Chapter 10: Let’s Challenge the Emperor of Sands , Part 2

「We’re in deep sh*t if this is true.」

The most effective method of capturing the Dungeon would be through ground-sea pincer attack. They had only a few people in their ranks who could handle both such threats effectively, but as long as they would’ve retained clear heads and clarity of minds, there was no enemy they couldn’t beat, and no situation they couldn’t handle. Plus, they knew the area around the Dungeon like the back of their hands, so they could outmaneuver the enemy should the need for that ever arise.

Aur was confident that as long as they abided by such tactics, they could easily handle the assault of one hundred thousand or even two hundred thousand soldiers, but one billion of them was way more than they could chew.

And besides, since they also had omniscience on their side, it was possible that they could easily find the location of any traps they might be setting, and even find the potential Dungeon infiltration route.

「If this is indeed true, then can we really stay here?」

「There shouldn’t be any problems with that.」

Unlike Yamato, which was separated from any neighboring countries by a steep mountain range, the snowy land of Himuro was directly bordering with Sahara. There was no natural barriers between the two, so if one wanted to attack the other, there would be nothing to stop him, Aur realized that much even without the ability to see the future.

「This land is filled with snow and water, elements what would prove to be a hindrance even for the immortal army. That’s why they see no need in attacking us just yet. They also have nothing to gain from such an action, because our kingdom is largely just a barren wasteland.」

An image of the land of Himuro appeared in Zana’s mind. An image of a small, harsh land where there is little vegetation and livestock. A land where people, even the royal family were forced to live without even a shred of luxury.

「You say that your land is barren, but I heard that Sahara and Yaros are the desert countries, shouldn’t that made them even more barren and unwelcoming than Himuro?」

「Not necessarily. It is true that they majority of their lands consist of the desert, but thanks to that all of their fertile lands are usually gathered in one point to make the cultivation of that land and its crops easier.」

Zana’s chest was filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred.

「What I’m trying to say is: we could destroy one another’s land, but it wouldn’t inflict any real harm upon our enemies, and it would simply be a waste of resources.」

「...I see.」

Aur could hear the regret sounding in her voice. Regret, and frustration at not being able to do enough for her people.

(So it was actually this bad, huh?)

Zana read his thoughts and smiled bitterly.

(It’s not rainbows and sunshine, but we manage to get by.)

Their opponent this time was just so troublesome. If it was just one or two of those abilities, then maybe they could have somehow deal with them, but with those three combined.. their options were severely limited.

「Aur! Aur! Tatsuki, water, provide!」

Tatsuki raised her hand and said so to the worried Aur.

「It’s true that you can manipulate water, but on the desert there is not even a drop of it, so your power would be useless.」

「Eh? No water? Where is that? Why is that?」

Aur closed his eyes and put a hand on his forehead, sensing an incoming headache.

「Mumumumumu, I just wanted to be useful to Aur.」

「Oh, but you are, and when the time comes, I’ll be counting on your power again, all right?」

Tatsuki didn’t say anything, but bulged her cheeks happily.

At the very least, he could count on her when it came to defending the Dungeon. If the enemy invades them, they will all drown in the water she commands. When it came to underwater battle, no land creature ever stood a chance against aquatic life forms.

But here the issue with the undead came into play. They didn’t need to breathe underwater, and even if they were swept away by it, ten new one would immediately replace them, and they would continue the assault as if nothing had happened. They also had no need for sleep, while at some point Tatsuki would surely succumb to exhaustion.

「Master, why don’t you leave this place to us and go have some rest?」

Ellen’s determined voice pierced through the silence, that hanged ominously in the air.

「Did something happen?」

「No, absolutely nothing.」

Ellen asserted in a more vivid tone.

「You need only to say the word, and we will gladly face the enemy’s hordes with the full might of our clans. We might not be able to defeat them all, but we’ll at least take as many of them as we can down with us.」

「Stop spouting such nonsense.」

「It is not a nonsense if it allows us to wash away the dishonor made by our blunder.」

Aur tried to talk them out of something so outrageous, but Celes interrupted his words.

