Conquering the Barony #17

"Hahaha! Liliel! Show them a taste of your power!"

"Understood!"

The angels, crouching low and hiding behind the goblins, began casting their Dark Flame Cannon. Judging by their expressions, they were completely consumed by the thrill of battle.

"Haaah!"

"The power to destroy that barricade...!"

Last time, they had been helpless against the pixies' coordinated attacks, but now they were the hunters. The joy of victory, the intoxication of power—all those sensations were channeled into their hands.

"Fire!!!"

The moment the order was given.

The fallen angels' Dark Flame Cannons were fired in a high arc.

If the imps were grenadiers, the angels were essentially mortar crews. As soon as the Dark Flame Cannon collided with the barricade, a massive explosion erupted. The barricade was pulverized, and the soldiers behind it were killed instantly.

"As expected! That is truly powerful! To think the angels' strength is this immense!"

"Ha, hahaha! Have you only just realized? That is why you must grant me the position of company commander immediately!"

"Understood! I shall consider ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it positively!"

It was no empty claim that the angels were strong. Their firepower was overwhelming. Of course, the casting time was a bit long, the energy consumption was high, and the range didn't seem particularly long either, but in terms of pure destructive power, it surpassed a cavalry charge.

Even if the lamias charged with all their might and drove their spears home, they couldn't shatter a stone wall. That was a given. But the angels could do it.

"Short-range destructive power is more overwhelming than anything else."

I should focus on training the angels for firepower from now on. Since their output is stronger than the grenadiers, I can find a use for them in any situation.

"Liliel. Can you increase the range of the Dark Flame Cannon?"

"If I grow stronger. Specifically, I must receive more of your mana."

"As I thought."

The answer was anal sex, then.

"Well, anyway! Look! The Baron's army is no match for us! Our firepower is enough to crush them!"

"Keruk!"

"Krrruk!"

We continued our ascent, racking up victory after victory. The Baron's soldiers resisted by retreating and frantically building barricades, but there was no way they could defend the castle with only the troops present.

Everything was helplessly shattered and forced into retreat before the imps' fireballs and the angels' Dark Flame Cannons.

As we climbed, I noted, "Hmm... the building is quite spacious."

I could find spaces like halls and dining rooms. The inner castle was a fairly large building. Naturally, it had such facilities. Not only the barracks for my soldiers, but also a hall where they could gather, a dining room for meals, and even a large public bath and restrooms. Strangely, there seemed to be a device that could pump water to the upper floors, as water came out when I turned the faucet in the restroom.

"That's impressive."

"Hmph, is it strange? That is the civilization of humans. You can easily use water even in such a tall building."

Vanessa spoke as if she were proud when I marveled at the restroom. Was this some kind of nationalistic pride? No, well, I came from the modern era, so it wasn't that surprising. It was just more curious that a Baron's castle had such plumbing facilities.

"How is it that such a thing exists here?"

"A complex mechanism is embedded within. It draws water from underground. For your information, it is not sewage water. It is cleanly purified water, so you may use it with peace of mind."

So there was even a facility to purify water. Well, it is a world with magic. I suppose this level of technology is to be expected. But to have such modern facilities... wow. Things will be a bit more comfortable from now on.

Honestly, the environment is better than inside the dungeon, which is no different from a cave. Especially since there's less dust.

"Good. If we occupy a facility like this, we will surely be able to grow much larger. We'll be the ones collecting taxes from now on, too... Hehehe. Let's make good use of it."

We took a short break there and spent some time reorganizing.

"The Baron will be on the top floor. Unless there is a secret passage I don't know about, he's likely planning to lock the doors, hold out, and then surrender."

"Surrender, you say."

"In a war between nobles, if the opposing side surrenders, you must treat them accordingly."

"Hehehe, Vanessa. I am not a noble, but a Demon King. In that case, what should I do?"

