第１４１掘：魔王城攻略 前夜 (Part2)
"This conflict is merely a single step for us. If we cannot handle something of this scale with ease, then it has no meaning. And Liliana, do you understand? From here on, the demons will be interacting with many different races and nations. It is you, the one who will lead the demons, who must deal with the problems that will arise from that."
"Yes, you are right."
Indeed, once this battle ends, I am slated to become the Queen who governs the demons—a leader who sought aid from the Allied Forces, encouraged internal betrayal, and orchestrated the flow of events that led to the Demon King's defeat.
In the end, I am returning to the position of Demon King, but connecting with other nations is something unprecedented. It means I will have to deal with problems that cannot be foreseen.
It is certainly a far more difficult task than a war where one simply needs to win.
"For you, Seraria, it may be just one step, but it seems it was the same for me. This step is still just a part of my dream."
"That’s right. That is why we cannot afford to stumble over something like this, nor is there any reason to panic."
"Indeed. You are absolutely correct."
Looking at Seraria’s face, I remembered why I had wanted to forge peace with other races in the past.
I simply thought that if we could just laugh together like this, it would surely be enjoyable.
It was a childish notion that doing so would eliminate conflict, but perhaps it wasn't wrong after all.
After all, the other races and the demons standing before me, laughing together, are not fighting.
And I hope that this... no, we must ensure with our own hands that this continues forever.
That is precisely why the farce that is about to unfold is absolutely necessary.
The pervert... no, the fake Demon King will act even more like a true Demon King.
By indiscriminately summoning powerful monsters—using the hardliners as sacrifices—we will make it appear as though Dekira never desired the governance of a single demon race.
By framing it as if he wanted to be the sole, supreme power, it serves as the ultimate operation to make the hardliners defect from Dekira.
I don't know where he came up with it—he called it a "cliché"—but is it common in other worlds to perform such terrifying measures so nonchalantly?
Regardless, due to the heinous actions of that fake Demon King, nearly half of the hardliners will be sacrificed, and the other half will surely lose their will to fight.
Once the Rumel invasion force learns of this, they will have no choice but to turn back. And once they realize the Demon King’s Castle has fallen, the peace faction—who were forced into service—will defect to our side, and the hardliners' army will be unable to secure supplies.
It is a perfect checkmate.
"Now, it is time to begin our advance. The night is breaking."
In the direction Seraria was looking, the sky was beginning to dye blue, and light was spilling through.
Before I knew it, the leaders of the Allied Forces had gathered around Seraria.
"How is the preparation?"
"The Weed troops have no issues."
"The Roschur troops are ready to move at any time."
"The Litea troops have no problems."
"The Gartz troops, myself included, are already in combat readiness."
"You heard them, Elju."
Then, Elju walked forward from the main camp.
"Everyone, please lend us your strength. While this battle is about defeating the Demon King, saving our friends is just as important. And, if I may wish for it, I hope as many people as possible return home alive. Please, live and laugh together..."
Elju paused there.
"From this moment, the assault on the Demon King’s Castle begins!! All troops, give your utmost effort!!"
"Understood!!"
And so, the assault on the Demon King’s Castle had begun.
And thus, the operation to break the hardliners' will and eliminate the nuisances is revealed!!
Using sacrifices—well, it generates DP, so it’s not technically wrong.
The grand strategy of using DP to summon powerful, fierce-looking monsters to pose as the Demon King!!
Also, I updated Windows to 8.1 yesterday, but that was a mistake.
I can't type in Japanese, there's no sound, the tablet drivers disappeared, and the fans are spinning abnormally.
Hey, you’ve put out quite a lot of updates, haven't you?
It’s infuriating.