The True Power of Cavalry
"Screeeech!"
"Screeeech?!"
The Lamia cavalry charged in from the flank. Realizing the danger, the Orcs turned pale and let out shrill screams.
"Screeeeeeeech!"
With terrifying natural instinct, the Orcs fell into a state of panic and scrambled to flee. They shoved and trampled one another in total chaos.
And into that scene—
BOOOOM!
"Kyahhhhhh!"
The Lamia cavalry swept through with refreshing efficiency.
"Screech!"
THUD!
The sound of tearing flesh erupted. Orcs pierced by lances were sent flying into the air. The sheer power generated by the heavy, muscular bodies of the Lamia was concentrated into the single point of their spear tips; upon impact, bodies were shredded, pulverized, and death was scattered across the field.
"Ohhh...!"
Watching the spectacle, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pure admiration. Is this the true power of cavalry? Is this really what cavalry is capable of? It’s a dimension of power entirely different from a slugfest between infantry! The ultimate power to wipe out an enemy unit if the conditions are met...!
"Hammer and Anvil!"
It was a textbook example of the hammer and anvil tactic. While the infantry phalanx acted as the anvil, the cavalry—the hammer—smashed into the flank!
"Screech!"
"Keryaaaaagh!"
"Kyaa!"
Because the enemy was just Orcs, it worked far too easily.
"My, my goodness."
"Shaa..."
"I can't believe it."
Vanessa nodded, but the other members of the Royal Guard looked genuinely shocked. They were probably thinking the same thing as me. Even for humans, it’s rare to see a cavalry unit unilaterally slaughter an enemy formation like this. It’s a rare sight indeed.
SHING!
And that wasn't all.
"Draw! Your swords!"
"Kyahhhhhh!"
Having finished their heavy lance charge, the Lamia drew their blades right there and began butchering the panicked Orcs.
Swish!
Furthermore, they whipped their snake tails around like mad, knocking the Orcs off their feet. A total, nationwide rampage performed right after the charge. The shock cavalry had transitioned into sword cavalry, and they were moving without a single hitch.
Who on earth could stop this?
"Perfect! Absolutely perfect!"
Of course, if I were fighting humans, it wouldn't have been this easy! Humans would have commanders of their own! But that’s outside. That’s the story of a field battle in the human world. This is the jungle. There is no information on me here. In such a state, this kind of tactic will work perfectly at least a few times...!
But I shouldn't be overconfident. After using it a few times, humans will start to prepare for it. But if they prepare for this, I’ll just use a different tactic!
"Woooooooaaaaaaah!"
My fighting spirit boiled over, and my confidence exploded. I released that feeling with a roar!
"We shall become the rulers of this jungle! All troops! Break the phalanx! Slaughter the remaining Orcs!"
"Kerururuk!"
"Grrrrrr!"
My subordinates, their fighting spirit ignited by my speech, let out primal roars and broke the phalanx. Primal violence. The moment they tasted victory, they unleashed it without restraint.
"Kerak!"
The Goblins immediately formed trios and chased down the fleeing Orcs.
"Goblins, three against one! Imps, attack in groups of six! Royal Guard, charge as well!"
"Grrrrrr!"
The Orcs had already lost their will to fight.
"Screeeeeeeech!"
They just panicked and ran. Such enemies were nothing more than easy prey. Turning your back and running in the middle of a battle? That just means death.
I didn't bother stepping in. There’s no need for me, the Demon King, to fight on the front lines. I would if I had to, but right now, simply managing my troops was enough to finish the cleanup.
"Shaa... My King. The Lamia are more amazing than I thought."
"Right? I'm glad I brought them in."
"Yes. My King."
Sharan was also watching the rampaging Lamia in awe. To think that just because they had snake tails instead of legs, they could exert such powerful force.
"Truly surprising. I didn't know the Lamia were at this level..."
"Hehehe, isn't it truly surprising?"
"At this rate—"
"We could even wipe out an unsuspecting human unit."
"..."
Vanessa nodded heavily.
"But as you already know, it would be difficult to use them in open terrain. It would be dangerous to be overconfident in that."
"Don't worry. I'm well aware of that."
Since we're living in the jungle now, we'll just use jungle tactics.
"It really is amazing. I didn't know the Lamia were this strong."
Lumika also covered her mouth in surprise as she watched the scene.
"Hehehe, Lumika, you're strong when you're near water, too."
"Fufufu, is that so?"
Anyway.
"Let's go."
The scene was being cleared up quickly. The Orcs were falling, and we had zero casualties. It was a landslide victory for us.
"Cease combat! It is our victory! You have completely crushed the Orcs with your own hands! Kraaaaaaaaah!"
"Kerurururuk!"
"Grrr!"
With my declaration of victory, fanatical cheers erupted. I gave a brief speech to boost my subordinates' morale and then ordered the battlefield to be cleared.
"We'll rest when we get back! Clear the corpses and the loot! The Orcs' bones and flesh will be our food!"
