V9: Chapter 9

…

Wow, Celia survived the assassination event.

Guess that I need to prepare to deal with her for a couple of decades.

“Ayah, start supporting and aiding the Guardians from the shadows. Celia has no choice but to start accepting our help now.” Ayah gave a prim bow, while Morgan looked up from her plate, and Khanrow just kept eating. We were having breakfast. Instead of a newspaper, I read up on espionage reports. “If things go well, we can have Undead armies to hold the line. If Celia proves to be uncontrollable, we’ll replace her, too.”

“Revolutions tend to consume themselves with time. The same fanatics she’s used to wrest control from the nobility can be aimed towards herself.” Khanrow agreed, as I passed him the sheaf of papers. He was having a bowl of soup for breakfast, along with some boiled eggs and toast. Morgan was having the same. Meanwhile, I was having steamed vegetables and fish. Being in my early twenties, I wanted to look out for my health. Sure, I could just abuse the medical pods to stay slim and look good, but I didn’t want to make a routine of it. I didn’t want to rely on technology that I might not have access to when I retire. Felt like a psychopath on a CEO grindset eating it for breakfast, though. “We should be on the watch for Necromancers who abandon the Guardians. Extremism has moderates leave swiftly.”

Morgan said nothing for a few moments, before throwing up her hands.

“Fine! Allow me to ask: wouldn’t it be better to take over the Guardians now, while they’re weak and their nobility are all entering seclusion?”

I looked at Khanrow, and he looked at me.

He took a spoonful of soup and slurped it, so I took that as my cue to explain.

“They are secluding themselves now, but if we invade, they’ll come out in force and ride out as conquering heroes. If they have the chance to avoid their seclusion, they’ll take it. In fact, I believe that they only enter it now because they know they’ll be needed in a few years.” It must be nice to just be able to hole up in a mountain after fucking up politically. After literally losing the nation they had by the balls, because they couldn’t be bothered to be proactive, the nobility of the Guardians could just pack up, carve into a mountain, and seal the entrance to sleep off their loss. The wonders of not being able to enter suspended animation. “We attack now, and we’ll find whatever army we send turned to mulch by Guardians and all the Elder Vampires left on the planet. Then, we’ll need to commit everything to not waste those lost lives. We can win, if we commit all our offensive forces, but the losses would be too great.”

“I see. I need to work on my long-term views on many matters.” Morgan shook her head and frowned at herself. I wasn’t about to agree, but I didn’t disagree. Lying to her felt like a good way to get killed. Telling her that she should work on another skill sounded like a good way to get killed. The best course of action is to stay neutral and talented enough to be worth keeping around and not mind-fucked. Hm. Steamed fish and vegetables is quite good for breakfast. I’d rather have a soup, though. Something with a light broth would be great. “I broached the matter of gaining more responsibility. I would like to have as much responsibility as my grandfather or General Riegert.”

The Demon Lord made her move, and I was in no place to refuse.

So, I didn’t.

“Do you want the center, the north, or the south?” Morgan blinked and looked at me like I’d grown a second head. Or, maybe, like I was eating steamed fish and vegetables for breakfast like a freak. Likely the former. Her head was probably filled with ideas on how to wheedle out more power from me. Not necessary in the slightest. I wanted to use the Demon Lord to her fullest extent. Champion and general was the most effective way to do that. It’s better to get specialized Champions for the cities. “The north is here against the Guardians, which will be mostly immobile. South will be against the Wardens. The center against the Merchants and the Forgers when the time comes.”

“The center is the most dynamic.” Khanrow spoke up. Yeah, there’s another piece of the puzzle. The man who gave me my power was right here on the table. What was I supposed to do? Tell her in front of her grandfather that she’s not worthy of being a general? I’m paranoid, but I’m not stupid. Not only that, but brown-nosing, knowing the atmosphere, and game knowledge have practically been my only real assets this life. I couldn’t train my game knowledge, but I trained heavily in understanding the atmosphere and knowing what to say to get people to like me. Obviously, Khanrow will like me more by promoting his only granddaughter. “You’ll learn the most there, and you can provoke the Merchants and Forgers to test you and your troops. Put them to the sword in the Academy’s former lands to learn how to move your forces.”

