Ch.238Teachers, there’s a misunderstanding.

# Chapter 238: Teachers, This Is a Misunderstanding.

I’m totally fucked.

That’s the conclusion I reached after careful consideration.

Looking at the current situation, that’s the only thought that came to mind.

I’m seriously fucked.

Of course, I’m not talking about the Emperor releasing ten million monsters into the capital of Eternia to steal the dimensional split bomb.

[Emergency Warning: Massive jump signatures detected from the outer regions of the Kesada planetary system]

[Estimated fleet size: Minimum of 10,000 vessels]

[Fleet identification code analysis indicates the Annihilation Fleet of the Holy Eternian Empire]

[Mobilization orders issued throughout the Empire, including the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Fleets and the Papal Judgment Fleet]

‘…Why are those guys showing up here?’

That was my honest assessment of the direct notification from the Capital Defense Fleet Command that was transmitted to the terminals of the high officials, almost like a scream.

[Pause]

But after immediately activating the pause function.

Let’s continue thinking more calmly…

‘Wait, do I really need to be this scared?’

My mind was filled with the thought: do I really need to fear this Eternian Annihilation Fleet that’s supposedly appearing now?

What’s the current situation of that fleet?

While their capital planetary system collapsed in the blink of an eye, and all their leaders and citizens were completely annihilated.

Literally, while their rear was being completely wiped out.

They themselves hadn’t even engaged in a proper battle, just maintaining a standoff, only to hear that their country had fallen, which must have been bewildering.

In the midst of all this, upon learning that the Saint, the only surviving member of the imperial family, had come to our empire…

To protect their last remaining leader, they must have abandoned their standoff with the Prosnack fleet and used the “Jump Drive System” typically employed by the Pioneer Empires to fly directly to our capital.

Of course, the Capital Defense Fleet Command, unaware of this fact, must be panicking at the sudden appearance of the Eternian Annihilation Fleet.

From their perspective, the purpose of these Eternian fleets appearing now must be something like…

‘These heretics are getting cocky? That pisses us off? Time for some discipline?’

Isn’t that what they must be thinking?

Otherwise, they wouldn’t be calling not only the 1st and 2nd Fleets, which are stationed in territories considered the homeland…

But also the 3rd Fleet that was about to move to the front lines at ISTO’s additional request, and even the 4th and 5th Fleets that rarely move.

Additionally, they wouldn’t be gathering the Papal Judgment Fleet, which only has numerical superiority.

‘Well, looks like there won’t be any problems.’

[Unpause]

After organizing my thoughts like that, I first deactivated the pause function.

Then I immediately picked up my terminal, intending to contact the Capital Defense Fleet Command, which must be in chaos by now, to tell them to stop this unnecessary action.

But before I could relay such a message to the command…

-Crackle, crackle, crackle…

-“Listen, you heretics who call yourselves the Holy Seveli Empire!”

Ka’zan’s communication network server was instantly hijacked by the Eternian fleet’s cyber attack.

The same voice was coming from the speakers of all nearby electronic equipment, including the terminal I was holding to contact the command.

And the moment I heard the voice presumed to be the commander of the Eternian fleet, I felt an extreme irritation rising within me.

It wasn’t because I knew the person…

‘Have I ever seen such amateurs?’

It was because their excessive approach to pressuring us from the start meant that I would have to put effort into persuading our people.

‘Whoever it is, they really have no tact.’

If they take over the communication network so suddenly like this, how are the higher-ups of the nation supposed to control their subordinates on the front lines?

“Minister, what should we do?”

“…”

If only those people had taken their time and slowly occupied the communication network just moments ago.

I would have had more than enough time to contact the Capital Defense Fleet and order them to welcome those people instead.

Because they unnecessarily seized our perfectly functioning communication network to say only what they wanted to say, they caused the command system of the leadership, including myself, to be paralyzed.

‘Ah, damn it.’

Thinking that, I shrugged my shoulders and spoke to Riel, who had called me from the side.

“For now, we need to observe the situation. As long as they don’t show direct threatening posture beyond this… the commander of the Capital Defense Fleet won’t take any provocative actions beyond gathering the fleet.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“And is this really something we should be concerned about right now?”

“Ah.”

As I said that and gestured downward, Riel looked at Lady Maria, who was lying down because of us, and let out an exclamation as if she had realized something.

Therefore, regardless of what the Eternian fleet was saying, we tried to focus on moving Lady Maria to the infirmary in the imperial palace first.

But just as we were about to lift Lady Maria up.

-Beeeeeep!!

From the speakers, which had been broadcasting only the Eternian fleet’s message due to the hijacked communication network, a sudden strange noise was heard…

And right after that.

-“Wha-wha-wha-what-what-what-what-what-what-what-what”

As if experiencing some kind of buffering, a bizarre word was repeatedly heard from the speakers in a chaotic manner.

“Could it be a solar wind?”

“Hmm.”

Even in an interstellar travel era with scientific technology almost indistinguishable from magic.

The solar winds occasionally emitted from stars within planetary systems still excelled at disrupting poor electromagnetic waves.

So regarding that strange communication, neither I, Riel, nor the nearby imperial guards showed any particular reaction and just continued with our tasks.

But just as I was organizing my thoughts and about to stand up.

-Ding♬

[Pause]

With a sudden familiar notification sound, the pause function automatically activated.

With the feeling that some event might be popping up, I checked the event message newly appearing before my eyes.

But upon seeing the event message that appeared, I couldn’t help but doubt my eyes…

[Event: People blinded by rage are truly terrifying.]

[The Annihilation Fleet, which is both Eternia’s main force and currently all available military power, is filled with rage at the situation before them.]

[The reason is none other than the fact that they have hacked into the communication network of the Holy Seveli Empire’s capital, Ka’zan.]

[Using the ultra-long-range scanners and space-time telescope technology installed on their fleet, they checked the status of the imperial palace.]

[But what was captured on their fleet’s screens was none other than Emperor Artraia of the Holy Seveli Empire and Duke Arto, his right-hand man and the empire’s power broker.]

[And between them, their Saint Maria, bleeding and collapsed(?), surrounded by fully armed imperial guards of the Holy Seveli Empire.]

[Thanks to this, they have determined that their Saint, who barely escaped from the evil demon lord.]

[Who is also their leader and the last survivor of their great imperial family, is being attacked, persecuted, and dying at the hands of primitive and inferior heretics.]

[They are preparing to immediately launch an offensive to rescue their leader from these ‘heretics’.]

…

After reading that far, I felt the need to put down the message window for a moment and cool my head.

‘…What are you talking about, Eternian Fleet?’

These crazy people are misunderstanding everything on their own and threatening to attack us, with the event message detailing it all.

‘Is this really happening?’

Fortunately, there was still more content in the message.

‘Yes, didn’t our Lady Maria also say there’s still hope?’

Thinking that I should strengthen my resolve in times like these.

I deeply engraved the will of ‘I don’t know anything’ in my heart.

And with hope, I began to read more of the message.

[Of course, the Holy Seveli Empire’s fleet will not back down from such actions.]

[But considering that even the Emperor used Prosnack’s elite fleet of 60,000 not for a two-front strategy, but merely to appear ‘threatening’ to the Annihilation Fleet.]

[It is clear that facing the genuinely enraged Annihilation Fleet in battle will inflict severe damage on both the Holy Seveli Empire and the entire ISTO.]

[And if that happens, it is clear that only the Emperor of Seveli, who has been lurking in the shadows of the galaxy, will be laughing.]

[Related event in progress…]

And realizing that was the end, I released the pause function and buried my face in my hands, consumed by despair.