“All that remained was to keep piling up schemes to outmaneuver you. I was on the edge wondering when you would catch on… But you fell for it beautifully.”
“…The sabotage during the march. Turning Canila’s Hero into a hidden poison within the ranks. And then using that death to create a divine vessel for the kobold…”
“Is that all you managed to figure out?”
“Wh…what?”
The gold dragon wagged a finger in front of his chin, and then began to explain with a big grin.
“Generally speaking there were three secrets that I kept from you. The first was the fact that I had seen through your divine rule.”
Everything about the Dragon God’s behaviour up until that point… His irritated reactions towards his divine rule, and even the way he had acted as if Canila’s Hero was their last remaining hope… It was all lies.
“First of all, this plan could have never worked unless this part succeeded. Teaching tactics to the monsters and having them imitate the Battle of Cannae. That was perfect for concealing my true intentions.”
“Demonstrating that our army and the monster horde could fight evenly in a conventional battle… Luring us into resetting… Staging a desperate struggle while sending out the poison.”
“Staging? But it was no performance. If we did not show genuine intent to win, you would have seen through what we were planning.”
The Dragon God continued while raising a second finger.
“The second secret was the existence of the young dragon and wolf.”
At those unexpected words, Furukamuto lowered his gaze to the water mirror and recalled the scene from earlier.
The Star Wolf carrying the monster that had attacked the Hero.
“Guto provided Sheto with invisibility and mobility, while Fi secretly received my true intentions and continued to operate behind the scenes. And when the time was right, he could protect the Demon General in Sheto’s place with the break arts.”
“…So the reason you didn’t let them act with the kobold…”
“To keep such valuable trump cards from entering your thoughts. That way, they would be more effective. As for the third….”
“Canila and Keita.”
The Dragon God nodded, somewhat mournfully.
“However, when it came to those two, they did move outside the bounds of what I had intended.”
“What do you mean?”
“In my plan, Keita was to withdraw the moment the attack on the command tent had failed. With both the strategist and general held in reserve, a second attempt after a failed attack would be very difficult.”
And yet, Canila’s Hero had continued to struggle until the very end. He had even gone so far as to self-destrued in a way that would trigger a reset.
“I-if that was not your order, then what was it?!”
“The demon wolf twin fangs, Fenrir Tooth, was equipped with an ability that allows magic to be imbued into its shots before firing. Originally, it was to allow Keita to channel his own power through it.”
“H…however, I thought the bow was completed through his defeat?”
As though offering mourning for the dead, the dragon tilted his nose to the empty air and sighed.
“If he could force you to reset even once, then from that point on, it would become a battle of wits against your Hero, increasing his chances of survival. He intended to keep struggling and snatch victory away somehow. So that he could continue to adventure with Sheto.”
“…So that’s what Canila was talking about.”
“However, it was all for nothing. He was simply too weak to survive.”
“Fool. Do you still not understand?”
The Dragon God replied coldly to the provocation.
“The moment that you eliminated Keita, what you should have done was not use any great magic to burn your enemies. Instead, you should have advanced the main force and crushed them through sheer force. That alone would have yielded more results. Why did you use such magic?”
“Tha…that was because…it was a good opportunity to drive them…”
“No. You were just afraid. You were afraid they would pull off another reckless stunt within your camp. And that could not be allowed. Their strength had driven you into making a poor decision.”
The golden dragon’s eyes pierced straight through him.
The accusation was true.
And he could not admit it.
“How ridiculous. I will not entertain such nonsense.”
“Oh? Then let us move on to the real matter.”
“Real matter…?”
‘Sir Hero! Monsters…from the enemy camp!’
Furukamuto looked down as he listened to the voice from the world below.
There, he saw the minotaur walking calmly with a weapon on his shoulder. And the kobold followed him.
‘Hear me! Cowards of the Hero’s army!’
The Demon General shouted with a voice that could shake the heavens.
‘I have come to propose an honorable battle! Hero of the Seer. Leader of cowards! Come out from your camp! Let us sit face to face and discuss this war!’