The moment they emerged from underground, a bright light stung their eyelids. Goat staggered slightly and squinted.

“I’ve been underground for so long; the sunlight hurts my eyes.”

“Feeling like a mole?”

“A mole?”

Confused by the question, Yuichiro showed a faint smile. It seemed that moles don’t exist in this world, or they might be called by a different name.

“I’ll have to get used to it gradually.”

If he was going to live in this world, he would have to gradually change what he had learned in the other world. Goat tilted his head, still seeming puzzled by Yuichiro’s muttering.

As they started walking, multiple figures running toward them became visible. They were recognizable subordinates.

“Goddess-sama!”

The first to shout was Evelise. Her hair had grown longer than the last time Yuichiro saw her.

Standing beside her, Kiki groaned.

“I’m so relieved you’re safe…”

She seemed to be burdened by guilt for having allowed Azrael to abduct Yuichiro right before her eyes. Kiki’s face was distorted as if she would burst into tears. Tyet took a step forward and knelt on one knee.

“I’m glad you’re safe, Goddess-sama. However, it was due to our inadequacy that you were put in danger. Please feel free to punish us however you see fit.”

Kiki and Belz also began to kneel, but Yuichiro stopped them with a wave of his hand.

“Don’t be foolish. I know you all did your best. There’s no need for punishment. Lift your heads.”

Immediately, Tyet stood up and looked intently at Yuichiro, casting a glance at Goat behind him as well. Sensing the gaze, Yuichiro took the initiative.

“For a particular reason, I needed to go into hiding. Goat helped me stage that. Therefore, from this moment, he will be my deputy as before.”

The squadron leaders seemed momentarily confused but soon enough, Tyet spoke.

“If that’s what you say, it shall be so.”

“My word is final.”

“Understood.”

Tyet seemed to have convinced himself with that brief exchange. His gaze moved to Goat, and his previously tense expression loosened into a look of disbelief.

“You look terrible.”

“That’s what happens when you live underground for a long time.”

“Good riddance.”

Tyet sarcastically squinted, and Goat shrugged his shoulders in response.

“Sorry for leaving everything to you.”

“Do you know how hard it is to organize a ragtag army?”

With that, Tyet let out a big sigh. However, his expression bore a somewhat relieved smile. 

“The subordinates don’t know anything. You’re still known as the demon deputy. Please tighten the reins again.”

When Tyet lightly raised both hands, Goat grinned. 

“I owe you one. Next time, I’ll treat you to a visit to the brothel.”

“Ah, please arrange for at least five beauties.”

Lightly joking, Goat and Tyet laughed as if they were accomplices in a crime. Kiki looked at the situation with disdain, and the silent Yama finally opened his lips.

“The troop’s training is sufficient. We’re ready to be deployed anytime.”

“We’ve also conducted shooting training with the guns received from Kandara, and everyone is able to use them without any issues.”

Next to Yama, Belz said with a pleasant smile.

Hearing this, Yuichiro quickly asked, “How many guns?”

“A thousand. As per the goddess’s instructions, only the members of the goddess’s team have been given them. Anyone who leaks them will be severely punished,” said Evelise, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.

“Good. Prepare for deployment. The enemy’s attack will begin soon.”

As soon as he said that, Kiki questioned him with a skeptical look. 

“How do you know?”

“Because I’ve returned.”

Kiki had a puzzled expression on her face. As Yuichiro returned her gaze, he thought, ‘Surely, that guy will come to end everything.’

Azrael must have known that he was back. All the actors needed to complete the butterfly’s flapping are in place. Therefore, he was certain that Edward would initiate the final battle soon.

At that moment, a soldier could be seen running up.

“Urgent message! The rebel army has started advancing on the Am Edge Plain!”

Faster than he’d imagined, Yuichiro almost clicked his tongue. Edward must be very impatient. Yuichiro turned to his squadron leaders and quickly commanded,

“Prepare for deployment immediately. Hurry.”

He changed into his military uniform, tightly tied his boot laces, and slung on his Kandara-made gun. Now he was ready to deploy.

