Ch.881Couldn’t I Just Counterattack?

After a lengthy discussion, we finally managed to devise a reasonably plausible justification and strategy.

“In the end, our problem is that we have no justification to attack first, right? Then the solution is simple—we don’t attack, we counterattack.”

If we attacked the Celestial Dragon Palace, we’d be condemned for an unprovoked invasion.

But what if we were just minding our own business when the dragonborn from the Celestial Dragon Palace attacked us?

Then we could slaughter them all without any issues, couldn’t we?

With such discussions and ideas exchanged, a specific operation plan was established.

As a result, I…

—-

Two weeks later.

“…So that’s why you’ve come to see us?”

“That’s right. And I thought I’d visit an old friend while I’m at it.”

“Hmm…”

“What’s with that reaction? Surely in this vast ‘Small Forest,’ there must be at least one guest house where I could stay?”

I arrived at the Small Forest, a major faction in the Dragonic Kingdom.

Instead of my usual winter armor, I wore ordinary knight’s armor with a hooded cloak draped over it.

Alone.

—-

The strategy we devised—though it was too crude to really call it a strategy—was simple.

In a word, you might call it “Operation Haschal Infiltration.”

Since our targets were only Persiella and Bernard Failer, the plan was to send just me to cleanly eliminate those two and then withdraw.

Once the Celestial Dragon Master fell, the Celestial Dragon Palace would lose its central figure and the momentum to continue the Holy-Demonic War.

The balance of power that had tilted toward the demonic factions would be restored.

And if we eliminated the Fifth Apostle, who could be considered the instigator of the Holy-Demonic War, there was a high possibility that the Second Holy-Demonic War would end inconclusively, just like the First.

What about the justification issue?

That’s why I came secretly. So the demonic dragonborn wouldn’t realize I had arrived here.

They needed to attack this ‘Small Forest’ without knowing anything.

So that I, who had merely come to visit an old classmate but got caught up in a war, could engage in “self-defense” when I felt my life was threatened.

Of course, this “self-defense” meant using all my power to kill the most dangerous and threatening enemy.

Namely, the Celestial Dragon Master Persiella.

The plan was to kill Persiella as quickly as possible, then withdraw, and with the help of the holy faction dragonborn, find and assassinate the Apostle before returning home.

There were a few problems, but it wasn’t a bad plan overall.

“What problems do you mean?”

The dragonborn who had been listening to my explanation put down his tea and asked.

Above his forehead covered with green scales, ten red scales arranged in a row reflected the sunlight with a dull luster.

With sunken eye sockets and lusterless scales, wearing a monk’s robe made of rough cloth, this elderly dragonborn somehow reminded me of a withered old tree.

However, despite his shabby appearance, this dragonborn was the spiritual representative of the holy faction dragonborn.

He was Diarma, the “Forest Keeper” who led the Small Forest.

—-

Upon arriving at the Small Forest, I told the dragonborn guarding the main gate my identity and the superficial purpose of my visit, and soon after, I was able to meet with Diarma privately.

There, I explained to him in detail my purpose for coming here, Hestella’s operation plan, and the potential problems that might arise.

Diarma showed considerable interest in my story.

The confidential information that Dragon King Cylude was backing the Celestial Dragon Palace.

The fact that a high-ranking official of the Ancient God Church was secretly operating within the Celestial Dragon Palace.

And that I had come all this way to eliminate him because of that.

“So… you need to eliminate the Celestial Dragon Master and the Apostle without revealing your identity if possible?”

“That’s right. I’ve prepared some excuses, but if I’m not discovered, there’s no need for excuses, is there?”

The reason I was concerned about justification was because of the repercussions that would follow if news spread that the Queen of Hestella had killed the leader of the Celestial Dragon Palace.

If my identity wasn’t revealed at all, there would be no need to claim “self-defense” as justification.

I could just quietly slip away as if nothing had happened.

“Though it would be difficult,” I admitted.

To be honest, even as I spoke, I thought it was unlikely.

If it were just those spear and claw masters I faced before, it might be possible, but to kill their leader Persiella and the Apostle, I would likely need to use my full power.

And after that, concealing my identity would be impossible.

My fighting style was already so famous that the whole world knew it.

To be frank, how many humans are there in the world who fly around spewing fire from their soles and back? Just me.

If someone saw that and didn’t think of me, they’d either be blind or have udon noodles instead of a brain.

