Chapter 332 – #331 the Day of the Decisive Battle

“… Meet the Empress.”

The two counts in charge of the south and east gates came forward and politely bowed. The three empresses greeted them and nodded.

“Earl Greyport. Count Rainey. How have you both been?”

“Yes. I’m glad that the Empresses are all healthy. When the Marquis said he was going to rescue me, I was worried that it was really possible… Haha. The Marquis seems to be really versatile.”

The three empresses expressed their approval with smiles on their lips.

“That’s right. I’m always surprised too.”

“If you just look at it, there’s nothing you can’t do. Your abilities are outstanding. Hoho.”

“It’s like that when I see you moving around non-stop all night and still walking around like this♥”

“Yes?”

There was something strange about the eyes of the three empresses smiling at me, but fortunately the two counts did not know the reason.

It seemed like they had no idea that I would climb on top of the empresses and shake my hips all night long.

Ugh. Looking at their silky hair and large breasts, I remembered grabbing their hair and shaking it last night, and my lower body felt uncomfortable.

Fortunately, Scarlett, who is cool and considerate, saw me like that and quickly tried to change the topic.

“Then let’s start the strategy meeting now.”

Currently, the three empresses, the two counts, and the elves and I were seated at the inn table on the first floor.

The Earl of Grayport stroked his chin and spoke.

“First of all, if we look at our troops alone, we are at an overwhelming disadvantage.”

“How much of a difference does it make?”

“Even if I can’t do it, I think it will make a 5-fold difference.”

5 times. It is definitely not a small number.

But I couldn’t help it. This is because, unlike the first empress, who secretly gathered troops from the provinces after the emperor passed away, this side faced this situation completely unprepared.

“Should I step aside for now and wait for the next opportunity?”

“That is true, but the problem is that in that case, we will have to retake this capital later.”

A powerful barrier is spread across the capital. To break through it from the outside, more than 20 times as many troops were needed. And that too at a minimum.

“Also, the moment we leave here, it will lead to an all-out war. The entire Kshanberg region will become a battlefield. Perhaps this will lead to our own self-destruction.”

“…”

People’s mouths were shut.

Looking at the current situation, it is right to step down for now, but if you do so, the future will become unbearable.

Perhaps the First Empress knew about this and took action in the capital.

Empress Victoria narrowed her brows.

“… The blow from those who betrayed us is great. Even if we rescue all those who were captured, it won’t be the same as before. What is the ratio of nobles?”

“It will be about 6:4. We are 4.”

Even now, traitors were coming out of the prison in real time. Empress Scarlet gazed at her two counts with her sunken eyes.

“So what are the Counts’ plans?”

“First of all, whether we go to war with them or not, there is something we must do: unite with the Academy.”

It was like that. In this situation where most of the central nobles have been captured, the main core force on this side are the students and faculty of the Imperial Academy.

Even though they are young, each one of them is no different from the elite.

Although the 1st and 2nd years were somewhat useless, it could be said that each and every member of the graduating class had better combat power than 50 ordinary soldiers.

“The problem is that the place is surrounded by enemies, so we have to fight and retake it…”

“… It must be difficult.”

“Yes. We must proceed while minimizing troop losses. If the damage is too great, the results may be worse than not doing anything at all.”

The situation was so bad. A dark shadow fell on people’s faces.

The empresses, lost in thought for a moment, looked at each other and nodded. Actually, I thought about it, but the answer was already there.

“Still, I wish I could join them.”

Okay. If they retreat like this, they will become completely isolated. There was no law against surrendering before returning here with the troops.

If that happens, it’s literally the worst situation.

“Phew. Okay. Then, let’s make a plan for the street fight.”

The counts and the empress gathered together and talked while looking at the map on the table.

It was really nice to see them trying hard to somehow win this fight.

In a heavy atmosphere, I raised my hand.

“Hey. I’m sorry, but you don’t have to.”

“What… Do you mean?”

“It’s literally true. The enemies will withdraw from the Academy and move to the Imperial Castle. I have taken great care.”

“Marquis. That’s ridiculous. Even if you just surround the academy, you can win the fight. But you’re giving up and going back to the imperial castle and locking yourself away?”

I smiled brightly at them as they looked at me with many questions. And just then, a soldier rushed in from outside.

“Look, I’m reporting! The enemies have lifted the siege of the Academy and are retreating to the Imperial Castle!”

Everyone’s eyes were on me again.

“Marquis. What on earth did you do?”

A move that even Victoria and Vivian, who don’t know much about war, would not understand.

In fact, the day before, I had warned the First Empress.

-When the sun rises in the sky tomorrow, I will move. Think about it before then.

Defeated the Assassin King. It also suppressed the rebels.

Empress Angelica, who thought that I was just a clown made up of rumors, realized that her judgment was wrong.
Thus, I realized that everything that happened in both Florian and Halstenberg was true.

I warned you.

I said I would move at lunch. Surrender before that.

-Then why… Why did you make it up to being captured? Are you trying to tease me…

-I was planning to wipe out your forces as soon as I returned to the capital, but I suddenly got curious? What does our empress think of me?

‘Angelica must have been scared by my confident behavior. She will hide without even knowing her proper information. They think I’ve come back fully prepared to wipe them out.’

The result was this. Even though he was occupying an advantageous position, he gave up on it and retreated.

I smiled brightly at people.

“Well, there is something like that. Let’s join before they change their minds.”

That’s how we joined the academy and increased our strength.

Although the difference in military strength was still evident, the quality was overwhelmingly higher on this side. It goes without saying that the odds of winning have increased.

We joined the students and moved straight to the imperial castle.

‘It’s finally the day of the decisive battle.’

