The Lizardmen and the Dark Nun
With Vanessa’s promise of cooperation secured, I resumed the goblins' training. Things were only going to get tougher from here. With a knight and three nuns gone missing, it was highly likely that more forces would be sent to investigate. I had to prepare for everything... though I wasn't entirely sure what I’d do even if I solved those immediate problems. Still, I had to do everything within my power.
"Oh, yeah! Good! Everyone! You didn't trip this time!"
"Keruk!"
"Then let's keep training at that exact speed! And we'll increase it little by little!"
"Kerurung!"
A grand charge while maintaining a phalanx. Originally, this wouldn't have been effective because the goblins lacked the necessary muscle, but now, their physical specs had risen across the board. They were becoming excellent killing machines.
As we continued the training in that manner, they started to show enough proficiency to look like a proper unit. They were still a bit slow, but that was something we could improve over time.
"Alright, break time! Buril, you take over the training from here!"
"Keruk! Understood! My King!"
—*Salute!*
I returned the salute to Buril and left the training grounds. Buril would handle the rest. I wouldn't need to supervise for a while. He really was a born platoon leader.
I walked straight toward the nuns. The three of them were huddled in a corner of the training yard, watching me. I wasn't sure what they were doing... Could it be? Were they gossiping? My heart felt like it was being torn apart. Then again, that was probably all the three of them had to talk about.
Regardless, they were all from the same convent. It was only natural for them to stick together. I’d have to make sure to build a proper convent for them later.
"Sister Reika."
I called out to her. It was time to assign the nuns their own daily routines. I’d have them learn swordsmanship from Vanessa, but there was one more important task.
"Eek!"
"Ah...!"
Irene and Liza were startled. Liza, in particular, was clutching her necklace and holding it out toward me as if it were some kind of protective charm.
"Irene. Liza. Please, don't be so guarded."
"How could we not be, you lewd sex-offender!!! Mmph!"
Liza clamped her hand over Irene's mouth before she could scream anything else. It was a godsend that those two were a package deal.
"Anyway, Sister Reika?"
"..."
"Sister Reika? Are you ignoring me?"
"...Why."
After I called her twice, Reika finally crossed her arms and glared at me. It was hard to believe this was the same woman who had let me suckle from her breast just a short while ago.
"You don't have anything to do, right?"
"I've got plenty."
"No, you don't. Unless you mean 'night work'..."
"Shut up!"
"Just kidding. Just kidding. Anyway, take a look at this and study it."
I pulled a book from my robes and handed it to her.
"What?"
Reika tilted her head as she took the book.
"What is this?"
She questioned again, then added, "Damn. This looks incredibly evil."
"Correct. That’s a book on Black Magic."
"What the hell? You're giving this to me, a nun?"
"You're not just a nun anymore. You're a Dark Nun."
I tapped the horns on my head as I spoke, and Reika let out a sharp, clicking sound.
"...Tsk."
Truth be told, becoming a Dark Nun was a bit like a forced evolution. It was only natural she’d be annoyed by a job change she hadn't asked for.
However—
—*Flip, flip.*
Reika actually started flipping through the pages.
"Huh?"
"Hey. I can't read this."
She then offered a casual critique.
"What the hell is written here? Typical of you demons, the handwriting is as shitty as you are."
"Sister Reika. I will be the one to teach you."
I intended to teach them Black Magic now that they had transitioned into Dark Nuns. If they could master it, it would be a massive boost to our combat power. We had plenty of long-range skills like Dark Spear and Dark Bolt. Not to mention the Demon Breath.
There were also various undead-related spells, but I hadn't had the time to practice them properly until now. But the Dark Nuns would have plenty of time to learn.
"Are you sure we can even learn this?"
"Well, you've been imbued with my mana, so of course it's possible."
I hadn't tested it, but it would work.
"Bl-Black Magic! And we have to learn the evil magic of the demons! I hate this! We already have horns on our heads, and now we're going to act like lewd demons tooooo!!!"
"Irene...! Please, be quiet!"
I ignored Irene... If the three of them could use long-range magic, the firepower of my Demon King army would increase significantly. Who knows? Maybe they had a hidden talent for it and would actually become strong.
"Sister Reika, please keep Irene in check."
"Don't give me that crap."
Because the nuns had lost their holy power, they were currently unable to use their superhuman abilities. Even though their physical strength had increased slightly due to the mana now flowing through their bodies, they couldn't manipulate that mana on their own yet. I had to change that.
"I'll give you a light lesson tonight. Until then, just pass the time by reading the book."
"Tonight?"
"Yes? Is there a problem?"
"When?"
Why was she asking about the time? Reika looked at me with a skeptical expression.
"Hmm... after dinner and a bath?"
