Nero headed towards Linfeldt, leaving Nel behind in the tent that served as the command center for the Great Expedition Army.
The only remaining prisoner, or rather the messenger of the Demon King’s army, Nel had little time to care about her treatment. The moment Nero casually revealed himself before Chrono, the outcome was already decided.
Reports filled with shouts and screams echoed through the command center, making it clear that Nero had successfully dragged the ‘Black Demon King’ into this conflict.
With the Thirteenth Apostle Nero, the last and greatest hope left for the Great Expedition Army, isolated by Dimensional Magic, the Demon King’s army began their assault on the main base with ease.
“Well then, it’s time for me to go too.”
Speaking to no one in particular, Nel stood up and walked straight out of the command center’s tent.
Some officers raised their voices to stop her, but when they were glared at by Nel, who bore the name of ‘Anti-Cross’, they fell silent in that instant.
With Nero gone, there was no one in the command center, packed with high-ranking officers of the Great Expedition Army, who could restrain Nel. The knights assigned to guard here were merely sycophants, bearing the title of Imperial Guard.
The truly exceptional elite knights had long since been sent to the battlefield of Re.
Thus, the ones who blocked Nel as she exited the command center were the Neo-Avalon Imperial Guards, the only remaining combat reserves left at the main base.
“Please return to the command center, Princess Nel.”
“You are, if I recall correctly, Rute.”
Standing before Nel with a composed expression that seemed hard to believe in the midst of a battlefield was Rute, a young knight who had been appointed as the unit commander of the Imperial Guard.
His name was Rute. He was a boy from a family that had not stood out particularly in Avalon, a status that normally wouldn’t allow someone of Nel’s celestial stature to remember his face or name.
However, as soon as he spoke, Nel remembered the tension in his face, realizing he was none other than Celis’s fiancé, her dear friend.
Why had Celis, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Arclight, chosen to take in a man of such a lower status? She had wondered about this since their time at the Imperial Academy but now understood it was due to the importance of their connection as part of the Cross Religion.
In other words, he was also a traitor from the beginning.
“You are still a princess of Avalon. It is unacceptable for any harm to come to you… However, the order I received from His Majesty the Holy King is to ensure you do not return to the Demon King, no matter what happens.”
“Will you not let me through? There is no need to shed any more needless blood.”
Ignoring Rute’s warning like a gentle breeze, Nel continued to walk without hesitation.
Knowing words alone would not stop her, Rute drew his sword from its sheath. Moreover, to support him, the knights under his command formed a barricade around Nel.
“Stop right there. This is your final warning.”
“It seems there is no choice then. I must force my way through—”
“No, that will not be necessary, Princess Nel.”
At that resolute voice, Rute instinctively turned around.
“Celis… senpai…”
“I have come to escort you, Princess Nel. If we hurry, we may still make it in time for His Majesty’s conclusion.”
Celis, leading the Dark Knight Corps, had arrived.
Having been entrusted with command by Sariel, the dark knights, headed by Prim, charged straight towards the main base with their firepower and mobility.
Even though Rute’s Imperial Guards were similarly equipped with mechanized armor, they were intimidated before the bloodied dark knights who had fought their way through this fierce battlefield.
There was no time left to pay attention to Nel’s movements.
“Thank you, Celis. I will leave this to you.”
“Yes, Princess, please go to His Majesty.”
After giving a small bow, Nel spread her white wings and, cloaked in wind, leaped forward. With a speed and distance that made it seem as if she were flying, she headed towards Chrono.
And left behind at this scene were the two knight corps, facing each other: Celis and Rute, who had once been bound by a betrothal.
“The outcome has already been decided. Surrender quietly, Rute.”
“Celis-senpai, why… why did you betray us!!”
His voice, filled with emotion, caused Celis to respond with an expression that almost seemed to say she hadn’t heard him.
“What on earth are you saying? The traitors are you.”
She had turned against King Miriard of Avalon. What else could be called rebellion?
