A few days after Lily scattered across the sky of the Atlas Desert.
I arrived at the corner training ground of the first layer, “Ruined City,” under my management.
The purpose was once again to unveil the prototype weapon.
“Let me see, the Empire’s new model or whatever.”
“Why do you sound so distant? The Empire is your own country.”
I got a serious response from Simon to a line I just wanted to say, and I felt slightly embarrassed, but since it was just family this time, I didn’t have to put on airs and it felt relaxed.
“Lily’s is a new model, too.”
“Until we confirm her safe operational status, riding her is strictly prohibited.”
Lily, who had exploded spectacularly, returned in one piece. The “Fairy Barrier” is no joke!
Even though it had an accidental detonating incident, since it was somewhat like a part of my magic, it seemed to be in a state that made it easy to be defended by the barrier.
That said, that level of explosion was certainly too dangerous. It warrants a strict warning.
I thought about how it wasn’t appropriate for a Marshal to make a blunder in front of so many people, but looking at Lily, who survived the huge explosion unscathed, my awe only deepened. That wasn’t the kind of demonstration I aimed for.
In any case, I never want to go through that again. It chilled me to the bone.
“Simon, I’m counting on you too.”
“I’ll do what I can…”
Please don’t make that obvious troubled face. If dealing with Lily’s whims is too much, feel free to call me anytime. I promise I’ll rush over. We’re best friends, right?
“For now, I think Lily will behave herself today.”
I have her sitting on my knees, so she won’t just wander off on her own.
“Got it. Then let’s get started right away. Um, first—Prim’s machine, launch!”
With the now-familiar sound of a boost dash, an ancient armor charged in.
Prim’s “Hellhound” had fought alongside me in the Spada Defense and Avalon Liberation battles, so I was well aware of its specifications.
That’s why I immediately noticed that the speed was clearly increased just by observing it running toward us.
Kicking up dust, Prim arrived before us in no time.
“Wow, you’ve really modified it quite a bit.”
Its appearance had changed significantly from the original “Hellhound,” looking like a completely different machine.
While the black armor with red lines was still there, it was now adorned with crimson additional armor in various places. The neck, chest, waist, knees, and elbows were reinforced with new additions, making it visibly larger than before.
The most eye-catching added armor was on the shoulders. The helmet of the “Hellhound” had a wolf-like shape, but it seemed that the same type of helmet was reused, with the upper jaws of wolves placed on each shoulder.
With the appearance of having three heads,
“Prim’s dedicated machine ‘Cerberus.’ Isn’t it better than just calling it ‘Modification’?”
“That’s exactly right.”
The name represents the thing itself. It’s a naming that leaves no room for complaints.
“I can’t believe you managed to modify it this much in such a short time after just returning from Avalon.”
“I’ve been tinkering with the ‘Hellhound’ since my time in Spada. I’m used to it, and I’ve been thinking of remodeling ideas for a while. Since I came here, we have the materials, personnel, and facilities, so I had the luxury to build it.”
So, after returning from Avalon, it was just a matter of incorporating the prepared modification parts.
And it seems she’s about to confirm the fruits of that modification here now.
“Simply put, since the output has increased, the enhanced armor compensates for the added weight, allowing for more than sufficient speed, and the weapon’s power and capacity have also grown.”
“I see. So everything—attack, defense, speed—has risen.”
“I think the reason the specs have improved this much is that the ether reactor can be strengthened, and the magical circuits are being optimized as Prim gains combat experience…”
“But?”
“The increase has exceeded what it theoretically should be. Could it be that Prim has gained some kind of blessing recently?”
“Eh, no, I haven’t heard anything like that…”
Well, since she’s right in front of me, I should just ask.
“Hey, Prim, have you ever received a blessing from a god?”
“Nope.”
With that adorable voice, the already hefty ancient armor looked even bulkier from modifications.
“See? She says she hasn’t.”
“I see. Hmm, I can’t help but think that Prim’s own magical power has increased…. Well, as long as she’s getting stronger, it’s fine.”
With that, Simon moved on to the next introduction.
“Over here are the familiar ‘Hellhounds,’ and we finally have a decent number of them.”
Eighteen “Hellhounds” appeared in total.
It was my first time seeing this many together. It was quite a spectacular sight.
“With this, all of my ‘Heavy Cavalry Corps’ will be equipped with ancient armor.”
“Yes, my lord. All personnel have received ‘Hellhound.’”
Simon’s deputy, Ain, responded.
Everyone was wearing the same gear, making it hard to differentiate them by appearance, but even in their natural bodies, homunculi generally look quite similar, so it’s difficult to tell them apart by default.
Still, I’ve managed to recognize at least the faces of my own unit.
“Wonderful. This will significantly enhance the unit’s mobility and strike power. You’re going to be made to do more than you have so far, so be prepared.”
“Yes, I will follow you to the depths of hell. Of course, there’s no need for you to push forward alone anymore.”
“No, don’t worry about that.”
Isn’t it often the case that I fight alone even with an entire unit leading? I receive admonishments from Lily and the others about this.
