68 - The Battle Has Only Just Begun
The entrance to Nordende, leading to the Demon King's army fortress. In front of it, fierce battles have been unfolding day after day. The entrance to Nordende is a place where a narrow, long road continues, sandwiched between mountains on both sides. It is a land that is easy to defend and difficult to attack, but the Laurel Kingdom army is pushing the battle forward quite aggressively with their numbers and organizational power. It is not just the power of numbers. The trump card of this battle, the Hero's power, was also significant.
"Woooooooh!!"
Fumiya swings his sword while letting out a war cry. Fumiya's sword easily slices through the sturdy bodies of the Demon Race.
"Don't get cocky, brat!"
Standing in Fumiya's way was a demon who far exceeded him in height. He was a man of the Kijin Race with horns growing from his head.
"No matter how many of you there are! I will strike down any enemy who stands in my way!"
Fumiya was indeed getting a bit cocky. It couldn't be helped. Until the battle began, Fumiya had felt a reasonable amount of fear, but it didn't take long for him to realize that his power was more than sufficient against the Demon Race. Once that happened, Fumiya's desire for self-display became stronger. He proudly declared himself the Hero and slaughtered the demons standing before him one after another.
"That is exactly what I mean by getting cocky! You fool!"
The Kijin attacked Fumiya with movements that didn't betray his massive size. However, Fumiya lightly dodged the attack. In terms of speed, Fumiya was a step above.
"You brat!"
The Kijin attacked further. He swung his long arms, trying to strike Fumiya down, but the movements were a bit too monotonous. Fumiya swung his sword toward the incoming arm. The Kijin lost everything from the elbow down.
"Gyaaaaaah!!"
The Kijin screamed, scattering blood spraying from his arm.
"Not yet! This is the finishing blow!"
Fumiya lowered his body further and swung his sword at the Kijin. The Kijin fell, having the part of one leg below the knee sliced off.
"How's that! Have you realized the power of the Holy Sword!"
Fumiya shouted at the Kijin collapsed on the ground. But that voice did not reach the Kijin's ears. The Kijin had already lost consciousness.
"Fumiya! Get back!"
Akemi's voice echoed across the battlefield. In response, as Fumiya retreated, a giant tornado crawled across the ground, heading toward the demons ahead. It was magic unleashed by Akemi.
"Retreat! Pull back for now! Fall back to the rear positions!"
The order to retreat was given to the Laurel Kingdom army. It was not a defeat. The idea was to retreat while they still had reserves and prepare for the next attack. Little by little, but surely, they would wear down the demons. That is how the Laurel Kingdom army, with its superior numbers, could obtain victory. Not just for the Laurel Kingdom army, but this was the standard tactic when the Human Race fought the Demon Race.
◇◇◇
With the retreat of the Laurel Kingdom army, the battle paused temporarily. The prominent members of the Demon King's army also returned to the fortress. This was to hold a general meeting. While the purpose was to confirm the war situation and discuss future strategies, the meeting hall remained deathly silent. No one spoke. The Demon King, who was to lead the meeting, and his aides were disheartened and had fallen silent. If the meeting didn't start, no one could speak.
"...Demon King-sama. What about the meeting?"
Unable to bear it, King Dracul requested the Demon King to hold the meeting.
"I know. What is the damage report?"
Responding to King Dracul's request, the Demon King began the meeting. First, he asked his subordinates for a report on the damage.
"Yes... we do not know the exact figures yet, but I believe it is less than five percent of the total."
"Five percent of what!"
The Demon King responded to the subordinate's answer with a shout. It was true that the subordinate's answer was ambiguous, but it wasn't enough to warrant such sudden rage. His emotions were frayed due to the continuing disadvantage.
"Of the entire Demon King's army..."
"I see. Only five percent... what do you think you're saying!?"
There was a problem with the reporter as well. Five percent was by no means a small number. As casualties from a single battle, it was quite high. By simple calculation, if they fought the same battle nineteen more times, the Demon King's army would be annihilated. In reality, once the numbers dropped below a certain point, the increase in casualties would accelerate.
"We should consider our way of fighting."
They could not afford to let such a situation occur. King Dracul requested a change in tactics.
"...Specifically?"
"I believe we should devote ourselves to defense."
The Demon King's army had left the fortress and was fighting after moving further south toward the enemy camp. King Dracul believed that casualties would not decrease this way.
"Even if we defend, where? And if we defend, will the enemy leave?"
