Chapter 245: Preparing the Fleet
After a long forty-day voyage across the Siren Sea, the Silesie Fleet finally reached the port of Avana, where they rested for a week.
Now, they were ready to depart and commence the assault on the enemy’s fortified naval base at Times Square.
As we prepared to set sail, countless sailors gathered at the port. With my bodyguards, Berenice and Clementine, along with Rara-chan and Sherry, I made my way to the docks.
There, waiting in formation with numerous soldiers, were Damons and Drake. Lyle-sensei, the strategist for the operation, stepped forward.
「Takeru-dono, would you care to offer some words?」
「Ugh, again?」
It seemed I was expected to give yet another speech. Well, this was part of my duty, so I couldn’t complain.
I climbed to the prow of the black cedar warship anchored in the port and looked out at the soldiers gathered below. After waiting for the crowd to quiet down, I began to speak.
「Over a thousand years ago, just like us today, the people who worshipped the goddess Asama sailed from the continent of Eura and reached the land of the Abyss, founding the kingdom of Abysspania.
Soldiers of Silesie, you have crossed the vast Siren Sea, breaking a thousand years of silence to once again set foot on this land—an incredible feat! Soldiers of Silesie, soldiers of Abysspania, and the demons who have chosen to walk alongside us humans, listen well. The Abyss is now under the cruel tyranny of the Great Demon King Ifriil, who seeks to destroy not only humans but also the demons who strive for coexistence with us.
We cannot allow this to continue!
As the King General of Silesie and the hero who received a divine grace from the goddess Asama, I hereby declare our mission to defeat the Great Demon King Ifriil.
With this united fleet, we shall launch an assault on the Demon Nation’s fortified naval city of Times Square. We will strike directly at the capital, Laurentite, and utterly annihilate the demon army.
Together, we will defeat our common enemy, the Great Demon King Ifriil!
By doing so, we will create a land on this rich continent of the Abyss where humans and demons can live together in peace. This war is for our future, to secure a thousand years of peace and prosperity.
The demon army has built a massive floating fortress and commands terrifying magical beasts, but what of it?
Soldiers, I believe in you. I believe you are the strongest navy in the world. With our fleet of forty ships, over a thousand cannons, and the combined strength of thirty thousand soldiers, no enemy can stand against us!」
A deafening roar of cheers erupted from the soldiers gathered at the port.
Feeding off their enthusiasm, I raised my hand and shouted once more.
「Soldiers, lend me your strength once again!
Together, we will free the Abyss from the clutches of evil!
Ahead of us lies the glory of victory! An abundance of riches and the honor of triumph await!
Let’s defeat this wicked enemy and bring a new era of peace and prosperity to this fertile land of the Abyss!」
Even after my speech ended, the soldiers’ cheers did not subside, and the fleet fired celebratory salutes into the air. Satisfied, I glanced back at Lyle-sensei, who had appeared behind me at some point.
「Takeru-dono, you’ve become quite adept at rallying the troops for battle.」
「Was that sarcasm?」
「Not at all. It was a splendid speech, raising morale with every word.」
「I don’t feel very flattered… Anyway, I’m counting on you, sensei, for the rest of the operation.」
This was all I could do. The finer details would be left to Lyle-sensei and Sherry.
「Of course. Everything is proceeding according to plan, and the fleet is fully prepared.」
At that moment, Admiral Damons, who would be leading the demon army, arrived.
「Your Excellency King General, that was a magnificent speech. The soldiers have renewed their resolve for this mission.」
Ugh, it’s embarrassing when they praise me like this.
But, I can’t say that out loud. Damons and the others need to give their all for this operation.
「Damons, you’re in charge of the Second Fleet, right? This mission is crucial, so I’m counting on you.」
「Ha! The target is practically my home turf. I swear on my life, we’ll reclaim it from the Great Demon King!」
Damons would be leading the Second Fleet, which consists of the sixty galleys I seized from Presidio, along with about a hundred cogs and other ships we repaired and built in this port. He’s also in charge of the landing operation.
Additionally, Damons still has three massive sea dragons left, which were entrusted to him by the Great Demon King Ifriil. The plan is to use them in the initial assault, if possible. He has a significant role to play.
As I was once again reminding Damons to ‘do his best’ a signal was given, indicating that the fleet was ready to depart. Drake appeared at the prow.
「King General, it’s time to go.」
「Right. Our first target is Times Square!」
And so, the allied fleet of 144 ships set sail, heading towards the enemy’s massive naval base at Times Square.
