Maou No Utsuwa

Imperial Council of Ministers. This place was full of fruitless content, but today, finally, an unusual agenda has come up.

The information on the church capital has finally arrived.

"The state of the Church Capital doesn't seem particularly confusing."

"That's crazy. I heard there was a battle in the capital."

"There seems to be no doubt that there was a battle. Besides, it looks like a battle between the Knights of God."

"Aren't you with the Demons?

When I heard about the battle in the Church Capital, not only Empress Claudia, but everyone thought that the Demons had finally attacked the Church Capital.

"Yes, I asked the inhabitants of the Church Capital, so I thought maybe it was for sure"

"How the hell did that happen?

Fighting for power within the Church is not uncommon, but I do not see any reason to develop into a military clash.

"That's..."

"You don't understand, do you?

"In conclusion, yes. If you give me an excuse, it's too complicated to know which is the truth."

"... why? What are the people doing between us?

"Those who were positioned in the Church Capital will still not return. To say that this is all there is to it and that no one will ever come back is probably erased."

"All of them?"

"I won't come back, so I will."

"So, what was the information earlier?

"The state of the Church Capital comes from the newly sent. Otherwise, we gathered information and analyzed it in cities around the church capital."

"Uh, what kind of information?

Just because you ask, doesn't mean you can judge something, but this is how Princess Claudia asks questions in detail.

The reason I do this is because I feel like a meeting is going around in the center.

"Contains something that doesn't even clap, are you sure?

Prime Minister Zion's deputy, who knows that, is already in trouble.

"Yeah."

"First, a miracle happened in the ceremony of the selection of the brave. It's a rain of light coming down from heaven, fixing people's diseases and injuries."

"... is that what happened?

"As far as the records of the last selection ritual are concerned, that has not happened."

"Yes. And then what?

"The Demon King has appeared"

"What?"

"A demon king has appeared in the church capital."

"After all, the Demons attacked the Church Capital."

"That's what's going on."

"Continued?"

"The demon king appeared in the ritual of choice and was chosen as a brave man."

"Yes?"

"Can I tell you at once because it's a hassle?

"Oh, yeah."

"The true brave man was the Demon King. The Knights of God were destroyed by one Demon King. No, it wasn't, and the Knights were destroyed by the brave. The Demon King and the Messenger of God were friends. God's Messenger serves the Demon King. The Pope repented to the Demon King and was forgiven for his sins. The Knights of the Divine Church were subordinated to the Demon King. And then... Oh, yeah. Demons are cute, and there was something about them."

"... what's that?

"I said the information was complicated. Rumors are calling for rumors, and I'm not sure."

All the rumours spoken by Prime Minister Zion's deputy can be said to be true except for the lack of words, but they did not make those present on this occasion realize that the content, which was too abrupt, was true.

"Yes..."

"What is certain in this is that the demonic raid on the church stopped. And the church emblem has changed."

"Has the flag changed?

"It doesn't change the yellow pattern on the blue land. But the yellow sun turned into a yellow cross. Some say it's called the Golden Cross."

"What does that mean?

"There is no doubt that there has been some great transformation within the Church. And perhaps the demonic raid stopped has something to do with it."

"... brother?

"I heard, I heard, I heard, I heard."

I don't know.

The only prince who is grasping the facts accurately from the information given on this occasion is Prince Thales. If Prince Therese tells me, it's exactly what I heard, but there's no way Princess Claudia would know that. That's the same for those around you.

Some had only slightly remembered that the seal flag of Kamui was a silver cross, but none could even be considered to have linked it to the Church and the Demon King.

"Couldn't you ask the Archbishop in the Imperial Capital anything?

Oscar realizes this is still better than Empress Claudia.

"I heard the story. But I need to hear nothing. It has not changed from the Pontifical Agency, and various transmissions have come. There's nothing wrong with that."

"Really?"

Such a thing can be forged at any cost with the mark of the Pope or other high priests. Even signatures do. It's only natural to leave it to someone else to sign.

In fact, the Golden Cross National Guard is doing it in disguise. Stripping the priesthood, Chairman Modiani was a crook inside.

