Shadow Court Magician Chapter 46: The Devil Kerich

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　I put Victor at the head of the line and let him start a bloodbath.

　I, as a court magician, was supporting him from behind.

　This strategy seemed to be the strongest, but I knew that the situation was not so easy that I could win on that alone. It is impossible to defeat seven times as many enemy soldiers with just that.

　So, I split the troops into two and had them attack from the right side. The cavalry was led by Victor, and the infantry that will move from the left side was under another commander. The infantry troops attacked at the most opportune time. We try to surround and annihilate one of the enemy troops that split in two with the cavalry, but then the other remaining troops attack us. What are you going to do about that?　This was Victor’s question, but of course, I had already taken measures to deal with that.

　No, to be precise, there was a unit that could take care of that.

　The militias led by Sicily, who struck out of the Viscount’s castle, attracted half of the enemy’s army. Her skill was excellent, and the princess’s general talent at commanding was quite good.

“I guess I won’t have to worry about it if I die in battle.”

　Victor grumbled at the joke.

“I’ve been reminded by the princess to protect your life. If you die on the battlefield, she’ll hate me for the rest of my life, so don’t take the easy way out.” (Victor)

“Let’s keep at it then.”

“But so far, so good, but still, a sevenfold difference in the number of soldiers is hard.” (Victor)

　Victor cut down the attacking soldiers as he said this.

　The blood sprayed on my face, so I just wiped it off with the sleeves of my robe.

“You’re right, but don’t worry, the sevenfold will shrink to twofold.”

“Do you have a magical vase that increases soldiers?” (Victor)

“I don’t have one, I have the princess.”

　Victor looked at me as if to say, “What do you mean?” However, it would be quicker to actually show him than to explain it with words. While we were talking, I instruct him to look to the west.

　Then an army of cavalrymen was heading towards us with a cloud of smoke behind them.

“What the hell? Who are they?” (Victor)

“Can’t you see that coat of arms and flag? That’s our country’s emblem.”

“I know that. Is that friend or foe?” (Victor)

“Don’t be absurd. They fly the same flag, so they must be on our side.”

　With that, the group of cavalrymen attacked the flank of Kerich’s army.

　Kerich’s army, which had just begun to regain its footing, was swallowed up in a flash.

　I said to Victor, who was staring blankly at the scene.

“That’s the Earth Division. It’s the princess’s ally.”

“Princess’s ally?” (Victor)

“The military is not just Maxis and Kerich’s dogs. There are some strange people who trust the princess. That’s Lieutenant General Ziggurat, commander of the Earth Division.”

“That’s General Ziggurat…” (Victor)

　 Lieutenant General Ziggurat is an old general, nearly 60 years old. He is neither an aristocrat nor a graduate of a military academy, but a man of great courage who rose from a soldier to become a general.

　He was trusted by the soldiers and had a good reputation in the military. He was considered the heart and soul of the Ernian army and was a general among generals.

　The old general sent us a message.

　I listened to the brief words of Lieutenant General Ziggurat.

“Princess Sicily is a person who is indispensable to this country. Kerich, who torments the people, is the country’s traitor. “

　With that, Ziggurat offered to provide reinforcements.

　The Earth Division overthrows Kerich’s army in a blink of an eye. In a way, they did even better than I did.

“I think we’ve won”, Viktor thought, but he was too quick to admit it.

　Ziggurat’s message conveyed the words that proved it.

“Be careful, Libra Division, Kerich is suspected of being in league with devil worshippers.”

　That seemed to be the concern of Lieutenant General Ziggurat.

　That seems to be the reason why he is lending his support to us, the Libra Division. Kerich apparently has recently invited devil worshippers to his residence in the Royal Capital. Moreover, he is most likely planning to do something nefarious.

“That’s disturbing.” (Victor)

　Victor said, but I was not particularly surprised.

　It’s rather easy for me to understand.

　Kerich is willing to sell his soul to the devil to get his hands on the crown.

　There would be no need to go easy on such a person and his followers.

　I commanded my troops skillfully, and together with Lieutenant General Ziggurat, we annihilated the enemy soldiers.

　Together with the Lieutenant General, we set up a counteroffensive and prepared a single escape route. The Lieutenant-General complies with me with an even breath. Victor raised a question about my strategy.

“Why don’t you surround the area completely?” (Victor)

“To let the enemy soldiers escape”

“Mercy? You don’t want to fight each other against the same Ernian army?” (Victor)

“Although there is that, Kerich’s men are not crazy about him. I’m sure they’re just following him because they think he will win.

“Hmmm.” (Victor)

“If such people were put in this situation, they would run away immediately. That’s why I’ve prepared an escape route. If we completely surround them here, they’ll turn into cornered rats and we’ll suffer a lot of damage.”

