Episode 75 – Recognition (5)
“Will taking this really increase my mana and improve my health?”
“It’s an elixir passed down through our clan which should never be leaked, but these are exceptional times.”
Cruiger looked curiously at the vial containing the potion I had created.
I used whatever materials I could get my hands on, mixing in a bit of rare ingredients, and conjured up a potion imbued with my dormant cells.
Once ingested, these cells will replicate autonomously inside the host’s body, merging naturally with their system. They’ll enhance mana capacity and optimize the body’s overall condition.
“Since the amount is limited, distribute this only among your trusted senior officers who you believe can use it. Naturally, the source must remain secret.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Though I conceived the plan, I wanted no part in the tedious complications that might arise. Therefore, I left all the aftercare responsibilities to Cruiger.
Regardless, if some people can’t resist their greed and attempt anything foolish, the cells, which will already have partially infiltrated their bodies, will immediately convert from helpful collaborators into fatal toxins.
“Can I drink it?”
“Of course.”
Cruiger was the first to take the plunge. Despite being skeptical about the potion’s exaggerated effects, Cruiger, who firmly believed I had no intentions of deception or harm, drank it all at once.
Cruiger was someone talented enough to accept the collective consciousness at some point, and I had intended to recruit him, though delayed by current tasks. Nonetheless, I deemed it beneficial to give him this preliminary experience.
‘They’re inside.’
The moment Cruiger swallowed the potion, I silently shifted my focus.
The subject of my new awareness was the dormant cells inside the potion.
The cells quickly attached themselves to the walls of his stomach upon entering Cruiger’s body. They started spreading their magic energy and immediately subdued his immune system, beginning their infiltration into his nervous system and vital organs while rapidly dividing.
“Ugh, this is pretty bitter for a medicine. My stomach feels like it’s on fire.”
Cruiger could only react with a dry swallow, having no idea what was happening inside his body.
I once had similar experiences, but now as someone who can control everything according to my will, it was hard to relate to his response.
“Argh?!”
The effects manifested instantly.
As my quickly multiplying cells began spreading throughout his body, Cruiger reacted, wide-eyed, detecting the changes.
“If it hurts, endure it. Think of it as a complete reconstruction of your body at the level of rebirth.”
I left Cruiger, who was groaning in pain, alone in the room. The sight of him convulsing while expelling toxins from his body wasn’t pleasant.
Still, this brief agony would soon be worth it for Cruiger, whose frustration and impatience with his own limitations would soon transform into joy over his enhanced physique.
*
“Enemies employing flying units have made it impossible for any fortresses below a certain scale to defend themselves against air assaults. Our strategy needs revision.”
“…Please tell me your request. Does my lord still wish to defend the entire territory?”
Having entrusted Cruiger with the matter of enhancing the mercenaries with my custom potion, I went elsewhere.
I arrived at the office of Lord Agor, the Orc Count.
Suddenly, a mountain of reports and materials stacked beside me where I was kneeling. All the documents detailed the war unfolding.
“I’m not that reckless.”
Agor sighed and shook his head. His current woes stemmed from the massive influx of my soldiers, especially the flying troops, making it impossible for lords to defend their fortresses.
“We intend to conserve our forces and establish a defensive line, even if it means giving up some territories. And we want to minimize losses during this process. Your task is to draft that plan.”
Given the situation, he granted me substantial authority. Essentially, it was a reorganization and deployment of all the internal forces within the territory.
Judging from this, Agor’s confidence in his advisors must have decreased significantly.
The evidence was in his subordinates glancing at me with discomfort. Naturally, from their perspective, I, the intruder, wasn’t welcome.
“To be frank, in my view, even if we retreat, it looks increasingly unlikely that we can maintain a defensive line against the oncoming onslaught.”
“Hmph! Without even trying properly, what nonsense is that!”
When I bluntly stated this in such a situation, someone abruptly stood up in anger. He was one of Agor’s close aides; his name escapes me. Gurk, wasn’t it?
