Chapter 298

Chapter 298

Otherworld Demon King Survival Guide.

Episode 298: Stop Ganging Up On Me! (2)

Strike while the iron was hot, as they said. I immediately called Anna to discuss it.

“Oh, that means my unit will expand, doesn’t it!”

Anna responded energetically.

So far, she’d just been on patrol duty, without much to do, but now she would truly become a military commander. She seemed to welcome the role, as she was always a bit ambitious by nature.

“Yes, that’s correct. We’re going to gather soldiers, and I plan to entrust their command to you, Anna. Will you be able to handle it?”

“Of course! Leave it to me! I’ll prove my abilities as a military commander!”

“Hehehe, I like your enthusiasm, Anna.”

“Hahaha, well, I finally have a chance to shine!”

—Swoosh, swoosh.

I praised her by patting her on the butt, and she blushed.

“U-um…!”

“Anna?”

“I-it’s a bit embarrassing, after all.”

Since she became mine, I had been regularly calling her over, touching her, and… well, having my way with her. But she was still a bit shy. I suppose she was not quite used to it yet.

“Then just stay embarrassed. I’ll enjoy watching it.”

“W-well, before that, shouldn’t we focus on discussing the army?”

“Ah, yes, let’s.”

We set up a spot and sat down.

Alright, let’s start the discussion.

Naturally, human soldiers, especially male ones, weren’t under my control. Women, on the other hand, were controlled through pleasure. Monsters were dominated by my magic. That was my power.

Women who embraced me found joy in pleasure, and they grew stronger as they received my magic. They saw this as their greatest happiness and pledged loyalty to me.

Likewise, the monster troops also grew stronger by receiving my magic. To them, this growth was everything, and thus, they too pledged loyalty to me.

But human male soldiers? Not so much.

“Um, Demon Lord. You said you’d gather conscripts, but that might be a bit difficult.”

“Difficult? If we pay them properly, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

I was planning to conscript them and pay them properly, but it seems Anna had a different opinion.

“If we issue a conscription order now, it will severely impact the barony’s industries. It would take away a lot of the labor force.”

“Ah, wait. I hadn’t considered that basic aspect.”

I made a mistake.

I was preoccupied with other things and missed this.

“Understood. Let’s proceed with a recruitment campaign instead.”

“Yes, that’s a better approach! Oh, and please officially announce my position as commander and clarify the salary details…”

“Of course.”

And so, the conversation continued with Anna. She was brimming with enthusiasm. She seemed to have a vision and a plan for her role as a military commander, guiding the conversation smoothly.

Reliable.

“So, you’re finally organizing a human army?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The saintess gave a sly smile at my response.

“I have an idea for that.”

“Oh? What is it, my capable mother?”

“Hehehe, it is… this!”

—Rustle!

The saintess handed me a document.

“This is?”

“Read it!”

I took it and read through it. It was, quite literally, a recruitment notice. But there was a peculiar term written on it.

[Holy Crusade Army Recruitment]

“Holy Crusade Army?”

“Indeed!”

“Whoa!”

The saintess dramatically placed a hand on her chest and began to explain!

“A Holy Crusade Army to fight for this saintess! If we name the army the Holy Crusade Army, wouldn’t many people be drawn to it?”

If we named it the Holy Crusade Army.

Many people would gather?

“The barony is already brimming with anger towards the angels and reverence for this saintess! In such a situation, if we recruit a ‘Holy Crusade Army’ to fight the angels for the saintess…!”

Snap!

It was like a bolt of lightning struck my mind.

“Not only will there be high enlistment, but their morale will also be high!”

“Exactly!”

“Such a brilliant idea!”

I couldn’t help but be amazed!

All the effort the saintess put into her speeches since taking over the territory has paid off! Many people would volunteer, and volunteer troops tended to have high morale!

“And the Demon King leading the Holy Crusade Army!”

The irony was almost poetic.

A Holy Crusade Army literally meant a force engaged in a holy war—an army to save humanity from the vile angels.

And this army would be led by the Demon King?

It was like a devilish joke, straight out of hell’s playbook.

But now, it was about to become reality.

“Make it happen!”

I immediately decided to implement this radical idea. The army would be called the Holy Crusade Army, recruited in the name of the saintess, and Lady Anna, officially granted command by the saintess, would lead it.

People gathered in the square upon hearing news of an important announcement.