They had recklessly propped up a prince and plotted to usurp the throne. It was a textbook rebellion, and even her father, Duke Arclight, must have known about it.
Yet, referring to herself as the traitor for having sided with King Miriard of Avalon.
“I am your fiancé! You may have had your reasons, but… if you had just spoken to me, I would have definitely stood by you! I could have helped you!!”
But Celis had said nothing, nor had she explained herself, suddenly fleeing Avalon with King Miriard one day.
At that moment, Rute felt as if he had lost everything. More so than when he heard of his father’s death in the distant land of Karamala.
Now that Nero had ascended to the throne as the Holy King and the Cross Religion had finally been restored, he had thought that if he and Celis were united, they would inscribe their names in history as a holy lineage that would govern the new era――――he truly believed in that dream, which had now completely shattered into a fleeting fantasy.
“Is that for the sake of the Cross Religion, even if it means turning against it?”
“Yes… for you, I would even betray God.”
He loved her to that extent.
His ideal dream had crumbled.
Yet still, faced once more with Celis before him now, he held no resentment at all.
To Rute, she remained an object of admiration. Pure, righteous, beautiful, and strong.
He could not give up. Absolutely not.
“I see, Rute. You have thought of me to that extent.”
Celis reflected that she too had been quite dense.
During their school days when she dressed as a boy, it had been girls who openly expressed their feelings towards her with loud cheers. Perhaps that was why, if no one clearly stated their feelings, she had stopped considering anyone liked her.
Her engagement to Rute had been decided by her parents. However, noble marriages were the norm. To oppose it was merely the happenings of a cheap romance novel… or so it should have been.
“But it is not possible. Because my heart is already――――”
It had long since been stolen. By the time she realized, it was too late.
Why had she not awoken to the faith of the White God as a member of the Arclight clan?
It seemed her father had wholly believed that merely reading the sacred texts passed down through their family would ensure awakening to the faith of the White God.
That meticulous and cunning father, who was the epitome of a noble head, had been completely at a loss when it came to bringing Celis into the Cross Religion. When she betrayed him, he likely wore an expression of total disbelief.
It was such an unbelievable occurrence. That there could be a member of the family who did not awaken even after reading the sacred texts.
If so, it certainly would warrant being called a ‘curse of the scriptures’, a force of intense suggestion or brainwashing hidden within.
Then, she was simply spared from the curse. And the reason she was not affected by it was likely that her heart had been captured by the Demon King, the greatest rebel against the strongest god of this era.
“I loved you this much… why did you choose the Demon King instead of me!!”
“Rute, do you really want to know?”
Why she had sided with the Demon King.
Why she had chosen Chrono.
Did Rute, who had gone so far as to say he would betray God, truly wish to learn the cruel truth?
“I am the vice-leader of the Dark Knight Corps. I vow to give my life and heart entirely to Lord Chrono, the Demon King.”
“Release ‘Stigmata’!!”
Celis had no circumstances that forced her. She did not need his help. In fact, there was no room to help her.
To her, her former fiancé Rute was already someone she did not want to be involved with in any way.
Confronted with the harshest truth, Rute found there was no choice but to fight as an Imperial Guard.
“Thank you. It is actually a relief that you will stand against me as an enemy――――Shake the ground, ‘Heavenly Dragon Gramhide’.”
With the activation of her blessing, Celis’s armor was released.
Encasing her supple body were minimal black undergarments, and arcing with dark purple light were black-purple dragon scales.
Donning scales and carapace instead of armor, her form, with horns and a tail symbolizing the dragon, was an even clearer testament to her closeness to the Dragon God.
As she took a step forward, the ground caved in from the furious gravity.
“Princess Nel has already escaped from the enemy command center. What remains are nothing but traitors aligned with Nero――――We must not let a single one escape. Exterminate them.”
Thus, the solitary female knight, who had dedicated her loyalty to Avalon, began her rampage, using the power of the Dragon God to settle the cursed rebellion.