“I’m basing this statement purely on the given facts.”
I clicked my tongue as I looked at him.
Certainly, I had the materials and reports presented to me, but the comprehensive data stream flooding my consciousness in real-time from the battlefield provided the bigger picture.
Based on that data, I am personally commanding troops dispatched from thousands of nests, including those directed by the now house-sized Auxiliary Brain. The projected success rate for the legions was over eighty percent.
Conversely, as for my manifested body employed by Agor, the success rate was below twenty percent. Victory seemed improbable no matter the approach.
“…There will be reinforcements.”
Agor supported my claim as Gurk, dissatisfied, merely sat back down simmering in silence.
Mentioning reinforcements while tightly closing his eyes, Agor was referencing something specific I recognized clearly, so I stayed silent.
“The Vampire Lord Irwan has agreed to send us reinforcements for our territory. Other territories are receiving the same treatment. With Irwan’s movement, other Superior Lords have found their justification, and they’re starting to intervene in other regions as well.”
“Will we receive substantial support?”
“Irwan’s a fellow bound by ambition. Too many competitive factions surrounding him meant he was just waiting for an opportunity. Of course, he’ll act now he’s got it.”
Agor sneered as he spoke about Irwan.
I, too, found Irwan, the Vampire Duke, to be a particularly interesting character. Especially because he’s Syla’s nemesis.
Given how Irwan decimated rival clans and successfully claimed the title of Lord, it’s undeniable that he is a man driven by ambition.
“He says he’ll send reinforcements several times the number of the knights and their knights’ orders that perished under his command. They’ll probably achieve glory and flaunt themselves around my territory, but for now, I have no choice.”
“…Understood.”
Listening to Agor’s lament, I lowered my head and my eyes sparkled.
Caught. When Irwan announced his intent to send reinforcements, I instinctively confirmed it; it was a sign that my plan to make Agor’s territory a protracted battlefield, thereby weakening the Superior Lords beforehand, was highly likely to succeed.
The ambitious Superior Lords would pour their strength like water into this conflict, and the horrific attrition war here would drain the energy of everyone involved.
When that happens, at the decisive moment, we’ll have the opportunity to overwhelm those who’ve exhausted their powers.
“So, with reinforcements, we may have a fighting chance.”
I bowed again, accepting the directive Agor had given.
With this turn of events, Agor might temporarily feel good. While his forces aren’t worn out, the forces of the Superior Lords will continue to fall one after another.
“This is an opportunity. While we negotiate, we should continue strengthening and improving our own forces, while wearing down the enemy.”
“Irwan… he might be evil, but he’s not foolish. So, why the choice to send reinforcements?”
As an ex-human mercenary who has now become the queen of the legions, naturally, I shared the information with Syla and Rozalyn too.
Upon hearing the news, Syla displayed a baffled reaction.
It’s because she truly couldn’t understand why her nemesis, the one who obliterated her family and cast her into despair, would make such an unwise choice.
“Being blinded by lust is quite common.”
I didn’t find it unusual. After all, it’s all too common for emotions and desires to sway someone towards poor decision-making.
How many rulers, who were wise before attaining their coveted peak position, have fallen into corruption once they’ve ascended to it?
“Your Majesty, it’s reassuring that you’ll never become like that.”
“…Is that so?”
Upon hearing those words, Syla said it with a smile.
I, on the other hand, stiffened a little.
Even Syla or Rozalyn, who have become parts of the collective, don’t fully understand everything about me.
When they first met me, I was already entirely assimilated as the queen of the legions.
The image I showed them was only that of someone existing solely for the growth and evolution of the collective.
An emotionless, tearless monster, endlessly preying and battling, exploiting everything available to further our collective goals.
‘Huh…?’
A sudden doubt entered my mind.
The desperate resistance I started merely to survive in this world I had abruptly entered has, somewhere along the way, begun to subtly change.
