Chapter 283

Chapter 283

Otherworld Demon King Survival Guide.

Episode 283: Land War (4)

On the mountainside, we set up a command post and waited in anticipation.

“Krrrrk! My lord! They’re finally within sight!”

Imsoong came running and shouted urgently. It meant the sentinels had spotted the enemy.

Good.

At last, Baron Helson’s forces had come into our range of vision. The real war began now.

“Go and inform them, Imsoong.”

“Krrrrk!”

It was the afternoon. Noon had long passed, and the sun was setting. In about two hours, it would be dark. It would have been better if they had shown up a bit later.

If we used the darkness, we could annihilate them much more easily.

“My lord, is it starting now?”

Sharan, who was beside me, asked.

“Yes. It’s starting now, Sharan. You have to protect me, okay?”

“Sha! Sharan will protect my lord!”

“Hehehe, you adorable little thing.”

The plan was set, and all preparations were complete. Soon, the pixies stationed at the mountain peak would bring us the enemy’s formation map.

—Booong!

As if on cue, I heard the sound of pixie wings.

“They’re here!”

“Hey, Serinu, did you confirm the enemy’s formation?”

“Of course! I observed it all with my telescope!”

Serinu enthusiastically shouted while pretending to peer through a telescope. Such an adorable gesture. Anyway, Serinu pulled out a piece of paper from her chest.

“Here it is!”

“Hoho! Nicely drawn!”

“Right?! I’m good at drawing too!”

“As expected of Serinu!”

“Kya-hahahahaha! I’m truly amazing!”

Her pure joy was truly endearing.

“Hehe, cute and competent. Now, let’s take a look at the drawing.”

The drawing showed the marching formation of Baron Helson’s forces.

If I were to describe the formation briefly, it looked like this:

Three heavily armed knights.

Infantry.

A wagon.

More infantry.

Cavalry.

“Hm, the knights at the front… Could they be Baron Helson and his subordinates? Lady Vanessa, is that correct?”

“Most likely. It’s common for a lord to lead from the front during a march.”

“Quite a foolish approach.”

“Of course, lords are cautious too. But this is Helson’s territory. A lord can’t exactly hide behind his soldiers on his own land.”

“Ah.”

That made sense. Helson hadn’t crossed the border yet. Since it was still his territory, he must be marching proudly at the front.

And until they reached the mountain range, which served as the border, they were marching across an open plain, so there was no problem with them being in the front.

“That makes sense. In any case, it’s not a bad formation. The lord and his knights at the front, infantry in the rear, and the supply wagon in the middle of the formation. More infantry behind, and the cavalry at the very rear.”

The diagram Serinu handed over showed exactly that.

“What do you think? Can we win?”

“We expected something like this. We can handle it.”

The size of the infantry seemed to be battalion-level, and the cavalry was about the size of a platoon. This was roughly the size of a typical baron’s forces.

Whatever the case, we now had to crush those troops.

“Good. No problem.”

I repeated the word “good” to calm my racing heart. We were in a highly advantageous position. There was no reason for us to lose. If we could destroy even 20% of their forces with a surprise attack, they would face a devastating defeat.

After breaking their morale, we would hunt them all down.

But we couldn’t underestimate them. They weren’t incompetent… They were simply doing what they could. It was my job to deceive them. Just because I tricked them didn’t mean they were fools.

“Serinu, when the battle begins, follow the plan. Got it?”

“Yeah, I know. As soon as the Lamias spook the horses, we’ll swiftly strike the cavalry at the rear, right?”

“Exactly. But be careful. They’ll use crossbows, so focus on the horses and retreat as fast as you can.”

“Don’t worry about it!”

Serinu was full of determination.

I had no real concerns.

I also made sure to remind my other commanders to follow the plan carefully. This was our first land battle. We had to win, no matter what. Our fate depended on it.

“Serinu, send a pixie to inform the others on the opposite side of the mountain. And tell them that once it’s over, we’ll have a fried food party.”

“Got it!”

Now, all that was left was to wait for them to come.

Baron Helson’s forces were now right in front of us.

They didn’t seem to have any intention of scouting. In fact, they hadn’t done any scouting at all, even as they entered the path between the mountains.

—Step, step, step.

—Step, step, step.

—Step, step, step.

Helson’s soldiers kept walking without a hint of suspicion. Even though they had crossed the border. Even though they were now outside their own territory, inside enemy territory, there was no sense of tension.

—Gooo.

That fact made my blood boil even more.

“…!”

From the heavily armored Baron Helson leading the soldiers at the front, all the way to the cavalry at the rear of the formation.

All of them.

Every last one.

Had no idea they were about to be ambushed.

“Kuh…!”

I could barely contain the urge to shout. It was hard to hold back. I wanted to roar right then and there! But I couldn’t! The perfect moment, the most optimal timing for the ambush was yet to come!

