Even in another world, war strategy meetings are not decided overnight.
The meeting itself went smoothly, but in the end, all that was decided was that Amili-san would be the representative in charge of defense, and I would be in charge of logistics and support.
“Hmm, all of your opinions are excellent. I want to adopt them all, but that’s impossible. I’m in a bind.”
What remained undecided was the attacker.
After I offered my opinion and the generals presented their plans based on it, this was what the President said.
All of them were proposals that utilized experience and knowledge broadly and deeply, making my suggestions feel inadequate.
I was confident that anyone assigned would be able to accomplish the task.
It was precisely because of this certainty that the President was genuinely struggling to decide who to appoint.
Everyone was sufficiently motivated, and if the President hadn’t stopped them, the vying for attention would have continued indefinitely.
“Demon Lord, I’m late.”
“No, Evia, your timing is perfect. Did you prepare what I asked for?”
“Yes, it’s here. Should I distribute it to others as well?”
“Yes, please do.”
At a moment when a stagnant atmosphere seemed to fill the room, Evia entered, as if to ventilate it.
She was dressed in a way that paid attention to not constricting her stomach, and she had switched to easy-to-walk-in shoes instead of high heels. She walked directly to the President’s side without hesitation and handed him a paper enclosed in an envelope.
Upon seeing it, the President arranged for it to be distributed to everyone else. The butler and maids who heard this moved, and Evia handed them the envelopes she had brought.
None of the attendants would dare to look inside.
Nor would any fool attempt to steal it.
Ignorance is a sin, but there are also truths in this world that are better left unknown.
The document, securely stapled shut, was placed face down in front of me, and I reached out to open it.
The other generals were also looking at theirs, so there was no need to wait.
“…What is this?”
Upon seeing it, I couldn’t help but furrow my brow.
The other generals had similar reactions.
The Dragon King even clicked his tongue.
“Has it truly become this corrupt?”
Instructor Fushio, speaking on behalf of everyone, voiced his thoughts on the document’s contents.
The content of the document was straightforward.
It was a list of nobles on the Isal side who had defected within the Demon Lord’s continent.
More accurately, it could be described as an alliance of factions from the previous Demon Lord, fallen nobles who had lost in power struggles, and those simply dissatisfied with their current positions.
The total number of these forces was quite significant.
This figure could be interpreted as a reflection of accumulated dissatisfaction, but the evidence of their activities clearly showed that they had no justice on their side.
“Commander, please give me the order. I’ll make them disappear without a trace in three days.”
“Heh heh, King Oni, what naive talk. These scum don’t even need three days. I’ll turn them into ashes tomorrow.”
The sale of illegal slaves, kidnapping, privatization of assassination organizations, leaking information, embezzlement, etc.
If there were a showcase of crimes, this document would be it. Two generals’ faces were etched with anger, and they looked ready to spring into action.
If the fury of the Oni and Dragon Kings were unleashed, this force would undoubtedly be finished.
However, did the President have Evia prepare this document solely to order us to annihilate them? If so, it would have been a simple command from the President, and there would have been no need to distribute the document to everyone present.
There’s something… something else.
Thinking so, I reread the document and noticed something.
“Demon Lord, may I ask one question?”
“Yes, you may.”
I didn’t want to interrupt the Instructor and the Dragon King’s words, but if things continued like this, they might rush off to crush this organization.
Despite the gaze of being seen as an obstruction, I maintained my demeanor and continued my question.
“Judging by this document, the assembled individuals are clearly a disorganized rabble. However, their funding, recruitment, and securing of bases and supply lines… despite their differing ideologies that should cause them to fall out, they are organized to a degree that it’s strange for them to be operating as a single entity. Have the leaders of this organization been identified?”
The document thoroughly investigated the organization, but crucial information about the top leadership was missing. It looked somewhat like an organizational chart where the leaders of each faction governed through a parliamentary system, but with these individuals, it would have quickly collapsed.
Their secrecy, to the point where they weren’t discovered until the brink of war, was also odd.
No, rather.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t identified them. I’ve heard that several spies have gone missing.”
It seemed to me that this information was being revealed at precisely this timing.
I felt a will to make the most of this disorganized rabble.
The identity of the leader is unknown, and it’s unclear whether this is an intervention by Isal or a ploy by the noble factions.
All I know is that this organization will undoubtedly hinder the Demon Lord’s Army in the event of war.
This is just like…
“Human King, what do you see?”
Just as that thought crossed my mind, the President smiled and conveyed through his expression that he was thinking of something interesting again.
His smile had an aura that removed any option of keeping his thoughts hidden.
“…This is just speculation, but I feel there’s malice in obtaining this information at this particular timing. Whether it’s Isal or the noble factions, I feel their primary concern is to disrupt our coordination for their own convenience. They could have revolted at the start of the war and thrown us off balance, but instead, they’ve shown their hand now. I find that disconcerting.”
Thus, rather than going against it, I voiced my unease.
Perhaps the goal is to make us suspect something, to sow doubt and slow us down.
“Indeed, I felt that as well.”
“That’s right, Jirou. I agree with him. Even if we gain this evidence now, it will only be a delay.”