A large bulletin board stood in the square, and a throng of people clamored to check the proclamation posted on it.

“Holy Crusade Army?”

The content of the proclamation was simple.

A Holy Crusade Army would be organized in the name of the Saintess to fight against the angels and the evil forces who had pledged their souls to them. Those with courage were encouraged to enlist and carry out this holy war.

“No way…!”

The men who read that line felt their hearts start to race.

“We can fight for the Saintess?!”

“Oh…!”

“And we get to fight against the angels!”

Every man there had already become a captive of the Saintess. The thought of being able to fight for her made their hearts pound. And a holy war to drive out those vile angels? There was no way they could resist that.

“Uwaaaaaaaaah!”

More and more people began to shout, their will to enlist blazing. By now, there were more people who worshiped the Saintess as an individual than those who worshiped the religion itself. This was only natural.

Still, there were always those who analyzed things more coolly.

“The pay… honestly, it’s a bit low.”

“Look, the conditions are good. They provide meals, and you can receive military training. Considering that, it’s decent pay, don’t you think?”

“At least you’ll gain the experience of military training… Plus, you’ll be able to serve the Saintess. If you join the Holy Crusade Army, you’ll probably find peace in the afterlife.”

“Minor sins will surely be forgiven.”

“But still, the pay is a bit low. It’s barely at the level of a low-grade laborer.”

“As long as the food is decent. Isn’t it said they provide meals? I’ll decide after seeing what the first recruits are eating.”

While such discussions were happening,

“The Saintess is entering!”

It was time for the speech.

—Swish.

The Saintess stepped onto the podium, her beautiful golden hair flowing, and shouted.

“Those who will stand and fight for humanity alongside this Saintess, rise!”

At her words,

“Uwaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Oooooooooh!”

“Yaaaaaaaaah!”

Cheers erupted.

“This Saintess welcomes your enlistment into the Holy Crusade Army! Let us fight together, my beloved ones!”

The men thought.

They would enlist.

It didn’t seem like a rash decision at all. After considering all the conditions, they felt there was no way the Saintess’s words could be wrong.

—Swoosh.

Count Saidin stroked his white beard, his mood visibly darkened.

“Hmm.”

Viscount Kelson had not returned.

Throughout his journey to the Pakel Barony, he’d regularly sent reports. The last report stated that he was about to make direct contact with the Saintess. After that, all communication was cut off.

It was possible that the messenger had been involved in an accident on the way back, or perhaps Viscount Kelson himself had met with an unfortunate incident.

He had taken that into account and waited, but there was still no sign of Viscount Kelson. Not a single piece of news.

“Could it be… that he was eliminated?”

The Count concluded that the Saintess had disposed of Kelson.

—Clench.

His fist tightened.

“How dare she.”

Anger surged within him.

Viscount Kelson was sly and greedy, but he always carried out his tasks properly. He was a subordinate whom the Count trusted deeply. Kelson understood well what a great advantage it was to have the Count’s trust, and so he executed orders precisely.

Losing such a valuable subordinate in this situation was a harsh blow… It was equally distressing that their plans had been derailed. What could have been resolved smoothly was now beyond repair.

Things would now proceed with difficulty.

“To think she killed Kelson.”

It might have been a bit of an unreasonable request, but that was no longer relevant.

The Saintess had overstepped. As a fledgling power, she was trying to grow her influence by exploiting the chaotic angel crisis. If she were to grow stronger, she would become a very dangerous rival.

The Kingdom had to be his, and his alone.

There was no way he could allow any upstart to take it.

“Arrogant wench. I was going to end this favorably, but now you dare try to climb over me.”

—Grrrr.

Mana burned fiercely in the Count’s eyes.

“A slut who dares…!”

Regrettably, he could not send his main forces to the frontier. The moment they left, the angels would seize the opportunity and invade. The angels weren’t fools; their commanders were competent.

However, that didn’t mean there was no way to strike at the Saintess. There were minor lords in that region who had sworn loyalty to him. They hadn’t yet sent their troops, so he could make use of them now.

The Saintess was still a greenhorn.

Therefore, she would be crushed before she could grow.

“Jest!”

The Count was already thinking beyond the war with the angels.

“Yes, Count!”

“Send this!”

“Yes!”

And so, the Count’s letters were sent to the minor lords on the frontier.