Chapter 789

It was just before 1:00 PM on the afternoon of the eighth day since they began their conquest preparations.

Allen ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????was taking a lunch break in the field at the center of the Sword God's dojo, along with his companions.

Unlike ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Allen, who had already finished his meal, his friends were chatting amiably, eating dessert like Mormo fruits after their meal, seemingly recovering from the fatigue of the morning's training.

In ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????contrast, Mels, who had been waiting beside Allen all this time without moving, finally broke his silence with a heavy tone.

"...Everyone ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????is already waiting. It's about time."

"I ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????know."

Although ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????he responded to Mels's urging, Allen didn't join his companions' conversation, lost in his own thoughts.

*(This is bad. In the end, I couldn't even get a full view of the fortresses on the Forgotten Continent. It's a huge castle, so why can't I find the Demon King's Castle?)*

Over these eight days, in preparation for assaulting the Demon King's Castle, Allen had been gathering information using summoned beasts like Bird E and Fish C, as well as Quattro.

However, the Demon King's Army understood the value of intel regarding the locations of the Demon King's Castle and its fortresses all too well.

Any summoned beasts sent their way were attacked as the highest priority; entry was denied not only from high altitudes but even from underground.

The Forgotten Continent wasn't an overly large landmass; based on his memories from his previous life, it was about the size of Australia.

Its shape was elongated horizontally, with an area of about 8 million square kilometers and a coastline likely exceeding 20,000 kilometers.

He had only managed to survey about 40% of the continent's area, identifying roughly 200 fortress locations.

They were planning to begin the assault the day after tomorrow, yet the location of the Demon King's Castle remained unknown.

Beside Allen, his companions were discussing the results of their morning training.

"Just a little more of these trials. Thank you, Kiel. That's very thoughtful of you."

Kiel refilled Rosalina and Krena's wooden cups with fruit water after they had emptied their drinks.

"By the way, Krena, you've gotten much better at using your secret techniques. Even the Sword God was impressed."

"Thank you, Kiel. But I'm not as good at coordinating with other skills as Dogora is."

"Well, I use two-handed weapons. But that also means I choose wrong and get pummeled by the Axe God."

"It probably depends on your weapon's characteristics. With my spear, I can parry enemy attacks from mid-range. I can make it easier for you to use your skills too, Krena."

"That's right. We are 'companions.' Supporting the vanguard is the role of the rear and middle guards; Formarl will handle that support. Right, Formarl!?"

Sophie emphasized the word "companions" and shot a look at Formarl, seeking agreement.

"Ha! Of course, Lady Sophia Lone!"

"That's right! You can leave support to me too!!"

Luke, showing his enthusiasm, wrapped up the conversation. His companions fell silent for a moment, their gazes turning toward their leader, who was the only one still struggling internally.

"………""………""………"

But their gazes didn't reach him; Allen was lost in a whirlpool of thought.

*(Cecil still hasn't finished his trial of ancient magic in the end. He said he'd train right up to the limit and even sent a letter. No matter how much I try to communicate with Bildiga, he refuses to negotiate at all.)*

While preparing for the assault, there were concerns beyond just gathering intel.

Cecil, training in ancient magic within the Time-Space God's divine realm, had sent a letter to his family via the Time-Space God.

It seemed he intended to train right up to the last moment and asked them to pass his regards to his parents.

When Allen asked the Time-Space God if Cecil could master ancient magic, he didn't get a clear answer, only a "It might be difficult."

He had only informed Cecil of the start time for the battle against the Demon King's Army via the Time-Space God.

He had tried to incorporate Bildiga into the Sacred Beast Stone to make him the summoned beast Insect S, but according to Aura, the archangel under Ruto's command, despite desperate attempts at persuasion, he remained stubbornly silent with a strong will.

This situation was even more hopeless than Cecil's, and it was hard to believe it would improve in the next two days.

*(We're clearly underprepared. Would Kyubel agree to extend the deadline if I negotiated? No, it's obvious that showing we're underprepared would put us at an even greater disadvantage. This has never happened before. Advancing on the Demon King's Castle so underprepared...)*

In his previous life, when he was a completionist gamer, he had never once proceeded to assault the Demon King's Castle in such a half-baked state.

He would level up nearly to the cap against the Demon King and acquire the best equipment and skills.

In those games from his childhood, if you failed to defeat the Demon King, it was game over, or you had to challenge the long dungeon again from the beginning.

Now, he was being asked to fight a real Demon King with a time limit and no save points for retries.

The cost of defeat was his companions, his family back home, the world.

It felt like being forced to play a lost game of shogi without being allowed to resign.

"Lord Allen..."

Sophie spoke to Allen.

*(There are too many unknowns. Should I split our forces? No, that would just weaken each front and play right into the Demon King's Army's hands. But then again, splitting up might be the right answer.)*

"Allen!!""Hey, Allen!!"

This time, Krena and Kiel shouted near Allen's ear, as he was so focused he didn't notice them closing in.

"Huh!? Whoa!! What, what!?"

All his companions had closed the distance, surrounding a flustered Allen.

A bewildered Allen faced Dogora, whose potato-like face was flushed red with anger.

"Enough already! Don't you trust us!?"

"You're being suffocating..."

His mind couldn't keep up, and he blurted out what he was thinking.