“You are indeed the best military strategist. Such a measured strategy.” (Victor)

“Well, it’s the foundation of the art of war.”

　That said, I then patted Victor on the back and urged him to go further out to the front.

　He agreed with a quick reply but looked at me suspiciously.

“Anyway, even if your Excellency is a great soldier you don’t have to be on the front lines.” (Victor)

“It’s just that it’s easier to keep track of the war on the front lines.”

　――It was convenient, and it was mostly to reduce the damage to my allies.

　I’m the best military strategist in Ernia if I do say so myself, but at the same time, I’m a powerful magician. I was one of the few strategic class magicians in the Libra Division, which was still short on talent. I wanted to make the most of this power.

　In addition–,

　I looked to the rear.

　If I look, I can see that the princess’s troops are right next to us.

　She was also in command at the front.

　I wasn’t entirely inspired by her, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel the need to show her my best side.

　I was fighting on the front line with such a naive feeling, but it turned out to be a good thing.

　When Kerich realized that his army was collapsing and that he would not be able to win the battle between the armies, he showed us his hidden hand.

~3^rd Person Perspective~

　Kerich stabbed one of the staff members who insisted on retreating in the stomach with his right hand and pulled out his liver, bringing it to his mouth. At that point, he was already beyond human, but when he brought the liver to his mouth, his eyes were glowing bright red. His staff, who were watching the scene, began to tremble, and then began to run away.

“Hiiiii, His Highness went crazy.” (Soldier)

　No, he’s not.

　Kerich didn’t become crazy at that moment.

　He was crazy from the beginning.

　When he was told how to obtain the strongest body by the leader of the Demise Church, he did it without any hesitation.

　And this wasn’t his first murder. Ever since he was a child, he had been whipping servants he didn’t like and pushing maids he didn’t like down the stairs. It is said that as a young boy, he would watch in amusement as his slaves were whipped and their skin peeled off. He had pushed the maid down the stairs and laughed with his stomach at the sight of her neck bent in the wrong direction.

　How could such a person not be crazy?

　Leon knew of his brutality from his investigation reports, so he guessed that he had been turned into a demon with the power of the Devil.

~Leon’s Perspective~

“It seems that His Highness Kerich intends to reign over this country as the Demon King.”

　I look down on Kerich, who is rapidly becoming a demon in the blink of an eye.

　His skin peeled away, revealing his green skin. His mouth has also been torn off, revealing ugly fangs and a forked tongue.

“He is the very demon that my master used to talk about. It looks like he used a demonic artifact.”

　I commented calmly.

　Victor the Demon Lord gagged.

　I told him in a teasing manner.

“The actual devil seems to be scarier, although you are called the Demon Lord.”

“I was just called a demon…… But he’s a ‘real demon’, right?” (Victor)

“Yeah.”

　During such an exchange, Kerich, who has undergone a complete metamorphosis, looked quite savage.

　No, should he be looking this savage? After all, he is still the prince of this country.

　When the prince grabs his subordinates by his hand, he then eats his screaming subordinates.

　With the second gaping mouth on his stomach.

　Kerich’s army was in a panic as they watched, but that didn’t raise the morale of the Libra and Earth Divisions.

　No, on the contrary, they were terrified of the demon that was relentless even on their own allies.

　Kerich throws the corpses of his men that have been chewed on. The sight of the corpse’s mangled limbs horrified the men of the Libra Division, but it was only for a moment.

　The demon-turned Kerich approaches the soldier with unimaginable movements from his sluggish figure and extends his right hand.

　Zugo!

　The wild arm pierced through the soldier’s stomach.

　Fresh red blood spurts out from there. What a brutal and ruthless demon.

　That’s what everyone who stands on the battlefield thinks, but the demon who once took the form of a prince is beyond their imagination.

　He was more than just brutal.

　Kerich pulled the belly of the soldier he had pierced out of his back and spread his hands.

　At that moment, the demon’s hand was covered with a purple aura.

“……dangerous!”

　I thought and ordered the soldiers to spread out.

　I’m not sure why, but the soldiers followed my instructions.

　That’s how trusted I am as a general and military strategist, but there were still soldiers who didn’t disperse.

　They were either newcomer who didn’t know my true strength or those who couldn’t hear my orders.

　I’m sure they had no ill intentions, but their choice was the path of death.

　A huge amount of magic power was unleashed from the demon’s right hand, which was covered with magic power.

　Like the breath of a dragon, it was unleashed in a straight line, swallowing up the dozens of soldiers who had failed to escape and obliterating them.

　I bit my lip painfully as I watched the scene, and put all my strength into the staff in my right hand.

(… I will kill that devil)

　I swore so in my heart.

　I didn’t want to see any of my subordinates die anymore.

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