Legion Commander Down!
What is the most important thing in an army?
Some say the quality of weapons. Others say the level of training. Still others argue that logistics—feeding and clothing the troops—is paramount.
But Bernheiter didn't care about any of that.
Why? Because he was a commander who led an undead legion that never tired and could fight forever with just a little maintenance.
Thus, the element Bernheiter valued most was "discipline."
Troops that carried out his orders perfectly based on strict military law. Loyal subordinates who would dedicate themselves solely to their Legion Commander, even if they had to clash with other legions in an emergency.
To achieve this, he tolerated no individuality among his troops.
Or so he thought.
"W-What is the meaning of this?!"
"The Legion Commander has arrived! Attention, everyone!"
The skeletons' discipline was razor-sharp.
Their loyalty to their superior remained unchanged.
However, there was one massive difference.
"You bastards! What in the world are you wearing?!"
The skeletons were no longer their default, pristine white.
They were a dazzling, multi-colored rainbow.
One was matte black. Another was glossy gold. One had even become a skull so blindingly crimson that it hurt just to look at him.
"Violating strict military regulations at your own whim! Have you all lost your minds?!"
An individual soldier's personality was the perfect kind of kindling to spark an uncontrollable, chaotic wildfire.
Therefore, Bernheiter had never allowed his skeletons to have any individuality. He had made them all march as bald, polished white domes, carrying the exact same armaments and the exact same shields.
But now...
"See, Commander? Didn't we all predict he'd react like this?"
"Hmm, indeed."
At his subordinate's remark, the Undead Commander—who had customized his skull with sharp, spiky thorns—nodded, his bones clattering.
The Legion Commander still refused to grant them even a shred of freedom.
"Your Excellency, just say the word."
"...Say what?"
"Tell us that you will grant the skeleton soldiers the freedom to paint themselves. If you say that, we will follow Your Excellency without hesitation."
Bernheiter, an Elder Lich with two hundred years of life under his belt...
"Absolutely not!!! You insolent fools!!!"
The concept of custom skeleton paint jobs did not exist in his dictionary.
The free items released in the Gallery Shop.
It wasn't just draft beer and snacks for the ordinary demons.
It also included glossy and matte spray paint sets, paints, and various accessories prepared specifically for the skeleton soldiers.
"These are care packages sent to us by the Head Mod. Everyone is thrilled because it's the first time they've ever received anything."
They didn't need to eat.
They didn't need to rest.
That was the widely accepted perception of skeletons.
Naturally, from basic supplies to care packages, absolutely nothing was ever allocated to them. The Demon Realm was currently losing the war, and there were far too many others who were desperate for supplies.
So they had endured.
But they, too, had once been alive. Without periodic maintenance, their minds would erode.
All they could do was paint their identical white bones in their own unique colors.
After testing the items sent by the Head Mod, they confirmed that painting themselves as they pleased helped stabilize the fragile mental states of the troops.
Thus, with a heart full of desperation, the Undead Commander spoke to the Legion Commander.
"It is merely paint, Your Excellency."
Merely paint.
He was right. Just because their colors changed slightly didn't mean the skeleton soldiers' military discipline would collapse or their combat power would decrease.
But...
"Commander! Instead of confiscating these illegal contraband goods, you were enjoying them with them! How can a commander, who should uphold military law and set an example, lead the way in such deviancy?!"
To Bernheiter, this was unacceptable.
The deviancy of a few would soon spread to everyone. And that was a grave issue that could severely impact his control over the entire legion.
"I will not tolerate this. Strip off all that paint and assemble! If you do so, I will overlook it this once. Move, now!"
However...
Not a single skeleton moved.
Their hollow eye sockets stared coldly at Bernheiter.
"Y-You bastards, are you defying me...!"
"Your Excellency, I did warn you."
The Legion Commander had always been nothing but strict. He treated his subordinates harshly, offering absolutely no rewards or commendations.
But the Head Mod was different.
He had bestowed precious paint dyes—something only high-ranking nobles would use—upon these neglected soldiers for free.
Regardless of his intentions...
"He is the only one who has ever understood our hardships and shown us goodwill."
The Undead Commander drew his weapon and—
Clang!
Dropped it onto the floor.
"I know what order you are about to give."
The Undead Commander shook his head and continued.
"We cannot obey that order. Because the Head Mod would not want us to."
Following the ordinary demon soldiers, Bernheiter's direct subordinate force, the Undead Legion, had also launched a massive mutiny.
