The Heavenly Demon Can’t Live A Normal Life [EN]: Chapter 177

The moment Baron Winston arrived in the northeastern region was heavy with unspoken tension.

Weary from travel, the ordinary soldiers were ordered to rest. Baron Winston, however, immediately summoned his leaders for a tense meeting.

With a soft rustle of parchment, Baron Winston unfolded the large map.

The adjutant pointed to one area.

“If we advance just a little further from this area, we’ll reach Count Adelian’s territory. Adelian is a commercially developed city, so it’s not particularly specialized in defending, but the problem is we don’t have much time. According to the latest communication from the main force, we have at most ten days. We need to settle things within that time, but dealing with the enemies in the path to Dimitri one by one will take too much time.”

“That’s right. Ten days is barely enough time to advance directly to Dimitri,” the leaders expressed their concerns.

With everyone unable to offer a clear solution, people’s gazes naturally turned to Baron Winston.

Winston, a commander who had distinguished himself on the Western Front, who came from humble beginnings on the frontier, had proven himself in the war against the Chronos Empire and joined the aristocratic faction.

Since then, he had been exclusively in charge of matters related to combat and had gained the trust of Marquis Benedict.

He examined the map for quite some time. He knew the map well from before, but war meant plans had to be flexible.

“You are right. Ten days. Considering the travel time, meaningless battles will only worsen the situation. In that case, we need to minimize combat and move. The fastest way to move is to pass through these three territories on the map.”

Tap, tap, tap. He placed pins on the map: Adelian, Rollo, Conrad.

A picture formed in his mind.

Baron Winston, repeating the names of the three territories, looked at the leaders.

“There are pro-Dimitri factions in the northeastern region. The Dimitri Alliance was created by absorbing the Northeastern Association as a result of the battle with the North, but that doesn’t mean their loyalty is greater than those who were originally pro-Dimitri. And Adelian, Rollo, and Conrad, these three territories were not pro-Dimitri forces from the start.”

Adelian was neutral. Rollo and Conrad were part of the Northeastern Association.

Winston remembered that Rollo and Conrad had not sent their best fighters to Roman Dimitri’s tournament. This was important.

“Adelian Territory is the city of commerce in the northeast. They wouldn’t want their connection with the central government to be cut off, so they would want to avoid extreme choices as much as possible. In the case of Baron Rollo and Baron Conrad, there is a high probability that they still harbor resentment towards the Dimitri family. Therefore, from now on, send a message to these three lords. What we want is not for them to actively cooperate with the aristocratic faction. It is enough to divert their attention for a moment, so that there is a loophole to escape even if problems arise.”

Winston was clever. It was a decision that didn’t require a big commitment from the other party.

While the other party diverted their attention, the aristocratic faction could simply turn to a less conspicuous path and move on.

Usually in war, they would be spotted and attacked quickly. However, if they could get the consent of the three nobles in the path to Dimitri, it was also a way to shorten the time as much as possible.

The order was given. The adjutant immediately connected the magic communication.

“Our aristocratic faction has no grudge against the nobles in the northeastern region. We only want Dimitri, so if you turn a blind eye for a moment, we will provide corresponding compensation after the war is over. Choose. If you choose a desperate resistance, the territory that rejects this offer will surely be turned into a sea of fire.”

An appropriate carrot and stick. They didn’t allow much time to deliberate.

One hour later, the three territories sent back a reply agreeing to the aristocratic faction’s proposal.

Three days passed since then. Baron Winston’s forces moved quickly under the cover of night.

Before they knew it, they had passed Count Adelian’s territory, and from the moment they entered Baron Rollo’s territory, they increased their speed even more.

While moving, the adjutant asked.

“…Commander. Do you trust the nobles in the northeastern region? If they have deliberately set a trap, there is a high probability that we will be attacked from all sides.”

“I know.”

Possible variables were within the expected range. There was no way a commander who had been worn out on the Western Front wouldn’t have anticipated that much.

Baron Winston said.

“First of all, we need to move quickly, even if we have to take risks. And even if the enemies have set a trap, from the moment they accepted our proposal, the enemies fell into a dilemma. According to the communication from the main force, all of Dimitri’s elite have joined the siege of Benedict. In that case, the only troops left for the enemies are rabble from the frontier. Do you think they can win against the elite of the aristocratic faction?”

“Impossible.”