Even in Avalon, I would sometimes stop reinforcement units coming from the royal castle all by myself while just providing cover, but the configuration does take individual combat power into account… In any case, if everyone is wearing ancient armor, the danger of fighting right beside me should decrease, so there should be some improvement.
“Really?”
“I mean it.”
Lily, sitting on my knees, sensed my thoughts and looked at me suspiciously.
It’s really fine. So please don’t blame Prim or Ain, alright? Both of them have been great at covering for me.
“And as for today’s introduction, this is actually the main event…”
“Oh? There’s even more?”
“Yes, the armored armor ‘Black Demon,’ launch!”
What emerged was a black ancient armor similar to the “Hellhound”—no, it’s different.
Although it ran exuding ether light, its output was considerably lower, and the magical energy’s aura that drifted from it was of a different quality.
This “Black Demon” was not a restoration of an excavated ancient armor.
“Could it be that you created a new ancient armor?”
“Yes, it’s been constructed with modern magical technology, so it’s not an ancient armor, but an armored armor… which is what the Crusaders call it, right?”
The Crusaders had already completed the new equipment called armored armor, developed based on ancient armor.
It boasted the mobility of cavalry, the defense of heavy cavalry, and even long-range attacks via light magic, making it a powerful weapon.
I first saw them when I went with Lily to Parthia to accept a quest, nearly a year ago. Now, improvement must have progressed even further and mass production is likely underway.
“If they can create an armored armor with performance approaching that of genuine ancient armor, then we have to make something just as good to compete with them.”
“Indeed. Cavalry armored units equipped in Nero’s Great Expedition Army were seen during the departure parade. It’s hard to believe it’s just for show, so it’s certain they’ve already been deployed in actual combat.”
“Right. From the remains of the armored armor we defeated in Parthia, we were able to grasp its rough performance and structure.”
According to Simon’s explanation, the Crusader’s armored armor also uses ether, meaning it operates on white magic power as its power source.
The role of supplying that white magic power is handled by the priests of the Cross Religion.
“I think it’s incredibly well-crafted. In order to operate the armored armor, there must be a priest with white magic power. Even if we obtain it, we won’t be able to operate it without the priests. The same goes for the Crusaders; it can’t be used without borrowing the Church’s influence, so the more widespread it is, the more the Church’s power grows.”
“I see. It’s likely marketed as a holy armor blessed by divine protection.”
Not only does it prevent being exploited by the enemy, but it also secures an operational advantage over allies. Should I call it wicked, or should I call it savvy?
“So, how about this ‘Black Demon’?”
“Of course, the power source is ether from black magic.”
“Isn’t the number of practitioners who can use black magic rather limited?”
“Only dark mages and a few priests; it’s really quite restricted. So, we can’t set up a system where the priests supply it like the Cross Religion.”
“What are we going to do then?”
“The only option is to prepare batteries filled with ether.”
Fortunately, with facilities such as the Sky Battleship Shangri-La and fusion reactors, ether can be supplied.
It would mean producing batteries for armored armor at a site that has equipment to supply ether.
“I wonder which is more efficient: relying on priests or this?”
“It’s hard to say. If the Crusaders monopolize battery sales through the Church, they can employ a similar method. If they have a priest, it might be more advantageous because they can supply on-site.”
“In that case, our success will depend on the battery’s performance and supply.”
Regarding supply systems, it will likely be difficult with alliances across nations, but for our Elroad Empire Army, it shouldn’t be a complicated issue. Such is the strength of an overwhelming dictatorial regime.
In terms of manufacturing, common standards can be established from the start. If various places independently produced their unique batteries leading to a plethora of different standards in the market, it would be challenging to unify. It would be no joke if, on the battlefield, different specifications appeared that looked similar at a glance but couldn’t be used—what a disaster that would be.
“So, what about performance?”
“Sure, it’s inferior to the ‘Hellhound,’ but you’ll see just how well it can hold up from now on.”
I see, that’s the purpose of this experiment.
“By the way, I’ve asked Sariel and her infantry unit to handle the ‘Black Demon.’”
“Eh, could that be Sariel?”
“Yes, Master. I am Sariel.”
The leading figure waved back in response.
Everyone was equipped similarly and didn’t even have a cross spear, so I was seriously unable to tell. But as a test pilot, she’s the ideal choice.
Sariel has high physical capabilities, of course, and her precise control of power is astounding. She won’t go wrecking things out of excess strength; she’ll surely maximize performance right up to the limit.
“Well then, let’s randomly circulate through the dungeon for a real test.”
“I want to see it up close. I’ll accompany you.”
“I’m going too—!”
“Lily, you’re too strong against the undead, so you’ll just be watching.”
“Big brother, you can’t really handle zombies either, so just watch, okay?”
Oh, I thought I could finally dive into a dungeon after a long time, so I ended up speaking as if I would fight myself.
“…After this, I want to go dungeon-crawling as an ‘Element Master’—it’s been a while.”
“No way, that’s not allowed. You have work lined up, right, Your Majesty the Demon King?”
