There was no pitying emotion within me. This was the law of the jungle. It was obvious that humans would be hostile towards demons. Obediently accept your defeat, oh weak Demon Lord.
“All troops! Let us return home!”
Buuuuuuu
The buglers, in the excess of mirth, blew the horns powerfully.
Receiving the refreshing midday sunlight, my soldiers moved with gusto. Since the wind was also blowing coolly, it was perfect.
Was that it. Was it already autumn……
The leaves turned red and the farmers stepped out onto the fields. It was the season where all beings harvested their own lives.
Indeed, my life advancing through battlefields and arenas for more than 50 years was the same.
I wished to fall in a battlefield.
I wished to be laid to rest with the other warriors.
But……
‘Thank you, Your Grace. Oh Great Gods. To allow this unworthy man the opportunity to leave something behind for his people within his lifetime. I could only be grateful.’
I gave a prayer to the gods within my mind.
If perhaps, after giving my people the cure, after saving my land, was I then allowed to slowly close my eyes. If that was my fate, then that too was not bad. Indeed, it was not bad.
It would be leaving behind hope for the new age and the new generation.
Was it not a remarkable final role given to an old man?
“General! The reconnaissance team has returned urgently!”
As I was contemplating how I would split the inheritance to my sons and daughter, my adjutant gave a report. His voice was rather high. For some reason, a perplexed complexion had taken over his face. The reconnaissance team? There shouldn’t be anything worth reporting urgently at this point.
“What is it?”
“Enemy forces have appeared! Enemy troops have been spotted up ahead!”
At my adjutant’s cry, the surrounding air became cold. I could sense that the soldiers around us were surprised and staring at the adjutant.
I too was shocked, but I had deliberately maintained a calm face. If the commander shook with anxiety, then that anxiety would instantly spread to all of the troops. In other words, it was a disease more terrifying than the Black Death.
Mm. It seems a change of ambience was required here.
“Be calm! Have you already forgotten? Our war does not end until we return home. As long as the battle is not over, the enemy can appear from anywhere! This is obvious. What reason is there to start a commotion!?”
“M-My apologies.”
Once my adjutant lowered his head, the troops that were about to be unsettled quickly held their breath. My adjutant had received the scolding in the other soldiers’ stead. This as well, was an adjutant’s crucial role.
“Give the report in more details. Tell me where the enemy forces are located and their approximate military strength.”
“Yes, general. The enemy forces are stationed on the hill area, which our troops had passed through yesterday. Their numbers reach approximately 3,000!”
“……!”
I was barely able to restrain myself from opening my eyes wide.
The feeling of blood being drained out of my body engulfed me. The reason why I was able to maintain my composure was solely because I had spent my entire life in battlefields and arenas. If I did not have these experiences, then I would have most likely screamed in an unseemly manner.
“Did you say 3,000 just now?”
However, I was unable to completely control the urgency in my voice. The mood was bad. I could feel the dismay of the soldiers around me. I could even see the pale face of a company commander……
“Yes. The reconnaissance team had clearly reported that it was 3,000.”
Be composed.
There was always the chance that the report was wrong.
I had gone through something like this in the past. After finding out the fact that the enemy force, who we were brutally fighting throughout the whole night, had a military strength 3 times smaller than our own, all tension in my chest had disappeared. A human’s five senses were not always accurate. It was still too soon to fall into panic.