Yura's efforts steadily fortified the interior of the fortress.
At first glance it wasn't obvious, but over time their effects were beginning to show.
The soldiers of the Demon King's army moved with noticeably greater proficiency, and the deployed defensive magic had increased in precision.
As a result, a more robust defense was constructed.
The outer walls were also reinforced by vines, making them difficult to break with mediocre magic.
With these factors combined, the local army aiming to retake the fortress was struggling.
The units in the rear were already showing movements akin to retreat.
They were falling back while striking down their comrades who had turned into undead.
This left the front-line soldiers in a miserable state.
They had undead lurking behind them, and the outer wall they needed to advance toward was overflowing with undead as well.
They were perfectly caught in a pincer.
They pressed their attack in a near-frenzied state.
Though their numbers gradually dwindled, they forcefully cut down the undead ahead.
They advanced, clearing a path with magical flames.
Then, the sound of gunshots echoed.
Front-line soldiers fell, blood spraying.
Looking up, the Demon King's army was perched atop the outer wall.
Most of their subordinates had rifles leveled.
In the center, holding a bow, was Henry.
"Right on time! Let me give you a proper welcome!"
Henry loosed his arrow with a grin.
The magician, staff at the ready, died instantly with an arrow through his neck.
Right after, the Demon Lord's Army launched a full-scale assault.
Gunshots rang out in rapid succession, each one cutting down soldiers.
Red stains scattered across the pristine white snowfield.
The weapons used by his subordinates were a new type of firearm developed over the past year.
They were manufactured with reference to the memories of John Doe.
In his homeland, they were apparently called assault rifles or automatic rifles.
Capable of firing bullets at speeds invisible to the naked eye, they possessed annihilation power incomparable to existing firearms.
If the issue of needing large quantities of ammunition could be solved, they would surely be unrivaled in strength.
This was the new weapon Luciana had spoken of.
He already knew its performance and had even tested it at the laboratory.
However, seeing it deployed like this in actual combat changed his impression.
The counterattack from the opposing army was being defended against by the Demon Lord's Army's magicians.
Beside him, Yura was manipulating the mana density outside the fortress, creating conditions that made spellcasting difficult.
It was sabotage to ensure their comrades could fight smoothly.
Yura seemed to excel in those kinds of precise operations.
The Demon Lord's Army fired in sporadic volleys.
Isolated, the enemy army was annihilated in the blink of an eye.
The remaining soldiers became fodder for the undead.
(The nature of war has changed...)
Currently, with the demon king's domain monopolizing the technology, there's no immediate concern.
But eventually, nations that can imitate it will emerge.
Given enough time, factions that can independently develop similar weaponry will inevitably arise.
Unchecked technological advancement could easily become a scourge.
This was a lesson learned in the war against John Doe.
Perhaps they should be selective about which weapons the demon king's army adopts.
For excessively powerful weapons, they should devise ways to ensure they don't fall into the hands of ordinary soldiers.
Fundamentally, it would be efficient to keep them isolated within the research institute and deploy them only in specific, critical situations.
While his thoughts wandered, the soldiers on the isolated front line had been completely wiped out.
The army left in the rear was now in full-scale retreat.
They were attempting to flee while launching diversionary spells toward the fortress.
The demon king's army did not pursue, watching them grow smaller in the distance.
Because total annihilation was not the objective.
Inflicting moderate casualties and causing enemy hostility to converge upon the demon king's army was sufficient.
This time, they had also unveiled an overwhelmingly powerful weapon.
The enemy had experienced its terror firsthand.
They would surely spread the word quickly.
The demon king's army raised a cheer.
It was an ideal victory.
On other continents as well, the Demon Lord Army's operations were progressing smoothly.
They would consolidate their invasion foundations, observe the reactions of various nations, and continue strengthening their forces.
However, they had no intention of annihilating the world itself.
Nor would they let it rest easy.
They would continue the war as before.
And spread a twisted peace.