I Became a Childhood Friend With the Villainous Saintess

197 – Dark Clouds (3)

For a while, the peaceful North was once again covered with clouds of war.

A short while ago, forward deployed scouts reported unusual signs.

Baron Iskente selected elite soldiers and conducted reconnaissance deep into the north, and 80% of them successfully returned alive.

– Baron. This is a report from the scouts. As you predicted, the demons are gathering.

– The number of troops is far beyond expectations. It is on a scale never before observed.

– Several people who are presumed to be lower-level demon lords have also been discovered. It appears that there is a demon lord commanding them, but their identity has not been confirmed.

It’s war.

Baron Iskente sighed.

It’s nothing new for the North to fight the demons.

While the high-ranking demon lords of the west occasionally wage large-scale wars, the demon lords of the north periodically fight local wars.

In fact, for the soldiers on the northern front, peacetime felt more awkward than wartime.

Moreover, the position of commander of the Northern Front was not one that could be obtained through gambling.

It was expected that there would be a large number of enemies. Since the peace had lasted a long time in the North, it was only natural that the enemy would have accumulated enough strength.

Baron Iskente was not sitting idle, thinking that the enemies were not coming.

The North is strong enough now.

The two who once supported the Gates of Aktania have spread their wings and flown away, but the Hybras Cult still remains and provides strength.

The military funds, which are much more abundant than before, are also solid. The current northern garrison has undergone a considerable increase in strength.

But why is that?

Baron Iskente’s intuition sounded the alarm, saying, ‘This time is different.’

“I thought we wouldn’t have to worry about power shortages for the next few years… … Please tell the garrison to inspect the fortifications and walls once more. We must also thoroughly check that there are no shortages of provisions or supplies. I will personally receive the report.”

“Yes, I will pass it on to each army.”

“Let’s also send some troops to manage Requitas. Did the red magic stone sent from Illencia arrive safely?”

“Yes. We are currently working on the classification. We will report to you as soon as the work is completed.”

“Good. It might be difficult, but please hurry up and sort it out.”

Baron Iskente has always had a good sense.

When you have such a strong intuition, even if you hit it without any basis, your batting average is over 70%.

When rational reasoning and intuition point to the same place, they are never wrong.

That was exactly the situation right now.

According to information received, the enemy’s numbers far exceeded expectations.

The fact that there is a being that has gathered the demon lords, even if it is only a small one, means that a big shot has participated.

For the North, it was unusually likely that a large-scale war would occur.

Support from the Empire is difficult to expect.

The position of Marquis of Eloran is still vacant, and the Empire has recently mobilized a significant number of Master-level forces to stop Barbatos.

In this situation, it will not be easy to turn power back to the North.

It was clear that it would be a lonely fight.

This war will never be easy.

The Baron’s body is hot. Whatever it is, it is time to move as quickly as possible.

Just then, a welcome sight caught his eye.

“Ah, Officer Carriet. You’re here at a good time. I see you’ve been to the prayer room today.”

Karriet Sanders.

He was a person who was trusted by the Baron with his meticulous and honest attitude.

Baron Iskente has a lot of drive, but he lacks precision.

It’s Carriet’s job to fill in the gaps as he pushes forward with new agendas.

The synergy between the two has been cruising along without a single creaking moment so far.

Sometimes he would find things he had missed.

The Baron asked with a smile.

“I’d like to take a quick inspection outside the Aktania Gate. Is this a good time for you?”

“Yes, Count. I am fine.”

“Hmm? Did something happen? You don’t look well. If you’re tired, you can rest for a day. It’s better to take care of it when you have time.”

“No… … It’s okay. It’s nothing.”

“Is that so? If you feel unwell, please let me know anytime.”

* * *

A large crack appeared in the crimson earth.

A long and large scar, as if an earthquake had occurred. The dying land could not endure for long and crumbled.

There was nothing left outside the collapsed ground.

Piles of dried dirt, dead trees, and even castles built long ago.

It would simply fall somewhere in the ‘eroded’ area and disappear forever.

