The usual crew returned to Willow Hill at dusk. We left the Mirfield inhabitants behind to sort their own troubles and a big bag of gold with Alvus to pay for the town expenses. The coffers were empty, what a surprise. It seems the seneschal appointed by the king embezzled some funds.
I don't mind. I'll take it back next time I visit Heorot.
What I do mind is the face the inhabitants of Willow Hill are making.
We spent the night there, but no attack came. The next day we prepared the bodies of the fallen for the passing ceremony. The demon ones were stripped of their belongings and their weapons and armors were added to our arsenal. My item box.
And as the chief, it is my job to give a speech. I look around and while nobody alive is hurt or maimed, their countenance is bad. More than a third of our own died. But my rules saved a lot of monsters. Instead of being left behind or just charging on a suicide attack, they retreated, protected the wounded. Alice's wolves surprised me. They ran around with some makeshift travois ferrying wounded monsters back to the hill.
"Gather around, my brethren. Tonight we honor the brave warriors that gave their lives so we could live to avenge them. The demon tribe will pay dearly for each drop of blood we shed that night. We shall see to it."
Cries and howls and shrieks were sent to the sky to show our anger. To say that monsters have no feelings, that was proven false to me when I first hear Shraaizar talk about her sisters. She had more sadness for their loss than hatred for humans. And boy, did she hate.
I will let Kochurearc take the lead on this part. I may be a monster, but I still have a shred of human sensitivity in me. I retreat back to where Marcy and Helen are watching with Zahariel and watched the gorilla leader continue the ceremony.
"And now we shall feast on the flesh of the fallen. As we eat our fallen brethren, we take on their burden and on their anger."
They give the first and better portions to the wounded and the infirm as I commanded. My tribute of half the pemadras was already collected. There is no rush. No savagery. It is our mourning rite. A solemn occasion nobody wants to repeat.
Call it callous all you want. The truth is, monsters are practical existences. And monster bodies are very rich in nutrition, magic, and materials. Just like the monkeys ate they're fallen back when we defeated Graymantle, just like Kochurearc didn't mind when I took the pelts of their fallen. The demon bodies were not poisonous or anything, and they also have a high magic value. They were all thrown in the mix. Human bodies? They are good only for plant fertilizer. I don't even have the stomach to test if they still give exp to me after being stored for this long in the item box. I have dumped the knights' bodies in a deep ditch somewhere at the foot of the mountains. It is enough that Mittens has a taste for human flesh and after what he did to Julius' body she forbade him from eating people.
The rite went through the night and the following day.
As I expected, several goblins hit heir level caps, besides all of the subatomic goblins. Some of the older burly monkeys did reach the cap too. But these are tier 1 and 2 monster races.
The next morning, these monsters were present before me.
"Do you desire to become stronger?" They nod. "Serve me as my hands and eyes. I will guide your paths if you entrust them to me."
They all agreed. Monster taming. I can tame ten goblins or six monkeys on each 'tamer' slot. Helen told me she could tame 200 bees in one slot, but that is because the bees are a swarm type.
I increased the number of goblins under my wing to twenty, and six monkeys. They all gained +22 prowess and agility and +12 magic from the tamer contract. My first order was to make them shut the hell up on the telepathic communication. Only for emergencies.
Some of the goblins can evolve into sorcerer, others into witch doctors. I let two start evolution into Goblin Sorcerer, and two into Goblin Witch Doctors. Five of them wanted to become hobgoblins, I also gave them the green light. Six of them were able to become Boogeys. The monkeys could evolve into graymantles or symians. When I checked the info on the Symian race using appraisal, its description was 'primitive hominid'.
I need to check with my monster species expert.
I went looking after Marcy, she was with Helen tending the beehive. The seven surviving harmonic bees are working overtime to build their colony.
"Hey, how is the hive going? Need more materials?" I have been supplying them with beeswax, honey, and Helen-brand royal jelly.
