[—————I am the only one clueless about what’s going on huh.]
Dragonewt Kokoroniko Doran.
Realizing the facts regarding Liese’s plan, she groaned.
[All the other members of the Four Warlights knew about this, didn’t they?]
[No matter whether we tell you about it or not, at that point, Niko would have been on Liese’s side after all.]
Saying this, Gio looked towards Kokoroniko.
It seems like all of them call her Niko.
[Of course. As you all know, I owe a great debt to Prime Minister-dono.]
Hearing her response, Gio let out a sigh of dismay.
[Yeah, even if Liese’s thought process is wrong.]
[But it’s a fact that Prime Minister-dono had never been wrong until now. However, after hearing about the situation here…… I also felt that she should have thought about it a bit more. Well……]
Her serpentine eyes turned towards me.
[If Prime Minister-dono wants me to move under that Fly King’s command, then I will follow Fly King’s orders.]
[Yes, you do that.]
The one who said that was Liese.
She had already finished receiving light first aid.
Bandages were wrapped all around her head, covering her face.
Looking back to the dragonewt, I snorted.
[It’s great that this thing is sorted out quickly. Can I call you Niko too?]
[I don’t mind. Call me whatever you want.]
Currently, me and the Four Warlights were standing in a circle.
The battle against the other units of Alion’s Thirteen Cavalries is about to begin.
We have to decide how we will proceed from now on.
And we need to do this———– as quickly as possible.
At that moment, Sera returned from her reconnaissance riding Slei.
[What’s the situation in the vicinity?]
[The other units don’t seem to be in the area yet.]
[……The rest of the cavalry are awfully slow, aren’t they?]
I turned my glance towards Mikhail’s corpse.
[He’s supposed to be the Chief Commander of Alion’s Thirteen Cavalries. However, I don’t see any indication that the other cavalry units were supporting his troops.]
[Indeed, for there to not be any signs of the other cavalry units even now……]
Before I betrayed him, Mikhail revealed a lot of information.
Among them……
“The other cavalry units should be arriving soon”
——–is what he said.
But now, I doubt the authenticity of those words.
Before the operation against the First Cavalry, Slei and I had done some reconnaissance.
At that time, we were able to see the other cavalry units on a distant hill.
So, I had calculated their estimated time of arrival.
However……
Before I knew it, the other cavalry units seemed to have stopped moving.
After that, only the First Cavalry had unusually advanced ahead of the rest.
[Isn’t it possible that they quickly realized the situation that the First Cavalry had fallen and withdrew as soon as possible?]
Qir optimistically said.
[……Or perhaps, the First Cavalry was just used.]
Another guess was mentioned by Liese.
Hearing Liese’s words though, Armia tilted her head.
[Unnn? What do you mean by “used”? Can you say it in a way that I, Armia Plum Lynx, could understand?]
[Just as Belzegia used me as a decoy…… They used the First Cavalry as pawns to test our strength…… So, what do you think?]
Liese’s upturned eyes look towards me.
I could feel slight nervousness from her eyes.
Is she losing confidence with her own ideas?
The way she ended her words earlier sounded kind of strange too.
Putting that thought on the back of my mind for the time being, I put my hand on the chin part of my mask.
[Regarding that matter, as expected, I think the First Cavalry had advanced too far from the others but……]
If they had used the First Cavalry as a decoy, they would need to be in a “position” where they can take advantage of the First Cavalry’s role of being their decoy.
For example, they could have done something like ours, preparing for an ambush.
Even if they are just discardable pawns to measure our strength, they should have sent someone to confirm it.
However, the Leopardkin we had deployed around the surroundings didn’t detect anyone around.
Or perhaps, there may be someone out there who’s really good at hiding their presence……
At that moment, I noticed that Gio seemed like he wanted to say something.
However, the words that he was about to say didn’t come out of his mouth.
[What is it, Gio?]
[……No, what I thought just now was just too far-fetched.]
[———–Have you thought that the other cavalry units just left the First Cavalry to die?]
Gio was surprised.
The other people who heard my words also had the same reaction.
[…………………]
Apparently, Gio had arrived at that possible answer.
