Crackle, crackle...
I open my eyes to the sound of something burning.
The first things I see are castle walls collapsing as if they’d been bombed and buildings crumbling here and there.
Nearby, I can see soldiers who look like they’re from a medieval fantasy era, their faces blackened with soot.
There is no hope in their faces.
As I stand there blankly, unsure of what to do, a group approaches me.
It was a person in a robe who looked like a high-ranking Mage, along with their subordinates.
"Are you the mercenary we were expecting...? No, I must be mistaken. You should evacuate quickly. It's dangerous here."
"Ne?"
The person, who looked like a high-ranking combat Mage with red hair, gestured for me to get out quickly, their tone worried. They looked like they were about to press some money into my hand if I just stood there.
'I've been misunderstood...'
My clothes are just normal, comfortable modern attire.
Seeing my soft and curvy figure, they must have mistaken me for a non-combatant, as they were now looking around and muttering, ‘I’m sure they said it was here…’
The mercenary who was supposed to come here.
No matter how I look at it, that seems to be me.
Just as I was wondering how to explain this, in a situation similar to the 41st Floor,
[Tiring~]
[Defend the kingdom against the empire's invasion.]
The objective for this Trial arrives.
The theme of the 42nd Floor is 'Large-Scale War.'
It's a Floor where you're summoned to the losing side and have to turn the tide of the war to achieve victory.
'This is my favorite kind of Trial.'
It's not exactly mindless... but anyway, all I have to do is fight well.
That means there's no need to hide my power at all.
"No. I am that mercenary."
"Hmm... Child, are you all right? Did you hit your head..."
He looks at me with a worried expression.
"Eh...?"
That was an unexpected response.
I guess they'll only believe it if I show them.
Right now.
'Equip gear.'
Whirrrr~~ Clank!
I put on the Arcane Power Suit.
The equipment of over-technology drapes itself over my body.
Each and every molecular structure links in a chain reaction, and the suit glows with the rough flow of Mana moving from its auxiliary power source. Of course, I equipped it without the stuffy headpiece.
And over that, I release my Divine Power.
Wooooong… Fwaaat!!
A pink Divine Power spreads out wide.
And I use the Wave of Healing skill, stacking it multiple times.
All the injured soldiers nearby recover from their wounds, and those who have reached a certain level of mastery realize what kind of being I am.
“My wounds are healed!!”
“I was on the verge of death… this easily?”
"Gasp... Th-this power!!!"
"It's a miracle!!!"
A miracle.
For a being with as much Divine Power as me, just using a skill looks almost like a miracle.
"Is this sufficient?"
“…I have been rude, judging you by your appearance alone. Welcome.”
I had only changed into combat attire and shown a fraction of my power, but they believed me easily.
In fact, now they're watching my every move.
"How should we address you, my benefactor…”
The red-haired Mage who had first misunderstood me asks with an awkward expression.
“Please call me Lee Do-hee.”
I extend my hand, and he takes it.
"We are in your care, Lady Lee Do-hee."
I follow them into a large barracks tent.
“You have arrived, Your Majesty!!”
‘Eh… Your Majesty? The king came to greet me himself?’
He was dressed like he had just come from battle, so I thought he was one of the high-ranking Mages, but he's the king?
“Ah, I haven't introduced myself to Lady Lee Do-hee. I am Draca Ignis, the king of the Redwin Kingdom and a 7th Circle Mage.”
‘Oh… the king is the foremost Mage?’
The king is using honorifics for a mere mercenary?
That's not easy, no matter how virtuous a person is. This Trial seems like it will be quite rewarding to fight in.
“First, I will explain the current situation.”
However, the state of the war was worse than I thought.
“Within a month of the Voltia Empire declaring war, most of our castles have fallen.”
'The Voltia Empire... you again.'
This empire is a notoriously vicious nation, famous for appearing frequently in the Trials. The prison I was trapped in on the 11th Floor was also a Voltia Empire prison.
The king brings out a large map and marks half of the Redwin Kingdom with an X.
“The empire's new weapons were a complete counter to ours. You could call it the pinnacle of Magical Engineering. Our Mages are, frankly, having a very difficult time against their new weapons.”
The empire is said to have developed Magical Engineering to its extreme.
Magical engineering guns that fire bullets made of magic stones, magical engineering cannons… not only were the regular soldiers no match, but even the Mages were powerless.
But that wasn't the biggest reason the kingdom was being pushed back so helplessly on the front lines.
Mana suppression.
They developed a substance that suppresses Mana when inhaled, like a poison that scatters one's internal energy, and they sprinkle it like powder.
They either lay it out like a trap or load it into cannons and fire it to neutralize Mages in the vicinity.
Mages of the 5th Circle or lower can't even move their Mana, and even 7th Circle Mages can't use half of their usual magic power.
On top of that, the empire has mobilized a million soldiers for the invasion.
They neutralize the Mages and overwhelm the battlefield with superior weapons and numbers.
Pitched battles were out of the question, and in Siege Warfare, they would usually get battered by long-range artillery until they surrendered.
That wasn't all.
The advancement of Magical Engineering succeeded in the mass production of artificial Swordmasters.
Of course, they were far inferior to true Swordmasters who had raised their level through normal means, but their Defense Power and Aura were almost identical to that of a real Swordmaster.
'Crazy… mass-producing Swordmasters.'
Due to cost issues, there aren't that many, but they are still a formidable force.
The Redwin Kingdom was known as a sanctuary for Mages and possessed an overwhelming magical corps, especially in Flame Magic, but it had crumbled before the empire's technology.
But it's okay.
Because I'm here now, aren't I?
“We are the last remaining nation on this continent. It was a desperate situation, but thanks to you, we see hope.”
