Chapter 626

If things had gone as planned, the Allied Forces would have had to go through several small-scale city battles before reaching their destination, Gosenosia. However, since Immortal took over the work of the Demon King's army and began to neutralize their bases more quickly and accurately, the Allied Forces advanced rapidly without experiencing any battles. There were no monsters on the path the Allied Forces took, only the remains of monsters that had already been destroyed. This was a welcome development for everyone, regardless of the reason. However, rumors began to spread that the Empire was operating a powerful large-scale unit, although they did not provide any detailed information. Nevertheless, the fact that there was no fighting was a good thing. The fact that the main target, Gosenosia, had already been reduced to ashes by the advance unit was a surprise to everyone. The Allied Forces were left with a strange sense of unease and anxiety, despite the fact that they had survived and there had been no large-scale battles. "If there is a very powerful ally, why should we hide them? Wouldn't it be better to reveal the existence of such a powerful army to boost the morale of the Allied Forces? That's not a wrong statement. However, everyone is feeling uneasy in the situation where they are advancing without encountering any enemies or knowing what is happening. Your Majesty, it is necessary to inform the commanders of what is happening. It is inevitable that they feel confused in this situation where there is no need to attack Gosenosia anymore. Just like how Your Majesty is sitting in this Allied Forces headquarters as the emperor, there are designated seats according to rank. And of course, the closest seat to the throne belongs to the commander of Kernstadt, Louise von Schwarzkopf. 'How should I answer, Your Majesty...?' Naturally, she knew what the current situation of the Allied Forces meant, having witnessed the experiments conducted in the temple. Louise could only sense that the army was moving, and because it was powerful enough to attack a major city on its own, she couldn't help but feel tense. A powerful army. However, it is an army whose source cannot be identified. Despite the good news that the Empire possesses a powerful army, the fact that they do not know the truth is causing the commanders to feel uneasy. Should they tell the truth or not? They couldn't know which choice would bring greater danger. Louise also couldn't know which choice was better. Secrets spread more as more people know about them. Therefore, the future where the entire Allied Forces will eventually know about the fact that the army is being made up of the dead in this headquarters was approaching. The ominous and uneasy silence continued. And so, at the moment when the emperor was about to make a decision and speak up, a voice broke through the silence. "I don't want to know." It wasn't the voice of the emperor, but a woman who was sitting very close to the throne in this Allied Forces headquarters conference room, just like Louise von Schwarzkopf. It was a cheerful voice that overflowed with laughter to the point of feeling unpleasant in the anxious atmosphere. The new commander of the Holy War Knights, Rowen. * * * In a situation where everyone was demanding the truth from the emperor, the sudden statement from the new commander of the Holy War Knights that she would rather not know left everyone bewildered. They were aware that a major political shift had occurred within the Order of the Holy Knights, with the sudden change of the commander of the Holy War Knights and the appointment of a new one. However, since those who knew what was going on kept their mouths shut, there were few who knew what it meant. Even though she was new, there was no one in this room who could ignore the commander of the Holy War Knights. Since the hierarchy within the Allied Forces was mostly higher than that of most imperial countries, the commander of the Holy War Knights had a stronger voice than most kings of other countries. "So Rowen's words were not easily dismissible. 'Commander, what does that mean?' asked one of the skeptics, demanding an explanation. Rowen shrugged her shoulders. 'It means that the emperor had a reason to keep it a secret until now.' The emperor remained silent, and suspicion-filled silence filled the room. 'You all knew that there was a hidden power within the Allied Forces, right?' 'But the fact that we cannot reveal what it is, the reason why it is hidden, means that there is something we should not know,' Rowen continued. 'So I just don't want to know.' 'Because you believe that the emperor has a reason to keep it a secret,' said the commander of the Holy War Knights, whose voice was stronger than most kings of other countries due to the hierarchy within the Allied Forces. Despite the good news that the Empire possesses a powerful army, the fact that they do not know the truth is causing tension and unease among the commanders. The chapter ends with an ominous and uneasy silence." "The emperor is leading the war with evil power. But if we remain silent knowing the truth and need for this power, we become accomplices of the empire and the emperor. Shouldn't you all realize that the emperor's silence is for our sake?" The commander of the Holy War Knights tries to protect the emperor's secret, but everyone in the room feels that it is not out of respect for the emperor. There are things in the world that should not be known. The silence in the room is ominous, leaving readers wondering what the hidden power could be and what the consequences of not knowing the truth could be for the Allied Forces. When the Union Army succeeded in occupying Selandia, they were both sad and excited. However, the work of collecting and burning the monsters in the ruins of Gesonia was all that the Allied Forces had to do. Soldiers and commanders alike could only speculate about the mysterious and inexplicable situation. If this continues, aren't we useless?" "If it's not necessary, why bother? Are we just going to starve to death?"

