Volume 6 Chapter 8 The Battle Of Albirgo
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Sitting in a makeshift chair, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the armrest, General Bandanzine surveyed the low grasslands. His expression was calm, but beneath it stirred a subtle unease.
”To think we could deploy this many troops in just two months…” he murmured.
He sighed deeply at the scene before him—more than he had expected.
This was the Kingdom of Crotopone’s territory: a grassland east of the Royal Capital Rocetta, just beyond the checkpoint. Along the border with the Leelit Federation, the ominous Demon Beast Nest—the Sekurei Forest Area—lay to the immediate east.
Known as the Albirlgo Plains, this peaceful land held no monsters, and human traffic was sparse. The forest had driven away most settlers, making it an ideal sanctuary for wildlife.
But today, that peace was shattered.
Humans and monsters swarmed the area. Stakes formed crude fences, and flags bearing various nations fluttered in the breeze. Growls like savage beasts and the clash of metal echoed around him.
To the north, allied human forces were arrayed.
To the south, the invading army from the Demon Continent.
Humans and demons—species born in disparate worlds—were poised for brutal conflict. Both sides prepared for a decisive battle that would determine their futures.
To the north, soldiers from multiple nations stood firm. All were human—a coalition centered on the Second Empire of Dusselhelm, the continent’s northernmost power.
The fluttering flags revealed a mix of major powers, smaller states, and city-states rallying together. Their combined forces numbered 70 to 80 thousand.
How had such a massive army assembled so quickly? Bandanzine frowned at the troops blanketing the plains’ gentle slope. This was beyond his expectations.
Two months had passed since the Demon Lord’s army seized the kingdom’s port by surprise. Originally, they planned a swift blitzkrieg, but an unforeseen event stalled them.
The time had felt both brief and endless.
Now, as they prepared to renew the assault, a huge army advanced from the north, forcing the Demon Lord’s forces to respond.
Close to a hundred thousand allied humans gathered on Crotopone’s plains.
He had anticipated a decisive battle—but two months’ delay was far beyond what he’d imagined.
If the invaded kingdom had mobilized its entire army, it might have taken under a month to face them.
At a survival crisis, amassing a large force in two months was plausible.
But rallying tens of thousands from diverse countries? That was no small feat.
If their own lands were threatened, it might make sense—but for distant nations to declare war over a skirmish? Citizens and nobles wouldn’t accept it lightly.
Who was sending troops? How were funds and supplies secured? Could war bonds be issued? Would this disrupt governance?
Unifying a populace that barely grasped the crisis took time.
No distant country would rise just because a port fell somewhere else.
So why had this happened so easily?
”…The hero party, the Brave Knight, huh,” Bandanzine muttered. “I underestimated the Empire’s diplomatic reach.”
Among the allied nations, some had heroes close to the royal family.
That was the Empire of Dusselhelm—the heart of the coalition.
To rally a nation for war, public support and noble consent were crucial.
Nothing stirred hearts like heroes.
If heroes and their companions spread warnings and rallied unity, their influence would be profound.
An empire with a hero’s companion and formidable military power—that explained their central role.
The Empire must have won the loyalty of commoners and nobility alike, coordinating the coalition with strong leadership.
They likely held diplomatic cards unique to a magic superpower.
The Demon Lord’s side should have foreseen this.
”What a troublesome mess. Well, it’s fine,” Bandanzine said with a grim smile. “The decisive battle just came sooner than expected.”
The situation was unexpected, but not hopeless.
If anything, the Demon Lord’s army still held the advantage.
”I report. From Lady Primjune, we await orders to deploy!” a messenger called.
”No abnormalities among the brainwashed monsters. Ready for deployment anytime!” another added.
Facing the humans to the south stood the Demon Lord’s troops, led by Earth General Bandanzine himself. Rather than trembling, they drooled with anticipation.
From the outside, the scene was bizarre.
No humans were visible.
