Chapter 269: The Eve of the Final Battle
According to Admiral Drake, demon beasts have already begun appearing near the bay. While the allied fleet has been dealing with them, it is expected that by tomorrow, the Great Demon God himself will be visible from the harbor at Lisbon.
Near the cannons stood a blond man in a green robe, looking deceptively calm.
「How’s it going, Wake?」
「These cannons are a bit different from what I’m used to, but I’ll make it work.」
Wake, the Thief King, had been assigned the crucial role of firing the Continent Cannon. With his shooting accuracy cheat, it had to be him pulling the trigger.
「Don’t worry, Wake-san. As long as you aim at the crosshairs, the target’s large enough. You can’t miss.」
It was Sherry who said that.
「You’re still here, Sherry?」
Despite the Great Demon God’s minions already approaching from the sea, Sherry remained near the cannon, completely focused.
「We haven’t finished the final test of the magical cables for the Continent Cannon yet. I’m running a final check now.」 Sherry, who had designed the intricate apparatus for channeling the magic power of over 10,000 priests and mages into the cannon, had no magic of her own but was a bona fide genius with unparalleled technical expertise.
Having studied ancient magical documents and trained under the wisest scholars of Silesie, Sherry had become a master of magical engineering. All around the cannon, mages were running tests to ensure the magical cables were functioning correctly, while others checked if the accumulated magic power was properly flowing into the cannon.
At the center of it all was Revenant, shouting orders to coordinate the effort of the mages from around the world. It was the first time I’d seen him look this serious.
This battle wasn’t just about protecting one country—it was a fight for survival. Even Revenant, that pervert advance mage, was sweating, running around to ensure everything worked.
「Come on! The Great Demon God won’t wait for us! All mage divisions, proceed to your assigned positions and begin connection checks!」
Hundreds of mages lined up along the magical cables, sending their power toward the cannon. Given that this was the first time such a complex magical system was being used, they had to test it repeatedly to make sure it worked.
「Commencing first connection check on the magical circuits!」
「Second, third, and… fourth and fifth connections confirmed! No issues!」
The power of 10,000 priests and mages from across the Eura Continent was being funneled into the cannon, accelerating the projectile to unimaginable speeds. Sherry was the only one capable of designing such a complex magical array.
Cries of surprise erupted from the mages when the system began to hum with power.
‘Oh, it’s working!’ The mages exclaimed in surprise.
Well, it better work.
Sparks flew from parts of the magical cables as raw magic energy surged through them, but this level of volatility was expected. The sight of mages who had once fought as enemies now working together to operate this system was awe-inspiring.
I understood that Sherry’s expertise was necessary for the cannon to function, but…
「Sherry, you don’t need to be in such a dangerous place. Once the system is set up, let Revenant handle the firing and get to safety.」
「I won’t leave you, oniisama. This is the magic-accelerated firing system I designed. I’ll take responsibility and see it through to the end.」
「Sarah-chan’s going to be furious when she hears about this.」
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Everyone was working so hard, treating this mission like it was their own personal responsibility.
「And besides, I’m not the only one staying till the end.」
To my surprise, a familiar group appeared before me.
「Sharon… I told you to protect my children, didn’t I? And that goes for all of you too.」
There they stood—Sharon, Suzanne, Claudia, Viola, Roll, Colette, Flora, Eliza, Melissa, Jeannie, Lou, Liddy, and Paula. These thirteen former slave girls had grown into strong women who now supported the Kingdom of Silesie and the Sawatari Company in various ways. No longer the small girls they once were, they now stood tall, each holding a rifle in their arms.
「We are still your Slave Girl Musketeer Squad, Master. Please, let us stay by your side until the end.」
Sharon, clad in her mithril armor, said with determination.
This was how we had fought together all these years.
「Alright, alright…」
I muttered, unable to hide my appreciation.
I was grateful for their loyalty. In the end, if we lost, it would all be over anyway.
I just had to win, that’s all.
As I was lost in thought, Sherry suddenly hugged me tightly.
「I heard you’re granting wishes if we win. Don’t forget mine!」
「Hey, that’s not fair, Sherry! We want in on that too!」
The others chimed in, quickly crowding around me, making it impossible to move.
