This Is What Cavalry Is #3
Time flowed on.
To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, I continued to stockpile supplies and conduct military training, while simultaneously carrying out tasks like expanding the dungeon and reorganizing our organizational structure. Unlike in the past, our numbers had grown, so once the foundation was laid, getting things done became remarkably simple.
For instance, Julia was training the Lamias just as I had taught her, leading the troops, and gaining experience by scouting and hunting on her own. In other words, I could put things on "auto-pilot."
I also assigned some of the duties I used to handle to my female guards. With that, my burden was completely lifted. As they say, if you have people, you have to put them to work.
"Ruby, are the calculations going well?"
"Ah... yes."
Then there was Ruby, the mage. Since mages are smart, I gave her a special mission. She was tasked with calculating the amount of food consumed by the dungeon's inhabitants.
"I'm checking it every day. And I'm making a table..."
"Yes. That’s all you need to do."
I had to manage our military rations systematically now.
"Paper might be scarce, so please use it carefully."
"I, I'll do that..."
In truth, we had no paper. We lacked the technology to manufacture it. But as luck would have it, I’d found a notebook and something resembling a pen in Ruby's luggage. It was a huge relief.
"Hehehe, you are very diligent and reliable, Ruby. I think about it every time I see you—you’re good at so many things, aren't you? You're quite capable."
"Y, ye-yes?!"
When I caught her off guard with a compliment, Ruby trembled in surprise.
—*Jiggle.*
The massive breasts hidden beneath her robe swayed with the movement. Once I take over the human territory later, should I have special work uniforms made for the women? I think that would be excellent.
"I, I'm not that good...! T, this is something anyone could d, do if they just learned it...!"
As I stroked her hair while praising her, Ruby’s face turned beet red, and she bowed her head, not knowing what to do with herself. Because her self-esteem was so low, she reacted like this just from a simple compliment.
"Even so, being good at something is still being good at it."
"..."
She really is an easy woman to handle. I heard she’s even gentle when she masturbates. As long as they aren't in a combat role, I prefer gentle women. She was gentle during sex, too.
"Good."
Anyway.
I’m planning to build a proper field outside the dungeon soon. As the size of our troops grows, the food consumption will skyrocket. Until now, we’ve managed with hunting and simple breeding, but since bringing in the Lamias, the food situation hasn't been great.
Thinking about that, I headed outside the dungeon.
"Keruk! The Demon King has arrived! Everyone, halt! Salute!"
"Keruk!"
"Keruk!"
The goblins training on the parade ground in front of the dungeon saluted me. Let’s call Buril over for a second.
"Yeah. At ease. Stand at ease. Goblins, take a short break. Buril, come here to your big brother for a moment."
"Keruk! Yes, sir!"
—*Pat-pat-pat.*
Buril came running immediately. This little guy has grown quite a bit in size lately, but why does he still look so cute? He’s adorable every time I see him.
"How is it, Buril? Is it manageable?"
"Keruk. Demon King. Can I be honest?"
"Yeah. No."
"Kerurung! Aww, Demon King! Why are you like this! Kerurung! Am I not the Demon King's top goblin, Buril?"
"Yeah. Don't say it."
"Please! Please listen to me! Honestly, it's uncomfortable!"
"No. Why again? What's uncomfortable about it?"
"Vanessa is a human! Keruk!"
That’s right.
I had put Vanessa in charge of military training. Because she’s a knight. Even if she was captured a bit clumsily, that couldn't be helped. Regardless, she had the most experience among us.
And she had been by my side, watching me train the troops, and had fought alongside us in this jungle, so she understood this place well. That’s why I entrusted her with the task.
Of course, the goblins were dissatisfied, but since it was my order, they listened well. Vanessa, too, was diligently performing the mission I had given her.
"Are you uncomfortable because she's of human origin?"
"Keruk! That's right! Besides, I'm the senior, Keruk! To receive orders from someone who is a junior...! It feels kerurung!"
"Hehehe, 'kerurung,' huh. Man, this guy's vocabulary is seriously cute."
I understood the dissatisfaction, of course.
"I know. I know everything. That you're dissatisfied."
I immediately placed my hand on Buril's head and said,
"But Buril, Vanessa has spent the longest time in this line of work among us. And she has more experience dealing with humans than we do. Vanessa's job was to cut down humans, after all."
Why do knights exist? They exist to fight. With whom? With enemies. And in the human world, those enemies are usually humans.
"Keruk... I know that."
"Yeah. You know it well, too. So just understand a little. You're only getting help with the training, aren't you? Isn't she actually doing a good job?"
"Keruk."
Buril nodded.
"If we want to crush humans, we have to use everything we can. Humans might invade now, so we have to do everything we can."
"Kerurung."
"Got it. I'll give you a bit more mana injection. Tell the others well, okay? Huh? I'll even increase the goblin platoon's personal maintenance time."
"Keruk! I will do as the Demon King says!"
"Hehehe, you cute little guy."
Buril went back to his unit. Next, I called Vanessa.
"How is it? Is it going well?"
