The incident later known in Rondism Kingdom history as The Day of Calamity erupted on a calm holiday noon.
Burning homes. Fire-fighters couldn’t keep up; flames spread building to building.
Endless screams. Anger over self-preservation.
“Aaaaa! I don’t want to die yet——!?”
A death-cry.
As a noble I should rush to help……!
But I could only watch chaos-ridden Lichberg from the palace.
“Damn! What’s happening, Gordon!?”
“Floné. Those mechanical dolls……!”
Rows of dolls before us.
They rained from blue sky, dyed the capital blood-red instantly.
Emotionless, they kill mercilessly. Powered by mana, they don’t stop until fully crushed.
A horde of them invaded the palace.
The nation had countermeasures, but the surprise delayed response.
Holy Knights and military cooperate to suppress; full settlement will take time.
Especially since I and Enju Lebetsenka — who should be on the front — are pinned at the palace by these dolls.
“Soldiers! Forget me! Save the people……”
“We can’t, Your Majesty! If you die here, the country falls!”
“Tch……! I curse this old body……!”
“Match me, Enchan! [Green Hedge]!”
I struck the floor; cracks spread to the dolls; vines bound them.
“[Flame Overkill]!”
Enchan torched the restrained dolls.
They charred and dropped — same as countless before.
We can’t reach the front because dolls keep coming for the King.
Moving safely while eliminating, but no bright outlook.
“Floné’s target is unreadable! Wasn’t it your son’s companion!?”
Enchan’s right.
With this many, attacking Veret directly would be sure…… no, wrong.
Maybe this is sure for her?
Floné doesn’t know [Magecraft Funeral]‘s details.
If it erases mana, the dolls fail.
She has no way to verify.
So she chose the surely-effective capital.
To prevent reinforcements to Veret, pinning us……!
“Enju! Eliminate these fast or Ouga is in danger! Speed up disposal!”
“Need not be told! Move, dolls! Don’t obstruct humanity!”
Enju drew his sword, charged the doll horde alone.
I supported with magic so his rear’s safe, plus securing the King.
Hold, Ouga……! Endure, my beloved son……!
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Riding on the demon dragon, I looked up at the blue sky — disgusted.
”…… Right now, the capital’s idiot nobles are scrambling to flee, no?”
Imagined flames and black smoke. Streets dyed crimson with blood.
Exactly the battlefield I want. The death-trade-zone of life……!
“How dull this place is……”
Below, peace-enjoying humans tend vegetables, raise livestock.
Boring beyond words. Told to live this in retirement, I’d choose suicide.
The world I want is one where blood-rush battles never end, everywhere.
I’ve never cared about praise.
The thrill of tearing flesh! The sweet screams! The smell of charred humans!
That past world is the correct world.
I’ll restore it. The era called worst……!
“Did Gordon really think that level of strategy could pin me?”
Protect Ouga and Mashiro’s group in the capital — efficient, hard to doubt, realistic.
It pretends the capital is the target.
—— But that’s the rational man’s judgment.
My instinct says — destroy Veret first, then hit the capital.
I’d considered sending dolls here too.
But hitting the capital — turning the peaceful daily into hell — is more fun. Even if they’re truly in the capital, I’d savor the main course at the end.
What was I hesitating about?
Once I have Mashiro Liche’s body, battlefields are easy.
Don’t fixate on Veret. Concentrating forces here would make Radjnis-and-others’ reinforcement worse.
Magic-wise, even I respect Radjnis. Don’t give him freedom.
While dolls pin them, act fast.
Lucky me. Drew the right card.
“Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Theta.”
“Here, Lady Floné.”
The four with me responded emotionlessly.
My apprentice was kind-melted by that brat — but at least taught me to strip emotion from pieces.
I’d left emotion in her; she slipped my hand and failed the plan.
Constant commands annoy, but obedient ones are cuter.
”…… Noticed, hm?”
Two huge mana signatures approaching fast.
One — the brat. The other…… oh? The dragon I’d sent to Enkalton.
I see. Allied with the dragon.
He’s the speech-capable, humanoid-form individual.
Such a future isn’t strange.
Even with Enkalton fatigue lingering — admirable.
He’ll provide some fun…… but first, recover the vessel before they arrive.
“Alpha, Beta, Theta — dive into the manor; finish everyone. Gamma — play with the obstructing fools.”
“Per Lady Floné’s command.”
They synchronously leapt from the dragon.
I aimed my palm at the sun and fired the opening signal — a giant bolt at the Veret manor.
“[Lightning Vortex].”
Vision flickered as light rained; the manor half-collapsed.
Now, Ouga Veret. Become the foundation of my new legend.