I was admonished by Simon, who had a sly look, and I slumped my shoulders.
Recently, I, Demon King Chrono, wanted a break.
The practical test of the newly deployed “Hellhound” and “Black Demon” went smoothly.
Both displayed the performance Simon had reported—basically confirmed to be at the level where they could be deployed in actual combat.
There was no need to say much about the “Hellhound,” which Prim had already accumulated operational achievements with, but the “Black Demon” was quite impressive as well.
With boost dash speed and armor that boasted sturdiness exceeding mere iron plates by circulating ether, it managed to balance the mobility of cavalry with the defense of heavy cavalry. Thanks to the artificial muscles equipped according to its basic framework, the power assist functioned as well.
As long as the black magic power supplied from the battery holds out, these powers—speed and toughness—are guaranteed.
Conversely, if the battery runs out, it becomes just a heavy armor for the majority of soldiers who cannot replenish their own black magic power. It’s natural to pay attention to the remaining energy, and it’s also crucial to devise ways not to waste ether.
One of those strategies might be the lack of weapons that cast attack magic.
The armored armor of the Cross Religion was firing attack magic like light magic bullets called “Continuous Fire” from an arm gun integrated into the arms.
Similar weapons could probably be made if needed, but using them would inevitably consume ether.
Thus, the main weapon of “Black Demon” was decided to be a gun.
It was equipped with a recently completed heavy machine gun called “Firefly.” Typically, it’s a weight meant to be stationary, but an armored armor has the power to handle it. In games, I’ve swung around mini-guns while donning powered suits, so it’s basically something like that.
The “Black Demon,” carrying a heavy machine gun and a vast amount of ammunition, should be able to deliver enough firepower. At the very least, it could sweep away a horde of zombies.
The assault rifle is still under development, and the only rapid-fire guns available are large machine guns. However, even for bolt-action rifles, with “Black Demon,” it might be feasible to equip it with a larger caliber rifle that boosts power.
Alternatively, similar to the armored knights of the Cross Religion, melee weapons like halberds and large shields could also serve as the main armament. For those confident in weapon handling and martial arts, a melee configuration may prove easier to handle than a firearm and allow them to demonstrate their strength more effectively.
Since the base “Black Demon” itself has already been completed, what we need now are variations tailored to combat situations and individual qualities—when I mentioned this, Simon perked up. After all, dedicated equipment and additional arms are a dream, right? But having too many will definitely complicate things on the battlefield.
“With this, we should be able to organize an armored knight corps to oppose their armored armor.”
For now, we’ve secured a means to counter one of the threats posed by the enemies we’ve already identified.
However, the armored knight corps equipped with “Black Demon” would be a newly established unit unlike any before. There would be no operational track record. Arguably, my ‘Heavy Cavalry Corps’ might be somewhat similar, but even that hasn’t had sufficient battle history yet.
The question remains whether we can conduct efficient unit operations.
Then, of course, there’s also the issue of supply and maintenance.
Though “Black Demon” isn’t ancient armor, it is the most advanced weapon, incorporating the best of modern magical technology. It’s not something the local town’s blacksmiths and magicians can easily tinker with.
We need to develop not only the knights themselves but also specialized technical positions for maintenance.
“Since the siege of Beldoria is approaching… I’d like to somehow manage it to deploy the armored knight corps for experimental purposes.”
Hmm, this might be another case of pushing Simon too hard.
As the Emperor of the Elroad Empire, Demon King Chrono can flex people, goods, and money, but he can’t extend time, dubbed deadlines. If only someone with abilities to manipulate time freely would come forward, the Empire Army is always recruiting.
“If it doesn’t work out, at least the Heavy Cavalry Corps is fine…”
Just having the “Hellhound” numbers ready is an impressive achievement. Any ambitious king might mistakenly think, “Could it be that I could unify the continent!?”
The members of my heavy cavalry corps seem to be engaged in rigorous training day and night to become proficient in the operation of the “Hellhound.” I’d like to take a little more time to personally instruct them on combat in ancient armor, much like when I used to be bored in a rural village in Dakia.
Now, I should avoid saying, “Go boost-dash!” too. I can’t really criticize Fiona either.
“Still… Prim’s growth has been remarkable.”
As Simon had pointed out, Prim’s magical power had clearly increased.
Ancient armor doesn’t use batteries but directly utilizes the wearer’s magical power. Therefore, the individual’s magical power is directly reflected in the output.
The “Cerberus,” which has undergone modifications and recently became a dedicated model, is consuming ether significantly more than the “Hellhound.” That, in turn, has contributed to a significant increase in output, but during today’s test, Prim had unreservedly displayed that elevated performance.
Afterward, she didn’t appear particularly exhausted, and it’s hard to believe she hasn’t significantly increased her magical power compared to before.
This indeed leads one to wonder if she received a blessing.
“But, you know, sudden growth can happen too.”
Gone were the days when her responses were questionable; having experienced two wars, it seems Prim has grown significantly, which moved me a bit.
This is truly her growth period. I hope she continues to do her best as the ace of the heavy cavalry corps.