Reunion! #3
A Saintess—wasn't that someone sitting in a position of immense power? And given that Carti had gone out of her way to share this, she was clearly a figure of significant importance!
There’s no time to waste!
I have to hear everything I can!
"So, you're saying that Saintess was pushed out by the Angel Faction? And that's why she's fleeing toward these borderlands!"
"That's right! Exactly!"
A refreshing confirmation!
"And for the record, what was the Saintess's original standing?"
"As far as I know, she’s practically the second-in-command of the Goddess Church!"
As expected, she’s a big deal! I could probably find out more about the Saintess by asking the nuns. Plans began to click into place in my mind. It would be truly incredible if I could get my hands on her.
Making her a sex slave and receiving her loyalty until her waist breaks is just the default. A woman who held a position like that... she would surely be useful in many ways. I can't stay in the jungle forever. If I train the Saintess and make her mine, she’ll be a valuable asset when I advance into the human world.
"In my judgment, Carti, we should actively utilize the Anti-Angel Faction!"
I agree.
I am a demon, but to overcome this situation, I need to get along well with one side or the other. Obviously, using the Anti-Angel Faction would be more convenient. If I use a trained Saintess, it shouldn't be too difficult.
"The fleeing Saintess has quite a high reputation! She could probably become the focal point of the Anti-Angel Faction!"
"That’s what I think, too."
Should I set the Saintess up as a figurehead and run Anti-Angel propaganda? Even though we have demon-like appearances, if we train the Saintess and bring her to our side, we could receive direct protection.
"Wait, Carti. But even so, if they just kick out a Saintess of the Goddess Church like that, it wouldn't be good for them on a global scale, right? Isn't that actually harmful to the angels?"
No matter what, it’s a situation where the second-in-command of the largest religious organization, a highly esteemed Saintess, is being hunted. Even those who support the angels would feel a strong backlash to this. That would eventually lead to a loss for the angels.
"Huh? What are you talking about, 'global scale'?"
"What?"
"Kuls-oppa. The general masses don't even know that the Saintess has been ousted."
"Ah."
Ah.
Right.
That's true.
I misunderstood for a second. Just because the Saintess is fleeing doesn't mean the residents of this world would know anything. It’s a world without televisions.
"Anyway! Overall, the Angel Faction is in a much stronger position!"
That would be the case. No matter how much the powerful resist, the common people would have no choice but to have a favorable view of the angels. In such a situation, the Angel Faction is naturally stronger.
"The lords and nobles in various regions are also struggling with which side to join!"
A greater war is coming.
If the war started by the angels engulfs the human world, I should take advantage of it. Still, I'm glad I've grown my forces this much.
Honestly, my forces aren't exactly small. You could think of us as a company-sized band of bandits or marauders. And a band of bandits that even possesses a cavalry unit at that.
It won't be easy to suppress this. Old warlords and military leaders also built kingdoms by dragging their own armed groups around like this and absorbing various territories. A kind of Yellow Turban Rebellion... ah. I don't have the numbers to call it the Yellow Turban Rebellion. The Three Kingdoms era had such extreme population density that it's not a fair comparison.
"So... I hope Kuls-oppa makes good use of this situation! If the angels grow stronger, both Kuls-oppa and the Demon World will be finished! I'll try my best to help, so do well!"
"Understood, Carti! Then, when I have some free time later, I'll give you a proper greeting! I'll make good use of the information you've given me!"
"Yeah... ah! My time is up!"
"Right! What was the stance of the barony just ahead!"
"That's still fifty-fifty, but in Carti's opinion, the probability that they are Angel Faction— Gieeeeeeeeeeeek!"
The Evil Eye let out a bizarre scream and melted away.
"Whoa."
The summoning time had expired.
"Goodbye, Carti."
Still, it wasn't a short time. It was a very informative session. The human world is split between the Angel Faction and the Anti-Angel Faction, wars are breaking out everywhere, and a deposed Saintess is fleeing toward these borderlands.
Good.
—Thump.
I sat down and meditated, constantly thinking over the information I had gained today so that I wouldn't forget even the smallest detail.
Carti's information. Very well received. It would be great if I could keep receiving outside information like this. Well, for now, let's get to work.
"Attention, everyone!"
After I finished organizing my thoughts, I gathered all the members of my dungeon on the parade ground. I intended to let everyone know what had happened.
We are one family. If such an important event occurs, everyone should be informed.
"Do you remember the commotion that happened earlier!"
