'I can't ... yes, I can't ... yeah, I can't ... oh, I can't ... I can't ... I can't ... I can't ... ....it's impossible to.... ...
　A dark voice echoed weakly in the tent.
　Of the three demons facing each other, the bat-winged Dream Demon (Succubus), who carried bat wings, was lying on the floor and kept moaning.

''Ooohhhhhh!　Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, Mr. General Staff!　That's the first thing you say to me when we're about to fight, huh?　You're still pathetic as ever.
　A furious Jin accuses him of being angry.

..........
　What came back was a belittling sigh.

'You're fighting me, man!　I'm buying it, Gara.

You can't do what you can't do... you're the closest you'll ever get to that thing, and that's how it feels?　

You're a demon!

Oh, we're all done for now I'm sure they'll do this and that after we lose, and I'm a succubus I'm just easy prey. ..........

Stop that negative thinking!　Look at me, I'm annoyed!
　The Third Independent Platoon Demon Army Chief of Staff, Filnelia Cloris is a competent wizard and an amazingly skilled one who can even finish a tactical fort such as a position in one night. It's not only that, but he's also a remarkable man who shows unparalleled strength in defensive battles because of his cautiousness derived from his depressingly sneaky personality, but the demons are not satisfied with his feeble appearance.

''You won't understand a battle until you try it, chief!
　At Jin's words, Gailzak, who had remained silent, widened his eyes.

It's a matter of preparation that determines victory, but it is never the only thing that determines victory. And this is most likely to be the case when the two men are on the same footing.

What's the point?

...Oh, my God, that magic power you think you're hiding so well?　You've got to be kidding me... you're such an idiot... you can tell when you've done a little better at hiding it... and I've had a bad feeling ever since the World Tree was cured... ...

'Those little bastards call it hard!

How can you say that in front of Master Erin?

Ugh.
　Even the quintessential djinn wouldn't have a life if he said such a thing to a direct opponent of the Demon King.

''Well, the only thing you can't handle is the monster you lost in an instant.......''
　Jin couldn't hide his frustration as the two of them told him that he was in a state of defeat.
　However, Gailzak still spun the words with his unwavering eyes.

''And how good do you think that messenger is, as far as Furnelia-dono is concerned?''

It's just that if you're going to fight that thing head-on, you'll need to bring a demon king over to help you... Why do you have the big idea? Did you approve of the war...?　If we could just set up a negotiating table and buy some time for two or three weeks, we'd have no more use for this place...

What do you mean by that?

'Shut the f*ck up for a second you idiot.........'
　Filneria ignores the raging djinn.

It's a good thing that you're not the only one," he said, "because we have no choice in this matter - we will guard the gate until a certain date and time - and if that requires a battle, there's no better way to fight. None.

This is why these brainiacs are..................

Ha-ha-ha-ha, so I'm hoping you have a better idea-- do you have a better idea?
　It's a good thing that you're able to use the same kind of strategy against your own kind.

It's a good idea to have a good plan against a guy who can fight a war by himself. You're going to kidnap a child who's about to be... oh, I'm sure it'll all backfire on you... and you'll be humiliated and killed if you do... ...and I'm a succubus.......
　None of these are proper measures.
　But it would be wrong to blame her for that. Geirzak laughs amusedly.

'Then you can assume a situation that excludes that one.

What is it?　The general is going to fight a single combatant or something.......that's not what I would recommend?
　With a sigh, Filnelia says.

'I won't do anything so foolish - it's just a hunch, but I don't think he'll have much to do with this war.

"What was that monster talking about, the taming?　What would you expect from something like that?

Ha ha ha, a warrior's instincts are as good as a woman's on the battlefield.

'Ahhhh ... optimist brainiacs everywhere ... really, really ... I just want to run away for the night ...'
　With eyes like a dead fish, Filnelia continued her words.

''Well I'll prepare for the worst case scenario... I don't know if it'll work... haha...'' ...








◇







　On such a morning, when the sun had fully emerged after a night since the declaration of war, Nacht was standing in front of a total of over thirty elves.
　It's a very good idea to be able to have a good time with them.
　After looking happily at the elves full of beautiful men and women for just a few seconds, Nacht opened his mouth with a serious face.

''What you lack--skills, abilities (status), equipment, fighting spirit, competitive spirit, and many other things--is a myriad of things. -- first and foremost, the level is not enough.

　Aisha asks on behalf of the inner feelings of the elves who are pouting, "Well, Nacht-sama, what is the level?

''Well, Nacht-sama, what's the level?''

''Mm--well, to put it simply, it's an easy to understand quantification of strength. If I assume that my level is 150, then Shtel next to me is 60, Aisha is around 35 or so in normal time, although she has unevenness, Silphy, who is also uneven, is around 35, Ursus is around 25, and the other elven warriors are around 20.

　Nacht's golden circle looks at everyone as if to determine.
　Of course, that's just an indicator, and the results will be different depending on the affinity of their professions, the performance of their skills (skills), the quality of their equipment, the training they've each acquired, and their experience.
　For example, if the Aisha of today and the Duran I saw in the past were to fight head-on, Aisha would probably be trounced. I don't think it would be a fight between Duran, who excels as a close-in position, and Aisha, who is a long-distance position and has a greater weight of a blow.
　But even if the world has changed, it shouldn't be wrong as a rough measure of strength.

''I can't say now that the level difference is absolute, but even so, if they are ten apart, it will be difficult to win, and if they are twenty apart, it will already be a hopeless fight.

