Reunion! #8
With Vanessa dispatched as a spy, we began our preparations for battle in earnest. If the Saintess were to arrive here, a clash with the humans would be inevitable.
This time, it wouldn't be something we could just brush aside. We would be facing an armed, trained military. Although we had been diligently gaining experience, this would undoubtedly be our most difficult battle yet.
"Buril. We have to fight humans now. Do you understand?"
"Keruk. I've already been thinking about it, my Lord. I'll smash those human bastards to pieces."
Buril said this with a confident grin, as if it were nothing. But it wouldn't be that easy. Buril had only known victory until now. He didn't understand the true terror of humans.
"Hehehe, it's not as easy as you make it sound, kid. To put it simply, Buril, humans are trained just like us. They aren't pushovers."
"Keruk. I've heard you say that, but I don't think it's really hit home yet. As long as we have our infantry phalanx, won't we win no matter what?"
"Overconfidence is a death sentence. Anyway, from today on, focus entirely on military training. Split into two teams and practice clashing your phalanxes against each other."
"Keruk! Understood, my Lord!"
Vanessa had also been participating in the military training diligently. She had provided ideas on how to counter human armies and helped set the direction for our drills. As long as we didn't grow complacent, we could win no matter what happened.
"Julia, please continue your usual hunting patrols while conducting combat training. Try to simulate strikes against the enemy's rear."
"Yes. I shall do so, my Demon King."
Julia bowed elegantly, looking as reliable as ever. Humans to the front, and Dark Elves and Lamias to the rear. It was a difficult situation, but depending on how I handled things, those beings in the back would all become my allies.
"Necree! From now on, we will assign tasks to the Dark Elves as well!"
"W-what kind of tasks... I will follow whatever you say."
After the persistent, torture-like daily routines I’d put them through, the Dark Elves had all become docile. They had reached the point where they would follow any order I gave without a word of complaint.
"For the sake of our dungeon, unlock the skills the Dark Elves possess. Architecture, clothing production, metallurgy—show me everything you are capable of."
"Architecture, clothing production, and metallurgy, you say?"
"Yes. And cultivation on top of that."
"W-well, everyone should know the basics, but the facilities..."
"We have facilities here, too. Let's combine what we have and develop them together."
"Understood. I will do as you command."
"You're so lovely when you're obedient, Necree."
"Umm..."
As I stroked her head and ears to praise her, her face flushed red immediately. Women really are best when they've been properly trained.
"Then, gather the Dark Elves and categorize them by the skills they possess. I'll check them later."
"Yes."
It didn't matter what it was, as long as they knew how to do something. The Demon King's castle had a labor force. If I combined the skills of the Hobgoblins, Pixies, and Dark Elves, I was certain things would improve, even if only by a little.
"Gyuil!"
"Gyusat. Did you call for me?"
"You know that mother Kobold we captured a while back?"
"I do. Gyusat."
"Are you taking good care of her?"
"Gyusatsat. She has given birth to many pups."
"Good. Once they grow a bit, I'll use Domination on them. Take good care of both of them."
"Understood. Gyusatsat."
Gyuil wiggled his rat-like snout and headed back. Just as I was distributing tasks like that, Necree reported that the categorization was finished.
"Then let's go take a look."
"Yes..."
The Dark Elves were gathered together.
"Who are the Dark Elves with farming skills?"
"I-it's this way."
A Dark Elf with a gentle impression raised her hand.
"Do you know how to farm?"
"Yes... I learned it so that I could..."
I had heard Ruby's report. Dark Elves tended to learn one skill at a time and work in that field.
"We'll be doing some cultivation soon, so we'll see then. Prepare to take command."
"C-command? Someone like me!"
"There is no right of refusal."
I reached out and squeezed her hip until it felt like it would burst.
"A-ah, I understand...!"
The Dark Elf immediately lowered her tail and answered obediently. Due to the arrival of the Dark Elves, I had temporarily postponed the creation of the farmland. I had to do it while I had time so I could increase our military strength.
"Now then. Everyone who knows architecture, clothing production, and metallurgy, one representative from each group come here."
"...Yes."
At my words, each representative stepped forward. Architecture would be used when building structures in the farmland area. Clothing production was essential. And metallurgy was just as vital.
"First, metallurgy. Do you know how to do it?"
"I do. I learned it."
"We happen to have the equipment in our dungeon. From now on, please put your efforts into metallurgy."
"...Understood."
Beyond that, I assigned tasks to each of the now-docile Dark Elves and guided them to the work sites. Since the Pixies and Hobgoblins were already handling clothing production and metallurgy, planting these Dark Elf technicians there would allow us to advance our technology.
"Good."
Days flowed by like that—utilizing human resources to advance our tech while simultaneously preparing for war.
After finishing the basic preparations, I went to check on the farmland with the Dark Elves. Because we had stopped halfway through last time, weeds had grown back, but it still looked like a very decent spot.
"Ah... here. If we just remove the weeds and till the soil, it should be fine. It's already been worked on a bit, so if we have seeds, I think we can start right away..."
