The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 252

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

“I can easily summon several thousand.”

Exclamations burst out from various places at Annellia’s words.

Only Tian was looking at Annellia with a hardened expression.

Logrio spoke with an anxious voice.

“If you’re pushing yourself too hard…”

“I am pushing myself. But right now is a situation where I have to push myself.”

Silence descended inside the tent.

“Ninety percent of the Empire’s citizens are in the Imperial Capital. They’re people who entrusted their lives believing only in the barrier and the Imperial army.”

“…”

“I can’t guarantee I’ll save them all, but I have to try to minimize casualties as much as possible.”

“Annellia is right.”

Owen said.

He looked around at Tian, Logrio, and the other knights with a serious expression.

“There’s no way to evacuate the people staying in the Imperial Capital anyway. Time is tight, there’s no suitable place, and most importantly, we lack teleportation circles.”

Demon beast attacks always happened suddenly.

As a result, teleportation circles were needed every time forces were moved to locations under attack.

“Even pulling mana stones to deploy teleportation magic would be too much. We need to use the mana stones to operate weapons.”

Logrio nodded.

Annellia spoke again.

“What’s certain is that the more the enemy’s forces are dispersed, the higher our chances of victory. Also, since Michaeliann Gorge is entirely forest, we might be able to devise some decent tactics.”

Tian looked at Annellia.

“Michaeliann Gorge? The place where you plan to lure Crookiatus is Michaeliann Gorge?”

“Yes.”

Annellia got up from her seat and stood in front of the huge table placed in the center of the tent.

She pointed to the spread map, indicating the deep gorge located between where the former Longton Territory was and Abner Castle.

“It’s where the Michaeliann lived in hiding during the time they were misunderstood as dark mages. Long ago, it’s also the place where an evil dragon launched an attack and killed all blood relatives except Grandmother.”

Everyone’s eyes became serious.

“Crookiatus still feels disgusted that Grandmother survived and escaped that day. If he senses my presence there, there’s a high probability he’ll come.”

Tian’s eyes darkened.

He already knew well how desperately Crookiatus was trying to kill Annellia and her family.

But still, he felt uneasy.

“Also, there are Celestial Coordinates there.”

Then Annellia added calmly.

“I might be able to activate the mana amplification device that Father designed.”

“Annellia!”

Sharon, who had gone out searching, hurriedly entered the tent.

Annellia looked at Sharon with her lips pressed tight, then ran over and embraced her.

“Grandmother…”

Sharon, holding Annellia’s cheeks, carefully looked into her granddaughter’s eyes.

The face that had grown thin in just a few days was filled with deep burden and pain.

“I’m sorry…”

Sharon muttered without realizing it.

Even after searching the entire vicinity, even after dispatching numerous search parties, they couldn’t find Theo.

Theo seemed to have completely evaporated.

He had disappeared without leaving even a single trace, not even the aura of the mana he possessed.

“Please sit down first.”

Annellia quietly took Sharon’s arm and led her.

Sharon blankly looked at Annellia’s profile.

Just from her expression, she could tell the child was enduring through mental strength alone.

As soon as she sat down, Annellia spread out the map.

“You remember the plan Father was making to eliminate Crookiatus before rescuing Mother, right?”

Sharon stiffened before barely managing to answer.

“Celestial Coordinates, was it?”

Rico nodded.

“That’s right. There are four Celestial Coordinates in the Underworld where the power of the Heavenly Realm flows in. What my brother was researching was installing devices at those coordinates to amplify the power of the Heavenly Realm.”

Sharon’s eyes narrowed.

“Three of those devices have already been destroyed by Crookiatus… They were discovered when he was exposed as a traitor seven years ago.”

“But one remains. In Michaeliann Gorge.”

Annellia interjected.

“According to Lasandra, basically gods cannot intervene in the Underworld. While it was fine for Ulgen to care for Barkin and strike lightning a few times, proper intervention requires consensus from all members of the Heavenly Realm.”

