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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: selkie
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The sight of the demon army in front of me.
Seeing that an army of at least 20,000 soldiers is marching over the mountains towards us, a deep tension began to cloud Parisecht’s face.
“Those guys… I expected it, but it seems they came fully prepared.”
“Uh… what should we do, General?”
“There are too many of them. Can we really stop them?”
The subordinate generals asked with voices filled with deep anxiety.
In response, Parisecht struggled to maintain his composure and began to think about what he needed to do.
About 7,000 troops remain here.
Originally, there were about 10,000 troops stationed here, but currently, a considerable number have been dispatched to transport and escort supplies.
The current situation in Antioch has resulted in a significant gap in military strength due to surrounding conditions, which means that it is now facing a large-scale attack from enemies unlike any seen before.
‘Moreover, Antioch is not located in a particularly advantageous defensive area. Aside from its significance as a strategic point for transportation, it is situated in an open plain, making it increasingly vulnerable. The more numerous the enemies, the more unfavorable the situation becomes…’
This scenario represents an almost worst-case situation, where they are confronting the enemy in the most unfavorable manner. However, Parisecht does not view the current circumstances solely negatively.
In the context of the ongoing supply crisis faced by the alliance, Antioch stands as the last bastion where food can be obtained. Therefore, it is essential to protect this location for their survival.
If news spreads that Antioch is under attack, it is certain that the Allied Races will lower their defenses and march here as quickly as possible.
The time frame for this support arriving is likely to be no more than two days. This is not a long period, and if reinforcements arrive, they could quickly turn the tide of battle in their favor.
Moreover, the potential benefits of successfully defending Antioch fueled Parisecht’s motivation even further.
‘Certainly, the current situation is not easy, but… conversely, if we can overcome this crisis, it will undoubtedly elevate my reputation and the name of Parisecht significantly.’
Given that Cassandra’s position is already shaky, if he manages to stand out in a situation like this, he might even achieve his dream of becoming one of the three knights of the Empire.
Despite the unfavorable circumstances, filled with hope and desire, Parisecht, as the overall commander here, immediately issued orders.
“You all need to depart from here right now and request reinforcements. Inform them that a large army of demons has invaded Antioch.”
“Yes! General!”
“We will carry out your orders, General!”
Following Parisecht’s command, the messengers mounted their horses and set off.
Immediately after, Parisecht firmly locked the castle gates and prepared to initiate the defense.
“Come on, you filthy demon bastards! This will be your grave! I, Parisecht, will sweep you all away!”
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Before him lay the fortified city of Antioch. Just as described in the original work, the city sat prominently in the center of a vast plain, and seeing it with his own eyes filled him with a slight admiration.
‘It really is vast. This place truly deserves to be called the granary of the Demon Kingdom. No wonder they have the luxury to supply other regions with provisions even during this war.’
For someone like him, who grew up in a country where mountains were visible, seeing such an expansive plain was almost a first. It felt as if something that had been pent up inside his heart was finally being released.
However, regardless of the sense of wonder as if I were on a journey, I knew all too well that this was not the time to be sightseeing.
“Set up the camp and prepare for the attack!”
“We will initiate battle tomorrow morning. Lastly, check your weapons and familiarize yourselves with your positions.”
The soldiers around me were bustling as they prepared for battle. In this chaotic environment, which seemed to embody what war truly was, I quickly finished my brief moment of admiration and turned my gaze slowly to the rear.
There, about 100 demons were clad in armor and checking their weapons; these were the ones who would be under my command in this battle.
To put it grandly, they could be considered my direct subordinates.
Their combat capabilities were, strictly speaking, only at the level of average demon soldiers, and honestly, I could easily handle them alone if I set my mind to it.
As a human, I understood that thoughtlessly consuming my troops could lead to severe criticism, so I needed to utilize them carefully.
However, despite this risk, there is a significant difference between having one soldier and having one hundred. With this in mind, I began to seriously contemplate how to best utilize the forces I had been given.
At that moment…
“Hero, General Samson has called a meeting. You should come quickly.”
“Alright, I understand.”
It seemed that Samson was about to hold the final meeting before the battle, so I headed toward the command tent with the aide who had delivered the message. However, to be honest, I didn’t have any particular expectations while moving.
‘Unless someone like Elias is the supreme commander… Honestly, it’s obvious what kind of content will come from a meeting led by someone like him.’
In preparation for the meeting, Elias was absent under the pretext of guarding the Demon King’s castle. Without her—who was the most strategic thinker among the commanders I had encountered so far—I could easily predict how the upcoming meeting would unfold.