A heavy cloud of war hung over the capital of Kshanberg, which boasts a thousand-year history.

The gates of the imperial palace were tightly closed, and numerous soldiers were gathered inside and outside the castle, preparing for a siege.

The strange thing is that the number of defenders was more than five times greater than that of the besiegers.

Interestingly, the morale was also overwhelming in the area under siege.

Waaaaa-

The cries of the siege side cut through the morning air and echoed across the sky. I bowed my head to Raina, who was sitting on a horse and holding a baton.

“Reina. Then, I’ll be back. I’ll ask you to lead the way here.”

“Don’t worry. You and Bella are doing well.”

All roles have already been divided upon arrival.

Scarlett moved quickly.

Me, the elves, and a small group of her elite troops followed her into the city.

“This is the place.”

She stopped at a shabby empty house, went inside, and activated a device. The floor opened, and a terrible odor came out.

It was an underground waterway.

It was a secret passage connecting the imperial castle and the outside world, and was passed down orally only to the royal family.

I heard that each empress’s palace had different secret passages. If this is the case, even the first empress would not know.

“I will take the lead. Follow closely.”

After moving along the waterway for a while, we soon entered a garden inside the Fourth Empress Palace. When I raised my head, I saw enemy troops preparing for Mercury in the distance.

“Okay then, let’s open the gate first and take a look.”

***

Coo coo coo.

Rainwater dust pours down. First Empress Angelica, who was going down the stairs, stopped for a moment and looked up at the ceiling.

“… Has the fight started?”

“It looks like that.”

It’s a little early. I thought it would start in another 30 minutes.

“What happened to what I asked you to do?”

As she moved her feet again, the maid who moved with her followed closely beside her, holding her lantern.
A dark basement. A space filled with a musty smell was filled with shimmering lights. The light swayed greatly due to the busy footsteps.

“I heard that all troops have withdrawn from the academy and preparations have begun for the fortress. It is said that all soldiers guarding the north and west gates have also joined.”

Coo coo coo.

A large amount of dust rose again. Suddenly, I felt like I heard heavy drinking.

There was only one person in the empire who could use this level of destructive magic.

One-man knights. Bella Hardrence, the Empire’s crazy bitch and always smiling witch.

Of course, the barrier erected in the imperial palace could block her magic all day long, but this kind of unbelievable power…

It was obvious that the morale of our troops was at rock bottom. Her maid asked Empress Angelica carefully.

“Well… She was asked by the First Prince. She asked the Empress if she had any plans. Furthermore, she asked if all she had to do was defend herself.”

Empress Angelica stood tall in her seat. The end of the stairs had already arrived. Beneath her, torches were fluttering loudly.
She glared fiercely at her maid.

“Go right now and tell your son not to think too much and to take good care of the castle. Until this mother returns. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yes, four!”

“Then just go.”

The maid climbs the stairs again as if running away.

Empress Angelica turned and stepped down the stairs. Her huge space appeared before her.

It was a wide and dark space.

It was a place where thousands of people could fit in.

Strange equations and shapes were engraved on the floor, spreading red energy upward, and dark red liquid was located between the grooves.

In one corner outside the magic circle, there was a pile of things that were presumed to be people.

Empress Angelica moved her feet and entered the magic circle. The man standing in her center looked back at her.

“Oh, you’re here, Your Highness.”

“How is it?”

The man smiled.

“Kkkk. Be happy. It’s success.”

“You mean…?”

“In the next 10 minutes, Your Highness will come face to face with the great being of the Demon World. If you trust him, all the bugs outside will be able to be eliminated within today.”

A smile spread across Empress Angelica’s lips.

She is making what she believes is her last, final move. It was to sacrifice countless humans as sacrifices and summon powerful high-ranking demons.

Just in case, I stole information from the demon summoning group before Marquis Barnos was executed… I never thought it would help in this way.

“Instead, you probably remember the treaty with the demons who were briefly summoned a while ago.”

“I know. We will actively cooperate in opening a passage to the demon world. And we will take the side of the demons in the war against the Arhen and other races and the Elyos.”

It was like that.

Originally, the demons were to open the door after completing passage work in Halstenberg, but the demons ran into difficulties as Kayle sealed the entrance.

I didn’t even know where the door was installed, and even if I tried to find Cerberus, the only person in charge, his whereabouts were unknown.

But now everything was about to be resolved.

’10 minutes. There really isn’t much left.’

Feeling her heart pounding loudly, Empress Angelica looked down at the floor.

To be honest, I had some resistance to summoning demons.

But she always learned from her parents.
To achieve a certain goal, you should use any means possible. If you don’t have that level of earnestness, you won’t be able to achieve what you truly want.

-Becoming the empress of an empire means that you were chosen as one of at least 100,000 people. Daughter. Do you think that’s normally possible? No. She shouldn’t go crazy about it. Give it your all. Money, fame, life! That’s how it works.

“…”

Empress Angelica clenched her fists and shook off thoughts of her past. She also tried to shake off the feelings that were weighing heavily on her heart.
She instead looked down at her magic circle with her expectant eyes.

“Oh oh oh. Descend! Demon God of Destruction!”

The red light became more intense.

Now, if we just wait a little longer, this tiresome battle for the throne will end. You can rest.

As I leaned back against the pillar with a slightly tired face, I heard a familiar voice.

A voice that should never be heard here.

“Hey, our Empress. I was wondering what kind of plan you have, and it looks like you’re doing something quite interesting.”

“What a guy!”

The wizard whipped his head around to stare at the intruder. Kayle held up her hand to her, shaking her black hair in the darkness.

“Huh, Marquis?!”

“Did you sleep well last night, Your Highness Angelica?”