Helen the human queen bee was all dirty with honey and wax, "No, we are fine. Some flowers are already blossoming, the bees can make their own materials."
Marcy, do you know what a 'Symian' or a 'Boogey' is? Besides being evolutions for devil monkeys and goblins, I mean."
"I've never heard of Symians, but Boogeys are goblin assassins. They are rumored to be able to become spectral and murder people in their sleep."
I can't hide my enthusiasm, "Awesome!" Goblin scouts and assassins that can go through walls? Just my favorite type of monster!
Marcy tenses up as if she was going to retort, but she shrugs and gives up, "Yes, awesome!"
"Don't worry, I won't let them attack people... that I like."
"I weep for humanity."
I returned to where my tame goblins and monkeys are but bumped into Shraaizar near the Bootleg Guild headquarters. She gave me the same info as Marcy, so I went ahead and made all of them start evolution. For a tame monster, it is the tamer that has control over these settings. Will I regret having so many weak tame monsters? I don't know. What I know is that the potential for growth is astonishing.
It will take four days for the goblins to finish evolution and nine for the monkeys. I let the four that were eager to become symians evolve into simians and the other two into graymantles. Even if I have control, I want them to think for themselves.
The other five goblins were the subatomics. They are not going to evolve now. The two pregnant girls can't evolve or they will naturally abort the babies. And the other three will only undergo evolution after the first batch is already trained. I also remember my own evolution. I need to make sure they have enough food when they wake up. Or in the worst case, they might eat each other.
One tidbit. It seems the 'happy evolution' surprise party they threw me is a new tradition. Every monster now should have a 'happy evolution' party thrown for them. And this is the main reason to time their evolutions. I will only have to do two parties. One day hiatus before the second batch of goblins go and everyone finishes together.
With the evolution part out of the way, I should check on the prisoner. She has been without water, food or mana for two days. I know she is alive thanks to the tracking marker I left on her.
Since only Zahariel and I know the demon language, we are going to interrogate her.
"Beowulf, this place reeks!" We entered the prison cave and the first thing Zahariel notices is that it stinks.
We use wind magic to bring in the fresh air, and when I reach the cell I erase the source of the stench with fire.
In front of us is the back of a demoness, a succubus to be precise. Naked, with both arms stuck to the rock wall above the elbows and both legs also stuck in the rock at the middle of the thighs.
After the place is clean and ventilated, we remove the gag and the prisoner speaks.
"Please kill me!" Using human language. Her breathing is irregular. I could've left the mana level a bit higher, but I really don't care.
I answer in the demon tongue, "No can do, princess. We are going to need some information from you."
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
"Ha! As if you would get anything from me. I'm not a princess. I was just an archer, I know nothing!"
"Do you seriously think I would fall for that, Princess Jel'rannalath?"
She pauses and takes a good look at my face.
"I remember you! I shot four wyvern arrows at you, how didn't you die troll?"
"Sorry, but I am the one asking questions here. Why did you attack?"
"Your human masters invaded our territory! Of course, we would attack before you could drain the mana!" She coughs, "But it is obvious that we were too late!"
Hold a freaking second. If humans could really drain mana from an area to make a settlement, why wouldn't they just expand? There are thousands of acres of good arable land along the roads, and there are already roads right next to these lands! It just doesn't add up.
"Don't lie to us. How much do you know of my master's secret rites?" And please tell me, because I don't know shit about it.
"I-I don't know nothing! Give me some water, please!"
"Hey, Zahariel, what do demons fear?"
Before the Seraph could answer, the prisoner started shaking and babbling, "Ha ha ha! What a joke! Do you really think I would believe that Zahariel of the Nine is there with you, human? We are still expecting word of the..."
And then she shuts up because she knows she leaked too much info.
"Word of whom, princess? And Zahariel, seventh of the Nine? Do you know the guy?"
"No! I know nothing!" She is thirsty, starving and mana-deprived. Her mental fortitude is not at its peak. Her lies are obvious.
