episode_0054

“First, let me tell you what I found out using detection magic.”

The wizard from the Gold Eagle Knights projected magic onto the parchment spread on the table. Red dots are clearly visible.

“Number of demons under the detection spell.”

“As expected, there are quite a lot.”

However, perhaps because she had expected it, the princess was relaxed. If there were only a few, the knights would never have come like this.

“If you look at the red dots, the demon beasts do not move around in groups.”

Red dots representing demonic beasts were distributed throughout the forest. Although they were numerous, they were not that dangerous compared to the size of the knights.

So why did the empire suffer so much damage and capture the demonic beasts?

“Can you confirm what kind of magical beast it is?”

“I don’t know exactly what kind of magical beast it is. But you can tell what shape it is.”

At Ariana’s request, the wizard chanted magic into the air. It is gradually revealed. It was impossible to describe its exact appearance as it was measured from a long distance. Instead, the shape of the demon beast was roughly drawn.

“… … Snake.”

I didn’t know its distinct appearance, but it was elongated and looked exactly like a snake. Ariana frowned slightly at that sight. Since it was a demonic beast, I thought it would be similar to a beast-type monster like usual, but it seemed a bit creepy.

“But what is this big dot in the middle?”

Princess Asabel had been concerned about the large red dot in the middle of the forest map since a while ago. The spot she picked up was quite large compared to the other spots.

“Her Highness the Princess. He is probably considered the king of demonic beasts.”

“King of demonic beasts? That’s why it’s so big.”

“Yes. I suspected it was a different species, so I checked it with magic and found that it was almost similar in shape to the small dot monsters.”

“You mean it’s the same elongated shape?”

“Yes.”

After satisfying her curiosity, Asabel looked at Ariana. Now that we know a little about the demonic beasts, it is time for Ariana to plan the plan. Asabel did not have much practical ability to move soldiers.

It’s shameful to try to share other people’s work for free, but the elite members of the Imperial Knights she brought with her will also be helpful. And it was better than coming out of nowhere and requesting a ridiculous strategy.

“Ariana. What should I do?”

“Charge. There are a lot of things we don’t know about demonic beasts, so I think it’s better not to attack them individually first.”

“Are we going to stick together? Why?”

“This is not a battle where you kill the demon beasts in a short amount of time. I think it would be better to be careful while judging how strong the demon is and what characteristics it has.”

Ariana’s decision was indeed wise. Although the Gold Eagle Knights were strong, there was no harm in being careful since they knew nothing about the enemy.

“I agree with what the leader said. However, it is not good to take too long.”

“What the Princess said is correct. So, you need to think about a plan to kill the king first.”

“Do you mean to kill the king of snakes first?”

“Yes.”

Ariana decided to kill the king first. Even on the battlefield, it was common for the soldiers’ combat power to decrease when their commander died. There wasn’t much difference between the creatures.

“You must kill all the demonic beasts, but you do not need to kill the smaller demonic beasts one by one. In the end, even the king will have to be killed. The faster you deal with the king, the easier the battle will be.”

“As expected, he is the leader of the Gold Eagle Knights. I also agree with that.”

Asabel responded satisfactorily to Ariana’s opinion. It was a plan to deal with the demon beasts very efficiently and quickly, without putting too much effort into it.

Accordingly, the articles’ discussion proceeded. There was a lot of talk going back and forth about when to enter the forest and what tactics to use.

“Now that I think about it… … .”

As the meeting heats up, Asabel finally looks at me.

“Daron. I’d like to hear your opinion too.”

I was already itching, but now I was given the opportunity. It was natural for me not to speak up first in front of the knights and the princess. The status gap was so enormous. But now that the princess has given me the authority to speak, my mouth has become free.

“Do you know anything about demonic beasts?”

“Yes.”

I’ll ask from the beginning, but it’s quite late for you to finally ask me. It was clear that there was a complacent thought, “How dangerous can even a demonic beast be?”

“It is a magical beast called the Black Anaconda.”

This may be the first magical beast you have ever heard of. This is because they live only in the areas of demons and have never been found anywhere else. It was only after the war that these snakes were used by demons for combat.

“Black Anaconda. Unlike other snakes, these snakes travel in large groups. If you ask why it’s special, it’s because it’s a magical beast.”

Because it was a demonic beast, it was different from ordinary animals. These knights, including the princess, were not yet aware of the danger of magical beasts. We will find out only after the war breaks out.

