23. Truly Magnificent

Operation Fulgurant, which mobilized nearly 643,000 soldiers from all branches and divisions, was led by Great General Revailler himself and the High Command.

Using the springboard as the demons's massive assault on the Kingdom's border, the Holy Kingdom of Lumière would proactively launch a Great Purge towards their most concentrated outpost, the vast Tratta Plateau in the Lieramus Kingdom's territory.

Field Armies from Reitina, Haltz, and Saneris have been marching towards this village since afternoon, and it seems they are fully ready for the attack.

That's all I know from General Eis's words.

"Everyone seems busy with all the preparations for the upcoming grand scale campaign. Which is quite understandable. What intrigues me though, is that war of all things suddenly becomes the reason of their... full of vitality."

General Verdict slowly approached me from behind.

She is the only general here who, from what I have heard, has a strong belief of war's crucial role on creating ideals.

"I never thought I would get to see you one day, General Verdict. I have heard many anecdotes of a warrior who believed that war was the wheel that kept the world alive. I guess now it is no more an anecdote."

A light smile appeared on her face, though an uncomfortable one.

"It is... sometimes concerning to me, how people interpretation of my viewpoint on war. I am not idealising war as a purpose of progressing, I am simply accepting it as an obvious reason of such."

An obvious reason of progressing, she said.

"It is indeed very tempting, trying to understand others approaches on this tiny little world we live in, don't you think? But now unfortunately is not the time to care for such matter. Miss Cecile, for this operation, you will be working with Brigadier General Ferich as a trainee commander. I hope for your cooperation. Please follow General Verdict instructions until then, Miss Cecile."

I was genuinely surprised to see the Great General came to us. General Verdict took me to where Brigadier General Ferich was to meet him.

There was one thing that bothered me the whole time... Albert and Luster were missing, again!

At ten o'clock in the evening, we began to approach the Eratus Citadel.

About half a fer from the citadel, Brigadier General Ferich's VI Brigade would launch a diversionary attack on the troops surrounding the citadel from the northwest and northeast.

Cannons, poisoned javelins and soldiers armed with muskets and flintlocks burst into the gate from both sides.

The artillery shells began to tear down the citadel walls, fell on the demons that were being burned by the burning bottles of kerosene.

The soldiers in the Eratus Citadel were ordered to leave from the back gate, leaving the demons as a mean to attack the Lieramus Kingdom.

We quickly took control of the citadel, with minimum casualties, the diversionary attack was a successful.

No doubt that those who controls the demons, if there truly is someone, would soon realize the plan did not just stop there, field army I and II quickly marched across the Radix forest bordering Lieramus.

The soldiers's fighting spirit was higher than ever, they had a reason to fight. Or something somewhat similar to a reason.

Ferich lightly put his hand on my shoulder, said in a voice of admiration.

"You know, we can gather such a large number of soldiers, is a part thanks to the Church. They have done an excellent job of spreading the word, the great significance of Operation Fulgurant to the people and soldiers of the Enlightenment."

He said it was…

"A campaign that will bring glory to the Holy Kingdom."

That's true.

A campaign that would put an end to all the suffering caused by the Enlightenment.

A campaign that the people will forever hail as the conquest of the Holy Spirit, the hammer of justice brought down upon the demons.

There will be no more shame, no more enmity.

Staying with this Kingdom and its people can only be wealth and prosperity.

Right.

But it only applies to those on the winning side.

Everyone knows the purpose of the campaign.

It's an unbelievably, ridiculously huge ambition…

I suddenly thought about how Albert's feelings would be.

Maybe... Magnificent.