Another Side
From a military perspective, Oniō Raidou’s movements would be judged as inefficient and unnatural.
They did not attack villages on their path, but rather chose which cities to raid.
Furthermore, they selectively attacked fortifications that would normally be considered important strongholds.
Moreover, they did not engage in any acts of occupation or plunder.
“What is the meaning of this?”
These were the words of a subordinate of a certain lord who had come with his retinue to provide reinforcements after receiving reports of an attack.
His face was filled with confusion, and he was bewildered by the scene before him.
“Hey, a legion of Oni came here, didn’t they?”
“Yes, yes, that’s precisely right.”
Beside him was a resident of this city who, upon hearing that the Demon Lord’s Army had attacked, had desperately run through the fields and mountains to seek help from the neighboring town.
To protect his family, he had run with all his might, his body covered in mud, all the way to the soldiers’ outpost in the next town, and after a long week, he had brought back soldiers to help.
If the Demon Lord’s forces had encountered them, the city would undoubtedly not be intact.
The captain organizing the soldiers also knew that the local soldiers were poorly trained and that corruption was rampant, so he had honestly judged this reconnaissance to be dangerous.
He was dispatched to war, bringing with him more than half of the precious cavalry.
A few mages were also accompanying them.
Considering the loss of these soldiers, approaching close enough to see the city line was an unthinkable decision.
However, the closer they got, the more they felt a sense of unease.
The city was too clean.
Normally, a city that has experienced war is thoroughly devastated.
The castle walls are shattered, scorch marks are prominent, and the area in front of the castle gate, which becomes the main battlefield, is stained with blood.
Despite this being the norm, the city was as quiet as if it were enjoying everyday life.
Confused by this, he questioned the citizen who had reported the situation, but the resident was also equally perplexed, as if he knew nothing.
“Reporting!!”
The lack of anything happening was more eerie than anything else, which was why the captain ordered his subordinate to scout and positioned his unit in a place where they could immediately retreat while on standby.
Perhaps the enemy was hiding in the city, preparing to intercept the reinforcements.
This was the judgment he made.
“How was it?”
“Ah! No, the city and its residents were safe…”
The captain, while on horseback, asked for the report that would reveal whether his judgment was correct, but the wording of the scouted soldier’s reply was strange.
“The city and residents? What do you mean?”
“The damage was concentrated on the soldiers defending the city and the lord’s mansion. Except for a small part, the residents and buildings like shops show no signs of destruction or plunder.”
“It’s impossible that they concealed it…”
“There was no need to do so. We have questioned the residents about the situation.”
“Let me hear it.”
When he heard of the Demon Lord’s Army’s invasion, he had imagined the city in a ruined state, but instead, he was shown a peaceful scene. The soldier’s report indicated damage that weakened their military strength.
However, there was no damage to the foundations of the residents’ lives.
Was this what the wicked and cruel Demon Lord’s Army from fairy tales would do?
Such a question arose in the captain’s mind.
“It appears that the Demon Lord’s Army only attacked those involved with the oppressive lord. They recovered the abducted women and stolen treasures, and then quickly left the city.”
“And the lord’s associates?”
“They were beheaded and their bodies were displayed in the town square. There was a signboard listing their crimes. The residents are holding the evidence to prove it and handed it over to us, as they were instructed to give it to soldiers from other towns.”
And the seed of that doubt continued to grow.
There were many letters clutched by the scout.
Some of his subordinates were carrying boxes on their backs.
The captain took one of them, something that seemed to be an important document, and read it.
“…The ones we intend to fight are supposed to be the Demon Lord’s Army, and they are giving this to us?”
“Yes, we heard it was a legion of Oni. That’s what they said.”
The more he heard, the more confused he became.
The letters he held were evidence of slave trading.
In this country, the slave trade is permitted, but only by specialized merchants who adhere to legally established standards.
Even nobles cannot ignore this and act with impunity.
However, the lord of this city, under the guise of taxes, had taken beautiful village girls, made them his nightly companions and let his subordinates use them, before finally selling them off to his own merchant.
Evidence proving this, and a presentation of evidence that could be seen as evil to any observer.
“Did they take the recovered women and treasures as spoils of war?”
“No, I heard them ask the women their village locations and promise to escort them back. They also left food for the struggling residents of the city.”
“Is it really the Demon Lord’s Army?”
“It… should be.”
To summarize, the legion of Oni declared war on the oppressive lord, demonstrated their strength, and conquered the city.
Then, they punished the corrupt lord, offered a helping hand to the troubled townspeople, and the abducted girls returned to their villages.
What kind of thing is this? The captain felt like burying his head in his hands.
If you only listened to the story, their actions were no different from those of a hero.
Moreover, considering the rumors of the recent tyrannical behavior of Trias’s heroes, the actions of the Demon Lord’s Army could be considered pure and blameless.
While their method of resolution could be considered brute force, and although they killed a lord who was an evil being, it was undeniably good that they saved the townspeople from evil, liberated them, and showed them a future.
The captain’s image of the Demon Lord’s Army, which had been built on bedtime stories of their heinous deeds, began to crumble.
He almost thought they were something else entirely, not the Demon Lord’s Army.
“Also, Captain.”