"I know a guy, he has a flaming sword, pure white wings with gold barbs, curly hair, glows in the dark and likes to drop meteors on demons. Have you seen him? Goes by the name Zahariel."
"I don't know! He is sealed up in Beelzebub's lair! We sent..."
"Do you mean the scouting party of about what, fifteen to twenty you sent north to investigate something there related to my white-winged friend here? We murdered all of them."
"Liar! There is no way that uncle Derzomel would be defeated by the likes of you! He is the best summoner... Stop! Your mind tricks won't work on me! Do your worse!"
"Oh, right! Mind tricks. Good idea! Thanks, succubus princess. Okay, time to brainwash!"
"Hex!" This will lower her stats.
"Thought Whispering!" Just to see if she is thinking about the same as what she says.
Skill Mind Magic level 8.
"Wait wait wait! I'll talk" But what she thought was "These bastard humans are going to pay! Once they rape me, I'll devour their life force!"
"There will be no rapes in my territory."
"Bewitch!"
After the third spell was cast, she calmed down and settled on her stone seat.
"What is your full name and title?"
"Princess Jel'rannalath of Abbadon."
"When people want to shorten your name, how do they call you?"
"Ranna."
"Good. Ranna, who is Derzomel and what was his last mission?"
"Derzomel is my uncle from my mother's side. He was tasked with investigating an oracle regarding the release of Lord Beelzebub from his imprisonment 7498 years ago."
"There you go, Zahariel. You spent seventy-five centuries in that chalice."
"Keep on with the questions. Then kill this abomination and end her suffering."
"Right... When is he supposed to report back?"
"When he finishes his mission."
"How long is his mission supposed to last?"
"Until he returns."
"How do demons change jobs?"
"We use the guild crystal."
"How long does a demon live?"
"Until we die."
"I order you to always answer my questions with the most complete answer possible. And stop answering once I say ' you may stop now'."
"Yes."
"How do humans drain mana from the land?"
"They have a soul magic ritual to sacrifice one of their own with great power, and this ritual can change the nature of the land around permanently. The change depends on the power of the person. I don't know the particulars of this ritual, but it has been used from time to time..."
"You may stop now." So this is what that shitty guild master wanted to do with Helen. He was going to sacrifice her to spread her 'harvest princess' power onto the land around Mirfield... So to drain mana from the land they might need someone with a mana-negating power... "Why did you attack that exact night?"
"We had an oracle that most humans living in that settlement would be too entranced attending a party to notice..."
"You may stop now. Who gives these oracles?"
"The daughters of Lucifer. They are an order of priestesses that revere the First of the Nine, our god, and savior. Sometimes they glimpse an oracle of the future. They are also..."
"You may stop now. Do you know anything about Lucifer's revival?"
"It would be the most joyous and happy day for all of us. When we..."
"You may stop now. What happens if a human mates with a succubus?"
"The human will have his lifeforce drained and it will become power for the succubus. This power will increase our levels."
Damn. These bitches can level up with sex-murder! "How many humans have you drained this way? Can you drain other races than human?"
"None. I've never met a human. They say our lands are poisonous to humans. Yes, I can drain any of the 'people races'. Humans, elves, dwarves, beastkin, and gnomes. I've done several of them."
"You may stop now. What happens if a succubus mates with a monster?"
"The succubus will be very disgusted. She would probably be so disgusted she would kill herself. Mating with monsters is an act of bestiality and is regarded as taboo by..."
"You may stop now. But what will happen to the monster?"
"It would probably feel the most exciting and wild pleasure of its life."
"Can a succubus breed with a monster?"
"No, because she will kill herself in shame after she mated with the monster. But if a succubus can become pregnant with a monster's baby, yes. These filthy abominations must be hunted down and killed...
"You may stop now. How many demons participated in the attack?"
"We had two hundred forty demons. They were divided into eight platoons..."