“Hmm… indeed, a difficult challenge…”

In fact, Diarma also thought it would be difficult, and with his head slightly bowed, he fell into deep contemplation, tapping the floor with his tail.

“Is there really no way?”

“There is one thing that comes to mind… hmm…”

Suggesting he might have a solution, Diarma raised his head and met my eyes.

“For this to work, Astika, you would need to engage not in a one-on-one duel but in a coordinated attack. Would that be acceptable? Having others intervene in a contest of martial prowess…”

“As long as I can kill them, I don’t care. I’m the type who prioritizes results.”

Of course it was fine.

Unless I were someone like Hersella who was obsessed with one-on-one combat, I would actually welcome it with open arms.

Isn’t that what justice is all about?

Emphasizing the power of friendship and bonds, gathering dozens or hundreds to unleash a merciless rain of violence against a single opponent.

That was the privilege of the righteous.

“Haha. That’s a relief.”

With a hearty laugh, Diarma provided a detailed explanation.

Perhaps because it was a faction with deep history, the Small Forest had developed a martial system specifically for the most efficient group beatdown.

The Twenty-Four Beasts Formation, where a minimum of twenty-four and a maximum of two hundred and forty dragonborn surround a single enemy and beat them like a dog.

“That’s fascinating. Do dragonborn systematically research such things?”

“Well, the Celestial Dragon Palace has also imitated our Twenty-Four Beasts Formation with their One Hundred and Eight Rakshasa Formation, where one hundred and eight dragonborn launch a coordinated attack… but an imitation is just an imitation. It can’t compare to the Twenty-Four Beasts Formation.”

Diarma answered with a confident face, looking like an old grandmother at a bone soup restaurant proud of being the original.

—-

Anyway, according to Diarma, with that Twenty-Four whatever, they could keep the Celestial Dragon Master pinned down while engaging in fierce combat.

Apparently, during the last Holy-Demonic War, they bought time this way while other dragonborn defeated the demonic faction to secure victory?

Persiella might have grown stronger since then, but the dragonborn of the Small Forest hadn’t neglected their training either, so it should work this time as well.

“So, Astika, you should hide among the formation, wait for the Celestial Dragon Master to show an opening, and then strike when she reveals a vulnerability.”

My role was to minimize my presence while hiding within the formation, and when the opportunity came, rush in to target Persiella’s neck.

If that killed her, excellent.

Even if it failed, with my power combined with two hundred and forty dragonborn, it should be enough to defeat Persiella without me revealing my full strength.

“After such an onslaught, only a headless corpse will remain. Amitamir.”

Diarma put his hands together in prayer and muttered an unfamiliar word. When I asked what Amitamir meant, he said it was the name of the dragonborn who could be considered the founder of the Small Forest.

Apparently, he was the first to propose the ‘Practitioner’ theory that if one overcomes their ferocious nature through endless spiritual cultivation, they can become a true dragon and ascend.

He didn’t just propose the theory but actually became a dragon and ascended?

After hearing the origin, I was honestly a bit dumbfounded.

We were discussing how two hundred and forty dragonborn would gang up on one, with my sneak attack added to cut off her head.

In such a situation, was it appropriate to invoke the name of a pioneer who advocated spiritual cultivation?

If that Amita-whatever was still alive as a dragon, he’d probably disown these holy faction dragonborn as soon as he saw them, saying they weren’t his descendants.

—-

After finishing our discussion, I was guided to a small hermitage located in a remote corner of the Small Forest.

Since anyone would be curious about a clearly non-dragonborn entity wandering around the main compound of the Small Forest, I was asked to stay quietly here for the time being, no matter how confining it might feel.

“Though this is a human matter, to house a queen and saint in such a humble place is truly disrespectful, but please…”

“Don’t worry about it. This is more than enough.”

I smiled reassuringly at the guide who was bowing with an oddly apologetic tone, and shrugged my shoulders lightly.

Certainly, compared to my palace, it might look a bit shabby, but… there’s a bed, a bathroom, and even a small garden.

What more could I ask for? Back when I was busy, I sometimes slept on the street with just a sleeping bag for days.

“Thank you for your kindness…”

The guide bowed his head and returned to the main compound of the Small Forest.

I sat down on a wooden chair in the corner of the garden, looked up at the sky, took out a Mana Herb, put it in my mouth, and lit it.

It was time to wait.

Until the enemy arrived.