"We will carry out a diversionary tactic from the ground side 'via the second level' and cause a breakdown in Agat Ram's interceptive posture. This is the invasion plan proposed by Demon King Gandalf.

　From the participants, admiring and skeptical voices leaked out at the same time.

　The former is mainly the reaction of the knights and the latter is mainly the reaction of the adventurers.

　The cause of the difference in reactions could be roughly guessed, but Sophia seemed to have decided to talk through the rest of the explanation of the mission before picking up their opinions.

''As you know, Demon King Gandalf's forces were once based on the third level, but they were attacked by Agat Ram after an opening in their attempted ground invasion.

　Sophia succinctly drew a diagram in white ink (chalk) showing the series of events.

'At that time, it was thought that Gandalf's army had escaped to the first level via the second level and used that place as a base to plan a counterattack against Agat Ram. In reality, however, the Demon King and his men at the first level were temporary beings, and the real Demon King had escaped to the fourth level by deceiving Agat Ram's eyes.

　So far, it's a recap of the information that all of the attendees are aware of.

　The main topic is the content of the strategy that the Demon King's Army had been thinking about taking advantage of this situation.

　The series of new information to be announced this time was conveyed by the Demon King's Army to His Majesty the King and then to the White Wolf Knights (me) via the Royal Palace, so it should be new to other knights and adventurer's guild members.

The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you have the right information. We believe you are.

　But the reality was different.

　When Gandalf the Demon King was first defeated by Agat Ram, as well as when he was defeated by us, he had always given Agat Ram the perception that 'the Demon King's Army was higher than the third level,' and he had always been intent on betraying that perception.

''However, according to the confidential information sent to His Majesty from Gandalf's army, the remnants of the Demon King's Army that escaped to the second level have already moved to the fourth level through a top-secret direct route.
What? I didn't know there was such a thing. But I can't find it.

　Sophia nodded back at Travis' reaction.

''I heard that you destroyed it after passing through and made it unusable again. It seems to be the result of using this secret pathway that Demon General Norzuri and Demon General Suzuri, who appeared on the second level, appeared on the fourth level without going through the first level.''
"After the generals joined up with the main body of the troops, the road was crippled. ...... With the help of forces per Maj. Gen. Vestri, it will be easier. ......

　It's a natural ending if you think about it.

　I thought Norzuri disappeared out of nowhere after fighting with us in the neutral city (Asropolis), and then she attacked me in the fourth level with the body of the same dark elf woman.

　However, the third level is controlled by Agart Ram and the first level needs to steal the eyes of the Golden Fang Knights and adventurers.

　That said, there's no line that the old body was discarded at the second level and a replacement body was used.

　Even now, Norzuri is still using a body of a different gender while lamenting the difficulty of using it, and Suzuri continues to use Sakura's father's body.

　If we consider a natural hypothesis, we should consider that just as there was a direct route from the first level to the fourth level, there was actually a direct route from the second level to the fourth level as well.

'I continue to explain. Thus, Agart Ram should be aware that Gandalf's army is currently hiding on the second level, and we are also aiming for the third level, using the second level as a base. So naturally, we believe that our current defensive structure is biased towards raids from the second tier.

　Of course, the adventurers may have learned as far as the fourth level of the burning heat through their collaborators on the ground.

　However, the fact that they encountered the Demon King's Army there is thoroughly concealed, and only a few people have heard about it, so it's hard to believe that this information was leaked.

''With this information alone, it seems obvious that a surprise attack from the fourth level would be effective. However, Demon King Gandalf took it a step further and dared to suggest to His Majesty that the attack was perceived to have come at the right place, and that he would further reduce his guard against the fourth level.

　The first expression that succinctly expresses this is Sophia's comment, "We will carry out a diversionary tactic from the ground via the second level, causing a breakdown in Agart Ram's interceptive posture.

　It is human nature to want to fortify your defenses when the enemy arrives unexpectedly at a place where you have been thinking that they are sure to attack you.

　If you are not able to foresee the future, it would be impossible for you to make a decision to strengthen your defense in a direction you do not believe the enemy is lurking.

I see, as expected of us, it's an accurate strategy that has caused us so much pain.
'So it's horrible to make enemies, but it's called .......'

　From the Golden Fang and the other knights, one could generally hear a favorable voice or rather an approval of the operation.

　They must have shelved the fact that they were opponents not long ago and genuinely appreciated the content of the strategy.

　Of course, this in itself is gratifying.
　We must avoid being dragged into past hostilities and creating dissonance in our co-operative relationship.

　However, a mixed reaction of suspicion is hidden from the adventurers.

　It was not because they were dealing with the Demon King Gandalf, but because they were concerned about the feasibility of the operation.

''May I have a moment?''

　Travis represents the adventurers and puts their concerns into words.

'We've been exploring the second level for a long time. But we have yet to find a pathway to the third level. We've found a few destroyed traces, but we've found no usable pathways yet.

　Roy, who is also exploring the second level, nodded his head silently and agreed with it.

If I'm a member of the Agart Ram, my first and foremost priority is to completely destroy all traffic to and from the second level. I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot of good reasons for this. In other words--
'--Is a surprise attack from the second level feasible? That's the question, isn't it?

　Sophia met Travis's suspicions head on and glanced at me before presenting the last bit of information she had saved.

'Of course it's possible. The Demon King Gandalf had figured out a break(──)unbreakable(──)capable(──)path(──) and confirmed that it was still alive and well. I will now explain that route as well, but--