Okay, let's ground it!

"Okay,

　Following the carpenter master's instructions, the minotaur drives a large stake into the ground.

"Hahaha, it's so big, the stake will be buried in no time at all.

　The master seems pleased with the minotaur's deftness.

"Are my guys useful?

"Oh, it's still a bit of work, but I'm getting better at my menial job!

　Some demons, including the minotaur, are practically apprenticed to their master.
　They are trained to take advantage of their physical characteristics and are especially valued for the work they do with their larger-than-human bodies.

They're the ones doing the fence work, so I've left the free men to help with other tasks.

　As the master said, there were not many people working on the fence, and the ratio of people working on other tasks was higher.

I heard there are more demons than usual this year, but thanks to their presence, we have less time for simple tasks.

Glad I could help.

　There's a lot of work to be done by the time the demons attack.
　They had to repair the walls, build a fence, make pitfalls to block the enemy's advance, and even make food preserves!
　More to the point .

Oh yeah, the prototype you asked for, it's almost ready. If everything goes well, we'll continue with the mass production.

　It was also imperative to create a means of attack against the demons.

I got a lot of ideas from my brother and daughter this year, so when the time comes, it will be easier than last year!

　Seeing his master laughing, Lasse recalled his discussion with the guild leader the other day.

　.

And I've got my own theory of why the demons are here.

　After the meeting of the demon hunting was over, Trow began to talk about the abnormal growth of demons.

"What have you found out?

"Yeah, that's the key to this year and not last year, that's the key.

"What's in this year and not in last year's?

It would have been easier to say it the other way around. It was there last year, and it's not there this year.

　Letty tilts her head in the abstract riddle.

"Uh, let's see, like ...... livestock farm?

"Too bad it's not a tangible thing.

　Trow put his finger on the edge of the map laid out on the table.

'Because the war is over.

"Huh?　Why do demons increase when the war is over?

　Letty was puzzled by Trow's intentions, but it was clear to Lasse.

''Oh, right, dead soldiers!

　Trow nodded.

Yes, so far, people had died here and there in the wars with their neighbors. Not only on the battlefields at the front, but also where enemy troops were intercepted as they passed through the front lines, the corpses of dead men who died in battles that could not be exposed, and the spies who sneaked into the city to avoid the streets and become demon food.

And that the demons were keeping his body as food.

　In fact, demons are creatures that attack humans. And as long as they attacked, their purpose was to eat.
　As a wizard, Lasse understood that many demons use humans as their food source.

That's right. Until now, these demons have been able to secure food regularly through the war, but since this year they have no more food to eat, so they are looking for food elsewhere. In fact, the old-timers in this town have told me that their parents' generation and the generation before that had the town in danger many times. And there were fewer and fewer stories about it after the war started.

"......

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make your life easier.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

Well, if the war had gone on forever the country would have been destroyed. Well, the country could have been destroyed if the war had gone on forever.

　The two wonder if it was wrong to let the fight end, and Trow follows up with them. It's a bit of a grown-up thing to do.

...... Well, we have to get this battle over with and prove that we weren't wrong to end the war.

"Well, I'm sorry, but it will take months for them to come when I apply for reinforcements for the Order. The time it takes for the letter to arrive and then the time it takes to have a meeting and send out the troops to arrive is too long. It would have been nice if you could have sent at least a few of your men.

　Letty apologizes profusely for Trow's apology.

"We'll just have to live with it. It's better to have a knight who's experienced in battle.

I'll do my best!

　The

　And three days passed.

"Master Lasse!

　Perpy, who had been sent to scout, comes down to help Lasse, who was helping him.

"What's the matter?　Has there been any movement in the forest?

Yeah, there are a lot of demons coming out of the forest!

　The report of the Harpy elicited a murmur from those who were around.

'How much?　How long does it take you to get to town?

"Hmm ...... a lot!　The forest has spread out with a bang!　I think the fast one is about a day. The slow ones will take a couple of days, I think.

"Will there be no flying demons?

I'm not sure I was there.

"The whole spread out forest?　Just one place?



There's only one place.

"Did the direction of this town widen?

"Hmmm, a lot!

　When Lasse hears the information, he examines its contents and deduces the exact number and situation.

A forest that has spread out is probably a group of demons. Probably several hundred in one bulge. (Does the fact that other places have risen up change the situation, depending on whether they're all coming to this town or heading to other towns?

"Harpy, I'm sorry, but check to see if all the demons from the forest are coming our way!

"Whoa!　Leave it to me!

　After receiving additional instructions from Lasse, the Harpy flew into the sky and headed for the Great Demon Forest.

"We'll have to hurry.

　The lizards nodded to each other and hastened to prepare for the interception.