151 - The Fight for Whom?
The battle between the Allied Forces and the Demon King's Army resumed. The Allied Forces led by Fumiya were at the center of the front line. The Allied Forces, with the Kingdom of Moscow and the United Kingdom of Westerland as their respective cores, were deployed to the left and right, divided into east and west. The three armies began their advance into the Forest of Bewilderment individually.
In response, the Demon King's Army concentrated its forces on the central army led by Fumiya. The reason was that it was the greatest force, but that was not all. The central army, which had experienced combat in the Forest of Bewilderment, already knew their hand. Their thinking was that against an opponent who was wary of traps, they had no choice but to face them with pure combat power.
Conversely, it meant that the left and right wing armies might fall into traps. In fact, the two armies fell for them completely. Traps set throughout the forest. They varied in type, from pit-falls to magic tools, but they tormented the two armies.
As expected, the armies of the core Kingdom of Moscow and the United Kingdom of Westerland recovered from the confusion quickly, but the small nations' armies could not do the same. Even if it was only dozens of casualties, from the perspective of a single country, it could become a massive loss exceeding thirty percent of their total force.
The fragility of a ragtag army. Without even seeing the Demon King's Army, both armies abandoned their advance and returned to their positions.
"...Just as I expected."
Prince Babel returned to the camp. It was not bravado. It was actually just as he expected.
"Information had been hidden. As I thought, they are aiming for the attrition of our army."
A subordinate put Prince Babel's thoughts into words. The Kingdom of Moscow had not heard that the Demon King's Army would use such traps. Hansmann and the others had hidden it.
"I understand about the traps now. Advancing through the forest while remaining vigilant seems quite troublesome, but if it can reduce casualties, it cannot be helped."
"However, the armies of the other nations are useless. I believe it is dangerous to venture deep with only two thousand."
The small nations' armies were completely useless. Regardless of the quality of the knights and soldiers, they lacked absolute numbers.
"It might be better to repeat the advance several times and use only those who survive."
The knights and soldiers who survived would be those with a certain level of skill. Prince Babel suggested that it would be better to fight with only those narrowed-down elites. Half of it was a joke. The other half was serious.
"More than that, it would be better to order reinforcements. At the very least, the locals must be strongly requesting them."
The next one to die might be themselves. The commanders of the small nations' armies must feel the same. If they did not want that to happen, they would need to increase the number of their own troops. Regardless of whether their countries would accept it, they would likely make the request gladly.
"True. I'll leave that to you. It would be problematic if they returned to their countries after this one battle."
"Surely that won't happen. They must know that doing such a thing would anger our country."
"Do they have the luxury to think about that? I believe that if they think their own life in front of them is more important than a crisis in their own country that is not yet visible, they will."
If the destruction of their country were imminent, some people might exhibit loyalty. But at this point, Prince Babel believed they did not have that level of sense of crisis.
"That is certainly true. I will send people to each country immediately."
"There is no need to rush that much. Those countries are in the same camp. If they try to return home, it will be known immediately."
"...That was right."
"Now, as for the battle with the Demon King's Army, that's enough. I've simply learned that more probing is necessary."
In the current situation where there had been no direct battle with the Demon King's Army, materials for considering tactics were scarce. Prince Babel decided to start another topic.
"Now then. King Neil has not appeared in public once since his accession. It seems some of his subjects had meetings with him a few times, but recently, such stories are not heard."
The subordinate began talking about information regarding the Laurel Kingdom. He was attempting to speak in detail about the contents he had investigated while in the royal capital, now that they had left it.
"Get to the point. Is King Neil alive or dead?"
"I believe he is deceased. There are two main grounds. First, Ray Tsukiya, who belongs to the Demon King's Army, has declared that he killed him. Second, information that the former Commander of the Imperial Guard stated King Neil committed suicide."
"That is contradictory."
Information that Ray killed him, and information that he committed suicide. Both cannot be true. One of them is a lie.
"Yes. However, against those two pieces of information that he is dead, no actions have been taken to deny them. King Neil continues to not show himself in public, leaving the subjects' anxiety unattended."
"I see. However, there is also the possibility that his illness is simply that severe."
"Even so, that only means he is currently alive."
If the illness were that severe, he would eventually die. The subordinate thought so.
"Is there no possibility of recovery?"
"Because they are not trying to cure him."
"True."
If they wanted to save King Neil, they should have accepted the examination by the doctors of the Kingdom of Moscow that Prince Babel had offered. He judged that Hansmann and the others, who did not do so, had no intention of keeping King Neil alive.
"However, regardless of King Neil's life or death, I believe the one to choose is Queen Ekaterina."
"The reason for thinking so?"
"The fact that Queen Ekaterina's situation is more disadvantaged. And the fact that she is a woman."
Only by extending a hand to the side in trouble can one obtain favorable conditions. Marriage is the prime example of this.
"...What do you think of the rumors that she is connected to the Demon Race?"
"If it is a fact, could we not simply use that as a reason to strip her of the right to rule?"