I, too, had been thinking about how likely it may be that that was the case.
“The First Cavalry was deliberately isolated.”
I can’t say it’s impossible.
With that thought in mind, Armia spread out her hands.
[H- However…… They are their comrades, aren’t they? Moreover, isn’t that Mikhail their Chief Commander? That is……]
[That instead…… They think of Mikhail as a hindrance, right?]
[Hin…… drance……?]
[I don’t know why…… but there may be people in the other cavalry units who think that Mikhail’s death would be more beneficial. It is possible that this has become the consensus of the rest of the cavalry…… Well, for the time being, it would be more reasonable to assume that they were just sent to gauge our strength……]
Most of all, I secretly killed the messenger that the First Cavalry sent back.
If the messenger had reached the other cavalry units, it’s possible that they would have rushed over sooner than expected.
[Alion’s Thirteen Cavalries……]
Muttering, Seras looks towards the entrance path of the valley road.
[For the time being, they’re opponents that’s hard to gauge.]
[Either way, we’ll have to crush the Sixth.]
[Yes.]
Seras answered immediately.
I can feel the anger dwelling within her chest.
The same goes for me.
Those people who attacked Liz’s village————- They would definitely be killed here.
[Besides…… It’s favorable for us that the other cavalry units won’t be coming any time soon. We’ll have more time to plan countermeasures against them. Liese, Gio.]
[Eh? Y——– Yes, what is it?]
[Ohh.]
I unfolded the map of the vicinity.
[The other day, I took a look around the vicinity ahead of you to see if there was any terrain that could be used in a fight. If we’re fighting against a cavalry, it would be more effective to fight in a battle that nullifies their mobility advantage.]
[You drew this map?]
[It was drawn by Seras.]
[Hmmm…… There’s almost no discrepancy between this map and my mental map.]
I point out the points I’ve marked on the map.
[The terrain in this marked area is rocky, but suitable for ambush————-]
I told them about the layout and how to fight.
At the same time, I told him about the features of the terrain.
I also told them my predictions regarding the route that the enemy might use to invade.
Seras added some tactical supplementary information.
[But of course, not everything would work as we had just discussed. In fact, we will have to be flexible on the spot, sending out messengers and using the sound balls.]
Seras was staring at the map.
She then started to point at a few places.
[To fight against cavalries…… It would have been great if we could set up fences or stakes in these areas, but I guess it would be difficult to prepare them in time huh.]
Saying this, Seras turned to me with eyes that seemed to be asking me something.
[Yeah…… I also want to avoid the situation where we’re attacked while setting it up.]
For the same reason, it is also difficult to set up a large-scale trap.
However……
[Do you have your long spears and shields ready?]
Today, earlier in the morning———–
When Gio and the others went out, I had them brought them along with them.
They are all hidden together in the vicinity of the entrance path of the valley road.
Now, I’m having the powerful Dragon Light Army go and get them.
It would be difficult to prepare anti-cavalry traps like fences or stakes.
However, these are things we can prepare immediately.
[And if we set up archers here…… We should be able to deal with most of the cavalry units and bow cavaliers. We also have the Horse Light Army’s magic-user units after all.]
The blue-skinned Meiru tribe.
It seemed like only this tribe could gather enough magic-users to form a unit.
From what I heard, Demi-Humans who excel in handling magic power are rare.
Even the strongest Blood Champion, Eve, was not very good at handling magic power.
In that sense, the Meirus are indeed a valuable tribe.
……Perhaps, this may also be the reason why humans hold the power on the continent.
As a race, many of the humans were skilled in handling magic power, which probably became a big factor for their dominance.
[And…… I think it would be better to ask the Harpies to take care of handling communications in the rear.]
At that moment, Armia slightly raised her hand.
[However, aren’t Harpies easy targets for archers and magic-users?]
[That’s right. Their ability to fly is indeed convenient, but it also makes them stand out. Thus, harpies are easy to find and would probably be shot down. That’s why they are used only in the rear.]
[Ah, I see…… Unnn.]
Being able to move without being affected by the terrain is certainly an advantage.
But in this battle, we’ll have them move in the rear.
I don’t intend to unnecessarily reduce their numbers.
