Chapter 46

As expected, the transfer room in Balentzere was crowded. The brigade commanders of the 7th Legion were arriving one after another. It was a gathering of familiar faces.

Beio the werewolf was there, as well as other notable figures.

The 7th Legion, compared to other legions, has a relatively strong horizontal connection among the brigade commanders. However, I am a newcomer and somewhat envied.

There weren't many demons who would casually talk to me.

While I was idly waiting in the transfer room, Kushana, the only brigade commander who got along with me, came over to talk.

He is the commander of the Fang Beast Brigade, which, as the name suggests, is a brigade primarily composed of beast-type monsters and demons.

Naturally, the brigade commander was also a beast-type demon. He is a manticore, a creature with a lion's body, a scorpion's tail, and an old man's face.

In Japan, he might be considered a nuppeppo, a monstrous being. In any case, he is a particularly striking and unusual monster in the Demon Army. He spoke to me in a friendly tone.

"It's been a while, Ike. —No, should I call you Lord Ike?"

His voice was hoarse like an old man's, but his age is unknown. He is at least older than me. I replied hesitantly.

"Calling me Ike is fine. Mr. Kushana."

"But that won't do. You've become a deputy commander. We need to maintain proper hierarchy."

"Then, just 'Lord,' but please spare me the 'sama.' Even if I become a legion commander."

Kushana relaxed his face and said, "I can't guarantee that when you become the Demon King," and then laughed, moving on to the main topic.

"But why did Lady Sefiro gather the brigade commanders?"

It's probably to hold a military council, but the regular council was just held. What he wants to know is the content, not just the fact that it's a council. Of course, I didn't know either, but I could guess. I decided to share my thoughts with him.

"Probably because the situation in the war with Rozalia is not going well."

"…Hmm, as I thought. I heard that the 2nd Legion, which launched an offensive the other day, was defeated."

I can't say that I set a trap, so I just state a non-controversial fact.

"Yes, since the Alliance of Kings was formed, the Demon Army's rapid advance has come to a halt."

"…Well, that was expected. But I didn't think it would stop so completely. The Alliance of Kings has been activated three times in the past, and each time we were repelled."

"Will it be the same this time?" Manticore Kushana sighed.

"It won't be the same this time."

Beio the werewolf interrupted our conversation. He claims, "The reason for our defeat last time was that I wasn't born yet."

He's as overconfident as ever. Kushana seems to think the same and is smiling wryly.

Young demons in the Demon Army tend to underestimate humans, as Kushana and I think.

Very few in the Demon Army know the strength and fear of humans. Probably only Sefiro, the Demon King, and this old man.

That's why this is an emergency military council.

As I was thinking this, a demon secretary of Sefiro appeared and told all the brigade commanders to gather in the council room.

Her voice is elegant. She is a capable woman, as befits Sefiro's secretary. She probably balances out Sefiro's lack of seriousness with her own seriousness. I headed to the council room while imagining this.

The council room in Balentzere is large. Even with about 30 demons gathered, there is still room to spare. Each brigade commander sits in their usual spot.

The lack of tea and snacks might be because there are no considerate girls like Sati, or perhaps it's too urgent for a council.

From the look of Sefiro, it seems to be the latter.

She started the council with a serious expression, which is unusual for her.

"The topic of this council—"

The opening is the same, but she is much more serious than usual. This indicates that the Demon Army is in a tight spot.

"To put it bluntly, our Demon Army suffered a major defeat the other day."

There were no gasps of surprise. The brigade commanders probably already knew this much.

"First, the 2nd Legion Commander, Gelmua of the Black Wings, failed to capture the city of Aresta."

The other brigade commanders swallowed hard. The 2nd Legion's cruelty and greed were well-known. Some even relaxed their expressions and laughed, saying, "Serves him right."

Sefiro glanced at me sideways.

Perhaps she has seen through my plot to incite Gelmua to go to Aresta. She is a skilled strategist and always gathers information.

