Chapter 97

After the party held inside the Demon King's Castle ended, Linus, Kiril, and Eterna were summoned by Seithum. The place they were led to seemed to be a reception room, and Linus and the others sat in chairs facing the person who summoned them and the three Demon Generals.

"Why these three?"

Linus was the first to ask Seithum. While Linus, who seemed to have the most information, and Kiril, who was captured separately, made sense, why Eterna?

"I thought it would be Gaido who would be called to such a place."

"I heard that he has a personal grudge against the kingdom, so I thought his judgment might be biased."

"I see, if that's the case."

The story of Tia being killed by a Chimera, as told by Negus, had reached her. Eterna wanted to return to the room where Ink was waiting, but she couldn't ignore this.

"Well, the reason I called you here is to discuss, in concrete terms, how we will deal with the kingdom as we join forces."

"Decide how to fight, you mean?"

"That's right... but I still want to seek a ceasefire with the kingdom."

"That's impossible."

Linus answered immediately.

"Why can you say that so definitively?"

"If the goal was territory or resources, it might have been possible to resolve through negotiation. But their goal is different, it's to 'defeat the demons.'"

"That's ridiculous."

The war was initiated by humans, and it was humans who sent a hero, who was not a soldier, to the demon territory by exploiting a loophole in the ceasefire agreement. The demons had every right to be angry, but it seemed like a grudge.

"The current ruler of the kingdom is a man named Satuk, the Pope. His father was a war minister during the human-demon war."

"Is this a revenge match?"

"Probably."

"To start a war for such personal reasons, humans are truly foolish."

"...A sound argument, I can't argue with that."

"But, if I had sealed Origin completely, this situation might not have arisen."

Seithum placed her hands on her thighs and gripped her skirt tightly. Tsaiyon looked at her with concern.

"Indeed, the previous Pope and king were controlled by Origin. But the current Satuk and Echidna are different; they are trying to use Origin's power for themselves. The war is not due to Origin's will. I don't think the demons need to feel responsible."

Since being captured in the castle, Kiril had fallen into a mild distrust of humans. This distrust was towards the human race as a whole. Of course, his companions, led by Flamm, were exceptions, but his trust in the kingdom as an organization was now zero. He believed that the responsibility for deceiving him and using him as an experimental subject lay entirely with the humans.

"Thank you, Kiril. But I still feel responsible and don't want to give up on the ceasefire."

"They will only abandon their attacks on the demon territory for one reason."

"What is it?"

"The destruction of the Chimera army. That will shatter their overwhelming confidence instantly."

Seithum seemed a bit disappointed by Linus's words, as it was a clear statement that the battle could not be avoided.

"So, it will come down to a fight for survival, then."

"It's impossible to stop it at this stage."

"For example, can't Kiril use the Return spell to destroy the Chimera in the capital?"

"Your muscles are too developed, we're losing because of our forces. If we rush in, we'll just be beaten up."

"Also, you can't return to the capital with the Return spell anymore."

"Really?"

Linus and Eterna looked at Kiril, as if to say, "We didn't hear about that."

"Sorry for not telling you, but when I asked Deza, he said it was okay to change the 'return point' to the Demon King's Castle."

"Can you change it so easily?"

"Pretty easily. Originally, it was set to my hometown."

"So, when we return to the capital... on foot?"

"I'll send you, of course."

If the war with the kingdom ended successfully, Eterna and the others returning to the capital would mean the war was over. The demons were not so ungrateful as to send their heroes back on foot. However, the shock of losing an easy way to return was significant, and even Deza, who had given permission, bowed his head.

"I apologize, I should have consulted more."

"No, it's fine. Since it wasn't going to be used anyway, I think your judgment was correct. Is it impossible to return to other points?"

"Yes, the connection with the transfer stones set up in the demon territory has been severed, so it's difficult."

"By the way, why did the capital isolate Kiril?"

When Linus asked, Kiril's expression darkened, as if he didn't want to remember. Then, in a low voice, he began to speak.

"I think they were trying to militarize the Return spell. That's why they kept examining my body."

"Is it complete?"

"...Probably."

"So, the kingdom can use the transfer stones you set up to deploy Chimeras directly?"

"..."

Negus's question was met with a nod from Kiril.

"Can't the transfer stones be removed?"

Eterna, who had sometimes been responsible for setting them up, answered the question.

"They can, but it's harder to remove them than to set them up. I'd need three days per stone."

"That's not enough time..."

Negus sighed heavily and held his head.

"Then, is there no choice but to confront the Chimeras head-on?"

"Are there any countermeasures?"