"What are you going to do after you teach us?"
"Well, I'll play with the pixies and then go to sleep."
"..."
Reika’s brow furrowed.
"Sister Reika?"
"The time... yeah. Let's make it dawn. Wake me up in the middle of the night."
"What? Wait. Sister Reika?"
I called out to her, but she acted as if she had nothing more to say, dragging Irene and Liza away.
"Dawn, huh."
Well, then.
Dinner. Bath. Play with the pixies. Inject some 'white stuff' into Sharan and Lumika in bed, sleep for a bit... and then go to Reika? That works.
It didn't matter. Since my stamina recovered every time I had sex, I didn't really need to sleep for long. Studying at dawn didn't sound too bad.
"Carti...!"
Culs, the pathetic demon who used to learn Black Magic, was now capable of teaching it to others. It was deeply rewarding.
"Lady Vanessa!"
Now, let's have a word with Vanessa.
"So, Lady Vanessa. I’d like to hear a bit about the human world today."
"Kuh...! You want me to betray them! As a knight, I cannot do that!"
"Now, now. Lady Vanessa. Didn't you promise earlier?"
"Even so!"
Vanessa’s face flushed red as she protested that she couldn't do that, but it was useless against me. I just had to do what I usually did with Reika.
"Sex."
The moment I uttered the trigger word—
"Ugh, ooh...?!?"
Vanessa immediately grabbed her womb, where the Imprint was etched, and slumped down. That was it. The mark was reacting, causing a surge of stimulation.
"If you refuse... you know what happens, right?"
"A-Alright! I understand, so stop this thi-iiing!"
"Yes."
—*Snap.*
I snapped my fingers to stop the effect.
"Phew. Now, Lady Vanessa. Start talking."
"Kuh!"
There was so much I was curious about. The Baron’s military organization. Combat power. Social structure. I knew the basics from Reika, but I desperately needed Vanessa’s help for the military details.
And so, I extracted the information from her.
"Since it’s been... several days since we went missing, it wouldn't be strange for them to discuss forming a search party. After all, a knight and three local nuns have disappeared. The Baron is highly likely to take it as a serious matter."
Good.
"I suppose so. It is a grave matter. But in that case, what do you think the Baron is thinking?"
"What do you mean?"
"I’m asking what he thinks is the reason you went missing."
"That’s obviously..."
Vanessa started to speak, then clamped her mouth shut.
"Lady Vanessa? If you keep anything from me, I’ll make sure you let out every single moan you’ve been holding back today."
"No! It’s not that! I wasn't trying to hide anything! I was just thinking for a moment!"
"Speak."
"Kuh...!"
Vanessa composed herself and said, "They will likely think... that a mid-level monster or higher, like a Troll or an Ogre, has appeared."
"Trolls and Ogres?"
"Yes. Large, powerful monsters. They are far bigger than humans, ferocious beasts that weigh as much as a dozen adult men combined."
"Whoa."
That’s a total monster.
Something like that was nearby? I’d managed to kill a Barghest somehow, but if something like that appeared... could I win?
"They usually don't live near human settlements... but occasionally, they are pushed out to these areas because they lost a territory battle due to aging. That is what they will assume."
"Hmm... then, can't you defeat such a monster on your own, Lady Vanessa?"
"Defeat a Troll or an Ogre alone? Unless one is an incredibly powerful warrior, it would be difficult. To hunt such things, you need several hunting squads."
"Can't a knight who uses mana do it?"
"Someone would have to draw its attention. Ah, though, if it were an adolescent Troll... if there were a number of us, including myself, the nuns, and a few adventurers, we might be able to take it down."
I heard her out.
Vanessa was saying that in the event of such a disappearance, the possibility of a mid-level monster appearing was high.
"Naturally, they wouldn't think something like a demon appeared."
"...Usually, that would be the case."
"If they think it’s a mid-level monster, what will they do?"
"First, they will send a team for investigation. Mid-level monsters and above leave large traces. And if it turns out to be true, they will organize a full-scale subjugation force."
"What if there are no traces?"
"Well... in that case, I’m not sure. A knight going missing... it’s generally hard to imagine."
That’s true.
"Ah, Lady Vanessa. I heard something about a 'territorial war' the other day."
"You know about that, too?"
Vanessa questioned me in surprise.
"Yes. I heard it by chance."
"That... is true. There was a conflict with the territory to the north the year before last. There was talk of war because of it, and now that atmosphere has intensified even further."
"Then it would be difficult to pull out troops, right?"
"That could be seen as the case. But it’s not certain. If it’s a mid-level monster, it’s an important matter. They must subjugate it."
It sent shivers down my spine, but yes.
Making Vanessa my thrall was a very good decision. From today on, I’d suck every bit of information out of her.