Chapter 290 – Strategy ⑤
Roughly one hour after we gained full control of the Nanto Fortress.
I checked the remaining time for 《Reign》 to complete.
Five minutes…three minutes…one minute…ten seconds…five seconds…one second――
The black vortex in front of my eyes lits up and then disappears after the light converges. A silver orb ― 【True Core】 ― manifests in the space where the black vortex has been.
『Reign finished』 is the plain message shown on my smartphone’s screen.
“Good work everyone,” I call out to the subordinates around me.
“Ho ho ho, it was my first invasion battle, but in the end it was a bit anticlimactic.”
“Nothing less of an ingenious supreme ruler! Kanezawa’s…no――you’re the 『Zhuge Liang of Western Japan』!”
Was it Zhuge Liang of Kanezawa before that? I’ve leveled up quite a bit then…but, just as usual, I end up with the uncoolest nicknames possible.
Using my smartphone, I transfer the management of the sector I just conquered to Yataro.
“Yataro, I leave the aftermath to you.”
“Roger.”
After getting his confirmation, I check the situation over at Tateyama Fortress.
Oohh…they’re quite desperate over there, aren’t they?
The humans Toyama have thrown lots of combat forces into the battle in order to protect the fortress. Their troops are fighting quite frantically.
Motoki has also deployed a number of troops which is bigger than anything I’ve seen from him before. His subordinates are desperately battling the humans.
And my subordinates are――
It looks like they’re at a loss on how to continue, but in reality they’re fighting smartly, emphasizing safety first to avoid pointless casualties.
While tabbing through various PoVs of my subordinates, I get a read on the entire war situation.
From the eyes of the humans, the biggest threat poses Takaharu. He slays one human after the other, relying on the characteristic of a Beast Demon Lord, the high mobility, and his own, overwhelming might.
――To all subordinates currently invading Tateyama Fortress. The usurpation of Nanto Fortress has finished successfully. All hands, prepare for withdrawal.
Receiving my order, Rina and Kotetsu’s corps take the leading role in securing a path of retreat.
Okay, are they done with that? Then I guess I’ll give the humans of Toyama a little encouragement as a parting gift.
――Takaharu, flee! Pretend that you’ve been defeated and retreat. Everyone else, match Takaharu’s escape and begin retreating!
“Hah? Are ya fuckin’ with me!?”
After hearing my telepathic message, Takaharu looks up towards the sky, loudly venting his frustration.
――Takaharu, this is an order. Would you prefer me to tie down your freedom with orders? Is it a child’s squabble you’re looking for? This is my last warning. Flee.
I give him an ultimatum in the shape of a directive and not an order that would force him to abide.
“Tsk…yer the boss.”
Despite being unhappy about it, Takaharu lets himself being hit by the sword of a nearby human.
“Fuck! I was done in! Retreat!! We’re retreatin’! …Also, I’m gonna remember yer mug…so feel proud! Ya bastard are the only human who ever forced me to fall back!” Takaharu spat out a sharp parting remark, and ran away.
“The Beast King…Aster Empire’s Beast King has fled!”
“Don’t let him get away! Take him down! Get revenge for our comrades!”
“””Uuoooohh!!”””
Watching Takaharu flee, the humans’ morale skyrockets. They try to pursue Takaharu, but Takaharu’s corps, which excels at mobility, passes through the retreat path created by Rina and Kotetsu’s corps, quickly leaving the battlefield.
“――Wh-!? What’s going on!? What happened!?” Motoki flies into panic when he witnesses my subordinates withdrawing.
“Motoki-sama, Demon King Shion’s troops have retreated! What shall we do?”
“Uuugh…” Motoki surveys the battlefield while grinding his teeth in vexation. “Can we win by ourselves…? If it’s now…Shion isn’t present. If we succeed with a 《Reign》…we’ll be able to conquer this land, but…”
Motoki is wavering whether he should press the attack or withdraw.
Now then, how’s Motoki going to choose?
I watch the conclusion of Motoki’s decision.
“Now’s the perfect chance! We shall show our power to the humans of Toyama…to Demon King Shion!”
Hooh… So he’s going to continue, huh? It looks like he’s chosen to invade.
I decided to watch the full outcome from my Domain.
◆
Six hours after Rina’s army corps had retreated from the battlefield around Tateyama fortress.
The humans of Toyama and Motoki’s troops are still washing blood with blood in front of the fortress.
“Whoa! That pig is really going at it! Shion, who do you think is going to win?”
“If you set the pig failing at his 《Reign》 as the victory condition for the humans, then it’s going to be the humans, no?” I readily answer Kanon’s question.
“But, the pig and his men are doing their best as well, aren’t they?”
“Even though they were no more than a decoy, Rina’s forces defeated quite a few humans. And now that they’ve retreated…isn’t he simply believing that this is going to be his last chance?”
“The pig might have found himself in a corner where he can’t easily retreat since he’s already invested so many troops into this attack.”
Kanon and I act like complete bystanders, trying to guess Motoki’s current mental state.
“Oh well, pig or humans, it’s only to our advantage when both sides whittle down their forces. Let us pray that the battle between them drags out for as long as possible.”
I cheered on both armies, which were locked in a deadly struggle, with a carefree attitude.
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