"They seem to have complaints, but they are following orders well."
"Well done. Just keep teaching them like that. Isn't infantry the absolute foundation of battle? I trust you, Vanessa, a capable knight."
"Haa... it feels strange to think that I have gained the trust of a Demon King."
Is it because she feels like one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King's army?
"A strange feeling, you say?"
"Wha-?! Wait! Aueeeng♥"
As I grabbed her buttocks firmly, Vanessa tilted her head back, pouted her lips, and squeezed her thighs together.
"Come to think of it, your name was on the sex duty roster today, Vanessa. I'll be looking forward to it. I want to feel that 'strange feeling' a lot, too."
"Wh, what are you looking forwaaaard to♥ Let go of my butt♥ Aueeeng♥"
—*Knead-knead.*
Usually, it’s fine, but as long as she’s aware that she’s being touched by me, she reacts like this even if I just touch her butt.
Anyway, after touring the parade ground like that, I went inside.
"Gyusat. Gyusat."
"Gyusatsat."
"Yeah. Loyalty. You're working hard."
The kobolds were running around working hard. I saluted the kobolds who saluted me and went up to the second floor, which was under expansion.
"Shaa! Demon King!"
Sharan, who was busy plastering the ceiling with roots, jumped over.
"Yeah. Sharan. Were you working hard?"
"I was working very hard with Gyuil!"
"Hehehe, well done. Huh? You're so pretty."
"Shaa!"
Seeing her act cute while working hard was extremely adorable. While kneading Sharan's cheeks, I praised Gyuil.
"Gyuil! You're working hard! You're the best at manual labor, the best!"
"Gyusat. Thank you for the praise. But Demon King. If there are more subordinates, it's even more 'the best'."
"You want me to increase your subordinates?"
"Gyusatsat."
"Got it. I'll increase them soon."
"Thank you. Gyusat."
Look at this greed for more subordinates. He might become a kobold company commander soon.
Well, I toured the dungeon like that. In other areas, the hobgoblins were working hard.
"Oh! Reika! Are you doing a good job with the management and supervision!"
"Hey! You! Making me do things like this!"
Reika got angry, saying that troublesome work had come up.
"Yes? No. What are you talking about? Aren't nuns originally experts at raising and making things?"
But if you look at medieval nuns, don't they live by making things and managing manors among themselves? It's not like nuns only pray all day. They operate convents and work to sustain their lives.
"That's true, but..."
"The era of slacking off is over. Sister Reika, please work hard, too."
"Tch."
"Of course, the same goes for the night. Work hard until your back breaks for me, both day and night..."
"Shut up!"
"Kekekeke."
She’s so fun to tease.
Currently, the nuns are managing the items produced within the dungeon, organizing necessary supplies, or giving work instructions to the hobgoblins. It’s so comfortable to have all the work I have to do distributed like this.
"Let's see. So, Im-monkey went hunting. The pixies are in the middle of scout training. The Lamias also went out for training..."
"Lumika is expanding the underground waterway."
"That's right. Then, Sharan. Let's go take a look."
"Yes, Demon King."
It feels like the foundation of dungeon management has been firmly established. I just have to give work instructions to each leader, check them, and do my own work. It’s perfect.
"Demon King. I have something to report."
"Oh, what is it? Julia."
"Actually..."
Julia began her report to me.
While roaming the jungle to hunt and train the Lamia cavalry as usual, she had discovered a familiar green race. They were an orc tribe.
As a result of her scouting, she was able to find out that there were about twenty orcs. If it’s twenty orcs, Julia said she could handle it on her own. Because she had the Lamia unit.
Usually, orcs are the Lamias' prey. But even if they are prey, they have to risk their lives to fight each other. The fact that they are dangerous enemies doesn't change.
"I see. You reported it very well. If you discover something like that next time, just scout properly and let me know. Just like now."
"Understood, Demon King."
"Could you lower your body for a moment?"
"Yes?"
—*Swoosh.*
I placed my hand on the head of Julia, who had immediately lowered her body.
—*Stroke, stroke.*
And then, petting.
"It's a compliment, a compliment. You did very well."
"Ah, aa..."
—*Swish.*
At the same time, her tail wagged as if she felt good. Her eyes were also starting to close. She’s like a big cat.
"Ah... and. The tactical training you taught us... was very. It was truly very useful. We were able to hunt faster and with less danger than before..."
"Isn't that so? That is what tactics and training are."
"Yes..."
Julia smiled as if she felt good.
"Other Lamias who don't know this properly... will not be able to beat us. It is certain."
"Hehehe, you saw it accurately. Well, that aside. Since orcs have appeared."
"What do you intend to do?"
"We must subjugate them. Tomorrow, immediately."
Last time, I didn't have the confidence to properly beat the orcs, so I used the chance of the human army, but not anymore.
I will crush the orc tribe and prove our combat power.
Besides, I can't just leave a race like orcs alone. They seriously eat like crazy. We can't share the same territory. Reducing their numbers will allow me to maintain my cavalry more smoothly.
"Then I must prepare for the expedition."