Chapter 91: The Approaching War

“Of course, it’s not all over.”

He said he had killed those who caused the monster wave.

But it’s not the end?

Could he have missed some?

It doesn’t seem like he would have missed anything…

Gaon, who killed thousands of monsters with a single spell.

The possibility of Gaon missing someone seemed extremely low.

“There was a mastermind behind those who caused the monster wave.”

Morris swallowed hard.

As expected, it wasn’t because he missed them.

But that wasn’t the important part.

A mastermind…

Considering the scale of the monster wave, the mastermind wouldn’t be ordinary.

What kind of place orchestrated this?

Could it be the forces of the Demon Realm?

“The mastermind is none other than the Nail Kingdom. The ones who caused this monster wave were the shamans of the Nail Kingdom, and I have secured the orders they received.”

“…!”

Morris couldn’t help but flinch upon learning the mastermind.

He knew the atmosphere with the Nail Kingdom wasn’t good.

But the mastermind behind the monster wave was the Nail Kingdom?

“Soon, war will break out with the Nail Kingdom. And not just the Nail Kingdom. Varta will reclaim its lost territories.”

Originally, Gaon had planned to give buffs and leave.

But after seeing the skill of those dismantling the monsters, he changed his mind.

He didn’t know about other places, but at least the soldiers and mercenaries here in ‘Latrin’ were exceptionally skilled.

If some of them participated in the war?

It would be a great help in his future endeavors.

“And soon, a royal decree will be issued.”

That’s why Gaon planned to deliver the decree in advance.

So that those interested could move as quickly as possible.

“I’ll be waiting for the good news.”

Bagelina said with a wide smile.

***

However, unlike Bagelina, Latun kept a blank expression with his lips tightly shut.

SWOOSH!

Soon, a shadow surged and enveloped Latun.

SWISH!

Then the shadow vanished, and Latun disappeared with it.

Bagelina stared at the spot where Latun had vanished.

No matter when I see it, it’s an enviable magic.

With a face mixed with envy and jealousy, she turned away.

It was time to attend to the tasks she had put off.

Bagelina headed toward the display of communication crystals, thinking.

The wave must have been stopped.

Gaon had appeared in the Himal Mountain Range.

The monster wave wouldn’t have caused much damage.

Rather, considering the byproducts of the monsters, it wasn’t damage but a massive treasure delivered.

I thought he was in Gardion…

Currently, Gardion Magic Tower was cut off from the outside.

Naturally, everyone assumed Gaon was in Gardion Magic Tower.

But he appeared in the Himal Mountain Range?

And no one knew about it?

…Hmm.

Suddenly, Gaon’s words came to mind.

There was someone who provided information about the Himal Mountain Range.

If that was true and the information about Gaon had been manipulated?

Arriving at the display, Bagelina took out a communication crystal and infused it with energy.

SWOOSH!

The crystal glowed, and Bagelina waited, thinking.

I’ll have to bring it up later.

A grand meeting was scheduled soon.

If she mentioned Gaon during the meeting, various reactions would emerge.

Bagelina decided to closely observe the reactions.

SWOOSH!

Soon, the light from the crystal shot into the air, revealing a figure.

This lowly servant Latus greets Lady Bagelina.

“The matter in the Himal Mountain Range has failed.”

Bagelina skipped the greeting and got straight to the point.

What?! How…

“Gaon appeared.”

…Wasn’t he supposed to be in Gardion Magic Tower?

How could Gaon…

“I thought so too, which is why I pushed the plan quickly. But…”

Bagelina trailed off, slightly frowning.

“Feels like I’m being interrogated?”

I-I’m sorry!

That wasn’t my intention.

“Hmm.”

Bagelina let out a low hum.

Latus immediately bowed his head deeply.

Bagelina continued.

“How far has the war preparations progressed?”

Due to the lack of contact with Duke Smich and other Varta nobles, there have been setbacks, but we plan to mobilize within two days at the latest.

“They’re out of contact…”

Bagelina gave a bitter smile.

“Assume they’re all dead.”

…Because of Gaon?

“Yes, he must have killed them all with his own hands.”

But…

“But?”

Bagelina cut off Latus’s words with a question.

Latus flinched and bowed his head again.

No, nothing.

I’m sorry.

“It’s fine to think that way since you don’t know him. But that doesn’t mean you can overstep your place. One more time, and I’ll replace you.”

. I will keep that in mind.

Latus, well aware of what “replacement” meant, swallowed hard and answered.

Bagelina continued.

“Gaon will definitely participate. The Nail Kingdom will lose.”

Would Gaon, who appeared in the Himal Mountain Range, just watch the war?

No, the chance of him participating was 100%.

And if Gaon participated, what would happen?

No need to think long.

The outcome of the war was already decided.

A defeat.

Even if the Nail Kingdom gave its all, it wouldn’t matter.

Gaon alone would crush them.

. Then what should we do?

Latus asked cautiously.

“Activate the Galan Shaman Formation. And while you’re at it, trigger the Ritual of Sacrifice.”

…!

Latus couldn’t help but be shocked by Bagelina’s words.

And for good reason—the Galan Shaman Formation targeted the entire capital of the Nail Kingdom.

