Rrrripââ!
With the sound of tearing plastic, a part of space crumpled as a dimensional gate opened. Black slime dripped from the gap.
Splat, splat.
The black substances squirmed. They moved as if scouting their surroundings, then slowly began to change shape. These were the demons, the enemies of the Empire.
They had already adapted to "humans" for a long time. In the early days of the Eastern Front, they were close to humanoid slimes, but now they had diversified into countless forms.
Look. Look at those terrible creatures.
Tick. Tick. Tidick.
"I. Ah. Aah."
Blink. Blink.
"D. Ad. G."
Parts of human bodies grew haphazardly from their black forms. They were imitating. These creatures had mimicked human appearances to make them their strength.
Not just humans.
Creak. Flap, whoosh.
One entity imitated a wyvern and took flight. Another mimicked a mole and burrowed into the ground, while yet another imitated a plant and took root.
It was an "adaptation" that seemed to accelerate the evolution of a species millions of times faster.
"...Additional dimensional gate observed. Type: standard. But the location is unfavorable. 5th Unit, retreat immediately. I repeat. 5th Unit, retreat immediately."
The scout sent a signal to the soldiers deployed in the field. The dimensional gate had opened in a position that blocked their retreat path, and it would be troublesome if a full-scale invasion began.
Through his telescope, he could see the soldiers hastily retreating. They swung their swords and tore scrolls to shake off the demons as they ran toward the west where the main force was stationed.
But one of them was acting strangely.
One soldier clutched his head and staggered as if suffering from a headache. He seemed to be succumbing to brainwashing. According to Eastern Front combat doctrine, allies affected by demon brainwashing must overcome that state on their own.
Because...
"Hey, are you okay?! We can't waste time here. Hurry and run... ugh."
"You, you, you you, you, demon, you, I'll kill you."
"Snap out of it, I'm, I'm an ally...!"
The comrade who tried to help him got caught up and died.
The soldier completely possessed by mind magic firmly gripped the neck of the other soldier who had tried to rescue him. Then he opened his mouth wide. Black tentacles crawled out from his throat.
When completely possessed by a demon's "Illusion Magic," the victim becomes a 'human dimensional gate.' They become a human factory, continuously spewing out demons until death.
Even without direct contact with demons, just being affected by their illusion magic causes infection.
No one knows how this is possible. The higher-ups spouted complicated theories about demons being 'information lifeforms,' but he didn't pay attention. Knowing wouldn't help prevent it anyway.
"Kuh, kuh, kuhk!"
A muffled scream was heard. It sounded like someone choking, like something caught in their throat, but more desperate and tragic than anyone else's cry.
Another soldier lost everything he had. This time it was physical infection. The demon transformed its tentacles into black slime and slid down the soldier's windpipe. His stomach swelled enormously.
Could he be saved?
No.
"Urk, aaaaargh-!"
It consumed him from the inside out. Like a plant growing from soil, the demon bloomed using the soldier's body as a pot. Horns and scales burst through his skin.
About five minutes later, he had become a tree.
The organic matter and soul of a soldier physically infected by the malignant information lifeform were transformed into the same information lifeform structure as the demon, producing more demons.
If the Mad Magician were here, he would have described demons as "viruses" in every sense.
According to research, even a soldier in that state... remains conscious. He must feel every part of himself turning into a demon. Even if miraculously rescued, he would suffer severe amnesia.
The scout lowered his telescope and silently mourned.
The Eastern Front is hell.
===============================================================
The scout marked an X on his map. It indicated land lost due to the sudden appearance of a dimensional gate. Such incidents happened quite frequently.
This was why the war with the demons continued endlessly despite the Empire's might.
No matter how many times they were uprooted and killed, they kept appearing from thin air. Even if an area was scorched to the ground, one couldn't claim to have occupied it. Another dimensional gate could open there, starting the chaos all over again.
Additionally, their attacks on both mind and matter made them difficult to counter.
War is undoubtedly miserable. And there are limits to the stress humans can endure. Repeatedly witnessing comrades die in horrific ways inevitably shakes one's mental state.
Then their minds would be consumed by demons, and they would live as 'human dimensional gates.'
It's not that the demons are impressive for not being eradicated despite the Empire's might. What's impressive is that the Empire has maintained the front line against these horrific monsters that seem designed to kill humans.
