The Heavenly Demon Can’t Live A Normal Life [EN]: Chapter 176

The heavy wheels *creaked*. The Cairo Kingdom army was a hive of activity. Large wooden frames, the base of some strange machine, were pushed on rumbling wheels. Smaller pieces, metal and wood, were piled high on carts pulled by tired-looking horses. On the high walls of Benedict Castle, soldiers watched it all. They knew what the enemy was planning, but they didn’t seem very concerned.

A soldier leaned over the wall, calling down to Commander Cameron, “Looks like they are using flares, just like we thought.”

Commander Cameron, the man in charge of Benedict’s gate, nodded slowly.

Flares were a common weapon in sieges. Everyone knew they were strong and could break down walls. For smaller fights between nobles, using flares was expensive. But in a big war like this, everyone expected them. Cameron watched as the Cairo army set up not one, but five large machines. Launching devices, he guessed. In a couple of hours, those machines would be ready to fire flares, powerful fireballs meant to smash through walls.

*But Benedict is not like other castles,* Cameron thought, a small smile playing on his lips. *Lord Benedict planned for this.* Benedict had hired the Sky, the best magic users, to put a powerful magical defense on these very walls. “Dozens of flares won’t be enough,” Benedict had said. “And even if the magic gets weak, we can use mana stones to make it strong again.” Cameron believed him. Cairo’s fire could never take Benedict.

The noble faction wanted one thing: the throne. They hadn’t rushed into a risky fight. For years, they had been quietly getting ready for a rebellion. The magical walls were just the start. Their soldiers were well-trained, and they had plans for everything – Plan A, Plan B, even if the King’s men attacked first. *The alliance with Dimitri was unexpected,* Cameron thought, *but it won’t change much.*

Benedict Castle was meant to be unbreakable. They had plenty of food, weapons, everything they needed for a long fight. Cameron looked around at the soldiers on the wall. He saw some nervous faces. He needed to remind them to be strong. He raised his voice so everyone could hear.

“Listen up!” Cameron called out. “You all know the enemy commander is Roman Dimitri. They call him the Devil of the South. He’s Cairo’s best fighter, the one who beat Count Nicholas. Yes, he is strong. But this is not just about one man. This is about Benedict Castle! Our walls are protected by powerful magic, magic made by the Sky themselves! Roman Dimitri might be a great swordsman, but he’s still just a man. And these walls are much, much stronger than any man!”

Roman Dimitri. Just his name made some soldiers uneasy. Cameron saw their worry and spoke with more force.

“Trust me!” he said, his voice ringing out. “They will not break through these walls! We will win this fight! The noble faction will be victorious!”

Cameron spoke with such confidence, and the soldiers wanted to believe him. Slowly, some of the fear in their eyes faded. They stood a little straighter, their hands gripping their weapons more firmly. A few even nodded to each other, a spark of hope returning.

But then, something changed. Something that made the soldiers on the wall shift nervously. It started with a group of figures, all dressed in long, dark robes that hid their faces. They moved with a strange purpose, not like soldiers setting up machines.

“What… what are those guys?” one soldier whispered, nudging his friend.

“Looks like they’re up to no good,” the other replied, his voice tight.

On the wall, eyes followed the robed figures. A cold feeling crept into the soldiers’ hearts. Something about these newcomers felt wrong, dangerous. But the wall was strong, magically protected. They were safe behind it. For now.

Time stretched on. The robed figures worked quickly, moving around the launching devices. Finally, they finished. One by one, they approached a man who seemed to be their leader.

“Team One, ready,” one robed figure reported.

“Team Two, ready,” said another.

The soldiers on the wall still didn’t know who these people were. But Cameron did. He recognized the way they moved, the subtle hint of magic in the air around them. *Wizards,* he realized with a jolt. *Wizards in robes.*

Under his hood, Felix, the leader of the wizards, remembered Roman Dimitri’s words from a month ago. Roman had said, “When the fighting starts, I will draw the enemy into a siege. Felix, your Phoenix wizards will be the ones to break them.”

A month ago, when everyone else was at peace, Phoenix had been preparing for war, all because of Roman’s orders. They owed Roman everything. He had saved Phoenix, given them power and purpose again. He was their savior. For Felix and his wizards, serving Roman was the most important thing. When Roman gave them this task, they were thrilled. Wizards were best at sieges. This was their chance to prove their worth.

