Episode 45 – The Art of Ruling (5)
‘The hobgoblins still haven’t moved. Could it be they’re really going to act as I wish? Damn, maybe I should have left more clones behind.’
In truth, the Queen was just as focused on the actions of Lord Ludras, the hobgoblin ruler.
Since this was a situation of her own creation and careful cultivation, she couldn’t help but be deeply invested.
While the neighboring Lords hoped that Ludras would join the fight for the greater good, the Queen naturally wanted Ludras to act out of greed and self-interest.
If Ludras saw this situation as an opportunity and desired the weakening of the surrounding Lords, the Queen was more than willing to allow it.
‘Of course, if he continues thinking this way, he’ll soon find himself surrounded by us.’
If she were to conquer Ludras’ territory, the largest and most powerful domain nearby, the Queen and her legions would rise as the undisputed dominant force in this region of the Demon Realm.
By that point, the sheer number of troops she could deploy at any moment would be beyond calculation.
“So, tell me more. What do you think Ludras will do?”
“T, that…”
With a smirk, the Queen turned to Rozalyn, the newly-born Lamia Viscount in her ranks, and asked her opinion on the matter.
As a former Lord, Rozalyn likely knew more about such matters.
However, Rozalyn was still struggling to adapt to her transformation – both to the collective consciousness she shared with the Queen and to her new body, created from cells that had been entirely remade.
“This body, modified to allow for rapid adaptation while maintaining a similar form, yet imbued with far greater strength – is it not to your liking?”
“N, n, no! I absolutely love it!”
Shaking uncontrollably, Rozalyn hastily bowed her head repeatedly.
In truth, her appearance had not drastically changed. She remained a Lamia, with a beautiful upper body and serpent-like lower half.
However, her scales had been replaced by thick, dark black armor, and her previously nearly-naked torso was now covered by sturdy plate armor.
In battle, like Syla, she wore a mask that emitted a red glow from within.
‘There’s no resisting. There’s no rejecting.’
Having endured all of this, Rozalyn’s body and mind were now completely subjugated to the Legion.
Even as she maintained her sense of self for now, she was fully aware that if the Queen wished, she could destroy that self at any time.
“Ludras has always been an unpleasant, inscrutable individual. In my humble estimation, he is the type who can change his actions at any moment. Even if he doesn’t act immediately, he’s likely planning to strike when the time is right.”
“Is that so?”
Rozalyn desperately provided all the information she had to the Legion. Upon receiving it, the Queen’s lips curled upward.
Though it wasn’t decisive proof, it became one more piece of evidence in her considerations.
“Engage in direct conflict with the allied Lords. Rozalyn, you will join Syla in the frontline operations.”
“M, me? I… Uh?”
“You’re too fearful.”
Even after investing considerable resources into modifying Rozalyn, the Queen still deployed her alongside Syla to the front lines of the battle.
Though Rozalyn maintained her sense of self, it was clear she lacked the courage expected of a Lord-class Demon, but this did not concern the Queen.
“Will you find some courage? Everyone is mistaken, but emotions, the mind – they’re nothing special. Ultimately, they’re just a matter of hormones.”
“That’s correct.”
The moment her face was covered by the forced emergence of her mask, a compulsory hormonal reaction occurred within Rozalyn’s body, manipulating her emotions.
Now calm as if transformed into a different person, Rozalyn began moving with the Legion troops, and the Queen looked on approvingly.
“Their numbers continue to grow…!”
“Reinforcement request from Ivan Fortress! Hurry, the fortress is in danger!”
Certainly, though Rozalyn was one of only two Knights within the Legion, she was just a single entity compared to the vastness of the entire force.
Even before her joining, the Lords were already straining every effort to defend against the enemies who had appeared in their territories.
“Damn it! Ludras and his hobgoblins still haven’t moved, correct?”
Naturally, all attention turned to those who still remained inactive on their lands.
Even now, the hobgoblin territory remained eerily quiet. Occasionally, rumors would surface about them gathering armies and inspecting weapons, but their forces continued to stay firmly in place.
The Legion troops joined the battlefield by passing through occupied nests from the distant northern lands without once disturbing the hobgoblins’ territory.
“If those bastards don’t join the fight, everything will be over. Eventually, all this land will fall into their hands. Do they truly believe they can survive until such a point?”
Envoys had been continuously sent to urge them to action, but the parties currently fighting could sense no intent from those who remained entrenched in silence, causing their blood to run cold as time passed.
“*”
“For now, there’s no option but to thoroughly monitor Ludras’ territory.”
While avoiding any direct engagement with Ludras’ domain, they had dangled bait, but this came at a cost.
Once, an area that had started out as my territory and nests, located in the undeveloped regions north of Ludras’ domain, such as the wild goblin tribes, had now expanded to a semi-encircling position around Ludras’ dominion. This was thanks to my forces bypassing the hobgoblins and systematically attacking and destroying the smaller neighboring Lords.
This meant that, if needed, they could potentially attack Ludras’ domain from all sides simultaneously. Conversely, it also meant that if Ludras decided to act, he could potentially attack the softer parts of my defenses.
Though I had established defensive systems around the nests, there was no room for complacency. Based on my own investigations while moving about in my clones, Ludras’ faction of hobgoblins was indeed powerful. They possessed significant numbers and advanced weaponry. Should they decide to mobilize and attack when my main forces were away, I would likely sustain significant damage.
[If the enemy were to bypass Ludras’ territory and invade our empty regions by flanking our main forces, the damage would be considerable. It’s incomparable to just a few strongholds being destroyed by the gargoyle units.]
“I know that. But if the hobgoblins properly join the fight, we’d have no choice but to fight with all our might.”
As much as it frustrated me to have the cards in Ludras’ hands, there was nothing to be done about it.
This was essentially a penalty I had to bear. Due to the characteristic and strength of assimilation and evolution through consumption, I’ve been able to achieve explosive growth and expansion. However, as a result, any kind of compromise or cooperation with others, be it players or local forces, is extremely disadvantageous.
Even among demons, it would be impossible to form an alliance with monsters that continuously devastate the land they live on.
Thus, my diplomatic avenues had become severely limited, and I had deliberately created this tangled situation from the start to prevent being attacked from all sides from the beginning.
“Alright…Ludras and the hobgoblins aren’t moving for now. As Rozalyn said, the bastard is observing the situation. I hope he continues just observing while we focus on the battle at hand.”
After sending scouts to monitor Ludras’ territory on all sides, days passed, but aside from gathering troops and training them in various locations, there was no sign that he intended to move any time soon.
It was obvious to anyone watching that he was waiting for the right moment to strike. What a pain.
‘Nevertheless, this benefits us.’
While Ludras waited, our plan was to completely shatter the nearby Lords’ coalition.
Currently, my main forces are advancing at the edge of the fallen old Lamia territory. Including the gargoyle territories, there are only four Demon Lord domains touching this area.
I’m currently engaged in battle with all four almost simultaneously.
“Anyway, we’ve already surpassed the minimum requirements necessary. Fight without worry.”
“Yes, until the soldiers of the Legion cover the entire world.”
Through photosynthesis, the Sun Grass, which had already devoured and devastated dozens of areas in the Northern region, is advancing south, covering everything in its path.
The massive amount of nutrients obtained from those lands, along with the resources secured from the occupied territories, is being processed by hundreds of nests now. As Syla had said, we’ve reached the threshold.
The level where we cover the entire world.
When that moment truly arrives, there will be no longer any need for diplomacy.
“Time is finally on my side.”
Even without using auxiliary brains to consider the situation, the fact is clear – with endless waves of troops, overwhelming all factions is an undeniable certainty.