As he was about to leave the room, he ran into Noah and Temeraire, who were also dressed in white military uniforms.

“Combat has started in the Am Edge Plain.”

“I see. I’ll head there right away.”

As he responded, he quickly advanced down the hallway. Noah and Temeraire followed behind.

“I’m also going.”

“The king is going to the frontlines?”

Smiling sarcastically at Noah’s words, Yuichiro had somewhat expected them. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Noah nodding deeply.

“The rebel army is mobilizing all its forces. They’re probably planning to make this the final battle. In that case, it’s better for me to be on the battlefield to boost the soldiers’ morale.”

“Having the king to defend on the battlefield will communicate determination to the soldiers.”

It seemed that even Temeraire was on Noah’s side. Yuichiro shifted his gaze forward and curtly stated, “Do as you wish.”

When he arrived at the main gate, the formation was already in place. The soldiers of the Goddess Squad murmured when they saw Yuichiro, “The goddess… He’s alive…” Among them, some even seemed to be tearing up.

As he strode to the front of the formation, he saw the neat and tidy figure of Goat. His once long beard had been shaved, and his hair was back to its original length. Holding the reins of a beautiful white horse, Goat grinned and opened his lips.

“Captain Ogami, shall we go?”

“Yes.”

Noah, standing behind Yuichiro, locked eyes with Goat and declared, “Goat, we haven’t forgiven you.”

“Of course, I understand.”

When Goat answered in a serious tone, Noah’s eyes narrowed even more. He thumped Goat’s left chest with his right fist and spoke in a growling voice.

“You were saved. Now risk your life to protect Yuichirou.”

“Even without being told, my life belongs to Captain Ogami.”

Goat responded as if it was a matter of course. After giving Goat a piercing look, Noah walked away. Temeraire followed Noah, his gaze toward Goat cold and detached.

As the two left, Goat once again wore a nonchalant smile.

“Scary folks, aren’t they?”

“It’s because of your actions,” Yuichiro retorted, seemingly annoyed. Goat shrugged lightly. Yuichiro silently accepted the reins Goat extended and quickly mounted the horse. The moment he leapt off the ground, he felt a slight pain in his lower abdomen but clenched his teeth to bear it. The white horse neighed and shook its massive body. As Yuichiro gently pulled the reins to calm it, Goat spoke up.

“Please address them.”

Yuichiro looked at the well-arranged formation. Hundreds of eyes were focused on him, waiting for the Goddess’s words.

For a moment, he felt a heavy burden on his shoulders. However, that weight quickly vanished. Looking at the soldiers who stood up straight like elementary school students, Yuichiro spoke loudly.

“I apologize for the worry.”

The moment he said those words, a collective groan was heard. A significant number of soldiers covered their eyes with one hand, sobbing. It seemed the absence of the Goddess had placed more mental strain on them than he’d thought. Seeing this, Yuichiro let out a wry smile.

“It’s too early to cry. Look up, look at me.”

At his words, the sobbing soldiers raised their faces. Yuichiro’s gaze slowly scanned each of their faces.

“Is there anyone here afraid to fight?”

Immediately, a unified voice resonated.

“We are not afraid!”

The electrifying atmosphere made Yuichiro involuntarily smile. Once again, he spoke.

“Who will protect this country?”

“We will protect it!”

“Who will end the war?”

“We will end it!”

“For whom do we fight?”

“For the Goddess! For King Noah! For our homeland!”

With each word, Yuichiro could feel the soldiers’ fervor escalating. As they were shouting, the soldiers stomped one foot on the ground with a resounding “Don!” Feeling the vibrations resonating within him, Yuichiro almost lost himself to a sense of exhilaration barely distinguishable from a chill rising from the depths of his body. Looking at the soldiers, whose eyes were ablaze with passion, Yuichiro raised his voice calmly.

“Proud, fearless brethren. From now on, we go to end this war, to create a minor nightmare. Disperse them, crush them, mow them all down. Make the rebels fully aware of our power.”

As he said this, a chorus of battle cries, “Oooooo!”, reverberated across the land. The ground shook violently, causing the horses to nervously stomped their feet.

