*Interlude*

In the forest not too far from Liasr Town, a one-eyed goblin look at the sky. He is wearing black clothes and pants as a meant to cover himself in the dark.

Within his vision, a flying ship is floating towards the town.

"So that's the rumored battleship..."

Besides the one-eyed goblin, Nelsia is standing while also wearing black clothes.

"Aegandr... then there is no mistaking it. Graize Els Victorious is inside there."

Nelsia says that while still looking at the floating battleship.

Both Nelsia's and one-eyed goblin's relics are placed on the ground near their respective users.

The one-eyed goblin starts talking again.

"So we're going to fight another Royal Knight again... and win this time."

Nelsia can only frown upon hearing that. She remembers the time when she fought Ekirschteria Pentagon.

Even with the relic's power, she can't even scratch that Royal Knight. And she knows that Graize Els Victorious is stronger than Ekirschteria based on the info she got back when she was still working as a maid.

"... It will be a very hard fight. But now that he comes with only one battleship as the 'Anchor', there is no better chance to strike him down than this time."

Nelsia says that not only to encourage the one-eyed goblin but also to encourage herself.

"Don't forget that it is also the chance to destroy Mriento."

Behind Nelsia and the one-eyed goblin, a blue-haired man wearing glasses comes out from the forest while saying that. Midora Jaeger can be seen following him with sulky face.

"Firth-sama..."

Nelsia says that as Firth and Midora approach them.

"Once we destroy that relic, we can finally attack Brahmastra Kingdom without sneaking around. This operation must succeed no matter what."

Before talking further, Firth looks at Midora behind him.

"With that said, I'm counting on you to destroy Mriento as well as killing Graize Els Victorious, Midora."

"Sigh... Understood~"

Midora replies with lazy tone.

"... what are you sulking about?"

Being taken aback by Midora's lazy attitude, the one-eyed goblin asks that question.

"Well... apparently he's sad that he still cannot find the Graize family's daughter."

Firth answers the one-eyed goblin's question instead of Midora.

Nelsia suddenly talks upon hearing the phrase 'Graize family's daughter' from Firth.

"Come to think of it, you said that Shio-, I meant... Graize family's daughter is your destined person. How in the hell do you even come up to such conclusion..."

"Hah, npc like you won't ever understand my thinking."

Midora replies to Nelsia with mocking tone.

"... there you go talking nonsense again."

Nelsia gets even more annoyed by Midora's attitude while saying that.

"The only person in this world who has the right to kill her is me. I won't hand her over to anyone else."

Midora talks again while grinning.

Upon hearing that statement, Firth suddenly remembers the time when Midora is still a boy with school uniform.

The flashback shows schoolboy Midora who is shouting at Firth.

"Are you crazy!? There is no way I will kill people!"

As if it is one of Firth's fond memories, he smiles while remembering it and looking at current Midora. No one else notice his smile.

.....

....

...

Around 5 P.M. in Brahmastra Kingdom, a certain noble mansion can be seen being illuminated by the afternoon sunlight.

However, the lights are already on at the underground part of the mansion because it will be as dark as night time without the lights.

A lady with red twintail hair wearing black and white jacket can be seen arrived at large room in the underground.

That lady is none other than Eigre Newstein. The Royal Knight who is famous for her human supremacist belief.

The room which she arrives at is full of humans with black and white uniform sitting while looking various mana-powered hologram-like screen in front of them. The uniform is similar to Eigre's outfit.

"Report the situation."

Eigre says that while walking to a throne chair at the centre of the large room.

"Aegandr is about to reach its destination within 15 minutes."

One of Eigre subordinates stands up and salutes Eigre while saying that.

"What about Mriento?"

Eigre says that while sitting on the throne chair and fold her right leg to the top of her left thigh.

"It already absorbed enough sunlight to its full capacity. It is ready to fire at any time."

The same subordinate replies while still standing.

There is a hologram-like screen at the furthest wall in front of Eigre. That screen shows the picture of certain part of Elverwad Continent.

