(Chapter 7)
The battle between the Demon King Sabnac and Count Ismalia began one week after, in a field near my castle.
This was because I had leaked information to both sides that this is where the other side would set up camp.
Demon King Sabnac,
"How dare you try and take my brother's lands, human. This is unforgivable."
He was enraged by the arrogance.
As for Count Ismalia,
"A demon thinks he can attack my protected territories!"
He said with righteous indignation.
In fact, Sabnac had brought two-thirds of his army with him and was fully prepared to fight.
Count Ismalia too, brought fifty knights with him, along with some mercenaries.
The two sides clashed at 12 o'clock.
It was a vicious battle. Sabnac's monsters fell one after another, and Ismalia's knights fell to their knees.
Their numbers dwindled as I watched, and yet neither sides showed signs of shouting that word, 'retreat.'
It had initially been a battle over who could claim dominance over my lands and Ashtaroth castle, but they were stubborn, and it was now about proving their worth as a leader.
The one who pulled back first would be the loser.
I couldn't help but smile.
"They are such fools. Pride doesn't put food on the table."
"Indeed, they are all fools. They fight each other, and we are left unharmed."
"If I followed your advice, Eve, I would just have to spring an ambush now that they are weak. Both sides would be crushed, and I would be free of any threats for a while."
"Will you do that?"
"Hardly. I do not like war. What I want right now, is materials to grow my army and expand the castle."
"I understand. And how will you acquire that?"
"I will tell you. We will now take some soldiers with us and head for Demon King Sabnac's castle. And there, we will attack his storages and seize what we want."
"…So, you are going to ambush Sabnac's castle while his army is fighting on our behalf?"
���I do not remember asking him for help."
I said coldly.
"…Well, I did ask Count Ismalia, on the other hand."
"You did."
"But I never made any sort of alliance with Sabnac. I am not his subordinate. I am not under his protection. This is not even betrayal. It is scheming."
"Scheming."
Eve looked at me with a serious expression.
"There was this country called Japan in the world I was researching.
And in that country was a general named Mori Motonari."
"A fine name."
"Yes. He was a minor lord of the Chugoku regions, but his wisdom allowed him to eventually become governor of ten provinces. He utilized trickery to rise to the top.
Later generations called him:
Boushin."
"Boushin. The 'god of strategy.'"
"Exactly. He once said that wars of the world were 'won the more you schemed and lost the less you did so.' You must always be thinking, and trying to exploit the enemies weaknesses."
"Currently, Demon King Sabnac is on the battlefield with over half of his soldiers. That means the defences of his castles should be rather sparse."
"Yes. If I go now, even a weak Demon King like me can successfully attack it."
"That is very good, master. Perhaps you are Boushin reborn."
"Save the praise for when I succeed. Now, go and prepare the three wood golems that I made the other day."
"All three of them? But what about the defenses at Ashtaroth castle?"
"Eve, if Sabnac's castle's defense ability is currently at a 5, what would you say Ashtaroth castle is?"
"If it includes you, master, a 4. If not, then it is a 1."
"Then it might as well be a 0. Adding something small to a zero will hardly change anything. There is no point in worrying about it."
"…"
Eve was silent.
What I just said sounded very bold, if not reckless.
However, if I'm going to go and attack a strong enemy, I needed to commit to it.
Sabnac and Count Ismalia wanted my castle, but they were now fighting in the field.
They were evenly matched, and I could see that the battle would last for quite a while.
There was nothing that they could do even if I left the castle empty.
But Eve was still worried.
"But what if either side were to notice? Ashtaroth castle will fall."
"It is not impossible, yes. But I started from zero not long ago. Being pushed back to zero at this point means little to me."
I said, and Eve bowed.
"That is a broad-minded way of looking at it."
She smiled.
As Eve went to call the wood golems, I used the Klein bottle to summon more monsters.
Even if I and the golems were enough to take the castle, we needed more soldiers to carry the materials from the storage houses.
The lowest of monsters could do that.
"Now…things have been going well up until now. But who knows if we will be able to breach Sabnac's castle. And so I will use every soldier that I have."
"Will you fight as well, master?"
"That is my intention."
"But what if something were to happen to you?"
"It hardly matters. My weakness is the core of this castle. And I am leaving that exposed here. It does not matter where I am fighting. I either win or I die."
"…If your resolve is that firm, I will not stop you. However, please take me with you."
"I would love to drink some tea on the battlefield. But I'm afraid there isn't time."
"Yes, I can pour tea on the battlefield, but that is not all. I have the 'Strategy' skill. I can be of help to you out there."
She continued.
"In spite of my appearance, I am of the demon race. I can fight as well. If necessary, I am prepared to give my life on the battlefield."
She pulled out a dagger from her pocket.
"…If you are going to insist so much, then you may come. But don't waste your life. I have still not tasted any tea that surpasses yours since coming to this world. Perhaps I will never enjoy a good cup again if you die."
Hearing these words, her cheeks turned just a little red.
"Then I will continue to make the most delicious tea for you, master."
She swore.
After that, she gave weapons to the skeleton soldiers that she gathered and took command.