I, who was eager to retire, became an Imperial General.

Chapter 235 Responsibility and Mistakes

As soon as Roxie gave the order, dozens of explosive sounds rang out from the outer edge of the Cangyuan Ancient Forest. A raging wind, accompanied by a large amount of magical energy, swept across the battlefield almost instantly.

"Wow!"

The swift magical storm, like a torrent, instantly shattered the magic-suppressing domain formed by the aversion to magic.

Utilizing the anti-magic device's ability to condense a large amount of magic power, a large number of explosions are launched in a short period of time, releasing the magic power accumulated inside in the form of a gale and unleashing an impact.

Did this break the magic-suppressing barrier I created?

You should have been completely unaware of this information gap, yet you still managed to thwart my plan through strategy.

Roxie, you really are a monster!
John, peering at the outside world through the crack in the tree hole, instantly understood Roxie's solution after using the data provided by the analytical formula within his field of vision.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, and at the same time, he hesitated as he looked at the escape route at his feet.

At this moment, after realizing that his finishing move had been neutralized by Roxie.

John had realized that even if he continued to delay Roxie here, he would ultimately have no chance of killing him.

However, if they retreat immediately, and after confirming that they cannot be successfully pursued and the restriction of the anti-magic field is lifted, they can use spells to sense the approaching tsunami in advance.

Realizing they couldn't capture or kill their commander, the enemy would undoubtedly have Orion use a teleportation spell to retreat to the vicinity of the main battlefield as soon as possible to minimize their losses.

At this point, the main battlefield is most likely still being lured into the final trap.

If the enemy arrives ahead of time, forcibly regains control of the coalition forces, and discovers the artillery trap they have set on the main battlefield.

Then they would lose the possibility of completely annihilating the main force of the Allied forces and thus ending the battle.

But if he stays here, having already revealed all his cards, how can he possibly stall for time until the main battle ends?
"..."

Looking at the tiny crater in front of him, John's eyes began to flicker with uncertainty.

……

At the same time, as the magic-suppressing field dissipated, the allied forces in the jungle, who had been in a state of panic due to their inability to sense magic, quickly regained their composure.

At this moment, realizing that his backup plan had completely eliminated John's deadly trap, Roxie's smile became even brighter.

However, considering the other party's treacherous nature, and the possibility that he might have left many traps on the road ahead to lure him in, Roxie did not act rashly.

Instead, he looked up at the largest ancient tree at the edge of his field of vision.

It was as if they could glimpse the gaze that was observing them from within, or more precisely, the owner of that gaze.

Roxie immediately burst into laughter and read out the other person's name:

"Given the current situation, do you still need to keep hiding your true colors, John Maslow?"

"!"

It seems that he did not expect that his spying through the gap would be noticed by the other party.

John couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "What a monster!"

However, realizing that the other party had already calculated and located his current position, he stopped concealing it and took a deep breath before slowly speaking, activating his magic:

“Rocki Sancaster, your method of breaking the code is truly beyond my expectations. It seems you are even stronger than I anticipated.”

John's voice, amplified by magic, echoed through the hollow trunk of the ancient tree, spreading outwards until it reached Roxie's location, by which time it had become very faint.

However, it can still be clearly sensed by mages of higher ranks.

However, due to the distance, the group was unable to pinpoint John's exact location for the time being.

"Likewise, your strategies have also broadened my horizons. So, would you mind telling me how you created this magic-suppressing domain? I'm very interested in that."

Hearing John's praise, Roxie's lips curled up slightly, but her eyes remained calm.

She knew, of course, that John was deliberately stalling for time in this way, but wasn't she doing the same thing?

Due to the previous elaborate traps and the release of the super-rank magic, Orion's magic power was completely depleted. Although he was currently replenishing it by drawing on the reserve magic power in the magic book, it would still take about two minutes to cast a spell that could restrict and completely capture John.

All that's needed is for Orion to successfully recover and, at his prompting, launch a long-range attack on the giant tree where John Maslow is located.

At that time, no matter how many traps the other party has laid on the road ahead, all that awaits them is to be captured by you!

Rather than risk falling into the schemer's trap, she preferred to capture him completely in this foolproof way!
"You want to know? Sure, but an equal exchange is the most basic condition in any negotiation. Besides, the method of creating a magic-suppressing field is a unique skill of mine. So, what do you intend to offer in exchange, Roxie?"

"Your life, and a chance to serve me, what do you say?"

Roxie glanced discreetly at Orian, who was rapidly gathering magic power beside him. By sensing the intensity of the magic power within Orian's body, he knew that if he waited for about 1 minute and 15 seconds, his loyal subordinate would be able to regain his fighting strength and capture John alive.

Knowing that the outcome was already decided, Roxie continued with a smile:

"Currently, I have destroyed six of the outer anti-magic devices, but the anti-air device and anti-magic space spell are still in operation."

"And as a smart man, John Maslow, you should be well aware that in this situation, you have no other choice but to surrender to me or commit suicide."

"Moreover, instead of pledging allegiance to those scoundrels controlled by the conservatives who are willing to persecute even true geniuses for their partisan struggles, wouldn't it be a better choice for you to join our allies and strive to defeat the corrupt empire?"

When he said this, Roxie's expression became unusually sincere.

Upon hearing these words, which he had once longed for, even John fell silent.

But soon a helpless smile appeared on his face.

Honestly, if Roxie or the Allied high command had extended that invitation to him during the Battle of Walden, it would have been a great relief.