"I can't judge the Church of God without gathering more information."

"Yes, but in the end, what happened to the brave?

"Nor, I don't know for sure. We'll have to wait for the rest of the report."

"Yes."

Princess Claudia's Hildegand eviction operation, in person, was not yet over.

"Are you sure you want to move on?

"Ah, yes."

"It will be close to the northern part of the Imperial Capital and northern Bertian territory. That's where the bandits seem to be raging."

"Bandits?"

"Yes. Seems to be pretty rambling and received a crusade request"

"But what about the leadership?

"Then it's a crusade request because it's out of your control. How about that?

"Could you give me some more information? You can't judge by that."

They turned to me for questioning, Oscar, but I can't answer anything if they ask me how.

"Right. We don't know exactly how many bandits there are, but it looks like there's about 2,000."

"Two thousand? Is the bandit so wrapped up?

"It's happened before. However, we found out later that it was the grass of the kingdom, the money of the former prime minister."

Kamui was sent on a crusade mission. exhausting the Imperial Army, concludes that it was measured for the purpose of consuming military spending with

"I mean, again, the kingdom?

"I don't know that."

"Really? What happened then?

"It was supposed to be a rebellion of border lords, so the National Army came out. And the Viscount Kreutz Army."

"Kamui..."

"Would you like to do that?

"Are you two thousand bandits..."

"There is also a hand in asking for a march to the Northern Uncle. If you are a Northern Belgian army, you will be able to count enough."

"No, let's get the Imperial Army out"

"If the Knights Commander says so, I have no differences. How about the others?

Others also have to contest what the Knights Commander says about the military. Taking silence as consent, Prime Minister Zion's deputy decided to proceed.

"How many marches are there?"

"Two thousand, no, three thousand"

Oscar, who abandons his looks and tries to outnumber the number of bandits, is still talented as a samurai.

"Okay. Then it will be the general who leads it, won't it? Who is it? We may discuss the preparation of supplies, etc., so it would be helpful if you could decide as soon as possible."

"I'll go"

"Yes...... What? Is it the Knights Commander himself?

"Yes."

"Bandit exorcised?

"It's important for me to have experience right now. I want to go myself, whether they're bandits or not."

"I see, is that the reason? The right of appointment rests with the Knights Commander, so as far as I'm concerned, it's fine. What about the others?

The power of appointment lies with Oscar, so I don't need to hear any other opinions, but Prime Minister Zion's deputy dared to do it. By making it customary to obtain consent in a conference setting, Oscar, in fact, deters Princess Claudia from using the authority of the Knights to elope at all.

"You don't. Then the Oscar Knights will lead three thousand by themselves. We will discuss preparations separately later."

"Oh, please"

The next report is about the kingdom.

"Is something wrong?

"Yes, the army has moved"

"What?"

"Even so, the direction is east. We have reports that the kingdom has launched its forces in the east."

"What's in the east?

"No matter what they say, a number of countries can only explain it. Honestly, the Empire hasn't paid that much attention to the east of the kingdom. There are exchanges with the Union of Eastern Nations, but there are kingdoms in between, so there is no reason for close relations."

"Union of Eastern Nations?

"You can consider it a military alliance. It is a preparation for the invasion of the kingdom, and although it is a gathering of small nations, it is not an insult. The kingdom couldn't grow to the east because of it."

"You're trying to attack there."

"I can't say enough."

"What, why?

"Will the kingdom cause its own war at this time of year?

"... uh"

There is no answer for thinking about it. I haven't thought about it in the first place. I'm just waiting for someone to start telling me the answers.

"The kingdom is also an enemy to the demons. Since it is the kingdom that was pulling the thread behind it, you can call it the mastermind. It's unnatural to turn the army east when you don't know when the Demons are going to fight."

"Didn't that Eastern Union of Nations attack you?

"It's possible, but it's hard to think. A coalition that shares interests if it is to be protected, if it is to be attacked, will not. You take the kingdom's territory, and all you get is a country bordering on its borders."

"Right. So, what do you think Chancellor Zion's deputy is?

We're thinking about the possibility that the Demons have done something in the eastern part of the kingdom.

