Chapter 291 – Strategy ⑥
Three days after the 《Reign》 of Nanto Fortress.
“The pig is awfully lively today as well.”
“True. He has apparently held back quite a few combat forces, so he’s been pushing onwards somewhat these days.”
Ever since that day, the pig’s――Motoki’s forces have continued to attack Tateyama Fortress by ceaselessly sending out reinforcements.
“Is Demon King Motoki not going to retreat?” Yataro utters as he watches the fierce battle between Motoki’s troops and the humans of Toyama with me for a change after having visited my room.
“Doesn’t he believe that I’d aim to steal the fruits of his labor if he pulls back?”
“Hoh…and you’re not aiming for that?” Yataro asks while looking slightly surprised.
“If it agrees with my schedule, I’ll naturally go for it,” I answer with a smile.
“Schedule?”
“Right now we’re busy. I’d really like both armies to give their best for a bit longer.”
“Ho ho ho, Shion, you’re really someone you don’t want to have as an enemy.”
“Uh-oh, my CP has recovered, so I’m off.”
“Sure, take care.”
“Have a nice trip!”
Leaving behind Yataro and Kanon, I exit the room. Over the last three days, I’ve carried out three 《Reigns》 on land in the Toyama Prefecture.
While the cat’s away and so on…
I’ve been proceeding with the conquest of the areas around Nanto Fortress.
One week has passed since I conquered Nanto Fortress.
At first I thought that the humans were holding the advantage in the battle over Tateyama Fortress, but the troops hidden away by Motoki were more than I had estimated… Now it’s become very likely for Motoki to win this fight.
“Hmm…a part of the humans has started to withdraw towards Toyama City. At this rate, the pig is going to win this. Shion-san, what are you going to do?”
“Why are you asking?”
“If it goes on like this, the fortress will be taken away by the pig’s 《Reign》, won’t it?”
“For better or worse, I’m in alliance with the pig, albeit a rather dysfunctional one, so I can’t obstruct him too openly, can I?”
“That means you’ll give Tateyama Fortress to the pig?”
“Do you think so?”
“I don’t,” answers Kanon at once.
“Correct. Well, I’m waiting for the right time,” I sneer with a daring smile.
◆
Three hours later.
〜♪
My smartphone plays the melody of an incoming call. The caller displayed on the screen is Kaede.
“Milord, Demon King Motoki has started.”
『Good job. Kaede, return to the Domain』
The time is ripe.
――Tusk, get everything ready.
I contact the one in charge of the Aster Empire’s IT.
――All hands, a large-scale battle will begin in two hours. Everyone, prepare yourself for an offensive.
Matching the timing of Motoki having started his 《Reign》 ― the moment I had waited for, I send out an order to all my subordinates.
――Sacrifice, begin your mission.
I order Sacrifice ― the new dhampir bloodkin who would play the key role in the upcoming operation.
Upon my order, Sacrifice steps outside my Domain ― the land currently contested by Motoki’s 《Reign》. As Sacrifice slowly walks forward, five dhampirs, who I’ve assigned as Sacrifice’s subordinates, and an artificial device ― a drone steered by Tusk ― follow him from behind.
After Nie and his team continue to walk for a while…they encounter a group of excited elves who’re holding bows and swords.
“There! It’s them!”
“Motoki-sama has ordered us to get rid of them swiftly!”
From Motoki’s point of view…Sacrifice’s group is displayed as a single red dot on the smartphone. When starting a 《Reign》, only three types of dots will be displayed on the map. You don’t have any way to tell who might represent those dots, and it’s impossible to simultaneously check the situation of all subordinates during a 《Reign》.
For the sake of succeeding with his 《Reign》, Motoki has sent out his troops to eradicate all hostile elements, the red dots.
“――! Wha-!? Y-You bastards don’t know of Demon King Shion-sama’s bloodkin, Sacrifice Shion――”
Just as I had instructed him, Sacrifice mentions my name, but there’s no way that the elves would lend an ear while faithfully carrying out Motoki’s order. They slash their swords down on Sacrifice and his dhampirs. Sacrifice and his men die at the hands of the elves without any resistance as I had forbidden them to attack through an order.
I use my smartphone to call Tusk.
“Tusk, did you catch that?”
『Perfectly ~ssu!』
“I’m going to head over to you right away. Get everything ready for the stream.”
『Gotcha ~ssu!』
I quickly move to Tusk’s workroom.
“Thanks for waiting. Is everything ready?”
“We can go live at any time ~ssu!”
I position myself in front of the camera Tusk is pointing at, and take a deep breath.
“Alright, I’m ready.”
Upon my call, Tusk raises three fingers…and begins to count down.
“Dear humans and Demon King of the world, I am the ruler of the Aster Empire――Shion. First, allow me to address the Japanese government which is probably going to check this video: Could you please wait a bit before you erase it? I intend to pass on information that might save the lives of many humans in this video. If you’re going to forsake the lives of many humans ― inhabitants of the Toyama Prefecture ― as a government, feel free to delete this as usual. Otherwise, continue to listen,” I speak into the camera after Tusk has counted down.
“Please take a look at this video.”
Once I signal Tusk with my eyes, the video earlier filmed by the drone plays back on the monitor in front of me.
“Today, my subordinates…my family…and above all, my cherished imperial citizens have been killed!! Their murderers were elves under the command of Demon King Motoki! Some of you might not know, but our Aster Empire is allied with Demon King Motoki. And together we’ve been enduring fierce fights against the humans of Toyama in order to survive!”
I poured as much emotion ― hatred against Motoki ― into my words as possible.
“We’re living in turbulent times…and as such my kin, who lost his life this time, had likely resolved himself to die for the sake of my country’s citizens. But! It’d be one thing if he had died in the battle against the humans of Toyama, however, having been killed by my sword friend ― Demon King Motoki ― won’t allow him to rest in peace, will it!? Us Demon Kings can’t join hands, you say? No! That’s not true! We have built a very good relationship with Demon King Kaoru! Therefore, why…did such a tragedy occur this time?” I ask the viewers. “I’m a Demon King, but I’ll meet loyalty with loyalty. And likewise, I’ll meet betrayal with purge! As ruler of the Aster Empire, I shall announce here and now! Tonight, on this occasion, I’m calling off the alliance with Demon King Motoki! And I shall also show the world the price one has to pay for harming our citizens!”
I publicly declare war on Motoki, using the stream.
“And lastly, humans of Toyama! Our Aster Empire is going to destroy Demon King Motoki from now on! If you do not get involved, we won’t start a fight with you, but…we shall eliminate all threats that might befall us at their root! If you have the resolve to perish, come to my Domain! We shall greet you with all our might! That’s all from me.”
When I lower my hand, the red lamp on the camera turns off.
Now then, the stage has been set. I guess it’s time to begin the pig extermination.
I left Tusk’s workroom.
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