37 – Dargishkal

The news of the Dargishkal egg’s appearance sent a ripple of panic through the front lines.

“Dargishkal?”

“If it’s a Dargishkal, that’s a dragon.”

“I thought they hadn’t been seen on the Eastern Front for the past thirty years… why now, of all times, does a super-sized demon appear here…?”

The atmosphere was chaotic.

Dragons were among the most powerful of the demon horde.

The kingdom’s history proved as much.

It was not an opponent to be taken lightly.

This foe was of a scale that could decide the fate of the territory.

Porto, who ordinarily would have watched from afar to test his children, hastily returned to his position as overall commander upon hearing the news of the Dargishkal egg’s emergence.

Afterwards, a council was convened, gathering Tristi’s key figures – save for Kenneth.

“Our primary objective is the elimination of Dargishkal’s egg.”

Porto warned that Dargishkal was a greater threat than the sum of all the demonic forces currently residing in the kingdom’s east.

“The distance between the second defensive line and the spawn point is roughly 20 kilometers; close, perhaps, but equally distant. We must carve a path through the swarming demons and destroy the egg.”

Porto raised his index and middle fingers simultaneously.

“To my knowledge, there are two methods for eliminating the egg. One is sealing, the other is destruction.”

Porto’s depth of accumulated knowledge seemed considerable; he continued his explanation smoothly.

“Sealing requires a week. It also demands a substantial amount of mana. While our territory boasts a number of mages, they are woefully inadequate to contain Dargishkal’s egg. Furthermore, a dragon’s egg isn’t a mere object, but closer to a phenomenon. Removing it and transporting it to a secure location is simply not an option.”

His gaze turned to me.

He seemed to seek validation, and I slowly nodded in response.

“Sealing is impossible during a period of peak demonic influx. A large-scale sealing spell, once its channel is broken, becomes irreversible. Therefore, we must choose the second method.”

Porto looked at Haniel.

Haniel spoke.

“Dargishkal’s egg is not the easiest to destroy compared to other dragon eggs. Physical intervention is possible, but its shell is harder than mithril. Only high-tier fire magic can inflict meaningful damage.”

And she stated that a single high-level spell would not suffice.

Magic must be continuously poured into it to see any effect.

Otherwise, the damaged sections would regenerate, a research finding published by the Azure Magic Tower.

“Counting myself and the Academy professors, I believe we have a total of three mages within our territory capable of using high-tier magic. Four, if we include a student. But mages alone… “

It was woefully insufficient to destroy the egg.

However.

“The Hell Tank’s infernal main cannon should be capable of it. It can deliver destructive force far surpassing high-tier magic… and its greatest advantage is that, given sufficient fuel, it can fire continuously.”

Nob AI had said the same thing.

“Then our primary task is to clear a path for the Hell Tank, allowing it to reach the spawn point and destroy the egg.”

Porto discussed supplies, strategy, and the morale of the troops.

“I will inform the other territories of this situation and request assistance. Furthermore, send messages to the Academy professors capable of high-tier magic – immediately.”

From my perspective, Porto’s decisions were largely sound.

Nob AI would have approved.

“Esther Tristi.”

“Yes, Father.”

He and I were alone in the council chamber after everyone else had departed.

“Once the Zenith passes, I will remit ten million credits to you.”

I met his gaze with a puzzled expression.

“This is not money gifted from the head of the house to a family member. It is just compensation for a mercenary who supports Tristy. You have relinquished your claim to the succession, so you have no obligation to protect the territory, this is the value of your labor.”

He was offering money, so there was no reason to refuse.

It was my rightful due.

Insufficient, even, I thought.

Purely because the only reason I remained in this territory was Haneil.

However.

I decided to lump it all together – the food, the lodging, even the chance to meet Dalphy – and not say another word.

And with that, I walked out of the conference room.

Speaking of which, why was Kenneth such an outcast? Did he get on Porto’s bad side while I was away?

It was almost pathetic.

I glanced at him standing alone in the corner, unlike the other siblings, then quickly averted my eyes.

