“…Aaah, why does all this trouble happen when my lord is away?!” Shary gripped her head.
She was in the Dark Lord’s castle underground study. Leonis’s domain, the Seventh Assault Garden, was being overrun by a large army of Void monsters. Shary didn’t know how much she could expect from mankind’s military, but it was clear that against an army that large, they would fall within the day.
“For now, we must defend our key positions with all the forces of the Dark Lords’ Armies!”
Said key positions were armories, warehouses, and facilities controlled by the Dark Lords’ Armies; the school Leonis attended, Excalibur Academy; the Hræsvelgr dorm; and Phrenia’s orphanage.
Of those places, the skilled Three Champions of Rognas were stationed in Excalibur Academy, so they wouldn’t need any reinforcements.
Shary hastily scribbled a letter and threw it into the shadow corridors. The beasts living in the shadows would carry the letters to each group leader in the army. At the same time, she gave the Septentrion sisters orders to support each unit.
“…This should do for the time being.” Shary wiped the sweat from her brow.
Leonis had left her in full command of his army during his absence. This was a heavy responsibility.
…I will protect my lord’s domain. She clenched her fist resolutely in the empty office.,
“…ry… Lady Shary…”
But just then, the Undead King statue sitting on the table started trembling. It was the voice of Lena, the Dark Elf commanding the Demon Wolf Pack.
“What is it?”
“May I have a word with you about the beastman guest general?”
Shary’s expression stiffened nervously. Hearing that gave her a bad feeling.
“…Is there a problem with Lord Gazoth?”
“Yes, you see…” Lena trailed off hesitantly. “He threw a violent tantrum and then left the castle with the Demon Wolf Pack. They were armed.”
“…”
Shary was aghast. Just as she’d feared, the Demon Wolf Pack was made up of mostly beastmen that were drawn to the Lord of Beasts Gazoth’s charisma, and they easily became his subordinates. He likely decided to take the beastmen with him to defeat the Voids.
“…That’s very troubling.”
…Having the Lord of Beasts fight the Voids attacking Leonis’s kingdom was actually a stroke of luck, but Gazoth was destruction incarnate, and if he fought seriously…
We should probably be prepared for an area or two to be destroyed beyond repair… Shary thought to herself, feeling a migraine coming on.
“Lady Shary, maybe we should try to stop them…?”
“There’s no point in trying to stop him. Let’s just leave Lord Gazoth to his devices.” Shary shook her head weakly. “Lena, I leave the place in your hands.”
Shary got to her feet.
“Lady Shary, where are you going?”
“I’ll take to the battlefield, too.” Shary replied and sank into the shadows with a huff.
✦ ✦ ✦
“—This is a special signal that’s only used during Stampedes.”
According to Riselia, this distress signal was issued to all surrounding Assault Gardens in the ocean area.
“So there’s a Stampede in the Seventh Assault Garden and the capital…?”
“…It seems probable.” Riselia nodded, biting her lip. “But it’s not likely the other Assault Gardens will be able to send aid in time.”
The only Assault Garden near the capital right now was the Sixth. The Sixth Assault Garden’s primary role was to serve as an anti-Void research facility, and its garrison was small.
Riselia looked terribly concerned. And Leonis couldn’t fault her, since she’d seen her homeland destroyed by a Stampede once before.
“…Any chance we can go any faster, Leite?”
“It is possible. However, should we go faster, the fuselage will be at a risk of falling apart.”
“Then please go as fast as you can without that happening.”
“Understood, master.”
The Thunderbolt suddenly sped up.
“Wh-whoa?! Wh-what’s going on?!” Leonis heard Regina squeal from outside.
The battle vehicle’s speed rose, as it kicked up a cloud of dust in its wake.
…Still, even at this speed, it’s unlikely we’ll make it in time, Leonis thought, his eyes fixed on the tear looming ahead in the horizon.
—If a Stampede really broke out, it was questionable if mankind’s forces alone could handle it. And the forces of the Dark Lords’ Armies currently in the capital were made up of Shary, the Three Champions of Rognas, the Septentrion Assassins freed by the Queen of Shadows’ control, and other low- and medium-class undead. They could handle weak Voids, but…
…I can’t see them beating a Void Lord.
Unleashing Rakshasa Nightmare, who was sealed in Shary’s body, was a final measure, and at worst, she could prove even more dangerous than a Void Lord.
“…”
After a moment’s thought, Leonis raised his head and tugged on Riselia’s sleeve.
“Miss Selia, I’ll return to the Seventh Assault Garden ahead of everyone else.”
“…Eh?” Riselia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I’ll defeat the Void Lord and stop the Stampede.”
“But Leo…”
Riselia looked at Leonis with concern.
“…”
She bit her lip. The distress call alarm continued to blare. If they did nothing, the Seventh Assault Garden and the capital could be overrun by the Stampede, resulting in many deaths.
Just like what happened at the Third Assault Garden six years ago.
“…All right.” Riselia placed her hands on Leonis’s shoulders. “Please. Protect everyone.”
She was anxious to let him go alone… But at the same time, she did trust him.
“Yes, let me handle it.”
As Leonis nodded, Riselia wrapped her arms around his back and hugged him tightly.
“Do you need to suck some blood?” he asked teasingly.
“…N-no, I’m good. I got plenty last night.” Riselia went red in the face.
Leonis opened the door and looked at the shadow under the vehicle. A shadow wolf emerged from the shadow of the caterpillar tread.
“Get on, Lord Magnus.”
Having split from his shadow, Blackas ran parallel to the vehicle.
“You’re quick to act, old friend…”
Leonis smiled wryly and hopped on Blackas’s back.
“Leo, be careful…!”
Riselia called out, and Leonis nodded back wordlessly.