Chapter 252: The Shape of Battle

At any rate, it seems like I made it in time......

Also, Episode 21 of the manga was released for free on Comic Gardo today.

Episode 21 depicts the Heroes on the Goddess’ side. Yasu Tomohiro is in quite the disastrous (?) situation in the main story, but his unique skill is very cool.

In addition, the latest Chapter 22, which is currently a pay-per-view chapter, finally features Nyantan. After reading Chapter 22, I’m having this urge to increase the number of times that Nyantan appears in the main story......

Well then, I hope you enjoy the main story.

————–He’s lying.

It was a casual signal from the nearby Seras.

A signal that indicates when someone “lies”.

Which means, he’s not lying.

That man isn’t John Doe.

Still blending among the soldiers, overlooking the situation......

“He’s still within that crowd”.

That would be the best position to observe something.

Of all people, I would know of this.

However...... Which one of them is he?

All of the 6th Cavalry were closely observing our movements too.

[.......................]

Even so, the mask comes in handy at times like this.

It makes it hard for others to read the movement of my eyes.

However, I have to be careful.

I have to act like I’m not aware of their lie.

[Well then, first of all, I have to ask you the one most important questionーー.]

Ferenoch asked.

[Why is the Fly King Squadron on this battlefieldーー?]

[I thought the head of the Mad Emperor might be a good souvenir.]

[What do you meanーー?]

[I may have barely defeated the Great Demon Emperor’s Confidant, but this body of mine learned the horror of the Tyrant’s Miasma. Such enemies clad with Tyrant’s Miasma should really be left to the Heroes from Another World.]

Ferenoch crossed his arms.

[Continueーー.]

[As you can see from the battle in the Anti-Demon White Castle, I am on the side of the Holy Alliance. The Great Demon Emperor is an evil that must be defeated...... Therefore, it was needed that the Holy Alliance would do their best in facing them. I thought about what it is that I can do to assist the Holy Alliance in this case. That’s when I learned about Mira’s insurrection.]

[I see, I’m beginning to understandーー.]

[What is it that’s troubling Vysis-sama, the leader of the Holy Alliance, the most right now? We have determined that it is probably Mira, and the Mad Emperor.]

[Indeedーー.]

[And then...... It seems like Mira’s forces, led by the Mad Emperor, were working with the Faraway Country.]

[That is something Captain is already aware ofーー. However...... That doesn’t guarantee that you will be on our sideーー. Everything you’ve said may be a lie, and you’re actually on Mira’s sideーー. If it’s just words, you can say whatever you wantーー.]

As if to take over, “John Doe” spoke.

[If you’re on our side...... you’ll need something that would convince us.]

[I thought you might say that————–]

I brought the sling bag on my shoulder onto my lap.

[I’d like you to take a look at this.]

I dumped the contents on the ground.

[ ! ]

Upon seeing the contents on the ground, the 6th Cavalry strongly reacted.

Meanwhile———— Seras gulped.

[......How surprisingーー. I seeーー...... Those are strong pieces of evidenceーー.]

[Indeed......]

Those things that I had scattered on the ground.

They were———– body parts of Leopardkins.

For example, a severed hand.

Ears, fingers, fangs...... and even tails.

All of the cut surfaces were still fresh.

[These are just a few of the Leopardkin soldiers we’ve killed on our way here. It seems that the cavalry over there are having a hard time with the Leopardkin soldiers in the Central area...... They were certainly formidable enemies. Compared to the other Demi-Humans, they are clearly more skilled. I think you should pay special attention to the Leopardkin soldiers in this battle.]

[In fact, there are hardly any Leopardkins corpses aroundーー. Even the reports state that their corpses weren’t seenーー. It is indeed as you say, the Leopardkin soldiers are strongーー. However, you’ve beaten them with ease huhーー.]

[In the meantime...... check if they were real.]

With “John Doe’s” words, a soldier stepped forward.

