Count Bolens is a rather influential noble in the Eastern Region.
He ranks among the top five, following closely behind Yohn Torno.
Yet, from Count Bolens’ perspective, the current situation was full of things he just couldn’t understand.
The sudden appearance of the Imperial Princess.
That was somewhat surprising but not entirely incomprehensible, considering the ongoing civil war in the Imperial Capital.
“A mage, named Hio Pavlenko.”
But apart from that, why was a jester the one briefing the operation? And why were the Imperial Princess and Yohn Torno allowing such a jester to act freely?
…A mage? Wasn’t that just another word for a jester?
- Interest
“The operation’s name is ‘Cover the Eye of God.’ It’s a brilliant plan that saves your precious troops and also cuts down on time.”
Faced with this baffling situation, Count Bolens had no choice but to step forward.
“Hey, j-… sir.”
He barely restrained himself from calling him a jester outright.
Maybe this man was closely connected to Yohn Torno or the Imperial Princess. It wouldn’t hurt to be cautious.
“Do you know roughly how many monsters are coming?”
“Of course.”
A massive offensive large enough to require defending all sections of the lengthy fortress walls.
Still, even with that many, the defensive advantage of the fortress walls could not be fully utilized.
“Even with that scale, you can’t just hold the walls, can you? The damage from those giant monsters would be terrible.”
Because they were fighting monsters, not humans.
If they fought near the walls from the start, the walls might be safer, but the walls were not invincible.
Sustained damage from giant monsters would accumulate, and if the walls were breached… they would have to retreat to the inner walls, which would cause massive human and material losses.
“We’ve been fighting by setting up structures right below the mountain range and retreating troops step by step.”
Hio’s explanation was as if he had firsthand experience facing monster waves.
“They organize a special forces unit composed of knights and skill users to intercept the giant monsters as much as possible. The rest of the troops are there to distract and buy time. The special forces try to kill as many giant monsters as they can.”
Of course, this was a dangerously risky strategy.
A strategy where many soldiers sacrifice themselves for the sake of a small special forces team.
Sacrifice was inevitable, but it was also why Yohn Torno’s fortress had stood strong for decades.
“They repeat intercepting, retreating, intercepting, retreating, and once the number of giant monsters falls below a certain threshold, they return inside the walls for the main defense.”
Yohn Torno showed an unusually surprised expression at this detailed explanation.
To others, it might have looked like a normal expression, but he was genuinely shocked.
- The mage Hio Pavlenko will accompany us.
That was what the Imperial Princess had said the previous evening.
She intended to bring along a self-proclaimed mage dressed oddly to the Union Meeting.
Well, that alone was acceptable.
It was the Imperial Princess’s request, after all, so bringing one member along was bearable.
But then—
- I have a good plan.
He wasn’t just accompanying; he was proposing a strategy.
- I’ll explain the details when we’re all gathered tomorrow.
The only reason they tolerated such arrogance was because of Princess Silvia.
Because of her resoluteness in previous talks.
Because she vowed to see it through, she intended to watch closely what he was planning.
The only information he’d been given was a rough estimate of the monsters’ scale.
Yet, he didn’t even seem all that interested.
‘But… it’s as if he’s seen it all before.’
He knew too much.
And Hio Pavlenko’s eccentricity didn’t end there.
“This time, you don’t have to do that. If we follow the plan, we can drastically reduce battle time and troop losses.”
A plan that would drastically reduce troop losses and battle duration.
The assembly started to murmur.
“Is that really possible?”
Count Bolens asked Hio directly.
If it were possible, why would they bother to painfully march troops here every year?
Maintaining and moving troops costs money.
Losing soldiers every battle costs money.
And even after spending so much money to fend off monster waves, there was barely any gain—only loss.
Hio’s smile grew even wider at Bolens’ question.
“Of course. You just need to trust me completely.”
His demeanor was hardly trustworthy, but somehow the nobles found themselves listening to him.
Because it meant preventing massive losses.
They had no choice but to listen.
“First, we build the defense line as usual. But think of it as more of an offensive than a defense.”
