Ch.44Chapter 44. Conquering Symphonia (2)

Chapter 44. Symphonia Conquest (2)

Not just an ordinary orangutan.

It was wearing plate armor that looked like it had been made by combining several sets of human armor.

On its back, it carried a huge container filled with wooden spears.

The creature was armed like a human.

None of the lower demons I’d seen so far, or even the mid-level demons, had such armaments.

Though I’d only seen cobra and bull-headed mid-level demons, they fought strictly using their physical specs and magical abilities.

But the creatures living in this city wore armor even at the lower ranks.

It seems like the ape infectee had evolved into a lower demon.

Why do only these creatures have weapons?

Because they have body structures similar to humans? Because they’re primates with higher intelligence?

I couldn’t tell, but one thing was certain.

These bastards… they’re not going to be pushovers.

As soon as the orangutan demon entered the yard, another demon came out of the mansion.

Wooooo-!

The distinctive cry of a primate.

It looked like a chimpanzee demon, and this one was also equipped with medium armor.

It had a sword at its waist and carried a shield in its left hand—practically a primate knight.

This isn’t Planet of the Apes or something.

Still, judging by its size, it wasn’t mid-level. The mid-level demons I’d seen so far were at least 5-10 meters tall.

The orangutan and chimpanzee greeted each other with their distinctive primate sounds.

The two demons were exchanging “woo-woo!” sounds like idiots, chattering in place for several minutes when it happened.

The mansion door, as large as a castle gate, opened, and holy shit.

A crazy giant gorilla over 7 meters tall approached them, walking on two feet and four hands.

So that’s why the top of the mansion door was somewhat damaged—because of this insane monster.

Why does it have six limbs when it’s a mammal? What are you, some kind of Pok*mon?

I can say with certainty that it had a presence no less intimidating than the cobra demon or bull-headed demon.

No, it looked stronger than those guys.

With a large scar on its face, it was like a battle-hardened monkey. Looks like it would be damn good at fighting.

It was wearing armor like its subordinates.

Could I land an effective hit with a Lakye punch?

Holding back a curse, I cast divine possession on Lakye.

– Can you defeat that creature?

“…I’d have to fight it to know.”

Even my strongest asset, the great Lakye, wasn’t confident.

Ah, why does only my area have this kind of crazy monster bastard?

I want to meet a first-round boss like a cobra or bull-head too and grow slowly.

You developer bastards, can’t you balance this properly?

I released the mentally draining divine possession and watched them again.

The monster gorilla grabbed the orangutan by the collar with one hand and lifted it up.

Keee…!

The orangutan, over 3 meters tall, was lifted effortlessly. It whimpered.

It was a pitiful sound, as if begging for its life.

The gorilla snorted and dropped the orangutan to the ground.

No, it would be more accurate to say it threw it. The orangutan rolled across the yard.

What a strongman.

The gorilla gestured something to the chimpanzee. It looked like sign language.

Nodding as if it understood, the chimpanzee took out a horn from its chest and blew it.

Pwoooo!

The demon’s eyes that had been near the city simultaneously flew toward the mansion.

Could that be a tool to control the demon’s eyes?

“I’ll duck down for a moment.”

Lakye lay flat. Several demon eyes flew over Lakye, but they didn’t seem to notice us.

Fortunately, they were flying straight ahead without looking around.

Woooaaarrr!

The gorilla demon gathered the demon’s eyes and let out a roar.

Its monstrous voice echoed throughout the city. Insane volume.

The one-eyed monsters, the demon’s eyes, blinked a few times and then flew away again.

Did they receive new orders? I’m getting a sense of what’s happening.

This gorilla bastard is looking for our tribal alliance.

It must be angry because there were no results despite assigning the orangutan demon and demon worshippers to search.

In reality, they’ve been chasing their tails. At first, they just wandered around the mountain, then moved elsewhere, and when Princess Dina fired a single beam of light the other day, they all gathered in that area.

The gorilla demon pounded the ground with its four arms a few times in rage before going back into the mansion.

As Muri said, lower demons were stupid, but mid-level ones were different.

The armed primates under its command and the troops sent to capture us—that must be the monster’s doing.

It might be as intelligent as a human.

After watching the gorilla enter, the orangutan demon left the mansion and stood in front of a huge warehouse.

