The Defense of Las Vegas
Even with the Andras stocking armor equipped, the disparity in the quality of our troops was unavoidable. No matter how elite the orcs of my legion were, the fact that we were suffering significant casualties against the soldiers sent by the 38th-ranked dungeon lord was a fatal problem.
"What do you think? Are these the enemy's main forces?"
"I highly doubt it. If I may be so bold, it is more likely that these are merely scouts."
"Right?"
Eila was certain that the horde of goblins, minotaurs, and black skeletons was not the main army. I felt the same, and no one offered a counterargument.
"It seems Halpas is just throwing his troops away."
It was a style of warfare distinctly different from our legion’s. If my style was to commit decisive force from the very beginning to crush the enemy head-on, Halpas was using his troops as fodder to test our strength.
'The mindset of "if they die, I can just resurrect them." Though, I doubt he’d even bother with the resurrection.'
The number of dead goblins, minotaurs, and black skeletons was roughly fifty. While the exchange ratio wasn't terrible for us, the very act of calculating an "exchange ratio" left a sour taste in my mouth.
"To throw his subordinates away like they're nothing... I can't understand it."
He wasn't using scouts to build a defensive line or observe our strength; he was simply feeding his soldiers into a meat grinder. Not working with 1-star? Then send 2-stars. Still not working? Send 3-stars. If 3-stars fail? Send 4-stars. You could call it cautious and efficient, but in reality, it was a complete lack of humanity toward his own men. He must be ruling them not through loyalty born of the heart, but through the fear instilled by the difference in power and authority as a dungeon lord. Even if that wasn't the case, it was certainly a factor.
"This is fate. I cannot tolerate fighting in such a manner."
This wasn't a game; these were living beings he was tossing aside. My anger at Halpas's method of troop management flared up. My clenched fist throbbed, and as my nails dug into my skin, blood began to trickle down.
"Master, please, calm yourself."
"I am calm. But I cannot help the rage boiling inside me."
Seeing the corpse of a goblin collapsed on the floor, I saw a reflection of myself during those three years I was trampled by Forneus. 'Back then, whenever I was thrown into some godforsaken place, I struggled and clawed just to stay alive.' A subordinate forced to follow orders to survive, crushed under the weight of an inescapable, authoritarian existence. The only difference between me and that goblin was that I survived until the end, while the goblin did not.
'And there is a more important issue. The state of those things.'
What angered me most was that, unlike our Las legion’s stocking-armored troops, these vanguard units were a ragtag mess, dressed in whatever they could find without a shred of uniformity.
"Eila. In your eyes, whose subordinates do these look like?"
"...You don't mean they are part of his main legion, do you? Master, are you thinking what I am thinking?"
"It seems so."
In matters of war, Eila’s eye was the sharpest, and she seemed to be on the same page as me.
"Disorganized attire, lack of proper formation, a vanguard sent out as if they were being thrown away."
"He’s using newly recruited fodder from other factions as sacrificial lambs."
At Eila’s and my deduction, the expressions of the other subordinates hardened. It was no different from how I had thrown all the Fire Leopard Beastmen into the fray when I staged a coup against other dungeons after taking over the Flauros dungeon. 'If you win and come back, I’ll let you live. If you lose, you die, obviously.'
'Is this how the slave gladiators in the Colosseum feel?'
And if our legion were to lose, all my subordinates would be dragged off as slaves. I wondered if I was worrying too much, but the more I thought about it, the more it felt like the absolute truth.
"Damn it. We must block Halpas’s legion on the first basement level at all costs. Shaitan, what’s the situation with Gremory?"
"They say Amy retreated once after a full-scale clash. Amy crossed over personally, but it seems difficult for Gremory to step out directly."
"Why? Because of the ranch?"
"Yes. They say that if a full-scale war breaks out, the ranch could suffer damage..."
"Tch."
I had hoped to settle the Gremory front quickly and concentrate our forces here, but that was out of the question.
'If the Gremory ranch is destroyed, it’s over.'
