The NTR Hero Knelt Before the Demon King – Chapter 38

Before my eyes loomed the Grand Army of the Demon Race.

As I observed the forces, nearing twenty thousand soldiers marching over the hills towards us, a deep tension began to envelop Parisect’s face.

“Those guys… I expected it, but they seem to be fully committed,” he murmured.

“What should we do, General?” came the anxious reply.

“There are too many of them. Can we really hold them off?”

His subordinates questioned with voices laced with anxiety.

In response, Parisect began to struggle to maintain his composure and recalled what he needed to do.

We had roughly 7,000 troops remaining in this location.

Originally, we had nearly 10,000 stationed here, but many had been pulled away to transport supplies and provide escort, resulting in significant losses.

In other words, due to the surrounding circumstances, Antioch was currently facing a considerable manpower gap, and we were now under attack from an unprecedented large-scale enemy force.

“Moreover, Antioch isn’t in a very favorable defensive position. Aside from its importance and central transportation benefits, it’s a flatlands area wide open on all sides. The more enemies there are, the more disadvantageous it becomes…”

We were essentially facing the worst possible situation in the worst possible manner.

However…

That didn’t mean Parisect was only viewing this situation negatively.

Given the current crisis faced by the Racial Alliance due to supply lines being cut off, Antioch was the last bastion where we could obtain food.

In other words, for their survival, this place had to be defended at all costs.

Thus, upon hearing that Antioch was under attack, they would undoubtedly lower their defenses and march here as fast as possible.

It would take at most two days.

Not a long time at all.

As soon as reinforcements arrived, we could turn the tide of this unfavorable situation in an instant.

Furthermore, succeeding in defense would only stoke Parisect’s enthusiasm even further.

“This situation certainly isn’t easy, but… overcoming this crisis will surely elevate my name and greatly enhance Parisect’s reputation.”

Considering that Cassandra’s standing was already wavering, if I stood out in such a situation, it might even get me a shot at the position of one of the Empire’s Three Knights, a dream I’d often pondered.

Burning with hope and desire even in this unfavorable situation, Parisect, as the Supreme Commander, immediately gave his orders.

“Get going right now and request reinforcements. Tell them a Grand Army of the Demon Race is invading Antioch!”

“Yes! General!”

“I will carry out your orders, General!”

The messengers mounted their horses and departed as per Parisect’s command.

Right after that, Parisect firmly locked the castle gates, preparing for the defense.

“Hurry up, you filthy demon bastards! This will be your grave! Parisect will wipe you all out!”

*

The fortress city of Antioch began to come into view.

Just as depicted in the original work, I couldn’t help but admire the city nestled in the heart of the vast plains.

“It’s really wide. This truly fits the description of the Demon Kingdom’s granary. That’s exactly why they have the spare capacity to supply other regions even amidst this war.”

Having grown up in a country where mountains were visible at every turn, seeing such vast plains for the first time gave me a refreshing sense that something locked inside my chest had finally burst free.

However, despite the scenic view feeling almost like a travel experience, I was all too aware that this was not the time for leisurely sightseeing.

“Set up camp and prepare for the attack!”

“The battle will commence tomorrow morning. Check your weapons one last time and familiarize yourselves with your positions.”

The troops around me bustled noisily as they got ready for battle.

In this chaotic war zone that clearly showcased what warfare was all about, I quickly put aside my brief moment of admiration and turned my gaze back.

There, around a hundred demon soldiers were busy checking their weapons, all awaiting my command for this battle.

To put it grandly, they could be called my direct subordinates.

Their combat power was, in precise terms, merely that of average demon soldiers, and honestly, even I, if I put my mind to it, could easily dispatch them.

Moreover, being human, wasting them thoughtlessly would warrant all kinds of criticisms, so I needed to use this power carefully.

Yet, despite these risks, there was undeniably a substantial difference between one and one hundred.

With that in mind, I began to seriously ponder how best to utilize the available troops.

Suddenly…

“Hero, General Samson has called for a meeting. We need to hurry!”

“Got it.”

It seemed Samson wished to hold a final meeting before the battle. I made my way to the commander’s tent with my aide who had come to deliver the message, but…

Honestly, I didn’t have any particular expectations as we moved.

“If Elias was the Supreme Commander, maybe it’d be different… but frankly, the content of a meeting led by someone like that is bound to be predictable.”

Staying back under the pretense of guarding the Demon King’s Castle, Elias was absent.