The invaders—the Demon Lord’s army—stood here. Yet the Demonkin who should lead were absent; instead, single-file lined were the monsters, humanity’s sworn enemies.
Brainwashed monster soldiers.
Creatures enslaved by Sea General Primjune’s Unique Skill, Lorelei Resonance [T/N: a magical ability controlling monsters].
Their numbers defied counting, spanning countless species.
From tiny to colossal, they likely exceeded one hundred thousand.
These beasts should have snarled at all humans.
Their claws should have threatened not just humans, but Beastkin and Demonkin alike.
But now, they were pawns of the Demon Lord’s army.
Beasts imported as war slaves from the Demon Continent.
Foolish human merchants blinded by gold smuggled monster scrolls into the human continent.
Through infiltrated summoning circles, they transported brainwashed monsters en masse without ships.
They stormed the port town of Shinnit from within.
The summoned monsters, vanguard of the Demon Lord’s forces, bared fangs only at humans.
Bandanzine and the Demonkin remained unnervingly calm.
This obedient, powerful vanguard held an unshakable advantage against the vast human army.
Using monsters to strike, the Demonkin stayed untouched.
Monsters were expendable pests. Their numbers meant nothing.
Once scattered, the Demonkin would move in directly.
Only humans and monsters would bleed.
No superior Demonkin blood would stain the field.
An overwhelming victory was the Demon Lord’s strategy.
A cold breeze whispered between the two armies—spring’s breath.
The Human Alliance and Demon Lord armies faced off, locked in a tense staring contest. Neither side dared strike first.
”I have a report,” a scout said. “About a thousand cavalry bearing the flag of the far western Altale Dukedom just took position on the right rear.”
The stalemate had dragged on.
Meanwhile, enemy forces kept swelling.
Though formidable, this army wasn’t the full might of humanity.
Some nations hesitated to send troops. Others remained undecided or consumed by internal strife.
But time pressed on. One by one, they completed their preparations and joined the ranks—that much was inevitable.
If they waited any longer, the balance would tip irreversibly in the Alliance’s favor.
”I bring news, Prince Bors, Princess Kispe of Troiké,” the messenger said, kneeling. “Three thousand knights from the Supé region led by Knight Commander Nobodev, two thousand dwarves from the former Dwarf Nation, and two hundred archers from Sleeva have arrived at Old Shinnit.”
”They’re here at last,” Kispe said sharply. “Integrate them into our forces immediately.”
Bandanzine raised an eyebrow at the timing of their arrival.
The first wave of the invasion army had consisted almost entirely of monsters—aside from the Earth General and a handful of attendants.
This second wave, composed of beings from beyond the Demon Lord’s core territories, were clear outsiders.
Those directly under the Demon Lord’s command, along with the factions of the Four Heavenly Kings, were old retainers. The others—the regions and races newly absorbed into the United Kingdom of Gasthira—were outsiders.
Unlike the loyal retainers, outsiders were driven more by profit than allegiance.
Managing them required political finesse and a delicate hand.
That was why their arrival had been delayed on purpose.
First, the Demon Lord’s army would seize the port. They would raise the standard of conquest without any outsider aid. Only once victory was clear would they call in the rest.
With the battle already tilting in their favor, who would dare refuse to join?
They had taken the port and crushed the enemy. In just two months, every recovery attempt by the Kingdom had failed.
News of such overwhelming success would be all the persuasion the outsiders needed.
”General, a secret letter has arrived from the Leelit Federation,” a demon soldier reported, breathless.
”At last!” Bandanzine slapped his knee and stood. “Let me see it!”
He had been stroking his chin, watching the enemy’s position with quiet calculation. But as he opened the letter, a grin split his face.
The Leelit Federation was aligned with the Alliance—at least on paper.
A secret letter from a supposed enemy left little room for interpretation.
As he read, Bandanzine’s expression turned smug. He covered his mouth with one hand, suppressing a chuckle.
Though he said nothing, the soldiers around him could tell: the news was good.
