The Goblin's Dance and the Baron's Fate
"Stronger! You've all grown so strong, my Goblins!!!"
"Keruk!"
"Keryaaaaaak!"
I held hands with my Goblin unit members, forming a circle and spinning around while singing. These guys really moved me. Their physical specs were incomparable to what they used to be.
It was all thanks to the training they underwent while being injected with my mana. Not only was their physical strength enhanced, but their muscles had been tempered through rigorous drills, and most importantly, they were eating well and living well every single day.
So, becoming stronger was inevitable!
"With you guys around, there's nothing to fear! To think you've become this strong! Now, Buril! Lead the song! Round and round! Keruk!"
"Round and round, Keruk!"
"Kerurung!"
Spinning around together like this was incredibly fun. Yes. This was the true sense of accomplishment. The fact that my Goblins had become masters of climbing meant, simply put, that they had become excellent infiltration agents.
With their climbing abilities born from immense muscular strength, they would be able to traverse the jungle with total freedom!
"Shaa! Demon King! Sharan wants to hold hands and sing too!"
"Hey! Why are you leaving us out!"
Not only did Sharan pop out, but Serineu also came running, squeezing into the circle of dancers to grab our hands. These girls! They wanted to join in on the fun!
"Good! Everyone get in! Everyone who can hear me, join in! Round and round! Keruk!"
"Round and round! Keruk!"
"Shaa shaa!"
We all sang together while spinning. As we did, the other pixies, and even Lumika, joined the fray.
"Grrr! Demon King! We're doing it too!"
"Kyusatsat! It's the Yarikiri dance!"
On top of that, the Imps and Kobolds were acting like total maniacs. It was a joyous day indeed!
"Look at this! Since I learned dark magic from the Saintess, my Wind Cutter has gotten even stronger!"
"Yah! Yah!"
"It's too strong!"
ㅡWhoosh!
I watched the Wind Cutter being fired by the pixies. It used to feel like a non-elemental attack, but now it felt like it had taken on a dark attribute.
The projectiles had turned purple, and they were causing black explosions at the point of impact. They had infused their Wind Cutter with wicked mana.
"Ho... the destructive power has increased, hasn't it?"
"Right?! The Saintess taught us! The Saintess is a great teacher!"
"She told us to call her Big Sister!"
"Big Sister! Big Sister!"
"Her chest is huge too!"
"If your chest is big, you're a sister!"
The pixies giggled and cheered, creating quite a racket. Yes. This energetic vibe was what made them so cute. Trying to determine hierarchy by chest size—how typical of pixies.
"Sharan can't learn dark magic, shaa."
I stroked the shoulder of Sharan, who was rubbing her head against me as if feeling down.
"It's okay. Sharan, you're amazing at plant magic. That's what I'm most proud of. Thanks to you, the farming is going well, isn't it?"
"Shaa."
"Sharan is so pretty."
The farmland was mostly finished. The fences were up, and we had built simple guard posts and living quarters.
Now, if we start farming in earnest, everything will be perfect.
"Demon King. Can you tell me I'm pretty too?"
As I was stroking Sharan, Lumika snuck up and started acting cute.
"Sure. Our Lumika is pretty too. Huh? You're just so pretty. We couldn't live without water, and Lumika, you are water itself."
"What is that supposed to mean? Fufufu."
"Anyway, you're just so pretty. A bundle of beauty, a bundle of beauty."
"For someone who says that, you've only been paying attention to the Saintess and Lea lately. That makes me sad, Demon King."
"Aigoo. I'm truly sorry about that. Here, Lumika, kiss."
"Mm."
Lumika immediately closed her eyes and puckered her lips. After I gave her a light kiss, Sharan demanded the same.
"Demon King. Sharan wants one too."
"Sure, sure."
Good.
"Now, let's go check on the farmland!"
With that, we headed toward the fields.
"Gurak! Demon King, you have arrived!"
"Shwaaaak! Demon King!"
The disciplined Hobgoblins and Lizardmen saluted me.
"Oh, yes! You've all worked hard! Soldiers!"
The situation at the farmland was perfect. Soldiers were patrolling the fences as I had trained them, and others were sowing seeds just as Sharan had instructed.
"Truly excellent tuntunbyeong (soldier-farmers)."
Soldiers who farm are called tuntunbyeong. They defend the land and produce their own food. It's the ideal type of unit for any commander. However, in reality, there is no such thing as an ideal. These soldier-farmers are usually too busy farming and training to have any real strength or combat power.
That's why, unlike the elite Goblin infantry, I shouldn't expect them to engage in professional combat; they should strictly be tasked with guarding the fields and farming. Even if this place were attacked, if they sent a messenger, our elite troops would arrive at any time. That was all they needed to do. In other words, their role was to hold the line.
