Chapter 290: Strategy ⑤

Chapter 290 – Strategy 5

Roughly one hour after we gained full control of the Nanto Fortress.

I checked the remaining time for 《Reign》 to complete.

Five minutes...three minutes...one minute...ten seconds...five seconds...one second――

The black vortex in front of my eyes lits up and then disappears after the light converges. A silver orb ― 【True Core】 ― manifests in the space where the black vortex has been.

『Reign finished』 is the plain message shown on my smartphone’s screen.

“Good work everyone,” I call out to the subordinates around me.

“Ho ho ho, it was my first invasion battle, but in the end it was a bit anticlimactic.”

“Nothing less of an ingenious supreme ruler! Kanezawa’s...no――you’re the 『Zhuge Liang of Western Japan』!”

Was it Zhuge Liang of Kanezawa before that? I’ve leveled up quite a bit then...but, just as usual, I end up with the uncoolest nicknames possible.

Using my smartphone, I transfer the management of the sector I just conquered to Yataro.

“Yataro, I leave the aftermath to you.”

“Roger.”

After getting his confirmation, I check the situation over at Tateyama Fortress.

Oohh...they’re quite desperate over there, aren’t they?

The humans Toyama have thrown lots of combat forces into the battle in order to protect the fortress. Their troops are fighting quite frantically.

Motoki has also deployed a number of troops which is bigger than anything I’ve seen from him before. His subordinates are desperately battling the humans.

And my subordinates are――

It looks like they’re at a loss on how to continue, but in reality they’re fighting smartly, emphasizing safety first to avoid pointless casualties.

“Uuugh...” Motoki surveys the battlefield while grinding his teeth in vexation. “Can we win by ourselves...? If it’s now...Shion isn’t present. If we succeed with a 《Reign》...we’ll be able to conquer this land, but...”

Motoki is wavering whether he should press the attack or withdraw.

Now then, how’s Motoki going to choose?

I watch the conclusion of Motoki’s decision.

“Now’s the perfect chance! We shall show our power to the humans of Toyama...to Demon King Shion!”

Hooh... So he’s going to continue, huh? It looks like he’s chosen to invade.

I decided to watch the full outcome from my Domain.

◆

Six hours after Rina’s army corps had retreated from the battlefield around Tateyama fortress.

The humans of Toyama and Motoki’s troops are still washing blood with blood in front of the fortress.

“Whoa! That pig is really going at it! Shion, who do you think is going to win?”

“If you set the pig failing at his 《Reign》 as the victory condition for the humans, then it’s going to be the humans, no?” I readily answer Kanon’s question.

“But, the pig and his men are doing their best as well, aren’t they?”

“Even though they were no more than a decoy, Rina’s forces defeated quite a few humans. And now that they’ve retreated...isn’t he simply believing that this is going to be his last chance?”

“The pig might have found himself in a corner where he can’t easily retreat since he’s already invested so many troops into this attack.”

Kanon and I act like complete bystanders, trying to guess Motoki’s current mental state.

“Oh well, pig or humans, it’s only to our advantage when both sides whittle down their forces. Let us pray that the battle between them drags out for as long as possible.”

I cheered on both armies, which were locked in a deadly struggle, with a carefree attitude.

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