Chapter 378

Chapter 378

Otherworld Demon King Survival Guide.

Episode 378: Battle With The Count (7)

“Khehehe!”

We had confiscated all the supplies from the Count’s army. Seeing them piled up like this brought a smile to my face.

“Keruk-keruk!”

“Hehehe!”

Everyone was delighted. From equipment to weapons and supplies, war was profitable if you achieved a complete victory. I had been arming my troops with the gear we seized.

“Hey, don’t laugh. The human soldiers in the castle are terrified of that stuff.”

“Ah, since Reika is a nun, couldn’t she go and talk to the humans nicely?”

“What, you think they’ll listen just because I ask?”

“Well, nominally, it’s the Goddess Church, isn’t it? In this situation, many people will want to pray to the gods for safety. If we hold prayer meetings or masses, anyone will come.”

Besides, Reika was a very seductive beauty. If a nun like her said something, they’d at least listen to her.

“Please go and reassure the human soldiers.”

“Fine, I will.”

“You’re pretty when you listen.”

“Bullshit.”

And so, Reika went to prepare for the prayer meeting.

“Hmm.”

The monster army was still the problem, wasn’t it? Humans were ultimately wary of monsters. Even if I conquered the kingdom later and told them to live peacefully with the monsters and educate them, they’d still be afraid deep down.

That could lead to a rebellion.

“Difficult.”

The harmonization of monsters and humans.

This was a very difficult problem.

Even if I became the ruler of the Middle Realm, such problems would remain. It was truly a continuous stream of work.

Anyway, let’s wait for Vera and the Saintess. The Saintess could somehow resolve the public sentiment issue when she arrives.

“Hehehe, you’ve worked hard. To annihilate the Count’s army without any losses, your military skills are truly outstanding.”

“Thank you for the praise, Mother.”

Vera, who had returned, stroked my head and praised me. She seemed quite pleased with the annihilation of the Count’s army.

“That was a truly magnificent strategy. For Churel to think of using the former Lamia Queen as a weapon… it worked better than I imagined. And the Lamia cavalry’s rapid mountain assault and charge… truly, it’s something humans can’t even imagine.”

“You could say it’s a new type of unit. Do you feel it properly now?”

“Of course.”

Vera, being a military commander, was very interested in these aspects. If I showed her the modern Earth’s weapon systems and tactics, she’d be astounded.

“Anyway, we now have to engage in a full-scale war with the Count. The army is already prepared. We can advance at any time with just an order.”

As she said, Vera had gathered her army. Its scale was enormous. And the resources coming from the territory would be continuously transported by Vera’s supply corps.

From now on, we can attack the Count while enjoying those benefits.

—Thwack.

Vera spread out a map.

“We should start by attacking the castle right in front of us. We can advance by capturing the castles in order. This would normally be very difficult, but we have the monster army. If we overcome the mountainous terrain and attack from the air, they’ll be helpless.”

“Of course.”

And so, Vera and I planned the attack.

There were many castles to capture to seize the Count. But with Vera’s army and my troops, sieges wouldn’t be a problem.

“Let’s break through quickly.”

“I look forward to it. I want to see my son commanding from right beside him.”

“I’ll show you.”

As we were talking,

—Squeak.

The Saintess entered.

“Ah, Saintess!”

“You’ve waited long.”

The Saintess was currently devising ways to win over public sentiment after the occupation. She was making leaflets and preparing speeches.

“Do you think you can do it well?”\

“It won’t be difficult. In fact, what can ordinary people do when a castle is occupied? If this Saintess steps forward and educates them, I can reassure them and make them cooperate, even if it’s not perfect.”

“Hehehe, good.”

Vera had the army.

The Saintess had public sentiment.

And my female officers beside me had on-site combat power.

With so much at our disposal, there was nothing to fear. We just needed to win.

“Ah, that’s right, Mother. How’s it going with the elves?”

“I’m not sure about that. We’ve exchanged letters about non-aggression, but they’ll change their stance depending on the situation. The moment we show weakness, we can expect more enemies.”

“Hmm… The Count takes priority for now.”

We’d have to deal with the elves soon.

Or should we attack the Count first, then establish a front with the angels, and then contact the elves? The elven leader was a woman, the Elven Empress. It might be worth flirting with her. Since the elves were unlikely to join hands with the angels, there wouldn’t be any major problems even if I made a mistake.

“For now, we need to focus on attacking the Count.”

“You’re right. Let’s plan and advance then.”

“Understood.”

We were reviewing the tactics.

“These damn bastards…!”

Count Saidin tore at his hair.

His hair had turned completely white, and it was thinning out. His face was also covered in wrinkles, revealing the immense stress he was under.