In other words, ordering the activation of the Galan Shaman Formation meant abandoning the Nail Kingdom.

Just because of one great mage…?

He knew Gaon was a great mage.

An 8th-Circle mage, a realm reached only by crossing multiple walls.

But 8th Circle wasn’t an invincible realm.

He couldn’t understand why they would abandon the Nail Kingdom.

But he couldn’t question it.

Questioning would lead to replacement.

It will take four days to activate.

“Four days…”

Bagelina trailed off, frowning slightly.

“Too slow. Can’t you speed it up?”

It wasn’t four days of an ordinary war.

It was four days with Gaon participating.

Four days was long enough for Gaon to reach the capital without surprise.

I can shorten it by a day, but efficiency will drop by 30%.

“Then give up the 30%.”

. Understood.

***

“The shamans of the Nail Kingdom did this…”

Lepra trailed off, setting down the document he was reading.

He asked Gaon, sitting across from him.

“May I ask what you plan to do?”

“I’m thinking of advancing the war a bit.”

Gaon had nothing left to do within the Varta Kingdom.

So he planned to focus on the war with the Nail Kingdom.

Of course, Gaon had nothing to do, but the civil war wasn’t over yet.

If war broke out in this situation?

Varta Kingdom’s support would be virtually nonexistent.

But that didn’t matter.

From the start, Gaon planned to fight the war with the Nail Kingdom alone.

Varta’s role was merely to occupy and manage the Nail Kingdom’s territories that Gaon would dismantle.

“Write a declaration of war. I’ll take it as an envoy.”

“You’re going personally?”

“Yes.”

“They won’t just sit still…”

Lepra stopped mid-sentence at a sudden thought.

Gaon smiled brightly.

Not sitting still was exactly what Gaon wanted.

“Understood. Is there anything else you’d like to add…”

“Add that if they surrender and compensate for everything, I’ll spare them.”

“Yes.”

Lepra smiled and began writing the declaration of war.

It was a declaration of war.

There was no need to make it complicated, so it was finished quickly. Lepra handed the declaration to Gaon and asked.

“Are you planning to use the warp gate?”

The capital of the Nail Kingdom, Nailium, was once territory of the Varta Empire.

And a warp gate was installed in Nailium as well.

“Yes, the faster, the better.”

Gaon nodded.

If he intended reconciliation, he shouldn’t reveal the warp gate’s existence.

It would be better to leave traces.

But Gaon had no intention of reconciling.

And if given time, who knows what the Nail Kingdom might do.

Gaon planned to visit as quickly as possible and provoke the war.

“Understood. I’ll prepare it.”

“Don’t prepare too hastily. They’ll be organizing slowly.”

***

The grand conference hall of the royal palace in Nailium, the capital of the Nail Kingdom.

Currently, the nobles of the Nail Kingdom and those with influence rivaling nobles, despite lacking titles, were gathered, discussing.

Of course, not everyone was speaking.

Only a few with immense power among them had the right to speak, while the rest sat silently with their mouths shut.

“They must be overwhelmed by the monster wave. This is the perfect opportunity.”

Soka, leading the discussion in place of Latus, said with a wide smile.

King Belma of the Nail Kingdom countered.

“Don’t they have the Great Barrier?”

“I confirmed that too. They say it can hold for two days.”

“Two days…”

“Yes, the Great Barrier will soon be destroyed.”

“Then, as you say, it is indeed the perfect opportunity.”

“Exactly. They are in an even worse situation than we are in terms of preparedness.”

At that moment.

CREAK-

The sound of the door opening echoed.

Everyone’s gaze turned to the door.

STEP, STEP.

It was Latus, the royal grand shaman and head of the Latus faction.

What happened?

Soka tilted his head.

And for good reason—Latus’s expression was extremely grim.

What did his lord say to him…

Latus had been absent to contact his lord, Bagelina.

What on earth did he hear to make his face so dark?

“Oh, Sir Latus. Was the matter resolved well?”

Belma asked Latus with a wide smile.

Latus smiled and answered.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I bring good information.”

“Oh, good information? What is it?”

“I hear a civil war has broken out in Varta.”

…A civil war? A civil war in Varta?

“Yes, it seems the royal family has begun their final struggle.”

At that moment.

CREAK-!

The door opened, and the palace chief butler entered.

The chief butler’s face was filled with panic.

His expression made it clear something had happened.

The chief butler hurriedly approached King Belma.

“What is it?”

Belma asked the chief butler.

“An envoy from the Varta Kingdom has arrived.”

“…?”

The chief butler answered, and Belma couldn’t help but be puzzled.

The relationship between the Nail Kingdom and the Varta Kingdom was not good.

It wasn’t a situation for envoys to come and go.

And Varta Kingdom’s situation was at its worst.

A monster wave had occurred, and now a civil war.

Why send an envoy in such a situation?

Could it be for peace?

The first thing that came to mind was peace.

Considering Varta Kingdom’s internal situation, the likelihood of peace was very high.

But is it really an envoy?

Belma asked the chief butler.

“Are you sure it’s an envoy from the Varta Kingdom?”

“Yes, I confirmed the proof of the Varta royal family. They are currently waiting at the palace entrance.”