[Then, what about the front line?]
[I’m going to have the Leopardkin be the main messengers for the front line. They are good at moving while hiding themselves and is also agile. The frontline of the battlefield is at the edge of the Demon Zone————- The fight might even encroach within the forests. In that situation, it would be even more suitable for the Leopardkin.]
At the same time, they have high combat ability.
They are suitable for the front line.
[The centaurs will fill the gap between the front line and the rear. I want the centaurs to take advantage of their mobility.]
Crossing her arms and lifting up her breasts, Qir bewitchingly smiled.
[You can count on me♪]
[After that——– Qir.]
[Hmmm?]
[I’d like you to take charge of the whole battle.]
Everyone’s eyes turned towards Qir.
As if she didn’t expect my words, Qir pointed at herself.
[————–, …….Eh? Me?]
[From what I’ve seen, you’re calm and know self-restraint. You’re also smart. I also saw that you have good commanding skills earlier. That’s enough for me to recommend you.]
[I’m grateful for the compliments, b- but aren’t you just overestimating me?]
Qir acted humbly, but she looked somewhat happy.
[I’m just telling the truth.]
[Geez, Fly King-kun…… You’re quite good at flattering people, aren’t you? But honestly, I think Fly King-kun should take charge of the whole battle, you know? I’m sure everyone would have the same opinion……]
“No.”, I refuted her.
[As expected, the scale of battle this time is just too big for me. It’s large enough to be called “war”. I don’t have the experience to move this many people.]
At the battle in the Anti-Demon White Castle, all I had to do was unleash the golem army.
But this time, it’s different.
[However…… I- I don’t have a lot of experience in actual combat, you know? My knowledge about military tactics is also making me slightly anxious…… so I’m really unsure if this Qir-sama will be okay……]
[You don’t have to worry about that. Seras will be assisting you.]
I pointed to Seras with my thumb.
She’s the Neia’s Former Holy Knights’ Leader after all.
[Seras had organized a country’s knight order in the past. I’ve heard that she’s also studied military operations and strategies…… Which means, it would be better if you two take charge of this large army.]
I guess I’ll have to properly learn from Seras regarding those matters too.
[Eh? Then, couldn’t just Seras-kun be the Chief Commander then……? I usually pass matters like this to others, you know?]
[Most of our forces are from Faraway Country. In the current situation, it’s better for you, who are their people, to command them rather than the outsider, Seras.]
[Ah, I see. You’re right…… That certainly makes sense. ]
Even though there was some nervousness on her face, she raised both of her hands, reluctantly agreeing.
[But in that case, wouldn’t Gio-kun be more suitable for the role……?]
I wonder if she was perturbed about suddenly being given an important role.
I thought she was one of those people who won’t be perturbed, always aloof no matter the situation.
It seems like she also has this side of hers huh.
[No, I want Gio to be on the front line———— As a troop commander.]
Hearing my words, Gio placed the back of his katanas on his shoulders.
[Yeah. I agree with that idea.]
[It’s true that Gio is also very capable of commanding. However, with his outstanding combat ability, I would like him to be active on the front lines if possible. There are some soldiers who aren’t used to actual combat after all. In that case———— They would need a spearhead to inspire them forward. This is also the reason……]
Letting out a sigh, I continued.
[That if I become the Chief Commander, I can’t run around the battlefield as freely as I’d like.]
[Which means……]
I turned my gaze towards Liese.
[You’re going to be running around the battlefield?]
[Yeah. Think of the Fly King Squadron as a sort of guerilla soldiers. We’d basically be supporting the areas in the battlefield where we think our support is needed.]
<Author’s Notes>
I apologize for being a little late with my scheduled update time.
This time, I don’t know if I should say that I did some revisions or rewrites……
I had some difficulty writing the chapter, including the next one. After writing for a while, thoughts like “Maybe…… I should rewrite this……” or “……Let’s just rewrite this.” popped up in my head and it was really tiresome…… (sweats)
In any case, this starts Volume 8 (which is obviously the continuation of the events in Volume 7). I’ll be working hard on this chapter as well, so please bear with me.
I hope to update the on June 18 (Friday), around 9:00 pm.
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