Chapter 9 - Strategy of Exploitation
Strategy of Exploitation
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Translator: Dusky90
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Strategy of Exploitation
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Instead of directly fighting against Nazrak, Kim Dojin chose a strategy of winning his favor and exploiting it.
It didn't work out that way from the start.
Like other gamers, Kim Dojin had fallen to his knees hundreds of times before Nazrak.
So, the strategy he chose was to exploit Nazrak.
First, he aimed to win Nazrak's favor by exploiting his most sensitive and vulnerable point through strategy and diplomacy, then becoming one of his subordinates.
Then, he would manipulate Nazrak into attacking other territories posing a threat to the Lota Estate.
For instance, neighboring and rival territories like the Sorun Estate...
"Did you say your name was Otto?"
Nazrak asked Otto.
"Yes, Lord of Death."
"You said you have studied strategy and diplomacy for many years."
"Yes, I have."
"Then how should I move?"
Nazrak, who had experienced bitter failures due to past reckless conquests and diplomatic blunders, was extremely cautious.
"Firstly..."
Otto replied.
"You haven't been resurrected for long, so it's important to build your strength for now."
"On that I also agree with you."
"And we should also increase the number of our undead soldiers, they are far too small right now."¹
"That is also true."
"But if we move quickly, the humans will form a coalition against us before we can grow in strength and power."
"Then what should we do? Doesn't that mean we shouldn't build up our strength and power?"
"Well, for the time being, we should attack the humans to build up some power and strength, but we should make strategic moves to prevent the humans from forming an Coalition. Look here."
Otto pulled out a map and showed it to Nazrak.
"Advancing like this is giving the humans time to form a coalition."
"Is that so?"
"Perhaps by the time we take the second territory, the humans will have realized your resurrection and will form an Coalition."
"Hmmm!"
"But."
Otto pointed directly to the Sorun territory on the map as he spoke.
"Here, this place. If we attack the Sorun Estate first, it will be difficult for humans to form a coalition."
"From the Sorun estate?"
"If you look at the terrain here... if we occupy the Sorun territory first, other forces won't be able to unite against us."
"Ohhh!"
"Start with the Sorun territory and then proceed to defeat the Racene and Orth territories in order."
"You mean to cut off the middle of one's body?"
"Yes, Lord of Death."
Otto nodded his head.
"Then I'll lead the army of the Lota territory and disrupt the rear. Just by doing that, the entire region will become your territory."
"Excellent strategy!"
Nazrak admired Otto's strategy.
"If we move according to your strategy, this whole area will become my stronghold."
"Yes, Lord of Death."
"I see. As you say, I will attack the Sorun Estate first."
"I'm deeply honored that you would follow my lowly opinion."
Otto prostrated himself before Nazrak and then marched off.
"Then please proceed with the conquest of the Sorun territory. I will go to the Lota territory I manage and raise an army to disrupt the rear."
"Do so!"
Nazrak willingly sent Otto on his way.
[Notification: Nazrak likes you!]
[Notification: Nazrak's liking status for you has changed from 'Expectant to Admiration'!]
Thus, Nazrak followed Otto's instructions and headed directly to the Sorun territory, skipping the Lota Estate.
'This way, I won't have to pay back the money I borrowed, Hehehe. Plus, the troublesome Sorun Estate will disappear from the map.'
Watching Nazrak and his undead army move farther away, Otto smiled.
But the plan didn't end there.
There was still work to be done while Nazrak ravaged the surrounding territories, starting with Sorun.
'I can't let him rampage any further. Your role ends there.'
Otto mounted the ghost horse Nazrak had given him as a gift and immediately headed toward the Lota Estate.
* * *
Camille was confused.
'Was this really part of the plan, all those times he boasted about destroying the Sorun Estate?'
Otto said clearly.
'In two weeks, the Sorun Estate will be ruined.'
And those words were coming into reality.
The undead army that had been advancing on the Lota Estate had changed direction and was heading towards the Sorun Estate.
At this rate, Sorun would be destroyed.
On the exact date Otto mentioned.
'Are you saying you were looking into the future? Seriously?'
But thinking that Otto has the ability to foresee the future and the wisdom to use it is very difficult.
"Remain on guard and ready for battle. And messengers... spread the word to the surrounding estates. We must get the word out as quickly as possible."
"Yes! Lord Camille!"
Camille set the messengers on their way to spread the news to form a coalition against the undead army.
And they bolted and locked the gates and watched the situation develop.
Until suddenly.
"Camille, Camille!"
Without thinking, Camille turned around and locked eyes with a certain pale face.
It was none other than....
"You, you're...?"
Camille was surprised to find Otto poking his head out from behind a gargoyle statue.
Why is the guy who abandoned his estate, ran away, and became a pawn in the service of an undead army here?
"Brother. Come here for a second. I need to talk to you."
"With what face do you..."
"Shh."
Otto shushed Camille.
"Don't make a fuss and come here for now."
"...Okay."
Camille stepped toward the gargoyle statue where Otto was hiding.
He was still confused, and he wanted to get some explanation from Otto.
"Over here, come here quickly."
Otto was hiding in a secret passage behind a gargoyle statue.
"What the hell is going on?"