Walking in front, the soldier turned around for a moment.

[Deputy Captain...... If this is a trap and I’m killed, would you please pick up my remains?]

[Just pick them up alreadyーー.]

He was prepared for the risk of me betraying them and getting killed.

However, he doesn’t look afraid.

The soldier walked up to us and began to inspect the mutilated parts of the Leopardkins.

Craning his neck back to his group, he waved his hand.

[These things are real! The blood are also real! The slashed parts were also cut off in battle! I can also see traces of wounds from blocking! Wounds inflicted with hesitation couldn’t be found either! So, I don’t think the Leopardkin soldiers dared to do this themselves! There are individual differences between the body parts, so it’s not just one dismembered corpse!]

[I thought the evidence would be weak if I didn’t have enough numbers. That’s why I brought this much. However, well, bringing heads would be happy...... so I just narrowed down to the parts that are easy to carry.]

[That makes sense.]

[Return back to the formationーー!]

Called out by Ferenoch, the soldier returned.

Plak!

The soldier exchanged high fives with Ferenoch, before blending in within the ranks once again.

[I was watching the reaction of that woman next to youーー. Her reaction when the Leopardkin’s body parts came out of the bag...... It seems like you brought those without telling her huhーー?]

[They were a little too stimulating for her.]

Whether they find out if this was planned or not......

It would be bad if Seras exudes an atmosphere of anxiety around her.

That’s why I didn’t dare tell Seras about this.

......Well, there was another reason why I hadn’t told her about this.

[If the part had belonged to a Dragonkin soldier instead of a Leopardkin soldier, I would have doubted you. If it was Dragonkin soldiers, you could have easily found fresh ones lying around.]

[.......................]

As I thought, we couldn’t use fakes huh.

They couldn’t be easily deceived.

It’s fortunate that the mask hides my expression.

How should I say this————

It seems like we did it.

I feel like I was in such a mood.

And perhaps, the me right now would show such emotions on my face.

□

Initially, I didn’t plan to use such a strategy.

It was only after I put Gio to sleep, who was filled with indignation when he heard about Niko————

Keeping my head from turning back, I silently arranged my plans alone.

At that moment, two Leopardkin soldiers called out to me.

One of them was missing one of his hands.

As for the other Leopardkin, he’s someone I remembered.

When I found Niko and the others in that state......

“Ahh———— Hahh! Y- You called me!?”

“Call my Deputy here.”

He’s the Leopardkin soldier I had talked with at that time.

“You were going to destroy the 6th Cavalry, is what you said, right? Are you going to destroy the 6th Cavalry now?”

“I intend to.”

“I have a request. As for what plan you have in mind...... Would it be alright if you tell me about it?”

Why in the world is he asking me that?

That was something I don’t understand.

However, there was one thing I understood from his eyes and voice.

He must have an idea in mind.

Thus, I told him what I was planning.

In the end......

“I’m still in the middle of putting it together though. I’m still missing one more part to make such a move.”

Thereupon, the two Leopardkin soldiers exchanged looks.

Then, they nodded at each other.

Afterwards, they looked at me again with some kind of determined expressions on their faces.

“We have a suggestion.”

As I finished listening to what it is they want to say, I snorted.

“That is...... certainly not impossible, but......”

“We Leopardkin soldiers are at the forefront of this matter. That’s why....... We want to fire at least a single arrow at them!”

The Leopardkin soldiers’ suggestion was quite startling.

They were telling me to use the wounded soldiers’ lost body parts as some sort of “battle trophy” to be presented to the 6th Cavalry.

This would make the enemy believe that the Fly King Squadron was on “their side”.

Indeed, I have yet to show my Fly King attire on this battlefield.

“In this battle, we have suffered many injuries. Some of them...... are just like this guy who lost a hand. There were also some who got their ears cut off...... and even though they’re not that much compared to the injured, we still had suffered casualties.”

“You want me to “take them as a result of what I’ve done” and slip into the enemy’s ranks huh......”

