A Core Ship From The Start-Chapter 2297 - 1551: The Border (So Hot Indoors You Can Only Wear a Single Layer)
Basically, in similar worlds, heroes either fight the Demon King alone or in small teams, for reasons that are quite simple.
Human forces and firepower are insufficient.
Generally speaking, the Demon Clan possesses ample troops and powerful firepower, or can command Demon Beasts to fight for them. In comparison, the forces humans can mobilize are much fewer. Especially in this era, there are no large-scale destructive weapons, nor are there easy-to-use weaponry. On a purely number-based battlefield, the side with the most numbers and least fear of sacrifice naturally holds the advantage.
Thus, to counteract this advantage, the best approach is to concentrate small elite forces for decapitation operations against the enemy.
Whether it’s against the Demon Clan, the Insect Race, Green Skins, or anything else, this tactic is somewhat effective.
The premise is that the hero must be strong enough.
So, simply put, humans don’t opt out of Human Sea Tactics because they don’t want to, but because they can’t afford them.
If they could afford it, they would have done so long ago.
Then, can assassinating the Demon King solve the problem?
In reality...... no.
Assassinating the Demon King only results in a headless army. The Demon King’s Army may start internal chaos due to the struggle for control, giving humans a bit of time. Hence, the best method is still to completely obliterate the Demon King’s Army, killing them all without leaving a single one. Humans resort to assassinating the Demon King only because they can’t achieve this.
After all, training a warrior from birth to battlefield readiness takes at least a decade, the gap is too long. The human civilization in this world is not advanced, with low population and birth rates that can’t be guaranteed, making Human Sea Tactics unfeasible......
Anyway, let’s first take a look at the current situation here before making a decision; there’s no rush.
Duanmu Huai soon arrived at the border fortress, and thanks to the King’s signed letter and token, he was quickly brought to meet General Gros, the one in charge of defending the fortress.
"Are you the summoned hero?"
General Gros was a man over fifty, looking very authoritative, but upon seeing Duanmu Huai, the old general was quite surprised — from another perspective.
"I thought the one summoned was a hero from an Isekai?"
"So? What do you think a hero from an Isekai should be like?"
Duanmu Huai folded his arms, staring at the old general, who furrowed his brows and pondered for a moment.
"Hmm...... I don’t know either, but at least they should be somewhat different from us, though you indeed appear quite unique."
"Alright, enough chit-chat, let’s discuss the serious matters." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
Duanmu Huai waved his hand, cutting off the topic, and the old general didn’t say much more. After all, the young man had the King’s signed letter and token, even holding the authority to mobilize the Kingdom’s Army; he could only comply now.
"I want to know the current movements of the Demon King’s Army and their composition."
"This isn’t a problem."
Clearly, General Gros was quite capable, or, if not an incompetent occupant, this level should be standard. Soon, he unfolded the military map and began briefing Duanmu Huai about the current situation.
According to Gros, the first major offensive of the Demon King’s Army occurred about a month ago. At that time, all nations were caught off guard and were forced to retreat, losing the border fortress and having to withdraw here. Confirming the validity of the Demon King’s invasion, the Royal City immediately initiated the hero-summoning plan.
Duanmu Huai carefully inquired, confirming the Demon King’s Army was indeed composed of Demons; at least from the old general’s description, they were not even considered Subhumans, purely Aliens. It includes creatures like Ogres and Stone Statue Monsters as their main vanguard, and they indeed manipulated numerous Demon Beasts to attack, resulting in heavy casualties.
After all, for the Demon King’s Army, losing Demon Beasts is painless, but for humans, even losing one soldier is problematic. Thus, exchanging ten Demon Beasts for one soldier is a lucrative trade for the Demon Clan.
"......Furthermore, according to reports, the Hero Squad from the Guardian Country seems to have eliminated one of the Four Heavenly Kings. As a result, the Demon King’s Army acts more cautiously, and to avoid encountering a hero again, the remaining three Heavenly King Generals seem unwilling to appear on the front lines like before, which is good news."
After all, if encountered the hero head-on amidst the battlefield and got chopped, then it’s truly losing everything; likely that’s how the unlucky Four Heavenly King died.
But this doesn’t mean the situation has improved.
"The Demon King’s Army currently seems to be planning to pause their offensive against the Guardian Country and turn towards our nation."
"Oh? How can you tell?"
"Because formally, only our nation still hasn’t seen heroes appear."
Gros hesitated a bit before voicing his speculation.
"The Guardian Country, having eliminated one of the Four Heavenly Kings, is confirmed to have heroes present. Magic Tool Country’s First Princess herself is a hero wielding a Divine Artifact, only our nation has yet to officially announce a hero, so from the Demon King’s Army’s perspective, if they can quickly crush our nation, dealing with the other two countries would be much easier."
"Easier said than done; it’s not that simple."
Duanmu Huai scoffed coldly.
"So, are there any pressing issues now?"