The fact that she is connected to the Demon Race could be used as a pretext to seize authority from Queen Ekaterina. He did not consider it a problem.
"If we do that, we will be fighting the Demon Race."
"We are already fighting them. If we remove the threat of the Demon Race in this battle, that will be enough."
"True."
Prince Babel understood this much. He had thrown a negative question at his subordinate to confirm if there was something he was overlooking. So far, nothing had been found.
"The issues I recognize are two. One is that the United Kingdom of Westerland will likely think the same thing as we."
"Whether Queen Ekaterina chooses which one."
"There is also the option of not choosing."
"Our aim is transparent, after all. But do you think she believes she can survive by rejecting us? I don't dislike foolish women when it comes to romance, but..."
Prince Babel did not evaluate Queen Ekaterina's abilities. A woman who was exiled after being infatuated with a slave, without knowing her own position. He believed the bad reputation intended to disparage her as it was.
"If the connection with the Demon Race is a fact, would she not think she can survive?"
"...You mean that while she appears to be at a disadvantage, she actually possesses considerable power in military terms?"
"I believe the possibility of it being a fact is high. It seems that Ray Tsukiya, who leads the Undead Legion, was the man who was Queen Ekaterina's slave."
"This is the first I've heard of it."
This too had not been told to him by Hansmann and the others. He knew they wouldn't reveal everything, but Prince Babel did not understand the reason for hiding this.
"Ray Tsukiya hates the Hero and the Laurel Kingdom."
"Even though he was with Queen Ekaterina? Ah, because they were separated?"
"No, that's not it. It seems that person was living with the Demon Race in this Forest of Bewilderment, but because the Hero attacked, he ended up killing those demons."
"I don't understand."
"It means he chose death over becoming a prisoner. Though it seems one was captured, taken to the royal capital with that man, and died afterward."
"...In that case, that man hated the Hero from the start. Then why with Queen Ekaterina?"
Even after hearing the explanation, Prince Babel felt a contradiction between the hatred for the Laurel Kingdom and the relationship with Ekaterina, who was the princess of that country.
"Honestly, at this point, I cannot say anything definitive. However, if we consider that the person places weight on revenge against the Hero, the story becomes consistent."
"We, who try to ally with that Hero..."
"Conversely, if we turn into enemies, at the very least, there might be room for negotiation with that person. I don't think it's necessary at this point, though."
Since seizing the Laurel Kingdom was the final goal of the Kingdom of Moscow, there would be no compromise with the Demon Race. If Ray were connected to Queen Ekaterina, he would be the one not to accept it. Even if not, the Kingdom of Moscow did not seek territory where the Demon Race roamed freely.
"...I understand the reason why his identity was hidden. But how much authority does that man have among the Demon Race? Even if we were to make a pact with that man, there is no guarantee that the Demon Race as a whole would keep it."
The Demon Race as a whole would certainly be impossible. However, many demons would follow. Of course, this was on the premise that Ray would not make a pact that would be greatly disadvantageous to the Demon Race.
"Yes. It's just that we don't know at this point, but there is a possibility that something else is still being hidden."
"Do not neglect information gathering."
"There is also a problem with that. It seems we had one misunderstanding."
"A problem? What is it?"
"That the one hindering the espionage activities was not the Laurel Kingdom, but the Demon Race."
The Kingdom of Moscow had sent spies into the Laurel Kingdom even before dispatching the army. However, many of them never returned, and the intelligence organization suffered a not-small wound. Damage due to the Laurel Kingdom's counter-intelligence. He had thought so, but he had begun to think that was a mistake.
"...The grounds?"
"The fact that espionage activities are being hindered only around Anfang. The counter-intelligence posture of the royal capital, which should have been the strictest, did not seem to be that much."
What Ray was protecting was the information of Anfang. He had thoroughly implemented counter-intelligence specifically to hide his relationship with Queen Ekaterina and Rainheart's identity. And the spies of the Kingdom of Moscow had fallen for it.
"Did the Laurel Kingdom's intelligence organization not recognize Queen Ekaterina as their lord?"
"When staying in the royal capital, I considered that possibility. However, after going to the battlefield, I found that a quite strict counter-intelligence posture has been established around this Forest of Bewilderment as well."
"The Demon Race doing counter-intelligence... Is this also the influence of the Human Race who allied with them?"
They were not demons who only boasted individual power. The demons of the Laurel Kingdom were acting as an organization. Prince Babel was reminded of that fact once again.
"We cannot compete in terms of the quality of spies. We didn't even know that the opponent we had been fighting was the Demon Race until now."
"That would be so. There's no way a single spy could fight on equal terms with a demon."
"To prevent further weakening of the organization, I believe we should refrain from activities within the Demon Race's counter-intelligence zone."
"Or, should we have them understand our objective?"
"If that were possible."
To Prince Babel's half-joking words, the subordinate answered with a serious face. He actually wished that could be realized. If the intelligence organization were destroyed, it would hinder not only this battle but also the future struggle for hegemony.
