“Was it the Righteous Martial Alliance?”
“The Righteous Martial Alliance wasn’t everything.”
Guwangqushen shook his head.
“They too were aiming for the same thing.”
“The same thing?”
“Yes. Just as Radiant Martial Sovereign targeted their headquarters with a small force, they too were aiming for the same thing, weren’t they?”
“That’s somewhat…”
Guwangqushen scratched his head vigorously. At that reaction, Sagan tilted his head.
“Is there something different?”
“Well… hmm, I don’t know how to explain this. I don’t know about other things, but it’s certain that attacking the headquarters wasn’t part of the Demonic Cult’s plan.”
“What?”
Sagan’s eyes widened.
From what Guwangqushen was saying, it certainly seemed like the bishops had attacked the headquarters, but they had no such intention? What did this mean?
“What do you mean by that…”
Guwangqushen let out a sigh.
“That is to say, I’m not even sure if they originally intended to infiltrate the Central Plains. And even if they had intended to infiltrate, they had no particular interest in the headquarters.”
“How do you know that?”
“The route of advance showed it.”
“Hmm.”
Though he didn’t quite understand what was meant, Sagan, judging it wasn’t a particularly important issue, asked about something else.
“Then why did they come to the headquarters?”
“Well, they came to attack the headquarters.”
“…But you said they had no such intention?”
“So what I mean by that is…”
Guwangqushen smacked his lips and continued speaking. His expression contained undisguisable displeasure.
“Originally, the Demonic Cult apparently had no particular intention of targeting the headquarters. Just as we did, to them the headquarters was a place to march in with force and plant a flag, not a place to launch such an assault.”
“Then?”
“But they saw it. The little rats sneaking into their headquarters, that is.”
“Wow…”
Sagan’s mouth fell open.
What did that mean?
“Don’t tell me?”
Guwangqushen smiled awkwardly.
“There’s a reaction to everything in the world. That bastard Wei Yan-ho had a brilliant idea, but it wasn’t something only Wei Yan-ho could do.”
“They saw and understood.”
“That’s right.”
Guwangqushen smiled uncomfortably.
“The intention was good, the intention was. And well, the results weren’t bad either. That much was quite an achievement.”
“But… the Demonic Cult could do the same thing.”
“It’s not exactly right. I couldn’t have a conversation with those bastards to ask why they did what they did then. I’m just guessing from circumstances. In my opinion, probably until word came that Wei Yan-ho was wreaking havoc at the headquarters, the headquarters and the bishops were moving together.”
“Logically speaking…”
“Right, that’s correct. But when word came that little rats were running wild in the rear, there was one whose mind opened up.”
“But it doesn’t make sense that the bishops would do such dangerous work. They’re not burning with great righteousness, nor are they fundamentalists who would sacrifice themselves to revive the Demonic Cult.”
“It’s possible if the person who thought of it and the person who gave the order are different.”
“…”
Sagan had no choice but to nod.
Well, if it was ‘him,’ it was certainly possible.
He used all the bishops of the Demonic Cult like slaves. He was a figure truly worthy of the name ‘Ma’ (Demon).
“Then all of that was…”
Guwangqushen smiled awkwardly.
“Actually, aren’t I someone who picks Wei Yan-ho as the root of all evil?”
“That’s right.”
“If lightning strikes, it’s Wei Yan-ho’s fault, and if there’s a flood, it’s Wei Yan-ho’s fault. Even if the neighbor’s dog dies suddenly, it’s Wei Yan-ho’s fault.”
“…No, that’s going a bit too far…”
At this point, it couldn’t even be called bad feelings. Wasn’t this the level of irreconcilable enemies?
“Even I, who see it this way, find it a bit much to call this Wei Yan-ho’s fault. Wei Yan-ho did his best in that situation.”
“That’s true.”
“It’s just… well, there’s nothing else to say. His luck was just damn awful.”
This was advocacy for Wei Yan-ho that could rarely be heard from Guwangqushen.
‘Come to think of it, that’s remarkable.’
Throughout this long story, Guwangqushen hadn’t defended Radiant Martial Sovereign even once. Rather, hadn’t he criticized Wei Yan-ho while spitting, even for things that could be reasonably understood?
If nothing else, Sagan clearly understood that the friendship between Radiant Martial Sovereign and Guwangqushen that had been told to the world was a complete lie. The fact that such a Guwangqushen was defending Radiant Martial Sovereign showed that this couldn’t be blamed on Radiant Martial Sovereign.
“That bastard is originally like that. Wherever he goes, accidents happen. It’s just that accidents happened because that bastard is like that. If that bastard hadn’t been there, such accidents might not have happened, but… you never know about worldly matters.”
“Yes.”
Sagan nodded as if he understood.
“So what happened to the headquarters?”
“The headquarters…”
Guwangqushen sighed deeply as if this story was also unpleasant.
“Actually, when you just hear the word headquarters, doesn’t it feel like some kind of iron fortress? Like there would be masters swarming inside, and there would be something hidden there.”
“That’s right.”
“But that’s not how it was. When there’s a war, who would keep troops holed up in the headquarters? When it’s war, if you have the strength to hold a spear, you conscript everyone whether they’re old people or children.”
“…That’s also true.”
“So what would have been at the headquarters?”