I wouldn't be surprised if she noticed, but since she didn't say anything, she might think "Serves him right" or understand my intentions.

Sefiro returned her gaze and continued.

"It's not just the 2nd Legion. The 4th Legion has lost half of its occupied territory. The 5th Legion has suffered devastating losses. Even the 1st Legion, known as the elite of the Demon Army, is struggling."

"Even the 1st Legion?"

Manticore Kushana exclaimed in surprise.

"This shows how intense the human resistance has become."

"The effect of the Alliance of Kings is already showing, you mean?"

Kushana added. Sefiro nodded silently.

"The only one holding up well is our legion. We are still defending our occupied territory."

Sefiro looked at me again. She probably wants to say that the Undead Brigade's efforts are a significant factor.

Indeed, my brigade's continued defense of the front line, Ivalice, is a major achievement.

Thanks to this, the other brigade commanders' struggles are lessened, and the food and supplies sent from the agricultural city of Ivalice are the lifeline of the 7th Legion.

Normally, I should be praised in front of everyone, but Sefiro deliberately doesn't praise me here.

To avoid the other brigade commanders' resentment or to protect me from jealousy, she is considerate. Despite appearing to think nothing, Sefiro is sensitive to the nuances of demon hearts.

To thank her for her consideration, I made a proposal.

"Commander, I have a suggestion."

I raised my hand modestly.

"What is it?"

Sefiro said, and everyone's gaze turned to me. It seems I have permission to speak.

"I hear that our important stronghold, Arsenam, is surrounded by the Alliance of Kings."

Arsenam is the trading city in the center of the continent that I captured the other day. It is now an important stronghold of the Demon Army under direct control of the Demon King. If it falls, the Demon Army's momentum will come to a complete stop, and the tide of the war might turn.

No, a full retreat from Rozalia is certain.

Not only that, but we might have to abandon other occupied territories and, in the worst case, face a counteroffensive all the way back to the Demon King's stronghold, as happened last time.

I don't want that to happen. History repeats itself, but I don't want to repeat the same mistakes this time.

"Indeed, Arsenam is surrounded. But surely you're not suggesting we go to save it?"

"That's exactly what I'm suggesting. Losing Arsenam here would be a significant loss for the Demon Army."

"But we have already received orders from the Demon King to abandon Arsenam and retreat. Going to rescue it now would be futile."

…The Demon King is already prepared to abandon Arsenam. He seems to feel the threat of the human momentum.

Sefiro informed everyone that Arsenam has been abandoned and the defenses of the cities behind it are being reinforced.

If the calm and capable Demon King made this judgment, it is evidence that the situation is dire.

However, losing Arsenam here would be a painful blow to the Demon Army. It must be avoided. I made my case.

"I believe we should mobilize the full strength of the 7th Legion to rescue Arsenam."

Most of the brigade commanders gasped in surprise at this statement.

Sefiro's expression became serious, and her eyebrows moved slightly.

"Hey, Ike, didn't you hear what I just said? The Demon Army's strategy is to abandon Arsenam and retreat."

Surprisingly, the one who opposed me was Beio the werewolf. It's unusual for the most belligerent of them to oppose. Perhaps he just wants to oppose my suggestion.

Not in response to Beio, but Manticore Kushana also opposed.

"Deputy Commander, I hear that Arsenam is completely surrounded, with tens of thousands of enemies. Our brigade numbers only about 3,000. Are you suggesting we fight with that number?"

Kushana's weathered face twisted as he continued.

"Moreover, all 3,000. We can't leave our occupied territories empty. So far, there have been no rebellions in our occupied territories, but if we leave them empty, that will change."

Other brigade commanders agreed.

"That's right. If we mobilize the entire army, some cities will surely rebel."

Indeed, I agree with that.

"Indeed, that's true. There is also the possibility of enemy ambushes. We should leave at least a minimal defense force."

