Chapter 465 – Under That Command
The warriors of the Surface ride on the back of a dragon soaring toward the Heavens, charging bravely into battle.
And the mystical warriors of the skies wait to meet them.
〔That’s far enough! I won’t allow thee to go any further! Filthy Surface Apes! Turn away this instance! We are the ‘Guardian Angel Squad’ of Angela Kingdom! For the past thousand years, we have been an ironclad force that has not allowed any invasion by foreign enemies! Come any closer to this country, and face Heaven’s wrath!〕
The Seraphs, standing firm to prevent any intrusion, warn the approaching warriors to “stop”.
However,
〔I can’t stop… don’t ask th’ unreasonable so suddenlyyyyyyyyyyy! I’m already flying at full speed! If I stop, with this weight, we will fall! As things are, I have no choice but to rush straight aheaaaaaaaaaad!〕
Hilua couldn’t stop suddenly.
〔Now, be gone, lower creatures of the Surface, or else… or… hey, heed my words! Listen… nay, halt! All hands at the ready!〕
〔Ah… erm, that’s… uh~ … in that case, all you Seraphs! Excuse our intrusiooooooooooon!〕
〔Geez! No other way! Let’s do it!〕
〔So be it, here they come! Do not allow such ugly creatures and lower races into our country!〕
〔〔〔〔〔UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHH!!〕〕〕〕〕
And then, a head-on collision.
With a tremendous crash, the battle for supremacy between the Heavens and the Surface began.
A warrior of the Seraphs shouted, ‘We have not allowed a single invasion in a thousand years’.
In other words, it can be said that this is a war unprecedented in human history.
In the midst of all that……
〔Let’s go! Me, Sadiz and Wacha to kick the enemy in front! Keep Kron behind us! Mr. Machio, Elder Sis Tsukshi, Karui! Cover our rear! The rest of you, defend the left and right sides! Protect the Hilua from all attacks! The enemy may attack from below, so watch out for that too! Hilua, leave the enemy to us! Just go straight ahead!〕
Earth took command of that battlefield.
“…… Hmm~?”
Seeing Earth in command, the heroes of the Surface World who were watching tilted their heads in puzzlement.
“…Oh… I see.”
Even Norja grunted.
『Ah~…… I suppose tis how things would go…』
Tre’ainar held his head in his hands.
“U, um, Elder, dear Norja, what has befallen? Sir Earth is showing such splendid leadership, yet… is aught amiss?”
Innocent Amicus asked, wondering what exactly had caught their attention or made them groan.
Was there something off about Earth’s command?
However, it’s actually the opposite……
“No… it’s not strange at all. It’s actually quite precise… nothing flashy or anything, what they’re doing is simple, but… it’s a formation and strategy that allows each person to fully demonstrate their abilities.”
“Yeah, totally. Half-baked smart types with no real battle experience always, like, prioritize minimizing ally casualties instead of just breaking through the enemy lines. But the Seraph guys are still green and all flustered, so a full-power charge is perfect… And on top of that, he’s not just forcing the allies to fight on their own or locking them down with strict orders—he’s making sure each of them can properly shine……”
“I’ve seen Earth fight various battles on his own…… but leading and commanding others…… this is his first time, isn’t it?”
“And even so, he did it with, like, zero hesitation and totally nailed it… y’know?”
Seeing Earth lead his men into battle with such impressive skill—so flawless it was hard to believe—Mikado and Noja once again cast suspicious glances his way.
“Wa…… Wow, Big brother’s leadership is so, so amazing!
“Yeah, as expected of Brother! He had excellent grades at the academy, so he’s always been very intelligent!”
“Oh, oh, not really! Well, but at that time, I had reliable guys like Sadiz and Machio with me! It’s all thanks to everyone!”
Since Espie and Slayer knew exactly what was “behind Earth”, they offered some forced compliments with strained smiles, and Earth also feigned modesty.
〔Curses, wh, what is, s, savage barbarians! Thou have no pride?!〕
To an outside observer, it seemed as though the Seraphs were being overwhelmed by the relentless advance of the Surface dwellers.
However, to those with extensive combat experience—and especially those with experience leading troops into battle—something didn’t quite add up.
Furthermore……
“…… Hmm? Norja …… What’s wrong?”
“Huh? …… eh? Hmm?
At that moment, Norja—who had been casting a suspicious glance at Earth—suddenly showed a change in her expression.
Norja herself hadn’t noticed until someone pointed it out.
“W, why……?”
And Norja herself didn’t even notice.
Yet, for some reason, she was shedding tears at the sight of Earth’s reflection in the sky as he gave orders and commanded his allies.