The picture was shown by a camera-like magic device attached to a very large and dark-coloured mechanical cannon in space. That floating large cannon has few antenna-like devices attached to it.

The screen that is shown in front of Eigre is actually zoomed by the camera-like device's function.

There is a name carved on that cannon: 'MASS RIDDANCE JUDGMENT ORDNANCE'. The name is shining brightly with crimson glow.

"Good. Continue with your work!"

"Understood!"

After replying to Eigre's order, the subordinate returns back to his seat.

.....

....

...

Back in Liasr Town, all people living there are gathering up at the centre of the town.

This is due to Shion and Pepprica reported the sight of a battleship to Stephanie the Orc Guild Master.

In front of group of people gathering at the centre of the town, Pepprica, Stephanie, Shion and Miika are looking at the floating battleship which is still located very far away from the town.

Stephanie is looking at the ship through Pepprica's telescope. After finish looking, he gives the telescope back to Pepprica before starts talking.

"That ship is most likely from Royal Knight other than Pentagon. The crest shape is different. But they are definitely flying towards this direction."

After getting his telescope back, Pepprica replies to Stephanie.

"I know it's surprising. But aren't you overreacting? It's not like this town has bad relationship with Brahmastra Kingdom right? We even built the Astraea Church here..."

"... still, the shape of that crest bothers me."

"?"

While Pepprica looks confused after hearing Stephanie's reply, Shion starts thinking while looking at the Orc Guild Master.

(He said that he travelled all over the world before. Then it should be no surprising that he already about Brahmastra Kingdom's Royal Knights.)

Before thinking further, Shion looks at the floating battleship.

(Including the fact about Graize family being called as the Sword of Brahmastra Kingdom itself...)

Shion remembers Midora's words about Victorious killing countless beastmen. Thanks to that flashback, she only has bad feeling about what's to come.

Shion intended to wear her adventurer armor but she was in a hurry to gather people as per Stephanie's request so she didn't have the time. She only equipped her mini-bag on her belt which contains 2 Graize Elixirs, 3 Potions and 1 bottle of rotten Rorean fruit extract. Shion actually has 1 more Graize Elixir but she put it in her big bag that is located in her inn room.

Miika is also not wearing his armor set as he immediately follow Shion when she was gathering people.

Now that most people are gathered at the centre of the town, they start talking to each other mostly in confused tone.

Some of them complain about being suddenly called but Rimikia the elf receptionist and Linda the lamia receptionist convince them to stay until further announcement.

The goblin kids are gathered near Griselda, the rabbit-type beastman who owns a magic store, and Thesiemi, the horse-type beastman who works as a nun in Liasr Town's Church.

Even the guards, adventurers who is assigned to watch over the gate, got called to the gathering. The only person who is not in the gathering is Veylene who already left the town.

Shion starts thinking again while looking at the battleship.

(If Graize Els Victorious is really inside that battleship... No. Nothing is set on stone yet. I need to observe the situation first. For now.)

.....

....

...

Inside the floating battleship named Aegandr, one of Victorious subordinates starts talking.

"Liasr Town is within the range!"

Upon hearing that, Victorious replies immediately.

"Fire the Signal Anchor. And right after firing, cast the Omni Barrier."

Usually Victorious' advisor, Elbehnna Orarorio, would follow what the Royal Knight said to confirm his order to his subordinates. However, Elbehnna chooses to talk something else this time.

"Are you sure about this, sir? There are chances of your missing daughter and maids being in that town."

Victorious then looks at Elbehnna before talking.

"... What are you trying to say?"

"I suggest that we try going to check that town first to search for them..."

"If we do that, we would be late for Mriento's firing schedule. Also, the citizens there might become more cautious of our objective."

"That's true but..."

Before Elbehnna can speak further, Victorious speaks again with deeper.

"Or are you implying that King's Direct Order should be placed as a priority which is lesser than our searching mission?"

"!?"

Elbehnna then reluctantly replies to Victorious words.

"No... I am sorry."

