Barganta

After the coronation ceremony ended, work began in earnest.

He had to confirm before everyone the titles and territories he’d notified subordinates of in advance, and had to parade through the royal capital wearing the crown under the pretext of looking after the people’s welfare.

He immediately met with the new military leadership and announced laws he’d discussed with Flemyr.

Days passed breathlessly without even knowing how time went by.

And the sealing device commissioned to the Tunnel Folk arrived.

“I ordered the box placed inside this.”

During the last coast visit, he’d shown the Tunnel Folk the box containing the core. They’d discovered amazing technology from the hundreds-year-old box and touched it here and there, confidently saying they’d create a similar device.

The sealing device that arrived was a method that imprisoned the entire box.

The principle was to partially open the box trapped in the sealing device so the released power remained inside.

The sealing device even had space on one side to insert a hand, designed to directly absorb the power trapped in the sealing device.

Click!

Pernok opened the sealing device and put the box inside.

Then he closed the sealing device again and inserted his hand into the space to open the box.

“Hmm…”

Pernok frowned with displeasure and withdrew his hand.

Rio tilted his head and asked.

“What’s the matter, Your Majesty?”

“It’s a failure.”

Though he’d lightly touched the box, he felt an explosive reaction.

“I thought it only sensed external reactions, but the moment I place my hand on it, repulsive force arises from the box itself.”

“Is the sealing device difficult to handle?”

“The sealing device is a mechanism to control and extract the box’s power. If the core detonates at full power from the box, the sealing device will melt instantly.”

Pernok opened the sealing device and removed the box.

“I’ll have to adjust the sealing device anew. Convey what I write to the Tunnel Folk.”

“Yes!”

Rio received the paper and went outside.

Pernok placed his hand on the box and activated magic.

Soon, the box’s size shrank to the size of a ring’s cubic stone.

Manipulating the box’s size freely without interfering with the core didn’t qualify as a target of explosion.

Pernok inserted the convenient cubic into a ring missing its jewel.

This too was a reinforced accessory separately commissioned from the Tunnel Folk for portability.

‘I should continue experimenting while carrying it around.’

It wasn’t something that would be accomplished by being impatient.

Pernok was caressing the ring to safely consume the massive spiritual power capable of devouring an entire nation when—

“Your Majesty, distinguished guests have arrived.”

“Show them in.”

Pernok dressed in formal attire and crossed the great hall. Entering the well-decorated garden, the Rezhen and Tyr kings he’d met days ago sat there. And an old man in pure white religious robes.

The old man wrapped in seemingly sacred mana had an unusual soul.

‘An interesting soul.’

It was a normal size compared to Magus until now.

However, the spiritual power forming the soul was extremely clear and pure, giving the feeling of seeing a stream where the inside showed through.

‘Just with the soul’s quality, he has the aptitude to reach great achievement. The question is whether he’ll stay alive until his last breath.’

Pernok sat in the empty seat and looked at the old man.

Heterochromic eyes of blue and red.

The Holy Kingdom’s master who’d only had rumors.

Sacred Emperor Bartheau.

Other kings also sent curious glances at Bartheau, known as an S2 Magus.

“I didn’t expect the Sacred Emperor himself rather than the High Priest to come to this place.”

“When Arisha so earnestly said she must meet King Pernok, shouldn’t I also show sincerity?”

“Did you also read the letter I sent previously?”

“That letter Arisha gave me? Those frightening words about facing Rakis?”

Pernok leaned closer to the table.

“Well. If everyone here combines forces, it seems like a fight worth trying.”

“Do you know Rakis’s Hegemon Emperor… Arad?”

“I heard he’s the monster who elevated Rakis to a superpower before Chris.”

Bartheau nodded.

“Arad and I clashed very much in our youth. We acknowledged each other’s skills and made an unspoken promise not to invade each other’s territories. However, that’s merely bravado I unilaterally pushed from my side.”

“What do you mean?”

“I fear Arad.”

Then Suira and Salavan showed surprised eyes.

No one had thought the Holy Kingdom’s master who competed for world dominance would easily say such things.

“That person’s temperament is extremely ferocious and close to a madman seeking extreme pleasure, so his thoughts can’t be read.”

“That’s always in war. Exchanging moves with each other, repeating advance and retreat, then capturing an opportunity to kill—that’s strategy. If you merely hesitate fearing the Hegemon Emperor’s tactics, I guarantee I can break through.”

“That’s not all that’s frightening about Arad. Though he’s not a Magus, he has special power that encompasses Magus.”

“Power other than mana? That’s the first I’ve heard.”

“That would be so. This can only be known by those who directly fought.”

“What is the Hegemon Emperor’s weapon?”

Bartheau spoke while recalling his youth.

“Domination.”

“…?”

“I can only express it that way. Certainly, it’s not Anti Magic, but before it, Magus Arts freeze as if rigid. It’s like an emperor’s majesty pressing down from higher ground, so even now decades later, I haven’t grasped that mysterious power of Arad’s.”

Pernok nodded.

“Then we should start by revealing that power.”

“Isn’t the King afraid of Arad?”

“Why should I fear an enemy I’ve never seen in advance? Moreover, being afraid won’t improve the situation. Those gathered here want to repay what they suffered from Rakis.”

“That’s an excessively emotional response for leading a nation.”

“However, if these justifications follow together, we can bring a greater future.”

Pernok spread a map on the table.

It was the Rakis encirclement completed through close consultation with each nation.

Bartheau slowly examined the map and let out a contemplative sound.

“You know the reason why until now not a single nation has destroyed Rakis, don’t you?”

“They threw the stones and we’re ready to rise.”

“If the Holy Kingdom won’t join?”

“Haven’t you already come thinking of joining? And my proposal won’t be so unattractive.”