“An offense? Coming down from the fortress?”
“Yes. Instead of sending soldiers forward, knights form the front lines. Soldiers fire arrows from as close as possible, then retreat inside once the monsters approach.”
The more he explained, the more incredulous the nobles’ expressions became.
“Wouldn’t the knights be isolated? Are you saying we should sacrifice knights to save soldiers?”
“Knights also slaughter monsters as much as they want, then retreat inside on the signal. It’s a simple plan.”
To spread Darkness over a wide area requires a vast amount of Deathly Energy.
Hio quietly sat, gathering Deathly Energy, while the Eastern Alliance nobles enjoyed the fact their troops would suffer no casualties.
Even such a good plan was incomprehensible to the nobles.
“What nonsense is that! You just said the walls might be breached!”
“Of course. What can we expect from someone who’s never faced monsters…?”
“Wasting time. Just waste time. Let’s get on with the meeting.”
Many showed that reaction after a moment of curiosity.
Amid those reactions, a few raised their voices to question Hio.
“If what you say is true, why not just defend from the walls? Why waste time running around?”
“Running away like that, who’s supposed to kill the monsters flooding in? Where did this guy even come from?!”
Their questions were thinly veiled sarcasm.
Yet, Hio seemed to have been waiting for those questions and pointed at the questioner.
“Excellent question.”
It struck at the core of the plan.
“The reason soldiers and knights go outside the walls is to buy time.”
“Buy time?”
“Yes, just enough for me to prepare.”
“Prepare? Are you going to kill all those monsters yourself?”
“Precisely. So you’re saving troops, time, and money. You’ll owe me a great debt. Hahaha.”
His words were so absurd that silence fell over the room for a moment.
Then came angry voices.
“You’re out of your mind.”
“I was holding back because this is the presence of Her Majesty, but isn’t this crossing the line?”
“How can you allow a conman like this here?!”
“Stop spouting nonsense and get out! Do you think monster waves are a joke?!”
Amid the heated reactions, Hio waved his hand.
“Calm down. I’m not some reckless fool.”
He lightly shook the staff in his other hand.
Everyone’s eyes fixed on it.
Yet, remarkably, nothing changed.
The room remained exactly the same as before.
Still, Hio looked around with a smile.
As if asking, ‘How is it? Did you see that?’
His playful expression only fueled the nobles’ fury.
They felt utterly mocked by a mere jester.
“What are you trying to pull?”
“You’re mocking us!”
“Who does this worthless brat think he is…?”
Amid those reactions—
“…What is this?”
Some froze in surprise.
Those were knights who had achieved distinction despite their noble birth.
And personal Guardian Knights assigned to nobles.
At Hio’s playful wave of the staff, they all looked up simultaneously.
Of course, all they saw were the splendid chandeliers and the gray ceiling.
“I’ll go check it out!”
“Me too…”
“I’ll go see for myself!”
The knights charged out first.
Any knight capable of sensing ki would have felt it.
A chilling, thrilling energy raising goosebumps all over their bodies.
An urge to identify the source of that sudden presence was almost unbearable.
So much so that they would bolt out to see what was going on.
“I’ll go too…”
“I’ll be back soon…”
Along with those knights, some nobles skilled in swordsmanship also left the meeting room, leaving only the rest of the nobles bewildered.
But they were not the only ones startled.
‘What kind of overwhelming energy is this?’
They say knowledge reveals sight.
While ordinary knights were only startled by the sudden overwhelming ki, two people there experienced shock close to horror.
Imperial Princess Silvia’s Guardian Knight, Teordo Ricart, and Yohn Torno of the Eastern Nobles’ Union.
Their gazes fixed on Hio.
Though he only spun his staff with a smile, it was clear he was the source of this astonishing energy.
The phenomenon occurred the moment Hio lightly waved his staff.
Teordo clenched his sword’s hilt until his knuckles whitened.
‘This is… the true power of Hio Pavlenko.’
They must never be deceived by his mischievous attitude and jester-like appearance.
The man Professor Sirvert warned about, the one Jason feared.