And then…
“There’s no need for complicated explanations. The enemy is few in number and their supplies have been cut off. We will charge in and finish them off in one go.”
“That’s right. We will show those foolish humans the power of our demon race.”
“Since we don’t know when their reinforcements will arrive, there’s no need to drag this out. Let’s end it swiftly.”
The scene in the meeting room, filled with muscle-brained commanders, was exactly as I had anticipated. There were no precise strategies being discussed; they were only focused on overpowering the enemy with brute strength.
While observing their behavior, I couldn’t help but smirk inwardly.
‘Well, I knew it would come to this, but seeing it unfold is quite amusing.’
It was a scene that clearly demonstrated that no matter how many muscle-bound commanders gathered, the conclusion was already predetermined. However, I didn’t feel any dissatisfaction or concern about their demeanor.
This was because I had initially considered their tendencies when choosing this location as the battlefield. Antioch, situated in an open plain, made it difficult for them to employ strategies like ambushes or cunning tactics. Moreover, due to the nature of this place, which was currently transporting food for the soldiers, a significant portion of their main army was inevitably absent.
‘Of course, if we don’t capture it quickly, we might face some troublesome issues… but even that would still allow us to achieve our objectives.’
The overall framework of the war had already been firmly established in advance. What remained was for me to maximize my gains throughout the process.
‘Indeed, in times like this, it’s best to intervene appropriately while observing the flow. First, I’ll wait until the other demons exhaust the enemy’s strength and then slip in during that gap…’
There are many ways to utilize my allies who charge in without thought, and I began to think of efficient methods to conduct the battle using this to my advantage.
However…
“Now we need to decide who will take the lead. Who should step up?”
Samson asked with a commanding voice. Yet, I didn’t show much interest in this matter.
‘The vanguard… they may dress it up as a matter of honor, but it’s essentially a role akin to being a target for arrows.’
This position is often referred to as an honorable one among commanders, but such glory is worth less than a crumb of bread to someone like me, who pursues practical benefits.
On the other hand, given the nature of those present, it was clear that many would be eager for such glory. With that thought in mind, I maintained my silence as before.
However…
“I think we should send the Hero as the vanguard!”
‘!? What?’
“I agree with that idea. I’ve heard that the Hero’s prowess is extraordinary, and we would like to witness that strength with our own eyes.”
‘Wait a minute…’
“I also think so. Since it is the will of everyone, let’s give the Hero an opportunity. Now that you are a warrior of the Great Demon Kingdom, go ahead and unleash your full potential.”
‘This bastard…’
With Samson’s insistence, the situation naturally unfolded to place the vanguard role upon me. I felt a strong urge to curse them out, but in the current circumstances, I couldn’t even express my refusal, let alone voice any complaints.
After all, my authority was not particularly strong to begin with, and more importantly, I needed to maintain a positive image as a Hero. Rejecting this role would be akin to tarnishing the name of the Hero.
Suddenly finding myself in a tight spot, I felt a bitter sensation rising within me. At the same time, I couldn’t help but wonder if these bastards were collectively trying to mess with me.
I forced a smile onto my face and said,
“Thank you for granting me such an honor. In the name of Her Majesty the Demon King, I will surely strike fear into their hearts.”
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The characters present at the meeting, including Samson and his subordinates, felt a genuine sense of disappointment regarding the decision to place the vanguard role on the Hero.
‘If only I could take the lead myself…’
‘The thrill of breaking the enemy’s spearhead and being the first to clash swords is truly exhilarating, but this time I have no choice but to yield this opportunity.’
As honorable warriors of the Demon Kingdom, it was a coveted position to be the first to charge into battle. However, Samson and the other demons believed it was right to grant this honor to the Hero.
Their decision was not based on any complex political motives; no one present was thinking along those lines. Their choice stemmed purely from goodwill.
‘Elias had supported us during our disagreement, so it’s only fitting we show our appreciation.’
‘This means that the Hero is of the same kind as us. As a fellow warrior, he must have secretly wanted to take the lead in the vanguard.’
‘He possesses great strength, so as a senior, I should give the newcomer a chance. It will be nice to see a good show for once.’
Although he was born human, the Hero evoked an instinctive sense of familiarity among those who revered strength and honor. They felt some degree of fondness for him, especially since he had supported them during previous meetings.
Thus, unlike those who were quick to suspect ulterior motives, Samson and his companions—who were quite pure-hearted in this regard—decided to willingly give the opportunity to the newcomer, believing without a doubt that the Hero would welcome it.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.