"Just do your job."

"..."

After three seconds of silence, Elbehnna looks determined and starts giving orders.

"Fire the Signal Anchor! And right after firing, cast the Omni Barrier!"

After Elbehnna's order, the main cannon on top of the Aegandr battleship aims at the sky.

The it fires a big white light bullet towards above the Liasr Town. Then right after it reaches right above the Liasr Town, it explodes and brings out a very large silver magic circle that is way bigger than Liasr Town's perimeter.

"!?"

Due to the sudden flash, everyone in Liasr Town are blinded for few seconds and they end up covering their eyes on reflex.

The magic circle's flash is so bright that Veylene who is walking in forest far away from Liasr Town suddenly notices the light.

Veylene turns around and sees the big silver magic circle in the sky.

She frowns as she examines the big magic circle.

At the same time, in other parts of the forest, Nelsia and others also notice the big silver magic circle.

"It started..."

As Nelsia says that, Firth calls out Midora's name.

"Midora!"

"Yeah yeah~"

With unmotivated voice, Midora walks a bit further from Nelsia, one-eyed goblin and Firth.

Then as he stops walking, a rainbow-coloured magic circles appears from beneath his feet.

Upon seeing the rainbow magic circle, Firth talks again.

"Once Mriento fires, it will leave a trail. You definitely will know where it is once your eyes follow where the trail is."

"I know. I know..."

Despite Firth's enthusiasm, Midora still replies with unmotivated tone.

Meanwhile, the one-eyed goblin silently looks at the big silver magic circle. He immediately remembers that during his time infiltrating Liasr Town, he founds out that Griselda is living there.

(This is fine. I don't care who kill her as long as she's dead. Even if she miraculously survive, she won't get out unscathed and will still suffer anyway. Either way, it works for me.)

The one-eyed goblin thinks that as he looks up.

At the same time, Shion and others are finally able to look at the big magic circle that is way above them.

Using Overtake, she manages to analyse the magic circle.

(Light attribute magic, Signal Anchor... it's function is... locator?)

As Stephanie looks at the silver magic circle, a chill run down his spine.

He recognises that magic circle as a flashback comes to his mind.

In that flashback, Stephanie was looking in horror at the city who is engulfed by a very large pillar of light.

Stephanie then shouts at the people behind him.

"EVERYONE! RUN AWAY!!!"

Everyone except Stephanie is shocked by his shout.

"H- hey, calm down! What's wrong?"

Pepprica replies with worried tone.

"Pillar of light... A PILLAR OF LIGHT WILL DESTROY THIS TOWN! WE NEED TO RUN AWAY!"

However, Stephanie does not seem to calm down at all while saying.

(Pillar of light?)

Shion thinks that as she looks at the Signal Anchor magic circle once again.

Then a thought clicks in her mind and her calm expression turns into a shocked expression.

(Don't tell me...!?)

At the same time as Shion thinking that, Eigre Newstein's subordinate starts talking to Eigre again in underground room below Eigre's mansion.

"Signal Anchor's location, locked! Mriento's Position locked! We're ready to fire at any time!"

With a grin, Eigre Newstein stands up from her seat and shouts.

"Rejoice my men! This shall be another day of our pride, Mriento, cleansing our world from those impurities! COUNTDOWN START!"

"Countdown start!"

As one of Eigre's subordinate says that. A countdown number 5 appears on the big screen in front of Eigre.

At the same time as countdown number 4, Shion is still looking at the Signal Anchor with shocked expression.

At the same time as countdown number 3, Veylene is still looking at the Signal Anchor while still standing far away from Liasr Town.

At the same time as countdown number 2, Firth, Nelsia, Midora and the one-eyed goblin is looking at the Signal Anchor preparing for what's to come.

At the same time as countdown number 1, Victorious is looking at Signal Anchor through the magic screen expecting the inevitable.

Countdown 0, the relic cannon in space shoots its accumulated crimson light towards Signal Anchor that is located right above the Liasr Town.

*End of Interlude*