Yeah.

I’m not about to say no to the rejuvenated warlord who thinks that conducting war is a good way to earn experience in leading troops.

“…I shall take the center, then. I don’t believe I’m capable enough to take the north or the south, especially in the middle of such intricate plots.” Intricate? Morgan was buttering me up now, after getting what she wanted. Over here, we were just letting people make mistakes on their own, while against the Wardens we were just funding their opposition and ratcheting up the tension. It’s basic bitch geo-espionage. It’s not even on a different continent. This is stuff that people would just skim over in college history class, or swipe past in a thirty-second video reel. Boring, practical shit. “How many will be under my command?”

Khanrow coughed at the question.

Almost sounded like he was stifling a laugh.

“Your command will be the center of the continent. You will assume control of the region. Khanrow and Riegert’s responsibilities when I send them out is to act as rulers.” Morgan blinked owlishly. The general statement when she spoke about Riegert probably made her believe that she could just work the espionage layer and fight off some bandits with a full army, unless otherwise ordered. That wasn’t the case in the slightest. Orders take too long to get to people, even with our best fliers and the simple communication tablets provided by the Citadels in our territories. “You will take control of our largest settlement in Academy lands, elevate the surrounding villages to the best of your ability, and do your duties as a general while learning spycraft. Your grandfather and Riegert are not mere generals. They are royalty when they act. So, you shall be royalty in your new position.”

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Khanrow looked at his granddaughter’s way, and for a moment I thought that he’d say something, before looking away pleased.

Morgan’s owlish expression had faded in a moment, and she nodded with determination at my statement.

“I’ll do it, and I won’t fail, your majesty.”

“I entrust you with the center of our realm and the defeat of two of our remaining foes. I look forward to seeing the results of your work.”

Morgan’s eyes were steely and her determination to win obvious.

Alright, the Forgers and Merchants are effectively dead with Morgan hounding them, that means I can focus on dealing with the Guardians and Wardens.

…

Interlude: Rita

…

We arrived at the crater described by Riegert, at the camp he assembled, and found at its center a mechanical beast being taken apart.

Riegert looked upon it, seated on a crate, with fresh bandages all over his torso.

And, newly healed flesh all over his arms and non-vital areas.

Ilych approached him and took off her helm without a word.

She glared at her father.

“No need, I’ve learned my lesson already. I’m not trying that again, especially as my armor’s been destroyed.” He jutted his bearded chin towards the armor in question. Composed of Citadel Alloys, it was stronger and lighter than steel. Regular rounds from our riflemen would bounce off it with ease. Only Conqueror anti-material rifles and the new cannons could penetrate it. The armor was covered in holes. Some were molten. “The Ancient’s war machines are not to be underestimated.”

“How many did you kill?”

“Five, then I had to retreat. The fifth watched and waited, then nearly killed me. They learn.” Riegert gestured at the creature. It was the size of two horses side-by-side, and was crab-like in shape. It had four armored legs with sturdy joints, and its torso was sleek and oval. Were it bipedal, it would have resembled the Ascendant and their war-walkers. These looked far more advanced. “My axe was useful, but magic more so. I had to get creative. Use earth walls to obscure their lines of fire. They can see through smoke, and if you stop for a moment then they’d fill you full of holes. Some sort of heat spell and bullets close to the munitions our new cannons are using.”

The creature had two sets of weapons One on top of the hull and the other set underslung. Both sets had joints and connected to the oval torso with ball-like joins on the back. An impeccable design. It can fire at nearly every direction. It can do so even whilst retreating. Its armor was strong, given the amount of damage it had on it.