The operation was a resounding success.
In fact, the level of success far exceeded my expectations.
Given the nature of the long war and the desolate state of the Demon Realm, I had released draft beer to the demons who probably hadn't even laid eyes on alcohol in ages.
I had only intended to get them moderately drunk so they couldn't carry out orders.
"I didn't expect them to launch a full-blown mutiny."
The same went for the skeletons.
Since they couldn't eat, I had distributed the paint on a whim, thinking why not?
"I heard high-ranking skeletons sometimes dye their bones or embed gems in them."
However, dyes were incredibly expensive—a luxury of luxuries. So, when I generously handed out spray paint and eco-friendly paint...
"Their loyalty completely shifted too."
To the point where the Legion Commander's direct subordinate unit mutinied.
Initially, I had hoped to split them into a loyalist faction and a customized faction, but the effect was somehow beyond my wildest dreams.
Since all his subordinates had rebelled, no matter how powerful the Legion Commander was, he wouldn't dare harm the residents under their watchful eyes.
"Now it's really over."
Whew.
I let out a sigh of relief and sank back into my hammock.
As I lay there, swaying gently and checking the Gallery, I noticed something.
"Huh?"
I realized a bit too late that my prediction was slightly off.
"Is he insane?"
Only then did I realize.
Based on the memories of my past life, I had been thinking too much like a "modern person."
Normally, if an entire army mutinies, a commander would give up and stop.
"But this isn't that kind of world."
In a fantasy world, anyone strong enough to earn the title of Legion Commander was a monster capable of wiping out everyone even without the help of subordinates.
He had only ordered his troops because he was too lazy to do it himself, or because it was beneath his dignity.
Bernheiter had the power to obliterate Arkenia.
'What do I do now?'
- Breaking) Casting is said to finish in about 3 minutes.
↳ Source?
↳ Our legion's Lich Mage.
↳ ? Weren't they safe?
↳ The mages are running right next to me?
↳ ?
↳ RichLich) I'm the Legion Commander's adjutant. That's a wide-range spell that annihilates everyone except the caster. Yep.
There was nothing I could do.
'Should I bow my head and beg right now?'
Just in case, I tried sending him a message, but he was so furious he didn't even check it.
This was a truly royal fuck-up.
"Operator, are you watching?"
No reply came from the Operator either.
Then again, I had already received help with the barrier. Asking for help again would be shameless.
But just then.
- Ancient Demon God) Head Mod, thou hast labored greatly.
- Ancient Demon God) From this moment forth, this lady shall take the stage.
"Sub-mod?"
A message from my sub-mod arrived.
The Ancient Demon God.
She was the only deity left on earth among the many gods who had watched over the demons since the dawn of time.
"How dare he attempt to harm this lady's adorable children."
Though her power had waned since she was sealed, and she had spent her days wasting away in sheer boredom...
"The Head Mod, and this transformed Gallery, have restored this lady."
The Head Mod had changed everything.
The revitalized Gallery and the delicacies provided by the Head Mod had gradually returned her vitality and strength.
"With this, it can be done."
A crimson mana gathered in the hand of the Ancient Demon God.
The crimson mana, the progenitor of all mana wielded by the demon race. It condensed and condensed until it was compressed to the size of a single grain of sand.
"Phew."
The Ancient Demon God blew gently on her palm.
*BOOM!!!*
A massive red beam of light shot out toward the cave entrance.
The Ancient Demon God smirked and muttered to herself.
"At long last, this lady has been of use to the Head Mod."
*RUUUUUUMBLE!!!*
Originating from the edge of the Northern Mountain Range, the crimson beam of light stretched all the way to Arkenia in the east.
Dyeing the blue sky in a deep red, the beam was witnessed by beings all across the Demon Realm.
And not long after.
"This is the end. You filthy, worthless pieces of—What?!"
*CRASH!!!*
It grazed the very top of the fortress spire.
Even though it only grazed it...
"AARRGGHH!!!"
Bernheiter, who had been mid-cast, took severe damage. Completely scorched, he plummeted toward the ground.
*Thud!*
The Legion Commander's bones cracked. His cherished staff was burnt to a crisp.
"Pant, pant!"
Having exhausted all his mana, he could no longer cast any magic.
"Y-You insolent fools!"
*Clank!*
"Take him to the dungeon, boys."
"Yes, sir!!!"
"Let's go quietly, shall we?"
He was arrested by his own subordinates.
The very subordinates he had treated with such utter contempt.