Chapter 309 – Demon King Carnival ①
Week 1 ―― Appointed day of the festival.
“Shion-san, I have a proposal to make as the strategist of the Aster Empire!”
“Mmh? I’m busy right now. Tell me later about it.”
Right now it’s 11 a.m. We’ll start our invasion into Itoigawa in seven hours. So I don’t have any time to humor Kanon with her play-believe strategist nonsense.“That’s out of the question! If I don’t tell you now, it won’t bear any meaning! Besides, the preparations for the invasion are already done! Things won’t change no matter how often you confirm them!”
“For heaven’s sake, so what is it?”
Kanon cleared her throat theatrically, “Allow me, Aster Empire’s Strategist Kanon, to once again offer a suggestion to Demon King Shion-sama.”
“Yeah, yeah…what is it?”
“Uuhh…a bit more dignity…I was hoping for an atmosphere befitting for a conversation between a Demon King and his strategist…wait! Where are you going, Shion-saaan!?”
I ignored the bug which clamored about incomprehensible stuff with a serious expression after placing a hand on its chin, but it flew around, appearing in front of me once more.
“I’ve been telling you the same over and over again, haven’t I? Start speaking from the conclusion.”“Uuhh…umm…the Aster Empire is a nation and Shion-san, you’re a demon king.”
“Is it okay for me to take that as your conclusion?”
“Therefore, before the invasion, a starting ceremony…no, rather a departure ceremony…I can’t quite find the right word for it…――! Anyway, let’s hold a ceremony for the departure!”
“A ceremony for the departure?”
“Yes! The upcoming battle is crucial as it will influence our future. I believe it would boost morale if we gather all subordinates and hold a departure ceremony.”
“Hmm? In short…you mean…we’re going to gather all subordinates and do something like a group cheering?”
“That’s a blunt way to put it, but this is the idea.”
“Re――”
I was about to say “Rejected,” but…
“It’s definitely necessary if you think of the Aster Empire as a nation! Rather…Masako-sensei and Yataro-san said so as well…”
“Mmh? This is Ms. Tamura and Yataro’s idea?”
“N-N-N-No, it’s not! It’s a strategy by Strategist Kanon!”
“Does the talk just now actually count as strategy…?”
“All citizens working together towards a common cause is something very important.”
“Hmm…all subordinates refers to the subordinates heading out for the invasion, no?”
“Wrong! All subordinates, including those on defense! As might be expected, the civilians also joining in might be a bit hard, but we will get them to participate by watching the relay broadcast mentioned by Tusk-san.”
“Haaah? The number of subordinates including those on defense is…”
“Approximated 300,000.”
“We don’t have any facilities where such a number of people could gather, do we?”
“Hehehe…Strategist Kanon has already taken this into account! I asked Yataro-san and got him to reserve an entire floor of the 97th sector as a venue.”
“Got him to reserve it, eh…? What about my permission?”
“Eh? I’m getting it right now.”
“So you’re getting my consent after the fact, huh…?”
“Ugh…but, I think it’s something important.”
“Good grief, no helping it, I guess…. You got Yataro and Ms. Tamura involved in this as well, don’t you?”
“W-Well…”
“No choice…I guess we’ll go for it then. When are we going to start?”
“Since it’d be cool to start the invasion right afterwards, how about 5 p.m.?”
“Cool, you say… Oh well, whatever. Take responsibility and organize everything.”
“Okay!”
And just like this it was decided that we’d hold a departure ceremony.
◆
5 p.m.
All sorts of subordinates, surpassing 300,000 in number, have lined up in the 97th sector where I went after being called over by Kanon.
Hah…it’s quite a spectacle, looking at it like that.
The rows of subordinates were all in full gear, giving me quite a solemn impression despite being my own subordinates.
Once I climbed on the prepared stage, I surveyed the faces of my subordinates and took a deep breath.
“Ahh…*cough*…I’m Demon King Shion. Tonight our Aster Empire is going to commence a full-blown invasion into Niigata Prefecture. The upcoming battles are going to largely influence the future of the Aster Empire.”
Now then, I went on the stage without a plan, so…what should I say next? Now that Kanon had said all that, I should have at least prepared a speech for this occasion.
Hmm, raising the morale…if that’s the goal…if I call their names, it will raise their morale, won’t it?
“1st Platoon Leader Rina!”
“Yes!”
“2nd Platoon Leader Takaharu!”
“Aye!”
“I’m here!”
“3rd Platoon Leader Hibiki!”
“At your command, Master!”
“4th Platoon Leader Kotetsu!”
“Yes, Shion-sama!”
“5th Platoon Leader Chloe!”
“Yes!”
“And to all subordinates participating in the invasion: Swiftly dye the map of Itoigawa with Aster’s color!”
“””YEAAAA!”””
The number of subordinates I’m investing in the invasion is going to be 100,000. Their war cries caused the surrounding air to tremble.
“Leave the defense of the Aster Empire to me! You don’t need to worry about your backs! Just focus on overrunning the enemy!”
“””YEAAAA!”””
“We’re going to start the invasion of Itoigawa! Everyone! March with your military boots! Make the ground tremble! Ring the bells! Beat the drums! Never hide! Don’t be hesitant! “Let the world know of the Aster Empire’s might!”
“””UOOOOOHHHH!!”””
Affected by their enthusiasm, I raised my own voltage and my subordinates responded by getting even more excited.
“1st Platoon, we’re moving out!”
“””YEAH!”””
“Yay! 2nd Platoon, time to go! Come on!”
“””YEAH!”””
“3rd Platoon! We depart!”
“””BUHIIII”””
“4th Platoon! We march!”
“””YEAH!”””
“5th Platoon! We’re leaving!”
“””YEAH!”””
Rina and the others departed on the invasion while my subordinates’ morale was still soaring.
This spelled the beginning of the great war that would later be called Demon King Carnival.
