Volume 2 epilogue (2/2)
These monsters were my main force. After them were the elite corps:
The two Mythological Foxes excelling in stealth, mobility, and even direct confrontations. They possessed the ability to control fire and to use [Transform].
The four Dwarf Smiths that look up to Rorono, the Elder Dwarf. They excelled at supporting the army through their earth magic as well as through their work at the workshop.
The four High Elves who admired Ancient Elf as their elder sister. They had the ability to manipulate the wind as well as the ability to easily search for enemies. In conjunction with that, they could perform long-distance, high-impact shots using their anti-materiel rifles.
And, of course, the ones that I trust in most: my girls, Kuina, Rorono, and Ancient Elf.
An overwhelming army, such were my trusted monsters.
I now faced all of them as I stood atop a stage prepared beforehand.
”My beloved monsters, the time for war has finally come!”
Tension engulfed the area.
”This is unlike the war we had before, this is a true [War]. Should anyone fall, they won't come back this time. And if we lose the war, we lose everything.”
In the war against Stolas, all of our fallen monsters were brought back by the [Time] Demon Lord's ability. This time however, there was no fail-safe. If my crystal was broken, everyone would vanish. And even if I win, everyone that perished would never come back.
”I don't want to lose any single one of you so don't die. I have prepared a strategy so that that goal may be fulfilled. Fully use your powers and grab victory, those are my orders!”
I looked at each one of them and saw not dread but the determination in their eyes.
Telling them not to die probably disqualified me as a Demon Lord. Originally, a Demon Lord used monsters to lure humans in or work them hard for whatever purpose he sees fit, not to empathize with them. But such notions didn't sit well with me. The girls who I thought of as my daughters were of course important to me. But it wasn't just them, Wight whom I trusted and relied on as well as the Mythological Foxes, Dwarf Smiths, and High Elves whom I talked and laughed with many times were important to me too.
I was thankful to the bread-making Skeletons. While the Griffon made me feel safe each time I rode on its back.
Everyone gathered here was an important companion of mine.
”I will now relay to each of you our strategy to survive and win this war. You will be divided into three main groups. The first group will be composed of Kuina, Rorono, two of the High Elves, and the highly mobile monsters from the mixed corps. Kuina will head this group. The group's goal will be to destroy the crystal of the [Viscosity] Demon Lord. You will immediately launch an assault against his dungeon right from the start of the war. Once you have broken his crystal, immediately return to our dungeon and aid in its defense.”
This group was very likely to succeed. Kuina and Rorono were both S rank monsters; the High Elves were excellent scouts; and the B and C rank monsters were comparable to the elites of the enemies' forces.
”Understood, Oto-san. We'll crush the small fries and return right away!”
”Yes, please do. Once you break his crystal, we will have one less enemy so how quickly you do it will be a very important factor in this war.”
After the time limit for this war had expired, the victor would be decided by the number of remaining crystals.
Our enemies could win by just focusing on defense. This leaves us no other choice but to be on the offensive. And if we were doing so, we were going to do it with our strongest and fastest units.
This would also serve as part of our defense. [Viscosity] seemed weak-kneed to me so if we attacked his dungeon, he might recall the troops he sent to attack and repurpose them for his own defense. Not to mention, once the first group had broken his crystal, all of his monsters would vanish.
”As for the second group, I will lead it. Our goal will be breaking the [Evil] Demon Lord's crystal. Joining me will be Ancient Elf, the Mythological Foxes, two of the Dwarf smiths and half of the Griffon corps. Also, I will be putting the slow moving monsters of the mixed corps into my [Storage].”
Ancient Elf would provide us with firepower and reconnaissance while the Mythological Foxes would be her back up. I was also going to take along some of the Griffon corps that could bombard the enemies from the sky while the slow-moving monsters were to be transported via my [Storage] to counter-act against their slowness.
Unless our enemies could make A rank medals, I reckoned our chances of victory were pretty high.
”Ancient Elf, you winning against the enemy's elites is the key to our operation. I will be relying on you.”
”Leave it to me, my master. I won't lose to anyone.”
She replied so, matter-of-factly.
It was no exaggeration either for she was a highly mobile fortress: flying swiftly in the air and shooting high-impact rounds from great distances. Even Kuina would have a hard fight against her.
”I believe you. Show me your true might, Ancient Elf.”
I said so and smiled at her. I had decided that if she managed to defeat the enemy's elites and break his crystal, I was going to name her.
”Finally, for the third group, I think you might have already guessed but your role will be to defend the city. Wight, I will leave you in charge of everything. You will command all of the remaining monsters and defend Avalon. You will be fiercely attacked by three Demon Lords but their aces shouldn't be among those troops. I can only leave this task on you, my staff officer. Can you do it?”
Upon hearing my question, Wight respectfully nodded.
”My lord, with the Undead corps I'm proud of; the resilient golem corps; the two Dwarf smiths that would direct the golems as though the golems were their own limbs; the two High Elves that would serve as our eyes and also give us countermeasures against air units; and the rest of the griffon corps; if we had this much, defending against third rate Demon Lords will be easy. We will show you that we can repel their forces without even using the trump card you've set up on the last room.”
Geez, he's really reliable, I thought.
As he said, the forces I had prepared were more than enough but to be able to make full strategic use of it was up to the commander's ability which Wight certainly had.
I did not tell my monsters about the Stolas's participation; I did not want them to feel too secure. All except for Wight, that is. The moment his group could no longer win with their strength alone and defeat was imminent, all of them were to retreat to the third room, make use of the contraption prepared there, and seek for Stolas's help.
This bitter decision was for Wight to make. His and his alone.
”To everyone that will stay here, upon my absence, Wight will have full authority. Treat his orders as though it was mine.”
To that, my monsters nodded.
Wight shook with delight as he spoke.
”My lord, we will defend Avalon with our own strength even at the cost of our lives!”
What he said made me happy but he got something wrong.
”Wight, I am happy with your resolve but you are mistaken about something. I don't want to lose any single one of you. Win and live, that is my command!”
A win without any sacrifice.
”Yes, as my lord wills!”
With that, our strategy meeting was over so there was only one thing left for me to say:
”Let's start the [War]. Our goal is to attain complete victory; for everyone to return and laugh again. Now, to your positions!”
My beloved monsters hurriedly began to mobilize.
Now, let's go win this war.
This marks the end of the second volume. The light novel version of this volume will come out on 15th April. This will feature new chapters that I won’t translate (not right away, anyway) so please support the Tsukiyo Rui-sensei and purchase a copy once it comes out. I will post link once it’s out.