(A shell engraved with magical formulas)
I fixed my gaze on the incoming object and identified its nature.
Provisions for stabilizing its trajectory while also accelerating the shell were employed throughout.
On top of that, a powerful holy attribute was imbued into it.
A remarkably advanced weapon.
It seemed the Empire was in a state where it could install multiple units of this caliber.
This wasn't in the intelligence from our spies.
As expected, it must have been kept secret.
For my subordinates to miss it, the information management must have been exceedingly thorough.
I observed the approaching shell and began deciphering the composition of its formulas.
In the span of an instant, I deduced its general effect and destructive power.
This was something I had been skilled at since my lifetime, so I had at least until impact.
The result was that substandard defensive magic might easily be shattered by it.
Furthermore, its flight speed made evasion difficult.
The purpose was likely to force the target into a defensive posture and then pierce straight through.
A rather vicious method, yet the design philosophy was logically sound.
An average mage wouldn't even react before taking the hit and dying instantly.
The surrounding area being so devastated must be traces of Grom's desperate fight.
In my case, I could dodge with teleportation.
I could also block it by increasing my magic's output, but surely it wouldn't come to that.
It seemed like a good opportunity to test the cannon's capabilities.
It was an undeniable fact that they possessed a secret weapon.
There remained the possibility they were hiding other things as well.
If I could determine the cannon's characteristics and weaknesses now, it might prove useful in other situations.
(For now, I just have to do something about it.)
The cannonball was already bearing down on my position.
In the blink of an eye, it would shatter this body.
I extended magic forward, shaping it into hundreds of thousands of threads.
In doing so, I focused on imbuing them with elasticity.
I wove the bundle of created threads into a mesh, positioning it to intercept the approaching projectile.
Immediately after, the cannonball plunged en masse into the magical net.
Fixed in place, the net stretched under the force and impact of the blow.
Sparks flew as the cannonball spun at high velocity.
Though it groaned violently, the magical net did not break.
Once the net reached the limit of its stretch, the strong elasticity sent the cannonball rebounding back.
The vertically spinning projectiles reversed course, hurtling toward the Imperial Capital.
As they scattered, they exploded against the outer wall, causing a section to collapse in a burst of flame.
Unfortunately, one of the cannonballs struck a cannon directly, setting it ablaze.
I could see soldiers, engulfed in flames, tumbling out from inside.
That cannon, it appeared, had a crew operating it from within.
"Indeed, Lord Demon King! A splendid counterattack!"
Grom peered up from a fissure in the ground to praise me.
Though his bony features couldn't change expression, I could feel the profound respect he held.
Feeling a strange mix of discomfort at his minion-like appearance and satisfaction, I surveyed the results of the counterattack.
The cannons that had finished firing were red-hot, emitting white smoke.
Their magical formulas weren't functioning, and the infused mana was destabilizing wildly.
Judging by their state, sustained fire would be impossible.
That must be why they'd increased the number of cannons.
They were compensating for the drawback of single-shot design with sheer quantity.
The cannons that hadn't activated in the initial volley remained silent and motionless.
Since their formulas were operational, they should have been able to fire at any moment.
The fact they hadn't suggested they feared being repelled again, like before.
They must be reeling from the damage right now.
The mana net used for reflection was broken.
Fragments were torn away, leaving the formula unstable.
If I had to defend against another bombardment, it would surely break through.
(Impressive power. I have to admit that much.)
It was unexpected that the Empire possessed such weaponry.
The high-speed projectiles wreathed in holy attributes were clearly designed to kill me.
While I managed to block them in the end, their tactical insight was remarkably sharp.
Only a few months have passed since I began my reign as the Demon Lord, but for them to have developed this in such a short time...
That feels off, given the performance.
Setting aside its rate of fire, that cannon was fully functional as a weapon.
If the Demon Lord's army, minus its executives, were to assault the city, they would suffer heavy losses before even reaching the outer walls.
It was a weapon of that caliber.
I couldn't imagine such a thing could be manufactured so easily.
(Perhaps they refined the magic-circle cannons they had been developing previously into an anti-Demon Lord weapon?)
Integrating the information within my grasp, that seemed the most plausible theory.
Looking back through history, it was a nation that had risen to power through wars of aggression.
Given they had even invaded the World Tree Forest, it went without saying that they remained enthusiastic about warfare.
It would not be surprising at all if they had been developing new weapons for several years prior.
As for the actual circumstances, I intended to uncover them by investigating the Imperial Capital.
If I ransacked key facilities, relevant documents would surely surface.
I should also learn about their connections with other nations.
(…Sending the Demon Lord's army straight to the capital like this might be dangerous.)
I stared at the cannon as I pondered.
There was the terrifying possibility that the Empire possessed other unknown weapons besides that one.
Charging in based solely on our streak of victories would likely result in substantial casualties.
That said, erasing the capital with large-scale magic was out of the question.
The damage to humanity would be far too great, and nothing would remain.
While it would convey the threat of the Demon King, in the long run it would be a bad move.
The Empire must not be destroyed.
For this invasion, I will merely weaken its power sufficiently and prompt collaboration with other nations.
My aim is not the annihilation of the world.
For these reasons, I will proceed to infiltrate the Imperial Capital alone for now.
The Demon King's army will be placed on standby in the occupied cities, after which they will be ordered to establish new borders.
Thus, we will claim new territory.
By causing the Empire to lose strategically and economically vital zones, it will be sufficiently weakened.
Additionally, I will have them seize the outer wall cannons.
Those are interesting weapons.
I definitely want to capture them for research back at the Royal Capital.
They would be useful for us as well.
Having gathered my thoughts, I send instructions to Grom.
"I will attack the Imperial Capital alone. You are to take charge of defending the Royal Capital."
"Yes! Understood! And what of the Demon King's army to the rear?"
"They are to stand by. Tell them to remain vigilant."
"Understood!"
Grom emerged from the fissure with brisk movements.
He spewed flames from the soles of his feet and shot off into the distance at tremendous speed.
I watched him go, then turned my gaze towards the direction of the Imperial Capital.
It remained quiet, with no notable movement.
The army did not appear, nor were any shells fired.
It was eerily calm.
Perhaps they were watching and waiting.
Since our artillery had proven ineffective, they might intend to drag this into a siege.
As expected, numerous defensive magic barriers began to manifest along the outer wall.
The Imperial Capital was solidifying its impregnable stance.
(If you intend to hole up, then we will not hesitate to come for you)
I circulated miasma and mana throughout my body.
Ideally, I would have led an invasion with the Demon Lord's Army organization, but circumstances had changed somewhat.
This time, I would prioritize the safety of my subordinates, ensuring we were at full strength.
It would mean extra effort on my part, but if it secured my forces' safety, it was a small price to pay.
It was absolutely not because my subordinates were weak.
It was my failure to accurately grasp the situation and issue proper commands.
Therefore, I would rectify that here.
Keeping a watchful eye on the artillery's movements, I used teleportation magic to head for the Imperial Capital.