In particular, the castle that had just been destroyed was the Demon King’s castle where Baal had resided for hundreds of years.

The first crack caused the wall to collapse, and the second crack consumed the castle.

Now, even his own strength could not stop the erosion.

Once the floodgates opened, the erosion continued to destroy the Demon Realm without stopping.

It was a speed that was incomparable, as if it had been child’s play all along.

Baal gave a brief reflection as he watched the underworld – the edge of the world – crumble.

“It seems the time has come. It’s time I can’t wait any longer.”

The plan went awry a lot.

The only variable left for him since then is Hybras.

It would have been easy to deal with it by borrowing the power of humans, but for some reason, that plan always went awry.

Immediately after the war, they were too busy trying to survive to touch Hybras.

When I regained my strength, I couldn’t find Hybras and couldn’t finish it.

When he finally found Hybras after hundreds of years, he found that all his arrangements had failed.

Long time is a privilege that humans cannot have.

Normally we would have waited another generation, but this time we couldn’t.

Because there was no longer any immutable fate left.

Unchangeable fate was not always Baal’s shackles.

For the final destiny to be carried out, not all humans must die.

Since there can be no empire or pantheon, a proper society and civilization must be preserved for humans.

That is, if Baal had tried to destroy the empire himself, causality would have used any force to stop him.

On the contrary, no matter how much Baal twists causality, it will be difficult for erosion to destroy the world.

The reason he could wield infinite time as a weapon was because his unchangeable destiny remained.

But now that the promised time has passed and the plan has fallen apart, erosion is rapidly eating away at the demon world.

“What a pity. If only I had taken one more step… … The long wait has been in vain.”

If things continue like this, the Demon World won’t last long.

Baal had no time left to prepare a new plan.

But there is no need to despair.

It was a mistake not to be able to cleanly remove the variables, but these days, humans are trembling even at the thought of a single Barbatos.

Sometimes overwhelming force can solve all problems.

Just because a few of Baal’s plans failed doesn’t mean the power he’s accumulated over the years will disappear somewhere.

Baal’s power was already at a level that was difficult for humanity to handle alone.

“Kamigin, are you ready?”

“Yes… … As you commanded, the soldiers have finished preparing to go on a campaign, and the demon lords who responded to the call are waiting nearby.”

“You’ve had a hard time. Now that I think about it, I heard you lost a child you cherished. You must be heartbroken.”

“no.”

Gamigin bit his lip, but Baal didn’t care one bit.

He took out the relic of Temes and put a considerable amount of divinity into it.

Can’t you feel the saint’s reaction? If so, then they have served their purpose.

“I command all believers of the order.”

After Baal gave some command, the sacred object was roughly thrown onto the dirt floor.

As time passes, the relics of Temes will be consumed by erosion and disappear.

At the same time, the sacredness of order will disappear from the world.

But by then the empire will already be in chaos.

Baal looked relieved, as if he had taken off the clothes that had not fit him for a while.

“Let’s go. We have a long way to go.”

* * *

Phew. A sword pierced through Baron Iskente’s abdomen.

An unexpected blow. Blood dripped down the blade, dyeing the floor red.

“Uh… … what?”

The Baron looked back in disbelief.

The black cariot officer was holding it, having emerged from the Baron’s stomach.

I don’t want to admit it, but no matter how you look at it, reality hasn’t changed.

A person who is devout enough to go to the temple every morning without fail.

The clerk the Baron trusted deeply betrayed him.

“I’m sorry. It wasn’t my will. But I can’t refuse the will of God.”

“Ugh… … !”

“Your Majesty, you were a good lord. I am truly sorry that this has come to pass.”

Blood began to form at the Baron’s mouth.

The torn intestines caused the blood to flow back.

The black thing that had dug inside slowly slipped out again.

The black one that was recovered did not have good intentions.

The eerie blade aimed again, ready to cut off the Baron’s head.

The Baron tried to pull out the sword at his waist, but it seemed it would be too late.

Soon, a man’s life was lost.