“So? What about their numbers and movements?”
“Numbers, a lot. The ones moving now, gathered to show off. But, around thirty thousand in all.”
“To move thirty thousand just for a visit…”
“Not just that. Other villages, places to raise soldiers. They keep gathering.”
The last bit of information was gathered by Fi and Keita. Though, he had been told to refrain mentioning it to the demon general and others.
“We have had reports of that from the other dungeons as well. In total, there may be eighty thousand, no, ten thousand of them.”
An army of ten thousand. The monsters fell silent at that.
It did not dampen their enthusiasm, but they no longer felt they could overcome the enemy by pure advantage of numbers.
“In that case, it would be best to attack them from the side, while on the mountain path.”
The newcomer lizard man said while pointing to several places on the road that the Hero was traveling on. All of the spots were between mountains, which meant you could only advance forward.
“An ambush is the only way to defeat a larger army. Especially if it is an army of elite soldiers.”
“In that case, the Daoka Valley would be best. It is between two towns and they will likely pass through it.”
“And what if they predict our move and attack back? They should not be underestimated.”
As expected, the monsters preferred the idea of ambushing the enemy on the mountain road. It was unlikely that they would listen to his opinion now. Still, he had to say it.
“I, think it good. To fight in an open place.”
“…What nonsense is he talking about?”
The hob goblin that had once thrown a knife at Sheto now glared at him sharply. The others also looked serious.
“The Hero’s army, will surely consider an ambush. Before passing through the mountains, they will hunt.”
“We already know that. And so we’ll watch their movements and attack when their guard is down.”
“You, forget. The Hero, able to see us from high above.”
That changed their expressions. It really was possible that the enemy would read their movements. Still, he tried to argue back.
“That being said, we are capable of crushing those eyes in the sky. So we just need to get rid of them before the ambush.”
“The birds, never fly low. They fly where arrows, magic don’t reach. How will you crush them?”
“So once they are in the air, nothing can reach them…”
That was why the Dragon God had said to not crush the eyes. If they did, the enemy would sacrifice detailed information, and switch to monitoring them from higher above.
“Not only that, but if the eyes are crushed before ambush, it will be like announcing that we are moving. It will no longer be an ambush.”
“But…surely that doesn’t mean we have to listen to this little dog, and fight on a field like idiots?”
Gravely, Berganda also agreed that an ambush would not work. And the others then turned to Sheto with expectant eyes.
The air in the room had shifted, and they were now more receptive to the idea of listening to his opinions. If an ambush was unlikely, they had to search for a new plan.
‘Now, the rest will be easy. Let them hear my strategy.’
It really was happening just as the Dragon God had said. Now that he thought about it, the enemy god was so supposed to be the god of wisdom. In that case, this god must be the god of cunning.
“The Hero’s army, very big. But, I was told. There is a way, to half them.”
“What!? To make them half of ten thousand!?”
“Interesting. Let’s hear it then.”
The minotaur’s mouth twisted into a vicious grin. Sheto had been told a lot, and so he slowly organized it in his head as he began to explain.
“There are, many of them. So, they eat, sleep at inns, buy weapons. They need money. Do you know, what they will do?”
“Couldn’t they just use this Divine Rule or whatever it is?”
“No. The Divine Rule can’t make money, or food. It would be cheating.”
Infinite resources were forbidden within the games. It would create too big of a difference between gods with many blessings and those with just a few.
‘And so the Seer’s army needs supplies just like any other army. He must secure a supply line. That’s why he is raising soldiers in the Roman fashion.’
Building roads to create a flow of food, weapons and gold. So that his army will not go hungry. That was the basis of his strategy.