※※※
Meanwhile, at the entrance of the Great Demon King’s palace in the demonic capital of Laurentite, the beast tamer Hydra was wandering aimlessly.
「What am I supposed to do now…?」
Hydra, a strikingly beautiful beast tamer clad in a revealing bondage-like armor, looked dejected, her face lacking its usual confidence. She had been lucky enough to find a wyvern accustomed to humans on the battlefield, barely making it back to Laurentite alive. However, she hadn’t been able to secure an audience with the Great Demon King Ifriil.
Having lost all the beasts she had been entrusted with, returning to the demon army would only lead to her being stripped of her rank as Demon Beast Captain. The only weapons left in her arsenal were the information about the new weapons being used by the Abysspanian rebels and the appearance of a female hero.
She had to convey this to the Great Demon King directly and prove her worth, but even after making it to the palace, she couldn’t get an audience.
Only high-ranking nobles or military generals could meet with the Great Demon King directly. As a mere Demon Beast Captain, her only option was to petition the Chancellor for a recommendation, but even that had been rejected.
While she could hand over the information about the new weapons and the female hero to the Chancellor, that wouldn’t count as her achievement. For Hydra to regain her position within the demon army, she needed to personally deliver the report to the Great Demon King.
That’s why she had been loitering around the palace, hoping for a chance encounter with the Demon King.
Just then, an old demon with the body of a white goat, leaning on a staff, passed by.
「Oh! Your Excellency Chamberlain Demogorgon!」
「What is this ruckus? Don’t startle an old man like that.」
Demogorgon was an elderly demon with a long white beard.
While he didn’t hold a particularly high position in the demon army, he had served the royal family since the previous Demon King’s reign and was responsible for attending to their personal needs. As such, he had the authority to arrange an audience with Great Demon King Ifriil.
Seizing this opportunity, Hydra rushed up to the old chamberlain.
「Demogorgon-sama, I need to speak with you urgently!」
「I’m a busy man… Ugh, fine. I’ll give you five minutes. Speak quickly.」
From within his robe, the old Demogorgon pulled out a pocket watch.
He really was giving her only five minutes.
At this point, hiding anything would be pointless. Hydra decided to be completely open and divulged everything she knew to the chamberlain, desperately pleading for an audience with the Demon King.
「Hmm… the appearance of a new hero is not something we can ignore.」
「Exactly. I saw it with my own eyes—the defeat of General Sardival Gomez. The region of Linmon is falling into the hands of the Abysspanian rebels. This is a serious threat to our forces.」
「Yes, yes, I understand. But you were turned away by the Chancellor, weren’t you? The demon army has bigger issues right now. Did you see the wounded soldiers around the palace?」
「I did. Are they the casualties of another battle?」
「Far away in Baal Province, a woman claiming to be the Holy Mother has appeared, and a new human kingdom has emerged.」
「The Holy Mother…?」
「Yes, the so-called Holy Steriana Queendom. We thought the Asama Church had no power here in the Abyss, but somehow they’ve grown terrifyingly strong. Twice now, we’ve sent expeditionary forces of ten thousand men, and both times they were annihilated. The Holy Mother’s forces have pushed as far as Dagon Province. It’s only a matter of time before they march on Laurentite itself.」
「There’s no way the enemy could ever reach the demon capital, Laurentite.」
Laurentite, the capital of the demon kingdom, was the heart of their realm. For the past thousand years, no human army had ever come close to threatening the demon city.
「And yet, that unimaginable scenario is unfolding as we speak. That’s why everyone is in a panic. With the Holy Mother and now a female hero… Alright, Demon Beast Captain Hydra, I will allow you to report this to the Great Demon King directly. However, the Great Demon King is not currently in the palace.」
「If he’s not in the palace, then where is he?」
「He’s at the Hell’s Abyss, the Mad Volcano, outside Laurentite.」
「At such a place?」
Hell’s Abyss, or the Mad Volcano, was a massive chasm said to connect directly to the underworld. Constant sulfuric fumes spewed from its depths, and even demons avoided the cursed place. It was said to be uninhabitable.
「Yes, for certain reasons. And don’t let anyone know that the Great Demon King is not in the palace. Now, let’s go.」
Following the chamberlain Demogorgon, Hydra set off towards the Hell’s Abyss, Mad Volcano.
※※※
「Ugh…」
As they approached the Hell’s Abyss, Hydra felt her skin crawl. A putrid stench assaulted her nose, and she wrinkled her brow in disgust.
But it wasn’t just the sulfuric fumes from the abyss.
The air was thick with the stench of death.
