"Urgent news, Lord Achilles!"

"What is it? How rude to interrupt my elegant tea time..."

This exchange took place in Cinnamon, a port town located in the eastern part of the Kingdom. Known as a picturesque tourist destination, the town was governed by a man named Achilles von Zetta.

His golden hair flowed like a lion's mane, and his beard connected seamlessly to his sideburns. Though his physique was imposing, his movements were remarkably graceful, a contradiction to his rugged appearance.

Achilles had a penchant for refinement and cherished his post-meal indulgence above all else. Having his precious time interrupted, he was visibly annoyed. However, the soldier before him, visibly distraught, quickly made him rethink his attitude. The soldier, his eyes bloodshot, delivered an alarming message:

"A massive swarm of sea monsters is approaching us!"

"What did you say!?"

The report described a wide variety of monsters advancing toward the town, ranging from the King Serpent, a sea creature known as the ruler of the ocean, to humanoid sea monsters called Mermen.

Such a diverse array of monsters moving in unison was highly unusual. While it wasn’t uncommon for higher-ranked monsters like Hobgoblins to command their kin, the gathering of entirely different species was unheard of.

This phenomenon could only be explained by the use of some magical artifact—or the presence of a powerful monster capable of commanding others.

The thought of the Demon King’s army flashed through Achilles’ mind.

"The Black Legion—wasn’t the Demon King’s invasion supposed to be over!?"

Achilles, now stripped of his earlier elegance, roared in frustration. The Black Legion was the mixed army of monsters led by the Demon King.

The people of the Kingdom were aware of Demon King Island’s existence, but they had long ceased to feel threatened by it and had not taken any precautions against it.

In some ways, this was understandable. The last time monsters had emerged from Demon King Island was over a hundred years ago. Having seen no activity for such a long time, people had completely forgotten their fear and lived in peace.

Only a select few in the Kingdom’s upper echelons were privy to the divine oracle. For lower-ranking nobles like Achilles, this sudden invasion came as a complete and utter shock.

"Blast it! There's no time for elegance now! Gather every adventurer you can find! Meanwhile, urgently send requests for reinforcements to all regions!"

Thus, the town of Cinnamon sprang into frantic action.

Almost simultaneously, reports came in that monster attacks were occurring in multiple regions across the Kingdom. Furthermore, the chaos was not confined to the Kingdom; the neighboring Holy See of Célie was also under attack.

To counter the widespread monster assaults, the Kingdom and Célie decided to join forces. Knights, adventurers, and all able-bodied fighters were mobilized to face the threat.

Among the many calls for aid, one would soon reach Bruno and his companions, who were leisurely spending their time in the town of Akoup—.