30 Years Have Passed Since the Prologue
chapter-277

The Grand Gate was destroyed to the point that no shape remained. Ivan was gazing at the ruins of the gate.

Numerous soldiers were demolishing the remains of the gate.

While it might be possible to physically cross over, it is impossible for the Legion to move through it. Even if individuals can climb over it like scaling a cliff, a large-scale military force cannot perform the same feat.

Now, there exists a physical barrier at the northern boundary between the Demon Realm and the United Kingdom. Neither nation can invade the territory of the other.

“Are you disappointed?”

Duke Volonovin approached and asked. Ivan looked at his face for a moment, then turned his head away.

He probably didn’t expect an answer. Indeed, the Duke continued speaking alone.

“I am disappointed. Damn it.”

“About your territory?”

“Of course.”

Ivan couldn’t help but chuckle. Duke Volonovin was an aristocrat who owned the largest domain in this land.

He was granted all the territory beyond that Grand Gate according to the royal decree.

Though barren, there were places where humans could live. In fact, rare resources, which couldn’t even be found within the borders of the United Kingdom, were abundantly buried everywhere.

Any kind of plant or animal grew remarkably easily in that land beyond. The Demon Realm was fundamentally a land rich in mana, and one could obtain crops that were unimaginably abundant in Krasilov just by farming the land.

All the land he developed was immediately his territory. If he had just a bit more ambition, he could have declared himself king of the north. The 1st Legion, technically under Krasilov, might as well be his personal soldiers.

His only duty was to protect the northern part of Krasilov from the clutches of demons. In other words, as long as he could defend his territory, he could claim all rights in the north.

Now, that was no longer possible. The colonial military governance of the Northern Demon Realm had completely collapsed, and no legion could march toward the Demon Realm anymore.

The Duke sighed as if about to speak.

“My son is out there beyond.”

“How old was he?”

“He was older than you. I even had a grandson. He was adorable. At two years old, he wielded a kitchen knife like a warrior. He might have become a great knight. I taught him how to wield a sword and gifted him a dagger. Would you like to see it?”

The Duke rummaged in his coat and pulled out a dagger. It seemed he had tied it around his neck with a leather strap. The dagger’s blue blade reflected the Duke’s face. He was smiling, appearing as if he didn’t know any expression other than laughter.

“Now I can’t even pull weeds from the grave.”

“Duke.”

“Most of those guys over there are my children. Most of them led lives and built families in the colonies. Do you understand what that means?”

“Hmm.”

The colonies lost most of their population in the first offensive…. Ivan nodded as he watched soldiers who had finished their tasks sitting in groups around a campfire, gnawing on the meat of demons.

“Colonel.”

“Hmm.”

“Lead us to revenge. To fulfill our final duty….”

“I intend to do that.”

There was no need for a request. It would be nearly the only ‘winning condition’ to save Krasilov in the current situation. Ivan nodded at the Duke, who wore a dry smile at the corner of his mouth. The Duke clapped his hands to lighten the mood and said.

“Now, I’ve had enough of the sentimental parts. Cleanup Unit officer. Let’s hear the mission briefing.”

“It may differ based on the Duke’s operational objectives.”

“Hmm?”

“If you are trying to save the people of Krasilov, then the forces present here could save most of the lost northern territories.”

Ivan calmly arranged his thoughts.

Seven thousand. Those were seven thousand of Krasilov’s elite legion who had overcome numerous life-and-death situations.

With this number, they could likely save most of the northern territories that were currently under constant invasion. The demons inevitably had limited supply capabilities, and in order to mobilize them, they would need human ‘military supplies.’

Their method of attacking human territories was similar to a swarm of locusts. They swarm in without form, dispersing in unpredictable ways, ravaging most of the target area before leaving.

The Seven Dragon Lords could control their movement range, but even that had its limits. The starving ones would soon begin to devour each other. They likely would attack nearby territories to maintain their combat effectiveness.

Hence, responding to such a dispersed enemy is not impossible even with this number. However….