On the first day of the Month of Ice Crystals, one night after the Battle of Re, the sun rose from beyond the grassy plains, fully illuminating the fields still smoldering with the remnants of battle.
“Good morning. I am Elina Matrix, spokesperson for the Empire Army.”
To convey the Empire Army’s victory faster than anyone else, Elina had already arrived at the battlefield. She had stayed at the Zigurat, the outpost for Re, and upon receiving the news of victory yesterday evening, had jumped onto a train heading to the battlefield.
Of course, this swift reporting was the policy of the Empire Army, and the arriving press team received a warm welcome, even in the busy aftermath of the decisive battle.
“This is the Re plains in northern Parthia. Yesterday, our Elroad Empire Army clashed in a fierce battle with the Great Expedition Army. The enemy force was around 100,000. The dreadful army led by the Thirteenth Apostle Nero was—under the command of Lord Chrono, the Demon King—completely annihilated by the Empire Army. It is a triumphant victory for our Empire. Long live His Majesty the Demon King! All for Elroad!!!”
After showcasing the glorious victory of the Empire Army, Elina transitioned into a detailed live report.
“Currently, the combat has completely concluded. In just one day, facing an enormous force of 100,000, the Empire Army decisively crushed them, not even allowing a retreat—this demonstrates their overwhelming might. This is surely thanks to His Majesty the Demon King’s exceptional strategic insight and the elite forces of the Empire being assembled.”
In between her overly dramatized praise for the Demon King, Elina lightly explained the general flow of the decisive battle.
In particular, she meticulously detailed the fact that the Demon King Chrono had personally defeated Nero, the cause of the Great Expedition Army, in a one-on-one confrontation. In truth, this was not exaggeration or fabrication; rather, it was an undeniable fact and correspondingly a fitting tale to embellish their victory.
“In this grand battle, there is no one more deserving of the first-class merit than His Majesty the Demon King, but many knights of the Empire have also achieved significant battle merits.”
Elina, among others, had begun to report the circumstances of the battle…
They had chosen a person and arranged for an interview at that moment.
“Here is the Commander of the Crusaders, the leader of the Imperial Dragon Knights, Lady Christina!”
“Ohohoho! I am the illustrious leader of the Imperial Dragon Knights, the greatest dragon knight of the Empire who rides the blue lightning, Christina Damd Spiralhorn!!”
With her grand, classic voluminous blonde curls flowing and clad in a dress-like jet-black heavy armor, Christina’s dignified introduction exuded the presence of a great veteran actress.
Elina caught a glimpse of her idol-like charm in such a striking presence.
“Commander Christina reportedly boarded the enemy’s flying ship flagship herself?”
“Yes, yes, the Saint Paula was protected by the Sanctum Barrier, and its defenses were indeed impregnable! However, thanks to the dive-bombing carried out by my dragon knights, that impregnable defense finally crumbled!”
“So it would have been possible to sink it right then.”
“Of course, I could have blown it to smithereens, but that ship was the enemy’s latest weapon. It would be most beneficial to capture the actual thing for research or countermeasures. More than anything, the person leading the Crusaders that joined the fray is an important figure regarded as the right hand of the current Commander-in-Chief, Ars.”
“I see, so you decided to capture the enemy general and seize the enemy ship.”
“An exploding and flaming airship! Just as it was about to flee, carried away by the Pegasus knights, I managed to hold it down all by myself!!”
With her eyes shining brightly, Christina loudly recounted her achievements, and it was not an exaggeration.
Immediately after the defense system protecting the airship had reached its limit and the Sanctum Barrier disappeared, Christina decided to board the enemy flagship as she had claimed, landing on the blazing deck with a dozen subordinates.
She cut down fleeing Crusader soldiers and crew members and charged toward what seemed to be the command room.
However, the command room engulfed in flames was empty. Considering the danger of remaining there, she contemplated retreating, but at that moment, the image of capturing Archbishop Rudel, who had been fleeing with Lily during the airborne battle against Varna, crossed her mind.
With such a large airship, there must surely be Pegasus knights stationed to aid in an escape during an emergency.
