Ch.59Chapter 59. Conquering Bluetan (1)

Chapter 59. Blutan Conquest (1)

I fell asleep exhausted and ended up having a strange dream. Needless to say, it was just a dream.

I’m not a snake, and I was never born in such a world. It must have been Malak’s memory.

The being who gave me what’s supposedly the dominance of the soul.

“Hmm.”

Why did I see this guy’s past in dream form? Is this an ominous foreshadowing that the dominance is changing?

No. If that were the case, I’d be in a more unstable state than I am now. I just had a strange dream, but everything else is fine.

…Malak said that if we had long conversations, my mind wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Perhaps this is a penalty for having even that brief conversation in message form last time?

The dominance wavered momentarily while I was asleep.

It’s nothing serious yet, but the more we talk, the more our selves might mix, and I might lose myself.

I should avoid conversations with Malak as much as possible. I should only do it when truly important, life-or-death moments come.

There’s good news too.

If the dream was entirely factual, then Malak was either the strongest being in the world or something close to it.

Even in snake form before ascending, no one could stop Malak.

Didn’t he overwhelmingly defeat that guy called the God of Play who tried everything to deal with Malak?

Since it’s the first time I’ve heard this god’s name, I don’t know exactly what kind of bastard he is, but seeing how he built cathedrals and summoned warriors from other dimensions, he must be pretty strong.

Wait.

Cathedral and warriors from another world? There were also apostles who received divine power.

Like paladins who use the power of the goddess.

This God of Play bastard… could it be Ishtania…?

In the mythical era when Malak was a snake, she might have been called the God of Play.

Let’s move on for now.

Anyway, this is very good news for me. It means that this being called Loa, or more precisely, Malak at his peak, is incredibly powerful.

Yes, I was right that a king ghost is an extremely powerful character!

Not just some healing totem or other clickable totem nonsense!

As expected of an expansion pack boss, this is the level it should be. Despite the serious situation, I somehow feel good.

I… might become incredibly strong?

The Dark Cloud and Charon… I might beat them up?

Save the world, perhaps?

Maybe even go home, drink beer, and watch a movie?

For once, I let my happiness circuit run.

***

At the Tribal Alliance’s altar.

I opened my mouth after confirming that the leaders were seated at the round table.

“Today we will set out to subjugate Blutan. Are you ready?”

“Of course. We will finish everything today.”

Lakye was the first to answer.

As always, she stood next to Totem No. 1 instead of sitting at the round table.

“We’ve resolved the weapons and food supply issues. We also have contingency plans.”

“Leave the reconnaissance to me.”

“The warriors are ready too!”

“Everything that could be prepared has been prepared.”

“I will remain at headquarters. I only regret that my elderly body prevents me from participating directly.”

Rachel, Paya, Kanto, Harry, and Muri each spoke in turn.

Good.

Unlike the Symphony conquest, which proceeded somewhat recklessly due to lack of information, this Blutan conquest will be carried out systematically.

“Let’s go over it once more.”

It’s always good to review thoroughly, even if it’s information we already know.

“Understood.”

Rachel stepped forward and began her explanation.

With the addition of civilized people, the number of Tribal Alliance combatants has increased.

There’s no need to split forces to disperse the enemy and overcome numerical disadvantages.

We don’t need to risk attacking the enemy headquarters to avoid a prolonged battle like last time.

The plan is to slowly conquer Blutan’s eight villages, then go to the city to kill the three mid-level demons of Blutan, known as the Demonic Triumvirate.

It’s about taking all the chess pieces and then capturing the lone king.

Blutan has a smaller land area than Symphony. If everything goes according to plan, we can complete the conquest in just one day.

For some reason, demons don’t leave their territory even in unfavorable situations.

Lower demons controlled by mid-level demons, like the orangutan demon, could roam outside their territory because they didn’t have their own domain.

While they can prepare to defeat us, fleeing and abandoning their territory isn’t an option for them.

The only thing we need to worry about is coordinate transmission, which mid-level demons use at the risk of their lives.

Their scouts are just demon eyes. We just need to handle them well and prevent them from providing information.

If there are flying demons, Chubby can take care of them.

We’ve also completed gathering information about the city, which will be the main battlefield. It was quick with Paya and Chubby’s help.

