They numbered about 20,000, of which about 3,000 were cavalry.
“Excuse me.”
An attendant approached and bowed deeply.
“The elder told me to tell Edar.”
The attendant handed me a mask.
It means to hide your face and act.
There’s nothing good about seeing my appearance to the enemy.
Following me, my family also wore masks.
“When did you prepare this again?”
Rachel wore a mask studded with teardrop-shaped rubies.
“Mosquitoes hate sunlight, so they dress like winter in summer. Masks to cover the face are also common. I don’t use it in other races’ societies because I’m afraid my identity will be questioned.”
Even in the military camp, there were many vampires wearing masks.
There were many more fancy masks than Rachel’s.
It’s to the point where we feel normal.
“If you are ready, go this way.”
The attendant led them to a temporary platform set up for command.
Vlad and his blood relatives settled down right away, and I stood aside and hugged Mersephone. Mercephone hugged my neck and gave me a long yawn.
“I’m sleepy···.”
Although Mersephone was a member of her household, she was no different from a child. She yawned as if she was exhausted from pretending to be an adult in front of Vlad.
“It’s a battlefield, but there’s no tension at all.”
Rachel muttered awkwardly after accepting the teacup the attendant gave her.
“It’s because you’re watching someone else’s battlefield.”
The battlefield was clearly visible from the platform.
The battle had just begun and there was a clash between cavalry.
The battle between the different races was different from the battle of the Imperial army. If it had been the imperial army, they would have bombarded them first before using cavalry, and sent musketeers to shock them.
However, Mycenae and the allied forces competed for strength by sending their cavalry first. Allied cavalry was heavy cavalry, and Mycena’s cavalry was wild beasts running on two legs without reason. In fact, it could not be called a cavalry because there were no soldiers mounted on it, but it was treated as such for convenience because it was a military force that responded to cavalry.
Kwakwang!
And a loud explosion covered the battlefield.
Fireballs fell towards the slowly advancing infantry.
It was a sphere made of magical power. A huge flame that I couldn’t hold even with my arms wide open came from Mycenae’s headquarters and fell on the allied infantry.
“aaagh!”
Kwakwang! bang!
The fireball flew in a parabola and exploded with an explosion louder than the siege gun’s cannon when it hit the ground. The impact was enough to shake the stage.
“Use counter magic!”
Streams of light formed like spider webs in the sky.
Cobwebs emitting blue light caught the flying flames. Then, there was a cracking sound, the spider’s web parted, and the fireball melted away and disappeared.
“next!”
rumble…
The wizards of the allied forces blocked the enemy’s offensive and gathered their mana.
Dark clouds formed in the middle of the clear sky, and lightning struck.
“Quaaagh!”
“what are you doing! You must protect us!”
“You idiots, keep the enemy wizards in check first!”
The vast majority of Mycenae’s foot soldiers were white bones and rotting corpses, and there were only a handful of vampires who controlled the undead in between.
The lightning strikes with magic were aimed at these vampires, and when the vampires died, the undead lost control and rolled helplessly on the floor.
And the thunderbolt spread to the surroundings, centering on the vampire who struck it, and turned the corpse and fellow countrymen nearby to ashes.
rumble…
Kwakwang!
The magic did not end there.
The mages who were attacking each other’s infantry changed their target to the opposing mage and started fighting. Unlike the fire and lightning that struck the infantry, intense sparks flew in the air when magic and magic collided.
Unpredictable changes occurred on the ground directly below, such as the ground cracking and sticking together, and the grass growing wild and then burning due to the abnormal phenomenon created by the magic collision.
The armies of both sides, advancing in ranks, moved forward avoiding the place where magical powers collided and faced each other.
“It’s a little different from the battles I’ve seen so far.”
Rachel shook her head as she watched the battlefield where magical powers raged.
“Because a dwarf and a dwarf are mixed.”
“Are the two races very different?”
“You’re good at using magic.”
Do you think elves and dwarves are the higher races for nothing? Vlad’s Mycenae Empire also belongs to the higher ranks, but originally, only the first two races were considered superior to the other races belonging to the representative system.
