201: War’s all about prep, right?

The one who jumped onto my horse was Shururu, the lizard girl.

"Wha!? Why’s Shururu here!?!"

"Alphard summoned me! But bumping into Craft-sama here? That’s fate!"

She wrapped around me, clinging tight. From behind, a sharp reprimand.

"Shururu! Watch your words!"

Of course it was Jurara.

Shururu looked mostly human, but Jurara was a full-on two-legged reptile, just like the rest of her kind.

"Even Jurara came?"

No—on second glance, a whole crowd of lizardmen were rushing across the bridge toward us.

"What’s going on?"

It wasn’t Jurara who answered. It was Alphard.

"I called them. Good of you to come, Jurara-sama."

"By your summons, the lizardman warriors have arrived."

Jurara knelt with one knee, and Shururu quickly followed, dropping to his knee beside her.

"Craft, don’t worry about it—go on ahead."

"Eh?"

Alphard pushed me to leave, sharp in tone. The lizardman warriors, who should’ve been clearing the marshlands, were all gathered here. I couldn’t help but be curious, but he shoved me off with a hushed whisper.

(If Shururu starts clinging to you, it’ll be a hassle. Just go already.)

(……! Yeah, you’re right!)

"Then I’m off, see you later!"

"Eh!? Craft-sama!? Kuraa-fu-to-samaa!?!"

I downed the raw stamina potion in one gulp. Even if Shururu was fast, there was no way he could catch up—especially with the Black Dragon, usually used for hauling or farming, now blazing through the air like a comet.

I’m a little curious why those guys got pulled to the front lines, but if Alphard called them, it’s probably part of the plan.

I decide not to worry about it. I head out to check on each defense post.

◆

And time passes.

The fated day arrives.

The Imperial Army—its horde of monsters under their control—finally closes in on Goldendown.

It was the beginning of war. The turning point of an era.

◆

A low-ranking Imperial soldier on the front lines mutters.

"Why the hell do we gotta be stuck with those monsters?"

The other soldier beside him shrugs.

"Orders. What’re you gonna do?"

"Know that already. I know they won’t attack us. Still feels wrong."

Just ahead of them, the horde of monsters waits. The soldier spits out the words.

"Alright, alright. Lord Bera said we can do whatever we want once we take that Goldendown fortress, didn’t he?"

Yeah. Bera had already cleared everything—looting, burning, all of it—before we even got there.

"Hmph. Still don’t like it. The commander’s supposed to be Duke Durgandes of the Balterk family. Why’s Bera even allowed this?"

"Because the duke’s been ill. He’s just giving orders in his place."

"Then the second-in-command should be handling it."

He shrugs, like he’s tired of explaining.

"Our job’s watching the monsters. As long as we do that, it doesn’t matter."

"Got it."

The two soldiers steeled themselves when distant drumbeats rolled in.

"Advance signal."

"Those damn monsters gonna move when we say so?"

"Admitting the monsters are slow’s one thing—but you’re questioning me now?"

"“Huh?!”"

A sharp, unpleasant voice cuts in mid-conversation.

Turning, there he is—yellow and black, a bee-like humanoid.

"O-oh! The Strategist-sama!"

"The Strategist-sama! Sorry for the intrusion!"

Two junior soldiers snap to attention, flustered.

"Ah, no need for all that stiff formality."

Sweat pours down their faces like a waterfall. No wonder. This strange outsider, brought in from somewhere by Lord Bairoroad himself, now holding the rank of Strategist.

A man who looks outright suspicious. No way he’d be relaxed around someone like that.

"Right now, I’m sending those sluggish beasts straight into that fortress. Once they breach it, radio back to HQ. That’s your job, got it?"

"Y-yes, sir! Understood!"

"We’ll carry out our mission with utmost sincerity!"

The two salute without breaking formation, answering.

The Bee Man shows no reaction at all, waving his hand sharply toward the monster. Closer inspection reveals a magical device clutched in his palm, but the two pretend not to see it.

They knew, deep in their bones, that sticking their necks out for no reason would end with their lives gone.

Then, the monsters that had been motionless all along suddenly begin moving in unison toward Goldendoon.

It's actually the Doon Fortress, but these two soldiers don't know that—they think it's Goldendoon itself.

That's how massive the fortress is.

Whatever the case, the real war is finally starting. The lower-ranking soldier, who’d been looking forward to looting in the Mizoho Shrine Nation, had been disappointed before. Now, he’s fired up—this time, he’ll get his fill.

“Alright, I’ll leave the rest to you.”

The bee man let out a light chuckle and spread his translucent wings from his back.

"Eh?"

Ignoring the soldier's shock, the bee man glided silently low toward the main camp.

The soldier stood there, stunned, then muttered under his breath.

"Wait... he can fly?"

For the first time, he understood why the strategist had always been so elusive.

But there was no time to dwell on that. Two lower-ranking soldiers followed closely behind the monster.

"During this long journey, the monsters've all gotten stronger. That fortress with its thick walls won't last long, I bet."

"Yeah. They're dumb, but they've got brute strength. Look at that cyclops's club. Looks like a tree trunk."

"Hit with something like that long enough, even a castle wall'll crumble eventually."

"So this time, I’ll finally get jewels and other valuables for the family, right?"

"I’m gonna propose to her."

"Wait too long and she’ll be cheating on you, you know?"

"Damn it, don’t say such bad things! I’m gonna build a happy home once I get back!"

The two of them chatted, painting pictures of a bright future.

But that hope shattered instantly.

The monsters suddenly turned and bolted into the forest instead of the fortress.

"What... the hell?"

"Hey, you damn fools! Where the hell do you think you’re going?!"

They shouted at the monsters, but they had no power to control them—so of course, the monsters didn’t stop.

All they could do was follow behind, trailing the creatures.

Unaware of the despair waiting ahead.

◆

"Here they come."

The low mutter came from Jurara, a lizardman warrior.

"Positions?"

"Perfectly in place."

"Listen. Don’t rush out no matter what. Trust Craft."

"Of course. Our job’s setting the trap and checking the results. Not fighting head-on, right?"

Jurara gave orders to his men. They melted into the forest like shadows among the trees.

Ahead, a depression had been cleared in the woods.

"Of course, if you say so, I’ll step up front and help Craft-san and Kyle-sama when needed."

"Good spirit. But not now. Remind everyone again. Some of you are getting too excited."

"Understood, sir."

So the lizardmen lay still and silent around the artificial hollow.

Of course.

Inside the hollow, Craft and Leifan had set up their monster trap.

Thank you all for celebrating the 200th chapter!

It means a lot!