"Keruk! I remember!"
Buril answered as the representative.
"You must be curious about what that was! So I will tell you! Because it is that important!"
Let's start the explanation right away.
"First, you all know that I am a demon from the Demon World! Like Liliel here, the angel from the Heavenly Realm, I am also a being from the Demon World. And my family is in the Demon World!"
Everything up to here was something everyone already knew.
"An Evil Eye visited the dungeon earlier! The Evil Eye is a monster summoned by demonic arts! The one who sent that Evil Eye was none other than my sister!"
—Boom!
"Kerueeeek?!"
"What!"
"Shaaaaa!"
Surprise erupted at the mention of a sister. In truth, I hadn't really revealed anything about this. It wasn't strange for everyone to be surprised.
"Yes. It's surprising. I have a sister and a mother, too. Anyway. My sister gave me a huge help. She told me how the humans outside are living."
"...!"
At those words, my personal guard members were greatly agitated. They, too, hadn't known how the human world was turning since becoming my subordinates. Let's take this opportunity to resolve their questions.
"Angels have descended into the human world. And they are currently forming alliances with the powerful."
"W, what!"
At those words, Liliel jumped up.
"Liliel, you listen properly too!"
"A, alright!"
I shouted loudly to make her quiet down so I could start speaking. Then, I slowly delivered a speech summarizing what I had heard from Carti and my own thoughts.
So that all my family could understand.
After the explanation was over.
I sent everyone back into the dungeon. I approached the guard barracks to talk separately, and I heard the voices of Reika and Irene.
"Hey, fuck! These angel bastards are really something else, seriously! How dare they do something like that!"
"Liliel, you! Are you in your right mind!"
So they were blaming Liliel?
"Why, why do you blame me! I didn't do it, did I!"
"But if you, Liliel, had been there, you would have done the same thing!"
"That's! Too much!"
Internal strife is a no-go...!
"Calm down. Liliel is our comrade now."
"Vanessa!"
Still, it was a relief that Vanessa had some common sense.
"Yes. Family members should get along well. Isn't Liliel a valuable subordinate of our Demon King's Castle right now?"
"Ah!"
As I spoke while entering, Liliel's face turned into one of being moved. What a cute thing. She’s completely won over.
"Irene-nim. Don't be like that. Aren't we the same family?"
"U, ugh... I suppose so. I'm sorry, Liliel. I couldn't control my emotions..."
"A, alright."
Good.
"But to think that a war would break out because of the angels... this is a big deal."
"Well, just listening to what Liliel said when she first arrived, I think it's a natural outcome."
Vanessa replied to Ruby's words.
"That's true, too."
Anyway.
Let's start the conversation.
Just then.
"Hey."
Reika called me.
"Reika-nim?"
"That... the part about the Saintess being on the run. Is that for real?"
"That's what I heard. And I have some questions about the existence of a Saintess, so you'll need to tell me about that."
"Don't tell me you're planning to capture her?"
"Why waste words?"
It's a matter of course.
"I heard she's fleeing toward these borderlands, though she might change her direction in the middle. But if we can capture her, what could be better than that?"
"This fucking shit."
"Hehehe, don't be like that. Just listen to the plan first."
I was about to tell them this.
"I intend to actively utilize this situation. If we do it well, we can solidify our forces. First, I'm going to make sure we capture the Saintess. And I'm going to turn the Dark Elves into proper soldiers."
There are still rebellious women among the Dark Elves. At a time like this, when we need to move to the next stage, I can't leave beings with such rebellious spirits.
I will thoroughly train them all and make them completely our own.
"Wait. There's something most important."
"What is it? Vanessa-nim."
"I understand that you intend to advance into the human world. But aren't we demons right now? I don't think anything good will come of us just popping out toward the barony in this state."
"That's correct."
That's why the Saintess is important.
We must capture her no matter what.
"That's why capturing the Saintess is important. Once we catch her and train her, she'll be our figurehead, no matter what."
"T, training..."
"You know, don't you? My training skills."
"Kuh! Talking about such vulgar things!"
Vanessa blushes. Not only that, but when I mimicked the motion of moving my hands, everyone turned red, twisted their thighs, and avoided my gaze.
"So, this is the most important part."
The most important thing.
"How the barony is being run. Where and how the Saintess is fleeing. We must actively find that out."
That is to collect information directly.
"What...? Does that mean you're going to secretly send spies or something? Is that what you're talking about?"
"Yes."