Even though “war” is a big event that involves plans, it’s still just a plan and not a set outcome.
For example, let’s say you plan to take a certain territory by a certain due date.
If you were to assemble the necessary troops, supplies, and information, believing it to be perfect, and then set out, and were to ask a military official if the plan would proceed as intended, most would answer: “It’s impossible.”
War is unpredictable.
It is subject to the weather, to the movements of the enemy, and to unforeseen obstacles.
That is precisely why the ability to respond during wartime is said to be the most essential skill.
The ability to adapt and respond in order to achieve something.
Now, let’s confirm something here.
Isal’s forces originally planned to confuse the continent by sealing away the Demon Lord and then using the anti-Demon Lord Aristocratic Union to launch guerrilla warfare in various fields.
That plan was brilliantly shattered by the Human King and the Dragon King.
As a result, Isal’s forces, which should have landed on the continent, were annihilated.
The anti-Demon Lord Aristocratic Union was forced to face the Undead King’s army head-on, and even the Kuzuri’s forces, which they relied on, haven’t been of much help.
Unexpected events are piling up, unexpectedly.
If things had gone according to the original plan, the battle should have been more evenly matched, but there’s no sign of that.
The situation has become one of one-sided subjugation.
“Well, I guess we’ve managed to regain some momentum.”
The Demon Lord nods with satisfaction at the flow of events, his eyes fixed on the game board as he listens to reports from various fronts.
“Evia, what’s the deployment situation for the Warlocks?”
“We’re deploying a pincer movement to ensure we eliminate the Kuzuri. We’re hastily digging tunnels to prevent any escape from below and fortifying them.”
“Good. Nōraifu is holding back the Aristocratic Union and the Kuzuri from the front as planned. Raidou’s movements are also quite interesting.”
A month has already passed since the war began.
The content of what has happened in that time is that the Demon Lord’s Army was at a disadvantage in the early stages, but has now recovered.
Although they have suffered painful damage, they still have plenty of reserves.
Isal is in the same situation.
“Yes, we’ve already taken a small country. We’ve cooperated with their rebellion, helped improve the living standards of the people, and assisted with flood control. The perception of the Demon Race is starting to change, at least among some.”
“To take a country in just a month. Policies that cause internal collapse are truly not to be trifled with.”
However, the Demon Lord’s Army’s influence is already beginning to seep into Isal.
By stripping away the corruption of the small country they targeted, they instigated a rebellion that didn’t cause the country to collapse, and replaced the king.
This wasn’t to establish a puppet regime, however.
They instead supported its establishment as an allied nation.
“In conjunction with this, we are also approaching neighboring countries and laying the groundwork for the formation of a union of nations.”
Despite the strong prejudice against the Demon Race stemming from religious concepts, the emergence of a cooperating nation with Isal is an unprecedented event in history.
Furthermore, starting from there, they are beginning to build cooperative relationships that can stand up to the great powers.
“Wow, I never imagined Japanese-style ‘nomikai’ (drinking parties) would be so effective here, even though they’re starting to fall out of fashion in Japan!”
“While it’s true that the expense accounts sent to the company are becoming quite substantial because of it.”
“For now, it’s within the amount that Jiro-‘s department can handle, so there’s no problem. If we were to take countries head-on, the cost would be astronomical.”
Moreover, they took the country in a lightning strike without being noticed by the spies of the great powers, and took care not to cause unrest.
Considering the Oni King’s personality, this is an unexpected achievement.
The Demon Lord, understanding the Oni King Raidou’s new approach, nods with deep emotion.
“Now, what should be our next move?”
They consider the next step.
They succeeded in counterattacking while suppressing the invasion of the continent.
However, this is still just the stage of planting seeds.
The real battle is about to begin.
The main targets, Tris, the Kingdom, and the Empire, are still strong.
The path to shattering their strongholds has only just begun.
“Has the Human King recovered yet?”
“Yes, but we’ve heard it’s only a matter of time.”
“Even if consciousness returns, a full recovery won’t be immediate. In that case, should we deploy the Dragon King… or perhaps the Tree King?”
While stabilizing the country and building the foundation for war.
The Demon Lord believes that some drastic actions are unavoidable to improve the slow progress of the situation.
He ponders.
“The opponent is a strategist who can think deeply and act simultaneously. They are undoubtedly a genius. However, their experience is shallow. And the burden of dragging them down exceeds expectations.”
They see through the opponent’s moves.
The allocation of resources shows talent in both the breadth and depth of their thinking.
And their mental fortitude as a leader, capable of treating lives as mere numbers.
If that talent were fully unleashed, the situation would be much more dangerous.
However, things don’t always go as planned.
This applies to the enemy as well.
“In that case, the next move will likely be from Tris.”
The Empire will focus on maintaining the union. The Kingdom, having suffered a painful defeat once, will move sluggishly.
By a process of elimination, the one to take action to improve the current situation is Tris, who religiously cannot overlook the Demon Lord’s Army.
The Demon Lord deduces this.
“Yes, I think it’s best to have the Tree King make a move.”
If that’s the case, I judge that deploying the Tree King would be more suitable.
“Is that alright?”
“Yes. It would be more advantageous in the long run if they don’t interfere with us any further.”
However, this move would leave the defenses on the continent depleted.
Evia expresses concern about weakening defenses, especially after the incident where an attempt was made to seal the Demon Lord all at once through the Tower of God.
But the Demon Lord was confident that there would be no further internal attacks.
“Understood. I will give instructions to Lunaria.”
“Please do.”