"The biggest issue is naturally a manpower shortage."
General Gros smiled bitterly with helplessness.
"The Demon King’s Army’s ability to command thousands of demon beasts is truly a form of cheating, and those beasts themselves possess immense strength. Ordinary soldiers are simply no match for them."
"Have you considered gathering adventurers? Even if they can’t fight on the battlefield in formal combat, at least they could form guerrilla squads to scout and harass the Demon King’s Army from behind."
"We can’t afford adequate compensation."
The old general shook his head again.
"Moreover, adventurers’ ethics aren’t trustworthy. It’s hard to say whether they might turn around and become accomplices of the Demon King’s Army, turning against us."
"Hmm..."
Upon hearing this, Duanmu Huai pondered for a moment.
"By the way, on my way here, I saw the subhuman slave trade ... Could those subhumans be organized into an army to fight?"
"Now I can be sure, you are indeed a hero from another world."
The old general showed a bitter smile.
"In our view, your suggestion is something we would never even consider."
"Oh? Why?"
"According to legends, these subhumans were originally accomplices and subordinates of the First Generation Demon King. After the First Generation Demon King was annihilated by the First Generation Hero, they scattered and fled far and wide. In fact, in every era of Demon King invasions against humans, subhumans have existed as accomplices of the Demon King’s Army. Therefore, we never consider enlisting the subhuman race to help us resist the Demon King; it offers them no benefit whatsoever. On the contrary, if our country is destroyed, they’d be delighted."
"I see."
Duanmu Huai squinted his eyes, was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright, I understand the current situation. So, what is your primary objective in the operations you wish to achieve first?"
"To be greedy, it would be to destroy the Demon King’s Army... Haha, just joking. Presently, what I most want to achieve is to reclaim the fortress that was seized."
At this point, General Gros clenched his fist tightly.
"The attack by the Demon King’s Army came too suddenly, causing the fortress to fall without sufficient defense. Strictly speaking, if we could have detected the Demon King’s Army invasion earlier, we might have been able to withstand the enemy’s assault. Although this canyon is suitable for defense now, it’s merely a temporary stronghold that can’t withstand a formal attack by the Demon King’s Army. In hindsight, the fortress fell too easily; there must have been traitors..."
General Gros clenched his fist, showing a look of unwillingness.
Perhaps he is genuinely very unwilling.
"Do you have enough soldiers?"
"At present, as long as we reclaim the fortress, there are enough soldiers for defense, provided that the enemy doesn’t produce excessively strong demon clans..."
The possibility is minimal, as the old general himself previously stated that demon clans favor charging to showcase their strength, which is why even the Four Heavenly Kings would personally fight on the front lines. After all, just by shattering human resistance with an unstoppable stance, they greatly boost their own morale while weakening humanity’s fighting spirit, all the while showcasing their own prowess.
It’s simply that one of them was too eager and got taken down by our hero, after which the other three learned to be cautious.
But this doesn’t mean other powerful demons will be cautious.
Demon clans respect strength; as long as one displays power stronger than the Four Heavenly Kings, it’s possible to seize their position. It’s heard that the current leaders of the Four Heavenly Kings gained their status by defeating their predecessors. Not to mention there is now a vacancy among the Four Heavenly Kings, and surely many demon clans eye this and attempt to prove their strength to acquire the vacant seat.
"Double the patrol."
Duanmu Huai finally made a decision.
"But in doing so, it will reduce the manpower for defense..."
"You previously said the demon clans were just harassing. I have a premonition; they’re not simply harassing, they might launch an offensive in the next few days. Therefore, I want you to enhance the vigilance and, if something arises, notify me immediately."
"Yes, Brave Lord."
Although the old general wished to say something, ultimately said nothing. Perhaps he felt that if the Demon King’s Army truly advances en masse, the manpower under his command will be insufficient regardless of arrangement. He reckoned it better to detect the opponent’s actions sooner, potentially making it easier to prepare for defense.
Afterwards, Duanmu Huai naturally stayed here. There was no suitable place for Duanmu Huai at the simple outpost, so the old general arranged for Duanmu Huai to stay at the inn in the nearby village. He instructed the village chief to take care of this guest. Moreover, the old general particularly emphasized Duanmu Huai’s hero identity, which understandably scared the village chief who hadn’t seen much of the world into repeatedly nodding. Then, he arranged the best room in the inn for Duanmu Huai.
"Phew..."
Lying in bed, looking at the unfamiliar ceiling, Duanmu Huai let out a breath.
Truth be told, until now, Duanmu Huai hasn’t felt this mission has anything to do with pleasure.
Yet he has decided; regardless of what this world is like, he will just do things his way. As for whether it ends in pleasure... that’ll be determined later.
If the opponent finds him unfit and revokes the divine position of pleasure, who knows?
If that happens, that would be a good outcome indeed.
Having made his decision, Duanmu Huai closed his eyes and drifted into the realm of dreams.
