The following afternoon,

Kang Chul-In ordered all soldiers that were capable of long-range attack to bombard the 18thpeak.

Bang!

Twelve magic-engineered artilleries breathed fire.

”!أھم عناوین الصحف الیومیة“

Nilus and his magic troop also cast spells and attacked.

-Kuahhhhh!

Ten Arkellons were also showering the enemy base with water cannons.

“Drakan.” Kang Chul-In called the general over.

“Yes, your Majesty.”

“Once the bombing is over, lead five thousand men and pretend to attack the enemy base for about two hours. It’s a ‘pretend’ attack, not an actual attack. Understood?” Kang Chul-In issued an incomprehensible command.

“You mean to fake our attacks?”

“That’s right.”

“Kehem…” Drakan tilted his head, as if questioning Kang Chul-In’s intent. Kang Chul-In grinned and asked,

“Why, you think it’s ineffective?”

“T-To be honest, yes. In order to launch an all-out attack, we should let our soldiers rest… Isn’t it advantageous for us to remain at status quo? Furthermore, don’t we still lack the solution for that horrifying item, Death Calling?” The soldiers of Laputa were indeed well-trained, but they were tired from the continuous marching through the past 17 peaks. It would be a wise move to let them rest for the all-out attack.

“I agree that it’s inefficient.” Kang Chul-In nodded.

“However, it’s still necessary for us.”

“May I ask why, your Majesty? Enlighten this humble servant of yours!” Drakan was a great soldier but he lacked a tactical mind. He wanted to hear the answer.

“Aleister thinks that our army is anxious to conquer the 18thpeak. He assumes that we will have to move fast before the reinforcements arrive.”

“I agree, your Majesty.”

“So, if we take our own sweet time at the 17thpeak, what do you think Aleister will think?”

“...!”

“He will start to become skeptical. There’s a slight but real chance that he may deduce Vilhelm’s betrayal just from observing our army’s movement.”

“Hoh…!”

Kang Chul-In was extremely meticulous.

He knew that Aleister lacked the insight and intelligence to analyze the battlefield, but he was being extra cautious.

“How do you think Aleister will respond?”

“Won’t he try to escape?”

“I will never let him escape. I won’t even let him use the Absolute Return Scroll.”

“…!”

“Overlord Aleister shall die under the full moon.”

It was almost like a prophecy.

Kang Chul-In was determined to destroy Aleister once and for all.

“A perfect strategy indeed!” Drakan admired Kang Chul-In’s wisdom.

“That’s to be given. As the old saying goes, a lion puts in its 100% to chase down even a rabbit. The enemy is not just a rabbit, but an Overlord. Isn’t it better to attack relentlessly and deprive him of any space to breathe?”

“Yes, your Majesty! You are certainly right!” Drakan kneeled in front of Kang Chul-In.

“I, Drakan, shall heed your Majesty’s order to deceive the evil undead army! Do watch me, your Majesty!”

“Good! I’m counting on you.”

“Yes, your Majesty!” Drakan answered him and left the tent.

“Lucia.”

“Yes, your Majesty.”

“You are next. Same orders. Six hours after Drakan has returned, lead five thousand men and pretend to attack the enemy base.”

“Yes, your Majesty!”

The feared double-shift system!

If they pretended to attack every six hours, Aleister would believe wholeheartedly that the Laputan army was running out of time.

It would be hell for the Laputan soldiers carrying out the mission, of course.

“Right, I shall formulate my plan to address the Death Calling then. Let me know if there’s any problem.”

“Yes, your Majesty!”

Kang Chul-In left the tent after handing out his instructions.

***

‘Omega’ was a small fortress on the summit of the 18thpeak.

“Those vicious bastards!” Aleister grit his teeth as he glared at the Laputan army positioned at the 17thpeak.The Laputan army was extremely offensive.

It was bombing the 18thpeak relentlessly, while also attacking the base every six hours. For four whole days without rest! This almost gave Aleister a headache.

“You sly bastards… keep attacking all you want! Think I will let you find any opening?” Aleister snickered.

He deduced that Laputa was not attacking with 100% of its power yet.

