Chapter 1

Icy stars flew down from the firmament. The shadows that imitated the Knight Order and the monsters vanished into dust without resisting. The lake was covered in thick ice and transformed into a glacier. The entire area had become a world of ice.

The kingdom’s army had been unable to move for a while because of the impact and vibrations. Thanks in part to the presence of skilled mages, there had been no damage. Though another reason was that they had only needed to block the aftershock.

“T-That was insane. L-Lagias! Could you not hold back a little more?!”

“Of course. That was only a greeting.”

“Huh? What kind of greeting is that?!”

Carlos, vice commander of the Royal Guard Corps, shouted at Zeke. But the person in question looked completely unconcerned. It had not affected him at all.

“Fine. If that cleared the way, then the Sage and the others can move.”

“As if things would go that smoothly.”

Magic circles appeared all at once on the ground. There were more of them than at first. In the sense of a greeting, the enemy was the same. This was only the beginning.

“Damn it, more monsters. …No, fake knights too?”

Given their nature, the number of shadows should have been limited. It seemed the first fake Knight Order had only consisted of lower-ranking knights. The enemy was apparently still holding back its strength.

“If you have time to flap your mouths, move your bodies, you pieces of trash.”

Zeke charged into the enemy formation alone. He kicked away and threw aside multiple monsters at once as he pressed forward. He crushed even the fake knights without mercy.

“We cannot allow Commander Baccus to be embarrassed. Everyone, follow Lagias!”

The Knight Order and adventurer units followed after Zeke. What came to meet them were monsters with fast legs. They attacked using the physical abilities unique to monsters, making use of their muscular strength.

“Do not falter! We have wisdom. Show them how impressive humans can be!”

In terms of simple physical ability, they were certainly inferior. But humans possessed precise mana control that monsters did not. They had the means to circulate refined mana throughout their bodies and strengthen themselves. Without losing in strength, they could fight on equal or even superior terms.

This became the first battle in the conflict over the “wish.”

The kingdom’s army and the enemy army collided. Humans, monsters, and inhuman things mixed together and scattered sparks.

“Z-Zeke’s as ridiculous as ever…”

“I suppose that is very like him. As an opening, it was not bad.”

The icy meteors had marked the beginning of the battle. That applied not only to the damage inflicted on the enemy, but also to how it appeared to their allies. From the kingdom’s army’s perspective, it was a reassuring boost.

“So… looks like it still isn’t our turn.”

“That’s right. Right now, it is time to wait for them to open a path.”

The six of Van’s group had a role given to them by Alderic. If they fought together with the kingdom’s army here, it might interfere with their battle against Elzen’s group. Merely watching was painful, but for now, they had no choice but to endure.

“The kingdom’s army is not stupid.”

The monsters’ speed suddenly dropped. The advantage of the monsters that had been fighting with speed as their weapon was lost, and the knights began annihilating them. It was Yorn’s gravity magic, cast by the regimental commander of the Mage Corps. Rather than completely sealing their movement, it was like attaching shackles to their legs. Since this conserved mana, a prolonged battle could also be expected.

“…Lots of Ciels.”

“You mean sacred arts users, right…?”

As long as this was battle, there would inevitably be wounded. Those who treated them were the clerics of Maria Church—and the ones who had inherited silver.

“To be honest, I was surprised. I did not expect royalty to go to the battlefield.”

Glanz gave his impression while stroking his beard. Normally, it was unthinkable for royalty and nobles with royal blood to participate in war. As expected, Alderic remained in the rear, but Princess Arnica, Aktor of the ducal house, and several others were present.

“Zeke dragged them out.”

“They must have had thoughts of their own after learning the truth of Lagias. Of course, since losing would mean the end, they likely had no choice but to take the battlefield.”

Even severed arms and legs bent in impossible directions could be completely healed with sacred arts. As long as they were alive, they could recover again and again. This was why Diabalet was a great power. An army that did not die would continue advancing until the enemy was destroyed.

“Hey… aren’t those guys over there dangerous?”

“Haha, Simon-san and the others, huh. I remember training with them in the past.”

Van drew back, while Luke smiled. Where they looked were warriors wearing armor engraved with the crest of Lagias. Compared to the kingdom’s army, their numbers were by no means great. However, their achievements were not inferior. Against the knights reproduced as shadows, they were overwhelming them. Each of them handled multiple roles: sword, magic, and healing.

