SWNOVELXO Chapter 114
– 1 –
“Wait a moment. You didn’t say anything about killing them, did you?”
The doppelgänger glared at the being who dared to interrupt the conversation with the great Dungeon Lord.
Human.
‘Even if they are a contract candidate, how dare a trivial human interfere in this conversation.’
To him, this situation was akin to a talking pet tearing at its master’s robe while intruding on a conversation between the master and the maid.
Even if the animal is cherished, the master is someone who can discern the significance of a maid versus a pet.
So, in this context, the maid—him—had to teach some manners…
“Enough.”
Clang!
That thought was abruptly halted by Libertus’s hand, casually holding the silver blade formed at his fingertips.
“What nonsense is this, Jain?”
– Gasp…!
The head, which should have five holes, instantly bowed down.
Any worries about his blade harming her evaporated upon seeing her pristine hand, yet the mere fact that he had drawn it was an enormous affront.
As evidence, the knight standing next to the Dungeon Lady already had a hand on the hilt at his waist.
– I apologize! A bug interrupted our conversation!
“Whether she’s a bug, a slave, or a maid is for me to decide, Jain.”
Hearing that, Jain realized one thing.
To this Dungeon Lord, the Demon Clan and humans were on the same level.
This meant they could all be viewed as bugs or equally as sentient beings.
He buried his head even deeper.
– That’s right! Please punish my rudeness!
“It’s okay. I am not so heartless as to discard you over just one mistake.”
Finishing with a “but be careful,” Libertus’s eyes softened into a gentle curve.
Her face was still harmless, and her smile gentle.
Yet, upon a closer look at those eyes, they were as unyielding as a blade—cold and sharp.
‘I messed up…!!’
Jain remained bowed and motionless for a while.
“So if you truly don’t wish for people’s deaths, at least show me that you have the capability. That seems pretty impossible right now.”
“… Yes. Understood, Lady.”
“Right… you’re still at it, Jain. Stand up.”
– Yes. Lady!
It was only when Libertus finished her conversation with Amelia that she ordered him to ‘stand up.’
‘Whether you’re human or Demon Clan… if you go against her, she’ll wipe out hundreds or thousands…’
With considerable experience, he knew just how dangerous those with such fair perspectives could become.
Thus, witnessing the other side of the Dungeon Lord, who only seemed gentle, left him even more terrified.
“Eat this man.”
– Thank you for your mercy!
After dismissing Amelia, Jain received the order from Libertus, who pointed to one of the successors, and began his ‘meal’ with Libertus’s summons.
Slurp!
Squish! Crack!
Feeding on one person’s insides and replacing their essence within.
As he obediently followed the orders, Jain simultaneously thought.
‘But still, I’m lucky…’
The one who is terrifying yet can hide such facets of herself could very well be among the most glorious rulers that monsters and Demon Clans could serve.
Just like the Grand Dukes of the Magical Realm or Demon World.
– 2 –
Control over Solemio’s head and spine was nearly complete.
Even in this state, for a while… perhaps for a few months, he could maintain Solemio as ‘mine.’
But that was merely diverting attention from problems that would arise in the future.
‘This state is akin to implanting external organs into a human body.’
If he left Solemio in this condition, problems would inevitably occur.
Whether the monsters hidden among the people were discovered, or if they discovered something and concocted an even greater problem to hide that ‘secret.’
Or if the newly arriving monsters incite panic among the residents.
Issues relating to the immune rejection of a new brain, so to speak.
‘So, I must administer immunosuppressants for him.’
Administering suppressants can cause severe side effects to the original owner of the organ, but this is a necessary process.
One cannot just kill the brain and spinal cord that were carefully implanted to avoid the side effects.
“A mercenary group composed of monsters…?”
“That’s right.”
“Then… No, you must have mentioned it because it’s possible.”
One of those suppressants is this.
I will use some of the monsters I control and the queen’s subordinates helping me to establish a mercenary group to operate here.
This serves two purposes.
‘One is to familiarize humans with the existence of monsters.’
To do this, I plan to first deploy monsters with ‘human-like’ appearances as much as possible.
Like Orcs or Muirmikans.
‘And the other is to make sure the queens recognize my achievements.’
As the mercenaries I sent out report my growing influence, the queens will gradually lose their rationale for opposing me.
The moment I grasp Solemio in my hands, they may support me, but this ongoing feedback will help suppress any resentment.
“But I don’t have any use for these mercenaries…?”
“Have them hunt nearby monsters, and once enough time has passed and the people are familiar with their existence, I will have them mix in with humans for external missions.”
“The monsters around there… Wait. Could it be…?”
Amelia, realizing something, gazed at me sharply, and I simply nodded.
“Indeed. I will send them.”
There are many monsters I can dispatch to Solemio.
With the governance over Solemio, the territory around here is virtually in my hands.
A fully completed circular territory.
‘That means, soon, the existence of wild monsters living near my dungeon will become unnecessary.’
Those creatures were once needed to naturally obscure the location of my dungeon, but now it would suffice to manipulate the Adventurer’s Guild and Magic Guild to prevent them from entering my domain.
So, I wonder if it’s a good idea to use them for other purposes.