“Yes, it’s impossible. The soldiers of the aristocratic faction have undergone rigorous training in preparation for the rebellion. It means that they cannot be compared to the frontier riffraff who have only encountered war in books, and if the enemies attack us on the plains with the ‘common sense’ judgment that they are advantageous, it is rather a golden opportunity. Originally, we should have fought with the castle walls in place. No matter how different the level of the soldiers is, the existence of the castle walls imposes considerable damage on the attacking side. But in a terrain where all sides are open like now? In a pure battle of strength against strength, even if the entire northeastern region rushes at us, we can overwhelm them with force.”

It was a judgment considering betrayal. He didn’t trust the other party.

He was only using them as needed, and he had no intention of talking about betrayal, no matter what choice they made.

That’s what the battlefield is like. Those who discuss the romance of blindly trusting the other party are in a cruel world where they die without even lasting a year.

“Not many territories in the Cairo Kingdom have warp gates. Among them, Benedict and Adelian are included, and if Adelian leads the troops out, there is a way to deal with them and occupy the warp gate. If that happens, Dimitri will have a fire under his feet.”

“…Indeed.”

The adjutant admired. Indeed, someone from the Western Front was different.

Having survived brutal battles, the commander knew the best way to overcome their enemy. Every choice was planned.

The aristocratic faction was full of confidence. They were planning to advance as it was and capture Dimitri in one fell swoop.

The last rays of the setting sun faded below the horizon, plunging the camp into darkness. A chill wind whispered through the trees. Then, a flicker. A distant orange glow on the edge of the forest. Another, and another, until pinpricks of fire dotted the darkness all around them. The air, moments before still and quiet, now crackled with the sound of burning wood. A thick, acrid smell of smoke began to sting their nostrils.

“Flames…” someone breathed, the word barely audible.

Baron Winston watched the growing inferno, his face grim. He had expected caution, negotiation, perhaps even a show of force. But this… this was open defiance. The lords of the northeastern region had not just refused his offer. They had chosen war. Betrayal.

Adelian, Rollo, Conrad. The three lords didn’t even hesitate from the start.

What kind of person is Roman Dimitri? Looking at the precedents, he is a person who is really certain about rewards and punishments.

It was clear that he would destroy the betrayer no matter what excuse they made, and he was not the kind of person who would betray first if they kept their relationship with Dimitri until the end.

If so, the choice was obvious.

As soon as Baron Winston sent the proposal, they contacted Dimitri and asked how to deal with it.

“[Open the way. It is enough to lure the enemies and wipe them out at once.]”

And now, the Dimitri Alliance stepped forward. The surroundings became bright as if it were daytime, with torches blazed in a wide circle around them, revealing a vast army.

“Baron Winston! I received a report that you are trying to win over the surrounding nobles with the intention of attacking Dimitri. Marquis Benedict’s aristocratic faction is a traitor. If you surrender willingly, I can take your choice into consideration, but if you resist to the end, I will hold you accountable for the same crime of rebellion as Marquis Benedict.”

It was Jonathan, the commander of the Knights. Behind him, the Dimitri flag fluttered.

The leaders following Baron Winston could not hide their embarrassment at the sight of the enemies filling their vision. The number of enemies were too many.

They expected it to some extent, but they never thought that the entire northeast would step forward.

“…Commander.”

Attention was focused. Baron Winston drew his sword.

There was no compromise. Even if there were more than ten times as many enemies, there was a belief that the elite of the aristocratic faction would be able to overwhelm them sufficiently.

“Enough of your lies! Marquis Benedict is no traitor, and you know it! Rather, I will make a proposal to you. If you surrender willingly even now, Marquis Benedict will show great generosity and accept you. But if you show hostility until the end…”

He raised his aura. The die is cast. They had already crossed the irreversible river.

“I will kill you all here.”

Baron Winston’s words were meant to scare them. But no one was fazed.

Baron Winston was a battle-hardened commander. He had seen many things in war. But the people of the northeast had already faced Roman Dmitry.

There were even some who used to be his enemies.

They had already felt the worst fear possible because of Roman Dmitry. So, Baron Winston’s threats did not scare them at all.

The air was thick with tension. Anything could happen.

Sir Jonathan finally made a decision.

“Lord Knox, I ask for your assistance,” Sir Jonathan said.

“Understood,” Lord Knox replied.

Tap.

A man stepped forward.

At that moment, Baron Winston did not realize what Jonathan’s words meant.

As the noble faction feared, the thing they feared most was now real. Dmitry had a wizard. And not just any wizard, but a powerful 5th circle wizard.