“It is wasteful.”

This necessitates a tactic of dispersing their own forces as well. Furthermore, even if they were able to protect, it would be difficult to request much in the way of rescue from those territories. The lords wouldn’t support their own armies given the unpredictable situation of possible demonic raids.

As the battle continues, their forces will inevitably be depleted, and the scattered forces would soon lead to a rise in desertions. The more a legion is divided, the higher the proportion of non-combat losses they will experience.

If they are trying to rescue the besieged people, then right now they are the only ones who can serve as their lifeline. However, in exchange for saving them, the 1st Legion will slowly burn away.

“Are you forcing me to choose between a binary option?”

“Aren’t we all here by repeating choices?”

“That’s right. I even find it somewhat comforting. You’ve given me the chance not to be cowardly.”

The Duke shook his head with a laugh.

In his one hand, there lies the chance to save hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians.

If only Ivan didn’t mention this and spoke only of what he precisely wanted, the Duke would have easily accepted his opinion, diligently trying to forget that countless lives had been sacrificed.

That should not be the case. As a commander, one must recognize more clearly than anyone else the opportunity costs incurred by the binary options.

Their deaths are his responsibility. But revenge, that is their duty.

He released his clenched fist and raised the other hand to grasp at the air. Not as a benevolent savior cradling the people, but as a avenging soldier proclaiming revenge.

“The operational plan I wish to receive from you, Officer, is not about rescuing civilians. You know that. Now skip the introduction and tell me what our best course of action is.”

“The enemies are dispersed, and their advance routes have become a mess due to the Rasputitsa. It won’t be possible to move in line with the retreat of the 2nd Legion on foot.”

Ivan continued as he gazed at the distant southern horizon.

“The objective of the 2nd Legion is to prepare for a rotation after retreating to the Central Plains. If they can create a battlefield situation where they can fully project their maximum firepower, then the main force of the Seven Dragon Lords would also be manageable. However, is it feasible for the 2nd Legion to fully retreat?”

“Yes, the men of the 2nd Legion are abandoning their homes and families to retreat. Morale is in shambles, and we will likely see serious troop losses.”

“Elizaveta knows this. The best case would be a complete retreat, but if that is impossible, then the alternative is simple.”

If the maximum capability of the leading forces is naturally decreasing, then the only way to utilize the legion’s maximum firepower is to conduct a rotation as quickly as possible.

In other words, Elizaveta would likely want to initiate a rotation right now. Perhaps her intention was….

“To buy time until the 2nd Legion sets up artillery positions and establishes a defense line.”

The problem is that the enemy would also know this fact. In other words, the outcome of the battle can be safely considered to depend on whether they can hold back the enemies’ advance until the defense line is perfectly established.

Thus, assuming all commanders on both sides make rational decisions, it is also possible to predict the movement trajectory of the demon army. The demon army would strike the 2nd Legion, which would secure the rear defensive line, ignoring Elizaveta.

If Elizaveta can think this far, then her best move would be….

“To expose a weakness and become a bait, leading her forces directly.”

Elizaveta’s life is literally the future of Krasilov itself. All the components of this country are designed specifically to revolve around her.

True dictators tend to concentrate all decision-making power and capabilities within themselves. Power comes from diligence, and in Elizaveta’s case, she filled her relatively vulnerable power base with overwhelming administrative capabilities.

In reality, during the time she was absent, Frechenkaya was occupied by a mere handful of demons. All the officials couldn’t move without her permission.

So, if she were to fall in battle, Krasilov would be torn apart. In a situation where not a single royal successor remains to inherit her legacy, the country would surely collapse, and the dissolution of Krasilov would lead to the last loss of resistance for the United Kingdom.

Right now, if a great war were to break out, Krasilov would be the only country maintaining military power in the United Kingdom.

From the demon army’s perspective, striking the rear defensive line is not the best approach. The life of only Elizaveta would be the easiest method to determine the course of this war.