From the appearance of the airship, she inferred that there was likely an emergency launch hatch near the rear and ran through the ship’s interior, which seemed ready to burst into flames.
After ordering her subordinates to retreat first, she trusted the defensive capability of her prized armor, ‘Crazy Princess Rumble,’ and dashed through the flaming passage――――
“The captured High Priest Lycrum surely knows various secrets of the Crusaders, being close to Commander Ars. I hope to gather as much useful information as possible for the Imperial Army’s strategy.”
“Wonderful, truly heroic accomplishment. Your Majesty the Demon King will surely be pleased.”
“Ufufu, I am looking forward to negotiating my achievements!”
With Christina laughing heartily against the backdrop of the flagship Saint Paula, which had been set ablaze and crashed yet still retained its shape, the interview shifted to the next segment.
Following that, details of the battlefield were inquired about, focusing primarily on unit commanders……
“Alright, suddenly but surely, we will now hear from Your Majesty the Demon King.”
It was truly a sudden announcement; Elina’s surroundings began to stir, and the scene was hurriedly prepared.
For a moment, while Elina used relevant explanations to buy time, it seemed that preparations had finally been completed.
The camera turned toward the grand tent of the command center, prepared appropriately for the appearance of the Demon King, and Elina knelt at the entrance.
“Your Majesty the Demon King has arrived.”
The fully armed Dark Knight Corps Commander Sariel and Vice Commander Celis raised the curtain blocking the entrance, and before them stood Demon King Chrono.
Wearing the polished, glistening ‘Tyrant’s Armor’ that seemed unfazed from the fierce battles, he emitted an intimidating presence as if he were still facing the enemy forces.
No one uttered a sound; all remained silent. In that stillness, they awaited the words of the Demon King.
“First, I would like to thank all Imperial forces and citizens who participated in this battle. Let us celebrate our victory.”
Though the words of victory were neutral, there was no sincerity in the joy behind them, clear even through the screen.
Everyone understood. The Demon King had not simply come to celebrate the Empire’s great victory.
“We will celebrate this victory once we return to Pandemonium. Therefore, the words I am about to deliver are not directed at my Imperial citizens――――Hey, are you watching, Ai?”
This broadcast was being transmitted using a small monolith captured at the command center where Nero was located.
Thus, they could also project visuals to the Crusaders’ side, where the monolith was under their control and not manipulated by black magic.
While they could freely cut off this footage as they controlled it with white magic, Chrono was confident that calling Ai by name would surely reach her.
“Nero is dead. I killed him. Now, you are the only Apostle left in Pandora.”
The Twelfth Apostle Mariabel was in Avalon. The Eleventh Apostle Misa was in Varna.
And just yesterday, the Thirteenth Apostle Nero met a vain end on the Leberia Plains.
To the best of their knowledge, the only Apostle remaining on the Crusader’s side was the Eighth Apostle Ai.
“Next is you. I will be reclaiming Spada.”
Pointing straight at the camera, the Demon King Chrono declared.
“――――Ah, well, I’m at my wit’s end, meow.”
With a smug grin across her face, Ai indeed witnessed Chrono’s official declaration of war on the screen of a small monolith nearly buried in the rubble.
“I never thought that you were eagerly looking forward to a rematch with me, Ai-chan. I’m so touched!”
As Ai let out a joyous scream, a dazzling flash of light blinked, and a massive explosion erupted, enough to destroy the monolith.
Amidst the searing heat and the blast wind, Ai turned her body and released herself lightly onto the soft snowy field below.
“Damn it, those little mice are flitting about.”
“That man seems to be one of those infamous Apostles.”
“Just running away while grinning like a fool, is he?”
“What a disgusting bastard.”
Such jeers, dripping with leisure, fell upon Ai. Their voices were not those of seasoned knights of dignified stature but rather delightful sounds of young girls.
