Chapter 287 – Strategy ②
Having retreated from Tateyama Fortress, I decided to watch the fate of the pig that got left behind. The pig’s forces were stranded amidst the humans.
Because of our retreat, the morale of the pig’s forces has plummeted while the humans’ morale got boosted. As if the battle situation just an hour ago was all but a dream, the pig’s forces are being overwhelmed while the humans have become completely motivated.
Factors influencing morale really play a big role during group battles, huh?
I watch the battle progress through my smartphone by using Kaede who’s remained behind to observe. Right now I can fully witness the effect of moral which is so hard to express with tangible values.
“Has it been your goal for Motoki’s forces to be eradicated by the humans?”
Self-alleged strategist Kanon peeks at my smartphone, lured by my watching the stream.
“No, I’d be slightly troubled if the pig got defeated here.”
“Eh? Is that so?”
Kanon shows her surprise, probably not having expected my answer.
“That pig has been a major pain in the ass so far, but he can still be used for my own goals.”
“He still has use? How? And…will Motoki actually be able to survive under these circumstances?”
“He’ll probably be alright, I think?”
Should he really find himself in a predicament, I wouldn’t mind sending out reinforcements, but…very likely it won’t be a problem for him.
As I kept watching the pig afterwards…a huge number of reinforcements arrived from the western direction of Tateyama Fortress ― Motoki’s Domain to rescue him. Just as I thought, he’s been holding back reserves, huh?
“Hawawawa!? So it was your objective to decrease Motoki’s combat forces, right!?”
“Well, that’s a part of it, but…my true aim lies elsewhere.”
“True aim…?”
“You’ll understand before long, I’m sure.”
“Ugh…but, what are you going to do if Motoki captures Tateyama Fortress?”
“It’s very unlikely if you also take his combat forces into consideration, but…since it’s absolutely impossible for Motoki to take the fortress in the truest sense, that worry is unnecessary, I’d say.”
“But, if we continue to attack as well, the humans’ forces will slowly dwindle, so…saying that it’s absolutely impossible…”
Kanon apparently fears the possibility of Motoki expanding his Domain.
“Taking it in the truest sense ― in other words, a 《Reign》 ― is impossible for Motoki. After all, it’s indispensable to remove all enemy forces within a radius of 3 km in order to succeed with a 《Reign》.”
“Oh! I see! Then it’s certainly impossible since we’re within that range!”
The sector I’m currently at ― the land north of Tateyama Fortress that I took from the humans ― makes it impossible for Motoki to do a 《Reign》 on Tateyama Fortress.
“Now then, things are going to become busy starting with tomorrow.”
I steadily proceeded with the preparations towards the future as I had imagined it.
◆
On the next day, I had an army advance in front of Nanto Fortress to act out the usual farce while starting an attack on Tateyama Fortress with the main force. Although it didn’t take the form of a surprise attack like yesterday, we invaded for real to a certain extent.
With us doing a serious battle on the same battlefield, even the pig couldn’t pull off any fake retreats, and thus fought seriously to an extent, even though he didn’t go too deeply like yesterday.
Although we were somewhat serious, our side didn’t intend to attack for real. On the other hand, Motoki’s side was somewhat half-hearted, although they fought seriously to a degree as they were conscious of us watching them. And lastly, the humans of Toyama defended for their life.
The offense and defense at Tateyama Fortress with those three forces jumbled together continued for many days while whittling away the combat forces of all sides.
After two weeks I started to feel like the intensity of the humans’ resistance was growing.
I guess it’s about time now.
“Rina, Kotetsu, Takaharu, Sarah, Hibiki, the farce is over. Attack for real today!”
“Roger.” “As you command.” “Sure thing. I got tired of waitin’!” “Ay!” “All as you desire, Master!”
I’ve gathered Rina and the others, who’ve been the main force of the Tateyama Fortress attack, in one place.
“Shion, do you have some kind of strategy?” Rina asks me.
“I’ll leave the full command of the upcoming attack against Tateyama Fortress to you, Rina.”
“――Wh-!?”
“Haah? We gonna go at it for real, right? Ya ain’t joinin’, Shion?”
Rina becomes speechless at my words, allowing Takaharu to cut in.
“I’ll usurp Nanto Fortress in the meantime.”
My true aim had been to make the Toyama humans to focus their forces on Tateyama Fortress and thus create an opening to do a Reign on Nanto Fortress.
“Haah? We’re a decoy then?”
“Eehh!? Being a decoy is, like, totally a downer. Seriously.”
“I don’t mind becoming a decoy, but…can a 《Reign》 of Nanto Fortress succeed without being there?”
Takaharu and Sarah bare their discontent with my strategy while Rina appears to harbor objections.
“You guys are the main force, and exactly for that very reason you’ll work as a decoy.”
Close to three months have passed since I’ve started my invasion of the Toyama Prefecture. For me as Demon King it’s only reasonable, but even Rina, Kotetsu, Sarah, Takaharu, and Hibiki have become quite famous as leaders of the invasion’s main force.
Therefore, not only the humans, but even Motoki would suspect my scheme if these leaders were suddenly missing from the battlefield. Turning this around…neither of the two forces would expect it to be a decoy…if all of the main force’s leaders were present.
“Besides, according to Kaede, the main force of the humans, who have been defending Nanto Fortress, have headed over to Tateyama Fortress, too. At present, Nanto Fortress is quite short of hands.”
“If you say so, Shion, I’ll simply carry out the mission assigned to me.”
“I don’t really get it, but…I can raise hell over here, right? It kinda pisses me off, but I’ll play decoy for ya.”
“Rina, I leave things to you. If possible…please lure out Motoki’s reserve forces like the other day.”
“I’ll try my best,” Rina agrees to my words while looking me straight into the eyes.
“Alright, we’re going to carry out the strategy from now on! All hands, start getting ready!”
We began our final preparations for the sake of bringing the farce to a close.
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