“They will move along the railway. With the roads in disarray due to the Rasputitsa, the railway is the only route available for the legion to travel.”

“I can understand their southward advance, but will they be able to match it up with the battlefield and time?”

The Duke’s question was reasonable. It wasn’t within the realm of information and reasoning. Inferring the opponent’s operational plans at high resolution is difficult but not impossible.

However, pinpointing the battlefield before the two sides clash and predicting the timing of that battlefield is clearly an ‘impossible’ task. There is an extreme lack of information to support this.

But right now, their only ‘winning condition’ hinges on arriving at the exact location and timing of that decisive battle.

“Yuri’s ability is not omnipotent.”

If there is even a 1% possibility, her ability was to maximize that. Throwing her into a situation where she doesn’t know both time and place is like forcing her to solve a puzzle without the pieces.

To utilize her ability in a directional manner, at least minimal materials must be provided.

So, at the very least, one of the lacking materials, one of the two keys necessary for the winning condition must be secured. What Ivan could secure with his own capabilities was….

“Here.”

The location.

There’s a saying that the first thing to be sacrificed in war is the operational plan. War is chaos intertwined with countless variables, incompetence, and paralyzed commands and actions.

Once combat begins, any form of control becomes virtually meaningless, and the meticulously planned operations often turn out to be futile. Even the most well-trained legions are no exception; a commander’s ability does not lie in combat execution.

Rather, the more outstanding the commander, the more they tend to focus most of their abilities on marches and supplies. War fundamentally boils down to feeding and armoring superior soldiers, then sending more men into combat at the right moment than the enemy.

Thus, if the commanders of both sides that are clashing are sufficiently competent, they can deduce the starting point of engagement by unmistakably understanding the expected movement trajectories and capabilities of the opponent, as well as the maximum efficiency and tactical goals of their own forces.

If it is in Krasilov territory, this becomes even clearer. This is because the intelligence capabilities within Krasilov are superior to that of any other country in the United Kingdom.

Thus, once Elizaveta decided to walk into battle as a bait, she thrust her dagger into a point on the map.

“Right here.”

“Milord, they’ve stopped, stopped!!”

When the scout returned and kneeled, Nekinon hissed with laughter.

Humans are indeed easy to understand and manipulate.

With a single intimidation, they had to stop their legion. They willingly abandoned the optimal battlefield where they could exert their fullest efficiency, starting to besiege from a hopeless region.

They were truly like mice caught in a trap. Nekinon spoke with a grin.

“[Issue a gathering order to all legions. State that if even a single one dares to waste time on plunder, I shall devour their entire clan.]”

“Yes, yes, my lord!!”

The goblin hurried off. Nekinon rose with a satisfied smile.

The Demon King was attempting to use complicated maneuvers to disperse human forces. This was a foolish tactic because he was human.

Humans hadn’t managed to fend off the march of the demons even decades ago. Their only tactic on the front line where the Seven Dragon Lords appeared was to throw away prey while retreating.

Pitiful moths. What the humans were doing now was little different from that. Throwing away their lives as bait, attempting to form a “defensive line” by sending minimal forces back.

They failed at that, too. Unlike demons, humans have many flaws; if their tribe is plundered, they easily fall into disarray. Their forces were likely on the verge of being torn apart.

Demons, on the other hand, are not like that. They have a real god, and the will of that god encompasses the entire army. The solidity of the race itself is on an entirely different level from humans.

His army is infinite. Human soldiers are hardly more than a handful, and even without him personally intervening, the difference in numbers is absolute.

Without the childlike artillery of humans, what means do they have to contend with his army, and how can they possibly stand against the advance of the Seven Dragon Lords?

With just his own forces, it wouldn’t be difficult to trample over them, yet Nekinon decided to lead his army directly.

“If you desire my neck, come and take it yourself.”

[Arrogant woman.]

Nekinon hissed as he stood up.

[Your neck will be displayed as the highest banner in my royal court.]

The Demon King who has annihilated humanity… No, that’s not right.

As a symbol of becoming the only god in this world.