Click, clack.
The scout chewed and swallowed a white pill from a medicine bottle in his pocket. It was a drug made by military illusion mages that made one less sensitive to stress.
He walked across the desolate land. Due to frequent bombardments from the Red Tower, more of the earth was scorched or hardened than intact.
It would take about half a day to return to the nearest outpost. He felt hungry. He needed to replenish his nutrition, at least simply, while moving.
Then, by chance, he spotted a tree laden with bananas standing prominently along his path. What luck! He could eat his fill with those. No, he could eat until his stomach burst! Plenty!
"...Ha. Right. I'd be full to death."
Just like the soldier he had seen earlier.
The scout slapped his cheek hard. That was either a disguised demon or an illusion created by one. The obvious lie suggested it was a low-ranking entity.
High-ranking demons that had manifested in this world and survived for a long time were much more cunning.
Therefore, on the Eastern Front, one must always eat in safe zones, and when forced to replenish nutrients outside, one should consume only food brought along.
He took an apple from his pocket.
"......"
Red. A ripe apple. And green leaves.
The texture was firm, and it had a sweet smell. But something was off. There should be a stem between the leaves and the fruit, but this apple had none.
Blink. When he closed his eyes and opened them again.
Squirm. Squirm.
That deliciously ripe apple had vanished, replaced by a monster with thin tentacles searching for blood vessels. It was a small scout entity of the demons.
Squish. He crushed it with his hand and threw the entire pocket that had contained the apple onto the ground. Then he stomped on it mercilessly with his boot. Squish. Squish.
Squish. Squish. Squish.
===============================================================
The scout returned to a nearby outpost.
Looking around to count the personnel... ten comrades with dilated pupils from long-term use of stress stabilizers, and one illusion mage deplyed to block the demons' illusion magic.
The soldiers who had retreated at his signal were nowhere to be seen. They were gone. He prayed they had reached another outpost, but realistically, the chances were slim.
They had probably all died on the way.
A middle-aged man rattling magic handcuffs looked at him while drinking alcohol. He was the illusion mage of this outpost.
He was a death row inmate, brought to the Eastern Front after being accused of misusing hypnosis on a nobleman's wife.
"You came back without dying. As expected of a veteran. Got any secrets, hm?"
The scout didn't mind the mage's seemingly sarcastic tone. He had no heart left to be scratched by such trivial matters. He asked matter-of-factly:
"...Mage. Any news?"
"What news?"
"About the Princess. The Princess who left for the capital, when is she coming back? Have you received any communication?"
"Heh, heheh... You're still looking for that woman? The fool who abandoned the Eastern Front and ran with bloodshot eyes to become Emperor, only to have the throne stolen by her own sibling?"
The scout showed his intention through action rather than words. He drew his sword.
"Whoa. You still believe in her?"
"She's not that kind of person."
"You talk as if you're her husband."
Yes. Such rumors had been circulating on the front for some time now. That Princess Elaine had abandoned the Eastern Front.
But that couldn't be true. The scout believed so.
He remembered.
When he thought he was surrounded by demons with no escape, he remembered Elaine's appearance and gaze as she broke through hordes of demons alone, wrapped in a storm of Blood Wind. Those eyes weighed down by a mountain of duty.
That figure was iron molded into human form.
From that moment, the scout became Elaine's follower. He believed that she would someday become Emperor and save this land.
Even if she truly had abandoned the Eastern Front. That fact wouldn't erase her previous dedication.
Elaine is the hope of the Eastern Front. No, she was the hope. Her Blue Wind Knights easily cut down demons, and she devoted about 20 hours a day to battle. The Eastern Front was maintained through that effort and dedication.
But when Sissel Urensto, the strongest knight of the Eastern Front, defected, and Elaine left her post for the War for the Throneâthe front line began to waver.
As did people's hearts.
The mage sneered.
"Sure, she's an outstanding person. But you know this battlefield won't change with just one person. Look at this land. How do you deal with monsters that keep coming no matter how many you kill? Even if the Black Dragon Emperor returned, this place is doomed."
"......"
"I know you're holding onto hope. Yes... I heard your superior was possessed by demons. But you need to face reality now. The Eastern Front won't disappear, humans consumed by demons won't return, and this war won't end."
He spewed heavy pessimism and took another drink.