It opened the door and brought out three monsters the size of mid-sized cars.

They were lower demons of the mammal family, not primates.

In order, they looked like donkey, rabbit, and badger demons. They appeared to lack intelligence.

Their armaments were also poor compared to the three primates.

I wonder if there are more low-intelligence lower demons inside the warehouse.

“Just three. There are no more demonic presences.”

Lakye answered before I could ask.

Given Lakye’s excellent ability to detect demons, that must be right.

The orangutan demon mounted the donkey demon and drove the other two.

The four demons left the city.

“All three can fly. They’re sending even lower demons to track us.”

Lakye is right. They’re trying to use a more definitive method.

One mid-level demon. Five lower demons.

The mid-level demon and two lower demons are heavily armed.

The mid-level seems highly intelligent.

The demon worshippers living in the city are well-armed.

Four lower demons just left the city.

I think we’ve gathered all the information we can from here.

Now let’s leave it to Lakye.

I cast divine possession on Paya, who was with Tteontteoni.

“Ah! Lord Malak!”

Paya was currently flying through the sky on Tteontteoni’s back.

Tteontteoni, who had been growing day by day since becoming a spirit, was now large enough to carry Paya.

Its body length was about 1.8 meters, with wings spanning over 4 meters.

At this point, it’s a pterosaur.

If it grows a bit more, it might become as large as a lower demon.

– How’s the situation?

I assigned Paya and Tteontteoni to scout the base of the mountain.

Since the demon’s eyes don’t see objects above them well, it was safe to just circle the mountaintop.

There was also a stealth mode just in case.

“The demon’s eyes are moving elsewhere! And… j-just a moment. I feel like I’m going to throw up…”

Paya’s pale face looked pitiful—this must be her first time flying.

Well, when would a barbarian have flown in the sky before? At most, she might have ridden a horse.

I didn’t even order the reconnaissance; Paya volunteered.

She insisted she wanted to help me and the tribal alliance.

‘It’s dangerous! What if you fall?!’

Kanto tried hard to stop her, but well, they say no brother can win against his sister.

Or was it no parent can win against their child? Anyway, it’s all the same.

“I-I’m fine now.”

– Don’t push yourself.

“No, I’ll get used to it if I fly with Tteontteoni often. I’ll keep growing and stand by your side, Lord Malak.”

I can feel Paya’s emotions surging.

The role of being a god’s right hand must be very attractive, but I hope she doesn’t develop too much of a rivalry with Lakye.

What Paya can do and what Lakye can do are clearly different.

And honestly… I’m still not thrilled about taking a kid to the battlefield.

It’s a physiological aversion that I can’t help. I gave permission and I understand, but I can’t help feeling uncomfortable in one corner of my heart.

The limitations of a modern person who learned “morals and ethics” of the 21st century, I suppose.

– What about the demon worshippers?

“They’re no longer visible. I think they’ve all gone elsewhere.”

– I see.

It’s safe. Confirmation complete.

I cast divine possession on Muri.

Using divine possession repeatedly makes me tired and exhausted. Sigh.

– High Priest Muri.

“Lord Malak, you’re here.”

Muri was sitting with the tribal alliance leaders, working on strategy.

They were placing stones and wood on a scroll on the table, discussing earnestly.

It’s like the war games we often did during reserve military training.

“We tested the magic interference device earlier. It works well.”

Harry placed a machine that looked like a retro radio on the table.

“Ugh.”

It looks quite heavy.

“We’ve also established a strategy!”

Kanto wiped his saliva and said. Acting like he worked hard when he was just knocked out until a moment ago.

I bet Muri and Harry came up with the whole strategy.

These old veterans are working so hard, what are you doing as the young leader?

Is this what an MZ barbarian chief is like?

– Three lower demons guarding the city have gone out on reconnaissance. Currently, there’s one mid-level and two lower demons left in the city.

I briefly told them about the city situation.

“Now’s our chance.”

“Indeed. We must go through five villages and head straight to the city. In any battle, the side that gets its heart stabbed first loses.”

Muri and Harry each said a word.

“Good! We’ll show those creatures the power of the tribal alliance!”

Kanto, this guy is just excited. This battle-hungry bastard.

– We’ll start as soon as Lakye arrives.

The gorilla demon was certainly strong.

But I don’t think it’s overwhelmingly powerful to the point we can’t win.