I wish to God. I pray to God. I offer myself to God.
And after receiving His blessing, we fight—for our own sake.
✦ ✦ ✦
What crime did I commit to be forced into doing this?
“Lady Tamika, it’s dangerous here.”
Is this the Demon God’s doing? Maybe some sort of curse... or have I incurred Her wrath? Is that why my soldiers are ignoring my orders and the enemy is attacking recklessly?
“Lady Tamika, please step back a bit...”
“Shut up! I was at the very back, and I was attacked! That’s why I’m sticking to the center!”
I’ve selected a hundred earth mages to be my personal guards. Their orders are to immediately cast Stone Shield and Earth Wall if anything happens. It’s also very important that no thunder mages are around me. I just need shadows. As long as I have them, I can cast Sink. The light from the humans’ fire magic is annoying, but if worst comes to worst, I can hide in the shadow of some soot-covered armor. Moreover, there’s always the option to hide in the shadow of a human corpse. I’d even take a shield; just give me a shadow I can sink into.
I’m not going to die. Not as the Demon God’s pawn. Hell no!
“The cavalry! Focus on the cavalry! They’re aiming for me!”
“Lady Tamika, the cavalry have already run away...”
“It’s a temporary retreat. They’ll be back! I can see them preparing behind their foot soldiers!”
That man leading the cavalry has such cold, piercing eyes. Stop! Don’t look at me. I’m no ally of the humans, but that doesn’t make me their enemy either. I’m risking my life for the sake of this world, too. You don’t understand!
“Ugh... You’re strong, aren’t you?” I mutter.
I can’t believe they’re fighting evenly against vampires. Their mass of shields and spears doesn’t even flinch against the monstrous strength of my soldiers. It’s thanks to the flaming oil they spread everywhere. What the hell are they? How can they fight while on fire?! Not only are vampires weak to fire, but it also obstructs my magic. Such a pain.
The real key to all of this, however, is their militant rabbit familiars. Jumping into the chaos caused by the black wolves is a strong strategy for us. Unfortunately, those rabbits cut off that option. Like acrobats, they hop, crouch, and leap horns-first. They’ve definitely been blessed by a deity. Militant rabbits are normally prey for black wolves, so the fact that they’re different from normal is putting the wolves at a disadvantage. Our familiars are at the mercy of their own ignorance.
For the vampires, a brawl between familiars hinders their attack, but for the humans, it actually helps them. If you add to that mix wild, idiotic use of flames... this happens.
It makes no sense. We were supposed to win this easily. Is this the power of the human god... the Devil God? I hate it. The Demon God, Dragon God, and Devil God should all just die. They’re invaders with no shame or common sense, sneaking their foreign tentacles into our lands. They should all be executed. This world’s fate should be decided by its inhabitants, so why is such selfishness allowed? It’s the definition of outrageous.
Justice. I have justice on my side—a righteous indignation to correct the warping of this world and a duty to restore it to its original state. That’s why I made a contract with the spirit of darkness, granting me true magic.
Earth, thunder, water, wind, and fire—I shall liberate all the spirits that have been subjugated by these false gods. One day, I shall return things to their natural order. I cannot die here.
“Huff... Nngh... Guh!”
I’m scared. Scared. Even now, I can sense that cavalryman aiming for me. Hurry up and kill him. Where’s Fang Chief Barebow? Where is she right now? To the left, where we’re making the most progress? But she’s too slow; she needs to press harder. She’ll never reach that man at this rate.
I’ll have to use my trump card.
We’re in such a stalemate that even Fang Chief Barebow won’t be able to complain if I do. She’s got a good nose, too, so she’ll surely follow up on my strategy. Then we’ll destroy them. We’ll win.
“I order you all to withdraw! Back to where there are no goblin corpses!”
I can’t breathe. With my trembling hands, I grip my chest. I shut my jaw tightly and try to steady myself.
“Subterranians, arise! Prepare for a surprise attack!” I command.
The five hundred soldiers under the earth will guarantee us victory. I prepared this trap the night after the goblins were wiped out. They won’t be affected by the fire, oil, and corpses on the surface far above them. It’ll be okay. The enemy will never see this coming.
You usurpers were too busy looking up to notice the danger beneath your feet. Now taste defeat! And if you have to die, then go ahead and die already.