Chapter 56: Fixed-Array Parallel Magic Circle Formula

"Hmm. This is using the high-density parallel-type Fixed-Array Magic Circle Formula I developed myself. It’s even optimized for multi-layer computation."

"Stop using words I don’t understand, Heishil. What does that actually mean?"

Heishil, still glancing between the magic device in his hand and the blueprints spread out before him, turned toward the Demon Lord’s voice behind him.

"My, my. Lord Maor, you’re far too impatient. Keep that up and you’ll never find a good marriage prospect, you know."

"Shut it."

"Mr. Heishil, could you maybe explain it in a way we can understand too?" Zex gently interjected.

Having just completed their raid on the Darei Tokazma Empire’s base, the Demon Lord’s group had gathered at one of their strongholds within the empire to examine the spoils of war taken from the operation.

"Very well. This magic device, engraved with a magic circle, allows anyone to cast a specific spell. If it’s a simple one, it’s the same sort of thing you all use in daily life."

"Like those ‘Light’ or ‘Heating’ magic plates…" Sylphy murmured softly.

She was referring to the convenient magical tools distributed by the Church for everyday use—though the general populace still had no real understanding of how they actually worked.

"Exactly. Those are magitech devices that continuously activate first- or second-rank spells by drawing on mana stored within a built-in magic crystal, while also absorbing ambient mana to sustain operation. That’s how they can emit light or produce warmth for extended periods. And this—" Heishil tapped the blueprint with his finger. "—is the latest, more advanced model."

"Then, Mr. Heishil, what kind of spell does that device contain?" Zex asked.

"The one sealed within this particular device is Meteor Summon: Meteor Strike, a tenth-rank spell. But at that level, the mana crystal’s consumption is astronomical, so it’s inefficient and rarely used."

"But in theory, it’s possible to make it work?" Zex pressed.

"Possible? Of course it’s possible. This is actually one of my old prototypes—something I supplied years ago. But it seems someone over there tossed it out, saying it was ‘too inefficient.’"

"I have no recollection of that," the Demon Lord replied flatly.

Catching Heishil’s accusing glare, Maor only tilted his head in honest confusion.

"Z-Zex, does that mean Lord Maor is actually—"

"Listen carefully, Sylphy. You didn’t hear anything. Understood?"

"…Ah, yes."

Faced with Zex’s serene smile, Sylphy wisely chose silence and emptied her thoughts.

"Still, looking at these blueprints, I can spot more than ten clear mistakes. It’s safe to assume they still haven’t managed to reproduce it properly. That means they probably just scavenged one of our old models and forcibly attached it to a golem. Even so—the way they’re channeling the crystal’s power is terribly wasteful. If I were handling it, I could boost its efficiency tenfold…"

Heishil muttered the last part under his breath.

"A magic device that lets an Iron Golem cast Meteor Strike, huh. I’d really appreciate it if you took better care of your inventory. Maybe stop spending all your time playing around with Ains."

At Zex’s quiet reprimand, the Demon Lord scowled and turned away.

"I’ll… take it under advisement."

"Sigh. Still, this is troublesome. Princess Sonia and Ains are both in the Paptes Kingdom right now, aren’t they?"

"And what of it?"

"Well, it looks like the Darei Tokazma Empire brought their Iron Golems into Paptes territory… meaning that same magic device could be—huh?"

Before Zex could finish, the Demon Lord’s expression shifted to shock—and in an instant, he vanished before their eyes.

Zex only shrugged.

"Honestly, what an impatient man."

◆◇◆◇◆

"Hey, Kamina. Do you have a moment?"

"What is it, Your Highness?"

The main encampment of the Paptes Kingdom army.

King Amashin of Paptes sat at the center of the command tent, surrounded by his high-ranking officers. One after another, messengers arrived with updates, which were reviewed and discussed before new orders were issued.

The atmosphere was tense, but not grim. Reports indicated that their forces were pushing the enemy back despite being outnumbered by the royal brother’s army.

Still, from my perspective, something seemed off—no one was writing down the orders or reports being exchanged.

So, perhaps because I had nothing better to do, I started taking notes myself, organizing all the incoming information on paper.