"...First, contact with Queen Ekaterina. Does this seem feasible?"
"I don't know, but if it's a formal envoy, I think it might work somehow. The difficult part is reaching Anfang, but if that can be done, conversely, there seems to be no worry about information leaking to the royal capital side."
"Send an envoy urgently. How long will it take for the reinforcement army to arrive?"
"The information has not been updated, but according to the schedule, I believe they have already reached the Kingdom of Aria."
The Kingdom of Moscow never intended to fight with only two thousand from the start. They were planning to increase the forces while probing the movements of each country, and were dispatching reinforcement armies sequentially. The first wave should have arrived in the Kingdom of Aria by now.
"If negotiations with Queen Ekaterina do not proceed as hoped, and if that is based on the power of the Demon Race, then it will be necessary to shave away that relied-upon power."
"Yes. I think so."
"...It seems it will be a tougher fight than expected."
It was not just about fighting and winning against the Demon King's Army. He had to fight while engaging in bargaining with the Laurel Kingdom and the United Kingdom of Westerland. He had understood this to some extent, but he also learned that the demons holed up in the Forest of Bewilderment were more troublesome enemies than he had assumed.
Even so, he had to seize victory. That was the responsibility of Prince Babel, the prince of the Kingdom of Moscow aiming to be the hegemon of the continent, and the candidate for the next king.
◇◇◇
The demons living in the Laurel Kingdom are largely divided into three. The demons fighting in the Forest of Bewilderment, the demons staying in their base, Nordende, and the demons who left Nordende for various reasons and are living hidden in remote places within the Laurel Kingdom.
The last one is not under Ray's control. Because they have no such will, they do not return to Nordende. Of course, the people exiled by Ray cannot return regardless of their own will.
"...Demon King-sama."
"How many times must I tell you before you understand? I am no longer the Demon King. This must be accepted."
Former Demon King Leo, who had been exiled by Ray. He denied it toward the subordinate who called him Demon King. Even if he had hostility toward Ray, the fact that he was not the Demon King was a fact. He believed that not accepting it was lingering and unsightly.
"...Leo-sama. What did Barbari-dono convey?"
What the subordinate wanted to know was the message from Barbari that reached Leo. He was curious about what Barbari, who had joined Ray, had said.
"...It seems we will be fighting against many countries."
"By many countries, you mean?"
"Who knows? Ten, twenty, or more. I don't know the number. However, he conveyed that two countries said to be great powers on par with the Laurel Kingdom have participated."
"That is..."
They had struggled even against the Laurel Kingdom army—though that was their pride, and in reality, they lost—so if two great powers on par with the Laurel Kingdom joined, there was no way they could win.
"In the end, because of that man, we will be cornered more than ever. He must have realized their own foolishness."
"That's true. So... what will you do?"
If the people who followed Ray realized that their choice was a mistake, it would be a great opportunity for restoration. That is what the subordinate thought.
"We are exiled. It is none of our business what happens to those who exiled us!"
However, the words the subordinate hoped for did not come from Leo's mouth.
"But..."
"Those who abandoned me can just perish!"
Leo silenced the subordinate who tried to say something more with a loud voice. Then, however.
"...But, we must survive. Besides, not all demons are sinful."
"Then?"
"We will carve out a new land."
"Huh?"
As expected, the words the subordinate hoped for did not come from Leo's mouth. On the contrary, surprising words that he had not considered at all flew out.
"If we stay within the Laurel Kingdom where many human armies have gathered, we will be caught up in it. We will create a place of peaceful residence for ourselves and those who follow us."
"That is... that..."
Did that not mean fleeing from the Laurel Kingdom? He hesitated to put this into words.
"Send envoys to those who left Nordende and live like us. Tell them that we begin the fight for our own future. Tell those who share the same ambition to gather."
"...Are we actually going to fight?"
"Of course. There's no way humans would gladly accept us, right? We will seize the place of peaceful residence by force."
"I understand."
If it meant seriously fighting humans, that was also what the subordinate desired. It was just a matter of the battlefield moving from within the Laurel Kingdom to another land. They were people who had chosen to follow Leo and fight, thinking that they could not simply wait quietly for destruction from the start.
"Then, send the envoys immediately."
"Yes. And, have you decided where we are heading?"
If they were to send envoys, they needed a destination; even if that wasn't decided, they needed to decide on a gathering point. Thinking so, the subordinate asked Leo. The answer to that was.
"West."
"West, you say?"
"The United Kingdom of Westerland. In that land, we will create a place for us to live."
The destination Leo decided on was the United Kingdom of Westerland. One of the three great powers. In that land, Leo intended to stir up conflict. For the future of the demons as a whole, a fight in his own way.
No, since he was no longer the Demon King, he had no responsibility to shoulder the future of the demons as a whole. What he sought was simply that the future of the one person he loved would be a bright one. He would fight for the not-so-distant future until she lived out her life.