“Black anacondas can be roughly divided into two types. Poisonous and non-poisonous.”

“Are you saying they are different even though they are the same species?”

“Yes, Her Royal Highness. Among the black anaconda group, there are snakes that are leaders. One out of dozens of animals is poisonous.”

“It means there are several. Is poison dangerous? Can you recognize it?”

Poisonous means that even a minor wound can become fatal. Asabel is concerned and asks.

“It is, of course, very dangerous for them to bite you and allow poison to enter your body. However, since the poison does not spread easily and tends to clump up, there is no major risk as long as it is removed quickly.”

Of course, it was difficult for ordinary people to take it out themselves. However, since there was a wizard, it was easy to remove it with magic. It wasn’t that difficult to remove the poison with just the wizard here.

“And it’s easy to tell them apart. Those with red heads are poisonous.”

“Head?”

“Hmm. I mean the head.”

Somehow, the vocabulary used in the previous episode with the soldiers was used. Since I’m in front of the princess, I’m trying to use as classy vocabulary as possible, but this is a bit tricky.

“When fighting later, if you retain the characteristics you mentioned, your sincerity will be proven.”

“Thank you.”

Even if I am just a soldier, if I can prove it in an actual battle, I will be recognized for sure. It is accurate to say that it is a black anaconda. The horns on the head seen on the snake shape floated by the wizard. Because that’s their unique characteristic.

“I’m not so sure, so I’ll ask you some more questions.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Please tell me.”

“You may have seen us discussing. Is there anything that needs to be improved upon?”

I waited for those words.

A lot, a lot!

However, I had no choice but to hold back because I felt like if I said it out loud, a retort would come out saying, “You’re being reckless!” Later, I tried to change my tactics by secretly telling Ariana, but if the princess said it was okay, it wouldn’t matter anymore.

“I dare to tell you.”

“Okay, tell me.”

“For black anacondas, there is no king.”

“What? So what is it if that big thing is not a king?”

As the princess said, it was natural that if there was one particularly large living creature, it would be a king.

“Black Anaconda. As you can see from this point, including the large dots, it would be estimated at 100 or 200. But there are actually more.”

“More?”

“The individual snake itself is not that strong. However, there is only one reason why black anacondas are so scary. The number is very large.”

There are so many.

Not only was it large in size, but the number was enormous. I still vividly remember those chicks running towards the soldiers like a swarm of ants.

“Small dots visible around this large dot. Between 100 and 200 of these snakes… … They are just things that have fallen away from the group.”

“You mean you broke away from the group, not the group?”

“Well, if we’re always next to each other, wouldn’t we feel queasy sometimes?”

“… … So, does that mean that the big snake from earlier is actually a group of black anacondas?”

At the princess’s words, all the knights turned pale. If snakes had come together to form that large image, their number would have been enormous. I didn’t necessarily answer yes. Even if they keep quiet anyway, they will know that their concerns are true.

Meanwhile, Ariana asks additional questions about whether she feels puzzled.

“Daron. I know you know a lot about black anacondas. But, is there a reason for the demonic beasts to take the form of snakes like that?”

“The leader’s point is quite perceptive. Of course, there is no reason for that.”

That doesn’t mean my judgment was wrong. This does not mean that there is a king that I do not know about.

So what?

“Because there is someone who made it that way, it appears that way.”

“Who made it like that?”

Succubus Princess Ellis said that there would be a dark side to this matter.

“Asmodians… … That’s right.”

“What?”

The first person to be surprised was none other than Princess Asabel.

Demon.

It was a very natural relationship for us humans and other races.

“Why would the demon beast be here in the first place? In the sky? In a tunnel? no. The fact that a demonic beast came out here, so far away from the demonic zone… … It means someone intervened. Of course, it could be someone other than a demon. However, it is probably the most powerful demon.”

“The appearance of the demonic beast was not an accident… … Our empire… … Are you saying that this is a force that is targeting you?”

She is the princess who is considered closest to the position of the next emperor. It is a country that could become one’s own, but I had no choice but to react most sensitively.

“Daron. I know what you want to say. Is this a demon trap?”

“As expected, you are the leader. you’re right. Our empire thought we didn’t know much about demonic beasts, so we deliberately gathered snakes together into the shape of a large snake.”

As Ariana is, as soon as she heard that demons might have intervened, she knew it was a trap.

“Then we need to plan a new strategy right away.”

Between the articles, half of what had been said so far had to be discarded. Based on my opinion, a new discussion started immediately.