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Chapter 16
The night of the fifth day after they had set foot into the demon territory, a meeting was held in the open-air camp. The participants were many crucial individuals of the various countries sent instead of the kings. Not only generals and other high-ranking officers, but even nobles or royalty were part of this. Sharidan, as the supreme commander, took the lead, with Kyle acting as his support.
“We’ve made it quite far after leaving Rimarze, and it’s all thanks to Rifuaro-dono.”
“It’s what we’ve promised to do.”
Met with Sharidan’s praise, Rifuaro kept a calm face. However, their current army was several thousand people, so being able to move this fast deserved some praise. Using the blessing of the Wind Spirit, they could move several times faster than what would otherwise be possible. Of course, it didn’t reach every single soldier, but it helped push up those carrying supplies or equipment, so the army as a whole could keep a steady pace. For that reason, they were scheduled to arrive at their destination on time. Plus, combine that with the valuable information brought by scouts.
“So the demons are all in one major force… It seems things are moving now.” A general from Zilgus said so with a stern expression.
According to the information, the demon army showed sheer numbers unprecedented in the context of this war.
“Well, that is to be expected,” Sharidan glared at their destination and grumbled.
This was nothing surprising, and the majority of the participants anticipated this strategic decision from the demons. They needed a massive force if they wanted to fend off humanfolk. And humanfolk prepared soldiers in numbers so that they could still come out on top despite that.
“What we really should be cautious of is that they don’t ignore us and attack Rimarze instead.” General Megev, controlling the roughly hundred thousand soldiers from Galgan, voiced his concern.
They did leave behind a small number of soldiers to guarantee the citizens’ safety, but if the demons were to prioritize Rimarze over the incoming humanfolk army, they would not be able to do anything.
“We’re having scouts rush ahead every waking minute of the day. If they were really intending to attack Rimarze first, they would be forced to take a massive detour. We also set up multiple watchtowers…so we shouldn’t have to fear surprise attacks,” said Sharidan while looking at the map and the various marks on it. “Rather, if they dare to attack Rimarze, we’re going to turn around then and go for a pincer attack,” he said as if that made it easier to defeat them.
“Then what do we do? Naturally, we’re going to advance and fight with all our army,” said Megev, to which everyone nodded…except one person.
“No, we should raise our speed. They are still trying to gather soldiers, so we should strike before they can coordinate themselves,” said Lord Foken, with Duke Raynor behind him.
Many higher-ranking officials participated in the all-out attack like this, but other than Sharidan, Foken was the only other king present.
“We are already moving as fast as we can. Any more than this, and it would pull our rows apart and ruin the formation. We would lose a massive source of strength, as we are already within enemy territory.”
Megev might have been on the older side compared to the other generals, but he has many years of service under his belt. This experience placed him high on the command list among the participants and the person who probably knows the most about warfare. Foken seemed to have been overwhelmed by the man’s sheer pressure but still latched on.
“S-Still, aren’t we just going to miss our chance? Has the situation finally set in and left you a coward?”
Yet, he didn’t even realize how much disdain that earned him from the people around him.
“Lord Foken, this is a regular military meeting, so anybody actively participating is free to voice their concerns. However, there is something called reason and understanding. What you and General Megev have done and accomplished cannot be prepared, so I hope you keep that in mind next time you try to argue,” Sharidan gave Foken a dubious look, as Megev showed a complicated smile.
Both of them knew just how talented they were in their field. Then, Foken finally realized the gazes of contempt from everyone else in the room, as he and Raynor both cowered. Nobody even bothered to look at them anymore, as they instead discussed further plans and preparations, until the meeting came to an end.
“I swear…if they’re going to only cause trouble anyway, I wish they’d just keep their mouths shut instead,” Sharidan cursed as he looked after Foken.
Once they disbanded, Lord Foken returned to his tent, not even trying to hide his disgruntlement, as Raynor followed him like a fly the light. Unlike Sharidan, Foken wasn’t even an expert in war and strategy, and the way he forcefully inserted himself in the conversation seemed more than odd, too. A king who can’t be useful is nothing more than an eyesore at the end of the day.
“I wonder why he has even joined us on our journey,” Kyle asked with a cold voice.
“Back home, his position seems to be rather flimsy because of a series of mishaps, and right now, this whole mission might be the make-or-break situation for him. That said, he never misread the mood like this before,” Sharidan sighed. “Maybe he just feels this cornered… More importantly, Kyle-dono, you seemed quiet throughout the whole meeting.”
He seemed curious since Kyle was usually rather vocal during the meetings.
“I simply had no reason to intervene. That said, tomorrow we will start early, so if you’ll excuse me,” Kyle crossed his arms and was lost in thought as he returned to his own tent, only to hear a few familiar voices.
Looking over, he spotted Ruktera, her daughter Erina, Paserane, a few dark elves, and even Basques. It didn’t seem like anything urgent, but not peaceful enough that Kyle could just ignore it. The one in the center seemed to be Basques, and she appeared to be as calm as always, but several dark elves looked at her in contempt. Breaking between them were Ruktera and Erina, apparently acting as mediators. Meanwhile, Paserane didn’t seem involved whatsoever and just watched the situation unfold from afar.
“What is going on?”
“Oh, Kyle-san.” Erina answered Kyle’s question with a smile. “Well, Basques-san said she wanted to try a new skill, and…” Erina said so, looking at Basques with a complicated expression.
“Kyleee. I was teaching the dark elvesss a new technique.”
“…I’m not going to call that a technique,” said one of the dark elves.