”I have more news!” another scout called out. “Some of the enemy forces are on the move!”
The demon soldiers standing in formation instantly turned their attention to the front.
Across the field, the humans shifted into a wide horizontal formation—a seemingly well-disciplined line.
”There!” a soldier pointed. A segment of the human forces was advancing.
It wasn’t a massive unit—perhaps five or six hundred light infantry at most—but they crept steadily forward.
”Probably scouts,” Bandanzine muttered, waving a dismissive hand. “Ignore them. Keep an eye on Troiké’s bumbling twins instead. Their brains are even duller than Gildegant’s.”
”Hah!” he scoffed aloud.
Bandanzine exhaled, thoughts drifting to someone who should have been here.
Gildegant—boasting the greatest firepower in their army—had launched a reckless solo charge, been badly wounded, and withdrawn.
If she and the Delphina faction were here, this battle would already be over.
”Seriously. Not a single one of Fina’s people showed up, huh?” he said to no one, closing his eyes in frustration. He drew a long breath.
Unpredictable events had piled up, yet momentum was clearly in their favor. Victory was nearly in hand. There could be no letting this moment slip away.
As soon as the Troiké forces arrived, the order to begin the battle would be given.
Bandanzine began mapping out the annihilation of the enemy in his mind, drawing on a lifetime of battlefield experience.
”Do we know how many countries have assembled? And from where?” he asked, still watching the horizon.
”Hah! We’ve sent a fast horse to gather intel!” a subordinate replied.
* * *
Meanwhile, confusion reigned among the human forces stationed on the northern plains.
Every nation floundered in the face of unfamiliar tactics.
They were being led by a single princess.
The Third Princess of the Empire had arrived with the Imperial Army and been named supreme commander.
She was the Brave Knight’s magic specialist—a woman whose beauty drew second glances from all who passed.
”How long has it been since you said you were ‘investigating’? Ugh, everything’s so inefficient!” Princess Hermine snapped, pacing.
”And no word from the Federation either? They’re the closest ones, yet they showed up late! I knew it—parliamentary democracies are hopeless in a crisis!”
Young Hermine, known as the Great Magician, spoke without pause. Her mind and mouth stayed in constant motion, even in the face of mounting frustration.
”Hey, hasn’t the Theocracy arrived yet? No word from Oriana, either. What’s going on over there?” she demanded.
”Y-yes. We’re currently investigating—”
Almost all the answers Hermine received came back as: “still under investigation.”
The absence of the Holy Theocracy of Fritz, one of the continent’s strongest nations, grated on her the most.
Oriana’s silence—especially as a former party member—only deepened her irritation.
There were four major powers on the Human Continent:
The Kingdom of Crotopone, the Dusselhelm Empire, the Holy Theocracy of Fritz, and the Leelit Federation.
Of them, the Federation had been weakened by domestic turmoil. Its military was now no stronger than a mid-tier state—hardly a “major power.”
The Kingdom of Crotopone, though allied with the Empire, was neck-deep in its own war and had just suffered heavy losses. They’d requested reinforcements, but expectations were low.
That left only two significant forces: the Empire and the Theocracy.
But one of them wasn’t coming.
Which meant this war would be fought—largely—by the Empire alone, against the full might of the Demon Lord’s army.
”Um, Your Highness,” an aide began hesitantly, “what are the generals from each country planning, strategy-wise? Also, when will the meeting be held—”
”The Empire will command the strategy!” Hermine snapped. “There’s no point in holding a meeting. It’ll just delay everything with scattered opinions. I’ll decide! They’re to follow my orders without question!”
She had claimed full control.
As supreme commander, Princess Hermine would lead both strategy and tactics.
In a military operation of this scale, unity of command was essential.
With her magical prowess and mental sensitivity, she could stay in contact with every commander.
When she gave an order, it would ripple through the army like a single pulse.
”Ugh… Is that really okay…?” Federina asked, fidgeting. “Wouldn’t that just make things worse…?”