I even obtained a rough map of the surrounding area and began cross-referencing the reports—when I noticed something strange.

There were surprisingly few mentions of the golems.

"I thought there were supposed to be around a hundred of those golems, right?"

"That’s correct. At least a hundred confirmed, according to earlier reports."

"So, looking at everything I’ve recorded, there’s barely any sign of them. They’re massive, right? If they were anywhere nearby, someone would’ve reported seeing them."

"Indeed, that seems correct," Kamina replied.

"The royal brother’s army has over twenty thousand soldiers. This is clearly a full-scale engagement."

"That’s right."

"So… does that mean the golems are being held back, not fully deployed?"

"I hardly think that’s likely," Kamina answered cautiously.

"Then where on earth are the missing golems…"

A bad feeling settled in my chest. It felt like I was overlooking something important—something I shouldn’t be missing.

"Hey, Kamina. There’s a small investigation I’d like you to conduct."

"What would you like me to do, Your Highness?"

"According to this map, the positions where our forces and the royal brother’s army are facing each other—here and here—are along the southeastern lake."

I pointed to the northeast and southwest on the map. The royal brother’s troops held the northeast, while the Paptes Kingdom army held the southwest. A wide lake stretched across the southeast, but since neither side had a navy, no defensive lines had been established there.

"And the opposite side of the lake, the northwest, is forest. We don’t have enough troops stationed there."

I began placing rough markers—small stones—on the map to indicate approximate troop positions.

"Now, imagine the golems charging at us from that forest," I said, placing a larger stone to show where they might emerge.

"They’d cut us off and surround us," Kamina murmured quietly.

"No one would expect those massive giants to come out of the forest, so it would catch everyone off guard. I really hope I’m just worrying for nothing, but I want you to check if anything unusual has happened over there."

"Understood. I’ll investigate immediately," Kamina replied, hurrying off.

I turned my attention to Baron Alan, who stood awkwardly at the edge of the main camp. He was the reason I was stuck in this humiliating outfit in the first place.

"Baron, I’d like to investigate the forest in the northeast. Could you lend me some soldiers?"

"Hahaha…! I-I’m terribly sorry, Princess! Th-they… they’re here to protect this camp—and, more importantly, the King of Paptes! I can’t just let them go off on your whim… we’d need the King’s permission! Hahaha—"

A vein twitched in my temple. This guy… Couldn’t he show even a shred of cooperation? He seemed more concerned with his own safety than the situation at hand. Talking to him any further would be pointless.

I turned to one of the generals from the Sugarcreek Knights instead.

"I need to verify something quickly. Could you spare a reconnaissance unit?"

"Sigh. If it’s the Princess’ concern, then so be it," Baron Alan finally relented. "A reconnaissance squad of fifty soldiers just returned from the frontlines. You may use them."

"Thank you."

I lowered my eyes back to the map, tracing possible routes the golems might have taken.

No use—the forest was too vast.

I was still staring at the map when Kamina returned. She really was quick at gathering information.

"Princess Sonia, I’ve just returned," she reported.

"Oh, Kamina. How did it go?"

"There were no reports of anyone spotting golems. However, it seems a regular shipment of crops from a village in the northern part of the forest has been delayed—by about three days."

"Is that unusual?"

"Not particularly. It happens occasionally due to weather or other factors."

"…Do you know where that village is?"

"Yes. It’s here."
She marked the spot on the map, just north of the forest. It was a convenient location for resupply.

"Hmm… In the worst-case scenario, that village might already be occupied by the royal brother’s army and serving as their supply base. From there, a separate detachment of the golem army could move through the forest and launch a surprise attack on the Paptes Kingdom army’s flank."

"Is that even possible?"

"Exactly because we think it’s impossible, it’s the perfect setup for an ambush. It’s definitely worth investigating. Kamina, take the reconnaissance squad and head out immediately."

"Eh? Princess, you’re coming too?"

"Of course I am. I’m the one who came up with the plan. And besides…"

"And…?"

"I want to get out of this scandalous outfit as quickly as possible."

I tugged at my sheer, see-through cloak and shrugged.