Just as the Empire used gunpowder weapons, both races used magic commonly. That wasn’t a magic that could be considered to be of a very high level either. On a battlefield where the elven prince, Raeragon, goes out, more wonderful magic is emitted.
“But don’t worry. There aren’t that many wizards.”
The number of high-level wizards is extremely small.
It is extremely difficult to replenish once consumed on the battlefield.
That’s why they don’t show up easily on the battlefield.
“Mosquito babies!”
“Receive the punishment of the Great Emperor!”
In the midst of the melee between the different races and the beasts in the center, there was a group that stood out. Unfortunately for Vlad, they were a group of heterogeneous people, neither beasts nor vampires.
Elves, dwarves, and lizardmen, a mixed force of three races, the number was only thirty, but the beasts around them did not dare to approach, so the martial arts were overwhelming enough to be empty.
【Lv. 88]
【Lv. 68]
【Lv. 70]
【Lv. 69]
【Lv. 87]
From noble mtl dot com
【Lv. 76]
【Lv. 86]
Some are stronger than Vlad or even comparable.
It is an opponent that can not be defeated without borrowing the power of the sacred object.
If Vlad’s powers were intact, he would have caught it without difficulty, but since the situation had reached its worst, it didn’t seem easy to respond. If not, the cavalry might collapse and lose the battle because of them.
“Tsk.”
Vlad looked at them and frowned.
Anger boiled over, and mana slowly rose.
If you reveal your hidden power, you will be even more angry knowing that you can kill with one gesture. It’s a situation where you can’t step out recklessly even though you have power.
As Tiamar’s seal was broken, the connection with the main body became stronger, and in the short term, he should be able to draw more magical power than the incarnation of Lizardman. However, there was a risk of being discovered in the representative system, so I had to be careful.
“The damage must be quite large.”
Still, the odds of winning were great.
One of the characteristics of the Mycenae Empire is the number of people.
Right now, the number of enemies is about 20,000, but the number of corpses and beasts that Mikena commands seemed many times greater. If there is a difference in numbers like this, defeat is decided the moment the enemy is pushed out of endurance.
The problem is that when it comes to stamina fights, even Vlad’s damage is formidable.
“Damn it… nothing but an idiot. This fight continues every time. We have to see the weak people who would not have paid attention to them in the old days, who are proud of being strong.”
“hmm.”
Vlad was eaten by the holy relic.
Therefore, it should be regarded as a temporary ally.
It’s difficult when an alliance with a common purpose collapses easily.
“I can help, if you want.”
Vlad turned his head and looked at me.
“I would appreciate it if you would.”
I beckoned to Calliope.
She thoughtfully expressed concern for my safety, but soon mounted her horse to follow my instructions. Behind her, two guards ran into the center of the melee.
“Something like a vampire is stopping us—”
The melee was quickly settled.
With Calliope at the head, the three followers jumped into a melee. The horse did not slow down, and cut through the enemy as it broke through. In the middle of the melee, the heterogeneous group that was slaughtering the beast couldn’t compete with Calliope more than twice each.
It was to the point where I was mistaken that I had heard the sound of denggung.
Just as she blocked her first move and was about to mount a counterattack, she decapitated her opponent and hung the severed head on the horse’s flank. The guardsmen who followed guarded her rearguard and withdrew across the enemy lines.
Took
This must be what they say to come before the tea cools down.
“It’s done.”
Calliope threw three of her enemies’ heads in front of Vlad and said.
It was the neck of an enemy who was level 88, 87, and 86, respectively.
“excellent! Very good!”
Vlad laughed loudly and waved his clenched fist into the air.
The weight of the melee was tilted sharply by the activities of the three families.
The enemy hesitantly retreated, then turned and began to run, and the beasts pursued them, escalating the attack. The infantry on both wings continued a tight battle, but when the center collapsed, the ranks collapsed.
“It’s been a while since we won so coolly.”
I deliberately drank the tea with a slurp.
At a glance, I could feel the eyes of my blood relatives.
‘As expected, it’s not enough yet.’