The generals in charge of strategy, the Tree King and Instructor Fushio, share the same opinion.
This means we should probably investigate this unease more thoroughly.
“Hmm, if the Human King, the Tree King, and the Undead King are sensing it, then my suspicion wasn’t mistaken. Evia, can you conduct a full-scale investigation?”
“Honestly, the personnel I can currently mobilize are at their limit. Personally, I believe that having us collect this information is intended to increase the operational rate of the dark factions and hinder information gathering efficiency.”
“They want to draw attention and divert it elsewhere, perhaps to something else. If Evia can’t investigate thoroughly, the perpetrators are limited. However, without evidence, we can’t act. Simply eradicating them would be cutting off the tail of a lizard. Hmm, it’s likely that revealing this at this stage means they intend to hide what they don’t want seen until the war begins…”
Considering the document Evia brought to this gathering of generals, it becomes even more difficult to decide on an offensive strategy.
With the potential for an internal problem arising, it has become difficult to fight Isal head-on.
However, there are a few generals who seem inclined to proceed regardless.
“Then, we have no choice but to plan our war strategy with that in mind. No, no, having too many enemies is troublesome.”
Despite that atmosphere, the President’s smile did not waver.
He tapped the table with his fingers, pausing for a few seconds to think.
“According to information from the Isal side, there is no doubt they will attack soon. However, it is also clear that an uprising will occur before then. If we preemptively crush the uprising, our intelligence sources will be cut off, and we won’t be able to detect the main attack. My, my, the other side is quite cunning.”
Just by compiling the information, the disadvantageous situation became apparent.
We are not cornered, but it feels like our movement is restricted, as if one leg is being held.
However.
“But to choose the wrong opponent to bite is foolish.”
Such disadvantages are nothing to our President.
Not only the President, but even I, the maids, and the butler were slightly taken aback by the generals’ grim smiles, which, following the President’s lead, were far from gentle. At this point, they weren’t even considering this scheme.
“Now, our tasks have increased, including the front lines. However, the main objective is still pending.”
Thinking that I can handle this level of crisis, I realize I’ve been quite thoroughly influenced.
The other generals likely perceive it as merely an additional battlefield… Hmm? I feel like I’ve encountered people who would rejoice at such a thing in Japan, perhaps from Kyushu?
Could it be that since this world has been connected to the ancient world for so long, the bloodline from this other world has been re-imported there?
Well, perhaps that’s for the best for now.
“Nōraifu, I’m sorry to trouble you so soon after your return, but can you handle this matter?”
“Kah kah kah, this is where my expertise in dealing with such malice comes in. It’s a good warm-up to fill the blank. Understood. How should I handle the processing?”
“I’ll leave it to you.”
This is not an opportunity arising from a crisis, but the President made quite a bold decision here.
It seems he wants to improve the Demon Lord’s Army’s transparency.
The amount of blood that will flow will likely be considerable, but considering our future relationship with Earth and the upcoming battles with Isal, it’s understandable.
“Would you like any assistance?”
“No, I believe I can manage alone. The war effort will require personnel, won’t it?”
“Is that so? Then I’ll leave that to you.”
With that, one person capable of handling the front lines has been reduced.
The remaining candidates are the Oni King and the Dragon King, who can fight head-on; the Giant King, the best for defense in the Demon Lord’s Army; and the Tree King, who has a good balance of offense and defense.
The choice will be between these four.
Now, I wonder who the President will choose.
“Oh? What’s wrong, Warlock?”
I thought this, but before the decision could be made, the Giant King raised his hand.
“May I have permission to speak?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you. Regarding the previous matter, I would like permission to participate, not just the Undead King.”
I wondered if there was something more, but to my surprise, he wished to participate in suppressing the rebellious elements. He, who had wanted to lead the front lines until just moments ago, made a decision that seemed to reverse his stance.
There must be something about this document that moved him.
“And the reason for that?”
“Suffice it to say, I have some idea who might be behind this disturbance.”
“Is it something you cannot speak of here?”
“I’d appreciate your understanding.”
I quickly reread the document, but there was no relevant information.
However, what could the Giant King’s “idea” be?
It’s likely related to the Giant race, but that might be too simplistic.
But at least this much is certain: he grasped something from this document.
The President’s sharp gaze pierced the Giant King, but he met it directly without flinching.
“Understood. However, command authority will be entrusted to Nōraifu. Are you satisfied with that?”
“Thank you.”
“So, Nōraifu, please work with Warlock on this.”
“Understood. I have no complaints about having more personnel.”
There is a clear trust relationship there.
The exchange conveyed that.
“Well, due to the flow of events, the number of available personnel has steadily decreased. In that case, I believe it would be best to flesh out Human King’s earlier proposal.”
The conversation’s momentum placed the responsibility on my words.
A bead of unpleasant sweat trickled down my back.
“What does everyone else think?”
Ah, seeing the President’s face, I quickly entered a mode of resignation, realizing this was an impossible situation.
Today’s Word of Wisdom: Properly prepare what can be prepared in advance.
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I am currently serializing another work: Pandora Pandemic Panic. The box of Pandora has been opened again, but we are fighting back from secret bases and various other locations!! Please check that out as well!!