Sereid was not built to withstand an attack. It was just a city, not a fortress that could withstand a Chimera attack. It would be turned into a wasteland in an instant. Deza answered Kiril's question.

"Following Seithum's instructions, we are creating a rock barrier with magic. It's temporary, but it should cover the entire city in a few days."

The demons were not so naive as to do nothing. However—

"But, it's just a consolation, isn't it?"

He added that. In the face of the Chimera's overwhelming firepower, the rock barrier would be destroyed as easily as paper. Indeed, the number of demons in Sereid was greater, but their stats varied. While there were powerful individuals among the demons living in the city, including Seithum, Negus, Tsaiyon, and Deza, it would be difficult to face an army of over a thousand Chimeras.

"But they are not without weaknesses."

Linus said this with confidence, as if he could see a way to victory.

"Is there a way to defeat them?"

"The problem with using the Origin Core is the 'will of Origin,' which causes humans or monsters to go berserk."

The Children's rampages were due to their own will. However, the Orga of Enichide and necromancy resulted in tragedies because they could not be controlled.

"So, the Chimeras had to take countermeasures."

"Indeed, the Chimeras moved in a well-organized manner."

"Exactly, they lack their own will. They had to do this to block Origin."

"But how does that relate to their weakness?"

"In other words, they can't move without instructions. There's a tool for that."

It was a crystal in a room in the castle. It was a control device created by Echidna, just like the Chimeras.

"Without it, the Chimeras can't even move. Moreover, its range is limited."

Negus clapped his hands.

"That's why when we rescued the hostages in Irieis, the Chimeras only followed us halfway..."

If they had continued to chase, Negus would have run out of energy. But the Chimeras stopped halfway and failed to capture them. The reason was that they were within the range of the control device.

"Linus, hold on."

"What is it, Eterna?"

"If you knew this, you should have destroyed it before escaping. Why didn't you tell us?"

"I didn't know either."

Eterna frowned, puzzled. If he didn't know at the time of the escape, when did Linus find out?

"When we used the Return spell to get outside the capital, I heard it then."

The last person Linus spoke to was Maria. Before Flamm and the others escaped, he had a long conversation with her. He must have heard it then.

"Does that mean the Holy Maiden knew about it beforehand?"

Negus asked with a puzzled expression.

"Probably."

"Linus, did you contact her before the escape?"

"Yes, otherwise I couldn't have helped with the escape."

"Then why didn't she tell you about it at that time?"

"I don't know, maybe she found out just before the escape?"

No, that's not it—she was certain of something. Perhaps she didn't trust Maria. Even though she knew that destroying the control device would make the escape easier, she didn't tell Linus.

"Are you suspicious?"

"Because it's not. She's too suspicious."

"It's pointless to doubt Maria now. We need to find a way to stop the Chimera army."

Deza's advice made Negus swallow his words, but he was not convinced. On the other hand, Linus was also dissatisfied that Maria was not trusted.

"Anyway, if we destroy that control device, we can break through, right? If we all go, at least one of us should be able to reach it."

"Who wants to go?"

"The enemy's numbers are overwhelming, both on the ground and in the air. Even if we break through, there will be casualties."

"Someone dying is unacceptable, it's not allowed!"

Seithum said firmly. Without casualties, she wanted to stop the Chimeras and achieve a ceasefire. If that couldn't be done, she wouldn't accept the battle. Her resolve was strong.

"Seithum, if you don't accept casualties, what are you going to do? You're not going to create an army to fight, are you?"

"Of course not. Moreover, many don't want to fight."

While the young and energetic might, the women, children, and elderly would not actively participate in the battle. They would help defend the city, but few would rush into the Chimera swarm. In fact, during the human-demon war, only a small number participated in the battle. Despite that, the human army was easily defeated. There was such a difference in power. The Chimeras had bridged that gap.

For several hours, they discussed ways to destroy the control device. In the end, no safe method was found. Seithum finally compromised and, aware of the danger, a single plan was decided as the sky began to lighten in the early morning.

---

The next day, when Kiril and Eterna, who had been in a meeting, finally woke up in the afternoon, Flamm and the others were led to a certain room in the Demon King's Castle. It seemed that they wanted to give something to everyone who would participate in the battle, not as a reward. The room had a more imposing door with a strict lock, and the interior was unusually dark. Deza, who entered first, placed his palm on a crystal on the wall and infused it with magic, and the lights turned on. It was a treasure room filled with equipment that the demons had used in the past. Seithum, who led the way, turned around, her pure white dress swaying, and said to Flamm and the others,

"Please take any equipment you like. It will surely be useful in your battle."

Of course, the equipment included many epic items. It was not a mere generous gesture.

"Is it