Just as the righteous armies in the Imjin War risked their lives to defend the Jeolla granary, the operational foundation of our Las legion was concentrated in the Gremory dungeon. Clothing: The large contingent of Andras and Harpies capable of shedding feathers were registered there. Food: The eggs they laid were the primary food source for the humans and non-avian monsters in our legion. Shelter: About 70% of our legion’s capacity was registered in the Gremory dungeon.
'I had even planned to flee to the Gremory dungeon if this one was captured.'
It was a painful blow that a portal had opened in the Gremory dungeon, but I couldn't just tuck my tail and run from the Halpas forces that had opened one in my own.
"As soon as Amducias returns, send a message to Gremory. Tell her not to worry about the aftermath and that she can kill Amy. Maidenhood or whatever else doesn't matter. Tell her to prioritize the survival of herself and the dungeon above all else."
Since I had sent Galahad as reinforcements, she should be able to handle it. On the premise that Gremory successfully repelled the enemy forces, I had to prepare to block the second wave of Halpas’s army.
I could feel it instinctively. A sickening aura of death, palpable even while standing still, seemed to be echoing from beyond the walls.
"Shaitan."
"Yes, I am here. ...It doesn't seem to be Halpas himself, though."
"Then it must be a minion of his legion. Either a subordinate of Halpas, or someone who was once a dungeon lord himself before falling under Halpas’s command."
I worried that he might have sent someone Halpas trusted, but in the end, whoever it was, I had to kill them.
"Eila, see to it that the resurrected orcs are reorganized and ready to fight again. Shaitan, scrape together all the magic stones we have and resurrect the orcs. From now on, it’s a race against time."
"Master, we have already used all the magic stones."
"Then go get more. ...It will be difficult, but I’m counting on you."
Every cloud has a silver lining; the situation was dire, but not yet at the point of collapse. As luck would have it, a day had passed. Just as the enemy sent their second wave exactly at midnight, we were granted an opportunity as the date turned.
The chance to farm magic stones in the sub-dungeons.
"Percival, Lancelot, Agravain! Lead your units and scrape every single magic stone out of the Andras, Slime, and Skeleton sub-dungeons! Do not come back until you’ve hit the limit of three runs each! Agravain, once you’re done grinding the Skeleton dungeon, join up with Percival’s unit! Just bring back the stones!"
I didn't have the luxury to care about slime mucus or feathers harvested from monsters.
"Shaitan, once the orcs bring back the stones, resurrect our fallen! The top priority for resurrection is Rastuzard! Once Rastuzard is back, I’ll use the enemy corpses as ghouls! I’ll buy us time, so resurrect our legion’s fallen warriors! Move out, now!"
"""Yes!!"""
The three orc squad leaders quickly led their units and departed. Even Lancelot recognized the gravity of the situation and headed up to the first floor.
"Master, before I go up, I have one question."
Shaitan turned to me just before stepping onto the stairs.
"Do you intend to fight personally?"
"Of course."
"...In that case."
Shaitan spread her wings and flew toward me. I wondered what she was up to, but she knelt before me, pressed a short kiss to the front of my pants where my 'junior' was resting, and stood up.
"Usually in this situation, you’d kiss me on the lips and say 'good luck,' wouldn't you?"
"Yes. But I don't like that. Instead, let's do this: when this fight is over... I will give you a double-fellatio, in both dream and reality."
Shaitan beat me to the punch and bolted for the first floor. I couldn't help but laugh at her cheeky behavior. Ryun, who had finished putting on her stocking armor, waved at Shaitan before turning to me.
"For the record, I’ll be the one doing the real-life fellatio."
"I absolutely have to survive, then. Hehehe."
I had no intention of dying, but the tension of the upcoming battle seemed to dissipate somewhat. To receive service from Saidan in my dreams and Ryun in reality simultaneously—I had to survive at all costs.
"Then let's go. Eila, have you practiced your swordsmanship enough?"