No one noticed the transparent pigeon hovering in the city sky.

We couldn’t see the mid-level demons as they were inside their residences, but we’ve already identified the city’s terrain, the approximate number of lower demons and worshippers, and the quality of their forces.

Three mid-level demons.

Four lower demons.

Seventy demon worshippers (soldiers only).

The overall assessment was “pathetic.”

They were far inferior to Symphony in every aspect.

It’s as if the three of them just lay around scratching each other’s bellies.

That gorilla demon was special.

A well-armed army, two lower demons equal to level 4 paladins, plus his own powerful strength.

His intellectual ability was also similar to humans. It was impressive how he stalled for time waiting for the orangutan demon.

Thinking about it again, he was an unreasonably difficult first-round boss.

Without the Totem of Confusion, it would have been either defeat or the “Dark Cloud ending.”

This time, we won’t win with such variables, but with skill.

Fair and square.

…I’ll use the Totem of Confusion when the three mid-level demons gather.

“That concludes my report.”

Rachel finished her “Blutan Conquest” briefing. It was a good briefing.

“Let’s begin.”

“Understood!”

I transferred my consciousness to Totem No. 3.

Leaving my body (totem) to Lakye, I went outside and was greeted by a well-armed army.

The ratio was about 7 barbarians to 3 civilized people.

All of them are comeback warriors in year 5 of the demon apocalypse.

“Loa Malak!”

“We will offer you victory!”

“We will reclaim Blutan!”

Though we probably won’t use that area as territory even after reclaiming it, but whatever.

It’s just about feeling good.

“My followers. I promise you victory. Do not fear. I will be with you wherever you are.”

“Uaaaaaaah!”

A thunderous cheer echoes throughout Symphony.

The subtle boundary between barbarians and civilized people disappears. They are all warriors and my followers.

At least in this moment.

“Shall we go?”

Lakye made eye contact with Paya. Paya nodded silently.

Lakye smiled and quickly mounted Chubby’s back.

Kwak!

Chubby, the monster pigeon pretending to be a spirit, had grown large enough to carry both Lakye and Paya simultaneously.

Now in terms of weight class, he’s not inferior to lower demons.

“Let’s go!”

At Paya’s command, Chubby nodded, spread his wings, and took off.

“Follow Malak!”

Kanto and the other cavalry followed behind Chubby. This is what you call a “sausage link march.”

Mobility is crucial for this conquest, so we brought all the horses from the stable.

Everyone knew how to ride horses. Apparently, warriors who couldn’t ride were all dead.

“Hiya! Hiya!”

Seeing hundreds of horses galloping across the land at once makes my heart swell.

Did the Khan of the Mongol Empire always feel this emotion?

It feels like becoming a “commander” in the true sense.

Kweeek-!

Chubby entered the Blutan region.

Though not using stealth abilities, he wasn’t detected because he was flying higher than the demon’s line of sight.

“Shoot!”

“Don’t let them get away!”

The following cavalry skillfully shoot arrows to hit the demon eyes.

The barbarians who lived by hunting had slightly better archery skills.

After eliminating the demon eyes and infected creatures blocking our path, we quickly arrived at the first village.

“That house. The lower demon is there. I can feel its energy.”

Lakye pointed to the sturdiest-looking house in the village.

“Got it.”

Paya nodded and moved Chubby above that house.

Lakye peeked down and tightened the wrapping around Totem No. 3 once more.

Then she jumped off Chubby’s back with very acrobatic movements.

Crash!

She broke through the roof and entered the house.

A literal Lakye drop.

As the demon opened its eyes wide in surprise at the sudden intrusion, Lakye drew her curved sword.

Slash! The demon’s head was cut off in one stroke.

One of the eight demons ruling the eight villages left this world within 3 seconds of encountering Lakye.

This was an enemy that five zombies could never defeat.

This is too much, damn it.

“Hmph.”

Making a satisfied snort, Lakye climbed back to the roof through the hole she had made.

Paya and Chubby were waiting. Lakye quickly mounted Chubby.

Lakye just needs to kill the demons, and Paya just needs to act as transport.

Killing the leader means winning half the war.

“Let’s quickly clean up the others too.”

“Yes!”

The two women riding the spirit answered simultaneously.

Let’s finish this quickly and safely this time.