Chapter 219

Farewell
“Rebels have emerged among the members of the Noble Council. By the authority of the Acting Sovereign, I hereby order the dissolution of the Noble Council. All council members and their families are to be detained until the end of the war with the Empire.”

The captain of the royal guards standing before me read out the official order.

I was furious. No, it was beyond fury—it was rage.

I had always thought the organization was rotten. I believed reform was necessary. But I never actively involved myself in politics. I didn’t believe it was my role.

My brother… surely, one could call him merciful. He had given these people the chance to redeem themselves. And yet… they betrayed him.

Right now, I wanted nothing more than to make every last one of them bleed. But I held back. No matter how despicable they were, they were still nobles. Their ancestors had undoubtedly contributed to the kingdom. Although these fools had disgraced those achievements and sullied their family names.

That is why I would dismantle them by force.

If I dismantle them, the Noble Council will never rise again, even after the war. Once it's gone, it's gone for good.

Until now, I simply couldn’t be bothered with the hassle of dismantling them. But now, the situation is different. Most of the nobles are off fighting the war. The few who remain in the castle are mainly bureaucrats—nobles with pride. They will show no mercy to traitors. And betraying your country in wartime is a grave offense. None of the nobles dared to object.

“I order the royal guards… Detain them all. Every last member of their families. If anyone resists… they are to be executed on the spot for high treason.”

“!!”

The remaining council members turned pale. It didn’t matter whether they were involved in the rebellion or not. The Noble Council would be destroyed. That was the conclusion I had reached. I wouldn’t allow anyone to oppose me. Besides, I was utterly useless at intelligence work. So I would just have all of them detained under suspicion of treason and let my brother sort it out after the war.

You all underestimated me, didn’t you? You whispered behind my back that I was soft, didn’t you? But that only applies during peacetime. Once I’ve made a “decision,” I show no mercy.

All of them hung their heads and were taken away. I mixed anger into my enormous mana and used it to intimidate them. There was no way those pampered council members, who had been soaking in warm water for so long, could resist. It was a basic application of mana manipulation, but it worked well. About half of them fainted, though. I’m bad at adjusting my output. I’ve just got too much mana.

I sighed at my own excessive mana as I watched the council members being dragged away.

The council members were locked away in the castle dungeons. The cells were made of sturdy Alice Steel, so escaping would be nearly impossible. Some complained that they weren’t being treated like nobles, but considering they weren’t being executed, they should be grateful. The rebellious council members were all dead, after all.

Then I gave an order to Alicia.

“Call Takuto and the others.”

“Huh?”

“Call him to the castle. Immediately. And bring the other two as well.”

The council can no longer move. Next is Takuto and the others. Takuto is kind, so he’ll surely follow me. But I can’t allow that. The operation I’m about to carry out has a high chance of me dying. At best, if I’m lucky, I might survive. But this operation will deal a devastating blow to the Empire.

If we annihilate their field forces, the Empire won’t be able to move for decades. A force of over three million is clearly a number the Empire scraped together by overexerting its national power. They’ve probably mobilized a lot of civilians too. If we crush them here, it will mean the complete collapse of the Empire’s continental strategy.

While Alicia went to call Takuto and the others, I contacted the army.

“Are preparations complete?”

(Yes, we can begin the operation immediately.)

“Then I order the training units to seize Granzur Fortress.”

This is where things diverge from the original plan. Initially, after providing the training units with ammunition, we were going to cooperate with the Aarland army to repel the Empire.

(But that’s not in the original—)

“The previous plan is scrapped as of this moment.

The Royal Army is already pinned down and besieged in the fortress. Considering the disparity in forces, it’s more effective to crush the Empire’s supply lines than attempt a rescue.

Granzur Fortress has become a supply depot. Completely destroy it. Burn everything. I’ll have the Air Force send fighter escorts. Show no mercy. Do not take prisoners.”

This is the poison I’ll inject after repelling the Empire. No matter what, we will seize Granzur Fortress.

I also issue orders to the Air Force.

“I hereby authorize strategic bombing. Bomb the Empire’s capital.”

(Understood.)

“This operation is a warning to the Empire—and to the world. Arland can strike anywhere from the skies. Let them know—if you violate Arland’s land, your families and comrades will die.”

(Understood! The Air Force will now bomb the Empire’s capital!)

Everything is prepared. All that remains is for me to do my part.

What’s left is waiting for the airships. But that’s the most concerning part. They’re deeply devoted to me. They might hesitate to carry out the final blow against me. That’s why I send out a duplicate from the Treasury.

“If the airships refuse to follow orders, you drop it.”

“Are you sane?”

My clone questions my sanity.

“Of course I’m sane. The Empire’s army will be killed. I’ll slaughter them and leave the survivors to despair for ever daring to attack Arland. That’s why we’ll drop the mana furnace.”

Operation Grisaille will take time. So I’ll drop a high-output mana furnace intended for a magical battleship onto the Empire’s army.

This requires airship transport. It’s too large to fit in a bomber, and even if it did, the magitech on the bomber would break. Armed airships have some level of shielding, so only two airships can carry it.

In truth, this is the only way to annihilate the Empire’s field forces. No one willingly uses a weapon that contaminates their own land. But a mana furnace is different. At worst, it will only turn the region into a monster-infested zone. And if necessary, I can absorb all the mana myself to prevent the mana concentration from reaching dangerous levels.

“That’s why I’m ordering you. If they hesitate, you drop it.”

“… Got it.”

I’m the bait. I’ll lure the Empire’s army to the designated location. How many I can hook depends entirely on my efforts.

“Princess, I’ve brought them.”

“Let them in.”