“Uh…”
Sagan realized what Guwangqushen wanted to say.
“An empty mountain without an owner?”
“It was completely empty.”
Guwangqushen shuddered as if he didn’t even want to think about it.
“That was quite… fitting. If things had gone according to their plan, Divine Strategist would have buried his bones there.”
“Certainly so.”
“You know what happened after this, don’t you?”
“Yes. So there was such a situation behind the Battle of Luoyang. At that time, where the main force of the Demonic Cult was located was completely unknown. I wondered why the movements of troops weren’t known for something called a great battle…”
“There was nothing great about the battle. It was just symbolic. Because this battle was the first where that bastard made a name for himself in this war.”
“Indeed.”
“However, how should I put it…”
“Yes?”
Guwangqushen smiled awkwardly.
“It would have been good if we had gone a little faster. I was tired at the time too.”
“…”
Guwangqushen avoided Sagan’s eyes.
***
It had collapsed.
It was clearly visible through the window. The main gate of the Righteous Martial Alliance had collapsed.
Divine Strategist clenched his fist as he watched that scene.
‘A single strike?’
The gate, solid as a castle wall, had collapsed in a single strike. The meaning of that scene was all too clear. There weren’t many people in all of Kangho who could reduce that gate to such a state with just one strike.
That meant…
‘We’re too late.’
A thick sense of despair grabbed Divine Strategist’s ankles.
It wasn’t despair from the fact that those he couldn’t handle were entering through the main gate. The fact that they had been played in the palm of their hands made Divine Strategist unbearable.
Their numbers weren’t many.
Only five.
But those five were a number that the current headquarters couldn’t handle. No, could they properly handle even one?
“Military Strategist!”
An urgent voice was heard. They were waiting for orders.
Divine Strategist turned his head. He could see trust in the eyes of those looking at him.
Despite this utterly hopeless situation, they believed that Divine Strategist would surely have a solution.
That belief filled their eyes.
‘It hurts.’
Those gazes pierced Divine Strategist more sharply than anything.
What should he say?
I too didn’t expect this?
So there’s nothing I can do?
Run away right now?
None of those words would be of any use.
Already their fate didn’t depend on their will. Different paths would unfold depending on how those people moved.
Divine Strategist raised his hand and stroked his beard.
What should he do now?
That was all too clear.
“Shadow Lord.”
“Yes, Military Strategist!”
“Lead the remaining people and escape to join with the Alliance Leader.”
“What about you, Military Strategist?”
“You know, don’t you?”
“…”
Shadow Lord silently nodded his head.
“Your orders.”
“They are different from the past. They’re striking without hesitation at weak points. So don’t try to face them carelessly. They are not people Shadow Lord can handle. After joining with the Alliance Leader, combine forces with the Sichuan Martial World as quickly as possible. Delegate military authority to the Zhuge Family.”
“Understood.”
“May fortune be with you.”
“…May fortune be with you.”
When Shadow Lord turned around, everyone followed behind him.
Steps without hesitation, partings without lingering.
This was the result of teaching and emphasizing countless times what to do when such a situation arose. But there couldn’t be no emotions.
Drip.
The sound of blood dripping to the floor from someone’s tightly clenched fist was clearly audible. But Divine Strategist didn’t bother to turn his gaze.
“Shall we go?”
Now it was time to finish things.
Divine Strategist threw his body through the narrow window. Like a single crane, he descended elegantly to the ground and spread both arms wide as he looked at the demons visible in front of him.
“I see welcome faces.”
The demon at the front looked at Divine Strategist and smiled strangely.
“Little rat, I thought you’d run away with your tail between your legs, but you’ve shown yourself quite well.”
“Those are rather hurtful words. I have never once run away from you people. You simply never reached where I was.”
“In my memory, it seems like you always ran away frantically whenever we were about to reach you?”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“I acknowledge it. But now it seems we’ve reached you.”
“Shall I congratulate you, Death Demon?”
The one called Death Demon chuckled.
“If you congratulate me, I’ll gratefully accept it. When the great Divine Strategist of the world gives congratulations, how could I not accept them?”
Divine Strategist wore a bitter smile.
“I’m grateful that you evaluate this old man so highly.”
“I must evaluate you highly.”
Death Demon spoke decisively.
“Anyone who experienced the last war would want to chew your flesh. The fact that you left such deep hatred is proof that you are more of a hindrance to the Cult than anyone else. If we could take your head, we wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice not just a thousand but ten thousand cult members.”
“That’s too much of an evaluation.”
“The evaluation is mine to make.”
Death Demon chuckled and took a step forward.
“To be able to take the head of such a Divine Strategist without any sacrifice, isn’t this a joyful thing? There would be no greater firework than this to announce the Cult’s rise.”
“Listen here, Death Demon.”
Divine Strategist waved his hand as he spoke.
“Didn’t you say it yourself?”
“…What?”
“That I ran away well from you people. I can still run away from you now. Though my martial power doesn’t reach yours, these feet don’t fall behind yours. Don’t you know this?”
Death Demon’s brow furrowed.
“So what are you trying to say?”
“Take my head.”
“…Hmm?”
Divine Strategist spoke in a voice that didn’t waver even slightly.
“In exchange, don’t touch the others. That’s my condition.”
