Ch.274Queen Aurore (4)

The Maid Outer God Legion was a mixed unit composed of large numbers of Descartes’ Forces and Maxwell’s Forces, along with a small number of Darwin’s Legion.

They could employ far more versatile offensive tactics than the Queen’s forces, which consisted solely of Darwin’s Legion.

The Darwin’s Legion would act as shields.

The Maxwell’s Forces would snipe the weakened Outer Gods in between.

The Descartes’ Forces would scramble the minds of the weakened enemies.

And once this cycle completed, voilà.

“Kyaaaah! I-I can’t believe I’ve become an inferior species…!”

“I’ll do it! I’ll be Cartesia’s slave!”

“My Queen, I apologize. It seems I’ve found my true master.”

The number of maids was increasing in real-time.

Blood vessels bulged in Aurora’s eyes.

“…What in the world is this.”

I wonder the same.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, they say. Perhaps this is what it means to counter madness with madness.

“A worthless creature like you daring to cause me such displeasure—you deserve to die a thousand deaths.”

“Status? What’s that worth anyway.”

Cartesia snickered.

“In real combat, you have to consider various factors, don’t you? Your Majesty. You easily subjugated other Outer Gods, but did you come here without considering that I’m the master of this territory?”

“Worthless. Things like compatibility can be overcome with sheer numbers.”

More Darwin’s Legion Outer Gods swarmed in. A wave of flesh undulated, covering the void.

My head tilted upward. Aurora was charging toward us, riding directly on the wave of Outer Gods. Our expanded Maid Legion couldn’t handle that quantity.

“This doesn’t look good.”

“…Youngster, what are you doing?”

I grabbed Cartesia, who was focused on commanding, and ran.

The next moment, a sticky mess crashed down exactly where we had been standing. The Outer Gods crushed under the Queen collapsed like poorly made clay sculptures.

“How impudent!”

Aurora pursued us with fierce momentum. Her speed was considerable.

Nevertheless, I never allowed her to close the distance.

Strangely, my body felt light and fast. It seemed to be because of the higher dimension. Like how if a two-dimensional paper slides under a bed, it’s difficult for a three-dimensional human hand to reach in and pull it out.

Just as our universe is vast, so too is the universe of the Outer Gods. There were places to escape everywhere.

“How foolish.”

Suddenly, the Queen appeared right in front of us.

“Do you think you can escape from my palm?”

Sorry, but I anticipated this.

I folded space as I ran. Cartesia and I leaped to a spot far away from the Queen. Using blind spots, we regrouped.

“For a human, you have a good grasp of 7-dimensional measure concepts. The more I see, the more interesting you become. How can you adapt so quickly?”

“In physics, we deal with 11 dimensions or more. From when I first studied it, I tried to simulate how to understand it synesthetically… No, that’s not the point. Should I put you down now?”

“No need. It’s troublesome to move.”

Cartesia chattered away while still in my arms. How interesting, how amusing. Even in this situation, she was overflowing with new research topics to consider.

Truly befitting the God of Wisdom and Curiosity.

Before long, the Queen discovered us and gave chase.

Cartesia whispered to our Outer Gods.

“This youngster and I will handle the Queen, so you continue turning the weaker ones into our comrades.”

“Master, but is there any sign this will end? They have too many…”

Cartesia turned her head to look at the Outer God who asked the question. The maid Outer God squeaked “Eek!” and shrank back.

“I’m sorry! As a mere servant, I asked something beyond my station…!”

“It’s fine. I like productive questions. This is my territory, so no matter who she is, there’s a limit to how much she can rampage. We’ll strike in that gap. Nothing in nature is infinite, and nothing remains unchanged. Would the Queen be any different?”

“Ah, I see! You mean we should harass her until she tires?”

“Smart slave.”

The maid Outer Gods scattered.

The Queen now charged at us with fire in her eyes, determined to kill us.

“Now, move, youngster.”

Cartesia tapped my head repeatedly, urging me on.

“If she catches you, you’ll get pregnant.”

From now on, it was time for a game of tag.

***

“Hit and run. My favorite tactic. No matter how strong the enemy, this method irritates their nerves until they lose their reason. Look at that.”

Cartesia pointed at Aurora approaching from a distance.

The Queen’s movements had clearly slowed. It couldn’t be helped. We had done nothing but run away. We left the minor attacks to the maid Outer Gods.

How long did this continue?

Until the Queen tired. Calculating time was meaningless.

Aurora calmed the waves and slowly approached, then looked at us with a fierce gaze and spoke.

“…Enough, let’s stop this.”

There it is.

How about we call it a draw?

“You’re quite good at running away. I’ll admit it. Your skill at escaping is comparable to our species.”

“Are you saying your kind is skilled at running away?”

“…”

“Oh my, that was rude.”

Cartesia snickered. Aurora clenched her broken fist tightly, then sighed as if it didn’t matter.

Still, the Queen is impressive. She’s suppressing the violence that is the instinct of Darwin’s Legion to some extent.

Soon, the vibrations completely subsided.

It was time to stop fighting and sit at the negotiation table.

Aurora asked first.