He might actually consider giving up his position and becoming an Allied soldier.

"But unfortunately, I can't go back to that time now."

Whether it was the trust the Imperial soldiers placed in me, an incompetent commander, or the sights I witnessed upon arriving in this world, or the changes I attempted to make after realizing the class conflict that needed to be broken down.

All of this, without my realizing it, has coalesced into something that cannot be easily discarded: 'responsibility'. If I choose to betray this responsibility, then I will not only be betraying the trust that has been forged through countless hardships.

More than anything, it's a betrayal of oneself.

And as a selfish being, or rather, a being that considers itself selfish.

Betraying myself is an unforgivable mistake for me!
and so……

"I will not join the Allies, much less become one!"

John calmly declined Roxie's invitation, and before the frowning man could speak further, he roared firmly:
“I, John Maslow, am the chief cadet of the Imperial First Military Academy and a major in the 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Division of the Imperial Third Air Army. I am also an Imperial soldier personally awarded the Iron Cross First Class by His Majesty William.”

"You want someone like me to abandon my honor as a soldier of the Empire and join your allies?"

"You're dreaming, Roxie Sancaster!!!"

John's roar echoed through the jungle, resonating with the ancient trees, his words filled with an unwavering determination that seemed to defy even the constraints of space.

Those who heard these words instinctively felt their hair stand on end.

Even Roxie's blue pupils trembled slightly, and her expression shifted from sincerity to complexity. She finally sighed deeply, then spoke in a somewhat complicated tone:

"...Is that so? That's a real shame. I thought I could easily make you surrender, but it seems I underestimated your loyalty to the Empire."

"Although this behavior seems no different from stupidity to me, I can understand it, considering that you have been under the control of the Empire for so long and have never really seen the world."

After speaking, as if sensing something, the complex expression on Roxie's face was gradually replaced by a smile.

But compared to her warm and inviting smile, her face now appeared more ferocious than ever before, and her tone was filled with a chilling madness:
"So, John Maslow, I will completely capture you and, in the future, properly train you into a worthy fellow human!"

"Whoosh!"

Almost the instant Roxie finished speaking, a dazzling blue light suddenly appeared from within the Allied forces.

Immediately afterwards, an extremely fast, icy spear, with indescribable speed, broke through the constraints of space like lightning.

With a piercing whistling sound, it tore through all the tree trunks blocking its path in an instant and struck precisely the giant tree where John was.

And under the gaze of John's magical eyes, which were filled with countless intricate magical circuits, it collided with the giant tree where he was hiding!

"Crack!"

The superior magic called 'Winter Fang,' released by a super-powerful being who gathered magical power, pierced through the massive tree trunk in an instant, and then, under the explosion of ice elements, it turned into countless blue ice crystals that emitted gusts of cold air.

Like climbing vines, it quickly wrapped around and covered the entire giant tree.

In an instant, the lush trees were transformed into a magnificent ice sculpture.

Then, as the magic dissipated, it began to rapidly shatter and crumble.

"Wow!"

Amidst the ear-piercing sounds of exploding ice crystals.

The tree trunk where John stood seemed to have been severed from the bottom by a giant axe. The ancient tree, which was wide enough for several people to hug, collapsed completely in an instant and crashed to the ground around it.

While emitting a teeth-grinding cracking sound, it also produced an unprecedented muffled thud and impact upon striking the ground, allowing even Roxie and others, who were two kilometers away, to clearly feel the ground tremble.

"Oh!"

"Ahem, bah!"

Inside the massive hollow tree stump, encased in countless ice crystals, John, covered in ice crystals, shakily rose from his prone position. He spat out ice shards formed from blood in his mouth and looked ahead with some difficulty.

At the end of the glacial path formed by the piercing of Orion's Winter Fang, Roxie was staring at him with a ferocious grin, her expression filled with ugliness.

Although he had already realized while stalling for time that Roxie's goal was most likely to get Orion or Liria to launch a long-range magical attack on him.

But he didn't expect time to pass so quickly.

After all, according to his calculations, through the previously set trap, both Orion and Liria should have already exhausted their magical power due to overuse of magic or unique spells.

Therefore, if you replenish your magic power in the normal way of taking magic supplements...

Both of them will need at least five minutes to recover.

It's definitely not just this short two minutes!

"So, Roxie anticipated this scenario where I needed to be captured, and therefore didn't have Orion use magic supplements to replenish his magic power, but instead arranged for him to store some of his magic power in his grimoire beforehand?"

Only in this way can we explain why Orion was able to replenish his magic power in such a short time and directly cast a high-level spell!

Damn it, I made two mistakes in one day.

This is the greatest disgrace of my life!

John was filled with frustration.

But feeling the bone-chilling cold emanating from the ice crystals around him, and his own body, already strained from overusing analytical techniques to find a safe hiding place in order to avoid the ice spears, began to tremble uncontrollably.

At that moment, John realized that he should leave immediately!
Otherwise, all that awaits him is capture by Roxie and being kept as a pet!

This humiliating ending was something he absolutely could not accept!

Thinking of this, John immediately stopped hesitating and kicked the switch below, intending to escape the battlefield through the tunnel.

However, the next second, a spatial magic circuit suddenly lit up inside the ice crystal in front of them.

Immediately afterwards, in John's constricted pupils, a longsword formed from condensed ice crystals shot out from the spell circuit.

And with a truly tricky angle, it swiftly stabbed towards his heart!
"Whoosh!"

……

(End of this chapter)