Nearly twenty days had passed since the field test of the captured golem, yet the Technomagic Kingdom had made no significant moves.
Their relationship with the Holy Staff Kingdom had soured to the point of occasional skirmishes, but even those were minor affairs. Historically, the two nations had never been on particularly good terms; their mutual animosity was simply becoming more transparent. It was a trivial matter, hardly worth my concern.
As a side note, the Technomagic Kingdom had emerged victorious in every one of these small engagements. The Holy Staff Kingdom was bleeding resources for no gain, and the trust of its populace was in a steady decline. At this rate, the nation might very well collapse from within before the Demon King’s Army even needed to intervene.
According to my spies, signs of rebellion were already beginning to stir. The Holy Staff Kingdom stood at a crossroads, facing a major turning point in its history. I intended to watch closely to see which path they would take. For the time being, however, there was no need for my direct interference. I saw no reason to break my policy of watchful waiting.
In contrast, the Technomagic Kingdom remained eerily quiet. My spies were conducting investigations, but the sheer volume of classified information made progress difficult. I knew they were engaged in various research and development projects, but without taking significant risks, it was impossible to glean specifics regarding their weaponry. Consequently, I maintained my policy of prioritizing the safety of my personnel, forbidding them from overextending themselves.
There were no reports of the Technomagic Kingdom planning an invasion of the Demon King’s Domain. Instead, they appeared focused on fortifying their own cities. They were likely bracing themselves for a potential offensive from me.
After consulting with my Executives, we arrived at a similar conclusion. The enemy had little intention of striking first. They were prioritizing their own borders and minimizing unnecessary casualties. It was a sound judgment, and I did not mistake it for cowardice. The nations that had already fallen served as a grim reminder of what reckless provocation would invite.
However, the Technomagic Kingdom was not merely obsessed with defense. Given their history of assisting the Empire and successfully implementing the Magic Cannon, the probability that they were developing anti-Demon King weaponry was high. They undoubtedly had my subjugation in their sights. They were not hiding behind their walls out of idleness; rather, their nature was cunning. They had spent this time measuring our strength without dirtying their own hands.
While they currently focused on covert maneuvers and fortification, they would likely strike with everything they had the moment they felt certain of victory. They demanded far more caution than the Holy Staff Kingdom.
(In some cases, it might be necessary for us to launch a preemptive strike...)
Even if I did not intend to destroy them, I could inflict enough damage to stall their progress. By stagnating the Technomagic Kingdom’s rapid technological advancement, I could eliminate a major source of uncertainty. While it was not a path I wished to take, I kept it in the back of my mind as a viable option. I could not allow a stubborn attachment to principles to cause massive loss of life within the Demon King’s Domain.
I had learned that lesson during my battle with the Saint. Entrusted with the lives of my followers, I was duty-bound to make decisions that honored that weight.
As I pondered the state of these two nations, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the room. I had experienced this often enough to know exactly who it was. Before long, the doors to the Audience Chamber were flung open with great force.
As anticipated, Grom came tumbling into the room.
"Demon King-sama, it is a disaster! A dire emergency, indeed!"
"What happened?"
"T-The Imperial Capital... it has been annihilated, it has!" Grom reported in a booming voice.
Upon hearing this, I reflexively pressed my fingers to my forehead, feeling the onset of a headache.
(The Imperial Capital... annihilated?)
The situation was far more severe than I had imagined. What could have possibly occurred? The Imperial Capital was currently undergoing reconstruction, and no other nation was in a position to attack it. Furthermore, it sat in the heart of the Empire’s territory. Any invading force would have had to fight through vast stretches of land to reach it; a sudden fall was strategically impossible.
Besides, Grom had used the word "annihilated." Even if a foreign army had succeeded in an invasion, that choice of words felt misplaced. As questions flooded my mind, I prompted him to continue.
"...Explain. In detail."
"Ha! As you wish!"
Grom opened his report and began to recount the events in chronological order. The Imperial Capital had vanished this morning. According to our spies, the site had been reduced to a desolate wasteland of rubble.
It was not an invasion by a foreign power. Nor was it the result of a magical experiment gone wrong. The annihilation of the Imperial Capital had apparently been caused by a Great Spirit.
"Great Spirit" was a collective term for the primordial entities that had watched over the world since ancient times. Even on a global scale, they were undoubtedly among the highest-ranking existences. Depending on the culture, they were sometimes even revered as Divine Spirits. There were several known Great Spirits, each governing a different natural phenomenon.
It appeared that one of these pillars had gone on a rampage. Normally, Great Spirits remained in a state of deep slumber. They were not easily roused and generally maintained a stance of absolute indifference and non-interference toward other living things. In recorded history, a Great Spirit appearing was a rare occurrence, the stuff of myths and legends. While they were known to occasionally bestow blessings upon heroes who overcame their trials, such instances were the exception, not the rule. In fact, there had been no record of a Great Spirit manifesting for at least two hundred years.
Despite this, one had supposedly wiped out the Imperial Capital. There had to have been a significant catalyst.
"Has the cause been identified?"
At my question, Grom lowered his eyes to the report in his hands.
"It seems the Empire’s Army removed a Secret Stone from a ruin where a Great Spirit was enshrined, indeed. They must have incurred its wrath by doing so. Honestly, they are a hopeless lot, they are."
Grom sighed with an air of pure exasperation. I shared the sentiment. It appeared the Empire had casually dabbled in the taboo.
A Secret Stone was a crystalline concentration of a Great Spirit’s power. These stones held astronomical amounts of Magic Power and were cherished by the spirits as if they were their own children. The Empire had, of all things, stolen one. This went far beyond simply offending a deity.
A Great Spirit’s Secret Stone was the ultimate catalyst for magic. Perhaps the Empire had intended to use it for some grand ritual to restore their waning power. Regardless of their intent, it was a move of unparalleled foolishness.
The Empire’s territory was vast, and it was no surprise that it contained ruins dedicated to such beings. However, those were domains that were never to be touched. They may have been desperate to rebuild their declining nation, but they had been far too impatient. It was recklessness beyond measure.
Currently, the Great Spirit was wandering through the Imperial Capital Territory. It was reportedly lashing out in fits of rage, laying waste to various regions. There was a very real danger that it would eventually cross the borders into other lands.
"The Empire’s Territorial Army is attempting to subjugate the being, but they are utterly powerless against it, I say."
"Naturally. It exists on an entirely different plane."
There was no way a human army could hope to defeat a Great Spirit. They were entities that surpassed even natural disasters. The very concept of "fighting" one was a fundamental misunderstanding of their nature.
"So... what are your orders?"
"I am going to stop it, of course. We cannot leave it be."
I answered without hesitation. At this rate, the Empire itself would be erased from the map. The destruction brought by a Great Spirit was absolute; it would likely continue its slaughter until its fury was spent.
While the Empire was responsible for its own plight, I could not allow their folly to affect the rest of the world. A Great Spirit’s power would cause untold devastation across every nation it touched. Some might even perish entirely.
If that happened, my own goals would be compromised. The foundation for world peace that I had been painstakingly building would be shattered. I could not allow it to be torn down now.
The world only needs one enemy: the Demon King. I would see to it that any threat beyond my control was swiftly eliminated.