"What did you say, you bastard!? We're worried about you!!"

"Guh, Guruji!?"

Angry, Dogora grabbed him in a full nelson, and the two tumbled together like a dumpling, rolling around in the field of the Sword God's dojo.

*(How long has it been since I got covered in dirt like this? It reminds me of Krena Village. Ah, I see. Had I stopped looking at my companions?)*

He remembered his childhood in Krena Village, when he played knights with Krena and got beaten to a pulp, ending up covered in dirt.

Seeing the worried expressions on his companions' faces, he realized his actions had been self-centered.

"Being decisive is one of your good points, isn't it!?"

"...Decisive. No, I've reflected enough already, so let me go."

"That's right! Let's go all out! With everything we've got!! Thanks to you, Allen, I got a secret technique from the Sword God. Let's all defeat the Demon King together!!"

*('Let's go all out,' huh...)*

Spurred on by his companions, the fog clouding his thoughts cleared, and motivation swelled within Allen.

"You're right. We've done what we can. Let's give it our all!! Ooh—!!"

"Ooh—!!"

Allen's companions surrounded him, raising their fists high, cheering and getting pumped up.Only one summoned beast watched with a cool gaze, urging them to the next action.

*'Hey, Allen. Aren't we having a meeting to execute the strategy?'*

"That's right. Ah, is it that time already!! Mels, why didn't you tell me!?"

*'I told you many times.'*

Flustered, Allen checked the time on his clock magic tool; it was 1:18 PM.He had informed everyone to gather for a WEB meeting to start at 1:00 PM, just like last time.

"Okay, um, Kiel, Sophie, Luke, Ignomas, please join the meeting. The rest of you, afternoon special training! The training lasts until tomorrow noon!"

*(Please focus.)*

"You're the one who was spaced out, Allen..."

As Dogora looked on exasperated, Allen teleported to the meeting room on Heavy User Island with the specified companions.

"Sorry for being late. Thank you for waiting."

"Ooh, you're here. You were having some intense training, huh."

Allen was covered in dirt, thanks to Dogora.

"Hey, Allen. They were about to make me the commander. Is the strategy finalized?"

Admiral Garara and Hermios welcomed him without blame, as if they never doubted he would come.The generals and vice-generals of Allen's army leaned forward in their seats, eager to hear the strategy.

"Hmph, you finally arrived. Making the Emperor wait. Do something about that face."

Following the same WEB meeting format as last time, the leader of the Continental Alliance and the same attendees participated using magic tools provided by Captain Larappa.

"Yes, my apologies for keeping His Majesty the Emperor waiting. Thank you all for your patience."

Allen apologized for his lateness while using a wet towel provided by his subordinates to wipe off the dirt.

"It's quite alright. Seeing your expression has put me at ease."

The Elven Queen, reassured by seeing the uncertainty wiped away along with the mud, covered for Allen's tardiness.

"First, thank you for your cooperation over these eight days in preparing for the assault on the Demon King's Army."

"Our empire has spent a great deal from the national treasury. We truly wish for a certain victory."

The Emperor of the Baukis Empire lamented that the imperial coffers were emptied from providing dry docks, personnel, and materials for modifying the strategic ships, more than any other nation.

"Then, let me immediately present the strategy for battling the Demon King's Army. Is that acceptable?"

While Allen was late, the Emperor of Giamut had tried to change the supreme commander to the Hero Hermios. Allen sought everyone's agreement, including his own, on proceeding.

"Of course."

The Emperor of Giamut crossed his arms over his chest and said no more.Behind him, officials could be seen through the magic tool screen, frantically taking notes to avoid missing any of Allen's words.

"Before the strategy, I must request the temporary acceptance of citizens under my care. King Inbuel, Cardinal Crimpton, could I ask your nations to temporarily host ten thousand personnel from Heavy User Island each?"

"Of course. Defeating the Demon King is the top priority."

"Hm? V-very well. Temporarily. But why our nation?"

"King Inbuel, I believe the academy city has considerable space available starting tomorrow for its opening, so I ask that you host them there."

"I see. Explain the details to me later."

Given the immense burden this operation placed on the major nations, the King implied that much was expected.

"Then, I would like to explain the military deployments I request from each nation, as well as the deployments and operational plans for the Allen Army, the Hero's Army, and Admiral Garara's Golem Army. First, here is the map of the Forgotten Continent, where the Demon King's Castle is located. The screen in the meeting room will switch; please look there and participate in the discussion."

"I see. The strategy is one thing, but let me hear the procedure for the attack preparation."

As the Emperor of the empire, he had duties to perform before the battle's commencement and questioned Allen during his explanation.

"Understood. To synchronize all nations, we will begin the operation precisely at noon, '12:00'. Considering the placement of fortresses on our side and the Demon King's Army's side..."

The screen behind Allen changed with a flash, now displaying a map marked with all the strongholds, including fortresses, that Allen had managed to scout.

Through the WEB meeting, the representatives of each participating nation saw their screens switch to the same map.

"It's finally time."

Zenoff, whose fortress was annihilated by the Demon King's Army, felt his fighting spirit rise for the upcoming battle, thinking the time had finally come.Allen's strategy meeting for the subjugation of the Demon King's Army continued until dusk that day.

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