Became the Queen of the Legion

In this land, there is a demonic beast called Ratan. It’s somewhat different from other demonic beasts. No, I wondered if there were any in the demon realm who would consider this creature an ordinary demonic beast.

Because this creature was a type of mushroom.

However, Ratan was clearly classified as an animal that I could devour and analyze, and it was a demonic beast.

Ratan, which has a cap over 1 meter in size similar to ordinary mushrooms, with its main body of mycelium living by consuming organic matter in the ground, has one special ability.

It’s the ability to photosynthesize, allowing it to synthesize nutrients through sunlight, albeit partially.

‘The photosynthesis efficiency is a bit low, but what if I intervene?’

Unlike plants, it’s a kind of auxiliary ability used only when large amounts of energy are needed, such as for reproduction, but I had a different idea.

With my ability to mix thoroughly analyzed genetic information to create new beings, I thought I could rather maximize and use that ability.

[Achievement, Paradigm Shift (1) unlocked. Reward: 1 Trait Point]

The system seemed to approve of my attempt, recognizing it as an achievement.

Based on that, I created a new life form using the genes of Ratan that I had ingested and analyzed.

It looked like an internal organ of an organism that had been forcibly grown and enlarged, like an artificial womb or artificial digestive organ.

Its role is just one: to obtain nutrients through photosynthesis.

In appearance, it raises a huge, thin mushroom cap towards the sky, with internal organs attached below that supply synthesized nutrients to the entire colony through tentacles.

If someone familiar saw this form, they would immediately call it a solar power generator.

“The efficiency of this one actually increases the more we increase its numbers.”

[As planned, if you plant this mutant Ratan, the Sun Flower, on all the destroyed land, you can secure massive additional nutrients]

The only drawback was that an enormous number needed to be mobilized to extract efficiency.

Literally, a number large enough to cover the entire area was needed.

But fortunately, we were continuously gaining excess lands.

The northern lands of the continent were becoming barren as we devoured everything existing on the ground. If we cover all that land, which would otherwise become dead land if left alone, with these, we can turn inefficiency into efficiency.

‘It will take some time to use it properly.’

However, it takes some time for these created Sun Flowers to cover all that area. Like initial investments in solar power, it requires massive resources.

It might be possible if we focused all the colony’s capabilities on that alone, but it’s impossible now.

The reason was that we, who were no longer living at the level of a remote corner of the borderlands, had too many ongoing projects.

“Orc Baron’s territory has already fallen?”

“Moreover, it seems the Orc Baron is probably dead. There are few survivors. The Dark Devils surrounded the city and carried out a massacre.”

The mercenary group my avatar had joined was mixed with the reinforcements to help the Orc Baron and headed north.

However, before they could even depart, news spread that we had already captured the Orc Baron’s castle and were turning it into our nest.

Naturally, the Orc Baron’s retainers who had come to bring reinforcements were greatly angered and called for revenge.

Those sending reinforcements also agreed to continue the war, saying they couldn’t let the monsters take the Orc Baron’s land like this.

“Ha, the surrounding lords probably intend to drive out those monsters and take that land for themselves.”

“That’s none of our business. Let’s think about how to fight. We have a say, so if we do well, we might be able to devise a strategy centered around us.”

Kron, the Orc warrior who was the leader of the mercenary group, shook his head at the words of Ken, the Werewolf squad leader who smirked.

Anyway, the mercenaries were enthusiastic about the mission that had changed from supporting the Orc territory to reclaiming it, in order to secure their own substantial share.

“Including mercenaries, about 3,000 from Hobgoblin Count Ludas’s territory, 2,000 from Lamia Baroness Roselyn’s territory, 1,000 from Gargoyle Baron Icon’s territory. Plus the survivors from the Orc territory.”

Thanks to this, I was able to grasp their forces in real-time and smirked as I estimated the demon race army rushing towards the land I had taken.

The mentality of trying to gain some advantage by putting in a spoonful while one lord had fallen was being revealed quite blatantly.

“It’s certainly not a small scale. Though I’m not sure if they will fight as one.”

“We can defeat them individually, or we can focus on defensive preparations whether they unite or not.”

While Seira seemed convinced that the enemies would not unite and would be defeated piecemeal, I had no intention of trying to forcibly defeat them individually.

Having already planted a definite spy inside, the choice was mine. I just needed to choose flexibly based on the flowing information.

“But we can’t just hold out in the nest for defense. Because the nest mustn’t be damaged.”

I, who had been all about attack, attack, attack until now, hadn’t yet prepared for a proper defensive battle.

Even if we take a defensive stance, in the end, the form will be leading troops out to face the enemy.

‘Shall we prepare?’

Although the consumption value was high from devouring the Orc Baron’s territory, we could still create or feed more soldiers with the massive resources obtainable from the newly conquered land.

It wasn’t an all-out war, and we had accumulated enough surplus to deal with the forces sent by any ordinary territory without difficulty.

* * *

“Those from other territories suggested a cooperative operation. They said it’s impossible for us to fight the enemies who captured the Orc territory on our own from the start.”

“That’s not wrong. We lack the strength to strike their nest. If the news is true, probably all forces combined would barely reach a number suitable for a decisive battle.”

The Hobgoblin forces mobilized and dispatched to the battlefield took some time to gauge the situation. It was due to various intertwined issues.

The biggest problem among them was what exactly their true purpose was.

‘His Excellency didn’t seem to intend to reclaim the entire Orc territory.’

Deru, the Hobgoblin mage appointed as commander, recalled the instructions of his superior and lord, Ludas, and fell into deep thought.

It’s a sad story for Zieg’s subordinates who were begging and crying, but now that the territory has fallen and countless residents have been massacred, there’s no possibility of them achieving revenge and reclaiming the land.

All the lords who sent support, including Ludas, would probably think it’s profitable if they could gain even a small part of that territory.

In fact, the thoughts of the surrounding lords who sent merely 1,000 to 2,000 troops were blatant.

They thought it was enough to just put in a spoon in the revenge war and receive whatever crumbs fall.

“Please understand. The unidentified demonic beast group, the Dark Devils, are cancerous tumors in this land that must not be overlooked. If left unchecked, they will grow their power further and threaten not only our territory but yours as well!”

Those strongly advocating for war were mostly Zieg’s subordinates who had essentially become refugees.

Of course, no matter how strongly they advocate, refugees left with nothing in their hands can do nothing.

‘Our numbers are too small to act independently. But if we move together with reinforcements sent from other territories, we have to share the achievements with them.’

Deru’s worries deepened.

Unlike what was publicly announced, not much force was actually needed if they were satisfied with obtaining a moderate amount of spoils and territory.

‘These fools, they still haven’t come to their senses.’

And in this meeting room filled with such an atmosphere, the Queen, who had attended with the mercenary group members using her avatar, was also squeezed in at the back.

From the Queen’s perspective, they were currently engaged in very well-fed worries.

She thought the pleas shouted by Zieg’s subordinates, that they should unite all their strength to exterminate the enemy before they grow stronger, made much more sense.

“For now, send a message to them. Let’s say we’ll meet and advance together.”

In the end, Deru decided to join forces with troops from other territories.

Their plan was to exchange contacts, gather at a designated place, and strike and burn the enemy’s nest.

‘How can I use this?’

The problem was that all of this process was being fully conveyed to the ‘enemy’.

Not a single person in this place could even imagine, let alone identify, the exact identity of the Hobgoblin mercenary Rox, or realize the fact that a being capable of perfect communication with them had naturally mixed in among them.