CH 112

All over the Hercules Star System, the explosions of fighter crafts of both sides were in full bloom.

Flashes of mass wave aggregation bombardment flew in all directions, piercing all sorts of man-made objects one after another.

As for the magic element engines of the ships, the Monarchy side was forced to be inferior.

This is because the Daemon Emperor consumed more energy than was available in the star system, and suddenly increased the pressure of the realm interference. As a result, the Alliance’s magic engine increased its power output, and dampened that of the Monarchy side diminished, and the strength rating of both armies was expanded to about three times the original level.

Lulu’s assessment, however, was extremely calm.

『Granma is now running at the speed of a short-distance runner, but not for too long. Lulu, on the other hand, has not increased her consumption of the crystal, so I will still keep at it. But why run like that?』

Lulu’s question pointed out that the Daemon Emperor could not reverse the inferiority even with all its strength.

The Royal Army has deployed 164.13 million Surtr and 180 million Israfel. Their strength ratings are 0.5 and 0.4, which is 10 to 12.5 times higher than the 0.04 of a single fighter craft of the Tenka Hercules Alliance.

On the other hand, the opposing Alliance side has deployed more than 1 billion Tenka fighter crafts.

In order to defeat 1 billion crafts with the Monarchy’s strength rating now reduced to one-third, 240 million Surtr or 300 million Israfel crafts are required.

Considering the sacrifices of both large fighter crafts is about half, 120 million Surtr crafts and 150 million Israfel crafts can defeat 1 billion Tenka crafts.

The force Hart has invested is sufficient to defeat a billion crafts.

In addition, even if its strength is insufficient, the Monarchy can use the Transition Gate to deploy the remaining 10 million Israfel and Salamander forces to protect each star system.

On the Alliance side, some warships are rated to have the strength of millions of Israfel crafts, but compared to the number of fighter crafts deployed by both sides, it is within the margin of error. The damage inflicted on the Royal Army is enormous, but defeat is not imminent.

『Lulu, how much energy will be left in the crystal?』

『Originally, about 40% remained, but after the battle it will be about 20%. With this, Papa can also invade the Ten-to Star System.』

Lulu responds to the Daemon Emperor’s interference with a policy of calmly parrying.

In other words, she gave up on the power output anomaly that occurs in the magic element engines of the Monarchy warships and planned to save the spirit crystal of the Spirit God in exchange for the sacrifice of the Royal Army.

『I see. Understood.』

Hart couldn’t help but agree with Lulu’s forward-looking judgment.

The Royal Army’s fighter crafts can be replenished, but the energy contained in the spirit crystal of the Spirit God cannot be replenished. As long as a Daemon King and realm was still there in the Ten-to Star System, he could not use up all the energy in order to reduce immediate casualties.

Prepared for the damage that would occur to the fighter crafts, Hart issued an order to Bertrand, the General Chief of Staff.

“Have all warships, except the fighter crafts, create forward bases behind the Transition Gates. The front line is in a state of turmoil, the long-range cannons of larger ships cannot fire, and if they adhere to this, they will merely be targets.”

The whole area from the outer edge of the system to the inner space is in a state of melee. There, fighter crafts in the middle of an engagement swept in like a tsunami, destroying warships that got caught in the middle.

One destroyer has a strength rating equal to two large fighter craft Surtr.

In terms of crew size, 150 people for one destroyer and two people for two fighter crafts are even.

The 150 crew members of the destroyer are professional military personnel who have graduated from the Military Academy and military vocational schools, and can perform various missions such as searching for enemies and scouting for star systems outside the star system without going through the Transition Gate.

The two crew members of the fighter craft Surtr are former Frodi Republic volunteers who were recruited a few months ago. They can only be fitted with spirit crystals and become the energy source for the magic element engine.

Considering the 75-fold loss of human resource, it is far better to lose two fighter crafts. And even if the numbers were the same, the crew of the destroyer would be a greater loss to the military.

Hart forced the military and aristocratic fleet to withdraw from the front-line melee sector to spare the losses of the warships. Bertrand, who is in the position of Chief of Staff, also accepts it as a natural decision. Bertrand was more concerned about political matters.

“Your Excellency Fleet Admiral, those orders will result in our troops and the conscripted aristocrats fleeing to safer sectors and only the volunteers will advance, are you sure?”

“We still have a capture of the Ten-to Star System. Only those with high magic power value can bring in large facilities. We can’t throw our precious warships, of which there are only a few tens of thousands, into the crushing battle with billions of fighter crafts. As Commander-in-Chief, I give the order. Have them all retreat.”