From Naga to Lizardman, even with gunpowder weapons, they had good results. However, it seemed difficult for the gunpowder weapon to achieve the same performance against the regular army of elves and dwarves, who were not hunters. I already knew this, but the magic the two races cast were of different levels.
‘This is the reason why I said that even if I handed a musket to the undead, I couldn’t turn the tide of the battle.’
Of course, if the number and strategy are followed, it will give a valid blow.
Anyway, my goal is not to win the victory of Mike or the Empire.
The guy who dwells in Vlad also knows the reality.
It means to cut power by attrition.
“What did you say you needed?”
After the battle, Vlad asked.
“It depends on what you can give.”
“joy. Do you know what the vampire’s strengths and weaknesses are?”
Vlad called an attendant and told them.
cut my throat Then the attendant resisted with trembling eyes, then cut off his head. Watching the blood ooze from the servant’s corpse, Vlad continued.
“It is very difficult to disobey the orders of my parents who turned me into a vampire. No matter how strong you are, it is difficult to overcome the coercion of your parents’ words. And I have no blood relatives in this country other than that of this body.”
The meaning of the word is one.
“Even if I hand over this country to you, no one will object.”
The holy relic must have been passed on to Vlad for nothing. It is no coincidence that Vlad got the holy relic. It was given because if you eat him, you can swallow the empire.
The remnants of Tiamar who took over Vlad’s body asked.
“say it. What it takes to bring down the representative system.”
Vampire Consulting (4)
What do you need?
You can hand this country over to me?
I laughed at the absurd suggestion.
“Do you think my words are lies?”
Vlad looked at me like he was staring at me.
Magical energy shimmered in the eyes that met me.
Vlad’s soul is resisting.
How dare you hand over my country to a bag of blood.
It must be a struggle to take the initiative of the body in anger.
However, the resistance was in vain.
‘It’s a bit bizarre, but it’s sincere.’
There was ample reason to believe it was sincere.
Because I have no attachments to Tiamar, Akakosque, or Mycenae.
“I am not Vlad. So this country doesn’t matter to me. The important thing is whether or not there is a force to oppose when the seal is released. In order not to be sealed again, I have to reduce the rest of my powers, including the representative system. Just like you just told me.”
To the two souls, Mycenae is a tool that can be thrown away.
That’s why I’m bold to say that I’m handing it over to me.
“Tell me what you want. Anything in this country I can give. If you want to become emperor, you can hand over the emperor, if that is excessive, the chancellor, not to you but to your subordinates, and you can hand over the military authority as well. There are no restrictions, so tell me.”
It is truly an unconventional proposition.
But it wasn’t worth much.
Rather, it is a proposal that is close to a trap.
‘Emperor, Chancellor, don’t speak slickly.’
At first glance, it is a situation where a pumpkin rolls down all over the vine.
But if you think about it, it’s not a pumpkin, it’s a trap.
‘Mycenae is not a country I can have.’
Mycena’s reign had two problems.
One is that the Mycenae Empire is a country of vampires.
The other is that my position is established with Vlad’s guarantee.
‘In Mycenae, the number of humans is just enough to use as a blood bag. Unless you’re having a party, there’s no reason to raise them on a large scale like a ranch because they suck blood and finish. Therefore, the population is small.’
Slaves or servants of other races far outnumbered the population.
In addition, the ruling race was even a blood relative.
‘It’s a problem even if you govern. Even if I reorganize administration, promote industry, and even secure military power, it will be in vain if Vlad reaps my position guarantee.’
If you compare it, it’s like I lent the empire to someone else.
Even if someone becomes emperor in my place, even if he rules better than me, if I say that I will reclaim the throne, he cannot even resist.
The same goes for Mycenae.
If Vlad relinquishes the position guaranteed to me as a blood father, there is nothing I can do to stop him. The foundation of Mycenae is not humans, but blood relatives and servants. Their rebellion is the same as their own rebellion.
‘This guy’s goal could be this.’
There is one more point that we must not forget.
That Tiamar and Akakosque were originally my enemies.