Perhaps raise awareness about the necessity of the new mercenary group among the people of this castle.
“What if people get hurt?”
“That’s up to you. Protecting the wise is the lord’s duty, don’t you think?”
“That’s not fair… Ah. No, I understand. Lady.”
“Right. You will do well.”
“Yes, yes.”
I ruffled Amelia’s head, who nodded absentmindedly.
Standing tall while signing papers, she cast me a dissatisfied glance.
The anxiety clinging to the corners of her eyes was evident.
“My hair is getting messed up. It’s uncomfortable.”
“Should I call a maid for you?”
“No… it’s fine.”
Why is it that a woman’s hair feels so addictively pleasant to touch?
It feels nice when I touch my own, but it’s also pleasant when touching someone else’s.
Especially in a place like a lord’s office, while dealing with the lord.
It only intensifies the gratification of ownership.
“Master.”
“Sonia. Come in.”
Seeing Sonia enter the room, I noticed she was casting an unsatisfied gaze this way.
Just in case, I removed my hand from Amelia’s head, and she relaxed her expression and came closer, bowing her waist.
‘She really is jealous.’
Finding it amusing to see this unexpected side, I listened to her words.
“The preparations you mentioned are all complete, Master.”
“Right. I see. Amelia, keep that in mind regarding the mercenaries. I’ll make them listen well before sending them.”
“Understood.”
Nodding in acknowledgment, I lightly tapped her head as she stared only at the paperwork and left the office.
“Was there no unusual problem?”
“No. It took a bit of time to introduce the soldiers, though.”
“Good.”
We headed toward the walls of Solemio.
Upon reaching the top, I saw knights, who had been calmly awaiting me where the original soldiers were supposed to be on guard.
“”Welcome!””
The arms revealed between the armors of these sturdy knights were dark brown or gray, regardless of gender.
Occasionally, there were those in green who tightly secured their armor without revealing themselves.
The little heroes who had devoted their lives to me for the sake of their family’s safety were now looking at me, the originator of that very peril, with eyes filled with respect.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“”Not at all!””
“If so, that’s a relief. Just give it a little more effort. It will be over soon.”
“”Yes!””
I walked past the knights who responded in unison and headed into the tower installed on the wall.
On the floor of that area where commanders usually sit during battles, a massive magic circle was drawn.
Such circles would likely be drawn above the six gates currently existing in Solemio.
‘The mages are… in their places.’
The mages I refer to aren’t your average mages; they are my summoned Undead Mages.
Skeleton mages of the lower tier can’t activate magic on their own.
Since they lack the nerves to manipulate magical energy, they can only activate the spells inscribed upon their bones.
This means that—
‘It is possible to activate the magic circle based on the predetermined function.’
This is the reason I spread the mages across the walls.
To activate the magic circle and establish a certain ‘barrier’ within and around Solemio.
A barrier laid so subtly that even Clerics wouldn’t sense it.
“Watch closely. Observing the magic you designed in action will be quite a learning experience. I’ll cover any errors, so you must pay close attention.”
“Yes, Master.”
Clang!
As I summoned the apprentice skeleton staff I had with me since my arrival and placed it on the magic circle, it transformed into a medium for mediating my control and magical energy flow.
Then, placing my palm on the upright staff’s head bone, I manipulated my magical power.
Thud…!
With a quiet tremor, the magic circle shone black.
The light was neither strong nor weak, but rather subdued, indicating the nature of the magic I was about to activate.
Sssss…!
The buffered magical energy flowed along the small magic circles inscribed on the wall.
Thump – Thump – Thump –
Soon, mages in other walls began to activate the magic before them in sequence at my command.
Swoosh!
Then, a black line of magical energy tearing through the night sky connected the six magic circles created above the six command posts.
What was being formed was a black hexagram enveloping the sky of the entire city.
“I commence.”
With that, I placed my hand again on the skull atop the staff.
Swoosh –
“That’s…”
Beneath that magic circle, and above the city, a long finger’s silhouette appeared like a mirage.
A hand grasping a bundle of red thread.
“‘Red Thread’.”
The curse of psychological manipulation designed by me and delegated to Sonia.
That spreads out across the entire city except for the castle.
Since the range of influence is so extensive, it had to be carefully tailored with a limited area of effect and amplified in that region.
The effect is—
“Thus, all people within this city will have diminished aversion toward monsters, and monsters will experience reduced hostility toward humans.”
The psychological adjustment pertaining to ‘connections.’
Every time an entity with intelligence enters the city, the magic seeps into them and engraves a singular proposition into their unconscious mind.
“Although we created it together…”
“It was you who made it, Sonia.”
“Ah, well… is that sufficient?”
To her question, slightly blushing, I nodded back.
“It will be sufficient. Its effectiveness will grow over time.”
With the long-held historical hostility of humans toward monsters suppressed by magic, Amelia, now a Lord, kept control over them.
While also preventing them from acting rashly through my command adds another layer of restraint.
This serves as a different form of immunosuppression for this land.
– 3 –
“Master. The Baron and his wife have vanished.”
“Right. I thought so.”
And this is the action of the final immunosuppressant.