“Selen, that person is…”

“Haa… Kratz really is still Kratz.”

A monster broke through the front line and closed in on the rear support unit. An exotic-looking person stepped forward as though to protect them.

He charged while swinging his saber, only to be easily knocked back and sent rolling across the ground. The monster was shaken by his excessive weakness, wondering if it might be some kind of trap. Perhaps judging him dangerous, the monster immediately fled at full speed.

“Everyone, let us prepare so we can move at any time.”

The battle was still in its early stages. It progressed with the kingdom’s army holding the advantage.

“Humans really look like trash.”

“That just shows how desperate they are.”

Looking down from the Path of the Firmament, separated from the ground, was Elzen’s group, who had transferred there ahead of time through the spirit’s ancient magic.

“But this was unexpected. I didn’t think the kingdom’s army would gather this much force.”

“That’s probably the work of Baccus from the Royal Guard Corps. The old soldier’s sticking his nose in, treating this as revenge for the Sword Saint.”

Tret analyzed while watching the lightning magic being dropped onto the battlefield. Among them, Tret was the one responsible for gathering information. That did not change even in the middle of battle.

“Hm? Is that so? I feel like I’ve seen this somewhere before.”

Pariaach floated in the air. It seemed the only spirit remaining in this world regained power the closer it came to the Gate to the Otherworld. In other words, that meant a power-up for Elzen’s group, who received the spirit’s blessing.

“Tch, they’re being pushed back, aren’t they? Is this going to be okay?”

“Don’t rush, don’t rush. This is still just the beginning. I’ve prepared a surprise, after all.”

Feluart spat out in displeasure. Pariaach, on the other hand, smiled with confidence.

“I think I’ll go tease them a little.”

“You really are scum.”

Dex, as usual, drew back. Aside from Elzen and Tret, Dex could be called one of the old-timers.

“Well, we just have to fulfill our roles. Elzen will be waiting in front of the gate.”

What Tret looked toward was the place where this world began. The fated land where Diabalet and Lagias encountered the spirit. What would Elzen wish for there?

“…Try stopping him if you can, Van.”

The battle between the kingdom’s army and the inhuman beings had been proceeding in humanity’s favor. At first, they had struggled against the fake Knight Order and monsters, but the flow gradually began to tilt, leading to the current situation.

“It is about time…”

Baccus, the supreme commander of the kingdom’s army, commanded the battlefield. From his many years of experience and intuition, he sensed something.

“Commander Baccus! Report! Poison dragons have appeared among the enemy. We believe they are basilisks!”

“…What are the casualties?”

“There are numerous wounded from poison! The battle line is being pushed back!”

Poison dragon basilisks. They were a rare dragon species with low population numbers. The breath basilisks exhaled was said to be the strongest poison in the world. If one was bathed in it, the flesh would melt, and poison would immediately spread throughout the body. One would likely lose their life in less than half an hour.

“Shall we send reinforcements?”

“That would only push the battle line back even further. …Do not worry. Those who will bear the next generation have grown.”

“?”

Baccus removed the basilisk from his mind. That was because the supreme commander needed to look over the entire battlefield. At times, it was also necessary to trust the people on site.

(Whether the Knight Order can change depends on this battle.)

A portion of the kingdom’s army was being forced into a difficult battle by the multiple basilisks that had appeared. Their vicious poison was one reason, but another was simply that they were strong. Even without wings, they were still a dragon species. They were dragons, said to stand at the summit of monsters. There was no way they would be weak.

“Wounded, fall back! Anyone hit by poison, withdraw immediately!”

The commander desperately shouted instructions. They attacked mainly with magic while keeping their distance, but their attacks could not get through the basilisks’ sturdy scales. If they carelessly approached, they would be torn apart by powerful claws, and if they took the poison head-on, they would head straight for death.

“You damn lizards…”

“C-Captain?!”

“—?! Gah!”

In an instant, a basilisk closed the distance and blew the male commander away. Despite its appearance, the basilisk was highly agile and intelligent. It understood who to strike in order to fight efficiently.

The commander fell unconscious. The kingdom’s army was thrown into panic by the sudden loss of its leader. Seeing an opportunity, the basilisks pressed the attack all at once.

“Hey, what do we do?!”

“How should I know?!”