"You may stop now. Would the demons mount a rescue for you or would they abandon you?"
"If they knew I was alive, they would rush to rescue me."
"You may stop now. Do demons indulge in torture and depravity very often?"
"No! We only torture our prisoners. What is depravity?"
"You may stop now. Where is your home located?"
"East of the dragonspine mountains and north of the dragonclaws. It..."
"You may stop now. If I show you a map, would you be able to mark all the demon settlements?"
"Yes. I have an extensive knowledge of the layout of our lands."
"You may stop now. Are you hungry or thirsty?"
"Yes! Very! I feel like I could faint and die at any moment. I also haven't wiped myself and I am..."
"You may stop now. If I made you swear to not damage anything or any creature of this settlement and not to escape or contact other demons, would you keep your promise?"
"Yes. I would never promise it to you though, not even under threat of death... You impudent! How dare you do this to me!"
It seems the spell ended.
"Here is some water, princess. We are going to give you water every day two times per day and some gruel every other day..." There was a reaction in the sentry ward network but it disappeared. Invisibility for Zahariel. "Zahariel, go silently and put Helen and Marcy on alert. We have guests. I'll take care of the princess here."
I'll run outside and put some twilight totems around, then one last one by the cell door. One sentry ward is hidden behind a rock by the entrance. Also one snail totem at the jail entrance and another right next to the princess. And now, invisibility on myself.
There it goes. Two presences. They got stuck in the snail totem. I'll act fast before they can release themselves from the paralysis.
Thought whispering.
Thought whispering.
Skill Mind Magic level 9. {Erase Memory} learned. Erases memories of an event up to
"Damn is this some kind of trap? The princess is naked. Damn, she is hot! I'd nail that swaying succubus ass any time! Damn, I shouldn't be looking at the princess' private parts. But it is out there in the open! What if Rezzold bites his tongue?"
"He he, the boss is oogling the princess. I bet he has a hard on now. I'd love to suck that..."
I hurriedly dismiss the spells. I am feeling uncomfortable with these two pervy demons ogling her. Know what. I'll try my luck at the ultimate of mind magic for 10 SP. From the trend of the spells so far, the ultimate mind magic is...
Ultimate Spell Create Thrall learned.
Cost: 2,500 MP. Duration: Permanent. Casting time: 1 hour.
Enslaves the mind of the target. Resisted by Magic. Spell fails or is dispelled the moment target has more Magic than the caster. Target will be utterly loyal to the caster but gets 1 chance at breaking the enchantment each season. Target will carry out commands to the letter. While the spell is in effect, the caster's magic stat is decreased by 25% of the Magic stat of each thrall.
Bewtich and bury in the rock. Stupid demons.
After being alerted by Zahariel, the golden-haired bee queen comes to check on me, "Beowulf, what are you doing? And why there is a lot of naked demons in this cell?" She still smells of honey. Weren't these bees supposed to clean their queen?
Behind her are Marcy and Zahariel.
"I've captured two that came to either rescue the princess or kill her. We already got what we needed from the princess. I pretend to execute these two nine days from now. They are this way because it was the only way to contain all the three."
Marcy checks the prisoners and asks, "Are they going to stay like that for nine days?"
"No. I am going to put them under a domination spell."
Three hours later I have enslaved the three demons. Two assassins and one sniper. They are now in jail, sitting on a bench I took from the knight's mess hall. They are clean and clothed, of course. On the table, there is food, parchment, and ink. They are eating and drawing a map for me. I've lost 47 magic from enslaving these three. These points will remain lost until I can release one of them.
The two guys seemed to be rather high in their military. They knew forces composition, numbers and other data the princess lacked.
And now I have a map of the demon lands east of here complete with military info. Including the advanced scout post, they are using to intrude on my lands.
The camp is the blue-black dot:
[https://i.imgur.com/E4Z3hor.png]
They are up for a surprise raid. Troll style, of course.