And for good reason. The bodies of fallen soldiers were being carted in, one after another.
Looking closely, Hydra saw that some soldiers, though grievously wounded, were still alive, groaning in agony atop the carts. She gasped at the horrific scene.
「Hydra, tell no one of what you witness here.」
「But, Demogorgon-sama… What is this?」
The chamberlain didn’t answer, simply walking ahead. As they ascended the hill, the number of corpses increased, piled into grotesque mounds.
It was a blood-soaked nightmare, a scene straight out of hell itself. Hydra’s heart trembled as she took in the horrifying sight.
When they reached the edge of the abyss, Demogorgon suddenly knelt down.
Hydra, flustered, quickly followed suit.
Above them, hovering in midair with a crimson cloak billowing behind him, stood a dragonkin figure with scales redder than blood.
It was none other than the Great Demon King Ifriil, known as the Red Dragon Emperor.
The Great Demon King floated over the Hell’s Abyss, staring intently into the sulfurous chasm below.
Suddenly, a scream echoed out, ‘No, please stop!’
The bodies—some still alive—were being thrown, one by one, into the bottomless abyss.
Hydra gasped at the sight before her.
「State your business, Demogorgon.」
「My Lord, this Demon Beast Captain Hydra, brings news of a female hero appearing among the rebels in Linmon Province.」
「Fumu, I see」
Hydra was utterly terrified of the Great Demon King Ifriil. His presence alone was suffocating. Yet, when Demogorgon gave her a subtle nod, signaling that she should speak, she knew there was no turning back. If she didn’t seize this moment, all her efforts would be in vain.
Gathering her courage, Hydra raised her voice, nearly shouting to keep it from trembling.
「Great Demon King Ifriil, I humbly report that a female hero has emerged in Linmon Province. Furthermore, the enemy possesses a new weapon—a strange device that spews fire and launches enormous iron projectiles at incredible speeds.」
「A female hero and iron projectiles, you say? How boring.」
The Great Demon King’s reply was barely more than a mutter, spoken with such disinterest that it felt as though he hadn’t heard her at all. Yet, strangely, his voice resonated through the abyss with far more power than Hydra’s desperate shout had managed.
Hydra felt her spirit falter under the weight of Ifriil’s indifference. Noticing this, the elderly Demogorgon stepped forward again to press the issue.
「Your Majesty! The appearance of the Holy Mother Steriana and now a female hero. These are the very harbingers we’ve feared, sent by the Asama Church that claims to wield divine power. We must act.」
「Leave it be.」
「But—!」
「Whether it’s this Holy Mother or the so-called hero, they’re merely spreading the seeds of conflict across Abyssinia. That only serves to strengthen my power. Watch, Demogorgon, another beast is being born.」
From the depths of the chasm, a massive creature began to emerge, its body gleaming with silver scales.
Hydra, a seasoned beastmaster, recognized immediately that this creature was unlike any she had seen before. It exuded an overwhelming aura of strength and menace.
「Hmm… I shall name it the Metal Dragon.」
「Ah…」
The Metal Dragon. It was magnificent beyond words. Hydra trembled with excitement at the sight of such a powerful creature. If she could command this beast, there was no doubt in her mind that she could crush her enemies. She was so overwhelmed with emotion that she barely registered the Demon King’s voice when he spoke again.
「Hydra, what do you think? With this, you can surely defeat that fire-spewing device.」
「Y-Yes! Please, grant me the Metal Dragon! With this, I will surely defeat the hero and their strange weapons!」
Seizing the moment, Hydra boldly requested the creature for herself. She felt confident—no, certain—that with this mighty dragon under her control, victory would be hers.
「Were you not listening? I said to leave the hero be.」
「M-My apologies! But…」
「If you want it so badly, then I’ll entrust the Metal Dragon to you. As for me, I’m heading west.」
「I am deeply grateful, but… why to the west, my Lord?」
Overcome with both elation from being granted the Metal Dragon and confusion at this sudden change of course, Hydra’s face contorted awkwardly. The threat of the Holy Mother and the hero came from the south, so why was the Demon King heading west?
「Can’t you feel it? The pull of fate.」
「Fate…?」
「Ha ha ha ha! All the pieces are falling into place. The time for the resurrection of our great progenitor, the Mother of Chaos, is near.」
「W-Wait! Oh, and your name shall be Silver! Come, Silver, we must follow the Great Demon King!」
Hydra quickly named her new companion, the Metal Dragon ‘Silver’ and mounted it. Together, they soared into the western skies, following the distant figure of the Great Demon King Ifriil.