The identity of Hio Pavlenko, which had briefly been forgotten.
As a swordsman and warrior, how could he not feel a surge of ambition?
Though he had no hope of winning against such overwhelming power.
Yet desire surged nonetheless.
To see just how far his blade could reach.
A personal ambition to break through the long-standing barrier.
But Teordo held back.
Above all, Princess Silvia’s safety was paramount.
He was her only knight and Guardian Knight.
“Your Highness.”
He moved a bit closer to Silvia.
Though unlikely, if the mage had any ill intent, he would be ready to oppose him.
“Hio… did something?”
Silvia could not sense ki like a knight, but she sensed something else.
People’s emotions.
Though Hio said using his powers worsened his condition and was restraining himself, surprise, excitement, and confusion radiated from him.
He was probably preparing to demonstrate his real power. That… operation or whatever it was.
“I see.”
Teordo whispered this low enough for Silvia alone to hear, and she suddenly felt worried.
Because of the fortress’s lord, Yohn Torno.
How would Yohn Torno react?
Would he be furious at this rude display of power?
Or would he hold Hio responsible for ruining the meeting?
Being a strict principle-oriented and noble man, Silvia’s worries grew.
She turned her gaze toward Yohn Torno.
..?”
She met his hesitant gaze.
He looked as if he might stand or not, then decided ‘whatever’ and almost got up.
That fleeting moment felt like their eyes met.
‘…Count?’
A stern expression with an awkward posture.
“Ahem…”
Yohn Torno, with his usual blank expression, sat back down as if nothing happened.
“If you’re curious about what’s outside, you may go out.”
“No, as the meeting’s host, I cannot act so frivolously.”
“…I see.”
Yohn Torno sat again, solemnly surveying the meeting hall.
But Silvia saw it.
His legs trembling as if ready to bolt out at any moment.
One by one, those who couldn’t contain their curiosity went outside and caught sight of the blue sun hanging in the sky.
Even Yohn Torno, unable to resist, went out, which was surprising, but positive for Hio.
Those who had gone outside returned to the meeting room.
All eyes turned to Hio.
Hio shrugged, accepting their gaze.
“As you’ve seen, there’s no need to worry about the monsters. But there are some conditions to prepare…”
To cover the Eye of God, two things were needed.
One of them—
“A large quantity of mana stones.”
A huge amount of magical power.
Naturally, Hio’s current mana alone was insufficient.
Just activating the enhanced Darkness magic consumed massive mana, and to spread it over such a wide area required unimaginable amounts.
In any other region, he might have given up, but this was where?
The Eastern Region, flooded with monsters and the frontline no less.
Not an unreasonable demand at all.
As expected, Yohn Torno nodded.
“There are plenty of mana stones… but can you use them?”
Even in an age without magic, mana stones were widely used.
But no one used raw mana stones as is.
Since the age of lost magic had also lost many uses of mana.
“Yes. I can use them. So I’d appreciate as much support as possible.”
One of the nobles raised a hand to ask Hio a question, his attitude much changed from before going outside.
“You said to have knights buy time while you prepare… how long will that take? If delayed, the knights could get isolated. Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Ah, no need to worry. It won’t take that long.”
Though Deathly Energy would also be needed in large quantities, it was a reasonably large-scale battle.
He could gather the Deathly Energy in an instant.
“When preparations are complete, I’ll give the signal. Then you retreat as planned. Almost no one will be lost, and your precious troops will be preserved without damage.”
The hall buzzed again.
That was the most important thing to them.
How much damage did they suffer every year from monster waves?
Even when they managed to repel them, all they got was a small amount of mana stones—not worth much.
“We agree, as long as the retreat signal is clear.”
There was no reason for them to refuse.
The blue sun hanging over the sky was enormous and majestic enough to overturn their thoughts.
“Don’t worry about that either.”
Seeing their almost convinced faces, Hio smiled again.
“The signal will be unmistakable to anyone.”
Hio would gain much from this as well.
“It’ll be insanely spectacular.”
He prepared for the coming war with eager anticipation.