“Wait, wait, wait?! Is that what I think it is?”

The poison dragons suddenly changed their formation. They lined up horizontally and opened their mouths wide. Their venomous dragon scales glowed with rainbow-colored light and shone ominously. This was—Unison Link.

“—Venom Impact.”

The poison dragon breath, enhanced beyond its normal power, covered the entire area, including the kingdom’s army. The earth rotted, the air was polluted, and living things withered away.

It was a wide-range simultaneous attack with nowhere to escape. The unit whose coordination had collapsed had no means to dodge or defend against it.

Except for them.

““Oracle Shield.””

A rainbow radiance cut off the poison. A barrier protected everyone in the surrounding kingdom’s army. The two pillars of the Knight Order. The two knights who would likely shoulder Diabalet’s future faced the basilisks.

“…Poison dragons, huh. You seem to have some kind of connection with them.”

“Indeed. I thought that one would be the last.”

The kingdom’s shield. Strohk, who had become the new vice commander of the Knight Order. Brink, the regimental commander who supported that vice commander. With the two of them appearing, the kingdom’s army regained its calm.

“Strohk. I will leave maintaining the barrier to you.”

“…Can you do it?”

“No problem. I am different from back then.”

His heart, which had nearly lost everything and had been on the verge of breaking. Blessed by bonds, his beloved son had been saved. And now that son was trying to protect the world with his companions. Then, as a father, what he had to do was decided.

The basilisks bared their fangs to break the barrier. Sharp claws, body slams using their massive frames, and vicious breath. Multiple poison dragons launched attacks all at once, but the shield protecting the kingdom did not waver.

Brink concentrated. Raising his mana to the limit, he turned his eyes toward the battlefield. In the distance, Zeke was fighting alone with great effort.

(I will not let you bear everything alone.)

Brink had watched Luke and Zeke’s progress from afar. Young people with futures ahead of them were desperately fighting to grasp that future. As a father and as an adult, he would open the path for them. That was Brink’s chivalry.

“Saint Caliber!”

A magic sword swung from within the barrier. A sword of justice that illuminated the night of the new moon. The unblockable attack bisected the basilisks all together. The dragons in question died without even realizing they had been hunted.

“Phew… Strohk, let us move to the next one.”

“…Do not get too carried away. You will run out of stamina.”

“I am still active, you know.”

While another unit struggled in battle against basilisks, an abnormal situation also occurred on this battlefield.

“Hey, you! Have you lost your mind?!”

“I-It wasn’t me. My body moved on its own!”

A mage lay fallen, bleeding. Behind him was an adventurer holding a bloodstained weapon. The person who had harmed the mage wore a confused expression.

One of the adventurers guarding the mage unit had suddenly raised his weapon and begun attacking. There was no way they could respond to a surprise attack from an ally, and members of the kingdom’s army fell one after another. Confusion spread across the battlefield.

“Don’t tell me… a traitor! This is why I said adventurers can’t be trusted!”

“I told you, it wasn’t me! It wasn’t my will!”

The adventurer was surrounded by the kingdom’s army. From behind that same kingdom’s army, another scream rang out. When they turned around, there was a shaken knight holding a sword dyed red. One case of friendly fire after another occurred, and the scene became a living hell.

“What is happening? At this rate…”

“—It will be bad, won’t it?”

A child’s voice entered his ears. There should not have been a young child on the battlefield. Thinking that, the commander turned around… and in the same motion, slashed an ally with his sword.

As if that became the trigger, allies began killing one another. No one could trust the person beside them. If they did not strike first, they would be struck. Falling into mutual suspicion, they descended into utter chaos.

“Ahaha! Humans really are foolish after all.”

Something short, its face hidden by a hood, mocked the kingdom’s army. Normally, they would have immediately realized something was wrong, but in their confusion, they could not notice. Except for one person.

“Calm yourselves—Lightning Howl.”

The kingdom’s army members fighting one another stopped moving from the explosive sound echoing across the battlefield. It was lightning magic that restrained them. Like this, no one would be able to interfere.

A rapier clad in lightning aimed for the hooded figure, but it fluttered away while floating in midair. …Perhaps because it had not been able to dodge completely, that person’s form emerged under the dark night.

“I have seen that face somewhere before… Kid!”

“Same to you! This time, I’ll punish you properly, third son!”