Chapter 35

A story about a scythe-wielding TS girl working hard in the game, "Return to Life: Death Game Strategy," has passed the first round of the HJ Award! It's a work I really want elementary school students to read!

"――Gyaaaaaah! Give me flesh! Give me women!"

"Kgyaaaaaah!"

Millions of troops were charging towards the Baybaron territory, located at the northernmost point of the country, roaring as they ran. Though all of them were clad in pure white armor, there was no trace of reason in their eyes. With bloodshot eyes filled with madness, they ran at a speed that surpassed the limits of human capability.

"I'm huuuungry! Feed me! Let me have my way with them!"

They continued their advance, attacking any villages or towns they came across. This was the result of King Yaldabaoth injecting the people, who were once ordinary citizens, with a highly concentrated animal stimulant. As a result, they had become beasts of desire, completely losing their human hearts. ...The old king had come up with this idea upon seeing Prince Johan, who had been brainwashed by Rize Baybaron. "Even if they are useless, if we destroy their brains, they might be able to fight a little," he thought.

Furthermore, hundreds of people, enveloped in wind, were flying in the sky above the massive army.

"Hehehe, this is amazing! To be able to fly freely in the sky, truly, this is King Yaldabaoth's magic!"

"Hey, you guys, no cutting in! I will be the one to eliminate Rize Baybaron and claim the throne!"

Wearing luxurious robes, they competed to conquer the sky. They were the nobles and princes of the Kingdom of Gnosis, gathered by the king. King Yaldabaoth had cast a flying spell on them and said:

"Eliminate the traitor Rize Baybaron. I will give the throne to the one who brings back his head."

Upon hearing these words, they, like the people, were bloodthirsty as they continued to head for the Baybaron territory. It was unclear why such a massive army was needed to challenge a territory at the northernmost point, ruled by a low-ranking lord, but the allure of the throne was so tempting that such doubts seemed trivial. With magic power surging through their bodies, the large group of mages continued to fly through the sky.

---The people consumed by desire and the mages driven by ambition. Thus, they did not realize the danger of the territory they were about to enter.

"――Gyaaaaaah! I'll devour everything!"

"Ha ha ha ha! Die, Rize Baybaron!"

With beastly roars, the mad army finally reached the outskirts of the Baybaron territory. All that was left was to cross the hill shrouded in morning mist. Follow the king's orders and indulge in your desires to the fullest.

And the moment they set foot in the territory---

"――Don't you dare step into our 'country' with your dirty feet!"

With a roar, the sound of tens of thousands of explosions echoed! At the same time, countless bombings struck the people, and a vast amount of fresh blood dyed the morning mist red!

"W-What? The people on the ground have been attacked!? What was that, a new kind of magic!?"

The mages were taken aback by the unexpected situation. To understand what had happened, one of the wind mages blew away the thick fog around them---

"What!?"

On the other side of the fog, hundreds of thousands of troops clad in black armor were waiting! It was an unbelievable situation. According to the noble society, the population of the Baybaron territory was at most a few tens of thousands. If the people from the surrounding territories, governed by Lord Snail and Jaikoff, had rushed to the Baybaron territory upon sensing the attack, it would make sense for there to be such a large number, but that was impossible. The Baybaron territory was a dumping ground for the sick, orphans, and criminals in this country. For so many people to rise up to protect such a place was unimaginable to the nobles.

"I... I can't believe it. Commoners are nothing but beasts restrained by the fear of magic. They are supposed to be scum who would run away at the first sign of danger. Did the lord of Baybaron... did Rize tame them...!?"

The nobles were stunned by the incomprehensible scene. In response, the people gathered in the Baybaron territory raised their voices in anger.

"This Baybaron is the paradise we built with Rize-sama! If you try to lay a hand on it, we'll kill you!"

"Rize-sama saved the people of the Bonkurei territory from the incompetent lord Jaikoff, who caused the economic collapse! Now is the time to repay that kindness!"

"The same goes for the Jango territory! Rize-sama saved us from Lord Snail, who tried to conquer the world as a dragon! If we don't stand up now, we'll be nothing!"

Releasing a killing intent that shook the surrounding air, those who had been saved by Rize recalled the hero's figure.