In the original plan, the Dragon King was supposed to go on a rampage while the Oni King handled things behind the scenes.
However, it’s not the Dragon King but the Tree King who will be rampaging.
The Demon Lord can’t help but smile at this arrangement, which deviates greatly from the initial plan.
“Now, how will the Hero move?”
If the Demon Lord’s Army goes on the offensive, their trump card against the Demon Lord’s Army will surely be deployed.
In the war between Isal and the Demon Lord’s Army, the key point is fundamentally how to grind down each other’s main forces.
For the Demon Lord’s Army, this would be their generals, and for Isal, it would be the Hero.
“The current Hero can be said to be a hastily made product in terms of quality. The fact that they have come to attack us means they have considerable confidence.”
However, the current Hero could not be properly prepared due to the actions of the Human King and Jiro.
Although the grand summoning of a lifetime was successful, who could have predicted that they would go so far as to retrieve the Hero from across worlds?
Most humans, when stranded on another world and unable to return home, would activate their adaptability and give up.
This strategy was intended to use that adaptability to cultivate a large number of Heroes, but the conspicuous action of a large-scale summoning backfired completely.
Therefore, it created an opening for the Demon Lord’s Army to exploit.
The result is the weakest Hero in history.
In the Demon Lord’s assessment, they are trying to compensate for the lack of quality with sheer numbers.
“Finally, it feels like we’ve got them by the throat.”
The world is taught that Heroes are the sword and shield of humanity.
However, true Heroes are merely puppets of the gods.
They are stage props to reflect the will of the gods in the era.
If the quality of that stage prop is low, it becomes easier for the Demon Lord’s Army to attack their stronghold.
In the long history of the Demon Lord’s Army, there has never been an opportunity that held such promise.
“Demon Lord, your magic power is leaking. Your subordinates are trembling, so please suppress it.”
“Oh my, haste is the enemy. I don’t know when such a chance will come again.”
He realizes he’s smiling, his magic power surging, so exhilarated that he doesn’t notice it.
Evia chides him, and he calmly checks if there are any overlooked aspects in his plan.
“It’s understandable. God Killer. The opportunity to achieve that is right before us.”
“Indeed. The fateful conclusion to the feud between us and Isal cannot end without achieving this. Even if we destroy humanity, the war will not end as long as the gods exist.”
God Killer.
A great sin that involves striking down the Creator.
However, this will bring about the end of a long history.
For this purpose, past Demon Lords have poured their hearts and souls into it, sacrificing many lives.
“Well, I have a feeling things will be even busier after the act.”
“The process is important, but the follow-up work will likely be more strenuous.”
If they do not receive the reward commensurate with those sacrifices, there is no meaning for the Demon Lord’s Army.
“Hmm, will it be busier than now?”
“Undoubtedly, but by then, I imagine I’ll be on maternity leave.”
“Whaaat? That’s unfair!”
“Please rest assured. By then, you too will have made time to welcome your wife.”
“That’s not reassuring at all! While trying to unify the world, you’re talking about relationships? What kind of joke is that?”
“It’s not a joke; it’s a serious matter. For the sake of the next generation, you need to have children.”
“I’d prefer a successor who isn’t of royal blood. There are few successful examples of that.”
However, the Demon Lord, with a wry smile at the future he sees beyond that reward, begins to wonder when he will be able to relax.
A world where the Demon Lord can get married and live in peace.
It is for the purpose of creating such an era that they are enduring their current hardships.
“But if you were to abdicate to someone else…”
“Yes, it would mean a return to a bloody civil war.”
The Demon Lord realizes anew that the reward for those hardships seems a long way off, as the Demon Lord’s Army is currently burdened with too many problems.
“Truly, being a Demon Lord is not easy.”
“But you became one with that understanding?”
“That’s true. However, if we think about it realistically, it seems I really do have to get married.”
“You won’t have trouble finding someone, will you?”
“There are plenty of candidates, number-wise. But personally, I’d prefer a relationship like ours.”
Indeed, an event like marriage could shake the world.
How much value would be placed on the simple fact of becoming related to a powerful figure?
“In that case, you should find such a woman.”
“Hmm, perhaps it’s best to hide my identity and try to woo a commoner woman?”
“Cinderella stories are just that, stories.”
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way!”
“I will refuse overtime in that case.”
With the spoils of war, the term “final decisive battle” begins to take on a more realistic meaning for the Demon Lord.
A decisive battle with the gods.
What kind of outcome will it bring?
At least he is confident that he will be standing on that battlefield.
Will he be alive after the war?
Even the Demon Lord, who boasts of being the strongest in the Demon Lord’s Army, cannot guarantee absolute victory against the gods.
Although they are exchanging lighthearted banter like this, there is no guarantee that they will be able to do so after the decisive battle.
“I’ll pay generously for the trouble?”
“I’m not short on money, so I’d prefer to spend time with my unborn child.”
“Hmm, it’s difficult to lure someone with your level of skill.”
Evia also wishes for the Demon Lord to survive for the sake of future nations, but she understands that this is a wish beyond possibility.
She is doing her best to avoid any regrets.
However, even that best effort feels insufficient.
“Report! The Human King has awakened!!”
Amidst such pervasive anxiety, good news Arrives.
“Oh, is that so? Evia, let’s stop discussing bad news for now and go celebrate his awakening, shall we?”
“Understood.”
The anxieties of the moment are set aside for now.
The Demon Lord and Evia leave their seats to visit Jiro, who has been revived.
Today’s word:
It’s not easy to reschedule plans.
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