“That’s right. When this guy said he was going to hand over all the Royal Castle's treasures to the eastern continent, I wanted to smack him on the back of the head, you know?”
“We were even considering surrender… what a relief.”
“Hahaha!! Let’s give those empire bastards a taste of their own medicine!”
“It’s our turn to counterattack!!”
Everyone's faces light up.
Hope has bloomed in this place that was filled with only despair.
But just then, I feel something flying toward this place.
“Eo? Everyone, prepare your defensive barriers!”
"Ah, it's fine. We also have thorough preparations with our Defensive Magic Circle..."
BOOM!!!
With a powerful explosion, the entire barracks tent evaporates.
'You said you had a Defensive Magic Circle!!!'
I can't even argue.
The one who said that was already blown to bits and dead.
The power of the artillery was stronger than I thought.
It was on the level of a modern tank, devastating a 10-meter radius in a single shot.
And this wasn't the only one that came flying.
Dozens of artillery shells are flying from the sky.
The castle walls hit by the bombardment crumble with a roar, and the inside of the castle begins to be instantly devastated.
BOOM-BA-BA-BA-BOOM!!!
Most of those who were just talking of hope were killed instantly, and the soldiers I had healed outside disappear into a handful of ash.
"......"
“Keuk… I’m sure Schtetal was guarding the Defensive Magic Circle, so eojjaeseo…”
All the civilian officials are dead, and only the king and a few high-ranking Mages, who barely blocked the shelling, come to their senses.
“Lady Lee Do-hee… I beg of you.”
“Yes, the Magic Circle was breached, right? You should head over there first. I will take care of the enemies.”
It's only natural that a failing kingdom would have a traitor.
'You picked the wrong side.'
I don't know who it is, but now that I'm here, I will turn this war into a victory.
THUD!!
I kick off the ground and leap high into the sky.
I can see the magical artillery shells flying from a distance.
'The destructive power is so great, it's a wonder the Mages have held out this long.'
It wouldn't be surprising to say the empire's technology is already at the level of the mid-1900s.
“But, you picked the wrong opponent.”
Finding the origin point of shells flying through the sky, far surpassing the speed of sound, is a piece of cake.
[Meteor Spear]
A pink line is drawn across the sky.
Along with the spear, I fly tens of kilometers in an instant and fall right onto the enemy's artillery position.
A fall like a meteor.
KWAAAAAAAANG!!!
The magical engineering cannons are shattered, and the surroundings are devastated.
“Wh-what just flew in!!”
“Is it a Mage? Throw the Mana suppression grenades!”
They grab something like a grenade and try to fire Mana suppression rounds, but in the first place, I use Divine Power, and even if it were Mana, it wouldn't have mattered.
[Holy Arrow]
I float hundreds of arrows imbued with pink Divine Power in the air and rain them down on those who survived the aftermath of the explosion.
SHUSHUSHUSHUSHUK!!
“Wh-what is th— Kuaaaack!”
“R-run away!”
The imperial soldiers collapse one after another. The magical artillery unit that the empire prided itself on was gone in an instant.
“Next.”
I don't stop here.
When I looked at the map earlier, this kind of battlefield was spread out over hundreds of kilometers.
'I'll do the work of sixteen people all by myself.'
I spread my Divine Power wide to sense the enemies.
Support units, infantry units, and various other imperial forces are detected.
'There's a crazy number of them.'
I sense a large-scale Base nearby where tens of thousands of combat troops are gathered.
PANG!
I leap high into the sky.
[Meteor Spio Fall]
My spear plummets toward that place.
As of today, the tide of battle has turned.
A short while later.
In the meeting room of the high-ranking officials of the Imperial Army.
This place is located a little far from the front lines.
“Reports are coming in from all sides. What in the world is that?”
They were watching a video of Lee Do-hee.
Lee Do-hee, wearing the Arcane Power Suit.
She is practically flying through the air, literally pulverizing the empire's main forces and strongholds in an instant.
“Does this… even make sense?”
"......"
A single spear she throws causes a massive explosion, killing thousands in a group.
And this isn't even an ultimate skill. As if she has Mana to spare, she's using it left and right.
Watching the scene, someone voices their honest feelings.
“It’s a scene like an apostle of a god delivering punishment.”
THUD!
“Don’t be ridiculous! There are no gods anymore. Hasn't that been scientifically proven?”
“Well… upon measuring the power output, it was determined that she is not a Mana user. She is measured to be using Divine Power.”
“Damn it!! The damn cults will start acting up again. Maintain security on this information!"
Until recently, the empire had harshly suppressed religion.
They framed the leaders of famous religions as cultists and executed them, and they forcibly administered Mysterious Poison to Saintesses and priestesses, turning them into porn actors.
But now a Divine Power user has appeared again. Doesn't this completely contradict the empire's claim that the gods have abandoned this continent?
And the sight of Lee Do-hee's spear striking down upon them gives the feeling of Divine Retribution.
'This must never be made public. The very foundation of the empire could be shaken.'
Vermouth Oriant.
The Commander-in-chief of this war, he decides to strictly enforce a gag order to prevent this fact from ever leaking out.
And so they hold a meeting on how to deal with Lee Do-hee, but no answer comes to mind.
The most realistic method, at least, is,
“Gather the Swordmasters in one place, set an ambush, and launch a surprise attack. If we use Mana-shielding technology, the opponent won't be able to detect them either.”
“Damn it, those Redwin Kingdom bastards, who in the world did they bring in… Prepare the detailed operation.”
Thus begins the empire's desperate effort to capture Lee Do-hee.
"We must capture her. There can be no obstacles to our empire!"
THUD!!
The Commander-in-chief's eyes blaze as he slams his fist on the desk.