He believed the Laputan army was making strategic movements to find any aperture in Aleister’s defense. Otherwise, it would not have divided its forces and attack and retreat at regular intervals.

“Stonebridge!”

“Yes, your Majesty!”

“Those sly bastards are going to continue provoking and retreating for some time. It’s most likely an effort to sniff out our weakness like a hyena.”

“Do you wish to strengthen our defense?”

“That’s precisely right.”

“Yes, your Majesty. We shall maintain our ironclad defense!” Stonebridge bowed to Aleister’s command.

“Huehue… Kang Chul-In… You must be feeling anxious right now, eager to destroy me before the reinforcements arrive… Am I right?” A despicable grin spread across Aleister’s thin face.

“Try your best to find an opening, Kang Chul-In! No matter how vigorously you attack, I shall not step a single foot out of this fortress before the reinforcements arrive… Watch me…! I shall destroy you when your soldiers finally begin to tire out… huehuehue…”

As Kang Chul-In had expected, Aleister was focused solely on defending, taking advantage of the undead monsters’ unlimited stamina. In other words, he was activating ‘Galaxy Defense’ mode.

Aleister, however, didn’t have the slightest clue that everything was going according to Kang Chul-In’s plan.

He did reveal some insight and made a logical judgment, but Kang Chul-In unfortunately had Aleister in the palm of his hand.

***

Kang Chul-In summoned Nilus into his tent after successfully tricking Aleister.

“You’ve called, your Majesty!”

Nilus, an old magician with the appearance of an elementary school kid, bowed to Kang Chul-In.

“I need your help, Nilus.”

“Anything, your Majesty!”

“Can you make me disappear from all dimensions for just 5 minutes?”

“…I beg your pardon?” Nilus gave Kang Chul-In a puzzled response.

Indeed, it was absurd for someone to request to disappear from all dimensions for 5 minutes.

“Just like what I have said. Can you make me non-existent for 5 minutes?”

“W-Well, it’s certainly not possible.”

“Hmm…”

“I, your humble servant, may be a good magician, but I am no God. How could I cast such a high-level magic? Even an ancient dragon that had mastered the art of magic would refrain from trying it.”

“Is that so…”

“…?”

“I guess there’s no choice.”

Kang Chul-In frowned slightly and muttered to himself, then commanded Nilus.

“Hear, Nilus the Grand Mage.”

“Yes, your Majesty.”

“Starting now, you and the magic troop shall cease all attacks and focus on one task.”

“May I ask what that task is?”

“Here.” Kang Chul-In handed a scroll over to Nilus.

“What is this?”

“Open it and you will know. In fact, open it now.”

“Yes, your Majesty.” Nilus opened the scroll.

Some time passed.

“W-What?!” Nilus was flabbergasted, to the point where he almost dropped the scroll.

“Possible?”

“Y-your Majesty…!”

“Why, can’t do it?”

“Haha….” Nilus could not respond immediately. It showed just how difficult Kang Chul-In’s task was.

“If this goes unsettled… there’s a high chance for me to die instantly. In fact, I’m guaranteed to die. It’s written there for you to read, but the weapon Death Calling can even defeat a mighty dragon.”

“Y-your Majesty!”

“If you can’t accomplish this mission, I have to withdraw my army. That’s the only solution I have for Death Calling.”

“Kehem…!” Nilus cleared his throat.

“Just speak honestly. Can you do it?”

“As for that…” Nilus contemplated for a moment and cautiously opened his mouth.

“If there’s an enormous amount of magic gems, it might be possible.”

“Magic gems?”

“Yes, your Majesty. Cost wise, about…a hundred thousand gold’s worth of magic gem may possibly let you disappear for 5 minutes.”

“A hundred thousand gold…”

Kang Chul-In was visibly concerned.

A hundred thousand gold was a hefty cost, especially since Laputa’s finance situation had only just started to stabilize.

“Alright.”

Kang Chul-In, however, was willing to bear through this enormous cost.

It was understandable.

Two years have passed since the second Great Summoning.

Kang Chul-In had been holding it in since. As Rothschild had already escaped, he could only be satisfied by killing Aleister.