I glanced back at Sharon, who was smiling at the scene, and I couldn’t help but smile back.
「Alright! I’ll grant your wishes, but don’t push yourselves too hard. I’m entrusting the final defense of the cannons to you all.」
Their cheerful ‘Yes!’ echoed around us, and I felt a surge of resolve. They had given me one more reason to win this battle—one more reason I couldn’t afford to fail.
I had to win. For them.
※※※
As the final battle approached, reinforcements began arriving from all corners of the continent. Leading the charge was a familiar figure in flaming armor, her crimson cloak emblazoned with the scarlet bird crest of the Duchy of Lanct unfurled behind her.
「Eleonora, you’re here too?」
You just gave birth, didn’t you?
How can you be riding a horse like this?
「I’m perfectly fine! The Lanct Duchy forces have arrived and are ready for battle!」
Eleonora was fully in her Princess Knight mode, her fiery armor gleaming. Beside her, as always, was her loyal steward knight, Kato-san.
「Good to see you’re well, Kato-san.」
「If Princess Eleonora-sama tries anything reckless, I will be here to stop her. No need to worry.」
Kato-san replied, his stern expression softening ever so slightly.
She really is a princess through and through, I thought. Even though Eleonora and I were married now and had a child, to Kato-san, she would always be the headstrong young princess.
Still, it’s about time she settled down. Poor Kato-san’s hair was starting to show signs of age, and he deserved some peace.
Following behind Eleonora’s Lanct Duchy forces came the army of the legitimate Germania Empire, along with reinforcements from the Eastern Kingdoms of Rastore, Trakia, and Gartland.
「Mainz, and all of you—thank you for coming such a long way.」
「Hohoho, I never thought this old man would see another battlefield. Just place me somewhere at the edge of the lines.」
Said the aging but stalwart General Mainz, now the Grand Marshal of the Germania Empire.
He had arrived later than Eleonora because he had been busy checking the positions of all the allied forces.
Though his hair had turned completely white, there was no one I would rather have fighting by my side.
「No, this battle is purely defensive. I need your wisdom, Mainz.」
「I may be an old man unfamiliar with these new weapons, but when it comes to defense, I have a bit of an edge. I’ll have my forces hold the rear. Is that acceptable, to rein in the younger ones?」
「Exactly. I’m counting on you for everything!」
As expected from Mainz.
Just by inspecting the troops, he already understands the role I want him to play without me having to say a word.
It’s great that everyone’s so eager, but I’m worried they might push too far ahead in their enthusiasm.
The ground forces only need to hold the line and protect the Continent Cannon’s artillery base.
This is a defensive battle.
And it’s precisely the kind of fight that Mainz, the master of defensive tactics, excels at.
I was concerned that Sarah-chan or Eleonora might rush in, but knowing that the experienced old general Mainz is standing by to cover them puts my mind at ease.
「Speaking of which, the new Empress, Her Majesty Elizabeth, expressed her desire to join us on the battlefield.」
「Haha, now that would be a surprise.」
There’s no way Eliza could come here.
With the slave girls already here, I shudder at the thought of what might happen. But Mainz, at least, wouldn’t allow things to go that far.
「Her ministers managed to dissuade her, though she was quite disappointed. As a representative, Her Majesty has sent the court musician Zither in her place.」
Stepping forward was a court musician with long, honey-colored curls.
「Ehto, who was that again…?」
「A grand greeting desu ne! I’ve composed a grand new song for the Silesie’s Hero-sama to match his latest battle!」
With that, Zither began beating the drum hanging around his neck.
With all the instruments draped around her, she looked more like a traveling jester than a bard.
「Haha, I was just joking. I could never forget a character as strong as yours. Still the same, huh, Zither?」
「Well then, allow me, Zither Scheidholdt, to perform the theme for this final battle!」
Without being asked, she started drumming while declaring something rather ominous.
She’s as carefree as ever.
At this point, why not? Having a musician along with the army couldn’t hurt.
Zither’s drums thudded with a powerful rhythm—don-donko, don-donko, don-donko.
Perhaps not drawn by the music, but…
Finally, the colossal form of the Great Demon God began to faintly emerge on the horizon.
The final battle was upon us.