It was very likely that by blunder they meant that misunderstanding with Zana.

「This was not your fault at all. If someone is to blame here, it’s me.」

「You don’t have to say such things to make us feel better. We simply feel that it is our responsibility to do whatever we can to help you deal with this situation.」

「It would be a different story if we were talking about normal human soldier’s, but we’re dealing with an army of Living Dead here. Against an enemy like that, there’s no way that I’ll simply order my precious subordinates to just throw their lives away.」

With humans, they didn’t even have to kill them all. After suffering a sufficient amount of damage, their morale would simply crumble on its own and they’d lose all will to fight. But the army of the dead was free of such petty concerns. They would just fight without a care in the world until the last one of them would fall.

「If it is for you, my lord, I wouldn’t mind throwing my life away!」

「I feel the same too!」

「All right, you two, that’s enough.」

Lilu appeared behind Ellen and Celes, who were adamant in their standing.

「I know that you want to do all that you can to be of use to Aur and that you would kill any number of people he required of you, but don’t be unreasonable. You say that you could beat even a million soldiers for him, but where would you even get one million arrows from?」

「Well, about that.. w-we would just make them with our magic power!」

「And empty the Dungeon Core dry?」

Ellen had no words to retaliate against that.

「Both of you are strong, and there will surely come a time when your strength will be needed. Until then, please, don’t try to do anything stupid or throw your lives away meaninglessly.」

「Haaa...」

Ellen sighted deeply and kneeled down, and Lilu just hugged her and smiled softly. Looks like she was able to convince her. For now, at least.

(That girl is quite gentle, don’t you think?)

(Gentle, more like cringy.)

After they all scattered, Aur responded to Zana’s voice inside his head.

(But the proposal of those two was quite intriguing.)

(No it is not.)

Just because there is one billion enemy soldiers, it didn’t mean that they needed to kill all of them.

It was the same as with the game of chess. Sometimes the sacrifice of pieces was needed, but too many sacrifices made for a bitter victory.

Ellen’s sacrifice could serve as their opening to invade Sahara, and Logan, Sakuya and Yunis could bring the enemy’s leader down.

Aur knew that this was the most efficient strategy.

But.

For Aur, life was not something that could be simply thrown away.

A thought occurred to him when she told him that he’d gladly die for him.

He thought that he did not want it.

This wasn’t the right thing to do as a leader.

Sacrifices shouldn’t be made just in the name of the greater good.

This time, the enemy was much stronger than Melizand and her forces at Lafanis.

(I’m not going to comment on that. But there is just one thing that I was wandering about though: you have a lot of wives and mistresses, but do you have one among them who is your absolute favorite? Is the white, noble-looking one? Or perhaps it’s the dark-skinned one?)

Maybe she wanted to tell him that it was okay to make sacrifices if it meant securing a way to victory, but she chose to remain silent. Perhaps she sensed that their relationship would worsen considerably if she said something that she shouldn’t have said.

In any case, thinking of a way to defeat the emperor of sands was fine and all, but maybe it was high time to think about the future.

(Maybe there is, maybe there isn’t. I haven’t decided yet.)

(Then maybe I’ll try and take a shot at that open spot.)

(Really?)

(Maybe. Who knows? It’s just a thought.)

Aur looked Zana with his eyes wide open. Her wavy purple hair were fantastic, and her eyes shone just like crystals. There was this magical atmosphere around her that made him feel transience and the immense strength at the same time. She was so beautiful that it would be no understatement to call her the incarnation of the moon itself.

(Why are you saying that after what you’ve been through?)

(I just said what I wanted to say. Is it really that strange?)

In response to that, Aur replayed the memory of their last night in his mind.

(You idiot! Why are you showing me something so embarrassing again?!)

With reactions like that, maybe it won’t be so boring to have her as one of his closer mistresses.

Thinking like that, Aur decided to head back.