War of Humans and Demons — Lars's Case
The battlefield is a chaos of humans and demons intermingled.
No formations remain. Only melee combat.
Tactics mean nothing. Both sides can only focus on killing the enemy directly ahead.
I cannot command on this battlefield.
Neither in my previous life nor this one have I ever led troops into battle.
Since being given command of the Eighth Army, I have gained some experience—but the staff officers who were already present far more accurately issue orders than I do.
In plain terms, I am not suited to command.
My abilities are better used at the front lines.
Yet, considering the purpose of this war, I cannot afford to recklessly charge about.
If I do, I will cause more damage to the human forces, while the demon forces suffer less.
The goal is to inflict equal damage on both sides. That would be a strategic error.
Therefore, I could not afford to recklessly advance on the front lines.
Yet, to remain in the rear and issue commands was not possible either.
It was not feasible.
If the Eighth Army’s soldiers learned I could not do it, they would begin to disrespect me.
The Eighth Army’s personnel, in truth, were a hastily assembled group.
Formed from the dismantled private forces of corrupt demon lords, reorganized into a military unit.
Given this origin, morale among the Eighth Army’s soldiers was low.
Some even harbored rebellious intentions.
I maintained control solely through force.
If they perceived even a slight weakness, it would be over.
At that moment, desertions would follow in rapid succession.
Some might even take the opportunity to target me directly.
I would like to believe that my strength has been demonstrated sufficiently, so it will not come to that. But if it does, I would have to turn my blade against my own troops.
That would increase casualties. Even so, I do not wish to do it.
Thus, my course of action was straightforward.
If command is impossible, then do not attempt it.
Make the battlefield a mire so chaotic that command becomes meaningless.
Bonus: perfect if deserters are prevented from escaping.
I planted mines behind the Eighth Army’s deployment and informed them.
No retreat.
If they attempt to flee anyway, I will cut them down myself.
They trembled in shock—almost comically so.
As for myself, I was destroying the fortress.
I threw my magic sword at a distance, keeping my form hidden as much as possible.
Thus, the human forces would be forced to exit the fortress to avoid destruction, leaving no choice but to advance.
My magic sword shattered the fortress defenses with ease.
They could not remain inside indefinitely.
Staying within would only increase casualties.
I continued hurling the sword at distance, driving them forward.
The demon army could not retreat. The human army could not stop.
Collision was inevitable.
With both sides driven toward each other, no strategy remained.
Once the battle devolved into chaos, command and control became irrelevant.
In the confusion, I threw the magic sword behind the human army to keep pressure, cutting down only the minimum number approaching.
Even in long-range throws, I minimized casualties intentionally.
If I reduce the human army too much, the demon army’s casualties will decrease accordingly.
Even if they are allies, minimizing harm should be the proper conduct of a commander.
What I am doing is the exact opposite.
A terrible commander.
Those under my command have no luck.
I genuinely feel sympathy.
But I have no choice.
I made that decision.
As I casually threw the demonic sword and struck down approaching humans, a shout cut through the battlefield with unnatural clarity.
“Nooouuuu—!”
Oddly, I thought how well he could sustain his breath.
The knight charged forward, sword swinging, still screaming.
Through the gap in his helmet, a face aged by time—wrinkled eyes of an old knight—was visible.
Appears old, yet moves with youthful vigor unmatched by any on this battlefield.
Not the form—rather, the sword technique. It is familiar.
Long ago, when I was still an ogre, this old knight once cornered me.
—Mmm! This aura! I perceive you to be the commander of this demon army! My name is Nuduz! Let us settle this fairly!
Ah, so intense...
The old knight Nuduz, now close enough to touch, ignores everything around him and challenges me to a serious duel.
How utterly oblivious.
This is not the time for honorable combat.
Fight me here, in the middle of this chaos? Is he mad?
He must be.
Yet his madness is refreshing.
Mad, but principled.
Faithful to their principles, living with unyielding honesty.
A little—no, significantly—enviable.
A stark contrast to me, perpetually hesitant and indecisive.
“Accept my challenge.”
Responding with words was not necessary. It was simply the mood I was in.
I wished to face this man in open, straightforward combat.
Syrilis does not recognize me as someone I once fought.
Back then, I was an ogre. My form was different now.
Still, no intention to inform him of that.
Regardless of past events, this man appears indifferent.
For me, this will be a rematch.
The thought brings an odd sensation, yet the course of action remains unchanged.
“Then, let us begin!”
Syrilis lunges forward with sharp precision.
Unbelievable for one of his age—no, the speed defies expectation, even with heavy armor on.
Humans may lag behind demons in stat totals, but their lunge speed surpasses that of even mediocre demons.
How many in the Eighth Army could match such a strike?
“!?”
Still, it does not reach me.
I have grown stronger than I was when I was an ogre.
My magic sword cleaved through Nyudzu’s blade.
It was likely a high-grade weapon, but even so, the sheer force of my stats and sword pressure severed it halfway through.
Next, I split Nyudzu’s neck.
No resistance was granted. Nyudzu’s head fell.
May he die peacefully, without even feeling pain.
Perhaps it is presumptuous of me to think such thoughts.
But this is all I can do.
It appeared that Nyudzu was a significant figure to the human forces. The soldiers, upon witnessing his death, faltered and began to disintegrate.
With one horn broken, the rest followed in a domino effect.
Thus, our Eighth Army secured victory.