The Demon King's Paladin Part 2. All Out War.

Chapter 545. After Battle Reports

" So 27 in all, right?"

" Yes, Marquess Drake, after counting we have 27 from the battle here in the valley, along with the 24 from both of your wives. battles."

" Okay, that means we have 51 in all, that should be a good amount, especially with Morgan and Lee being captured as well. How many losses did we suffer?"

" In all, 358."

" That's a lot..."

" Compared to what it would've been if not for your trap, I think it's a good number."

" ..."

I was taking in the reports that Lieutenant George had given me... At his words I was left a bit silent. I was just thinking back on them... nearly 400 Demons that I was in command of ended up losing their lives... It's a lot to take in...

" Do you have something to say, Marquess Drake? You can speak your mind considering it's just us here."

" You sure you're not going to put this in a report, Lieutenant George?"

" Do you plan on admitting to treason?"

" No."

" Then why would I need to? It's after a battle, lots of things get said during this time. Not just from the troops, but also the top brass, it's the nature of the job I suppose?"

" You don't sound so sure?"

" Well, I've never been put in charge, so I only really have experience complaining about my placement in a battle."

" I see... Sorry about that, but I needed someone to watch over the battlefield that I could trust would get the job done, you were the only one I thought could do it."

" You were right as it turns out."

Lieutenant George has seemed to soften somewhat compared to how he was acting before the battle. I wondered if this was just the afterglow of a victory or if he was just happy that I gave him an important role in the battle. Honestly, he didn't really need to do much, there wasn't anything that he could really do about the surprise reinforcements that I had to deal with down in the valley, that was due to the fact that I made all of our men pull back the day before the battle so the enemy would come to us including the scouts that could've told us that, so in all, Lieutenant George really just got to sit down and have a relaxing afternoon. Seems he was still waiting to see what I was thinking... I guess it I could just be honest.

" I was just thinking that 358 might only sound like a good number to us, because we're still alive."

" I see..."

" I feel like I've failed quite a bit. But I know this is what happens in war... It's just... I'm struggling to find the words."

Lieutenant George seemed to get the picture. It was hard to describe what I was feeling. I know it's naive to want none of my side to lose our lives in a war... It still doesn't mean I wouldn't have preferred that outcome in the end.

" If I may, Marquess Drake. I think you need to remember 2 important things. The first is that our soldiers all knew what they were getting into when they signed up for the Royal Army. They were consenting adults who've had to fight their way out of terrible situations before, it was just that the enemy is that strong. We can pretend and insult the Elves, but the fact that they can all use magic is a dangerous weapon for them. You've seen that fact already. We all saw those orbs in the sky that could rival the size of many different Royal Castles. Yet they still fought. Which brings me to the 2nd point. All of our troops are proud Demons of Diablos, we Love Our Country, Our People and most if not all of us would happily die to defend it. So yes, Demons did die today, but their sacrifices ensured a brother or sister was able to defeat the ones who defeated them. That's just how war works. Your plan worked, because of it, we only really lost 258 lives today, the Elves lost over 1000, it was a win no matter how you look at it. But, if you must feel some kind of way about it, think about what you could've done better, then be better for the next battle."