---To them, Rize Baybaron was the light of this world.

A savior who saved everyone, from vagrants to sub-humans, without discrimination, and a just figure who crushed unjust evil. The best lord who always stood by the people. That was the Rize Baybaron they knew.

He had finally decided to fight the country. After protecting the young prince, who had been abused by the evil king, Rize Baybaron asked the people:

"Can you recognize a man who hurts children as your king?"

---No. Absolutely not! Such a monster cannot be a king!

The hearts of the people became one in response to their lord's question. Now that they knew Rize Baybaron, the ideal hero, they could burn with anger against the 'evil ruler' without fear.

Disrespect? Arrogance? Difference in status? Who cares. Even if the opponent is royalty, if they are evil, they will be killed. That was the consensus of the people... the pure thoughts of the 'Baybaron Apostles' who were captivated by Rize.

---Therefore, they would not forgive even one of those who followed the evil king.

"――We'll kill you! Cannon unit, prepare for the second shot! The rest, charge!"

With burning anger in their hearts, the apostles clad in black armor began their pursuit. They launched the new weapon, 'cannons,' created using explosives, at the enemy army. Taking advantage of the enemy's hesitation due to the destructive power comparable to high-level magic, they all swung their great swords and charged.

"Die, you bastards!"

"Kgyaaaaah!?"

The attacks of the apostles, who had been super-enhanced by absorbing 'dragon factors,' quickly cut down the people from the capital, whose reason had been destroyed. Even if the enemy was a super army of millions, it was no cause for fear for the apostles of Baybaron.

They knew that even if they suffered severe injuries or lost all their limbs, Rize Baybaron could heal them instantly. Therefore, there was no need to fear! To grasp a peaceful future, they would kill all their enemies.

With such thoughts in their hearts, the apostles fought like demons. Men, women, and children alike swung great swords, using superhuman strength to cut down the enemy. The annihilation of the people from the capital was only a matter of time.

---The mages floating in the sky were stunned by this situation.

"What... what are they? The people on the ground are being killed one after another!"

They were surprised by the number and the mysterious new weapon, but the difference in numbers between hundreds of thousands and millions was overwhelming. Thinking it was just a matter of time, they watched the situation. However, the black-armored people quickly destroyed the civilians, regardless of the numerical advantage.

There was no choice now---the mages extended their hands towards the ground, letting out a powerful magical light from their bodies.

"We wanted to save this for eliminating Rize Baybaron, but first, we'll take care of these fools!"

"Madmen! Perish with the brainwashed people from the capital!"

No matter how much they trained, they were still just humans. They should be powerless against the threat of magic...!

Smirking, the mages were about to release their destructive light---

"――Gyaaaaah!"

Suddenly, a black horde appeared before the mages who mocked mere humans!

"What... what!?"

A black cloud-like horde flew in from the Baybaron city. The mages were shocked. It was no wonder... thousands of the strongest and most evil monsters, 'dragons,' suddenly appeared, even to high-level mages---

"Kyaaaaah! Dragons!?"

"What... what is this number!?"

Realizing the situation, the mages trembled with fear. Trying to escape, they scattered all kinds of fluids from their bodies, but it was too late. Thousands of black dragons pounced on the fools who opposed their 'master' at once!

"――Gyaaaaah!"

"Kyaaaaah! P-Please, spare us! We won't touch the Baybaron territory anymore!"

The screams and sounds of chewing echoed in the sky. Torn apart by vicious claws and fangs, the mages were devoured one after another. Some desperately cast attack spells at the dragons, but they were meaningless against the tough scales. The attacks that had terrified many people were no threat to the strongest non-humans.

Ah---as their bodies were torn apart, the mages thought in their final moments.

Dominance by force is powerless against even greater force.

At the same time, they thought:

"How much power does this man Rize have, who can tame so many people into a thousand-man demon and keep a horde of dragons in his territory?"

The mages regretted their foolishness of challenging such a 'monster' until their last breath.

---

Before the final chapter, I want to confess. I've been promoting my novel through videos as a silver-haired, busty, cat-eared virtual maid on Twitter (you can jump to my page from the author's profile. The editor knew about it).

I've been sacrificing my humanity to write, so please stay with me until the end.

I look forward to your reviews and feedback!