Tightly pulling on the reins, Yuichiro loudly declared, “Goddess Squad, move out!”

As they were approaching the battlefield, the smell of gunpowder and blood intensified. The intermittent sounds of cannon fire were heard in the distance, but as the sun set, these sounds gradually faded into the quiet. By the time they reached the main camp set up on the Am Edge Plain, the surroundings were already shrouded in twilight.

Upon entering the headquarters, Yuichiro noticed Kiehland, his face caked with mud, discussing something with a subordinate over a map. Upon noticing Yuichiro, Kiehland briefly widened his eyes, then grimaced.

Kiehland glanced at his subordinates, who wisely exited the tent swiftly. Once all were out of sight, Kiehland finally opened his mouth.

“So you lived.”

“Managed somehow.”

After hearing such a light-hearted respond, Kiehland snorted before retorting, “If you are to be revered as a Goddess, never leave King Noah alone again.”

At Kiehland’s words, Yuichiro shrugged.

“Sorry about that. I appreciate you holding the fort in my absence.”

“Your thanks are unnecessary. I merely fulfilled my duty.”

“Even so, thank you for protecting Noah.”

At the uncharacteristic gratitude from Yuichiro, Kiehland wore an indescribable, complex expression. Then, as if drained of all hostility, he sighed heavily.

“Your noble attitude irritates me.”

“That’s harsh.”

“Enough idle talk. Let’s get to the point.”

Waving his hand dismissively, Kiehland declares. Yuichiro briefly shrugs and gazes at the map spread out on the table.

“The situation is—”

“Due to the earlier attack, the rebel forces have advanced to this position on the Am Edge Plains.”

A red piece representing the rebel forces on the map was moved toward the center of the plains. Watching this, Yuichiro slightly furrowed his brows.

“We’re being pushed back quite a bit.”

“Many soldiers were taken down in the surprise attack before we could even prepare. What hurt us the most was that they targeted the militia.”

“Militia?”

“Right after you left for Goldar, people rose up everywhere. ‘Let’s all fight to make this country a place we can be proud of,’ they said.”

Yuichiro felt something surge up from deep within his chest. These words echoed what Noah had said in the tavern among the Eastern tribes.

As Yuichiro remained silent, Kiehland continued in a bitter tone.

“They deliberately targeted the militia. We couldn’t abandon them, and so the regular army had no choice but to fall behind. That was the cause of our defeat.”

Kiehland glared angrily at the map. Yuichiro, still looking at the map, thought for a moment.

“Do they underestimate the militia?”

“They completely do.”

“Then, the battle strategy is pretty much set.”

The moment he said that, Kiehland looked up, puzzled. Yuichiro smiled and called out loudly toward the outside of the camp.

“Goto, come in.”

“Yes, yes, did you call for me?”

With a cheerful voice, Goto slipped into the tent. Yuichiro addressed him directly.

“Gather the militia and distribute the remaining Kandara guns. Teach them how to use it by tonight.”

“By tonight? That’s quite demanding.”

“I’m not expecting Goddess Squad-level accuracy. Just teach them how to shoot.”

“So, just hit and miss is fine?”

“Exactly. However, be strict in managing the distributed guns.”

Goto nodded deeply, chuckled, and left the tent. Once he was gone, Kiehland expressed his confusion.

“What are you planning?”

“They’ll probably target the militia again tomorrow. So, we’ll simply make use of that.”

Smirking, Yuichiro tapped a location near the regular army headquarters on the map with his index finger. On that spot, a peculiar upside-down triangle mark was placed.

“What is this mark?”

“Ah, it indicates that this particular area of the Am Edge Plains has a notable elevation difference.”

“Elevation difference?”

“Simply put, it’s a depression.”

At that moment, Yuichiro’s smile deepened involuntarily. Perfect terrain for creating hell, a human mortar and pestle.

“You know, Joseph.”

Softly calling him by his first name, Kiehland visibly grimaced. Staring at that expression, Yuichiro whispered in a soothing voice.

“Let’s create a nightmare together.”