339: The Lord of Disease’s Unreasonable Request
“Master, I’m back.”
“Welcome back. …You’ve done well.”
I hugged Liz, who had finally returned after sunset. Even though I had trusted her, I had been worried.
“Yes. There don’t seem to be any assassins. Unless they’re letting us swim.”
“Even if they could detect you, I don’t think they have anyone who could let you swim. —Your report.”
I released her and switched to my work mode.
“The enemy forces are about two thousand. Plus or minus a hundred. Probably plus. There seem to be some non-combatants, so if we assume two thousand, we should be fine.”
Harken’s estimate had been quite accurate.
“And there are about fifty cavalry. I’m not sure, but I think they might be light cavalry from the Perte Empire…”
“From the Perte Empire? And why do you think so?”
“Their skin color and their beards.”
“I see. And what are they like?”
“I hear they are skilled with a bow on horseback. But they are not a unit suited for a siege, so we have no experience fighting them in Listrea… I don’t have the details. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Cavalry. In this world, the importance of cavalry was lower than in my previous world. Because the range of offensive magic and bows was so long, and the speed of a horse did not have an absolute advantage. For the past four hundred years, the focus had been on defending and capturing bases, so it was only natural that a strong defense and an offense that could crush the enemy’s counterattack were required.
But speed was also an evasive ability, and depending on the skill of the rider, a skilled warrior who could also distribute enhancement magic to their mount was undoubtedly a threat.
“What about the sentries?”
“Their rotation is unknown, but there were a suitable number. The sentries are all in pairs, and they are combined with a patrol of three. A complete surprise attack will be impossible.”
“A competent commander…”
They knew this was an ‘invasion of enemy territory.’ If only they had been careless, thinking it was a ‘procession through their own territory.’
“What about assassinating the commander?”
“It’s not impossible. …But they’re quite skilled, including their surroundings. I can do it. But the chances of returning are about eighty percent.”
“Then no. We’ll take that option off the table.”
If it were a gamble with money, it would be a good bet. No, it might even be a bet you should take. But what I was betting was the life of my subordinate. Even setting aside the fact that she was my lover, her life—Lizlit Finis’s life—was not so light. If we were to lose her eyes in the coming journey, we didn’t know when we would be drawn into a battle we didn’t have to fight—and if we were to run into the enemy’s main force, then it would be over.
“Rebecca, Harken, what do you think? Against a force four times our number.”
“Before that, I want to ask. Liz, what about the mages?”
“I confirmed ten. They are all near the commander. They seem to be experienced in actual combat.”
Liz answered Rebecca’s question. Harken asked another.
“I would like to hear about the skill of the other soldiers. Your personal opinion is fine, Liz-dono.”
“Their equipment is decent. And their skill… is probably worthy of being called elite. Even our weakest knight would undoubtedly win in a one-on-one fight, but from two-on-one, a little bit of luck would be involved, and in a three-on-one, it would be a good fight.”
The enemy was four times our number. I didn’t know how well the enemy could use their numerical advantage. But it was clear that they were different from the ordinary citizens and grunts we had been trampling until now.
“Then, Rebecca, Harken, let me hear your opinions again.”
“We can win. But I don’t know about the casualties. …About half.”
“It depends on the skill of the mages. But… assuming Samarkand-dono can suppress them, we can probably get by with about thirty percent losses. And if it’s a night raid, they might be a little slower.”
“…Thirty percent…”
“I will support you with all my power. On the pride of a greater demon—no, on the pride of the fourth in command of the Sixth Army.”
“We cannot overlook that unit. We must crush them, even if it means sacrifices.”
“That’s right… Aithys, do you have anything?”
“Me? Well… I can join the fight…”
“No.”
Aithys and Leaf, the griffin rider duo, were an important eye in the sky. They were also highly mobile, and like Lital-sama, they were an important unit that should be entrusted with the final line of defense, after the decisive battle.
“Hmm… I might be able to scare the horses.”
“The horses?”
“Horses are usually afraid of griffins. Just flying overhead and letting them hear my cry might be effective… maybe.”
“Adopted. Please.”
“Understood.” Aithys nodded.
“I will also permit the others to speak. Those who have a proposal, raise your hand and step forward.”
I looked around, but no one raised their hand.
“No clever tricks… huh?”
I sighed. If we had more time, and we continued to discuss, we might come up with something. But the enemy would not wait.
I steeled myself.
I was the Lord of Disease.
Species: Human.
Objective: Human extinction.
And the one I led was the Sixth Army. A regular army of Listrea.
There were no exceptions.
I had declared that I would use up all of the Demon King’s army to protect what must be protected.
There were no exceptions.
“It can’t be helped. —Harken, you will lead the charge.”
“Yes, I understand.” Harken nodded lightly.
“I think a night raid is best. I’ll leave the details to you, Rebecca and Harken, but what do you think?”
“No objections. I will take command. Samarkand and I will provide magical support. Liz, you will fly with Master on Leaf.”
“Huh? I’m on the ground…”
“It’s a night raid. If you can’t be seen, then there’s little point in having you at the front. And I’m worried about leaving you behind.”
I was about to protest, but I was cut down by his logic.
“But it will affect our morale.”
“Their morale will be fine, as long as you’re watching from the sky. Liz, if anything happens from the air, give us instructions. Aithys, be careful of the bows and magic. Gain altitude.”
“Yes.”
“Right.”
“…And me?”
“Listen to what they say and be quiet. I will permit you to cheer.”
That was clearly not how you treated a supreme commander…
“Alright.” I nodded, though with a sullen expression. I knew that his words were out of concern for my safety.
“…Samarkand, I want to talk before we depart. Soundproofing, if you would.”
“A short conversation will not be a problem for my mana consumption.”
“Good.” I cleared my throat lightly. The sun had set, and under the moonlight, I looked at the group of death knights, who were glowing faintly with their blue-green aura.
“The enemy’s total number is estimated to be about two thousand. More than four times our number. But we cannot allow them to reinforce and resupply. Therefore, we will attack.”
I used an amplification spell, but I didn’t shout, and I began to speak.
“We will conduct a night raid, but they have sentries. It will not be as much of a surprise attack as before.”
It would not be an easy battle. I knew that. I had heard that there would be thirty percent casualties, and yet, I had given the order to attack. That was to say that I had agreed to an exchange, the lives of my subordinates for the lives of the enemy soldiers. I had told these people who believed in me, ‘Die in exchange for a military achievement.’ And even that might have been wishful thinking. The possibility of not achieving any military success and simply being defeated was not zero. There were no absolutes on the battlefield—in this world.
“But I will say this, with full knowledge of the risks.” I looked around.
“Do not die. But kill all the enemy.”
“Our master is as unreasonable as ever.” Harken laughed, rattling his jawbone.
“I said, ‘with full knowledge of the risks,’ didn’t I? And besides, an army is an organization where a superior gives unreasonable orders to his subordinates. The best you can do is to become a superior yourself.”
“I think that’s difficult.” One of them stepped forward and spoke.
“Oh, why?”
“We are the subordinates of the Lord of Disease. —We have no intention of abandoning this position.”
“That’s right. You could say we’ve gotten used to the unreasonable requests.”
“We are happy to have a sweet and strict superior.”
“…Honestly. You’re a bunch of fools.” I chuckled.
“Then show me that you can make my unreasonable request a reality.”
They all nodded in unison, without a word, and the blue-green aura of the undead glowed with a new intensity.