"Of course. I will not be a burden to you, Master."
Eila raised her sword. She was reliable and brave, but Eila was at her most beautiful and magnificent when she was commanding from the rear.
"Eila, I leave the command to you."
"Pardon?"
"Think of me as just another soldier under your command. You are the squad leader of the defense force blocking the enemy's second wave. Didn't they say that wherever Las is, that is Las Vegas? You are the commander of the Las Vegas defense force."
"...Then, if you’ll excuse me."
Eila hesitated for a moment, but she did not refuse. While both she and I possessed sufficient strategic insight, if stabbing the enemy was my specialty, Eila’s was in weathering the attack.
"Currently, the core strength of our defense force is Master, Ryun, and Harsus."
Kkeureureuk. Harsus was still alive, despite his crushed full-plate armor. Thanks to his idea, our entire legion was armed with stockings, and our defensive capabilities had risen to a new level.
"Available soldiers... 50 monster hunters."
"We are the reinforcements."
At the head of the adventurers descending to the first basement level was Lily, dressed in leather armor. Lily, holding a crossbow, had stocking armor layered beneath her leather gear. The other hunters from Las village were the same.
"How did you...?"
However, I couldn't quite understand the adventurers standing behind her. Female adventurers who hadn't chosen the path of the fairy, and adventurers we had captured as prisoners during the later defense of Las Vegas. They stood behind Lily, weapons in hand.
"I gathered them."
Eila stood beside Lily and bowed her head. "Let us fight together to survive. We can think about the difference between human and monster later; for now, let us purge those wicked monsters who seek to kill us. ...I couldn't persuade everyone, but I managed to convince these few."
"Legion Commander."
The strongest-looking man and woman among the adventurers stepped forward. I wasn't sure about the man, but the woman had a face that made me think I might have knocked her out once because her chest was so... well, impressive.
"We are adventurers. We are people who only move if there is compensation. So, if we perform well in this battle, we expect a reward befitting our efforts."
"What kind of reward? Freedom?"
"...Ahem."
The man was reluctant to answer. The woman beside him raised her head and shouted confidently.
"Why can't you just say it? Legion Commander! If we win, lend me one of those handsome orcs for a night!"
"Why?!"
"To Las!"
"Fine, you're hired! What’s one night? I’ll even charter a full-day rental for you!"
I could pay that kind of reward as much as they wanted. The adventurers behind them seemed to have similar thoughts, their faces wearing sly grins as they burned with fighting spirit.
"Slimes, orcs, goblins, Andras, harpies, succubi, whatever you want, just name it! As long as you don't cross the line, I'll let you do whatever you want! Of course, you'll need the other party's consent!"
At my declaration, a few adventurers looked at each other and smiled bitterly. Seeing those wistful gazes, I quickly added,
"Those who perform exceptionally in this battle will be officially recruited as members of our legion, not as prisoners! No, you are already members of our legion! Once you’ve decided to fight against the enemy, it doesn't matter if you were subordinates or prisoners! Follow me! Follow the instructions of the Princess Knight! I will stand at your vanguard!"
Clip-clop, clip-clop. The sound of hooves began to echo from beyond the long corridor. I gripped the two double-headed axes Eila had brought in each hand and turned toward the enemy lines.
"I tell you this clearly! Because you are not my subordinates, you cannot be resurrected! So, if you feel like you’re going to die, run! Live! And if you survive until the very end!"
I activated my tattoos and shouted.
"I will give you each a house in Las Vegas! If you find a partner you like within the legion, get married! Humans with humans are fine too!"
There were no cheers, only agitation. But it wasn't the agitation of confusion; it was the bewilderment of joy. I had offered the adventurers 'freedom' as members of the legion along with a small reward as a victory bonus. And just as the atmosphere reached its peak.
Clip-clop, clip-clop!!
"Eila——-!!"
"Archers, all units, fire at will!"
"""Lassssssss!!!"""
Countless arrows and bolts were fired toward the black reapers of death riding their charging horses.