671. Paving the Way

Batch after batch of wounded Demon Race soldiers were carried down from the front. Duke Eugene reined in his horse on a gentle slope, his gaze passing over the groaning soldiers to fall on the horizon in the distance, where explosions still went off from time to time.

An adjutant galloped over. "My Lord, the casualty report for the vanguard is out. There weren't many deaths, but quite a few were maimed, mostly from ambushes by those Puji playing dead. They're probably trying to—"

"Use the wounded to slow our pace." Eugene voiced the adjutant's guess.

Wounded soldiers consumed medicine and required care. Whether they were sent back to the rear or brought along with the army, the burden they created was greater than the simple death of a single soldier.

And if Eugene ordered that the sick and wounded be left to fend for themselves, then from then on, the soldiers under him would inevitably all fear battle and injury.

However, this was not some particularly novel tactic. When the Empire dealt with humans, it often used similar methods.

Thus, Eugene had his own way of responding.

"Pass down the order. Bring out that batch of slaves. The vanguard will supervise them."

"You lot, get over here!"

The vicious-looking Horned Demon overseers shoved Evan and the other slaves along, bringing them to the front of the army.

Although Evan was wrapped in a fairly thick garment, when the wind of the Northern Territory blew, it still chilled him to the bone.

His body was no longer as strong and healthy as it had been when he was once a soldier. After he was captured, he had been like a piece of cargo, resold again and again.

Demon Race merchants, mine overseers, estate stewards, until he finally ended up in