The Demon King was not advancing the army without thinking. This fortress was precisely the last stronghold. If it were breached, the enemy would pour into Nordende all at once. To avoid that risk, he was trying to fight in a location closer to the enemy camp.
"There is no meaning in the fortress remaining alone if a vast number of allies are slain."
King Dracul believed they should take the risk. If they continued fighting like this, there would be no one left to defend the fortress. Then the fortress would have no meaning. His thinking was that they should fight in a way that avoids ally casualties by utilizing the fortress's defensive power.
"...Can we not slay the Hero? If only that one is gone, we can fight more easily."
"The Hero, is it..."
Certainly, the Hero was a threat. Not just because of Fumiya. The attack power combined with Akemi's magic was the threat.
"Do something about that coward. It is unthinkable for another Hero to attack with magic while fighting one-on-one. Where is the 'Hero' in that?"
"...That is the way the Human Race fights."
Complaining now about them attacking in groups would achieve nothing. Human warfare consists of a group of the weak slaying a strong individual. Even if it is a Hero, King Dracul thought it would be the same. However, since they were being pushed back, King Dracul, being a demon himself, did not think the Demon King's army should adopt that same style of fighting.
"Then we should just slay the Hero using that human style of fighting."
But the Demon King himself, who had called the Hero a coward, suggested adopting that method of fighting.
"...Slaying the Hero as a group, you say?"
"Yes. If the enemy performs cowardly acts, we have no need to hold back."
At the Demon King's words, dissatisfied groans could be heard from the surroundings. They could not perform cowardly acts. Most demons held that belief. It was also a manifestation of their lack of a sense of crisis regarding the current situation. It would be fine if they were trying to protect their pride while prepared for destruction. But most demons were not like that.
"King Dracul. Can I rely on you?"
"My race, you say?"
King Dracul showed a blatantly disgusted face at the Demon King's request.
"Yes. Those who only fight with brute force are useless. In that regard, the fighting of the Vampio race is refined. You certainly would not commit friendly fire."
This was a pretext. He was simply trying to push the dishonorable job onto King Dracul.
"However..."
"There is no one else I can ask. For the sake of saving your comrades from this predicament, could you endure this?"
"...I understand."
Dissatisfaction swirled in his chest. But someone had to do it. If that could overturn the disadvantage, then as the Demon King said, he had no choice but to endure. Thinking this, King Dracul reluctantly gave his consent.
"In the next battle, we will surely repel this disadvantage! Everyone, strive!"
"\"\"\"Yeah!!\"\"\""
◇◇◇
To repel the disadvantage of the Demon King's army, there is someone moving in secret. A human who does not think fighting many-against-one is cowardly, and who would calmly take even more ruthless means if it meant winning. In the darkness of the night, Ray is visiting the battlefield where the Demon King's army and the Laurel Kingdom army are fighting a fierce battle. Sansei is with him.
"You don't have to work so hard for people like that."
Sansei complained with puffed-out cheeks, Sansei was dissatisfied with Ray's actions. He resented the opponents who had always looked down on him.
"It's for our own sake. We need a little more time. I explained this, didn't I?"
"I know, but still."
The Undead Legion still needed more training. Their numbers also had to be increased. For that, it would be problematic if the battle reached a conclusion, especially if the result was the defeat of the Demon King's army.
"It would be good if there were some fresh ones."
"Are you an idiot? There's no such thing as a 'fresh' corpse, right?"
"I just couldn't find a better expression. But it's better if there are strong ones, right?"
There are individual differences in the strength of the undead. That is likely influenced by their experience when they were living. Undead who were former soldiers trained in the military have different movements. Whether some memory remains or there is another reason, Ray knew this from actually seeing it.
"They're definitely there."
"Is that so?"
"They're all knights or soldiers, right? Besides, many who die in battle leave behind regrets. The efficiency of turning into undead is high."
Even if they are prepared to die since they are participating in a war, it is different from realizing the time of death due to illness and heading toward death over time. If it is instant death, it is different again, but in the heart of a person placed in a state where they don't know if they will die or be saved after sustaining an injury, an attachment to life, to the present world, wells up. It is a death suited for turning into undead.
"...I wish demons could be turned into undead too."
"I told you, didn't I? There's such a thing as 'rank'."
"I heard that, but I'm not convinced that demons are higher rank and humans are lower rank."
"It's not like that. Not that kind of rank... spirit... no, maybe it's better to express it as magical power. No, wait..."
Sansei struggled with how to explain 'rank' to Ray. Sansei also lacked theoretical knowledge. He only knew that such a thing existed and that because of it, demons could not be turned into undead, or at least, they couldn't do it themselves.