Naturally, I have to follow the customs here. Or rather, I have to at least pretend to. If I go around ignoring all human customs like an outlaw just because I'm a Demon King, I won't be able to rally the humans of the anti-angel faction.

I must think like a human. From now on, my stage of activity is this human world. I need to adapt to human customs.

"You'll have your own ideas about that."

"Of course. I must follow human customs. I need to form an alliance with the humans of the anti-angel faction immediately, and if I ignore their customs, I will lose their trust."

"Oh, ooh... You've thought that far ahead? As expected."

Vanessa nodded. I know at least that much. Anyway, after capturing the Baron alive, I'll lock him in a dungeon and receive various forms of assistance. He'll have to live in that cell for a long time.

As I was thinking that, Buril said admiringly, "My King. Isn't this facility amazing? I just realized it, but this place is something else."

"It's completely different from the dirt walls of the dungeon. Keruk."

"Right?"

Aside from Buril, the other subordinates, perhaps feeling a bit more clear-headed after resting and recovering their stamina, also looked around and marveled repeatedly. For monsters who had lived their whole lives in the jungle, this artificial fortress must have looked truly mysterious.

"Humans live in places like this."

"It's so amazing! Keruk!"

"Keruk...!"

The goblins were genuinely awestruck.

"Yeah! That's right! And there are so many rooms!"

"There are tons of places to hide!"

"Let's kick all the humans out and play hide-and-seek!"

"Yahoo!"

The pixies were just excited.

"Gyusatsat."

"Demon King. There's no dirt to dig here?"

"It's outside."

"Gyusaaaaat!"

"Hehehe, hey Imp-sung. How's your body? Did you rest well?"

"Krrruk! I'm fine! I can throw more grenades!"

"Good!"

Then ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shall we advance again!

"Alright! Everyone rested well, right? Then let's head back up!"

"Keruuuuk!"

Let's go!

After a few more battles, we reached the top floor where the Baron's office was located. There hadn't been a single casualty on our side since we started.

"The door is closed. Liliel. Go ahead and call the landlord for me."

"Understood. Dark Flame Cannon, load!"

The fallen angels cast their spells skillfully now. Soon, they completed the Dark Flame Cannon and used it to knock.

Dust rose into the air. Along with the shattered door, what we saw was...

"They're here...!"

"It's those guys!"

"That army!"

Soldiers who had set up barricades here and there, heavily armed. In their center stood a man wearing full plate armor. That man must be the Baron.

"Vanessa?"

"That's him."

Soon, the Baron shouted, "Who on earth are you people! What kind of cowards are you to launch a surprise attack in the middle of the night! Do you have no honor?!"

Not worth answering.

"I am Baron Pikel! As a noble, I wish to negotiate with you! Let your representative come forward!"

I ignored his words. Negotiations or whatever, I was going to capture him. Let's see. Is there no escape route? Looking at it, there's nowhere to run. He clearly intends to make a final stand here and negotiate.

"Hmm."

If I hadn't come for a surprise attack, I could just retreat for a while and wait for them to grow weak from hunger. I would win without having to fight. But I don't have the time for that. I need to take control of this place as quickly as possible. In that case, I must fight.

"Imp-sung! They are complaining of hunger!"

"Krrruk! Load!"

The moment the imps cast their fireballs.

"Th-that! It's a sign that fireballs are coming!"

A soldier shouted. They must have learned after seeing it a few times.

"I knew it! All troops, charge!"

And the Baron gave the order to charge. A charge? Well, I suppose in this situation, it's better to charge than to hide behind a barricade and burn to death. But even so, we have the angels. It's a poor judgment... well, they aren't in a situation where they can afford to consider such things anyway. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The negotiation just fell through. If we have to fight, we'll just fight with all our might.

"Waaaaaah!"

"Waaaaah!"

The armed soldiers rushed forward. But I wasn't afraid at all.

"Liliel!"

"I'm watching!"

The angels were already casting. The completed Dark Flame Cannon was fired into the midst of the Baron's army.