The army and aristocracy exist to protect the nation and the people of the Monarchy.

The balance between the state and the people is important, and since the people cannot be protected without sustaining the state, the entire army cannot die in battle to protect a single citizen.

In this case, in order to maintain sustainability, Hart chose to retain the Monarchy’s warships.

Having preserved the fleet, Hart then sent communications to two requisitioned aristocrats. The first to connect was Second Prince Josslan, who had reached the criteria for the Order of Merit.

“This is Fleet Admiral Amakawa, the Commander-in-Chief. Brigadier General Josslan Strani Asteria, the communication is not good, can you hear me?”

[I hear you, Your Excellency Fleet Admiral.]

Josslan, who was projected on the sub-screen of the Fortress Kerviel Command Center, recognized Hart’s appearance and stood up to salute along with Lysine. Hart, who responded, gave a brief statement in consideration of the communication status.

“The Lord and Wartime Brigadier General Takrham will receive promotions and new military medals after the battle. It would be a problem if the Lord got caught up in the melee and killed in action. As commander-in-chief, I order you to step back behind the transition gate. But leave the Duke’s fighter crafts on the frontlines except for the Lord’s escort. If you pull them all out, there will be repercussions later.”

[Yes, sir.]

After being told of their promotion and military medals, Josslan and his men saluted with big smiles on their faces and then began to retreat.

After Josslan, Harte connected with Bernard.

Although Bernard made solid contributions as an Acting Duke, he did not meet the personal requirements to earn the Order of Merit.

However, the two armies were in a melee state with fighter crafts, and there was no way they could fire fortress guns into the melee sector, so Hart decided that this was the right time.

“In view of the above, I, the Commander-in-Chief, have ordered all warships to evacuate the sector. The Lord’s work of supporting the entire army was splendid, and if possible, I would like to prepare an opportunity for you to obtain a Medal of Honour, but the situation is in a state of turmoil. There is no guarantee you won’t fire on our allies at this point. Retreat and help build a forward base in the rear.”

[Certainly.]

After receiving the order to withdraw, Bernard exhaled lightly and bowed.

The reason why Hart spoke directly to the two princes was because he was the coordinator who gave them the opportunity to play an active role. And Hart recognized that he had given them both an opportunity.

Perhaps Bernard received too much tutelage from the former Sovereign, Valfrete. During his era as the Third Prince, the previous Sovereign, Valfrete, sought to support the entire Monarchy by avoiding a struggle for the throne with his brothers.

However, the actions of the previous Sovereign, Valfrete, were not wrong, as evidenced by the first Duke of Coesfeld, who dedicated his life to the advancement of the Monarchy’s interstellar expansion.

With this recognition, Hart respected Bernard’s character and actions.

Although he did not address the other aristocrats directly, they retreated into rear space in accordance with the orders Hart had issued to the General Command.

Eventually, the warships retreated, and Hart was relieved to have limited the damage to the fleet.

The Alliance fighter crafts are inflicting tremendous damage, but enemy ships are dropping as well, so the damage could only be discounted. Of course, Hart also tried to defuse the situation like in the Battle of Apollo.

『Can we throw in a strategic satellite into the the Daemon Emperor’s Daemon World to attack directly? In the Battle of the Apollo Star System, Mira did that against the Daemon King.』

『Lulu has her hands full just holding back Grandma. The fact that they have seized the star system first makes the difference here.』

『Dear Father, I can do it. Can I have all the strategic satellites?』

『Then Maya will do it. Will you have the 30 strategic satellites prepared, or all 42, including defense satellites?』

『42 units.』

Hart hesitated for a moment, but quickly decided that he should not spare them.

『Okay, use them all.』

At the moment Hart made the request, an intangible magic energy was released from Fortress Kerviel towards the surrounding space.

It was transmitted to the spirits attached to the pilots of the Royal Army’s fighter crafts and reached the strategic satellites on standby, causing a distinct change across the battlefield.

The three strategic satellites began to move at the same time, and the Royal Army’s fighter crafts began to make their way through the bombardment.

“Three strategic satellites have started moving.”

At the same time as the report, Bertrand seemed to be asking Hart for an explanation.

When a spirit does something, Hart gives a more accurate answer than anyone else.

Hart doesn’t have much trust about the protection of military secrets and generally doesn’t like to share information, but this time he explained exactly what he was doing to get the strategic satellite replenished.