"Anyway, it's rank. It doesn't mean demons are superior. Not every human can be turned into undead either. Humans with high rank can't do it."
"...True. I can't imagine Master becoming undead."
"Is that Master of yours strong?"
"He's strong. Not just strong, but there's a certain terror to him."
Geel's strength was not just that his sword skills were superior. Ray had felt that during his training.
"...Can you win?"
Even if it is his Master, if they meet, they will fight. Sansei asked Ray about this and knew the answer.
"That's why I used the trump card right in front of him. I didn't think Master would be in that place."
It was about the time he killed Alfred. Geel had seen the surprise attack using the Magic Sword Kamui. Once seen, it wouldn't work on Geel. That is what Ray believed.
"It's because you do reckless things."
"That was also to buy time. Besides, that was the only timing I could do it."
"That's a lie. You just thought of it at that moment, right?"
There were other timings. It was just that Ray, having thought of the plan, could not help but act.
"Shut up. It succeeded, so it's fine, right?"
"That's just a result. If you keep using such short-sighted methods, you'll have a huge failure someday."
"I'll be careful about that."
"Really? Even while saying that, you always do reckless things."
Those reckless acts always put only himself in danger. Sansei could not help but worry about such a Ray.
"What? Are you worried about me?"
"I-Idiot! Of course I am! You're my, my... yeah, my partner."
"What, why are you turning red? You're a weird guy. But well, thanks for worrying about me."
Saying this, Ray patted Sansei's head. Ray was also feeling bashful.
"Don't treat me like a child."
"You are a child, aren't you?"
"I am the Great Lich, you know?"
"I know. Alexander the Third."
"It's Alexandros!"
"Ah, my bad."
While uttering an apology, Ray could not suppress his laughter. He was teasing Sansei by intentionally getting it wrong. Sansei knew that too. Even though he knew, he pretended to be angry. He enjoyed this kind of exchange.
"...Hey, what will you do if the Demon King's army loses?"
Stopping the joking, Sansei asked Ray with a serious expression. The defeat of the Demon King's army was not impossible. Sansei had begun to realize that.
"What would I do? Even if I'm given the soldiers, there's no chance of winning. In that case, maybe it's better to fight alone?"
"Eh? Is that so?"
"I'll increase the numbers of the Undead Legion more and train them to be stronger. Even so, I don't think I can win against the Laurel Kingdom army on my own."
"I see..."
Sansei had a disappointed expression. Hearing that the Undead Legion would be of no use to Ray, he felt depressed.
"What about you, Sansei? Do you have a place to go?"
"I..."
"That's right. Sansei, you were an orphan. Sorry. I asked something strange."
Sansei's parents were dead. He didn't belong to any race or tribe. He had no place to go.
"...Not really."
"It's okay. I'm doing this so the Demon King's army doesn't lose. But if by some chance that happens, you can just come with me."
"Really!? Ah, but I... I'm useless..."
Just as his expression seemed to brighten, it immediately changed to the opposite, a dark expression.
"Huh? I didn't say that, did I? I just said it would be difficult to win if armies fought head-on."
"The Undead Legion are my clones. If they are useless, it's the same as me being useless."
"We just don't have to fight head-on. Ambushing is a specialty. Whether we can do that in the Royal Capital... there's room for consideration. Also, for a base, it's probably the 'Forest of Bewilderment' after all. In that case... it's what they call guerrilla warfare."
Ray thought of ways to make the Undead Legion useful to comfort Sansei. When he actually thought about it, there were plenty of ways to fight.
"...Does it seem like I'll be useful?"
"Yeah, quite. If it's like this, we might be able to manage even without the Demon King's army."
Of course, it wasn't quite that far. It would be easier to fight if the Demon King's army existed. But Ray spoke this way to make Sansei happy.
"Am I necessary?"
"Yeah, you're necessary. I mean, we're partners, right? There's no need to even think about it, we should just stay together."
"I see."
A smile appeared on Sansei's face. Regardless of whether he was useful or not, he could stay together. He was happy with this feeling of Ray's.
"But before that, I'll struggle as much as I can. I won't let them settle this easily."
"Yeah. Let's surprise both the humans and the demons."
"Right. Let's make them go 'ah'. Well then, let's begin."
The voice of an incantation flows through the battlefield in the middle of the night. Eventually, the two shadows illuminated by the moonlight increase in number. Corpses stand up one by one all over the battlefield. The birth of new undead soldiers.