Apparently, the new technique went as following. First, after drawing in the enemy army, Basques would rush in and stop them. Then, when the enemy can’t move anymore, Basques would escape and have the dark elves fire off a salve on the opponent. As a result, it would finish off a large number instantly.
“What are you thinking?” Kyle asked directly, unable to keep his shock in check.
That was just a suicide attack that would kill your allies. He couldn’t blame dark elves for having that kind of reaction.
“Jumping into the fray is out of the questionnn. However, I can handle ittt,” said Basques like it was nothing.
She acted like she could easily pull off what Kyle and Ruktera once achieved.
“All the dark elves are skilled archersss. They would never accidentally shoot their allies. Or is it that you lack confidenccce?”
Basques meant no harm or cynicism with that question. But that is exactly why the facial color of the dark elves—most likely, since Kyle couldn’t see it—changed.
“Now you’ve said it… Well, you’re right, we won’t have any issues with that.”
For the dark elves, it wasn’t anything impossible, but they didn’t want to risk their allies getting hurt in the heat of battle.
“You can do anything? Well, then let’s try it outtt,” Basques probably wasn’t aware of it, but her words could very well have been taken as a provocation, creating a tense atmosphere.
“U-Um, then I suggest you practice some more. We wouldn’t want it to go badly when it really counts.”
Erina jumped in, and so the dark elves nodded.
“Then let us form a unit and practice until we have the timing down,” Erina organized everything, knowing it would just be a blood bath afterward, as Basques and the dark elves headed off.
Ruktera followed, leaving only Kyle and Paserane behind.
“Are you not going with them?” Kyle called out to her.
“…I’ve got no role to play there, so I’ll leave everything to Erina.”
Seemingly, her part ended without her even having to do something. And looking at the other dark elves, they seemed to slowly start recognizing Erina.
“Yeah? Thanks a bunch.”
“I’ve done nothing that deserves your gratitude. And it wasn’t even that big of an issue to begin with.”
“Right…Also, how is Roas doing?”
Kyle tried to clear up this awkward mood and brought up the name of the unicorn he had once saved.
“Same as always. I’d prefer if he relaxed a bit more,” Paserane answered with an exhausted sigh.
Still, it helped cheer up the mood, so Kyle thanked the man-hating unicorn. After that, they continued their regular banter.
“Are Lieze and the others not with you?”
“Nope, they stayed behind. It’s only Seran.”
Strictly speaking, Shildonia was here with them, too, but she made it a habit not to show herself.
“Why? Aren’t they plenty strong themselves?”
Kyle struggled to explain. He obviously had a reason to do this, but he wanted to keep that secret. But even if that’s the case, they had fought together, so he struggled to find a good explanation.
“Kyle!”
But then, Seran called out to him, using his chin to signal him over.
“Oh…Well, we’ll talk later,” Kyle nodded and returned.
“What were you talking about?”
“Nothing big, really…”
Paserane watched the two walk off with a slightly dubious glance, as she then headed off to the training range.
***
Their advance through the demon territory continued on, and although they were always cautious of attacks, nothing happened. It didn’t really feel like they were heading off for a final confrontation with the demons, which is why many of the soldiers began losing the tension they initially had. However, that was the aim all along. Right when they began setting up camp for the night, a raid came. And it wasn’t anything small, either. It was a major force of the demon army clashing right into them.
“That’s impossible! We should still have a few days left until our next confrontation!” Sharidan was bewildered when he received the news.
They had kept scouts on patrol 24/7, so it should be unthinkable that they would get surprised like this.
“W-We don’t know! They appeared out of nowhere, and we’re trying to find out right now!”
Even the soldiers who came in to report the situation were injured, telling just how chaotic the situation on the outside was. The battle had already begun, and the headquarters gave out orders immediately to deal with the situation. Using the watchtower built with a bridge, those soldiers who could use flight began delivering more and more information.
“So that’s what’s going on…” Sharidan grit his teeth as he understood the intention of the demons.
The majority of them rushed into the battle, prepared to die, as the backline watched how things unfolded. However, this couldn’t continue forever, and they would eventually come to pay the price.
“So they don’t want to drag this out any longer, is it?” Megev arrived in the command center as the tension rose.
The demons were putting everything into this attack. Anybody who couldn’t make it was cast aside, and backed into a corner, nothing was scarier.
“They couldn’t have attacked us at a worse time.”
As they were preparing to set up camp, their lines had been disrupted, with the demons having waited until Kyle and the army lost their advantage in numbers.
“Yes, their way of fighting is completely different from before. It’s like they have held back so far for this one final encounter…” Sharidan grit his teeth, understanding that the battle this time was far different from the ones before.
However, he couldn’t afford to lose his calm now. He had to give out orders right away. The determination from the demons was something else, but it wasn’t unmanageable. With enough time, they could regroup and fight back. For now, he just had to ensure they could make it through this initial wave. Right when things began to relax, another report came in. It was regarding the numbers of the demons.
“They’re more than you initially assumed?”
Tension ran through Sharidan’s expression, as the other commanders showed a similar reaction.
“N-No, they’re fewer…Only two-thirds of what we believed to be the case.”
“Fewer…?”
Sharidan feared they might attempt to go for a pincer attack, but there were no signs of this being the case, either. Of course, that was nothing to be happy about. They must be plotting something. He considered every possibility but shook his head at the worst-case scenario. Yet, the next report betrayed his hope.
“We have an emergency call from Rimarze! A great number of demons are currently attacking!”
This couldn’t have been any worse for humanfolk.
CClaw Translations 