“I requested a recreation of the Apollo Star System Battle. Send a warship contracted with intermediate spirits to the Apollo System and tell the Spirit Emperor there to immediately deliver all 27 strategic satellites on standby and the 12 defensive satellites we had prepared just in case.”

“Huh, all 39 units!?”

When Bertrand asked again, Hart ordered in a strong tone, with the intention of not wasting time.

“Yes, all of them are to be deployed. Send out the messenger ship now.”

“Copy that. Two high-speed cruisers contracted with intermediate spirits, send a messenger to the Apollo Star System. Use all strategic satellites. Tell them via the Intermediate Spirit that Fleet Admiral Amakawa requested the Spirit Emperor to send all 39 units.”

Shortly after the cruiser with orders that only Hart could issue disappeared, strategic satellites were thrown one after another from the transition gate maintained by Lulu.

They changed course into the Hercules Star System and began to move towards the center under the law of inertia.

When advancing in space, there is no need to maintain power output once the vehicle has started moving.

Maya used small amounts of the Spirit God’s Spirit Crystal power to correct the trajectory by injecting magic into the magic engine while flying the strategic satellites into the empty space between the star Hercules and the planet Alcaeus.

Hart wondered whether they would be sent to the Transition Gate that connects to Ten-to. However, he doesn’t say anything and watches the movements of the strategic satellites controlled by Maya.

Bertrand and the rest of the staff did not interfere with what Hart had them do, and only allowed them to continue observing while projecting the movements of the strategic satellites on the main screen.

Eventually, the three strategic satellites approached an empty space in the middle of the battle sector. Then, the three units diverged widely in three directions, and then changed course to collide with each other.

“Three strategic satellites are on a collision course.”

Bertrand calmly reports the facts and urges Hart to make a decision.

Of course, Hart didn’t say a word and watched Maya’s movements.

As the Royal Army watches on, just before the three strategic satellites were about to collide …… they struck something and exploded.

Then, a giant white planet-sized sphere emerged in the void.

“What’s that!?”

Someone in the command center, who was watching the image projected on the screen, involuntarily muttered out loud, and the white sphere gradually began to transform into a faded planet.

The unknown planet that suddenly appeared was a rough and rugged land with a very uneven surface, as if meteorites had continuously collided with it without an atmosphere.

Around it, blue lights were dancing around it like spirits.

In the midst of these dancing lights, a nun with a scepter emerged.

But there was no way a human being could be floating in space.

As the officers of the General Headquarters gasped, the following strategic satellites controlled by Maya attacked the unknown planets one after another.

Hart, who was connected to Maya, intuitively sensed that the attack was not physical. Maya was drawing energy from the spirit crystal of the Spirit God that Lulu holds and pouring it into the strategic satellite only at the moment of collision.

She is probably pouring as much as she can into strategic satellites. As many as 42 strategic satellites will be deployed, 14 times more than against the Daemon King, who perished with three.

Maya was mercilessly and thoroughly pounding the strategic satellites.

Then the white planet began to show significant changes. A black liquid was generated in the parts that were gouged out by the collision, eroding the white planet’s surface black.

“There is something like black stains on the surface of the white planet that just appeared!?”

Bertrand’s gaze, as he reported, was not on the surface, but on the white nun.

The nun’s white robe began to turn gray, and her face began to contort and suffer. At the same time, the output anomaly of the magic element engine that had occurred on the Monarchy side was reduced, and the communication status began to recover.

Suffering from an attack… Hart knew that it was not such a simple story, because spirits have attributes according to their color.

Green for Mira, white for Lulu, and black for Maya.

To forcefully change the attributes of each of them would be tantamount to having their existence destroyed. As Hart imagined this, the Daemon Emperor’s entire body turned from white to black.

The Daemon Emperor, who was in agony, looked up and erased her expression of anguish into a noh mask, then narrowed her eyes and smiled at Maya through the screen.

Hart takes a step back, and Lulu stands in front of Maya. Maya then threw in a new strategic satellite, regardless of the Daemon Emperor’s movements.

In the next moment, the Daemon Emperor raised her scepter and punched a hole in the dimension, taking a direct hit from the strategic satellite with her body.

Hart couldn’t keep up with the changing situation, and he couldn’t help but stiffened his body and widened his eyes.

The Spirit Emperor Lulu used the spirit crystal of the Spirit God to firmly defend Fortress Kerviel.

Maya, the Spirit Emperor, slammed into all the remaining strategic satellites, smashing the Daemon Emperor’s entire body.

The Daemon Emperor then swallowed the Hercules Star System into the dimensional hole she generated.