The army he had sent to check the Saintess’s side had been annihilated. Not defeated and retreated, but literally annihilated.

“Kaaaaaaaah!”

The Count roared like a beast.

—Kwaang!

Unable to contain his anger, he smashed everything around him.

“Damn it! Damn it all!”

He had thought that if he seized the right opportunity, he could devour the kingdom. In fact, the Count’s forces were the largest, and they were strong enough to fight fiercely against the powerful angels.

But now, these bitch-like women, the Saintess and the Duchess, were running rampant from behind. At this rate, he would undoubtedly be crushed between the angels, the elves, and the Saintess’s forces.

“Count! Please calm down!”

At that moment, Jest, the Count’s subordinate, entered and tried to stop the rampage.

“Jest…!”

That’s right.

It wasn’t over yet.

“How’s the contact with the elves?”

“Yes. I came to deliver that news.”

Jest’s face was firm.

“A messenger will arrive soon. They wish to have positive discussions.”

“Good. That’s right. If we die, they’ll have to bear the damage.”

The Count decided to join hands with the elves.

It was an unpleasant decision, but there was no other way.

If he fell, the elves would have to shed their own blood to fight the enemies. The angels were ruthless monsters who sought the extinction of all forces except themselves. No one wanted to face such beings head-on.

In this situation, he could expect support from the elves.

Of course, even if he won this way, he would ultimately be at the mercy of the elves. But it was better than immediate destruction. As long as he was alive, he could always look for opportunities.

“But Count, it’s obvious the elves will demand unfair treaties. We must be careful.”

“I know. But we’re in the most unfavorable position right now. We’ll have to take losses in the treaties. Jest, prepare to receive the elven messenger.”

“Yes!”

The Count would join hands with the elves.

“…That’s all, Empress.”

The subordinate, having finished the report, waited for the Empress’s command.

No elf dared to look upon the face of the Empress, the proxy of the World Tree.

The kneeling subordinate had his eyes covered with a blessed blindfold, and he trembled in fear, wondering if his head would be chopped off by the Empress’s displeasure. He waited for the next words.

“Yes. You may leave. Leave that there.”

“Understood.”

The subordinate bowed and left the room. The Elven Empress, Lilianne, watched the subordinate’s retreating figure, then reached out and picked up the document.

Soon, the Empress’s mood improved.

“Hehehe.”

A laugh escaped her lips.

“Oh, dear♥”

Then, a sneer followed.

“How utterly pathetic. To ask for help now.”

In the Empress’s hand was, simply put, a request for aid. A request for aid sent by a fellow named Count Saidin in the human kingdom.

“If only he had reached out sooner?”

Lilianne had been looking for an opportunity to intervene in this angel crisis. The elves were neutral, but doing nothing would only strengthen the hostile forces. They had to give strength to the right target at the right time to maintain neutrality and gain benefits… Anyway, this request for aid was a bit late.

If he had reached out sooner, the Count would have been in a better position now. After all, Count Saidin was a necessary existence for the elves.

—Swish.

“Hehehe.”

The Empress hummed and leisurely read the request for aid. She levitated the document with magic, stretched her legs in the bathtub, rubbed them, and savored the words.

The Empress wanted to reduce the human forces that threatened the forest.

If possible, she wanted to crush them all.

Now that the angels had invaded,

The humans were in crisis, and their forces would be greatly reduced as she wished. However, if that happened, the angels would devour the human forces and eventually threaten the forest.

Therefore, the Empress wanted the humans to act as a kind of shield against the angels. That way, the elves would suffer no damage.

So, it was not good for Count Saidin to die here. She had to provide support.

Of course, doing so would completely alienate Vera, the neighboring human Duchess. Vera was currently attacking the Count… But she would have to fight Vera anyway. She couldn’t control her, and she was too strong. She was a threat to the elves. A weakened Count could be manipulated as she pleased, but not Vera.

That was why she had to keep the Count alive and make him fight Vera.

Either way, the Count would become weaker, and the war would wear down Vera’s forces as well. If she fought the angels in that state, her forces would surely be further weakened.

The elves would watch from a step away from the battlefield, and then,

“We’ll devour them all at once♥”

Therefore, this was an opportunity to achieve a great feat.

She would defeat the humans and the angels and expand the elves’ forces beyond the forest, becoming the best Empress.

“Aah♥”

That fact excited the Empress.

—Splash.

The Empress stood up. Her soaking wet figure was revealed. As she had this huge bathroom all to herself, the Empress stretched, revealing her entire figure.

“It’s time to move♥”

This was an opportunity to expand the elven forces beyond the forest.