“Young Master.”

“Hm?”

“A letter has arrived from the Lord of the Red Magic Tower.”

“Oh. Show me.”

I scanned the letter Dalphy handed over.

Mostly praise for the sheer awesomeness of the Hell Tank, but the final part was pregnant with meaning.

『I am aware that you were the one to design the Hell Tank. However, respecting your wishes, I have told everyone else that Lady Haneil was the architect. All the same, I yearn for an in-depth discussion regarding this overwhelmingly brilliant Hell Tank. Come to the Red Magic Tower immediately once the Zenith has passed…』

This Zenith observation, the Hell Tank… the aftershocks that would follow were becoming increasingly terrifying.

I had been too naive.

“Young Master.”

“Yes?”

“There are nearly a thousand unanswered letters awaiting you at the manor. What should we do with them?”

What was done was done.

The urgent matter now was something else entirely.

“We’ll think about that later.”

“Understood.”

Afterward, I lightly made my way to the place where the corpses of the demons were gathered.

Gathering the least-rotten pieces of flesh into a sack, Dalpi asked with a puzzled tone.

“What exactly are you planning to do with that?”

I intended to head back to camp and begin experimenting with Nob AI’s assistance.

Dalpi cocked his head.

“Is it some kind of preserve? You’re not thinking of eating that, are you…?”

“Even if we were starving to death, I wouldn’t touch it. Just keeping it in case. Can’t hurt to be prepared.”

Preparation was always best done in excess.

Hopefully, a situation wouldn’t arise where it was needed, but it couldn’t hurt to be ready.

*

Porto held one final meeting before mobilizing the entire army.

“Ester.”

“Yes, Chieftain.”

“What’s the maximum range of the Hellfire Cannon?”

“Two kilometers.”

Porto unfurled a map, pointing to a hill.

It was a good spot to easily bombard Darquescal’s eggs from— unobstructed, elevated, with a clear field of view.

“The key to this operation is safely transporting the Hell Tank to the target location.”

Porto’s gaze shifted towards me, as if there was one last thing he needed to confirm.

“What’s the accuracy of the barrage?”

“One hundred percent. No need to worry about that.”

Error was a foreign concept to the Hell Tank when Nob AI was at the controls.

If a human were piloting it, all sorts of conditions would need to be considered, but Nob AI was the strongest, and invincible.

What it did was always exact.

Except for when it spouted oddities, it was the most impeccable entity in this world, perhaps.

『I’m happy.』

『(՞⸝⸝＞ ༥ ＜⸝⸝՞)』

Porto issued the final orders to his commanders.

They moved with practiced efficiency, directing the soldiers.

The defensive line began to stir.

Tristi’s forces, which had been focused solely on defense, were launching an attack for the very first time.

“Really… it’s alright for me to go inside?”

“Yes. Make yourself comfortable.”

Haniel beamed, climbing into the Hell Tank. I couldn’t have my frail sister, who struggled even with walks, trudge through this on foot. Haniel inquired about the purpose of the machinery inside the tank, and I indulged her curiosity just enough.

“Ian, Dalpi, come on in here.”

“Understood.”

Originally, the Hell Tank was designed for four. Even though Nob AI handled everything from loading to driving and even vision, making it possible to operate alone, it still required four trained individuals for full, optimal function.

In any case, I closed the hatch. Before shutting it, I caught my second older brother staring blankly at the Hell Tank. With Porto reinstated as Supreme Commander, he was, unfortunately, stuck pulling a supply wagon with the other soldiers, delivering fuel and rations to the Hell Tanks. Supply lines were crucially important in war, after all.

Haniel was there to assist me, and Uriel and Kenneth weren’t exactly suited to logistics because of their simple natures, leaving Zepher to take on the role. But, the moment I met Zepher’s gaze, I felt like I was looking at a bullied friend, and a knot of discomfort tightened in my stomach.

“Alright, let’s get going.”

Familiar faces sat beside me.

If only this was just a simple drive…

*Vroom-*

With a rough roar of the engine, the Hell Tank surged forward.