“Fire Cannon!” Lord Knox shouted, his voice clear and strong.

Whoosh! A wave of bright orange flames erupted from his hands, roaring like a dragon.

Baron Winston’s eyes widened in horror. The heat hit him like a physical force, even from a distance. It smelled of sulfur and burning wood. Then, the flames crashed into the noble faction soldiers.

BOOM! The sound was deafening. Screams ripped through the air. Whoosh, whoosh! Waves of fire spread, licking at everything.

“Kraaah!”

“Aargh!”

Soldiers caught directly in the blast turned black as charcoal in an instant. Those on the edges were thrown to the ground, their uniforms ablaze. They rolled frantically, screaming as their skin hissed and cracked like roasting meat. The heat was so intense it felt like the air itself was burning.

One spell. And chaos reigned. The noble faction was devastated.

Now that they knew there was a wizard, Baron Winston shouted urgently.

“All troops, attack!”

The choice had already been made. To survive, there was no option but victory.

The wizard’s magic terrified the soldiers, but they still firmly believed they were stronger.

However, the result before their eyes was different from what they expected.

Thud! Plop!

The troops clashed head-on. The noble faction’s soldiers were unilaterally massacred.

Dmitry’s soldiers slaughtered the enemies in an instant, and they easily faced two or three enemies as if they were each worth a hundred men. They fought with the discipline and ferocity Dmitry had instilled in them.

Baron Winston could not readily accept the situation.

Baron Winston thought Dmitry’s soldiers from the countryside would be weak. But they were a strong army, stronger than any he had seen, even in the wars in the west.

They did not know that in the past year, Roman Dmitry gave the people around him time to prepare.

That included not only his direct subordinates like Chris, but everyone associated with Dmitry.

Dmitry’s soldiers learned external martial arts. They did not learn magic like Roman Dmitry’s personal guards. But they learned to make their bodies stronger through hard training.

It was truly an intense time. As Roman Dmitry soared, the soldiers wanted to become people worthy of him, and they worked relentlessly, to the point where they could say they did not rest for a single moment.

As a result, they were completely different from a year ago.

It took ten or more noble faction soldiers to defeat just one of Dmitry’s soldiers.

Clang!

‘This is insane,’ Baron Winston thought.

Baron Winston’s attack was blocked by an unknown knight.

Only then did he see reality. He had ignored the northeast region as a backwater, but they were preparing an even sharper blade than the noble faction.

The noble faction’s plan was in Roman’s palm. The reason he led the elite to attack Benedict was because he knew there would be no problem with the remaining forces alone.

Baron Winston struggled to live up to the expectations of Marquis Benedict.

He kept shouting for victory until, in the end, his head was severed by Sir Jonathan’s sword.

Thwack.

Sir Jonathan used the Asura Mind Method, a powerful fighting style. He was even stronger than before. With one strike, he killed Baron Winston, the leader the noble faction was so proud of.

Silence fell for a moment on the battlefield as Winston’s body hit the ground.

That was the end. On the fourth day since Dmitry attacked Benedict, Baron Winston’s noble faction suffered an irreparable defeat.

A week into the siege, that day their hopes went up and down like a rollercoaster.

Even in the morning, the noble faction clenched their fists at the reply from the imperial faction.

[We will also join the noble faction.]

It was according to plan. If the imperial faction joined, they could turn the situation around from then on.

At that moment…

Boom! Rumble!

“We are in big trouble! Part of the castle wall has collapsed. We are quickly proceeding with repairs, but the Kingdom army’s attacks continue, making it a difficult situation. Please give us your orders. At this rate, we won’t last much longer,” a soldier reported.

The situation became urgent. Marquis Benedict’s expression twisted fiercely. He felt very anxious.

Just one week. They hoped the imperial faction would join them and change everything. They couldn’t lose so easily before that happened.

“What about Baron Winston? What happened to Baron Winston?” Marquis Benedict asked.

“That, well…” Count Owen trailed off.

A few days ago, contact with Baron Winston was lost. According to the plan, there should have been results long ago, but as the contact did not return, talk began to emerge from within.

He couldn’t guess what would happen next.

At that time, even greater despair struck the noble faction.

“We have received word from Baron Winston’s adjutant! The army that attacked Dmitry has been annihilated! Baron Winston died on the spot, and the surviving soldiers are scattered and beyond help!”

“…!”

They were defeated. Marquis Benedict realized this was worse than anything he could have imagined. In the face of the bleak reality, Marquis Benedict’s mind fell into the abyss.