A Different Kind of Attack
I wasn’t doubting anyone. Between those who insisted on continuing the war and those who urged caution, I carefully weighed my thoughts before speaking.
“It is true… that our current situation does not allow us to move our forces lightly. After several days of forced marches, the soldiers’ fatigue has accumulated severely, and many have sustained injuries.”
“Mmm…”
“That is certainly the case, but…”
Unlike my usual clashes with Ilios, the fact that I—who had previously taken their side—was now speaking in this manner caused the demon commanders to listen to me with a surprisingly flexible attitude. Feeling a quiet sense of relief at that, I continued.
“On the other hand, the enemy is like a cornered rat, ready to bite the cat at any moment. Launching a clumsy attack in such a situation would not be a wise choice. However.”
“However?”
The demons began to show a hint of curiosity at my next words. Among them, Ilios in particular displayed the most noticeable reaction. Although she had opposed the idea for realistic reasons, it seemed she, too, felt considerable regret about the current situation.
‘As expected, she really is competent in many ways. To be able to suppress her emotions and judge the situation so coldly… that’s not an easy thing to do.’
While raising my evaluation of her even higher—not just for her intelligence but for this remarkable patience and composure—I naturally turned my gaze toward Ilios and kept speaking.
“However, no matter how true that may be, simply abandoning this momentum would also be a waste. This is a large-scale victory we have achieved after much effort. Our morale is soaring to the heavens, while the enemy has been greatly demoralized and cornered. In this situation, I would like to propose a different kind of attack.”
“A different kind of attack?”
“What is it? Speak quickly.”
The demons began to show deep anticipation at my words. Honestly, while there were hotheads like Samson who only valued courage, there were also quite a few among them who possessed sharper minds than I did. However, having been deeply interested in modern military history from the start, and thanks to my various bits of trivia and cunning, I was able to come up with an even better approach.
Knowledge, after all, develops as the result of the passage of time. With my understanding of not only direct combat but also the various tactics used in modern warfare, I had a very effective method for this exact situation.
‘Sometimes words can be more terrifying than a sword. In times like these, that method should work perfectly.’
While the hero earnestly explained the plan he had devised, the demon commanders listened with rapt attention. However, at this very moment, among all the demons present, there was one person who was not focused on the words coming from the hero’s mouth—but rather on the person at the end of his gaze.
‘No… way?’
The sight of the hero looking straight at Ilios and speaking with a faintly joyful expression. Watching this, Elisa couldn’t help but frown as complicated, anxious emotions bloomed uncontrollably in her heart.
To Elisa, who had been desperately trying to identify the ‘lover’ the hero had confessed to, every single one of his actions was naturally a subject of intense interest. And in that regard, the fact that the hero’s gaze kept drifting toward her own mother was something she simply could not ignore.
‘No, surely not… Even so, that can’t be it. Out of so many people, how could Mama possibly…’
Ilios was the one person in this world whom Elisa believed she understood better than anyone. The idea that her mother, who had always treated the hero as an enemy, could have fallen in love with him was something Elisa considered completely impossible no matter how she thought about it.
Yet… even taking that into account, the sight of the hero looking at her mother still weighed heavily on her mind.
‘Now that I think about it… I’ve heard somewhere that fighting together can bring people closer. S-surely not… really?’
As her thoughts reached that point, increasingly complicated feelings began to surge within Elisa. It was unlikely to be true… but the possibility that her greatest rival for the hero’s affection might turn out to be the person she loved most in the world—her own mother—filled her with an indescribable sense of confusion.
Carrying that lingering anxiety in her heart, Elisa decided that when the opportunity arose, she would investigate the matter and consult with Rebekah, who had now become her ‘comrade.’
‘I’m absolutely not doubting Mama. This is only because I believe in her that I want to confirm it… so I can trust her completely…’
Amelda, the holy knight of the Elf Theocracy. Until just recently she had been a member of the Hero Party, but she had now returned to her original position as a paladin. At this moment, having crossed the sea and arrived once more in the Demon Kingdom, she took out the imperial decree she had brought and began reading it aloud to the elven generals and soldiers before her.
“Then, I shall convey His Holiness the Pope’s command.”
The proclamation bore a vivid seal. Holding it in her hands, Amelda suppressed the tension in her heart and began reading its contents in a calm yet powerful voice.
Effective immediately, the withdrawal of the allied racial forces stationed within the Demon Kingdom has been decided. Accordingly, I, the Pope, hereby order all elves within the Demon Kingdom to return to their homeland. All generals and soldiers shall comply without delay, return home, and devote themselves entirely to the defense of the Elf Theocracy.
“Kgh…”
“Haa…”
The moment her declaration ended, sighs of lament rose from all around. It was only natural. Although the decree did not state it outright, the Pope’s order essentially signified the complete failure of this expedition.
The allied racial forces and the soldiers of the Elf Theocracy were forced to abandon all the territory they had suffered to obtain and return home as little more than defeated remnants. They had already more or less accepted that the current situation was the worst possible outcome, and they understood that this decision was unavoidable. Even so, they had held onto a small sliver of hope.
They had hoped that the great Pope, who carried the will of the gods, might yet provide a good solution even in the face of such a crisis. Given that the elves possessed the deepest faith among all the races and had shown the greatest enthusiasm and expectations for this war, such a reaction was perhaps inevitable.
However, the Pope’s decree—which declared not some grand new strategy but a simple retreat—left them with nothing but disappointment.
Thus, the elven soldiers began packing their belongings while gripped by a deep sense of defeat. In one sense, the fact that they could return home should have been something to rejoice over. Yet most of them, who had held such devout faith, could only feel emptiness at the realization that their long efforts had ended in this manner.
“To have to withdraw like this…”
“How could the holy army chosen by the gods…”
“This was our chance to completely uproot that Demon King and the demons…”
The elven soldiers moved about, lamenting as they packed their gear. Meanwhile, watching their dejected figures, the holy knight Amelda felt an even deeper sense of regret and guilt than they did.
‘It’s because of me… If I had properly supported the hero back then, we wouldn’t have suffered such a miserable defeat… We might have been able to end the war exactly as everyone had hoped…’
With that lament echoing in her heart, Amelda began walking with heavy steps back toward her tent. At that moment—
“It cannot be helped. Give up.”
“B-but General! We cannot simply abandon them like this!”
“At the very least, please allow us to deliver the news of the retreat order! If we leave them like this, they will all die!”
“I will say it again: it is far too dangerous. We do not even know if our allies are still alive, and crucially, the path to that location has now become entirely enemy territory. Even if we deliver the message, they have no means of escape. It is regrettable, but we cannot afford to increase our sacrifices any further.”
“General!”
“Kgh…”
Soldiers were engaged in a conversation filled with despair. Amelda cautiously approached them and asked,
“Excuse me… what is going on?”
“Ah… Lady Amelda. The thing is…”
“Are you speaking of the soldiers in Galilee?”
“Yes. According to the reports, approximately four hundred of our elven soldiers are still stationed there. However, at this point we cannot be certain of anything. Nevertheless, these men are stubbornly insisting that we must deliver the news to them as well…”
“Please, we beg you. They must still be alive.”
“No matter how slim the chance, they are our comrades and dear friends. If it is not possible to send a larger force, then at least allow us to go alone. We will risk our lives to deliver the message.”
A group of soldiers spoke with desperate voices. Watching them declare that they would risk their lives for their comrades, memories of the things she herself had failed to do in the past rose within Amelda—the memory of not being able to risk her life for the hero. And as a result, she began to feel that she wanted to make amends, even if only in a matter like this.
Soon, that thought led her to make a single, firm decision.