u2014that was demon lord territory, and there was no sugarcoating that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now we needed to negotiate things so we\u2019d look like we were panicked and definitely<\/em> not aware of every single thing they were up to. So who to order for it? Gobta and Gabil weren\u2019t exactly proper diplomats, and more importantly, they weren\u2019t very good negotiators. Especially Gabil\u2026 Looking back to our first encounter, I\u2019m never gonna send him<\/em> on any envoy work. So I decided to order Testarossa out. With her, at least, I knew she wouldn\u2019t get killed if the Empire decided to shoot first and ask questions later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe it was all a farce, but we did need to offer a promise. I think it\u2019s just fine to launch a preemptive attack without saying anything, but when you\u2019re a demon lord, the way you act kind of matters. So I sent off a Thought Communication to make the order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

As Rimuru and Gazel were talking on their contact terminals, Gobta\u2019s First Army Corps (with around twelve thousand soldiers) and Gabil\u2019s Third Corps (around three thousand) had gathered together behind the grand gate into the Dwarven Kingdom, approximately fifteen thousand in all. They had not entered the cave itself but were camped in a large open square at the outer edge. The evacuation of everyone in the inn town was successfully completed, and now they were waiting for the Empire\u2019s next move. No messenger had come from the Empire yet, no surrender order ferried to them, but everyone gathered here could sense that the war was about to begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dwarven army was also hurriedly preparing for combat. <\/a>The Royal Order of Dwarves consisted of seven divisions, and two of them\u2014the Engineering Division and the Magic Support Division\u2014were busily reinforcing the main gate and erecting a temporary barrier. An earthen wall, built up with earth magic, could have a fire spell applied to it to instantly make it stouter than a brick equivalent; enhance it even further, and you had a virtual barrier of iron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, in a very fluid process, a tri-layer defense wall was built outside the main gate\u2014and as work continued on it, the Royal Order\u2019s Heavy Strike Division sprang into action. The officers and soldiers were covered head to toe in magical gear, but despite that, they all nimbly lined up in formation. Some sort of event must have taken place\u2026but Gobta and his army didn\u2019t pay it much mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the dwarves busied themselves, the First and Third Corps were all relaxing in their own ways. Gobta and Gabil were sitting on the ground, having a friendly meal together. Next to them, for some reason, there was a table setting, complete with an extravagant parasol. Sitting on its white chairs were Testarossa and Ultima, who appeared to be enjoying a little tea party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were being served by Veyron, looking every part like a staffer at a tropical resort. Despite his advanced age, his back was fully straight in an amazing, statuesque posture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey, y\u2019know, this is really, really good! It feels so\u2026manly, yeah? Great stuff!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIndeed, my goblin friend! I am just as satisfied. This delicate flavoring\u2026and the more you chew, the more flavor seeps out of it. Truly a delight for the taste buds!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gobta and Gabil were offering high praise to a meal prepared by Zonda, Ultima\u2019s underling. It was a whole roast on the bone, like a cartoon snack for a caveman, simply seasoned with salt and herbs. This wasn\u2019t from the army\u2019s pantry; whatever it was, Zonda had gone out and hunted it himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a chef, it is a tremendous honor to have two army generals offer me such praise. My specialty is court palace cuisine, so this kind of camp food is out of my expertise. Please forgive me if anything displeases you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>With that, Zonda bowed gracefully and retreated to Ultima\u2019s side. His double-breasted chef\u2019s coat was a Shuna-crafted masterpiece, made from hellmoth silk and dyed the same shade of light purple as Zonda\u2019s hair. It certainly made him stand out from the armor and military dress he was surrounded by. Even Testarossa and Ultima were sporting custom-made military uniforms; Testarossa was wearing pants, and Ultima opted for a skirt, but both were unmistakably army gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was no surprise that Zonda stood out. He carried himself in an ever-so-sophisticated way, one that seemed unsuitable for the battlefield. He certainly brought a touch of class to this camp, and by now, he was indispensable. He had been teaching many of the soldiers the finer points of camp cuisine, winning their hearts and stomachs, and being Ultima\u2019s direct underling gave him a lot of freedom. Ultima being rather a free spirit herself, she had a lot of authority as an adviser to corps leader Gabil, and she wasn\u2019t afraid to use it. With her bold, proud demeanor, she had no problem overriding any and all complaints from the other demons. She was practically demonic royalty already, and only a small handful of people could dare offer a complaint to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not to my taste. You\u2019re not offering enough dishes, either. I wish there was more variety.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think you\u2019ve got a point there. Going with these roasts and this basic hot pot\u2014it\u2019s just way too skimpy. You\u2019ve come to know Shuna and Mr. Yoshida by now. Hone your skills and make yourself more useful to us!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike the effusive Gobta and Gabil, Testarossa and Ultima were not exactly fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m deeply sorry,\u201d Zonda meekly replied, before Gabil spoke up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, no, Zonda, not at all! And I\u2019m sure Ultima completely approves of your skill! The problem, I imagine, lies not in the taste.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sudden remark drew the attention of everyone around them. Testarossa looked intrigued, Ultima was peeved that someone was disagreeing with her, and Zonda was visibly shaken at the possibility that he just upset his boss. Veyron, meanwhile, was as unaffected as always.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TWO MISGIVINGS Gadora was at an impasse\u2014about two things, mainly. One, it went without saying, was about who might have been trying to murder him. If the assailant didn\u2019t even alert me to their presence, that lowers the range of possibilities greatly. I have my thoughts on their identity\u2026but\u2026 But Gadora admitted to himself, he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3603","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tak-berkategori"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3603","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3603"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3603\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3604,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3603\/revisions\/3604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3603"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3603"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3603"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}