”It’s fine, Federina,” Hermine said, flashing a confident grin. “I’m the leader of the Brave Knights, remember? Trust me!”
Hmph. The eighteen-year-old was about to lead her first war.
Eighty thousand soldiers stood under her command—not just from the Empire, but from tiny nations whose names barely registered on a map.
They were all here, fighting for humanity’s survival.
It was a blessing.
But failure wasn’t an option.
She didn’t have time to listen to the complaints of countries she hadn’t even heard of.
* * *
”Hmmm. No military meeting, huh? Hermine’s a bit too nervous, don’t you think?” a female soldier muttered, squinting toward the horizon.
The allied forces were stationed across various points on the Albirlgo Plains .
On the right flank stood the soldiers of the Kingdom of Stras, a small nation, but one famed for its unmatched military prowess.
Sometimes branded outlaws. Sometimes dismissed as scum. But undisputedly, the world’s top dragon-slaying nation.
This infamous country had deployed 600 soldiers to the front lines.
”Hey hey, is your princess okay?” called out a woman with a halberd slung casually over her shoulder.
She wore little more than cloth, her armor barely a suggestion—an odd choice even for summer. With swords strapped both at her waist and across her back, it was clear she came ready to strike. Her chest and midriff were nearly bare, her entire ensemble looking more like a traveler’s whim than a soldier’s gear.
”You scared? Looks like you’d fold the second real fighting breaks out!” she added with a wide grin.
”Ha ha ha ha!” the other female warriors cackled, their voices bold and sharp.
Despite the poor odds, they radiated confidence. Watching her fearless comrades, the girl standing at their head—Tiet, a wandering knight and their chosen leader—grinned, her lips curling upward with a cool defiance.
”Stras has fought dragons and monsters in real combat for generations,” Tiet said. “But most of the countries here? They’ve never tasted war. This continent’s been shielded by the Saint, so real strategy, leadership—they never had to develop it.”
She was the first Brave Knight to return from the Kingdom of Crotopone to her homeland of Stras.
With Crotopone now paralyzed, she had been ordered to fight in their stead. Summoned immediately upon arrival by the King of Stras, she now commanded the bold, battle-hardened warriors of her nation.
Tiet was legendary even among Stras soldiers—the kind of name even bawling children recognized from whispered lullabies.
A 15-year-old blonde girl, hailed as the strongest in the world—at least, in the absence of a Hero.
”On the other hand,” Tiet mused, “our opponents are the ones who unified the Magic Continent through brute force. They’ve probably fought a hundred battles more than we have. Still… there aren’t any demons here.”
She looked delicate, but her mind was a storm.
Though three years younger than Hermine, Tiet grasped the true fragility of the Human Alliance.
The continent, long safeguarded by the Saint, had known peace for ages.
Beyond the occasional noble spat, large-scale human wars had been nearly extinct. Those who once wielded experience had died off, leaving a generation skilled only in fighting monsters, not men. It was the natural result of a peaceful era.
But when enemies come from beyond?
That peace becomes a liability.
Putting a golden cloak on someone who’s never seen war? Pointless.
But the ones who don’t know war are often best at winning hearts.
That’s why Hermine became general.
As the Hero Party’s leader, her appointment seemed flawless from the outside. When the Empire named her commander, no objections came from any of the nations involved.
Did they think her presence would frighten the Demon Lord’s army?
Or were they just too afraid to oppose the Empire?
Either way, her position tightened the chain of command.
”That Hermine… she was really fired up,” Tiet muttered under her breath.
But that fire was all for show.
Princess Hermine had never led an army, never planned a campaign.
What could anyone expect from an eighteen-year-old girl?
Tiet frowned. She wished she could trust her—but all she felt was dread.
”What about us, huh? No war council. No strategy sessions. If this keeps up, we’re gonna lose,” grumbled one of the Strass women, adjusting the strap across her shoulder.
They understood unity. They knew how crucial it was in battle.
They also knew just how bad things looked.
