The Reason the Orcs Moved...! # 6
The moment the Lamias left, I ordered a night march. Even if we were a bit tired, it was better to get out of there quickly. A swift retreat is the mark of a true commander.
Just because I had a bit of a conversation with those Lamias, who were blinded by their lust, didn't mean I should be optimistic.
"Lamia."
I recalled the way they moved, slithering with their snake-like lower bodies. They were incredibly fast. I didn't know for sure, but I suspected they were faster than me at a full sprint.
No, they were definitely faster. Even with all the progress I'd made as a demon, I couldn't match their speed if I ran with everything I had.
The Lamias were creatures faster than us two-legged beings.
"Speed and weight."
They were fast, and thanks to their serpentine lower halves, they likely carried more weight. What if those Lamias charged in a line with spears tucked under their arms?
—CRASH!
I could visualize human soldiers armed with shields being absolutely pulverized.
"They're essentially cavalry...!"
The horse is the quintessential beast of burden. When a trained soldier mounts a horse, they become cavalry, a knight. They are incredibly powerful. Humans see their combat effectiveness skyrocket simply by riding a horse.
How many have been trampled by cavalry throughout history? A knight is invincible, a god. But they are heavily dependent on the terrain.
There is no way cavalry could function in this jungle.
However.
The Lamias were roaming through this jungle as if it were their own living room. Thanks to their snake-like lower bodies, they could even change direction with ease.
These pseudo-cavalry units could perform the role of cavalry in places where horses couldn't, unilaterally crushing their enemies.
—Thump.
My heart raced at the thought.
"...!"
My spirits were lifted.
Of course, a Lamia cavalry unit couldn't be used in open fields. In a place where real cavalry reigned, Lamias? They'd be nothing but food. Just food. But in this jungle? In a jungle where humans couldn't use cavalry? These pseudo-cavalry units would undoubtedly be more powerful than anything else.
They had the disadvantage of being useless in open terrain, but in jungle terrain, they were absolutely dominant.
If I brought these Lamias under my command? Then everything would be perfect. I could crush the Orcs, or anyone else, for that matter. Even if humans invaded, it wouldn't be a problem.
He who controls the cavalry controls the world!
"Alright!"
I would make the Lamias mine, no matter what!
So what if their lower halves are snakes? They still have all the proper parts for sex! Ah, though the fact that I can't do it from behind might be a bit inconvenient! Should we do it face-to-face while I thrust into her?
Honestly, as long as they're pretty and have big breasts, that's enough. I can definitely violate them. Even if it feels a bit repulsive at first, if it means making them mine, I'll ravage them as much as I want.
Thinking such thoughts, I continued the march, and we were able to reach the dungeon without any particular run-ins with the Lamias.
"We're back! Everyone!"
After returning, I immediately organized the supplies, let the soldiers rest, and checked for any unusual developments.
"Lumika. Did anything happen while I was away?"
"Nope. It was normal. Nothing invaded, and the Hobgoblins were quiet and just did the work they were assigned. Don't worry."
"Hehehe, that's a relief."
It seemed things ran the same whether I was there or not. Still, I had to check for myself, so I took a tour of the dungeon.
"I finished everything you told me to do! Increasing the livestock, teaching the Hobgoblins, and all that stuff!"
Serineu, who was stuck to my side, chirped and reported. As I listened to her report and verified everything, it was clear that things were running smoothly. The number of livestock had increased, and the equipment made by the Hobgoblins was well-organized.
Let's see, I should probably infuse the equipment with mana next.
Thinking this, I called for Muturi and Hukburi. I skipped Muturi since he couldn't talk yet. After hearing the situation from Hukburi:
"Gurak. No hunting. Just doing the work assigned. Comfortable."
That was exactly what he said.
"So you prefer working inside over hunting?"
"Gurak. That is so. Dangerous work. None at all."
"Then I'll count on you in the future. Unless it's a special situation, you'll keep doing that kind of labor."
"Special situation. What is it? Gurak."
"When humans invade."
"...Gurak-rak."
They really were born with the talent of a laborer. Anyway, delegating all the grunt work to the Hobgoblins was a good call.
Next, I checked what the Kobolds had done.
"Oh! Gyuil! You've done a great job!"
"Gyu-sat-sat. It's nothing special."
"Hehehe! You've become a total construction foreman! I'm proud of you!"
The Kobolds had built the rooms well just as I ordered, and the prison had been expanded. It looked like it was time to start developing the second floor and the basement levels.
Finally, the Imp Monkey.
"Krrrk. Hunted hard! Demon King!"
"Oh! You did really well, Imp Monkey! You're the hunting king!"
"Krrrrrk!"
The Imp Monkey was good even if I just had him do simple hunting.
After checking everything,
"Perfect!"
I could confirm that the dungeon was running very well even in my absence! I really did raise them well!
"Lumika! Serineu! You both watched the house very well! At this rate, you could just be the mistresses of the house!"
"Well. I used to lead the Pixies, after all! This is simple!"
"Hehehe, mistress, huh? I'm happy you trust me. Thanks for the praise?"