"Oh, yeah."

"But why, is it the east? Though it is not clear about the Church Capital, I thought the Demons would gather around it. The church capital is the northwest part of the kingdom. I don't know why I'm moving east from there."

Contrary to Princess Claudia's light response, Oscar's face is harsh. As an Oscar who has the feeling that if the Demon Nation moves, he is the one who deals with it, he also has to be sensitive to the slightest information.

"Nor has the information analysis team fully concluded on that. I have one assumption, so I'd like to hear from you."

"What is that assumption?

"I thought you were inviting the Empire."

"Is that an invitation?

"Yes. As for the Church, we believe that the Devil's side put Keri on once. As I said earlier, some transformation took place within the Church. Because it was good for the Demons, the Demons stopped attacking the Church. Then the demons will be targeted."

"Empire or kingdom?"

"Yes. Then one way or the other, you won't know this until you ask the Demon King"

"It's..., yes"

As a substitute for Chancellor Zion, I was going to make a mild joke to soothe the atmosphere in the field, but it had no effect whatsoever. Starting with the Oscars, the face of the conference room is a tense face, listening to the story.

"... from the Demon King and Demon Nation side, it means that either is fine. Now, when it comes to choosing which one, I think it's the one with the gaps, the one with the disadvantages in the situation."

"How does that tie into an invitation?

"Isn't the center of the kingdom getting thinner now?

You mean you created an opportunity to invade the Empire?

"That's the hypothesis. Invite the kingdom to the east and let the empire attack it from the west. As a kingdom, we must consolidate our western defenses, but we cannot respond immediately in a situation where we are sending troops to the east"

"Return the troops from the east and the demons will go on offense. You mean pinched?"

"Not necessarily."

"You got another idea?

"Nothing else, or I'd like to hear your opinion from around here. The high degree of mobility of the Demons is evidenced by the raid on the Church. We analyzed the location of the raided Knights of the Church and the time of the raid, and we found that out."

"Do you think we're moving from east to another place?"

"Yes."

"Why? When it comes to pinching, it's easier to fight."

"That's the same for us imperial side. The Empire may be able to destroy a good part of the kingdom if it is better than the Demons do not seek territory."

"... if I could do that"

"I don't think the Demons will forgive that. If the kingdom perishes, the next target is the Empire. Will you shut up and watch the Empire grow until you can't help it?

"Is the Empire inviting the same?"

"Intervene in the war between the Empire and the Kingdom in the form of support for the disadvantaged to prolong the war and exhaust both countries. So it's possible that the Demons will take the lead in the war at once."

"It's possible."

"Do you think so?"

"I think I'm quite likely. What do you think is wrong with this hypothesis?

"Why did the Demon King think the Empire would invade the kingdom? The Empire, what is it called, is in the midst of rebuilding. We can't afford that."

"... but it's a big thing as bait"

"Analytical teams say it's naive for a demon king."

"Naïve? Do you want this measure?

"Yes, if the Empire did not invade the kingdom, the Demons just moved in vain. I would have consumed a little of the kingdom's military spending, but it's no big deal for the kingdom."

"Isn't that a buyout? Even the Demon King won't always come up with a good solution. Sometimes if it works, it moves to the right degree.

"Those who say so are on the analysis team."

Subtle Chancellor Zion's deputy turned his gaze to Prince Therese. It was not the analysis team that evaluated the measure as naive, but Prince Thales.

But neither Prince Terrays, who said so, nor the Hildegands who thought together could read what the kingdom's movement meant.

The Princes of Therese have a deadly lack of information. That the kingdom is taking action after being convinced that the next target of the Demon Nation is the Empire because of its bond with Kamui.

If I had known that the kingdom did not feel the need to prepare for the devil tribe, things would have taken a different form.

Despite an unusual agenda, in the end, the only thing that was decided at the meeting was the dispatch of Imperial troops to the bandit crusade.

◇ ◇ ◇

It took two weeks for the 3,000 Imperial Army led by Oscar to leave the Imperial Capital, including the formation of troops and the preparation of supplies. Two months for travel from there to the site on which it is based.