Whether that meant they should flee, though—that was a different matter.
”Well, yeah, normally we’d be toast,” another warrior said, stretching lazily. “But come on, they’re just monsters.”
At this point, Tiet had gone still. Her usual instinct might have been to race to Hermine’s side with advice. But not now.
She chose to watch.
The reason was simple: their enemy wasn’t human.
”Honestly, I think we could take out half of them ourselves,” said one woman with a chuckle. “Is Hermine even needed?”
”Heh, right! We seriously don’t need her,” another chimed in.
”Totally. Monsters always flee once their buddies start dropping,” said a third, tightening her gauntlets.
Tiet was worried for Hermine, yes.
But her confidence came from knowing that the Demon Lord’s forces were beasts, not men.
Monsters—violent, beasts born from the Abyss.
Though they carried power, they behaved like animals.
Once they tasted fear, they never fought back. Their list of weaknesses was long, and all too familiar.
So then, how were they being commanded?
How had such a horde even been gathered?
Tiet didn’t have the answers. But she knew one thing: if their command structure crumbled, even the largest army would fall apart.
That applied to humans—and even more so to monsters.
For warriors like Tiet and her dragon-slaying Strass comrades, these creatures weren’t a threat.
”Oh right… I just thought of something good,” Tiet said, her voice low with mischief.
So, what now?
Sitting around wasn’t improving anything. And frankly, she was bored.
A wicked idea struck her—sharp, sudden.
If a thief had seen the look on her face just then, they might’ve sworn she was plotting some grand, awful prank.
With a sly smile, she gave the order: prepare for battle. March out.
”Ahh, you’re bad. Real bad!” one of the warriors teased, eyes gleaming.
”If we get in trouble, you’re doing the explaining!” another laughed.
”We’re just going to scout,” Tiet announced loudly.
Scouting? Then why prepare for battle?
Anyone with sense would question it. But across this wide, open plain, the answer was clear.
Seven-tenths of the force were women with lean, honed muscle. The rest were men who knew better than to question orders when a girl like Tiet—with a name blessed by their king—took command.
Her nature, carved in Stras, meshed perfectly with its people.
As the Strass soldiers passed by their allies, they kept their eyes fixed on the enemy—deliberate, intense.
Curious gazes followed them.
And as the distance grew, each soldier silently reached for their weapon.
”All right, let’s go!” the girl shouted, her eyes blazing.
As the two armies closed the distance, she raised her voice again, now commanding.
”Okay, launch!” she cried, her blade already drawn and raised high to the sky.
Just one word—light-hearted, almost playful.
And yet, in that moment, the quiet, sunlit plain shattered into chaos.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
A roar like an explosion tore across the green earth.
It wasn’t just a cheer—it sounded as if ten thousand warriors had shouted “Haaaaa!” to their homeland at once.
As if dragons, not men, had opened their massive jaws and bellowed.
A thunderclap of sound surged southward, like a sonic cannon unleashed.
In that instant, the Albirlgo Plains became a battlefield.
The earth itself seemed to tremble.
A shock ran through the Demon Lord’s ranks.
”What?!” Bandanzine barked, bolting upright at the blast.
Their—no, her—howl of war surged outward, reverberating through the horde of monsters.
Beasts that had once been docile under brainwashing now cowered, fear breaking through their conditioned minds.
They flinched, stumbled back, sparking panic like toppling dominoes.
Usually, brainwashed monsters responded only sluggishly.
That made them hard to stop—even when slashed. But now, a single deafening shout was enough to shatter their fragile calm.
”Primjune!! Order the entire army to charge!!” Bandanzine snapped.
A swift command—an effort to override the chaos and regain momentum.
Then came a sound that couldn’t be called song—a guttural, alien voice, echoing across the field.
At once, the monsters’ behavior shifted.
Those that had been retreating suddenly turned north again and surged forward.
That moment marked the signal.
The entire demonic horde began to charge toward the Human army.
”──Huh?” gasped the final remaining princess, blinking in disbelief.