“What will you pay as the price for alliance?”

“Complete ownership of seized territory.”

Pernok didn’t miss the light that momentarily crossed Bartheau’s eyes.

“That means… you won’t separately divide spoils after the war ends?”

“We won’t calculate complexly. No need for reasons about whose credit. We all advance together, and what’s seized belongs entirely to that nation. Whether it becomes territory or whatever.”

“What if we take a 13 Lord without killing them?”

“That disposal will also be left to that nation.”

All nations united, and the win rate had drastically increased.

Added to this, the method of immediately attributing to one’s own nation each thing seized from Rakis was a proposal difficult to casually dismiss.

It was a clean method without complications, so Salavan and Suira also nodded.

“It doesn’t matter if the Holy Kingdom declines. Then we’ll just take about a year to reorganize. However, keep this in mind. Now that Rakis has earnestly drawn its blade, bombardment will also target the Holy Kingdom.”

“Mmm…”

“Also, the temple establishment promised to the High Priest will be decided as the coast. However, that coast will be Rakis’s coast that we subjugate.”

The eyes pointing to the encirclement were chillingly cold to scold as wordplay.

“We will destroy Rakis. Will you join?”

At the firm words as if there was no opportunity if not now, Bartheau nodded.

He’d exchanged many words with Arisha before coming here.

And after examining Pernok’s actions, he’d judged this alliance proposal wasn’t a gamble but a high-probability war.

‘The Holy Kingdom alone can’t defeat Rakis. More than anything, we lacked Magus numbers. However, if three nations and the Mage Association combine, we can handle even Rakis’s reserve Magus.’

Above all, Pernok’s state was unusual.

‘Though I heard from Arisha he was merely S2 when facing Duke Chris, gauging King Pernok with my mana isn’t easy. This means he’s reached S3…’

Bartheau shook his head.

No matter how he thought about it, that didn’t make sense.

Didn’t even Chris grow systematically over several years?

Cases where Magus Arts surged in merely months didn’t exist even tracing history.

‘…King Pernok’s variable. Even Rakis wouldn’t have anticipated this.’

Though he didn’t know what achievements the strong one called Pernok would display on the battlefield, he judged he’d act as sufficient variable until the Holy Kingdom advanced with Arisha at the vanguard.

Bartheau answered after considering all situations.

“When will you declare war?”

Pernok smiled wickedly.

“In one month. When all forces are positioned in their places, we’ll launch simultaneous total offensive.”

And everyone’s eyes widened at the continued explanation.

Because it was content about using strong prey as bait.

“Rakis will… no, Chris will bite. Absolutely!”

Around when the kingdom stabilized, large-scale forces passed the northern border.

Simultaneously, Tyr and the Holy Kingdom also concentrated large armies in their respective directions.

As Ruin led Rezhen’s supply and the Mage Association’s elite mages as a separate unit, countless ships were even positioned at sea.

A grand army totaling 400,000.

Magus priests including the Holy Kingdom’s High Priest.

And six Magus from each nation.

It was the birth of a massive allied army with fully dozens of Magus assembled.

Though they nominally appointed Bartheau as commander, most command was to be handled by Pernok.

“Rezhen’s supply?”

“They said it arrives tomorrow.”

“Since we’ll handle the north, tell them to make additional reinforcement toward the northwest direction, and convey to the Holy Kingdom to strike in at the right time.”

“Yes.”

“But why did Tyr…”

Pernok shook his head recalling Tyr’s vanguard commander.

“…Take Jan out of the tower?”

Rio answered cautiously.

“King Suira was confident he could control Jan’s madness.”

“I heard he has means to restrain him. However, Jan is a factor that might harm the allied army. Didn’t I clearly say to carefully deliberate and exclude this person?”

“They say it’s a decision made after much consideration.”

“If he wants it himself, I can’t stop him.”

Pernok chuckled.

“Naturally, Tyr must also bear the consequences.”

“Then how should we deploy troops?”

“Send 20,000 to the border adjacent to Tyr. And send a letter to the Holy Kingdom.”

“Understood.”

Rio received the letter and left the barracks.

Pernok also went outside and examined the vast land beyond the hill.

He’d thought it would take considerable time to occupy this place, but Rakis hadn’t deployed forces here too futilely.

Though war hadn’t been declared yet, despite certainly hearing about the large army’s movement, Rakis was strangely quiet.

As if waiting for this side’s declaration.

‘They couldn’t have failed to anticipate we’d move this quickly—that’s not a clumsy excuse. It doesn’t matter what they prepare. Since this side will endlessly knock anyway, we’ll repay what we received with interest.’

Pernok smiled coldly recalling the 13 Lords who’d helped Vans ravage the kingdom.

“Sound the trumpet of war’s opening.”

Majestic trumpet sounds rang from various places, covering the wilderness.

Soon the signal transmitted even via beacon fires and reached the sea.

Naval fleet.

Special Mobile Unit Commander Ruin.

Observing the beacon fire risen on the cliff, he tapped his staff on the hull.

Mana rang across dozens of ships like waves.

[Since His Majesty commanded! We shall punish on this land all the barbarians who ravaged our kingdom and announce to the world that righteousness is here!]

Rakis’s naval forces were inferior to Tyr’s.

Pernok aimed for that point, setting the war’s opening advance as the naval fleet.

[We conquer Rakis’s coast within two days!]

As if responding, skilled masters gathered from each nation raised weapons and responded, so Ruin shouted in a chilling voice.

[Annihilate Rakis!]

Adding even the Mage Association to the existing fleet, the high mage corps led by an S2 Magus crossed the seawater.

Simultaneously, the messenger who observed the fleet’s advance raised beacon fires to transmit signals again to inland, so Barganta, Tyr, and the Holy Kingdom all at once began advancing toward Rakis from all directions.