Two months after E. Rudre and I shook hands in separation, the League of Kings invasion began.

　The report said that E. Rudre never used any falsehoods about the timing of the invasion.

　I was impressed by his warrior-like character, but I didn't have time to get lost in sentimentality.

　The League of Lords is coming with the clear intention of interfering with the construction of Azuchi Castle, which is currently being built by Luthrara.

　The Azuchi Castle is a symbol of the Demon King's Army's control over Rosalia, and it is also the economic center of the Demon King's Army.

　I can't let its construction get in the way.

　I decided to confront the enemy without sparing all of the troops entrusted to me by the Demon King, without sparing any of them.


　This battle, later known as the Azuchi offensive and defense battle, is the following lineup of the Demon King's army.


　General General, Ike, Commander of the Demon King's Army's 8th Legion Legion. There were 2,000 of them.
　Cephiro, the commander of the 7th Legion Corps. Its number 4,000.
　Uruk, commander of the 5th Corps Legion. There are 4,000 of them.
　In addition, there are four thousand reinforcements from Rosalia, which is under a subordinate alliance, and commanders such as Alistair.

　In addition, the Demon King sent me about 2,000 raiding troops that didn't belong to any of the legions as reinforcement.

　In total, it was a large army of 16,000.
　It was the highest number of armies he had ever led.


　On the other hand, the legions of the League of Kings were comparable to it.
　With the Knights of the Pharus Kingdom at the center, their number was 15,000.
　It's almost the same size.


　Hearing that report, Succubus Lilith sneered.
　I asked her why because I felt uncomfortable, but she said

''No, because, Ike-sama, isn't this the first time that Ike-sama has been able to fight with more troops than his opponent?''

Yeah, I guess you're right.

　Ever since he became a brigade commander, or perhaps even since he was a troop leader, he had always felt that he had been outnumbered and had fought in an environment where he was always outnumbered.

　Even though it was only 1,000, I was thankful to be able to lead more soldiers than my opponent.
　However, I'm not optimistic.

''Originally, the strength of the Demon King's army cannot be compared to humans.

　I explain to Lilith.

'The Demon King's army is a mixed force of demons, demons, and now humans. Demons are more than equal to the enemy's powerful sorcerers and knights, but on the other hand, kobolds, orcs and goblins are weaker than ordinary soldiers.

　With that in mind, plus or minus zero, it could be considered, but anyway, they couldn't simply compare in numbers.

It is a mixed force of humans, elves and dwarves. If we can't control them, their numbers might be a disgrace and cause us to lose.

　As I said this, a nearby witch interrupted me.

''You're still a worried man. If you say so, then the enemy army must be similar.

　Cephiro projects the armies of the League of Kings in the distance with magic.

The Phallus Kingdom is at the core of it, but the flags of many other nations can be seen as well. The enemy forces are not monolithic either. If the conditions are the same, the one with the better commander will win. That's the way it works.

If the commanders were evenly matched in ability, that is.

Don't worry. Don't worry. Even if your opponent is slightly better than you, as long as your strategist is better than you, it's all the better. This time, I'll stand by your side and give you sound advice. Now, as long as your military strategists are excellent, my Demon King's Army is sure to win.

　She said and took up a position beside me.

'I'd like the Commander to take command of the Seventh Army, sir.

If you need a commander, Kushana from Manticore will take it. He'll replace you in a pinch.

　She insists. She doesn't seem to be resolutely willing to move beside me.
　I let out a sigh and gave up trying to get her back into the camp.
　The witch chuckles at that and asks me to outline the plan.

''Well, Commander-in-Chief. How do we defeat the Lords Alliance?''

　I was blunt, but I was frank with him.

'First of all, we'll put our artillery in front, and then we'll take the enemy's chances.

That's an obvious tactic. The gun is our most powerful weapon.

But that won't be enough to be fatal.

"Hmm.

'The guns are our most powerful weapons, but we've used them too much in the last few years. The enemy army must be learning how to deal with them as well.

It's true. You know, these days, I feel like I'm not as effective as I thought I would be.

'In fact, we had to wait for rain in Rosalia, and the enemy we fought last time put up a defensive wall with a sorcerer up front. Also, we often see sloping defensive walls, which were common in the Warring States period.

　An inclined barrier is a bundle of wood and other materials placed at an angle to deflect the trajectory of a gunshot. It has a foolproof effect.

"And rumor has it that the enemy army has begun mass production of guns by now.

　When I said that, the witch frowned, but she didn't say, no way.

　Originally, the Demon King's army's technical skills were inferior to those of humans. The reason why the Demon King's army was able to carry a gun was because of the knowledge I brought and the technical skills of the dwarves.

　The guns that were captured in repeated battles are analyzed. Or (although I didn't want to think about it) if there was a traitor in the Demon King's army, I couldn't say that the method of making guns, and the method of making gunpowder, would not leak out.

''Well, this one is unconfirmed information, so keep it to yourself. It has to do with morale.

''Yeah. I don't think there's a traitor in the Demon King's army.

Let's hope he's not there.

　I said as much, but at worst, I tried to take command on the assumption that the enemy forces were also beginning to equip themselves with guns.

　At the very least, we wouldn't be relying on guns to do the fighting.
　I thought so.

　However, I will not rely on it, but as long as there is a weapon called a gun, I was going to make full use of it.

　As I said before, I handed the guns to the human troops and waited for the enemy forces to arrive.
　As the Confederation of Moral Kings approached, I gave the order to shoot the enemy as soon as they got within effective range.
　My order was carried out at noon the next day as soon as the Confederation's advance troops appeared on the scene.
　Thus began the Siege of Azuchi.
　With the roar of guns brought from the warring states, the battle of Azuchi began.