The Imperial Army, which had finally arrived, did not have time to rest the army and suddenly entered the fight.

"Keep the formation! Don't let the momentum push you!

"Knight Commander! Permission to reinforce to the left wing! It will collapse as it is!

"Wow, okay! Hurry up and turn it!

"Turn the reserve! Two hundred!

"Ha!"

"Pass the word to the right wing! Don't step back from that position!

"Ha!"

The main unit of the Imperial Army with Oscar was in havoc. It's a bunch of 2,000 bandits who are being crusaded that have come under attack.

But the fact that there was a demon clan among them had led to this situation.

"How many Demons!? You figured it out!?

"Not yet! I can't grasp it in the midst of a mixed war!

"... why is there a demon clan here?

Stupidity leaks out of Oscar's mouth. As an Oscar who was going to do as much as a real-life exercise to gain experience, you would also want to say that.

"I can't help but say that. Now just think about winning."

The deputy who was listening to it on the side immediately praised me.

"I know. But can you win..."

"That word is also superfluous. It involves morale for those who lead the army to voice such feelings. Weigh yourself."

"Oh, sorry."

"Fortunately, I don't think there are that many demons."

"Don't you know how many?

"Even if it's a quarter of a thousand, I don't think I can support it the way it is now."

"Right."

The deputy is right, although it was the first confusion in the emergence of the demonic tribe, now it also calms down, the knights and soldiers have managed not to break the formation, preventing the attack.

The fact is that the most confusing part is the main force. That's also because of Oscar's restlessness and the young knights he brought in to gain experience just like Oscar.

"Now is the time to focus on protecting against being pushed by enemy momentum"

"Uhm."

"There are always moments when momentum diminishes for those who attack. Capture the moment and draw the flow here."

"Is that what you understand?

"Looking at the overall state of the war, we can also see which one has momentum in the individual locations."

"I don't really understand the momentum."

"You'll need experience to be able to do that. Well, some of them can somehow tell, but that's special. If there is such a person, it should be reused regardless of his or her identity. Those who are called war geniuses are geniuses from birth, regardless of effort."

"Right..."

Oscar is a little depressed when he finds out he's not a genius in that war.

"You don't need to be depressed. War geniuses are rarely seen."

"... I hope so"

The undersecretary's words, which were meant to comfort him, only made Oscar anxious. Isn't that a genius that rarely appears in this age? That's what comes to mind in Oscar's head.

"... I will put in a reserve!

"Where!?

"Left wing! Enemy momentum is down! You lost your morale because you couldn't break it all at once."

"Okay! Turn the reserve to the left wing!

"Ha! How many!?

"Count?"

"Turn all units! Hurry up and bounce your enemies back at once!

Instead of the confused Oscar, the deputy raised his voice. One here at a time, I don't think I thought it was if I was teaching.

"If the left wing pushes the enemy in, it pushes out the center as well. Keep your right wing on the axis and put your left wing forward so you can circle in. So we decide all at once."

"Oh well."

"No spare time to serve. Prepare for battle as we push out in all the central armies."

"Okay!

The color of anxiety disappears from Oscar's face. Unlike military command, individuals have confidence in their martial arts.

The convergence of reserves dispatched from the center added momentum to the left wing at once. Gradually push the enemy back, left wing out front. At the same time, some troops will deploy further to the left.

The intention is to use the difference in momentum and numbers to exert pressure from side to side on the Demons.

"A left-wing enemy pushes the army out when it flows into the center. Don't give me a gap to rebuild. If you collapse here, you can take it to a semi-six, so this is the battlefield."

"Okay."

"Now! Push it out!"

Along with the decree, the commanding army of the Knights of the Imperial Army leaves in front at once. The demon clan disguised as a bandit by being pushed in from the left and pushed into the center shortly after he set his stance in the center, is disoriented.

"You can win! This is it..., what's that?

In the eyes of the victorious deputy, a silver cross flag on the black ground and flying it, five horseback rides entering the battlefield. Riding a leading horse is silver-haired sturdy.

From a distance, I knew who it was.

"A demon king. Ahhhh!!

The screams unleashed by soldiers of the Imperial Army were attentive to the battlefield.