”…Huh? Huh? Huh?! W-wait, what was that just now?! Who gave the order to attack?!” she stammered, her voice rising in panic.
Flustered, she spun her jewel-toned dress armor and leapt into the sky.
She didn’t need to fly—her familiar already soared above—but she had to see it for herself.
What she saw stunned her.
A distinct, unmistakable unit surged into view.
Even a stranger would’ve done a double take.
Women warriors clad in eccentric armor—nearly everything exposed except their chests and waists—rushed forward, bristling with weapons.
Not one of them flinched, even when a blade snapped in battle.
A nation of warriors, unlike any other.
A people who prized individual strength above all, even if it meant slow prosperity.
In short—
”S-Strass soldiers?! …Wait, Tiet!!?” Hermine shouted.
Of course she knew—Tiet had returned to her homeland.
Since the Demon Lord’s invasion began, the Brave Knights had scattered to protect their respective countries.
Crotopone, where Tiet had gone, was in ruins—still licking its wounds from the last attack.
That’s why the Empire had called on Strass to deploy her again.
Tiet had returned to rally her people.
Strass sent barely a thousand troops.
But the fact that they’d come at all—with Tiet leading—was a blessing.
”A-a-a, that idiot!!!” Hermine fumed.
Anger blazing, she gave the order to mobilize the entire army.
Strass’s warriors were only a few hundred strong. Letting them fall alone was out of the question.
She rallied the stunned troops, barking orders, driving them forward.
And thus, the battle began in earnest.
With Tiet’s reckless charge, the decisive clash between humans and demons was set in motion.
──The Hero Anna was not there.
Notes:
• Bandanzine – They are one of the Four Heavenly Kings, appeared as a warrior with a dignified gaze, known for their frontline combat prowess.
• Leelit Federation – A political entity where Suzette used to work as a spy; seems to be an empire.
• Rocetta – The royal capital of the Kingdom of Crotopone, where the knight barracks are located.
• Albirlgo – Plains location of the decisive battle between the Human Alliance Army and the Demon Lord Army.
• Primjune – She is one of the Four Heavenly Kings, appeared as a scaled and finned figure, known for executing the saint’s kidnapping plan.
• Shinnit – Located south of the royal capital of the Kingdom of Crotopone, separated by mountains. A bustling trading town and the nation’s largest economic hub, controlling the Four Islands. It is a port city with gray outer walls, known for its strategic importance and military presence.
• Troiké – A nation contributing troops to the Human Alliance; mentioned in the context of its royal twins, Prince Bors and Princess Kispe.
• Gasthira – United Kingdom of Gasthira. Demonkin-led absolute monarchy; has a parliamentary system this generation; treats humans as enemies; suffers from poor working conditions.
• Gildegant – One of the Four Generals of the Demon Lord. Flame General.
• Delphina – She is the Demon King’s daughter, appeared as a six-horned, water-blue haired figure, known for her godlike presence and influence.
• Hermine – Daughter of the Emperor of the Second Empire of Dusselhelm. A companion and friend of Anna. The mage. She is pragmatic and encourages Anna to focus on her duties as a hero rather than her personal revenge.
• Oriana – A Princess. A companion who assists in explaining the situation to the kingdom. She is supportive and helps Anna navigate her responsibilities. Her appearance is slender, with dark hair and sharp features.
• Federina – Hermine’s chosen disguise, a magical detective and close friend whom Hermine hopes will deter Klock’s suspicions. Federina’s presence of mind helps her improvise when confronted.
• Tiet – A companion and friend of Anna. A holy knight from the royal capital. She wears light armor and carries a shield adorned with a dragon holding a sword, indicating her affiliation with the National Military Police. She is concerned about Anna’s well-being and tries to support her emotionally.
• Anna – The legendary Hero, chosen to defeat the Demon Lord. Her past life is Sylvia Croce. She is described as a heavenly being with overwhelming skill and a merciless attitude.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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