Considering that she was the most astute commander I knew, I could easily foresee how this meeting would unfold.

And…

“There’s no need for complicated explanations. The enemy is small in number and even has supply lines cut off. We charge in and wipe them out quickly.”

“Exactly! Let’s show these foolish humans the might of our demon race!”

“There’s no need to waste time, especially with the uncertainty of when their reinforcements will arrive. Let’s finish this in a flash!”

The meeting scene unfolded as I expected—a bunch of muscle-brained warriors fixated on simply crushing the enemy without a plan.

And watching them, I couldn’t help but smirk internally.

“Well… I knew it would turn out like this, but witnessing it play out is pretty hilarious.”

It was a scene showcasing how even gathering muscle-heads couldn’t change the predetermined conclusion.

However… I didn’t feel any dissatisfaction or concern towards their behavior.

For good reason. The fact that Elias… or rather, the fact that I had chosen this place as a battleground was precisely because I anticipated their tendencies.

Antioch, situated on flatlands that made ambushes and cunning tactics difficult.

Moreover, given that this place was currently transporting supplies for the Racial Alliance, our Lord’s forces were inevitably pulled away.

“Of course, if we don’t occupy it quickly, there will be annoying consequences, but… just that alone would mean we’d achieve our goals.”

The overall framework for the war had long been set.

All that remained was to maximize my gains during the process.

“During times like these, the right approach would be to observe the flow and intervene as necessary. First, I shall wait until the other demon factions weaken the enemies, then I’ll slip in.”

There are numerous methods to benefit from a thoughtless charge by allies, and I began to brainstorm ways to engage in an efficient battle.

But then…

“Now we need to determine the vanguard. Who shall step forward?”

Samson’s voice echoed with enthusiasm as he asked.

However, I didn’t pay much mind to it.

“The vanguard, huh… It might be dressed up as an honorable position for bravado, but it’s basically a role just for the sake of being a target.”

It’s often claimed among commanders that it’s an honorable seat, yet such honor means nothing to me, who values practicality more than anything.

On the contrary, those present in this place were likely the types who cherished such glory, so I assumed plenty would want to volunteer.

Thinking that, I maintained my silence, as usual.

But then…

“How about sending the Hero as the vanguard?” someone suggested.

“!? Wait, what?”

“I also think that’s a good idea. I’ve heard tales of the Hero’s might and would like to see that power with my own eyes.”

“Indeed, I think so too. Since everyone agrees, let’s give the Hero the opportunity. As a warrior of our great Demon Kingdom, show us what you can do.”

“Are you kidding me…?!”

Thus, with Samson’s persuasion, an entirely natural decision was made to place me at the forefront.

I felt like swearing or even wanting to shout in protest, but in this situation, I couldn’t even muster up the words to refuse.

To begin with, I didn’t have a strong voice in this gathering, and more importantly, it was crucial to maintain a favorable image as a Hero.

Refusing here would be akin to tarnishing the name of the Hero.

Suddenly, I found myself in a tight spot, feeling a sour taste in my mouth.

I couldn’t help but wonder if they were conspiring to mess with me in groups, much like in past meetings.

Maintaining a forced smile on my face, I said, “Thank you for granting me such an honor. In the name of Your Majesty, the Demon King, I will surely make them shiver in fear.”

*

Having assigned the vanguard to the Hero, Samson and his subordinates found themselves genuinely disappointed.

“I wish I could have taken the lead myself…”

“The thrill of breaking the enemy’s resolve and being the first to clash blades is truly exhilarating, but this time, I have to concede this opportunity.”

As noble commanders of the Demon Kingdom, stepping to the front of battle was a coveted position everyone craved.

However, for Samson and his comrades, it felt right to give this glory to the Hero.

There were no complex reasons involving political motives behind this.

Simply put, such thoughts were not on anyone’s mind in this gathering.

Their decision stemmed purely from goodwill.

“Elias had our backs when we clashed in opinions, so…”

“Clearly, the Hero is one of us. He must have secretly yearned to take the lead as well.”

“With the immense power he wields, it’s only right we give him the chance as his seniors. We’ll get to see a great spectacle.”

Even though he was born human, the fealty shown by these demon warriors naturally instilled a sense of closeness towards the Hero.

Furthermore, having supported them in past meetings, there was a degree of goodwill already established.

Unlike those who were suspicious from the start, Samson and his comrades, who were quite naïve in this regard, eagerly decided to provide the newcomer Hero an opportunity.

They had no doubt that the Hero would be wishing for this.