Chapter 286: Strategy ①

Chapter 286 – Strategy 1

On the day after I usurped the land north of Tateyama Fortress, Motoki launched an invasion just like the days before without any way to break out of the deadlock, despite being suspicious of me.

And thus, the farce continued again, without any change.

On the fifth day when everyone believed that we’d returned to the same boring stalemate as before...

5:30 p.m. – Motoki began his attack against Tateyama Fortress like a one-trick-pony.

6:00 p.m. – the corps led by Iron, Chloe, and Layla started their attack against Nanto Fortress in order to unfold the next act of the farce.

At the same time, I began my advance from the new sector near Tateyama Fortress with my subordinates.

“In accordance with our agreement, our Aster Empire starts its attack against Tateyama Fortress!”

I loudly announced to the humans at the fortress, who had deployed a defense line against Motoki’s forces as they were attacking from the east, from the northern direction, launching a surprise attack against them.

The defense of Tateyama Fortress had been set up to oppose Motoki’s forces and thus they were completely unprepared for our attack.

――Tonight is the only chance for a surprise attack to work! Go, go, go! Kill whatever stands in your way! It’s a full buffet of experience points!

We charge at the humans’ flank while they’re performing the farce of facing Motoki’s battleline.

“Uuooooohh! Let’s go, you lot!!!”

Takaharu’s corps is leading the charge. Takaharu has transformed into a Beast King from the get-go, and is now swooping down on the humans like a brute while leading his highly mobile werewolves.

“W-W-Wh-What’s going o-on!?!?”

“Enemy attack! Shion’s forces are attacking us from...uuughha!”

“C-Calm down...”

The humans are unable to cope with the abrupt change in the battle flow after having gone through a farce for close to a month now...they’re being overrun by Takaharu’s corps.

“Taka-chi! Dodge them all! I’m gonna rain down some fire arrows on the humans, oki!? So, it’s kinda like getting a weather forecast from me? Anyway ――《Fire Arrow》!”

Sarah’s corps showers the humans with fire arrows.

“――ng! Dat was fuckin’ dangerous, ya dumb elf!”

“Aww, that’s badmouthing! I warned you just now, didn’t I!?” Sarah complains loudly, but in reality she has her corps aim deeper into the human camp so as to not hit Takaharu and his men.

At a glance, their exchange sounds like nothing but their usual horsing around, but their teamwork is actually flawless.

Saburou and I move close to the front line, acting as clearers to make it easier for Motoki and his forces to march on Tateyama Fortress.

With the reinforcements having arrived, the humans’ morale has clearly been boosted. However, because we’ve shown our will to resist to the bitter end, the battlefield is becoming increasingly gruesome.

One hour after the arrival of the reinforcements.

Motoki’s forces have been pushing deeper and deeper while being lured into it by me.

“Tonight we shall reach a decision...! Everyone! Use all your strength!”

Motoki’s troops become all hot blooded by his encouragement.

But you know, it’d be a problem for me ― if things were to be settled tonight. I think it should be time any moment now...

It’d be fine to pull back just like that, but it’s such a great chance. Let’s boost the human’s morale a bit.

――All hands! We’ll start to retreat in five minutes! Everyone, get ready to withdraw!

I order my subordinates to prepare the retreat.

――Saburou will give the signal for the retreat! All hands, smoothly pull back without any panic!

Five minutes later.

――Saburou, come close to me. And shout what I tell you.

I instruct Saburou telepathically so that those around us won’t be able to hear.

Saburou nods, and just when he’s next to me――

“Nuuuooooo! Shion-sama! Shion-sama has been woooooooouunded!! Retreat! All hands, we’re retreating at oooooonce!!” Saburou screams at the top of his lungs what I’ve told him to say.

――All hands, we’re pulling out.

“Thirteen Evil Star Shion has been wounded!?”

“Now’s the perfect chance! Mop up the monsters!”

“””Yeaaaah!!”””

The humans’ morale leaps upon the news of my injury. They rush out to launch a counteroffensive, but...having finished our preparations to retreat, we quickly withdraw from the battlefield.

Meanwhile the forces of the pig are stranded right in the middle of the high-spirited humans.

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