Chapter 456

After occupying the Edina Island, the protagonist expected that more than half of the soldiers and civilians would flee. However, surprisingly, less than ten people refused and disappeared. The weak royal family was replaced by the absolute ruler, the demon king. The island had no escape route, and the majority of the royal family and soldiers did not defect. The protagonist wondered where the disappeared people went. The protagonist asked about the situation of the refugees and was informed that there were about 8,000 refugees, and the facilities to accommodate them were insufficient. The protagonist's advisors discussed the need to set up a large refugee camp outside the city, but it was a difficult task. The protagonist also considered the difficulty of feeding and housing the refugees, as well as the limitations of the royal family's resources. If we can't provide warm beds for the refugees before winter comes, they will all freeze to death. Food and housing are a problem not only for individuals, but also for larger groups. The protagonist suggests using magic to build houses, but it is a rare resource and difficult to come by. The issue of resources for building houses is discussed, but the protagonist's advisor suggests using natural resources and magic to solve the problem. The protagonist decides to do what he can to create a country where he can do what he wants, even if it means taking property and conscripting citizens. The first step is to occupy Edina Island and take emergency measures for the damaged ports. The next step will be taken simultaneously. "I took control of Edina Island as a base because it is a place that will not be affected by the gate crisis on the continent if we can control only the four gates here. Many cities will be destroyed, people will die, and a considerable amount of land will become uninhabitable wilderness where monsters roam. There are also many villages and cities without gates. They will suffer additional damage as the monsters from the gates spread. It is difficult to protect such places. The monsters will continue to pour out, and my troops will soon be replenished, but they are limited. So the next goal is to rescue people from the continent and relocate them to Edina Island, which is free from the effects of the gate crisis. We cannot use the warp gate system, so we must physically move people. Next, I recruited the leaders of the large fleets remaining on Edina Island. The expressions of the leaders who saw that the throne of Edina Island had become that of the Demon King were naturally filled with astonishment. As the owner of Edina Island and the King of the Demon World, I will conscript all ships, captains, and crew from now on. If they think I will be a good lord, they are mistaken. I will take what I need. If there are any objections, speak up. I am not an ordinary king, but a horned demon, an Archdemon. I will use the fear that comes from my name to my advantage. They may imagine something worse than death if they refuse my orders. That imagination will also help me dominate them. Of course, everyone was too scared to object. First, organize three fleets. Each fleet's purpose is to accommodate refugees from the three ports that were damaged this time and relocate them to Lajak. And organize the largest fleet to head to the continent. The faces of the leaders became strange when they heard that they were heading to the continent, which had already become hell. Soon, my army will come here from across the ocean. The fleets will periodically shuttle between the continent and Edina Island, transporting people and my troops. Galarsch is currently in a state of gathering the Masin cultists in the Gelkorghis Desert. We cannot teleport them all. Therefore, we will organize a large fleet to relocate them to Edina Island and leave them under my management. The island will not be overcrowded with people. Fortunately, there are many uninhabited islands in Edina. There is plenty of land. So all we have to do is develop and cultivate places where people can live. A place where we can live without worrying about monsters, avoiding the disaster on the continent. Edina Island will be a refuge for people." "Long-term, we will make the uninhabited islands of Edina Island into land where people can live through expansion and development. We don't know if we can turn the temporary refugee camp into a small nation in the south. But I hope that this area, far from the continent, can become a shelter where people can hide from danger. That's what I want, and I will make it happen. That's not all. The demons in the borderlands. They may not be directly affected by the gate crisis, but they may be affected in the long run. We also need to work on subjugating them and incorporating them into my forces. And the ports that connect Edina Island and the continent. We need to start taking measures there too, as the gate crisis has likely occurred there. We need to organize an army to eliminate the monsters overflowing on the continent and fortify the ports. There was a lot to do. Too much. * * * In the middle of a ruined city - Puk! On top of a mountain of corpses, Ellen Artorius raised her sword. As she cut the last monster's throat, she slowly stood up. Ellen looked around on top of the mountain of corpses. Among the buildings that had burned down to ashes, the Imperial Army was just finishing the battle. Ellen put Lament into its sheath and adjusted her cloak. The soldiers watching her descent from below looked at her with awe, respect, admiration, and fear. She had come alone to a major city that had become a ruin and slaughtered dangerous monsters alone, cooperating with the main force. In fact, it was not an exaggeration to say that she alone carried out the monster extermination operation in this city. "Are you okay, hero...?" "Yes." With a cold and indifferent attitude that seemed like nothing could faze her, Ellen nodded her head. Someone approached her from afar. "Are you okay? Don't you need to rest? You haven't slept for days and you're doing this." It was Heinrich von Schwarzkopf, Ellen's classmate. Ellen shook her head at her worried classmate's words. "I'm fine." Heinrich, a pyrokinesis ability user, had to focus on the corpse incineration work from now on, so he left after leaving a message to take a break when he had time. Due to the unfortunate situation of the Empire, where even one person was missed, combat students from the temple were deployed throughout the continent for the monster extermination operation. Countless soldiers, knights, and students died. As a punishment for not trusting the Demon King, humanity was paying a heavy price. Two years after the gate crisis. Humanity has not yet regained all the land. Ellen's pupils, who had seen too much death, were empty, even when it came to the death of monsters or allies." Ellen saw refugees carrying their belongings and following the soldiers to the outskirts of the burning city. She asked if there were any survivors, but the soldiers shook their heads. The refugees were found on the outskirts of the city. Ellen heard about a strange rumor that there was a paradise to the south. She looked around at the burning streets and the piles of corpses and realized that people had become accustomed to the hellish world they lived in. Ellen felt responsible for this world and couldn't rest until she had eradicated the demons and brought peace. She left to find her next mission.