This plan isn’t impossible to do with the Dragonkin soldiers.

After all, we have lots of dead Dragonkin soldiers on our side.

However, that’s also something the enemy would know of.

They were the ones who killed them after all.

However————- as for the current state of the Leopardkin soldiers......

That would be something the Sixth doesn’t know.

Also, the number of Leopardkin soldiers “casualties” is certainly much lower.

With the number of body parts that these guys have given me......

It’s hard to believe that these were collected from corpses.

“If you look at the severed areas, it should look like it was done in battle......”

“However, that is————“

Have I...... been quite distracted?

No, I guess that’s right.

It seems like I had been quite distracted.

Yes, this plan...... as expected———–

“This hand I’ve lost would just rot away...... However, this hand of mine———– You would be able to use it to bring down that accursed 6th Cavalry! Meagre it may be, I hope it can help in some way to avenge the Dragonkin soldiers———— I’d like to think that we did this......! That’s why...... Please!”

At that moment, the other wounded soldiers crowded in.

“I- I’d like to ask you that too! If these severed ears of mine can help strike down the 6th Cavalry...... Please use them!”

“Please, along with our emotions......!”

“............................”

I turned my head towards Seras.

She was standing at a distance, watching over Niko’s condition.

The topic that we’re talking about here———— It’s something she doesn’t know of.

......If I’m going to use this plan......

The less Seras knows, the better.

If she doesn’t know about this “plan”...... She would show a more natural reaction.

I’m aiming for her to react that “she doesn’t know” about this matter.

Especially————- when we need to deceive our enemies.

“Alright.”

“F- Fly King-dono! Thank you!”

“...........................”

“Ah......It was Leopard King-dono now, right? Hahaha......”

“Just prepare them in secret.”

Saying this, I pointed towards Seras.

“Especially so that she doesn’t realize the plan...... I’m sure she would have a hard time accepting such a plan right away. Emotionally, that is.”

“Ah, I see......”

Well, I’m hiding it from her for a whole different reason though.

However...... What I said just now was indeed a fact.

Considering Seras’ emotions......

It would be better if we proceed with this plan with only me knowing it.

“Ummm...... My apologies.”

“Hmm?”

“I can see by your reaction...... You’re not keen on this, are you?”

“......Well, yeah. It certainly is effective...... but making use of my allies like this is......”

“You are......”

Muttering in a slightly depressed tone, the Leopardkin soldier lowered his gaze.

“When you saw the disaster that occurred to Niko-sama and the others...... You were so angry that you couldn’t let yourself get close to us, right?”

“I’m sorry about that. I probably unnecessarily scare you all...... I’ll pay attention to this in the future.”

“N- No! That’s not it......”

” ? “

“To tell you the truth...... I was happy.”

“Happy?”

“I certainly was afraid to even approach you because of how angry you are at first. But then...... I realized.”

“...........................”

“That this person is really, really angry because of what happened to us Demi-Humans.”

“...........................”

“When I realized it, at that time...... For some reason, I felt happy.”

The eyes of the other Leopardkin soldiers looking at me———— are terribly gentle.

“It is because you were such a person that we have decided to propose this plan to you. We’re sure———– that you’re a really kind human. Humans like you exist. That’s why, we...... still aren’t giving up on the future together with humans.”

“.......................”

Those were their words as they prepared for when I head here......

That’s why, I couldn’t help but think......

“They were so enthusiastic in cooperating with me———— Seriously......”

▽

Leopardkin soldiers.

This is your victory.

[Alright, we will trust youーー.]

Seras, dressed as a Fly Knight, looked at me.

I only gave her a nod.

Seras also nodded back.

“I’m not doubting you. I believe in you.”

......It’s amazing that I can tell her emotions even through her mask.

Thinking that I’ve gained their trust, I stepped forward.

However......

[————–Wait.]

“John Doe” stopped me.

[What is it?]