Victory.

I was aiming for a grand victory.

“Hoo, hoo!”

They were coming.

They were all coming…!

Baron Helson’s forces had entered the mountain pass! The path between the mountains wasn’t short! It would take time for the soldiers to fully pass through!

And just as they reached the area where the traps had been set.

I became a true general.

“Ha!”

I took a deep breath and roared with magical power!

—Kraaahhhhhhh!!!

At the same time, I shot a magical flare into the sky.

—Bang!

Like fireworks exploding, it signaled the attack. Now, the war begins. Let them taste the fury of the monster army!

“H-Huh?!”

“Huh!”

“Stop! Stop!”

Suddenly, the soldiers began to stir at the sound of monstrous cries. But did they really have time for that? The Lamias were already moving toward where the enemy’s horses were stationed.

“Kyaaaahhhh!”

“Kyarrararararak!”

“Keeeheeeek!”

Soon, the battle cries of the Lamias could be heard. Their aim was precise. They targeted the area where the supply wagon and the cavalry at the rear were stationed.

The mission of the Lamias was to incapacitate the enemy’s horses!

“Heheheh!”

“Aaaaaagh!”

“Hiiiiiing!”

As the Lamia heavy cavalry, clad in pitch-black plate armor, charged with their lances, the horses fell into chaos!

Terrified horses began to stampede, while the wagons moved erratically, trampling the soldiers nearby. The cavalry at the rear also fell, one after another, as they were thrown off their horses!

“It’s a monster!!!”

The soldiers screamed, but not only were they being stabbed by monsters, their horses were stampeding in terror.

In the midst of the chaos, casualties began to mount. Even elite soldiers would need time to respond to this!

“Kyaaaahhhh!”

Who could stop the heavily armored Lamias? Their lower bodies were protected by scales. These powerful Lamias wreaked havoc among the ranks.

—Boooong!

The pixies advanced toward the rear.

There was no time for the archers to set up and fire. They would deal with the cavalry first, swiftly.

“Now it’s the angels’ turn…!”

Watching all of this from atop a tree, I looked toward the front of the formation.

—Flap.

Lilriel and the fallen angels took to the sky. They positioned themselves midair and began gathering ominous dark energy in their hands.

Then.

—Boom!

—Boom!

—Booooom!

Cruel bombardments rained down on the soldiers clustered together in their march.

“Aaaaaaagh!”

“Aaaaah!”

“Khaaaaaa!”

Soldiers exploded, and those at the epicenter were blown away. Some looked up and screamed.

“An-angel! It’s an angel!”

“It’s an angel!!!”

Chaos erupted.

“Hold the line! Spread out and maintain formation!”

Someone shouted, but controlling the soldiers in this situation was impossible. Terrified, they scattered in all directions.

“Aaaaagh!”

—Thud!

They ran straight into the trap zone at the front, where they met their deaths.

“This is just the beginning.”

My forces were stationed on both sides of the path. The only escape route was to retreat, but that too was part of my plan.

They thought they were the ones ambushing us.

But it was they who were being ambushed.

“Stop! Stop!”

“Aaaaaagh!”

“Stop, I said!”

Baron Helson, who had fallen off his horse, screamed desperately.

—Boom!

—Crash!

“Kyaaaaah!”

But his cries were drowned out by the sound of explosions and screams from all around.

“Archers! Crossbowmen, line up! What are you doing? Relay the orders!”

“Please, save meeee!”

“Aaaaaagh!”

They had gathered a large number of archers and crossbowmen to shoot down the angels. But none of them had the presence of mind to fire at the angels.

They only ran, fleeing in all directions.

“Stop, I said!”

“Guh!”

The soldiers fleeing toward the front fell into pits, meeting their deaths. The others must have seen it, but still, they ran, believing they could escape, only to fall into the same pits.

What was happening in the rear?

With ghostly war cries echoing, the horses were driven to madness. And the angels! Those angels were still bombarding them from above!

If they were not stopped, they’d keep casting spells!

“How can this be…!”

It was a trap. The ones being ambushed were none other than Baron Helson’s forces. How long had they been preparing for this?

They had already lost too many soldiers.

The baron made a decision. As many as he could save, they would have to retreat. If they lost any more troops here, it would be the end!

“Everyone!!! Gather around me!!!”

He shouted toward the soldiers fleeing toward the mountain.

But then.

“H-huh?!”

“What the…!”

“R-run!!”

Suddenly.

—Rumble!

From the mountains, a heavily armored infantry appeared, spears and shields in hand, stabbing and killing the soldiers as they descended!

“Where did they come from…?!”

“My lord, we must flee!”

A knight by his side shouted.

“Kya-hahahahahaha!”

The sound of a witch’s laughter echoed in the chaos.

This was a nightmare.