"Well, it's better to stay in the army."

"Anyway, it's a good thing."

"Okay."

In the end, everyone is grateful for today's safety. The atmosphere in the Allied Forces' camp is not one of joy, but rather confusion.

"We never got to test Titan's new equipment." Adelia murmured in the tent where the anti-aircraft unit was stationed.

"Do you regret it?"

"Oh, no! No! That's not what I meant!"

When Adelia clapped her hands, the anti-aircraft commander lowered his head.

"It's not like that. I'm also somewhat disappointed that I couldn't confirm Titan's second movement."

"Ah...yes, me too..."

In this Gesonia battle, they were supposed to confirm Titan's second movement. They could have checked the state of the improved Titan, secured data, and found out what needed to be improved.

It may sound like a disappointment that the battle did not take place.

Adelia, the anti-aircraft commander, and the magicians of the anti-aircraft unit were all busy with research on the improvement of Titan.

It wasn't just the Gesonia battle that disappeared. There was no battle in any of the places along the middle route.

Even Adelia, who was busy with research and had no interest in outside affairs, could feel that something was going wrong.

"But really...what happened?"

Adelia felt the same question that everyone else did.

An important battle disappeared without a trace. And no one knows what happened. Even those who attended the Supreme Command Headquarters meeting only knew that they would be hurt if they tried to find out. Even that was said by the commander of the Holy War Knights, not the emperor.

The emperor hardly opened his mouth.

Even the anti-aircraft commander didn't know what was going on.

"Adelia."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The anti-aircraft commander spoke while looking down at the Titan blueprint.

"If you could end this war by selling your soul to the devil, would you do it?"

"......?"

Adelia could only be confused by the commander's sudden question.

Sell your soul to the devil. There were legends that the great demons lent their magic to black magicians through such contracts, but no one knows if such stories were true or not. It could be a story made up just to scare people about demons, or there could have been actual cases.

It's just a common expression.

Sell your soul to the devil.

End this war in exchange.

Adelia thought deeply about the commander's question.

It's a tragedy that's too big.

A tragedy that's too big has happened.

All that's needed to end this war is one's own soul.

But in front of her is the anti-aircraft commander. He's not only her friend's father, but also a member of the virtuous magician family who is famous for not even touching evil power.

It was not a wise statement to say that she would sell her soul to the devil in front of him. "...I think so."

Even so, Adelia had no choice but to answer like that.

Isn't it too cheap of a price?

If it meant stopping these tears and blood, wouldn't there be many people willing to pay with just their soul or life?

Even after speaking, Adelia had to cautiously look at the anti-aircraft commander's reaction, wondering if she had said too much.

The anti-aircraft commander smiled bitterly.

"...I think I would do the same."

...

Even the anti-aircraft commander, who had lived with strong beliefs, was willing to make such a choice by abandoning his family's honor and his own beliefs if given the opportunity, showing how terrible this war was.

"The emperor made that choice."

Knowing that he would do the same, the anti-aircraft commander could only assume that the emperor had reached out to some evil, even if he didn't know the specifics.