The Place Where He Was Reincarnated Was Hell - The 300-Year-Old Frontier Defense Line of the Margrave Family - Episode 40

As the sun began to sink into the western sky, the massive walls of Middle Line Fort began to cast long shadows.

 

 

The entire fortress had been on high alert since news of the Gorewalker’s appearance had arrived, but the hustle and bustle of soldiers finishing their day’s training and work mixed with the smell of dinner preparations; for better or worse, the Vanguard soldiers were accustomed to this time of day.

 

 

Amidst this, a loud, magically amplified voice suddenly rang out from the watchtower at the southern fortress gate.

 

 

“—Lord Raven and Lord Julius, you have returned safely!!! I repeat!! You have returned safely!!!!!!”

 

 

The news spread throughout the fort in an instant, and a murmur of relief spread among the soldiers near the gate. When the gate slowly opened with a heavy rumble, two figures appeared with the setting sun at their backs.

 

 

Walking in the lead, his jet black hair fluttering slightly in the evening breeze, was Raven von Vanguard, not attempt to hide the great magical power that resided within him.

 

His outfit was dirty in places with dust kicked up during the fierce battle, and a small amount of mucus that had stuck to it when he sliced ​​open the mutants, and it was worn in places that spoke of the fierceness of the battle, but there was not the slightest sign of fatigue in his steps; rather, he exuded an overwhelming presence that left those around him speechless.

 

And with Raven’s shoulders supported, there was another person, barely able to stand on his own two feet – Julius von Muriel, a genius magician dispatched from the kingdom.

 

His face was pale enough to show an extraordinary level of fatigue.

 

That was no surprise, as Raven, judging that time was of the essence on the return journey as well, increased his speed even more than on the outbound journey and literally “blew” them to Middle Line Fort.

 

Being exposed to wind storms exceeding 100 kilometers per hour on bare flesh in an unstable position with no support in the air is an ordeal that would be difficult for an ordinary person to maintain sanity.

 

On top of that, he was subjected to a horrible mental contamination, encountered grotesque monsters, and witnessed a ferocious struggle for life right before his eyes.

 

It was such a brutal experience that any average person would have been turned into a pillar of salt from the shock.

 

However, he was a genius, and there was no doubt that he was a strong-willed person. Despite the situation, where he couldn’t concentrate, he had prepared numerous notes containing the valuable information he had obtained from this investigation, as well as a report that he was planning to give to Darius, which he clutched tightly in his trembling hands.

 

 

The Vanguard Knights, who were in charge of the fortress gate, welcomed the two with the highest salutes.

 

Darius, Loyce, and the Lynel had heard the report and, still not fully armoured, had rushed over to the fortress gate themselves.

 

What they saw was a Julius who looked completely exhausted compared to how he had been a few hours earlier — his state of exhaustion spoke volumes about just how harsh his journey through the air as a “human kite” had been, but of course, no one here knew that except for Julius himself.

 

Beside him, Raven stood, still sporting a sharp, wary look on his face.

 

 

“Rayvan, Julius-sama, I’m glad you returned! I’m glad you found them safe… that’s what I’d like to say, but… judging by the state of Julius-sama, something isn’t right…”

 

 

Darius called out, frowning at Julius’ extraordinary state of exhaustion.

 

Julius accepted the small vial of healing potion with trembling hands, but resolutely refused Darius and the others’ suggestion that he take a short rest.

 

“No… Margrave Darius. I appreciate your concern. However, I will be returning to the royal capital as is. I must report the threat I saw with my own eyes, and…the slight signs of hope I have seen, to the Royal Capital’s Magical Research Bureau as soon as possible. I foolishly believe that any delay in this could determine the fate of the entire kingdom, no, the entire human race.”

 

 

Those words, even though he was exhausted, were filled with his sense of mission as the kingdom’s most intelligent magician, and above all, his intense sense of crisis at Eclipse that he had witnessed with his own eyes, and his unwavering determination to overcome it.

 

 

Gustave von Craig, the commander-in-chief of the royal army, who had rushed to the scene, also nodded vigorously, expressing his deep respect for Julius’s extraordinary resolve.

 

“Lord Julius… your reaction…!! I never thought I would be convinced! Countermeasures against mental contamination!? Amazing!! Your wisdom is truly an invaluable asset to the Kingdom of Adriana!! What greater contribution could you make?!! For the sake of my honor, I will do my utmost to accommodate your return to the royal capital!!”

 

Gustave immediately ordered his adjutant to prepare a specially constructed magical carriage to transport Julius to the royal capital at top speed, as well as to arrange for a thorough escort force. His efficient handling of the situation showed that he was not just a high-ranking soldier but a truly skilled commander.

 

 

Darius agreed with Julius’s quick judgment and slapped him firmly on the shoulder.

 

“Julius, please be safe on your journey. And all of us at Vanguard sincerely hope for the success of your research in the royal capital. We, too, are counting on the light you will bring us, and we will do our utmost to defend this place, even at the cost of our own lives.”