"In that case, we can mobilize 2,500, no, 2,000 soldiers."

"That seems reasonable."

I responded.

"Are you suggesting we fight tens of thousands of enemies with just 2,000 soldiers?"

"Only five times as many. We can handle it."

—I wanted to say that, but it would be too overconfident. The basic principle of warfare is to defeat a smaller force with a larger one. In other words, the strategy I am proposing is one that should never be attempted. The 7th Legion could be annihilated. It's natural that everyone opposes it.

—However, there was one person who supported me.

Sefiro, who had been silent until now, spoke up. Perhaps to protect me, or perhaps because she trusts me, she said firmly.

"I understand. I was also thinking that losing Arsenam here would be painful. Let's adopt Ike's strategy."

The 7th Legion Commander said this, and the decision was made.

Sefiro doesn't show her authority in front of me, but in front of other brigade commanders, she acts like a commander and is respected.

If she made this choice, it must be the right one. The other brigade commanders seemed to agree.

She said,

"Then, return to your occupied territories and start preparing for the battle. Gather in Ivalice within a week and head north to rescue Arsenam."

The brigade commanders said, "Understood," and left the room.

There are no cowards among the 7th Legion's brigade commanders. Once the decision to fight was made, they left with high spirits.

A few minutes later, the previously noisy council room became quiet again. Only Sefiro and I were left.

A strange silence fell between us. Perhaps sensing this, Sefiro's secretary brought drinks on a silver tray.

Sefiro is a big drinker, so it's probably wine. A purple liquid is poured. Mine is a bright red liquid.

The secretary doesn't know I am human. She might think I prefer animal blood because I am an Undead. I pretend to take a sip, but once she leaves, I put it on the table.

Honestly, I don't like animal blood. Drinking it would probably make me sick.

Sefiro, seeing this, smiled and said, "I'll tell them to bring water next time."

"At least bring tea."

She replied, "That's when the rescue of Arsenam is successful."

"Then, I'll specify the tea leaves now. Ivalice-grown, please."

"Is that cheap stuff good enough?"

"I like that aroma."

I said, and she asked,

"Does that mean you have confidence in the success of the Arsenam rescue?"

"Commander, you know I'm a coward. I don't have the courage to fight a losing battle."

"Then, you must have succeeded in developing that firelock weapon."

"Yes, we have about 100. Even that number should be enough to make a difference."

"Are you planning to use the three-shot technique you used in Basteo?"

"It was a two-shot technique then. This time, we can probably use the three-shot technique since we have enough."

"But that weapon is powerful, but can you fight tens of thousands of enemies with it alone?"

"Of course not."

I said firmly.

"Then, you have other plans?"

"Yes, you can interpret it that way."

I said decisively. She looked into my eyes and nodded solemnly.

"Alright, I'll leave this operation entirely to you."

"…You won't ask for details?"

"I won't."

Sefiro said briefly.

"Why not?"

"Because it's troublesome."

She said with a hint of a joke.

"…Is it okay for a Demon Army commander to have that attitude?"

"Because I am a Demon Army commander, it's okay."

She said firmly. Seeing her playful attitude, I sighed, "Indeed."

I have known her for a long time, but her personality is hard to grasp.

Perhaps sensing my subtle mood, Sefiro suddenly became serious and said,

"I've said something similar before. I don't engage in battles without a chance of winning."

"During the duel with Basteo. So, you think we can win this time?"

"Exactly. With your command and that gun, we probably won't lose."

She said firmly and then asked,

"Can you show me the same scene as before, Ike?"

"I'll do my best."

I said and decided to do my best to meet her expectations.

"Then, I'll see you in the city of Ivalice in a week."

I said, stood up, and let my Undead robe flutter. She said to my back,

"Prepare the finest wine. Peruna's is good."

"I'll prepare it if I can get it."

I said without turning back and returned to Ivalice.