“Oh dear, how disappointing. After all this way, I guess——”
A relentless barrage of beams rained down on Ai. Even for a high-ranking adventurer, the fierce and excessively powerful attacks could vaporize bones in an instant, yet Ai effortlessly dashed across the pure white snowy field to evade them.
“――――Not even being able to see the High Elf queen’s face, huh?”
“Scoundrel!”
“Do not think that someone like you can stand before Her Majesty Ekaterina!!”
This was the border of the grand kingdom of Hortensia, which ruled the northern part of the Pandora Continent.
Having heard rumors of the High Elf royalty, Ai, who had followed the Crusaders’ northern expedition, charged with great momentum after crossing the Asbel Mountain Range, which was the wall to the north.
It was similar to her previous invasion of Fahren in pursuit of a beautiful Dark Elf last year. She led the charge, smashed through the castle gate, scattered the enemy forces, and fully displayed the strength of an Apostle as she ravaged the north.
The Crusaders, cutting straight through the defenses of the countries that stood in their way, reached a position to overlook Hortensia by the New Year.
And coincidentally, on the same day that the Demon King’s army decisively clashed with the Great Expedition Army on the Leberia Plains, Ai’s Crusaders invaded the Hortensia border.
Up until yesterday, it was just the same as before. The soldiers resistant to the somewhat thicker defensive network than that of other countries. Given that it was an elf country, the potency and diversity of their long-range attacks via bows and magic were astonishing. Faced with them, even the blaster units would lose in an exchange of fire.
However, they were not enough to defeat an Apostle.
Ai easily took the border fortress, dreaming of occupying the town the next day to collect beautiful elf girls in a drunken feast, when―――― early in the morning, she was met with a counterattack from Hortensia.
The appearance was that of a giant clad in silver armor.
“I never thought they would unleash a real ‘Warrior Mechanism’ against me.”
Yes, what was currently unilaterally cornering Ai was an ancient weapon known as the ‘Warrior Mechanism.’ Not just one, but a squad of five.
Unlike the heavy machinery known as Taurus, these were genuine main weapons from that era used in ancient warfare.
In Sinclaire and the occupied land of Pandora, what was excavated as Warrior Mechanisms were all just remains. If a large humanoid foundational skeleton was found, it would be a miracle; it was impossible to revive them like Taurus.
Even for a man like Judas, with only broken parts, it was impossible to completely reassemble one of those machines from back then.
However, this Hortensia possessed real Warrior Mechanisms. Naturally, when they appeared in squad formation, Ai felt a life-threatening danger and jumped up.
“Although it might be fun to play with you all… sorry, I was called by a friend, so I have to leave!”
“Don’t let her escape!”
“Don’t think you’ll ever step on Hortensia’s snow again!!”
With only taunting words and blinding counterattacks, Ai detached herself from the Hortensia frontline.
“Chrono is waiting for me. I need to hurry back to Spada!”
Thus, with a whimsical feeling of having abandoned the Crusaders being ravaged by the counterattack of the Warrior Mechanisms and having made a promise to play with her friends, she returned straight to Spada.
October 25, 2024
This concludes Chapter 46, the Battle of Leberia.
I plan to update the activity report next week.
Also, I will be taking a break for the rest of the year starting here. I apologize.
While I have managed to maintain regular updates up to this point… I thought that if I missed this milestone, surpassing 1,000 chapters, I might not find another opportunity to take a break.
As for the current stock, I do have some but it’s a slightly uncertain amount. Personally, I strive to have the next chapter finished by the time I conclude one, but this time I’m still only in the latter half of the next chapter.
Though I’m nearly there, real-life busy periods have also coincided, making writing slow… for this time, I would like to request a break.
I will continue updating the other serialized work, the Sorcerer, as usual.
The decrease in stock for the Black Demon King came from concentrating too much on the second part of the Sorcerer after finishing the Battle of Leberia. The Sorcerer has enough stock, but it feels like there’s an imbalance in the stock between both works.
Well then, the new chapter will be set for a Friday after the new year. Though I might update an intermission at least once.
Thank you for your continued support of the ‘Black Demon King’!