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A few days later.

The Human Alliance Army, led by the Holy Knight Order, arrived at the Bekabro Gorge in Lesvos Territory.

“Commander. The enemy is entrenched in the gorge over there.”

“Hmm…”

With steep cliffs on both sides.

And in the middle of the gorge lay a long line of undead troops.

Though they weren’t the main force of Demon King Satan, the appearance of this large-scale army responsible for the southern front forced the Holy Knight Order to temporarily halt their advance.

“How many do you estimate?”

“At least ten thousand.”

“…No matter how I look at it, it seems there are more Knights of Death and Ghost Knights than regular Skeletons. You’re saying there are ten thousand? Ha. That is… quite a lot.”

Liriez twisted the corners of her mouth.

“Sir Leonidas, what do you think?”

“We can definitely win. We’ve faced nearly one hundred thousand Orcs in scouting. We can achieve victory.”

“Ha. Are Orcs comparable to the undead?”

Vivian sneered at Leonidas in a somewhat biting tone.

“Orcs and those undead are clearly different. You could say it’s the difference between regular troops and knights. I acknowledge that Sir Leonidas has certainly achieved great feats alongside the Hero, but…”

“Vice Captain. Please refrain from such comments.”

Liriez warned quietly.

“We are comrades who have resolved to fight together. What would the Moon Goddess say if we couldn’t trust one another?”

“The Moon Goddess… understood. I apologize, Sir Leonidas.”

“Um, ah, yes. …I understand.”

Leonidas scratched the back of his head and nodded.

He didn’t particularly feel insulted, but the Holy Knights were on edge enough to be irritated.

They hadn’t had proper rest, constantly attacked by undead, and the day-night cycle was turned upside down, leading to poor sleep.

If a day of magic also coincided—

Thud, thud, thud.

A drumbeat echoed from afar.

The undead in the gorge were waiting for the Holy Knights to approach at any moment.

As soon as they entered the gorge, they intended to crush everything.

Although it was night, the Blue Moon hanging in the sky was unusually obscured by clouds, making it very dark.

“Crossing that gorge will completely take us through Lesvos and lead us toward the System. We won’t be able to enter directly, but we might strike the Demon King’s forces attacking the System.”

“But they’re openly inviting us in…”

“However, we have another method, don’t we?”

Liriez pulled on the reins of her horse.

“The reconnaissance is complete. The rest can proceed as planned.”

“Is… is that alright? Commander. No matter how you look at it, relying entirely on the Magic King for all our tactics seems a bit…”

“I trust the Magic King. And I trust those alongside the Magic King. Sir Leonidas, do you believe in the Magic King’s strategy?”

“Well…”

Leonidas glanced away for a moment and nodded heavily.

“Three hundred of us have managed to survive multiple battles without a single injury or desertion thanks to that person.”

“That person?”

“Yes. That person is protecting us.”

“Hmm… I didn’t see it that way, but they seem to be more desperately faithful than I thought.”

Vivian, the Vice Captain, casually moved closer to Leonidas’s horse.

“Later, when there’s time, would you like to discuss the doctrines of the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess with me?”

“Y-yes? No, that…”

“Please don’t refuse. The Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess doesn’t force its doctrine on others.”

“Well… after this battle, maybe I can learn a little…”

“Huh.”

Liriez looked at the two with despondent eyes before turning her gaze forward.

“We will win, no… we will definitely win.”

Such expressions may seem a bit much.

But the Holy Knight Order–Spartan alliance had the Goddess of Victory with them.

“…O Goddess.”

Liriez prayed towards the sky.

*

“Indeed, men are all about muscles. The Holy Knights can’t take their eyes off them. Once the allied battle is over, I bet many little ones will come between the Spartan warriors and the Holy Knights.”

“You sure say a lot. Was that the plan for training the Spartan warriors?”

“It’s only natural for an army closed off and made up of one gender to have lower barriers toward the opposite sex. Especially when those are warriors and holy knights, who at least have this going for them.”

I propped my chin on my hand.

“Mammon. Listen well. Basically, if this isn’t up to par, nothing works. Got it?”

“So you put something like a bed in every room of Mamon’s?”

“That’s just for ease of movement; I have no other intention. Riding horses is much more of a hassle than riding in your created mobile fortress. Plus, the rooms are spacious enough to accommodate both sides.”

The number of Spartan warriors was 300.

The Holy Knight Order numbered about 1000.

Each one was exceptional, making it inevitable for comrades who decided to fight together to feel a bit attracted to one another.