 

Those words were filled with trust in those who would fight alongside him and a heartfelt hope for the future. Julius bowed deeply in response to Darius’ powerful words.

 

“Thank you very much. Until the magical carriage is ready, I will be checking the final documents for the report and getting ready in my room that was assigned to me.”

 

Saying this, he left the place for a while, guided by the knight who was his escort.

 

 

◆

 

 

While Julius hurried to prepare for an emergency return to the royal capital, the highest-ranking officials of the Vanguard Knights and the various leaders dispatched by the kingdom once again gathered in the operations room located at the very heart of Middle Line Fort’s command building.

 

Outside the window, dusk was already falling, and the light of the magic lanterns lit inside the room highlighted the stern expressions of the people gathered there. An indescribable sense of tension hung in the air as they faced an unknown threat, something that could be inferred from the fragments of information that Raven and Julius had brought back earlier.

 

Sitting around the round table were Margrave Darius, his eldest son, Raven, Knight Commander Royce, Vice Commander Rainel, Fourth Division Commander Georg, Third Division Commander Wilhelm, and Fifth Division Commander Elias. On the Kingdom side, there were several others, including the commander-in-chief of the Royal Army, Gustave.

 

As for Gastave, the human expression he had shown in his earlier exchange with Julius had disappeared, and he once again took his seat with the look of a seasoned commander.

 

And Victor, in light of his exceptional fighting abilities and his overwhelming achievements on the front lines, had also been added as an official member of the strategy council by Darius’s decision.

 

There is a more serious light in his eyes, as the report his brother Raven will bring will likely determine the future of Middle Line Fort.

 

 

In the center of the room, the prototype that Julius had brought from the royal capital was set up, emitting a faint light. The records of the battle near the Frontline Fortress that Raven and Julius had risked their lives to bring back, fragmented visual information from the records, was now being projected into the space. memory traceRelicprojectorprojector

 

 

“Well then, Raven. Please explain the details of this encounter based on both Julius’ report and your own. In particular, please tell me about the ‘abnormal individual with red eyes’ mentioned in Julius’ report.”

 

Darius announced the start of the meeting in a serious and hushed tone.

 

Raven quietly nodded, stood up, and the afterimage of Eclipse projected by “–memory traceRelicprojectorprojector

 

It must have belonged to those mutants,” he said, glancing back and forth at the military map spread out on the table as he began his report in a fluent tone.

 

「Yes, father. First of all, they suddenly appeared while observing Julius-sama’s farsightedness magic, six in total. The way they appeared was extremely special. In the past, there was an Eclipse that disguised itself as a soldier, and these creatures possess similar abilities. Abnormal mutation mutant

 

“It blends into the scenery, so you could call it invisibility, but it’s a similar ability. Even though it was within my search range, I couldn’t detect any magic power within a 300m radius. There’s no doubt that it has a high level of magical concealment ability.”

 

Hearing these words, Georg, Wilhelm, and other unit commanders with plenty of combat experience showed new looks of caution. It was proof that Eclipse’s abilities were evolving at a speed beyond their imagination.

 

 

“Those six mutants did not act alone, but rather launched a coordinated attack. While I was taking out one, the rest of them aimed for blind spots or launched wave attacks with time lags. I have no choice but to conclude that they possess highly advanced tactical thinking.”

 

 

Raven continues calmly, but what he says weighs heavily on those listening.

 

“However, the power of those six was weaker than what we had up until now. Abnormal mutationmutantAbnormal mutationmutant

 

If that’s the case, then I think a Vanguard Knights vice captain of that calibre could annihilate them. However, the problem with this case is what happens after that.”

 

 

The tone of Raven’s voice dropped slightly. The image projected by ” ” changed, and a fragmented image of the cut-off Eclipses fusing and transforming into one gigantic monster was displayed. And a huge, bl00d-red single eye blazed brightly on its forehead.

 

“The remains of six mutants that were supposed to have been defeated have fused and transformed into this ‘abnormal individual with red eyes.’ Its magical concentration, physical ability, and above all, its movements during combat are enhanced to a degree that is incomparable to that of the mutants before it split, making it distinct from other Eclipses.”

 

 

Raven narrowed his eyes slightly as he recalled the battle that had just taken place.

 

 

“What’s particularly noteworthy is his ability to mimic combat techniques. He studied the magical slashes I used, my body movements, and even the trajectory of my sword with astonishing speed during the fight, and reproduced them as his own. Although his mimicry was imperfect at first, it rapidly improved in accuracy over a few minutes of combat, and eventually he even showed signs of predicting my movements.”

 

Raven pauses, then continues with a look of regret on his face.