The scout... let out a heavy, silent sigh. It sounded like the exhale of an exhausted person, or the death rattle of someone dying.
Is that so?
Is there no hope?
His mind felt increasingly empty. He had been barely holding onto a thread of hope, but his grip was weakening. Perhaps it would be better to just let go and find peace...
===============================================================
That's when it happened.
Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep.
Regular noise came from the mage's communication crystal. It was a top-priority signal, a commander's order that needed immediate execution.
"...Has she returned? The Princess?"
"Decode the signal. Now. It must be carried out immediately."
"Don't rush me. I got it. So... 'Don't be surprised'..."
Don't be surprised?
The mage burst into laughter. What was there not to be surprised about? This place was crawling with soldiers who had fought terrible demons their entire lives. Their nerves were already worn to the breaking point.
"What, is Her Highness the great Princess planning to inspect us naked? That would certainly make me flip in surprise. Flip indeed."
"......"
"Alright, don't be so serious. I can't even make a joke withoutâhuh?"
The mage, who had shrunk back and waved his hand, realized that the scout's silence was of a different nature. He was staring at something incredible, mouth agape, at a loss for words.
The mage also turned his head. And there...
Thud. Thud. Thud.
A giant golem, reaching 100 meters in height, stood tall.
"...?"
"...?!"
What the hell is that?
-"Meteor, operating at 70%. Stable. No issues. Beginning elimination of demon distribution areas. Boosters activate!"
Whoosh!
The giant golem, visible even from beyond the mountain peak, swung its arm. Black specks could be seen flying high into the sky in the distance. Those were probably demons.
Disguise, absorption, whateverâwhen the size difference was this great, even demons seemed powerless. They popped into the air like corn kernels in a popcorn machine.
"...Is, is this the Empire's secret weapon or something?"
"......"
While the two blinked in bewilderment, a pillar of divine power struck down from the sky.
Whooooshââ!!
Again, demons were ground up. Even from a distance, the smoke from their roasting was clearly visible. The mage was so surprised he rebooted his mental barrier, thinking he might be under hypnosis.
"...That's reinforcement from the Goddess Cult? How much money did they pay? Those crazy misers won't move unless the Empire's treasury is completely emptied..."
Soon, an army appeared over the horizon.
There were so many flags it was dizzying, and somehow an incredible number of forces seemed to have gathered in one place. Particularly noticeable were the flags of Elaine and Irid fluttering side by side.
What's going on? Wasn't Elaine pushed out of the succession race? Weren't the imperial descendants at each other's throats?
By this point, the mage and the scout were trembling.
"No, no. Let's calm down. Don't get excited. It might just be a show. Don't get your hopes up!"
"......"
Eventually, several human shadows began running toward them at high speed. Their faces looked young. They appeared to be barely twenty years old. In mercenary terms, they were just starting to gain experience.
But their movements...
Tap. Tap!
They jumped again in mid-air...?
"If our Sword Drawing Unit gets more kills, you Spear Unit must humbly acknowledge that sword drawing is the king of all techniques and submit!"
"I keep telling you that friction heat from the scabbard and all that is physically wasteful!"
Rumble.
Only after they passed by did the mage snap back to reality. They shouldn't go like that. They need to receive mental barrier treatment. At least they should take medicine to avoid the demons' hypnosis.
This world had never paid attention to illusion magic. Those young ones probably didn't even know what a mental barrier was. They needed to be told!
"W-wait! It's dangerous to go like that! Illusion magic...!"
"Damn, falling for that would be a disgrace to the Academy."
"If anyone gets hypnotized and misses a strike, their name will be permanently displayed on the Academy dormitoy scoreboard."
"......"
Why...?
The scout beside him barely managed with drugs, experience, and all sorts of struggles, so why were these young people unaffected by the demons' illusion magic?
"Ex-excitement, don't get excited..."
The mage barely suppressed the cheer rising to his throat. His pessimistic and cynical nature was making its last stand.
"â"Subtraction.""
But when a girl flying through the sky shot a purple beam that would make any illusion mage's knees weak just by looking at it.
The mage finally cheered, hugging the scout next to him.
"We're saved! Fuck, we're saved, you bastard!"
"Mage, stop making such a fuss...!"
It's different.
This time it's different. Really different!
Those living on the Eastern Front finally saw a clear hope.