And Norja wasn’t the only one overcome by this mysterious emotion.
“What is this all about, zou……. Hiro’s son…… Earth Lagann…… I’ve never actually met him…… No matter how strong he may be…… And yet…… Why, zou? Why does my heart race… every time I hear that boy’s voice giving orders on the battlefield…I can’t suppress this urge that makes my body ache, zou!”
Even La’iphant, the former Six Supremacy who reigns supreme in the Demon Realm……
“Fufufu~ everyone really did great back then, and Hilly worked so hard too! And Earth was… huh?! M, Mother?!”
“…Huh? …Oh, eh? W, what……!?”
In a distant land, for some reason, Jamdi’el was also shedding tears.
“Mother! Wh, wh, what’s wrong!? Does your stomach hurt again!? Is there something in your eye!?”
“Ah, nay…… I, I cannot fathom…… W, why? Why would I….. cry over Earth Lagann, merely conducting himself…w, what does this mean?”
“Mother?”
Jamdi’el sheds tears once again. These tears were different from the ones she shed earlier when she was moved by Kron’s appearance.
Jamdi’el herself didn’t understand the meaning behind these tears.
But even so……
“I…I don’t know…… But…… why… the sight of Earth Lagann in command… even though the content and strategy themselves are utterly conventional…… I don’t understand…… but tears… and… I… I too, here, under this command… ridiculous, why!?”
Jamdi’el was utterly curious.
For some reason, along with tears streaming down her face, she couldn’t help but feel the urge to fight under that command as Earth’s seemingly unremarkable leadership began to resonate within her.
“That Earth, he’s not just skilled in combat, he can do stuff like that, too?! As for me, during the war, all I ever did was charge into battle…”
“That’s true…… But in that sense, that boy is different from me and Hiro…… In fact, he was second only to Princess Phianse in academics, so he’s naturally intelligent.”
“Ah… so Earth possesses both intellect and military prowess… wait, seriously?
“Absolutely. If he’d been around back in the day……”
Hiro and Mamu, who had constantly been amazed by their son’s hard work and one-on-one combat ability, never imagined their son was capable of commanding troops on the battlefield. Though astonished, they nevertheless accepted it, reasoning, “Earth was always smart”.
“Hmph……”
However, Hakuki scoffed at Hiro and Mamu’s thoughts and looked up at the sky again.
“Mind you…… whether you’re in on the trick or completely in the dark… for us who once built an entire era as generals under that bloke’s command, it hits different, you know. Reckon them lot are feelin’ it, too……”
And Hakuki murmured this, his heart swelling with emotion as he sensed the feelings of his former comrades who, just like him, were now gazing up at the sky and admiring the spectacle.
“And them Cacretale folks, they ain’t got the foggiest how posh the command they’re fightin’ under really is… a bleedin’ waste, innit.”
Why do they find themselves wanting to fight together under that command……
〔Pierce throoooooooooooouuuuuuugh!〕
〔〔〔〔〔Flyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!〕〕〕〕〕
〔〔〔〔〔Goooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!〕〕〕〕〕
Hakuki smiled at the sight of the people of Cacretale, their passion raging in unison with Earth’s command.
Furthermore……
〘Such folly …… despite enabling thy survival with great care… the thoughts of incompetent apes remain incomprehensible.〙
The Seraphs found themselves at a disadvantage. In that situation, the voice of the Heavenly King, their sworn enemy, echoed throughout the battlefield.
The presence of the King, the supreme commander of the enemy forces.
At the mere mention of his name, the world once again stiffened with fear… but Hakuki and the other former Six Supremacy present here are different.
〔Even if we are barbaric, we are not willing to silently accept the loss or pain of anything else we hold dear!〕
Seeing Kron speak back confidently without hesitation or fear at the Heavenly King’s words stirs the heart.
〘Thou art the doll girl, aren’t thee? Without Jamdi’el, thou can do nothing, yet who has incited thee to come this far?〙
〔I was not incited! My back may have been pushed, but… I’ve come this far by my own will!〕
〘What?〙
〔I don’t know why you think as you do of us on the Surface. I don’t know what Jamdi’el has done to you in the past. But just because I don’t know, doesn’t mean I will silently accept destruction and defeat by you!〕
The world has already acknowledged it, that the girl standing there is no longer a sheltered, naive princess.
If Earth is the General leading the entire army into battle, then Kron is truly the Supreme Commander.
“Ahh… proper spoilt humans, the lot of ‘em…”
Hakuki envied the Cacretale people who could fight alongside Kron and Earth.