 

“Though I managed to crush its torso and lower body, its head flew into the air as if mocking me, and then split into the original six bodies. It immediately attempted to flee. I pursued it with wide-area annihilation magic, annihilating five of them… but the remaining one evaded my attack with a movement that seemed to have predicted it perfectly, disappearing as if it had blended into the scenery, letting me get away. Considering Julius-sama’s safety, I did not pursue it too far, but… it was careless of me to let a learning individual escape into the wild.”Abnormal mutation mutant

 

 

Upon hearing Raven’s report, the conference room fell silent as if a stone had been dropped into the water. A heavy silence fell upon everyone.

 

Victor and others were in a state of internal panic.

 

“–Huh? No, wait, wait, wait!! Don’t mess with me, copying Raven!!”

 

“There’s no imitation of physical abilities? …No, even if there is, it doesn’t matter. Being outnumbered and having abilities? Starting to have intelligence and using techniques…that’s a violation of the regulations!! …Only in fantasy worlds can monsters truly become monstrous…Damn it!! Isn’t that exactly what happens here!! Eh, seriously, what should I do…”

 

 

The emergence of this intelligent individual foreshadowed the beginning of an unknown terror never experienced in the history of the battles with Eclipse.

 

Finally, Darius slowly raised his head and muttered in a dry voice, as if he had just heard something he couldn’t believe.

 

“…Rayvan, what does that mean? Are you saying that that monster… studied our fighting techniques and imitated them…?”

 

His fingertips were trembling slightly as he unconsciously traced the map on the table.

 

 

“If that’s the case… then what? Are you saying that the reason why the Eclipse invasion has stopped for over a month is because of this? Are you saying that the Abyss has moved to a new stage in such a short time, endowing the Eclipse… those beasts that were supposed to be like beasts, with clear “intelligence” and a “learning ability” as if to mock us…? …Don’t mess with me… this is no joke…”

 

Darius’s voice was calm, but at the end of his sentence, he was deeply confused at the idea of ​​the common sense of the past 300 years of fighting being completely overturned, and he was begging to beg him to tell him it wasn’t so. If that was true, then there was a possibility that all the tactics and experience that Vanguard had built up until now would all be for naught.

 

 

“It is the worst enemy imaginable… The ability to imitate technology during battle and then apply it would be impossible without extremely advanced information processing, recognition, and learning capabilities. If this ‘red-eyed individual’ possesses this level of intelligence, we may have to completely rethink our understanding of the very existence of Eclipse.”

 

One of the magical technical officers dispatched from the royal capital added, unable to hide his fear.

 

Commander-in-Chief Gustave checked with Raven again about the report.

 

“Reports say that the red-eyed entity was leading the splinter group of mutants and acting like a skilled commander. Is that so, Lord Raven?”

 

 

“Yes, I feel that way.”

 

 

“And the behavior of the Gorewalkers in tight formation that you observed from afar, Lord Julius… If that red-eyed individual is at the center of the entire Gorewalker swarm, or even an even larger Eclipse group, and is in command of them, then this should be seen as the emergence of an extremely dangerous Eclipse, something we have not previously anticipated, a ‘Commander class’ or even more dangerous.”

 

 

Those words carried more than enough weight to overturn the previous perception of Eclipse as a beast that acted on instinct.

 

 

Commander Royce of the Knights spoke quietly, but with steely determination in his eyes.

 

 

“…In that case, we must give this new threat a clear name. Not just for the sake of identification. Every time we call out that name, it will remind us of the terribleness of what we are about to confront, and serve as a reminder to brace ourselves. And at the same time, defeating the enemy that bears that name will be the touchstone and the source of hope for us to turn around this hopeless situation and seize the future .”PreceptsImashiSignpostGuidepost

 

 

–I remember those hideous, bl00d-red eyes that seem to see through everything and peer into the depths of my soul.

 

This was not just one of the Eclipses, but something more fundamental, as if it embodied irresistible despair itself.

 

 

Raven answered quietly but with a firm voice.

 

 

“-Those red eyes… were like a new King of Despair that emerged from the abyss and would rule over all Eclipses. That appearance, that power, and above all, the immeasurable malice that those eyes must be staring at… That is why I would like to propose that those individuals become the “Symbol of Despair” that we must defeat – the “Crimson Eye.”

 

Hearing those words, Darius slowly looked around at the faces of everyone gathered in the conference room, then made a solemn declaration.

 

 

“– [Crimson Eye]. We will call this instance that. And notify all forces that it is the top priority for elimination. Share this information immediately with the royal capital and other frontline bases, and raise the alert level to the maximum. As of today, we will launch an anti-Crimson Eye tactical research team to gather all information and consider countermeasures. And above all, keep a close eye on the development of countermeasure technology against mental contamination that Julius will be working on in the royal capital, and as soon as it is completed, make preparations so that it can be immediately introduced to the knights and soldiers dispatched from the royal capital!”

 

 

[Crimson Eye] – With that abhorrent name, the atmosphere at Middle Line Fort became even more tense, and with every passing moment, practical considerations and preparations began to be made to muster all the strength of the Vanguard to confront the emergence of this new threat.