“I shall sponsor the hundred thousand gold.”

“…!”

“In return, it must work without fail. Otherwise… I’m a dead man.”

“Your Majesty…!”

“I trust you, Nilus. From this moment onwards, till the end of the war, I shall entrust my life to you.”

“What!?”

Nilus’ eyes widened exponentially.

“Your Majestyyyyy!”

Thump!

Nilus bowed in front of Kang Chul-In and smacked his forehead onto the floor.

“I, Nilus, shall take your Majesty’s orders and exert myself to the fullest to accomplish my mission!”

His voice reverberated in the tent.

“Sob…” Then, he started to cry.

“Why are you crying?”

“I am deeply moved, your Majesty.”

“…?”

“For your Majesty to entrust your life to me, a humble servant, what greater honor can there be? This shall be my family’s pride and honor for generations to come. Leave the work to me!” Nilus clenched both of his fists, while bleeding from his forehead.

“Excellent.” Kang Chul-In nodded in great delight.

He even got Nilus up himself and wiped his tears.

“I feel assured after witnessing your resolve.”

“It’s my honor, your Majesty!!!” Nilus bowed his head once again.

What a lad.

Kang Chul-In smiled with content.

A Lord’s role was to manage his people.

Thus, for a leader to have such a loyal subordinate was nothing but a great delight.

“You may leave to prepare for your duties. I shall send the magic gems over in about two hours.”

“Yes, your Majesty!”

Nilus left Kang Chul-In’s tent hurriedly.

“Signaller!“

“Yes, your Majesty!”

“Give a call to Dorado.”

Within five minutes, Lee Chae Rin’s hologram appeared in front of Kang Chul-In.

“Lee Chae-Rin.”

-Yes, Mr. Chul-In. What’s up?

“Do you happen to have some magic gems in your storage?”

-I do indeed. I won’t say there’s many but there should be quite a number.

“How much is it cost wise?”

-A rough estimate would be 120 thousand gold.

“That’s more than enough.”

-Sorry?

“Those magic gems, can you sell all of them to me?”

He needed the magic gems anyways, so he even bought an extra 20 thousand gold’s worth of magic gems. If Timothy knew this, he would have collapsed onto the floor.

-That’s not too hard. But the price may be too high…

“Ahem…”

-You know what, just take them for a hundred thousand gold.

Lee Chae Rin was feeling benevolent.

“…!”

-This discount is only for you, Mr Chul-In!

It was an incredible discount indeed.

“Thank you.” Kang Chul-In valued Lee Chae Rin’s altruism. It was a good thing he saved her previously.

“Ah, also,” Kang Chul-In added.

“I will pay you immediately after the war ends.”

-No problem. Do you wish to pay in installments?

Lee Chae Rin reached out a helping hand again, as she knew exactly what kind of rough situation Kang Chul-In was in.

-36 months installment shall be easier….

“No.” Kang Chul-In rejected Lee Chae Rin’s proposal.

“I do not want that.”

-I-Is that so?

“A man pays in full. In cash.”

-…

“Alright then, send me the gems within two hours.”

Kang Chul-In ended the call.

Yes, it was a matter of pride.

A real man couldn’t care less about installments.

***

Meanwhile in Laputa,

“Hmm?”

Timothy, Laputa’s administrative supply officer, had shuddered in anxiety.

Shiver, shiver…!

His body trembled for no reason.

It was as if the country’s finances which he worked so hard to stabilize was going to collapse.

“D-Don’t tell me?” Timothy suddenly pictured his master’s face.

Whenever he felt a similar feeling, it always had to do something with Kang Chul-In.

“N-No way. No way…” Timothy shook his head vigorously.

Flap, flap!

The goblin’s long ears flapped up and down.

“Your Majesty, you can’t do that… Timothy, your humble servant, believes in you…” Timothy tried his best to rid this ominous feeling.

What did it take to stabilize Laputa’s finances?

They literally started from the bottom and struggled hard to finally become an affluent nation. It would be a disaster for Timothy if the nation’s finance suddenly went back to square one.

The problem was that… it actually happened.