[Just one more thing...... We understand why you came to this battlefield. However, there are other cavalry units roaming in this battlefield. Thus, why is it that you came to us, the Sixth Cavalry, Fly King?]

“John Doe’s” eyes are fixated on me.

[I’ve actually met Mikhail-dono.]

Hearing my words, one of Ferenoch’s eyebrows raised.

[Hmmーー? Mikhailーー? So he didn’t die huhーー.]

[We came upon the 1st Cavalry caught in the Demi-Humans’ trap, over there in the distance. And we had rescued Mikhail-dono, who was in danger. He had also introduced himself as the Chief Commander of Alion’s Cavalry.]

[And...... Where is this Mikhail nowーー?]

[Yes, we did manage to rescue him for a moment———— but we had no choice but to abandon him. He was killed by the enemy.]

[......Hmmmーー? What did youーー?]

[To be honest...... I was disappointed. I wondered if the Thirteen Cavalries that Alion was proud of...... was but an army of such low quality that someone of his caliber could be the Chief Commander.]

[And that’s why you let him die huhーー. How cruelーー.]

[No, frankly speaking...... I could only see him as a hindrance. He’s extremely weak for someone who was supposed to be the Chief Commander. That’s why, I wanted to make sure. With a Chief Commander like him...... how good is the rumored 6th Cavalry? If the Sixth is just as good as them, I think the Thirteen Cavalry wouldn’t have that much of a war potential...... That’s why, I decided to see for myself. Well...... If I were to be honest though, there are also other reasons why I wanted to see the Sixth.]

It would be better not to talk about the Divine Beast yet.

It may draw unnecessary suspicion from them.

[......Kukuku, I seeーー. Mikhail really died huhーー.]

Ferenoch laughed.

[Well, we’re relieved tooーー. If you had high evaluation for that Mikhail, I’d have to say that your standards are quite lowーー. Rather, that’s well doneーー.]

That was the reaction I got when Mikhail’s name was mentioned.

I knew right away that he was hated.

[I’m also relieved...... After meeting you in person like this, it’s quite clear how the quality of your unit is different from the First. When one talks about the Thirteen Cavalry, I guess it really would be more about you, the Sixth.]

[I see, I understand now———— Ferenoch.]

“John Doe” prompted his Deputy.

[Ohh, alright. We’ll reveal it too. In fact, the Goddess wants to invite you and the Fly King Squadron in as allies. If you can be brought in as an ally, we’ve been told to bring you back.]

Ahh———– So that’s why.

That was the reason why, from the very start, I could see that the other side intended to converse.

Yes, it was as if they were trying to explain their situation to us.

So that’s why they had been responding to me in a repulsively harmonious manner.

I was thinking that there was something going on......

I see.

So it’s that sh*tty goddess huh......

The Sorcery that has killed a Confidant———– and the Fly King Squadron who makes use of it......

It seems like it has caught her eyes.

Did it start with the annihilation of the Black Dragon Knights?

Anyhow, the Holy Alliance had lost a lot of strength in the last invasion.

In short———— the number of pawns that the Goddess can use is probably decreasing.

Moreover, the Mad Emperor’s rebellion suddenly occurred.

That sh*tty Vysis probably wants to replenish her pawns.

“The Fly King Squadron is our ally.”

That’s what the Goddess had decided in the previous battle.

If we refuse their invitation, they will then decide that we’re hindrances and start disposing us.

However, if we can be used...... They will probably want to have us as her subordinate.

Within the Fly King Squadron, there is also Seras Ashrain.

Using our connection with the Holy Kingdom of Neia and their princess as a recruiting tool, they would try to draw us in———– If it’s that piece of sh*t, there’s a good chance that that’s what she’s thinking.

[.........................]

No......Wait?

If I use this to my advantage———–

Wouldn’t I be able to use this to get closer to that goddess?

And then, at that moment————- We’ve entered it.

The area where they are within my range.