It exploded appropriately.

"Uwaaaaaaaah!"

"Uhaaaaaaah!"

"Kack!"

Taste the Dark Flame Cannon that even shatters castle gates. The soldiers caught in the explosion were blown away, shattered, and collapsed.

Now they can't fight.

"Infantry, advance!"

"Keruuuuk!"

And my infantry advanced.

"Uhaaaaaaah! Save meeeee!"

"Keruk! Dieeeee!"

The shield bearers entered and struck the fallen soldiers, and as they moved from the straight corridor into a wider room, my subordinates spread out to the left and right, seizing the Baron's office. They had taken the initiative in an instant.

"Th-this cannot be...! What on earth are these things!"

The Baron, who hadn't been injured because he was relatively in the rear, was astonished.

"Monsters! Are they monsters!"

I kept my eyes on him. The Baron's army is no match for us anyway. The surviving soldiers were screaming and swinging their weapons, but they were all blocked by the shield bearers and simply stabbed to death by the spearmen behind them.

"Vanessa. Keep an eye on the Baron."

"I'm doing so without you telling me."

"Shaa. Demon King. I'm here too."

"Right."

The Baron is a skilled fighter. To subdue him without casualties, I have to deploy our experts. Well, like that, my subordinates took down all of the Baron's soldiers. They were no match from the start. The difference in morale was huge, and we were prepared. In contrast, they had only retreated in despair.

"Ah, aaah..."

The Baron didn't even fight. He was just astonished.

Then shall we have a little chat?

"Nice to meet you, Baron Pikel."

As I spoke from behind the shield bearers while being escorted, he replied with a devastated face, "Who... are you?"

"Well. That's not important. I'm thinking of taking this Barony starting today. I'll need some help from you in the future."

"Wh-what?"

"Is something strange?"

"Such nonsense... Do you think you can take the Barony just by killing me? Don't talk like a fool. What do you think the ownership of a territory is?"

"Ah, of course, I know everything, Lord Pikel."

"If you know, then what does that..."

I looked back.

"You there. Saintess, who is waiting? Come here."

"I shall."

"What?!"

At the mention of a Saintess, Baron Pikel was astonished.

The Saintess walked over and stood beside me.

"Oh, oh...!"

The Baron pointed his finger at the Saintess.

"What a pathetic sight. Baron Pikel."

"Y-you...!"

"You tried so hard to kill me."

"Damn it! You witch! So it was true that you summoned an army from hell!"

The Baron erupted in anger. But he didn't move rashly.

"Be quiet. I want to kill you just by hearing your voice."

"Huck...!"

"No. Saintess. Aren't you being too scary?"

"I am one who was chased by them."

Perhaps because that left a deep impression on her, the Saintess maintained a very cold attitude. To think this sister had such a side to her. I can feel her charisma.

"Baron Pikel. From now on, this Barony will be ours. To be precise, I, the Saintess, intend to make it so."

"Ha! The witch talks well! This land has already accepted the blessings of the angels! I already know that you are a witch! No one will believe your words!"

The Baron shouted with great spirit, but...

"Hehehe, angels. Liliel?"

"Is it my turn?"

We have angels on our side too, you know?

"Wh-what?! You!"

As Liliel stepped forward, Ariel and Ruziel flanked her. The Baron, seeing them, was astonished once again.

"Aren't those Ariel and Ruziel?!"

Since both of them were from this place. They were from the reinforcements that had joined the Baron's army.

"Weren't they killed in action?! What on earth is this?! And the angels are on the Saintess's side?!"

Suddenly, the Baron knelt down, clutching his hair and muttering, "Angels on the Saintess's side?! What about the witch?! Why are the angels doing this?! Could it be a trap? Have I fallen into a trap? Where ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on earth did the trap begin? Aah! Aaaaaah!"

The Baron screamed... but honestly, it's enough to drive anyone insane. I admit it.