165 # 156 Astaroth Dragon.txt (1/2)

We're all in full recovery for the mission. Ruin and his team are busy preparing the other base. They're busy making final adjustments to the catapult.

Just as Lwin-san comes over here to check the information, the fire shadow and Darley return.

''Urgent report!　The traps we set up were broken by Astaroth's attack, that they were!

Huh?　Was the aim of your earlier attack to destroy the trap!

Damage?　Is everyone safe?!

Fortunately, the target is the nearest trap from Astaroth, that it is a discarded trap, that it is. Everyone is safe, that it is.

Yeah. I'm glad to hear it.

No, it's too early to be reassured. The trap was targeted, which means that everyone at the interception point could be targeted at any moment.

What do we do now? We can't go on like this. We need to do something... against a demon. He's not a robot. Then maybe that trick will work.

We have to think of a plan, that we have to, or everyone will be in danger.

Here's an idea. If they're going for a trap, let's use it to our advantage.

I'll explain the plan I've come up with to them.

''It's the only way... we can't change the interception point now... Tact-kun, can you please?''

Yes, sir.

'The fire shadow told everyone about this.

Yes, that I do. And the boss is being led to the pyramid by the other side's strategy, that it is. Lord Tristan will look for an opportunity to lead him there.

So... what's the plan?

What do you think? At least to me, it's only a good place to intercept. That's where I suddenly had a bad feeling. Would I go to the trouble of preparing a place that would be easy to intercept?

With this game, you'd rather have that against you...

I have a bad feeling about this, but is it really being led?

'You don't think Mr Tact is a guide?

Yes. When you think of pyramids, you think of tombs, don't you?　When I think about that kind of thing, I feel like it has something to do with demons.

'You certainly have a point...'

We'll both think about it, but this is just an inference. But we can't ignore it.

'...I'll get the raft ready. I guess we'd better hurry.

Agreed. I'll take command of the catapult as planned. Can I ask you to liaise with Tristan?

I understand.

I told Mr. Tristan what we thought. Perhaps there is some movement at the pyramid. I asked him to start guiding us from there.

Liquor would be able to get ahead of us and take a break.

After I finish contacting them, some of the attack party appears from the forest. One of them was Arleigh.

''You've brought quite a few of them with you.

That's my virtue!

Arleigh says such a thing, but the leaders of each party interrupt him.

'You were just passing on information here, weren't you?　How could I not cooperate if I was told that I could earn points without dying?

We had a better plan than they did. Besides, our role was clear, and it was a win-win situation.

Are you aware of the plan?

I ask, and they all laugh.

'It's more like a plan... hey?'

You don't call that an operation?