“Then what about the contracts you and Tian made with gods?”

“It’s a kind of loophole. Since they can’t intervene openly, they take one soul from the Underworld and exercise power only through them. The important thing is that this remaining Celestial Coordinate can be used similarly…”

Sharon’s eyes widened.

Annellia walked toward a box on one side of the tent.

“The power flowing in there will probably be several times stronger than what Tian and I are borrowing from the gods.”

She took out a very complex and dense blueprint of a magical device from the box.

“If we use this amplification device well, we might be able to deal meaningful damage to Crookiatus’s main body.”

Sharon unconsciously furrowed her brow.

The number of Ancient Soldiers Annellia could summon was about three thousand.

If she could also use the power of the Heavenly Realm flowing into Michaeliann Gorge on top of that.

“We might be able to buy time.”

If time could be secured, the rest would become a matter of tactics and mental strength.

Then it would be fine to get hurt.

It would be fine to lose troops, and it wouldn’t matter to lose by a narrow margin.

As long as they weren’t completely annihilated, they could rise again.

Like they had done so far, they might be able to overcome this crisis too.

“…There’s nowhere left to retreat anyway.”

Sharon raised her head.

Firm determination settled in her eyes as she looked at Annellia.

“Let’s do that.”

Four hours until dawn.

I put on light armor over my upper body while looking at Armin and Dimas.

“I told you both not to worry so much.”

Dimas grabbed his forehead.

“How can we not worry? Does it make sense to take only that one thing to a place where you might face Crookiatus?”

“Isn’t that a bit harsh to say, even for royalty?”

Shasha, who was called ‘that one thing,’ immediately got angry.

He threateningly waved his right arm as if to show off.

“The power is better than you think. I killed more demon beasts than most knights in the first gate battle!”

“Annellia, let’s reconsider. This really doesn’t seem right. Since you’re taking Euriko anyway, take us too. Okay?”

I sighed.

“If you two use your abilities wrong, my Ancient Soldiers will be ruined. I’ve explained this to you already.”

What Dimas and Armin were borrowing was Hegatan’s power to control earth.

At sea, this power showed greater strength than expected.

Causing crustal movements underwater could create water spouts, whirlpools, and even tsunamis.

The problem was on land.

“If you use that in a place without water, the entire ground will be overturned. But my Ancient Soldiers are made of earth, so if something goes wrong, they might get swept away along with the enemy.”

“We know that, but…”

Armin trailed off with a dejected expression.

“Come to think of it, that’s the same for Euriko! She also causes explosions and dust clouds when she uses her abilities!”

“Euriko has precise aim, so it’s completely different.”

“We also have precise aim…!”

“Can’t you both just stop? Annellia’s already troubled enough… seriously, ugh.”

Then Euriko growled.

“Is this the time to be whining? Annellia gave you two a separate task. Stay at the castle with Duke Abner and if any support requests come in, rush over quickly.”

“We’re just worried. Abner Castle is safe anyway because of the barrier and the monument…”

“Ugh, how many times do I have to say that if too many people gather at Michaeliann Gorge, Crookiatus will notice! For an ambush to work, we need to keep our numbers as low as possible! Is sending the entire army charging into enemy territory an assassination? You send only one assassin for an assassination!”

Euriko shook her fist at Armin and Dimas.

“I’m saying this for the last time? While I’m still smiling nicely, wait at the castle. Annellia’s family members are all there too, so make sure to assist them properly.”

Finally, Armin nodded his head.

At that moment, the tent door opened.

Euriko’s eyes widened at the sight of Tian entering.

Then she hurriedly dragged Armin, Dimas, and Shasha outside.

“Talk! We’ll be outside.”

As soon as the door closed, Tian approached and gently touched my cheek.

“Are you all ready?”

I nodded my head.

“Yes. What about you? Are you all ready to go to the Imperial Capital?”

“I’m all ready too.”

Tian added calmly.

“Let’s talk for a moment before we leave.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————