　Some listen seriously, while others doubt Nacht's assessment of his strength. Nacht continued to speak without paying attention to their gazes.

''So, well, my impressions from scouting out the demon tribe--''

'My dear Nacht!　I thought that was for fun!
　Aisha raised her voice as if to say she was truly astonished.
　The magnitude of her astonishment would be evident when the quiet Aisha interrupted her story.

''That's terrible, Aisha--you think that this me is going to enemy territory simply because it looks interesting--''

I think.
　It was an immediate response.
　It was instantaneous.
　It's not fast.
　Aisha had assured me that there was not the slightest bit of hesitation.

''Ugh........that was a bit of a quicksilver, hurtful.......''
　A dejected Nacht coughed heavily, then regained his composure and continued.

''So, from what I've seen of the enemy's territory, the level of the ordinary soldiers is roughly thirty to forty, the demon you said was your second-in-command is at least fifty, the dream demon (succubus) who was next to you is about the same level, and even the enemy's commander, the great demon, is a competent person who looks like he's going to be over seventy, that guy should be able to twist an army or so with one hand.''

　Silently, despair fills the air.
　Nacht chased after his own troops as if to break their morale, "Moreover, we have more than thirty troops here, and they have more than a hundred.

The difference in strength is three or four times greater than the thirty-odd men here, compared to more than a hundred for the opponent.
　Nacht speaks only of the facts.

''Moreover, we are attacking a fort. The opponent has an excellent stronghold, and we must attack it - well, normally, common sense, generally speaking - there's no way anyone can win, no matter how you look at it.

　When Nacht closed his mouth, no sound was made.
　Maybe it was tension, or maybe it was fear from twenty years ago. Quietly, silently, the negative emotions crawling up from under his feet carried a coolness.
　Even such a painful silence was merrily chewed up by Nacht, and he just spun the words in a joyful voice.

'So let's say--so what?'

　As if snickering at despair.
　Nacht, who only looks resolutely forward, spins out his words.

You can't use common sense. I am the one who is in charge of the unreasonable, and I am on your side. What do you have to fear?　What do I have to say to you?　What do you have to give up?

　--Listen up, brave elves!

　Have you been compelled to abandon your beloved land, your chieftain cursed, your guardian lost, your world tree withered, and your mission, have you not cried enough?　
　Deprived of something precious, deprived of someone dear to you, vengeful, vindictive, and yet forced to look down, you cried and cried and cried and cried - and yet you still chose to fight, didn't you?

　Nacht's words are the only thing that fills the place.
　The feeling of inspiring your friends in this way is long overdue. Nacht, who was once just a mouthpiece and the one to be protected, was now standing on the side of protection like this.

　Nacht had said in the conference room that day.
　You don't have to do anything. You don't have to do anything, you just have to sit there and Nacht will wipe out everything that's wrong. Even if none of you had gathered here today, Nacht would have fought with Aisha against the demons.

　But they were here.
　They had brought their feet.
　To resist.
　To fight.
　That's why Nacht opens his mouth.

'Then I, who have been here, I, as the mother of Shtel and the Lord of Aisha, will give you the path to victory. This is a reward from Nacht for the courage of you who chose to resist the despair of that day and came to this place - a reward from Nacht.

　Eye after eye met those who had been looking down.
　Everyone had a fighting spirit in their eyes. It's the eyes of a warrior who wants to fight.

''Oh, um--is Nacht-sama going to fight?''

'Of course I'll fight - I won't mess with a direct fight - but this is your fight, not mine. Because this is a fight to regain the pride you lost that day, that time, that place, when you were weak, miserable, and could only look down and cry - and Aisha and I are just helping you do that.
　Aisha thought that Nacht's words would surprise her, but if anything, she looked convinced.
　She seemed to have anticipated what kind of choice Nacht would make.

'Somehow, I had a feeling that - but Aisha was a little bit different from what Nacht-sama said, and yet, I think our roles are still the same.
　Nacht didn't need to hear Aisha's words to understand what she was trying to say.
　She had a history with the demon race, too.
　And even though it's the same thing, helping the elves, Nacht and the others have another goal to fight for.

''Hmm, that of course--''

"...to protect Shtel from his enemies.

　Aisha and Nacht smiled fearlessly at each other.

'Ha!　So, can we really win?
　Sylphy's stinging words echoed as he broke down the rising morale.

''What, you guys aren't sure you can do this on your own?''

I'm gonna be fine on my own.

'I'll buy the bluster. I'm not planning to fight a reckless battle - as of yesterday, the other side's camp is already bare. I've already uncovered all the enemy's postures in terms of forces, breeds, tribes, positions, traps, magicians, and all sorts of things, and I've already thought about how to deal with them.
　Nothing, they didn't go out to play because it looked like fun.
　The guards equipped with Nacht's dragon's eye had exposed the enemy territory in an instant. The reason why it is said that attacking a fort requires three times more troops is because the enemy territory is fully prepared for defense and their own forces have to fight at a disadvantage. Such a disadvantage is only a difference that can be fully covered by Nacht's preparations.

　That's what a week is for.

　We didn't go out to play because it looked like fun.

'So what exactly are we supposed to do?
　Urs seriously says something like that.

'That's of course--leveling, of course--but first of all--'
　Nacht spun the words threateningly.

'--I'm going to put you guys through your first ordeal.

　Immediately after the words were uttered - a wave of dragons blew in a corner of the forest.