Chapter 15

†† (From the Perspective of Alistair, Commander of the White Rose Knights)

An astonishing situation had arisen.

Alistair, the commander of the White Rose Knights, was perplexed.

First, he was surprised that the castle walls had been repaired.

Of course, he had received this information from his scouts, but he had not expected them to be restored so magnificently.

He had assumed they would be hastily constructed, makeshift structures, but that was not the case.

The same castle gates as before stood there, towering and imposing.

No, Alistair shook his head.

"Not just the same. They were even better."

Alistair had visited Ivalice with his father when he was young, but there were no such mechanisms back then.

Ivalice was originally an agricultural city. Although it had walls, they were simple and not designed to accommodate a large number of archers.

The commander of the troops stationed in that city had accomplished this in just one month, and even strengthened it further.

"How many dwarven architects must have been hired to make this possible?"

No, Alistair shook his head again.

"That's impossible."

Dwarven craftsmen are particularly stubborn.

They would never accept the rule of the Demon Army, and even if ordered under duress, they would never work.

They are not a race that would bend their pride to serve others.

"Then how did they do it...?"

Alistair, who had graduated top of his class from the Royal Military Academy, could not fathom the method.

"Perhaps it was the work of something with powers beyond human comprehension..."

That was the only explanation he could think of, but he didn't want to believe it.

The thought that he had been defeated by a monster with powers beyond human understanding was tearing his pride to shreds.

The impressive deployment of the orc heavy infantry.

The organized use of archers.

The succubus units that had torn through their formations mid-battle were typical of the old Demon Army, but everything else defied Alistair's common sense, and indeed, human common sense.

Especially the use of the skeleton soldiers at the end was beyond the capabilities of an ordinary person.

"Have I been defeated by something beyond comprehension?"

The more he thought about it, the more he reached this conclusion.

Of course, he couldn't say such things in front of his subordinates.

Even if it were true, he couldn't tell his subordinates,

"The enemy we fought was a monster beyond human understanding. We will win next time."

That would be impossible.

But—

How should he report to His Majesty the King?

He was prepared to take responsibility for the defeat and even resign, but should he tell the king the truth?

"………………"

He pondered deeply.

For the future of the kingdom, indeed, for all of humanity, he should tell the truth, but how should he explain it?

"The enemy brigade guarding Ivalice is far too strong for a single knight regiment. At least five knight regiments are needed."

That was Alistair's opinion.

If he spoke honestly, he might be called a "coward" or a "failure."

But Alistair intended to report to the king regardless.

He might be dismissed, or even imprisoned, but that was a risk he had to take.

If that brigade were allowed to act freely, it would surely bring disaster to humanity.

That was something he absolutely had to prevent.