258 Raid

I realized, quite suddenly, that I actually had the upper hand for once.

“...Wait, is Weiss actually winning this?” Sasami whispered.

“I think so too...” Olynn added.

Next to them, Allen and Shari were watching with wide eyes.

“He’s... winning?”

“I wonder. Could it really be?”

If even the spectators are seeing it, then I’m not just imagining things. This is it. I’m finally going to win!

However, the moment I dared to look across the table at Cecil, my heart sank. Despite my overwhelming lead, a cold realization washed over me.

I’m going to lose. I’m definitely going to lose.

I knew it because she looked absolutely delighted. To Cecil, a crisis wasn't a problem—it was a thrill she couldn't resist.

My premonition was, unfortunately, spot on. She made a move I hadn’t even considered—the kind of play that shouldn’t have been possible unless she’d mapped out every potential branch of reality for the next hundred turns. Before I could even process what had happened, the tide of the battle had completely shifted.

The others gaped in shock as my "guaranteed" victory evaporated into thin air. Still, I wasn't ready to throw in the towel. After all, if our roles were reversed, Cecil would never give up on me.

But just as I caught a glimpse of a single, desperate path to victory—

The world outside exploded in a flash of blinding white light.

That was the signal. Shari’s trap had been sprung.

“I’ll go grab Cynthia and the others—!”

“We have just finished our baths,” a voice interrupted.

Right on cue, Cynthia, Lilith, and Carta appeared. They were practically still steaming. Those damn Demon World Inhabitants... they couldn't even give the girls enough time to dry their hair? Talk about rude.

Just as we were about to scramble to our designated defensive positions, a surge of mana erupted from the yard. I rushed to the window and watched as a door manifested out of thin air. A swarm of monsters began pouring out.

In the Original Story, the Demon World Inhabitants never operated alongside monsters. This was a deviation.

But it’s fine. I’ve already accounted for the "wild cards."

“Move out exactly as planned!” I barked, trying to keep the panic out of my voice. “The Demon World Inhabitants look just like us, but make no mistake—they’re pawns of the Demon Race. Don't worry about whether they live or die. Allen! Are we clear on that?”

“You don’t need to worry about me,” Allen replied, his expression hardening. “I won’t hold back.”

I’m actually impressed. I guess he really has grown up.

“Fansent-kun,” Cecil said, catching my eye. “We’ll finish our game once this is all over.”

“Yeah. Count on it.”

“And one more thing,” she added, her voice dropping slightly. “Whatever happens, don’t save me.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“It’s a secret.”

She gave me a cryptic look before heading toward her post. I didn't have the slightest clue what she meant by that, but there wasn't time to overthink it.

Come and get it, you Demon World Inhabitants. I’m going to crush every single one of you.