MTLNOVEL Chapter 208
208. The Final Notice Is Necessary, Isn’t It?
The Imperial Army unit leaders were aware of how dire the situation was.
(That damn bee-like bastard! We’re on a stone-paved plain surrounded by walls on three sides! How are we supposed to fight here? We’re like insects trapped in a cage!)
Those unfamiliar with strategy or consumed by greed didn’t realize it, but anyone with a working brain could understand how dangerous the space beyond the bridge was.
Yet, they couldn’t defy orders because of that bee man and Vera.
Around the time half the Imperial Army began considering desertion, a voice echoed through the wind.
[To the Imperial Army]
The owner of the voice stood atop the wall. The owner of the voice was a boy. The owner of the voice gazed down at the Imperial Army with sharp eyes.
The Imperial Army didn’t know, but it was none other than Kyle Golden Dawn von Elixir, the Frontier Count and Lord of Elixir.
Beside Kyle stood Alphard, surrounded by holy knights. Behind Kyle were Eva, Camille, and Marilyn.
What was about to take place was the final ultimatum to the Imperial Army. Originally, the task was supposed to fall to Alphard or Zaid.
But Kyle insisted on doing it himself. Of course, everyone opposed it, but King Vaindeck’s decisive “Let him do it if he wants. Just surround him with guards.” sealed the deal.
Eva and Marilyn, on high alert for long-range attacks, kept watch, ready to activate powerful defensive magic at a moment’s notice. Camille also remained vigilant, scanning for hidden enemies.
[To the Imperial Army]
The same words echoed once more.
[You are trespassing on our territory. Cease all acts of war immediately, and if you lay down your arms, we will offer you a chance to negotiate.]
It was an incredibly lenient proposal to an empire that had already begun its invasion.
But many of the greed-driven Imperial soldiers interpreted it as weakness. To them, it sounded like an admission that they couldn’t win against the empire. Unfortunately.
Of course, some of the Imperial soldiers who had already grasped their disadvantage understood it as a final act of mercy.
[If you continue your acts of war, our kingdom will show no mercy to the empire.]
Half the Imperial soldiers laughed, while the other half trembled in fear.
[This next message is for individual Imperial soldiers.]
Kyle’s words stirred unrest among the Imperial Army.
[If you wish to surrender, discard your weapons and armor, flee to the center of the bridge, and wait there. We guarantee your lives.]
The Imperial Army grew even more restless.
[Near the center of the bridge, there is a large ship and guides. Follow their instructions until the war ends.]
Kyle’s detailed instructions on how to surrender made some soldiers realize that the kingdom had already completed all preparations.
[To the empire. This is the final ultimatum. We hope you make a rational decision.]
After delivering the necessary message, Kyle retreated with his guards.
As Kyle entered Elixir Castle, Eva, who had been guarding him, finally spoke up.
“Kyle-sama. It may be disrespectful to say this to you, my lord… but I never want to do this kind of work again. Please take better care of yourself.”
Kyle smiled and replied.
“Understood. I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you for your advice.”
Zaid, who had been watching the exchange out of the corner of his eye, thought to himself, “He’ll probably do it again. Has he been influenced by that alchemist?”
It seemed that even in his absence, the infamous alchemist was spreading his influence.
Speaking of the infamous alchemist, Craft was at home, on the verge of tears as he tirelessly worked on alchemy alongside Jabir.
“Uwooooooh! I can’t finish the extra healing potions!”
“Enough! Stop whining and keep working! Move your hands instead of shouting!”
“That bastard Alphard! He just keeps placing more orders!”
This massive additional order was for the extra healing potions consumed in large quantities by the Mizuho soldiers during the initial battle. At the time, the castle’s reserves had been immediately sent to Dawn Fortress, and now, on top of the depleted reserves, even more stock was urgently needed.
Craft and Jabir worked together to produce an absurd number of potions.
“It’s not just healing potions! We have staMyrna and mana potions to make too! What do you mean we have enough reserves?”
Before the war began, Alphard had mentioned to Craft that the reserves were more than sufficient. In fact, that hadn’t changed.
So why did Alphard place such a large additional order with Craft? There were three reasons.
First, the Imperial Army’s group ritual magic was powerful.
While the reserves were more than enough, Alphard believed in being overly cautious—better safe than sorry.
Second, it was to keep Craft focused on alchemy and prevent him from meddling in other matters.
If that troublesome alchemist was left idle, he might create some alchemical tool that could overturn their strategy. Even if it was useful, trying to incorporate it into the strategy without preparation would only cause chaos.
In short, the massive order was to keep him from doing anything unnecessary.
The third reason was Myrna.
Myrna, who looked up to Craft like an older brother, had been sticking close to him now that Kyle was busy.
By keeping Craft at home, Myrna would naturally stay there too, making it easier to ensure her safety.
With the war underway, the academy was closed, so keeping Myrna, whose actions had become harder to predict, in one place was a major advantage for Alphard.
…Of course, this also meant that Jabir, the alchemist assigned to Kyle, was now equally busy.
Jabir was aware of Alphard’s intentions, but he also believed that leaving Craft idle was dangerous, so he reluctantly worked alongside him.
Jabir was the unsung hero, working in the shadows.
As the two desperately worked on alchemy, Myrna watched them with amusement. And watching Myrna was Persia, who seemed equally delighted.
While the war reached its climax, this corner remained oddly peaceful.
Meanwhile, in stark contrast to the alchemist’s peaceful home, the Imperial Army was being pushed to the brink.
During Kyle’s declaration, the bee man had been glaring at him.
As Kyle retreated, the bee man snorted and summoned the Imperial Army’s general.
“Hey. I’m leaving for a while. You guys attack while I’m gone.”
“Wh… what?”
The general, who had been tasked with leading the assault on Golden Dawn, grimaced.
“I’m bringing Vera. I was told to call her if I found that guy Kyle.”
“Ah, um, does that mean you’re bringing Lady Vera to the frontlines?”
“Yeah, whatever. Just bring her. In the meantime, you guys better at least break down the castle gate.”
The general, who had no idea how long it would take for the flying demi-human to bring Vera back, grimaced even more.
Attacking the castle was already difficult, and being ordered to do so under these worst possible conditions was something the general couldn’t agree with.
“Advisor. Wouldn’t it be better for our forces to retreat across the bridge and flank the fortress? There’s a risk of being flanked ourselves, but if we take that fortress, it would give us more options for attacking the castle.”
The general’s suggestion was perfectly reasonable. They should have flanked the fortress as soon as they took the rear.
But the bee man wouldn’t allow it.
“…You. You dare defy me? A mere human daring to oppose a demon… lord?”
The general had indeed heard it.
“A demon…”
A race that, in ancient times, oppressed, toyed with, and slaughtered humans.
A race later driven to extinction by humans who developed magic.
The general had wondered about it many times before, but he always dismissed it as impossible.
If this bee man was truly a demon, humanity had no means to oppose him.
After all, the great magical civilization that had destroyed the demons was long gone.
That’s why he had avoided considering the possibility.
But the bee man had clearly said it. A demon.
And then, the bee man clicked his sharp fangs together.
“Listen up. By the time I get back, you better have destroyed that damn gate. Otherwise…”
“Y-yes, sir! The Imperial Army will begin the assault on the gate immediately!”
The bee man seemed about to say more, but he closed his mouth.
“Work if you want to live.”
With those final words, the bee man leaped off the bridge, flying just above the water’s surface as he headed to the rear.
Now, the general had only one option.
“All forces! Begin the attack!”
And so, a new phase of the war began.