“Remember well. History is made even during war. Especially when it involves beautiful men and women. Those who are more physically endowed will even more so. After this battle, that mobile fortress will rock like crazy.”

“You certainly don’t fit such words with that face of a Gothic doll.”

“Isn’t that a statement of truth? History tends to repeat itself. Heh, I’ve certainly caused many to desert the frontlines with that.”

“500 years ago?”

“Yep.”

Even now, I thought it was one of my ‘top-tier’ strategies.

“Do you know the Amazon Elf?”

“I do. Isn’t it said they’re the fiercest among the elves?”

Amazon Elves.

They were a group of elves present both 500 years ago and now.

Unlike other elves, they are combative and spirited, warrior maidens who take pride in defeating formidable foes.

Though they are elves.

“Do you know why their hair and eyes are green?”

“Isn’t that just how they look?”

“It wasn’t originally that color. They were gray with brown skin, like lawless desert dwellers.”

It changed.

The entire tribe.

“They fought with all their might against the Demon King’s forces, and I thought it would be beneficial to capture them all as prisoners, including the Amazon Queen.”

I still remember.

All the Orcs and all the Elves exchanged challenges, the defeated kneeling while the victors faced their challenge again.

– Come at me! You are a strong warrior! I won’t give you leniency just because you’re a woman!

– That’s what I would say!

Ultimately, the battle between Orc Road and the Amazon Elf Queen ended with Orc Road’s victory, and they were all captured.

“I successfully got them to withdraw from the Human Alliance, under the condition they wouldn’t aim their bows at us.”

“You didn’t just kill them, right?”

“After capturing the Amazon warriors as prisoners, I forced their surrender. How do you think that was accomplished?”

“Uh, well, it probably wasn’t done in a way that could be told here?”

“Not like that. Just… when binding the prisoners, I had one Orc assigned to each room. Stronger, more muscular Orcs than Spartan warriors.”

“Uh…”

Mammon’s face quickly flushed.

“T-that’s…!”

“What you’re thinking didn’t happen. After about a month, I noticed the Amazons were voluntarily training against the Orcs. Day and night.”

“…….”

Orcs were excellent warriors.

Both day and night.

“What… that’s the origin of the green-haired, green-eyed elves, but keep that a secret.”

“I feel like I’ve heard something shocking, but… are we discussing this with them too?”

“Warriors recognize warriors.”

300 Spartans.

1000 Holy Knights.

Though they’re from different affiliations and genders now, as they fight together and achieve victory, the looks they give each other will surely change.

“Watch closely later. I wonder how many will fall by the wayside among them.”

“They won’t die, right?”

“Those who can fight on the frontlines would die. As short as ten months.”

“…… Did you really fight like that?”

“I simply used any means necessary. It wouldn’t be right for the Demon King to say this, but if we kill everyone, who will pay taxes? It’s much more beneficial to ensure they don’t turn against us and keep bringing in taxes regularly. And creating diligent taxpayers? How great is that?”

I never make a loss.

“…Um. Magic King. It seems the scouting party will return soon.”

“Suddenly changing your tone gives me serious chills.”

“What of it.”

I welcomed those who went on reconnaissance with Endymion.

“Did you see anything?”

“Yes. Magic King. It seems we can proceed according to your tactics.”

While I let Endymion speak for me, I had already devised the strategies.

“The terrain is suitable for the tactics, right?”

“Yes. I confirmed there are no major issues.”

“Then we’re set. Vice Captain.”

Endymion turned to the Vice Captain with a bright smile.

“Isn’t my tactic much better than just entering the gorge recklessly?”

“…Is it safe?”

“Of course, it’s safe. This mobile fortress is impervious to any enemy fire.”

Endymion lightly tapped the walls with his fingertips.

“This mobile fortress is safe.”

“…….”

I suddenly started to feel anxious, but the tactics for crossing the gorge didn’t have significant problems.

“Don’t worry. We’re just going to… crash the mobile fortress into the gorge.”

Our tactic.

To put it simply, ‘we will bulldoze the gorge with the mobile fortress.’

“I’ve heard someone say this before. No matter how brilliant the Demon King’s strategies and tactics are, it is the Hero and humanity that seeks to smash them with unfathomable methods. Right now, we have the Water Hero with us, and the warriors wholeheartedly fighting against the Demon King’s forces.”

I feel sorry for Satan.

I don’t feel particularly sorry for Satan’s army.

“The operation name is ‘Fortress Charging.'”

Between the parted cliffs of the gorge.

“Regardless of the obstacles they put up, this fortress riding atop the Hero’s Holy Sword will break through their barriers.”

With fierce waves, we crash the fortress in.

 

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