"Sharan. Go around with Lumika and watch over the kids farming."
"Yes, Demon King."
After sending Sharan off...
"Shwaaaak. Demon King. I have a report on our results, shwaak."
"What is it?"
Jurassic said.
"Shwaaaak. We hunted all the monsters that were eyeing our crops, shwaak."
"Oh! Well done! That's how you do it!"
"We turned them all into meat and ate them, shwaak."
"Hehehe, yes. That's the spirit."
If we hunt the wild monsters that try to cross the fence, we can get meat. In that way, I looked around the farmland and found areas for improvement.
ㅡRustle.
As I was doing that, the Lamias came over.
"Oh! Julia! You're back!"
"Yes. I have returned."
The Lamias loved hunting and fighting so much that they were rarely at the base. They spent every day roaming the jungle, hunting and scouting, so I didn't get to see them often.
"Can you give me a scouting report? What about the Dark Elves?"
"As of now, there are no signs of them invading. It is certain that another group of Dark Elves confirmed the destroyed village, but we couldn't find any movement beyond that."
"Hmm... is that so?"
So the Dark Elves haven't made their move yet. This is bothering me. If there are humans in the front, it means there are Dark Elves in the rear. I want to reduce the Dark Elf forces before I fight the humans, but if they don't attack, I don't have much of an opportunity.
"You've worked hard, Julia."
"It's only natural. But if you want to give me a reward... tonight."
Julia smiled shyly and licked her lips with her snake-like tongue. Yes. I should play with the Lamias once in a while. I also had a briefing to give to the executives anyway.
"Then return to the dungeon tonight."
"Fufufu, yes. Understood. Demon King."
Now, let's start the executive meeting. Holding meetings like this to share future policies is essential. After I sent out the word and waited...
"Oh."
Reika was the first to arrive.
"Reika, you're the first one here?"
"Got a problem with that?"
"No."
"Really? But more importantly... are you having the time of your life lately? You look like you're in a damn good mood."
"Hehehe, is that so?"
"With the Saintess, with Lea. You've got sexy, big-breasted girls lining up to get in, so you must be losing your mind, right?"
"That's not all. The Saintess is so capable. She's been a huge help."
"Tsk."
At those words, Reika clicked her tongue.
"Are you perhaps jealous?"
"D-don't talk nonsense. As if."
It was all written on her face.
"Is that so? Well, if you were jealous, I would have gone to get some milk."
"Y-you bastard, seriously... if you're gonna drink it, just drink it, why say that kind of... Anyway. What's the meeting about?"
There was still time before everyone else arrived, but maybe I should tell her a little first.
"The next goal is the defeat of the human army. It's said there are signs that they are gathering troops and planning to invade alongside the angels."
"...The Demon World's little sister?"
"Yes. So we need to prepare again starting now. Prepare to fight a large army. We have to kill as many as possible."
"Hmm, well. Can't be helped. That's what fighting is."
Reika crossed her arms and nodded. She had become a woman who understood at least this much.
"And as for the goal after that. Once we defeat the Baron's army, I plan to use the power vacuum to strike the Baron's castle."
"What?!"
Reika was shocked.
"In other words, I'm thinking of invading the Baron's territory and taking the land, hmm? Reika?"
"Hey."
Suddenly, Reika's expression became very serious.
"Yes?"
"Are you going to kill everyone?"
"Yes?"
"Everyone in the Baron's territory?"
What is she talking about?
"Are you saying that demons and humans can't coexist? So you're going to kill everyone in the Baron's territory? Or are you planning to make them slaves and rule over them? Huh?"
So that's why she got serious. Reika was currently misunderstanding. She was worried that I would invade the Baron's territory and massacre everyone except the women.
"N-no. Reika. I think you've got the wrong idea. A massacre?"
"What?"
"I'm planning to use the Saintess to form an alliance with the anti-angel faction of humans, so how could I do something like that? I'm just planning to suppress the Baron. Massacre the humans in the Baron's territory? It's impossible to begin with, and if I did that, I'd be in big trouble."
"...Huh?"
Reika tilted her head.
"We have to get along. Well, it's true that I dream of world conquest, but how could it be possible to exterminate all humans? I don't even have any intention of doing that. Isn't getting along the best way?"
"G-get along? You're not going to massacre them all?"
What do you take me for?
"How could I massacre all humans?"
"U-um... is that so."
Reika, her face slightly flushed, licked her lips as if she had been convinced.
"Hmm, well. Yeah. Of course, that makes sense. Hmm. Good. If it's like that, then by all means... Anyway, I thought this bastard was just purely evil, but I guess that's not the case..."
For some reason, she seemed to be in a very good mood.
I guess I'll never understand a woman's heart.