“What? Is there still more?”
Even without this, he had to return immediately and report, but just thinking about how to explain it made his stomach ache.
He unconsciously pressed his abdomen over his armor.
He should honestly report everything as it was, but if he did, they would worry about his sanity.
If he claimed to have been under an illusion spell with the soldiers who accompanied him, and if it were reported to the Trias inquisitors, he would be subjected to purification, which was a euphemism for torture.
The captain was agonizing over this current situation because Trias had been unusually active lately, yet his subordinate reported that there was still more.
“Yes, a general from the Demon Lord’s Army also entrusted me with a letter.”
“Show me that first!”
“I’m sorry!”
The captain, who thought he couldn’t be surprised any further, let out a loud shout that he rarely made.
From the subordinate’s hand, which he carefully offered, the captain leaped from his horse and received it, examining the object.
“This is very fine paper.”
“Yes, even royalty doesn’t use paper this fine very often.”
“…Did he say anything about this letter?”
“Yes, he just said to give it to the commander who came to reinforce us.”
“I don’t feel any magic, but just in case. Call a mage, there might be some curse on it.”
It was a letter in fine paper, enclosed in a fine envelope.
It was decorated with gold leaf, and sealed with the seal of the Oni King.
What could possibly be written inside?
He considered taking it back unopened to report to his superior, but if it contained time-sensitive information, it would be meaningless.
With that judgment, the captain had the accompanying mage check for any magic.
“There is no magic reaction. It seems to be a normal letter.”
“Hmm.”
A letter from the Demon Lord’s Army.
The captain naturally suspected a trap.
However, so many unusual things had happened, and there was no magic reaction from the letter. With so many conditions aligning, he had to admit that it was harder to refuse to read it.
“Captain! It’s dangerous!”
“I am aware of the danger.”
He broke the seal and took out the contents.
His副官 tried to stop him, but judging that it was necessary to take the risk and confirm, the captain paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and opened the letter.
“An invitation?”
And as he confirmed the contents, he read the first line he saw.
It was an invitation to a banquet.
“My name is Oniō Raidou. I hereby extend an invitation to a banquet to those who read this letter. The date will be ten days after our army leaves the city, and the banquet will be held on a hill one day’s journey east from the city where this letter was entrusted. Those who have the courage and wish to know the true intention behind this will bring this letter and participate. We have no use for those who suspect a trap and cower away. I am the King of Oni, and I send this invitation, which is not false, by my name.”
The letter, written in elegant calligraphy, was straightforward and simple.
Therefore, the content was easy to understand, and the sender’s personality was also easy to infer.
After reading the letter, the captain pondered for a moment.
“When did the Demon Lord’s Army leave the city?”
“Yes, I heard it was three days ago.”
“Three days ago… then the date would be a week from tonight.”
“Captain, I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but you’re not planning to participate, are you?”
“Precisely.”
He confirmed the date the Demon Lord’s Army had left the city.
Then, he carefully folded the letter and put it in his pocket.
His副官’s eyes widened in disbelief at his actions.
“It’s dangerous! There’s no need to walk into a trap!”
“The King of Oni denied the possibility of a trap by using his own name. If so, the possibility of it being a trap is low. He says he will tell us his true intentions this time. Then, going directly to him is the fastest way to find out.”
Ideally, ignoring it would be the correct course of action.
However, his intuition whispered to him that this was something he could not ignore.
He had never experienced war, but he had been on many expeditions to subjugate magic beasts and bandits. He was sensitive to danger and had a strong sense of responsibility, which is why he was entrusted with leading advance parties.
He is the one who says it’s safe.
For a moment, his副官 was almost convinced.
“If that’s the case, let’s at least wait for the main force to join us!! Then…”
“We must not miss the appointed time. We are a unit composed of cavalry. Do not think that our travel time will be the same as the main force with infantry. Even if we arrive on time by running, tired soldiers will be of no use.”
He still protested that it was dangerous.
This was solely due to the captain’s popularity.
Unlike the soldiers of this city, the city to which this unit belonged was governed by a benevolent lord, and diligent soldiers were attracted to his kindness.
“Don’t worry. You all know me, don’t you? I’m a timid person. If I smell something fishy, I’ll turn tail and run.”
“Then I will accompany you!! I can’t let you go alone.”
“You cannot. You will remain here and organize the remaining troops and merge with the main force. I will write a letter, so give it to the commander. Only you, Keith, and Gaius will come with me.”
The副官 could not accept or understand.
However, perhaps due to his serious nature, he had no choice but to obey the order.
“Don’t make that face. You are excellent, but a little rigid. You need to be a bit more flexible if you are to be entrusted with a unit.”
“I intend to learn more by your side, Captain.”
“You say that as if it’s our last farewell. Don’t worry, I have no intention of dying.”
The captain patted the副官’s shoulder, who did not hide his dissatisfaction, and smiled.
“Besides, you know, don’t you? My intuition is usually correct. I have survived until now by trusting this intuition. Therefore, this time will be fine too.”
He reminded himself that this was not the last farewell.
Thus, the captain had his副官 merge with the main force to report the situation, and he himself headed for the Oni’s banquet.
Word of the Day:
Everything depends on how you do it.
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