"Keruk!"
"And the wounded, gather! If you're hurt, come here! Platoon leaders, identify the wounded and send them over!"
"Keruruk!"
First, I had to check the wounded.
"Nuns, gather as well! We need to treat the wounded."
At my shout, the nuns who had been resting nearby approached.
"Nuns. You learned how to use Heal last time, right? Please treat everyone who's hurt."
"Haa... I'm exhausted from using so much mana, can we rest a little..."
I spoke to Irene, who was asking for a break.
"Irene, if you don't comply, you'll be sentenced to one hour of sexual torture when we return."
"Whaaat?!"
"If you don't follow orders on the battlefield, you'll be punished. You can rest later, so treat the wounded now."
"W-wait...!"
"If you don't follow orders, it's collective punishment, hehehe."
"Eek!"
Reika immediately covered Irene's mouth.
"Hey. Can't you cut us some slack? We fought hard too, you know?"
"Understood. I'll forgive you for Reika's sake. But on the battlefield, my orders are absolute. Do you understand?"
"...Fine."
Reika nodded.
Soon, the platoon leaders brought the wounded over. Most of the injured were Goblin shield-bearers. They had blocked the Orcs' charge with their shields, but they had suffered bruises on their arms from the impact.
"Hold out your arms, Goblins."
"...Keruk."
Whoosh.
My proud Dark Nuns cast Heal on the Goblins' arms. As the mana seeped in, the bruises were treated.
I surveyed the battlefield.
"The heat of battle."
All my subordinates were breathing heavily, moving about sluggishly. Should I let them rest for about ten minutes before cleaning up?
The moment I thought that—
"Keruk! My King! I'm hungry after fighting!"
Buril approached and shouted.
"Kerurururuk!"
"Fresh meat! The boys want to eat fresh meat! Keruk!"
"Keryaaaaagh!"
The Goblins agreed, and my other subordinates cast their gazes toward me.
"Boys! Are you hungry!"
"Keryaaaaagh!"
"Grrrrrr!"
"Then eat! Eat the fresh meat of the Orcs! We'll do the cleanup after we eat!"
Keryaaaaaaagh!
Immediately, my subordinates began gutting the fallen Orcs. Fresh meat, delivered straight from the source...!
"This is what you call Rocket Fresh!!!"
Though, watching the Lamia take out the livers to eat is a bit scary.
The battle ended, and we finished our rest and cleanup. So, what was next? Looting, of course. We went to the Orcs' village and raided their storehouse.
"Kya! These bastards had quite a lot of supplies stockpiled!"
Since the Orcs lived in huts, they knew how to stockpile supplies. Raiding the tribe yielded simple tools and food.
"We should take all of this, too."
But would it be better to camp at this tribe tonight? Everyone was exhausted from the fighting, and it seemed dangerous to try and carry all the loot back now.
Good.
Let's rest here for the night.
"You bastard."
"Reika?"
"You fight better than I thought."
"Well, I have to fight well. My family's lives depend on my command."
"..."
"As I always say, if I want to live well with my family, I have to be good at what I do."
When I said that—
"You still think that way."
Reika looked at me with a strange expression.
"Is there a problem?"
"No. Just give me orders if you have any."
"Hehehe, yes."
It certainly looked like her heart had been conquered.
"More importantly, Liliel! Liliel, come here!"
"Hah!"
"Why didn't you do anything during the battle!"
Liliel had only held her sword and posed in the back during the fight; she hadn't fought actively at all!
I mean, I kept watching her because they said soldiers from the Great Heaven fight so well, so why wouldn't she fight!
"I, I didn't need to get involved in a fight between you uncivilized creatures...!"
"One hour of sexual torture as punishment!"
"Whaaaat!"
"Fight properly! I thought angels were supposed to be good at fighting!"
"How am I supposed to fight well without my holy power...!"
"Add another hour! Prepare your anus! I'm going to ram it without mercy!"
"Ahhh...!"
I planned to borrow the dildos the Pixies made and ram her anus for two hours. Anyway. We simply renovated the Orc tribe's hut village into a camp and lit a bonfire, and the sun began to set.
"Today! Everyone did a great job! Because we all moved as one body, we were able to annihilate the Orc tribe without a single death! I should obviously reward you all for that! Goblins, line up!"
"Keruk!"
"Let's start by getting a shot of mana injection!"
"Kerurururuk!"
To the rejoicing Goblins.
Poke.
The moment I started to inject mana into them one by one.
"Ke, Keruk...! Keruk! T-this strange sensation...!"
"Huh?!"
The first Goblin to receive it burst out with a voice!
"What the hell is this guy!"
Could it be that they finally reached that level?!
Poke, poke, poke, poke.
To confirm it, I quickly injected mana into the Goblins.
"Keruk! Buril! Demon King! I can speak! Kerururuk!"
"Keryaaaaagh!"
The Goblins were starting to speak, one by one...!