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Kaito watched the battlefield where countless people fell every second without the slightest trace of pity in his eyes.
Back when he first gained power, he used to feel uncomfortable whenever he saw someone die.
But after experiencing one massive battle after another, he had long since grown used to scenes like this.
More importantly... none of the people dying were his people, so why should he care?
And even if they were his people, he could just revive them anyway.
"Gobuta, order the troops to advance. The Imperial side can surrender and be spared. As for the others... I don't like them."
Gobuta nodded, then turned toward Gobuzo, the vice commander of the Imperial Guard Legion.
"Gobuzo, you can give the order now."
"Got it."
"Everyone, attack!!!"
The moment the command was issued, the Imperial Guard Legion burst forward with deafening howls like ferocious beasts finally unleashed from their cages.
As for formations?
Forget formations.
At this point, it was pure first come, first served.
If anyone actually bothered following formation lines, they probably wouldn't even get scraps by the end.
"Awoooo!!! Finally, we get to fight!!!"
A Storm Fang Wolf howled excitedly as it sprinted ahead.
"Charge! They're all mine!!!"
One of the soldiers at the very front shouted with a crazed grin, tongue hanging out.
"Outta my way!!!"
He kicked the comrade in front of him aside and roared madly:
"Wahahaha!!! First place is mine! My lovely little prey, wait for grandpa's tender care!!!"
The soldier who got kicked away still crawled forward frantically on all fours.
Even with footprints all over his body from getting trampled by his own allies, his determination to steal kills remained completely undiminished.
Battlefield
Both the Imperial Army and the allied races stared blankly at the bizarre creatures charging toward them.
They looked neither human nor monster, all of them wearing deranged expressions as they rushed forward screaming.
At this moment, not only the enemy forces, but even Kaito and Rimuru were dumbfounded.
"Kai-chan, th-this... this is still the Imperial Guard Legion, right? Where the hell did this zombie army come from?! Are those unblemished giants or something?!"
Rimuru pointed at the charging troops as she spoke in disbelief.
"I... I think so? Did some outer realm demon curse them right in front of me or something?!"
Even Kaito sounded uncertain.
"This is completely your fault, Kaito-sama."
Gobta looked at Kaito speechlessly after seeing him shamelessly trying to dodge responsibility again.
"What nonsense. How is this my fault? Did I tell them not to attack? This was a necessary wartime measure!!!"
"They're the Imperial Guard Legion. If they leave, who's supposed to protect fragile little me and Rimuru?"
Hearing such shameless nonsense, even Grayfia ended up giving him a look that clearly said 'Do you even have any shame left?'
'Fragile?'
'Yeah right.'
'Your statue is more fragile than you are.'
'No, wait, that wasn't true either.'
Rigurd specifically had Kaijin forge that statue, and the thing was ridiculously sturdy. People stole it all the time, but nobody had ever managed to destroy it.
And as for that so-called "wartime necessity"...
What a joke.
When Kaito and Rimuru-sama were fighting demons before, why didn't he call the Imperial Guard Legion over to "protect" them then?
Feeling everyone's strange stares, Kaito coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem... even if I was wrong, setting aside the facts, aren't you guys also partly responsible?"
"Kai-chan... are you secretly some kind of idiot species?"
Rimuru couldn't help blurting out the question.
"I... I just let them vent a little, okay? Look at them. Every single one of them looks happy."
Kaito awkwardly pointed at the grotesque army in the distance.
"Hahaha!!! Interesting! This is way too interesting! Let me join in too!!!"
Esdeath had also noticed the bizarre troops.
She could clearly sense the terrifying strength hidden within every single one of them.
As for Numa Seika standing nearby...
She completely ignored him.
"So someone else came to interfere. Looks like our duel will have to wait until next time."
Numa Seika stared grimly at the enemies charging toward him.
"I'm only playing with my toy right now. A duel? You think you're worthy?"
After exchanging only a few words, Esdeath had already figured out roughly how strong he was.
He wasn't weak.
But compared to her, he was still far too lacking.
"Wahahaha!!! An enemy! A living enemy!!! Take this slash from your grandpa!!!"
An Imperial Guard Legion soldier finally reached Numa Seika, tears of excitement streaming from the corners of his eyes.
"THUMP!!!"
Numa Seika hurriedly raised his lance to block the incoming greatsword.
But the instant the blades collided, an overwhelming force crashed down on him from above.
His knees slammed into the ground with a heavy thud.
"What monstrous strength...?!"
"Hmph, you actually blocked it? Then take another slash from me!!!"
The soldier poured magic power into his greatsword and swung down once more.
Crack!!!
Numa Seika could only watch helplessly as his lance was sliced cleanly in half.
The greatsword instantly descended before his eyes.
Thud.
A body split cleanly into two collapsed onto the ground as fresh blood sprayed everywhere.
"W-What?! His Royal Highness actually..."
"Impossible!!! His Royal Highness is invincible! How could he die?!"
"I don't believe it! I don't believe it!!!"
The soldiers of the allied races cried out in disbelief after witnessing Numa Seika get cut in half with a single strike.
As news of the Hero of the North's death spread across the battlefield, morale among the allied forces plummeted instantly.
The Imperial Army immediately seized the opportunity and launched an all-out assault.
Finally...
"I don't want to die! I wanna go home!!!"
"His Royal Highness is dead! We can't win! We can't win!!! Run!!!"
The hundreds of thousands of allied troops finally collapsed into total chaos as the Imperial Army began mercilessly hunting them down.
Seeing this, the Imperial Guard Legion became unhappy instead.
What the hell?
They hadn't even had enough fun yet, and the battle was already ending?
No.
Not a single one of them was getting away.
With that thought, thousands of Imperial Guard Legion soldiers instantly flew toward the edges of the battlefield, surrounding the fleeing army from every direction.
"[Magic Wall Barrier], rise!!!"
A pale blue barrier immediately enveloped the entire battlefield.
"Hehe... let the slaughter begin. Today, either you die, or we live!!!"
"Jie jie jie jie jie!!!"
"Wahahaha!!!"
The moment the barrier appeared, every soldier of the Imperial Guard Legion had their eyes turn blood red.
At the same time, disturbing "jie jie jie" laughter began echoing nonstop across the battlefield.
"...Good lord. With laughter like that, even the old monsters from the Soul Palace would lose to them."
Kaito covered his forehead, completely speechless.
"Hahaha!!! You're their leader, aren't you?! Fight me!!! If you beat me, then I'll belong to you!!!"
Esdeath suddenly leapt in front of Kaito and Rimuru, staring directly at Kaito with madness-filled eyes.
Hearing that, Kaito's smile slowly widened.
Still, he deliberately put on an embarrassed expression.
"Oh my, wouldn't that be a little improper? Saying things like 'belong to you'... how could I possibly..."