Listening to them, it seemed Serineu had worked the hardest. She had a leader's temperament, so she kept giving orders for everything I had assigned.
Lumika was a bit quiet, but since she was the most senior, everyone listened to her just by her speaking.
"You're both so pretty and capable. Huh? Why are you so capable?"
—Stroke, stroke.
As I placed my hands on Serineu and Lumika's heads and stroked them, both women immediately blushed.
"I'm a Pixie captain, after all... this much is basic!"
"I, I was already capable to begin with, you know?"
"Yeah, yeah."
From now on, I should train Serineu and Lumika so I can entrust the dungeon to them completely when I'm away. Just because I'm the Demon King doesn't mean I can spend all my time stuck in the dungeon. I'm literally making them the mistresses of the house.
So that I can trust and leave the dungeon to them whenever I go out.
"Alright, since I've checked everything. Let's have a meeting. Call everyone."
"Okay!"
Let's have a meeting.
It seemed the nuns remaining in the dungeon had just spent their time quietly practicing black magic. They went out for walks and reconnaissance from time to time. That was all they did, along with exercise and sword training.
I hadn't ordered them to do anything else, so it couldn't be helped.
Anyway, seeing the nuns' faces made my lower half ache. I couldn't believe I was this happy to see them after not seeing them for a while. My sexual desire was boiling over. What was the sex duty roster for today? I should start right after the meeting.
"So, what was it?"
As I sat in my seat, Reika opened her mouth.
"What was the reason the Orcs moved?"
"It's because a new race appeared."
"A new race?"
At those words, the nuns tilted their heads.
"What... kind of race is it?"
"They must be a race stronger than Orcs."
Irene and Liza exchanged opinions.
I felt like they would be shocked if I told them.
But I had to tell them.
"They were stronger and smarter than Orcs. Should I say they're a race like Pixies?"
"...Pixies, huh."
For a moment, it felt like Reika was glaring at me, but no. Wait, she really is glaring at me, isn't she?
"Sister Reika?"
"What?"
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Just say it. What kind of race is it?"
"Well, you see. Surprisingly, they were a race with a beautiful woman's upper body and a snake's lower body."
The moment I said that.
"Ah?"
A silence descended.
—...
—...
—...
Vanessa, who had gone with me, was crossing her arms and grumbling as if she were displeased, and the others were acting as if they couldn't understand what they had just heard.
"I roughly named them 'Lamias,' but they were the ones who chased the Orcs away. They were stronger than the Orcs. Fortunately, we retreated without a fight. Well, they were threatening because their lower halves were snakes."
The moment I finished speaking calmly.
"W-whaaaaaaat?!"
"S-snaaaaake?!"
"Snake...!"
Everyone was shocked a beat late.
Right.
Women hate snakes.
"I-is that true?! A snake woman!"
Irene asked in shock.
"Haa."
Vanessa sighed and replied.
"It was a snake... with a human upper body. You can imagine the snake part starting from a little above the knees."
"G-goodness, to think such a race exists...!"
"Is it surprising? But that's not even the surprising part! This guy! This guy, with that snake woman in front of him...!"
"Yes?"
Vanessa told the story as if she were displeased.
That I had very confidently negotiated that I would mate with the snake woman.
"W-what! Is this bastard crazy?!"
Naturally, Reika had a seizure.
"Hey! If the upper body is a woman, is there no problem? Huh!"
"No. Reika. The. Even if the lower body is a snake, it's from about a hand's breadth above the knee? It's exactly from that part, so the actual snake ratio is less than 30%..."
"Bullshit! Are you in your right mind?! This bastard was a total lunatic!"
Reika, her face bright red, stomped over to me, grabbed my shoulders tightly, and shouted.
"Even so, that's not it! I-if you're going to violate someone, violate a normal race!"
It was a shout that seemed to carry her true feelings. It was natural. Reika was head over heels for me. She must have been horrified to hear that I was going to do it with a snake woman.
"Hehehe, no. Sister Reika? Are you perhaps upset because it seems like I'm playing around with another woman?"
So I teased her gently.
"Then wouldn't I be?!"
"Huh?"
The answer came immediately.
"The bastard who took me is now going to take a snake woman too?! Then what am I?! Something similar to a snake?!"
Ah. Was that what it was about?
"Y-yeah! Now you're going to take something that doesn't even look human...! That's weird, that is!"
"...I certainly think it's weird too."
"If you call it promiscuous mating between inferior species, you'll get an earful."
Opinions burst out.
It wasn't just Reika who was surprised. Everyone was thinking something similar to Reika, so I had to explain it properly and convince them.
"Reika. And everyone. Please calm down. It's not like I'm doing this for fun."
"Then what is it!"
"Naturally, I like the women here better too. A snake woman is a bit much for me too. But there's a reason. Listen."
I explained the usefulness of the Lamia cavalry.
At first, they were shocked, but as I explained the cavalry properly, they calmed down and listened to the story, and eventually, they concluded that if that was the reason, it couldn't be helped.
"If you're convinced, that's enough."
"..."
With that, the matter was settled.
We continued with the next meeting.
And a few days later.
The Lamias came to the dungeon.