𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒𝟒: 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 (𝟑)

In the end, the mixed unit of goblins and wolves ran amok, suffering about 70% casualties.

On the other hand, it was a perfect game for the Piran Castle side, with zero deaths and zero serious injuries.

“A strategist is a terrifying thing. To be able to repel the enemy one after another.”

Zachalant, who had come weaving through the soldiers raising a victory cry, praised me.

Well, assuming that being called terrifying is a compliment.

If I take it at face value, it means I’m being watched.

“Wasn’t it Zachalant-san who repelled the most troublesome lich?”

“Well, Lionel-kun took care of it afterwards.”

That’s true.

But it’s not that I’m amazing, it’s that the soldiers of Piran Castle are highly trained. If you’re looking for a reason for our victory.

The strategy I adopted was not particularly novel.

It was just a plan that followed the basics of military strategy: maintaining numerical superiority, using obstacles, and attacking from a distance where there is no counterattack.

Any competent strategist could probably do it.

“That competent strategist you’re talking about isn’t exactly lying around in the streets. In fact, there probably aren’t that many even in the military.”

“The same goes for excellent and highly trained soldiers.”

In the end, the condition of an excellent soldier is how well they can execute the commander’s intentions without error.

Being good with a sword, or being strong, isn’t that important.

If I give an order to advance and they stop and don’t move forward or retreat, no strategy will work. Simply put, that’s what it means.

In that respect, the soldiers of this castle are good.

They follow instructions properly and value their own lives.

These are the kind of soldiers I like.

“By the way, about the identity of the enemy.”

“I haven’t had a chance to talk about that at all. He called himself Güney. He said he was one of the elders of the kingdom.”

He’s the crazy guy who suggested an invasion of the Lintrite Kingdom and, when refused, incited monsters.

We only talked about him briefly at dinner time, and I don’t know much about his character.

Of course, Zachalant has only met him once, but he has a better impression and atmosphere than I do, having seen him.

“What’s an elder?”

“I don’t know either.”

That was no good.

Thinking about it, it’s been five hundred years since Piran broke off relations with the Masrur Kingdom.

There’s no way he could be familiar with the political system of the demon country.

“I just thought he must be an important person. But for all his talk of the pride of the demon race, he didn’t show the Demon King’s decree.”

He said that’s why he sent him away, stroking his cheek.

It’s a natural decision.

The Demon King’s decree is a letter with the Demon King’s seal on it. It says that this person’s actions are recognized by the king, so everyone around him must obey. That’s what it says in simple terms.

If he had shown that, Zachalant, being a demon race himself, wouldn’t have sent him away so unceremoniously.

“So he acted on his own. That makes me wonder how true his title of elder is.”

At this point, it’s enough to know that he’s not acting on the Demon King’s orders.

He’s under a warrant of arrest.

There’s no such magic that can control monsters like that. It must be the result of some powerful ancient magic.

Naturally, it’s a national treasure.

He probably took it out of the royal treasury without permission.

“He wants to take Piran Castle and use it as a foothold for the conquest of the Lintrite Kingdom. At the same time, he wants to prepare for the pursuers from the Masrur Kingdom. Something like that.”

“It’s amazing how well you understand what someone you’ve never met is thinking.”

“It’s just speculation.”

I shrug my shoulders at the impressed Zachalant.

There’s no certainty about anything.

But without a benchmark, you can’t make a decision.

The Masrur Kingdom is probably moving to get rid of Güney.

However, it’s impossible to accurately predict when that will happen, so I’ll leave that out of consideration for now.

At present, the worst thing that could happen to us is to be persistently attacked.

After all, this is our only base, so there’s zero chance of reinforcements coming from elsewhere.

We don’t have an infinite supply of goods and food either.

And, like when we dealt with the Lich, it would be a problem if we were left to fend for ourselves after using them.

The Lich, unable to take down Pyros Castle, tried to attack the inn town to increase his forces.

“So, I’m thinking of going out and taking down this Güney.”

“Alright! That’s the spirit!”

The first one to jump on my strategy is Asuka.

Even though it was a perfect game, she probably found the defensive battle boring as she is more of an aggressive player.

“But, Mother Nel. Won’t the enemy attack us as soon as we leave the castle?”

“Miliaria’s concern is valid, but I think we’ll be fine.”

“Why is that?”

“The enemy has failed twice already. Plus, one of those times, they were lured into a trap and beaten up.”

If we show any weakness, they’ll probably suspect a trap.

This psychology is the same for both humans and the demon race.

Once you fall into a trap, you become cautious. Even in situations where speed is of the essence.

“That’s where the opportunity to set another trap comes in.”

I show a sly smile.

・・・

『”𝔄𝔴𝔢𝔟𝔰𝔱𝔬𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔰.𝔠𝔬𝔪” – 𝔇𝔦𝔰𝔠𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔞 𝔠𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔦𝔳𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔩𝔡 𝔬𝔣 𝔩𝔬𝔳𝔢, 𝔭𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔡𝔳𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔲𝔯𝔢, 𝔴𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔠𝔞𝔫 𝔦𝔫𝔡𝔲𝔩𝔤𝔢 𝔦𝔫 𝔞 𝔠𝔬𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔠𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔯𝔞n𝔰𝔩𝔞𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩𝔰 𝔴𝔦𝔱𝔥 “𝔡𝔞𝔦𝔩𝔶 𝔲𝔭𝔡𝔞𝔱𝔢𝔰” 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔢𝔵𝔠𝔩𝔲𝔰𝔦𝔳𝔢 𝔞𝔠𝔠𝔢𝔰𝔰 𝔱𝔬 “𝔞𝔡𝔳𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔢𝔡 𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔰”.』

・・・

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