“Sheto. No, that goddess that watches over him?”
“I beg you once more. Please stop placing him at the core of our strategies. At the very least, keep him out of the war councils.”
“Then what would you have us do? Are you telling me to just throw away the one method we have to fool the Seer’s ‘eyes’ and counter divine rules that far surpass any prediction?”
Komos’s expression was bitter. Now that Berganda thought about it, he had not seen a smile on that face ever since Sheto suggested the current strategy.
He was angry and frustrated that they needed the help of a goddess’s Hero in order to stand against the Hero’s army. Even when they knew that it was a trap.
“Do not worry. I will not die.”
“But…”
“Komos. How do you see it then? How will Sheto, no, the goddess…use her cunning to defeat us?”
“…During the chaos of the battle, she will have you and the Hero assassinated.”
This was also something he had considered. Sheto did not look kindly on monsters. If he did not want one side to win, then he would choose a strategy so that both sides would be defeated.
“In that case, we must win against the Hero, and then win against Sheto after that.”
“It is not just Sheto. He has allies who may defeat you as well.”
“I see. This is quite a dilemma, eh?”
He tried to laugh off Komos’s worries.
“Not only defeat the Hero’s army, but the strategy of the gods as well. On top of that, I promised to deliver Sheto unharmed to the Demon King. You will have to work a little harder for me, Komos!”
“Lord Berganda!”
The shout echoed from the tent. There was a rage there that he rarely showed.
“I cannot comply with that wish! He is a deadly poison. If you allow him to come any closer, he will certainly destroy you! I beg of you! Heed my words!”
“Then give me an alternative. A way to defeat the Seer’s Hero and win without using Sheto.”
It was as if his words had become a giant hammer. It perfectly crushed Komos’s wall of objection. And he could only stand there silently.
Berganda had never won an argument against him before, but he did it with just a few words now.
“I’m sorry.”
He patted him lightly on the shoulder.
“No, this was caused by my own lack of ability.”
“In that case, I will give you a new order, Komos. See through the goddess’s strategy, and bring us victory.”
“…Certainly.”
Komos’s head drooped. And then he spoke with his usual, quiet and yet strong voice.
“Then let us go.”
He stood up and they left the tent.
In front of them was a great army, illuminated by numerous torches.
A force vast enough to cover the horizon as far as the eye could see. Creatures of different races, different strengths… A diverse multitude. They had gathered together, all gazing up at a single master.
‘Our Demon General! Give us your order!’
Orcs shouted, goblins growled, ogres roared, and the clashing of lizardmen’s blades rang in the air.
The magical beasts waiting in the back let out their cries in response, and in the darkness of the night, the birds and animals scattered in fear.
‘Orders! Orders! Give us the signal!’
The roars were so loud it numbed the eardrums. Facing the army, trembling with impatience to be unleashed, Berganda slowly opened his mouth.
“All who gather beneath my banner!”
The voices fell silent at once.
Not only the humanoid monsters, but even the barely sentient magical beasts held their growls, so that not so much as a cough escaped.
“You have done well to fight and survive until this day. Hiding beneath the earth, avoiding the enemy, keeping your fangs concealed. It has been a harsh battle, not suited to our nature.”
It could have ended at any moment. Berganda had even braced himself for the possibility that some pack would lose control and rampage, leading to a chain of defections.
Still, he made them wait, wove his schemes, and kept up with their training.
And at the end of all that, they were here, standing before his very eyes.
“But now, there is no need to wait any longer! Look at the lone peak towering in the distance!”
Berganda took up his battle-axe and pointed behind the assembled monsters.
In the darkness of night, bathed in moonlight, the silver mountains rose majestically and seemed to pierce the sky.
“That is Mount Stora, the sacred peak and symbol of the ancient kingdom of Kaitar. And at its base lies the shining white city that the Hero’s army seeks…Gai-Straum!”
The gazes of the monsters burned as they fixed on their destination.
Reading what lay hidden within them, the demon general roared.
“And the enemy is now right in front of us. At the end of this path, where we march, the Hero awaits us like a fattened sheep ready to be slaughtered!”
Of course, defeating the enemy would not be nearly so easy.
However, they had suffered so much up until now for this moment. When they could bathe in the blood of the enemy.
“We have waited long enough! But now, there is no need to hold back!”
The air seemed to shake.
The passion of the monsters burned hotter than the torches.
“Now, go forth! Fierce beasts! And devour every one who dares to stand before us!”
And with that, their roars shattered the night.
Like great beasts being freed and crawling onto the earth, the Demon King’s army, led by Berganda, began its march.