"Is that so?"
Fortunately, when we raided the Dark Elf village, we had managed to seize both the farming tools and the seeds.
"So you're saying if we just quickly remove the weeds and till the ground, we can start immediately. Are you certain?"
"Yes... it's good land..."
"Sharan. What do you think?"
"Yes, my Demon King. It's even better if we do it that way."
"Good. Hoburi."
"Gurak."
"Unpack the supplies we brought. Execute."
"Understood, gurak."
The Hobgoblins immediately removed the leather covering the cart they had brought. Inside, the Dark Elves' farming tools were revealed.
"Hey, follow that Dark Elf's instructions, remove the weeds, and till the ground. Start now. Gyuil, take the Kobolds and help them."
"Gyusat. Understood."
Today's workers were the Hobgoblins, the Kobolds, and the Dark Elves.
"Then, I'll leave it to you. Please begin."
"Yes..."
The Dark Elf immediately picked up a farming tool and began giving instructions to the Hobgoblins.
"My Demon King. But the humans are planning to invade, is it really okay to be farming here?"
"Of course it's not okay. But Sharan, we have to succeed with this farming if we want to increase our military strength."
Recently, I hadn't been able to increase our forces because of the food shortage. We had to cultivate land to increase the number of soldiers, but danger was rife on all sides. Moreover, this place was a bit far from the dungeon. It was harder to defend than guarding our own front yard.
"We have to push ourselves and do it anyway."
It would be too late once we were in the middle of fighting the humans in earnest. We had to do it beforehand.
"Shaa... even with many subordinates, there's a lot of hard work to do."
"That's for sure."
"Sharan will comfort you. Shaa-shaa."
Sharan, who had stuck to my side, massaged my shoulders and acted cute. It really put my mind at ease.
"Hehehe, thank you, Sharan."
Anyway. Once we start the cultivation, I'll set up some wooden fences around the perimeter. And I'm thinking of calling the Lizardmen who are living leisurely by that lake to take over the security here.
"Oh, and you. I want to build some houses for the kids to live in around here, and some guard posts. Could you decide where it would be best to build them and let me know?"
"Understood."
The Dark Elf with architectural skills answered docilely and began to survey the surroundings. Materials were in abundance.
"Hehehe."
Still, I'm looking forward to it. If we can just produce food, we'll be able to increase our troop size without issue. The more our labor force grows, the faster our development will be.
Military training, stockpiling supplies, food production, and advancing our tech. Our Demon King's castle spent its time focusing on those tasks.
"It's been quite a while since Vanessa left."
"I'm very worried."
"Me too."
Lumika expressed her concern from the side.
"This... could there be a problem?"
"Indeed."
Of course, it wasn't just Lumika. Reika, Irene, Liza, and even Ruby were all worried. The entire dungeon executive staff was in a state of concern.
The Pixies had long since escorted Vanessa to the border and returned without issue, but Vanessa was operating alone.
"Perhaps she ran away!"
"Tsk! Liliel! You'll be punished if you say things like that!"
"It may be a bit negative, but I was merely making a necessary prediction. In times like this, one must consider the worst—"
"Liliel! How can you say that! Do you know how well we protected Vanessa!"
"No, that's not what I meant..."
Serineu bristled at Liliel's words.
"N-now, now. Serineu. Calm down. It's only natural to have some bad thoughts, isn't it?"
"Still... Vanessa will be fine. Right?"
"I suppose so. She will be fine."
I believe she will be fine. I reassured Serineu, and in doing so, reassured myself as well. What kind of woman is Vanessa? Of course she would be fine.
"Now then. Let's begin today's meeting—"
"Keruuuuuuk! Buril-nim! Buril-nim!"
"Hmm?"
Just then, a Goblin's voice rang out from outside the meeting room.
"Something must have happened! Buril! Quickly, get the men armed!"
"Keruk! Understood!"
—*Thwack!*
Buril immediately kicked off the ground and bolted toward the door.
"Keruk! You! What did you call for!"
"Keruruk! Buril-nim! An Evil Eye! An Evil Eye has appeared!"
"An Evil Eye...! My Lord! It seems the Demon King's younger sister, Kerung-Kerung, has come!"
"Oh, shit! Carti! Wait here for a moment!"
Did Carti send word again!
—*Whoosh!*
I kicked off the ground and bolted out, shouting at the Goblin to guide me quickly. When I reached the outside of the dungeon, as expected, an Evil Eye was waiting for me.
"Kyuls-oppa!"
"Oh! Carti! Get inside first!"
"Okay!"
I immediately grabbed the Evil Eye and headed to my room!
"Carti! Greetings later! What's going on!"
"It's information about the Saintess and Vanessa!"
"Aha!"
So you managed to make contact with Vanessa too!
"The Saintess has currently reached the vicinity of the Barony ahead! We are supporting Vanessa! Vanessa has taken up a position in the surrounding area and is monitoring the Saintess!"
"Ooh!"
That's great!
"I'll be able to see her soon!"