Riegert’s efforts to destroy it ranged from deep gouges on its armor to the signs of lightning piercing it through. He wouldn’t have done so much damage, were it not necessary.

Only one last piece of information was needed for me to grasp the basics of this creature.

“It’s speed?”

“As fast as a Conqueror in full sprint, no matter the direction, and it doesn’t tire.” Riegert answered, and I understood.

Fifty of these creatures, but five were gone.

“I shall deal with the rest. Ilych, stay close with our guards, should the need arise. Mages, prepare protective barriers.” I reached for my bow and my quiver. The camp was close enough to the crater that it was only a few strides to reach its edge. After I spoke, Ilych placed her helmet on her head, while the troops under our command moved to do as they were bid. Protective spells effective against cannon shots and heat were established. The mages assigned to us having listened to Riegert’s words. I simply nocked my arrow and prepared to draw my bow, as I crested the ridge formed by the crater. “Have the cannons prepared, just in case they charge.”

Ilych gave out the commands and assembled our forces, whilst coordinating with those under Riegert’s command.

I looked upon my foes, surrounding the ruined construct, in the middle of the crater.

Some were patrolling loosely in squads of four. Others were clambering on the broken vessel, casting spells on the hull to try and fix it, and others were hidden away in the ruins and waiting for the moment to strike.

They will not have it.

Riegert’s presence came close and he spoke to me.

“Their weak spot is the rightmost section of their shell. The glowing red orb at the center, and the rest of the chassis, are all tricks. That rightmost section is perfectly angled, just like the left, and it’s harder than the center.”

I gave him a nod of thanks… and the world faded away.

Until only I and my foes remained.

Points between which my arrows must travel from and to.

Then, the world returned when they were all destroyed.

…

Much of the vessel was destroyed. Only fragments of ancient technology remained.

However, as our king predicted, there were parts of it that was designed to withstand returning from the stars.

“This wreckage fits the description of the Academy’s flying transport.” The large construct that allowed our enemies to evade Morgan was ruined. Half of it was nothing more than metal and tubes that were in complete disarray. The other half was burnt and broken. However, the vessel was still partly complete, thus it would be of use. Much like the remains of the machines that we destroyed. “Take it whole and ready it for transport. Levitate it and travel along the roads, if it cannot be flown.”

A smattering of commands resounded through those who followed me.

Ilych took that as a signal to speak.

“Much of the vessel was destroyed upon re-entry, but there are places that remain. The sparks that come from many locations mean there is power.” Ilych’s winds were in full force. She looked upon the great doors separating where the transport was and the rest of the destroyed structure… and pressed imprints upon it. In a moment, with a great groan, the doors opened. Inside was a an askew walkway with many rooms. She paused as she looked into the hall, even as our mages cast orbs of light into it. “This was a hall of miracles and curses, suspended among the stars, and the Academy kept it for themselves.”

“If there are any curses, we must burn this place.”

“The curses all burned first. It has tried to keep the miracles whole… but it has failed.” A touch of somber regret filled Ilych’s tone. I followed her into the askew hallway. The hall was flanked by doors and containers. Many were sealed shut, and more than a few were nothing but ash within. However, in a few rooms, the doors were open and broken remains of Ancient treasures remained. Ilych’s steps almost stopped at the sight of them, but she simply ordered them recovered and treated with care for possible recovery.

Her steps hastened as she walked further in.

I took note of the parts and pieces of a human skeleton deeper into the hall, and I had my suspicions on who it was, but there was no soul clinging to the bones.

Even if it were the headmaster of the Academy, the time to converse with him was long past.

Finally, we reached the end.

A single room with a door with a blue light surrounding it remained.

One final miracle from the Ancients, desperately held by the spirits of this place, even under the command to fall from the heavens?

Or, perhaps, a curse?

Ilych looked my way, and I gave her a nod.

We will not know until we open the doors.