Felix spoke, his voice low but filled with conviction. “Lord Dimitri has given us so much. Even animals repay those who are kind to them. We have done nothing yet for our lord. Now, our time has come. He has given us the perfect task. If we fail him now, we are useless.”

Felix’s voice was serious. He knew what they were about to do. People would die. Many people. A flicker of something – regret? – crossed his face, but it was quickly gone. They were wizards of Phoenix now, soldiers of Roman Dimitri. There was no turning back. Talk of kindness or mercy was for others, not for them.

“Let’s show them,” Felix said, his voice now sharp and strong. “Show these enemies how Phoenix conquered the Thirteenth Magic Tower! Let them see our power!”

“Understood!” the wizards replied, their voices eager.

“We obey!”

The wizards moved with purpose.

Three wizards went to each launching device. They raised their hands, and a soft blue light began to glow around them – mana, the source of magic. The strange patterns carved into the launching devices started to shine with the same blue light, pulsing with power.

*Flares alone are not enough to break strong magical defenses,* Felix thought, remembering his lessons. *But what if we add wizard magic to them? What if we push the flares beyond their normal limits?* That was Roman’s plan. To use Phoenix’s fire magic to make the flares explode with ten times their usual force.

The wizards focused, pouring their fire mana into the machines. The air crackled with energy. The blue glow intensified, turning white-hot.

*BANG!*

*BANG! BANG! BANG!*

With a deafening roar, the flares shot from the launching devices. Five huge balls of fire screamed through the air and slammed into Benedict’s walls at the same moment.

*WHAM!*

The ground shook. A deep *RUMBLE* echoed through the castle. The walls themselves seemed to groan under the impact. Soldiers cried out, thrown off their feet. They scrambled up, staring at Cameron with wide, terrified eyes.

He had promised the walls were unbreakable! He had said flares were nothing!

But this… this was not normal. Even soldiers who knew nothing of magic could feel the raw, terrifying power of the explosions. Dust and smoke filled the air. Chunks of stone rained down.

*WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!*

The flares kept coming, each one hitting the walls with earth-shattering force. Flames licked up the stone, burning with unnatural heat. *ROOOAR!* The sound of explosions and fire filled the air.

This was more than just flares. This was magic unleashed. This was the true power of the wizards.

Of all the thirteen Magic Towers, Phoenix was known for being the most powerful in attack magic.

Rumble!

“Commander! The magic shield is getting weak very fast!”

“If it keeps going like this, we won’t last! What’s the plan?”

Voices shouting reports came from everywhere.

Cameron’s face turned pale.

He never imagined that the Royal Army would mobilize so many wizards.

‘Wizards from the Magic Towers usually say they are neutral. In wars between countries, they help the country that supports their Tower. But in fights *inside* a country, they don’t get involved. So who are these wizards? If it was just one or two, okay, but there are twelve! Even if the King himself got wizards, this many is unbelievable.’

He was shocked.

A dozen wizards.

This made no sense.

Even the famous Magic Towers had never sent so many wizards to help in a war for another country.

First of all.

He had to solve the problem.

With veins popping out of his neck from the continuous attacks, Cameron shouted.

“Turn on the emergency defense system! Use lots of mana stones on the magic shield! Keep it strong! If the walls fall, it’s over! Also, quickly, use the ballistae and destroy those things that are firing at us!”

He was in a desperate situation.

This order was not good for a war that lasts a long time.

They would use up the things for the war very fast, but Cameron had no other choice.

Cameron was not the only one surprised by the series of events.

Watching the firing devices spewing fire, Simon wore a blank expression.

“……What is this?”

Wizards.

They were a power that even the Cairo Royal Family did not have.

But they were really attacking the group of nobles led by Roman Dmitry.

It didn’t make sense.

How did he get the wizards to help him?

The answer came from Chris.

“Recently, the Phoenix Magic Tower set up in Dmitry’s land. Magic Towers usually say they are neutral and don’t get involved in fights inside a country. But Phoenix is connected to a noble family. If Dmitry decided to help Cairo, then Phoenix Magic Tower should also help, right?”

At the calm explanation.

Simon was shocked.