This is one of the castle’s rooms. Takuto, Kazuhito? and Mai? entered.

“… It’s been a while.”

“...! It really is you, Ai…”

Takuto tried to approach me, but Alicia blocked him.

“Please don’t approach the Princess so carelessly.”

“It’s fine, Alicia. It’s true I was once called Iris, Takuto. And you two over there… it’s been a while?”

“”Why the question mark?””

“Well, Kazuhito looks like a gangster now, and Mai’s… gotten bigger.”

Especially if that’s really Mai, it’s unforgivable. That’s a betrayal. A purge is in order.

“You know, I grew after you disappeared. Jealous?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Want to come see the operating room? It’s just been finished.”

Where I’ll shrink them, of course. When I added that, for some reason, she laughed.

“… Muu.”

“Muu? Don’t ‘muu’ me! You disappeared without a word, then died without a word… Do you have any idea how worried we were?!”

So Mai doesn’t know anything. From his expression, Takuto seems to suspect a little of what Iris was doing, but he has no proof. Well, given the nature of that research, it’s unlikely any of it leaked outside.

“I… couldn’t come back.”

“So it really is you, Ai.”

… Is it? Who knows.

“Well, it’s nice to see you again, but the truth is, I’m busy.”

“We know. It’s all anyone in the capital is talking about. You’re at war with the Empire, right?”

“That’s right.”

When I said that, Takuto let out a sigh.

“You’re still not asking me for help, huh? You know I’m a Hero, right?”

“And how exactly are you a Hero when I haven’t even said anything?”

“Don’t nitpick that part…”

I chuckled, and Takuto gave a wry smile. But inside, I sighed.

Takuto’s planning to follow me. But I absolutely cannot let that happen.

—Takuto is necessary for the world we’ll take back someday. You absolutely must not take him with you.—

I approached Takuto and spread my arms. He thought it was a reunion hug and did the same. But just before we embraced—

“Stun Blow.”

Electricity crackled around my fist as I drove it into Takuto’s stomach.

“… A… Ai…”

“You can’t come with me, Takuto. So wait here. I’ll finish this quickly.”

Saying that, Takuto fainted. Even a Hero can’t help it if he lets his guard down. I used magic to levitate his collapsed body.

“I’d like you two to behave as well.”

“You… You seriously mean this? Do you have any idea how long Takuto’s been searching for you?!”

“Don’t move.”

A duplicate appeared behind Kazuhito and Mai, pointing an AK at them. Both of them, along with Alicia, looked shocked.

They’re all fairly strong. But they didn’t notice the concealment magic. Of course not. It’s the latest concealment spell, Stealth. Not even the castle’s security systems picked it up.

“Alicia. Imprison these three in the tower until the war is over. Get it ready immediately.”

“Hey!”

“Don’t move. These bullets can’t be blocked.”

The gun was loaded with special anti-barrier rounds. The bullet heads were crafted from the carapace of magic-resistant monsters. Naturally, they can’t be fired from magic tool weapons, so this is a genuine, gunpowder-fired AK.

“… You’re serious?”

I nodded at Mai’s words.

“Don’t follow me.”

“Y-You’re always like this…!”

Mai tried to move, so the duplicate behind her hit her with Stun Blow, knocking her out.

I levitated her as well.

“What about you, Kazuhito? You going to resist too?”

“… No, I’ll behave.”

Good. Then let’s go.

With Alicia leading, I locked the three of them in the tower reserved for important persons. I welded the door shut to ensure it wouldn’t open.

“You went that far?”

“Knowing you, Kazuhito, you’d try to escape. But it’s pointless. As long as I have this.”

I pulled out the Holy Moai statue with Quick Draw. It used to be a holy sword that enhanced the strength of objects. With this, things become harder than diamond.

“Don’t resist.”

I placed the sacred Moai statue on the floor. Still seeing some reluctance, I kicked it. A faint light radiated from the Moai and vanished. Now, this prison was extraordinarily fortified.

Kazuhito clicked his tongue. As expected, he was planning something.

“… You’re coming back, right?”

“… If I can. But if I don’t… tell Takuto to ‘forget’ me.”

“You—!”

Kazuhito slammed his fists against the door so hard the tower shook.

But the door didn’t bend. Not even a scratch. It’s as strong as diamond, but unlike diamond, it doesn’t shatter easily.

“See you.”

I turned on my heel and descended the stairs. Even as the sound of pounding fists echoed from above, I didn’t look back.

“From here, I will strike the Empire’s army! We march!”

The soldiers marched in perfect formation along the capital’s roads.

They had no lives.

They had no honor.

An entire army of steel.

Twenty thousand Golem Legion troops departed from the royal castle, leaving the capital. My hidden trump card. A force created in the royal treasury.

Fifteen thousand standard Golem Soldiers. Five thousand heavily-armored assault units. Finally, they were ready.

I rode with Mr. Coote, accompanied by the Woofers Squad. The Meowers Squad had gotten slack, so Mr. Coote scolded them, and they stayed behind to guard Mother at the castle. They should be fine. Mr. Coote’s anger was terrifying.

Alicia and the royal guards weren’t here. By royal command, they were ordered to defend the capital. Though realistically, there’s little they can do.

Alicia protested, but I convinced her. “Will you abandon the people of the capital?” With that, she had no argument left. A commander is needed, after all.

The citizens watched me. But I gave no response. And as I left the capital, I took out a knife.

“This is my resolve.”

I cut my waist-length hair down to shoulder length. The crowd murmured in shock. For nobles, long hair is a symbol of pride.

But where I’m going is the battlefield. Long hair is nothing but a hindrance.

“Let’s kill them all.”

I led my army forward.

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