Camille bombarded Otto with a barrage of questions as soon as he entered the secret passage.
“You abandoned your territory and even became a pawn of the undead army. So why have you come back now…?”
"Oh come on!"
Otto scowled.
"I told you I had a plan! Didn't I?"
"Was that... really true?"
“Are you saying I lied? Even though the undead army is attacking the Sorun territory right now?”
"W-Well..."
“And think about it logically. Who would want to become undead? There are better things to be a pawn for.”
“That's... true, but....”
“Enough. I'll show you the results, so just follow my lead for now.”
"Okay."
"But...."
Otto narrowed his eyes and glared at Camille.
"That's a little short?"
"It's...."
"Well?"
"I'm sorry."
"Your always trying to take advantage whenever there's a chance.
"....."
"Ugh. It's my brother."
Otto sighed once in resignation and then turned to Camille to issue orders.
"Knight Camille."
"Yes, I'm here."
"At dawn, an army of undead led by Nazrak will take Sorun, then head for Racene, and once they've taken Racene, they'll march on Orth, which is when we'll have our chance."
Otto pulled out a map and pointed Camille to a specific spot in the northern mountain range.
"When the undead army advances on the Orth Estate, lead our troops here."
"What's here?"
"There's a very old castle, covered in overgrown vegetation and completely falling apart."
"Why are we doing this...?"
"Nazrak's main body is here."
"Is that true?"
"Nazrak has stored his soul in this castle. Currently, the one leading the undead army is only his shell, not his body. To defeat Nazrak, you must defeat the soul stored in this castle."
"How on earth do you know such a secret...."
"That's a trade secret, I can't tell you. So just do what I tell you. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my lord."
"And stop cursing at me."
Otto glanced at Camille.
"It's making my ears itch like crazy."
"......"
"Isn't that a dishonor? Is a knight supposed to swear at the lord they swore allegiance to?"
"I didn't... swear."
"You're lying."
"I really didn't."
"If you did, then you will be stripped of your knighthood and demoted to a private?"
"....."
"You did, you did."
Otto spoke with a rueful expression as if knowing that Kamiyu would remain silent with her lips tightly sealed.
"You said you trusted me, but behind my back you doubted me and cursed at me."
"T-That's not what...."
"Never mind."
Otto turned away with a snort of annoyance.
"I'm going to go ahead and meet you there when it's time."
"Okay."
"It's going to be a tough battle, so be prepared."
After leaving those words behind, Otto disappeared again towards the opposite side of the secret passage.
"What the hell...."
Camille looked after Otto's back with mixed feelings.
It was hard for him to recognize the bastard who had changed so much.
* * *
Two days later.
"...And sp our army of the Lota Estate will attack the castle where the soul of the wicked undead lord lies dormant, according to Lord's command.”
Camille led the troops of the Lota Estate to the northern mountains at Otto's direction.
"That bastard... No, the lord didn't betray us?"
"My God! Are you saying the Lord personally infiltrated as a subordinate of the Undead Lord to extract information?"
"You expect me to believe that now...?"
"N-No way!"
The knights and soldiers of the Lota Estate were in disbelief.
That such a lowly wretch would risk his life to become a subordinate of the Undead Lord Nazrak and extract information from him....
"Believe it or not, our lord suffered the stigma of being labeled as an agent of the vile undead in order to maintain confidentiality! Everyone must have criticized him for that...."
Camille slightly reddened as he said that.
In truth, he too had cursed Otto from the bottom of his heart, and his conscience was guilty.
"Now, our lord has changed, so our troops will follow his orders and advance to the sanctuary where the evil undead lord's soul rests!"
The knights and soldiers of the Lota Estate hesitated as they listened to Camille's words and set out on the march.
* * *
At the same time.
After conquering Sorun, and subsequently Racene, Nazrak pushed onward to the Orth Estate.
The size of Nazrak's army had more than doubled from its initial size.
That was because Nazrak had turned some of the fallen soldiers of Sorun and Racene into undead minions.
"U-Undead army!"
"Don't back down!"
The Orth Estate fiercely resisted.
However, they were powerless against Nazrak and his undead army, which had grown stronger with the battle against Sorun and Racene.
- Excellent.
Meanwhile, Nazrak's main body in his Castle was watching the battle in the Orth Estate with satisfaction.
The Death Knight and Necromancer on the battlefield were mere shells.
It was an avatar of sorts, created by dark magic.
- Now, if I secure this Orth Estate, this entire region will become my territory....
At that time.
- ....!
Nazrak was startled when he sensed an army approaching his sanctuary.
- Who the hell is invading my Sanctuary!
Nazrak looked into the eyes of the undead monsters guarding the sanctuary and identified the invaders.
The result.
- That, That bastard...!!!
Nazrak was enraged to see Otto at the helm of the army that had invaded the Sanctuary.
- That piece of shit... He stabbed me in the back!!!
Nazrak realized that he had been deceived by Otto.
But it was too late.
Nazrak's main army was currently fighting in the distant lands of Orth, and Otto's army had already entered into the Sanctuary.
** ** **
TL/N:
1. Otto using the We, Us, Our when speaking with Nazrak to make it a point that he is on the Necromancer Nazrak's side.