According to Chris, it meant that a group of wizards large enough to be called a Magic Tower belonged to Dmitry.

‘The thirteen Magic Towers. Although they are evaluated as the lowest because they have lost their secrets and have the smallest number of members, they are still called the best on the continent in terms of firepower. A group that would be welcomed anywhere on the continent has sworn allegiance to Dmitry.’

He felt goosebumps.

If.

If Daniel Cairo had rejected Dmitry’s proposal, Roman Dmitry would have overthrown the noble faction with their own strength alone.

It was entirely possible with wizards.

And when their swords were pointed at the Cairo Royal Family, it was clear that the high walls alone would not be able to stop Dmitry’s attack.

The King’s choice.

It was a divine move.

If he had not embraced Dmitry, he would have faced the monstrous Roman Dmitry and the wizards as enemies.

‘Heaven has not abandoned Cairo. We made the right decision.’

He breathed a sigh of relief.

The more he confirmed Dmitry’s true nature.

Simon became more certain that this war would end in the victory of the royalist faction.

The sun set.

After the first fight was over, Cameron told them the results with a sad face.

“We had to use 30% of the mana stones we had ready to stop the Royal Army’s attack. I’m very sorry. But please remember, the enemy used wizards. If I hadn’t acted fast, the Benedict walls would not have stayed up for long and would have fallen down.”

This meeting.

None of the members of the noble faction blamed Cameron.

Hadn’t they witnessed it?

Every time the flames that exploded on the walls caused a tremendous explosion, the nobles watching the situation from afar fidgeted.

They were completely overwhelmed.

They never imagined that the Royal Army would have secured a dozen wizards, so the anxiety that they might collapse without even lasting a day became widespread.

Fortunately, they stopped the attack.

But like Cameron’s dismal expression, no one positively accepted the fact that they had survived a day.

Marquis Benedict said.

“So, how long can we last?”

“The enemy has twelve wizards. If they attack like today again after getting enough rest, we won’t last more than ten days, even if we get more mana stones from other places.”

“Ten days? You’re saying we can only last that long?”

It was hopeless.

Roman Dmitry.

His plan was clear.

As soon as he came to Benedict, he attacked. And when the wizards were getting tired, he quickly pulled his soldiers back.

And then they got a good rest.

The noble group’s soldiers could not relax even for a little while because the attack could come anytime. But the Royal Army did not seem to want to attack without thinking.

Ten days like this.

It was completely the Royal Army’s plan.

While being attacked by magic, the noble group would get more and more tired. And there was no way to stop the soldiers who would attack quickly as soon as the gates fell down.

Trying to convince the empire group would also be useless from the beginning.

It takes time to convince them and get soldiers together, but the Royal Army’s actions were too fast and strong.

In the end.

The noble faction could only believe in one thing.

“Baron Owen. What happened to Baron Winston?”

“He is getting the noble group’s soldiers together and has reached near the northeast entrance. There is still a chance to turn things around. If Baron Winston takes over Dmitry which is empty, Roman Dmitry will not be able to attack like this. Then, we can get more time to get the empire group to help.”

“What is the chance of not taking over Dmitry?”

“It will for sure succeed. Baron Winston is the commander that the noble group is proud of, right? With his skills, he can easily destroy the northeast area. The only thing that might change things is if Dmitry has wizards. But twelve wizards already attacked Benedict Castle. It’s almost impossible for them to have more than that. And even if something changes, it’s not likely to change the result because we are stronger.”

Think about it.

Their enemies are untrained soldiers from the edge of the country.

With Roman Dmitry away, there was no way for them to stop the attack.

The noble group.

Not all of them came to Benedict.

They split their soldiers into two groups, and some soldiers went with Baron Winston to Dmitry.

Fake attack.

Benedict was smart.

He on purpose locked the castle and made them look somewhere else. Then he chose a smart plan to attack the enemy’s home.

Marquis Benedict showed a sharp glint in his eyes.

“Tell Baron Winston, you cannot lose this war. I will give you all power over everything you do to destroy Dmitry. So tell him to only come back with victory. The Cairo Royal Family is like a sandcastle, easy to destroy. If we just defeat Dmitry, who started their trouble, the Royal Army will become weak.”

The noble group was confident.

They were sure that in the next three days, news of victory would come from the northeast. That would be the start of a real fight.