“You’re clearly not an ordinary human. What exactly are you?”

“A physicist.”

“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say. Or are you playing dumb? Speak more clearly. If you want to end the war…”

“I’m a man who will become a physics professor.”

“You’re definitely insane.”

Aurora turned her head with a disgusted expression. Her eyes met Cartesia’s, who was hiding behind me with just her head peeking out.

“…By the way, why are you sticking with that guy? When you’re a superior being like us.”

“You talk too much. If you’re going to leave my territory, leave quickly.”

“Hmph.”

Aurora snapped her fingers.

“Assemble.”

As soon as the declaration fell, the remaining Outer Gods swiftly gathered. Cartesia likewise issued an assembly order to summon the Maid Legion.

There were clearly only about twenty at first. Somehow, the number of maids had increased to thousands.

Grind.

Aurora gritted her teeth. She berated her wavering Outer Gods.

“Our forces are filled with useless ones. What should I do with these idiots…”

Before Aurora could finish speaking, most of the Outer Gods trembled. It was clear how harshly Aurora normally treated her subordinates.

Yet there was one who calmly raised a tentacle to ask a question.

“So… are we retreating?”

“Retreat?”

“We’re retreating?”

The Outer Gods stirred. Aurora frowned and showed signs of attacking the Outer God who had asked the question.

Not missing this opportunity, I raised my voice.

“Queen Aurora, thank you for the alliance. If we join forces, we can surely find the core of Laplace’s Forces and defeat them.”

“…What?”

“Additionally, Stern’s forces will soon come to attack Your Majesty from behind. Perhaps they’ve already begun their offensive. As promised, our Laniakea Federation will assist Your Majesty’s rear to help reorganize your army.”

“Y-you, what nonsense are you spouting now.”

The Queen revealed her true form, her face cracking.

But it was already too late.

Once unrest spreads, it travels a thousand miles.

“…Are we really retreating?”

“Our invincible forces?”

“She acted like a leader for a while. In the end, she was just a strong idiot.”

Darwin’s Legion has strong violence but weak cohesion.

Unlike Maxwell’s Forces or Descartes’ Forces, which at least take care of their own team, they fought and devoured each other, unable to unite until the Queen emerged.

And now, because of my statement, this group began to waver.

“She said we could win by pushing with numbers and strength.”

“To think we couldn’t catch one human and one Descartes Outer God.”

“We suffered losses with no gains. The worst defeat.”

“And what? Forming an alliance? With these inferior beings? What humiliation!”

Babababam!

The Queen quickly culled the Outer Gods who expressed dissatisfaction.

“Where do you get off spouting such nonsense? I suffered a defeat? I’m seeking an alliance because I couldn’t catch one human? Do I look like such a pathetic being to you?”

“W-well…”

That’s when it happened.

“Your Majesty, report! Stern’s forces have launched a surprise attack on our main base!”

“I must have misheard.”

“It’s Stern! The supreme god of Maxwell’s Forces! The undulating fury, the iron fortress, that steel monster!”

“…Ah, that pile of scrap metal. He dares to set fire to my palace? Does he think I’ve been defeated by these worthless creatures?”

“But didn’t that human just mention Stern earlier?”

The Outer Gods’ eyeballs rolled toward me. It was disgusting enough to make me nauseous, but I maintained my composure. I answered them with a smile.

“Yes, I said Stern would attack and we would help you. It seems he’s already on the move.”

The Darwin’s Legion Outer Gods hesitated.

The unrest was growing.

“Your Majesty, how does this inferior creature know the name of the Outer God called Stern?”

“He’s famous, so of course he knows. Or perhaps that silver Outer God clinging to the human told him.”

“How does he know about the bad relationship between Your Majesty and Stern?”

“Anyone with minimal technological capability could deduce that we’ve fought several major wars. If they were so primitive that they couldn’t gather that much information, would the war have lasted this long?”

“How do you explain his earlier suggestion about joining forces against Laplace’s Forces? You wouldn’t have revealed that information publicly.”

“There must have been a spy.”

“Are you that incompetent? Aaaagh!”

Another Outer God went down screaming.

This is why knowledge is power.

And this isn’t the end. Just as Zhuge Liang destroyed people with his three-inch tongue, today I too will expose lies and kill several more Outer Gods here.

Of course, the Queen might be among them.

“Your Majesty shared information about Stern with me. His body is like thin spines tangled together, and his head is a massive Outer God with millions of pairs. He usually curls his body into a ball, sometimes appearing like a planet or a dwarf star. While some evaluate his temperament as gentle, it’s said his outside and inside are different.”

“…”

One by one, the Outer Gods stood up. Their pus-like eyeballs were filled with a sense of betrayal.

And Aurora—

“You evil demon—!! I’ll tear out your tongue—!!”

“Oh, she’s angry. She’s angry.”

Cartesia clapped her hands with a blank expression.

“You dare insult me in the middle of our conversation? I see I have no choice. We must end this here today!”

Swoosh!

Tentacles flew right up to my face.

But I didn’t dodge.

[Remaining estimated time, 0 seconds.]

There was no need to.