‘The ultimate purpose of the two souls dwelling in the holy relic is to ensure that no forces will dare to resist her when Tiamar awakens. Considering that the Imperium of Man is also a force to oppose her, the best situation the Holy Relic wants is for the two empires, the Empire of Man and the Empire of Mycenae, to collide with the representative system.’
I saw Vlad.
Vlad took the crown off his head and held it in his hand.
He shook it lightly as if he was willing to hand it over to me.
‘He’s shaking the bait.’
The customs are bait.
A bait that stimulates human desire.
“As the emperor of two empires, don’t you think it’s really cool?”
If he had even the slightest greed for authority, he would have snapped at the bait that was rustling right in front of his eyes. It’s because the words “Emperor of the two empires” sound different.
‘Assuming I get the title of emperor of Mycenae and serve as the emperor of both empires.’
The Imperium of Man is already fighting dissimilar races, but wriggling as a rising power is one thing entirely different from absorbing one of the established powers.
This race will not sit idly by, and the pressure on the Imperium of Man will increase exponentially.
On the other hand, from Tiamar’s point of view? It’s the best.
The chaos in the world is growing, and an all-out war is taking place that cuts down on all forces.
‘It’s like catching a big fish with a sweet bait that has no value to you.’
Receiving the emperor’s throne is the worst choice.
It is not much different from the position of one person or many people.
The public title itself given by him is a trap that differs only in size.
‘But you don’t have to refuse the offer.’
I took the coronet.
Vlad smiled silently.
I think that I have been tempted and caught in a trap.
But I took a step back from there.
“It is too conspicuous to be crowned. What would it look like if a human who rebelled against the representative system became the emperor of vampires? I will use the coffin as it is, and let you receive some of the authority necessary for governance.”
Vlad let go of his laugh and narrowed his eyes.
It was an attempt to gauge my intentions.
“In that case, you can go up to the chancellor.”
“I gave up the throne because I didn’t want to stand out, so you want me to take off the mask just for the chancellor’s job?”
I tapped the mask I was wearing with my index finger and continued.
“It is better not to have anything to attract unnecessary attention. Anyway, the purpose of my visit was achieved by confirming your condition.”
“…”
Vlad’s eyes wavered.
It must have been an intention to attract attention by giving him a public seat.
But since I refused, I have to choose the second best.
Raising the level of intervention by handing over real power.
‘It’s useless. You want me to intervene deeply in Mycenae and be caught like drowning in mud, but do you think I am ignorant of your tricks?’
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Vlad eaten by a relic.
So, the guy’s intentions are obvious.
‘I’ll let you maintain the representative system and the war of attrition in moderation. Let it sink with the representative system after a long war of attrition.’
###
Vlad didn’t give me any title after all.
Because I couldn’t bend my will, the intention to put me in a public position failed. Instead, he promised real power, comparable to that of an emperor. This, too, was not a public notice.
‘It shouldn’t take a long time.’
In the first place, I had no intention of wasting time in a foreign country. I believed in the abilities of the cabinet ministers, including Skadi, but nothing good happened because I was away for a long time. I was planning to return home immediately after laying the groundwork.
However, judging from the behavior of the holy object that governs Vlad, it was necessary to further shorten the time he stayed in Mycenae.
‘I have to stay for a long time before I can do useless tricks.’
Vlad and I are virtually allies, but one that can strike back at any time. I had achieved my intended purpose, so there was no reason to stay in Mycenae.
‘I confirmed the most important Tiamar situation. The seal was significantly broken, and Vlad was consumed by the holy relic. There’s nothing more to check.’
Wheeess
As soon as I received Vlad’s promise, I headed north.
It was planned to concentrate facilities including the arsenal here.
Vlad asked why an industrial complex was built in an environment where it was terribly cold and difficult for people to live in. I replied that it was safe because the occupation value was low.
It will take a considerable amount of time to build a production facility and bring it into full operation. What if the war situation worsens before then and the enemy enters deep inland? Otherwise, the facility could be stolen.
For that reason, he chose a place with less military risk even if he endured various problems. Even within the Empire, the cold regions were not worth much.
“cold.”
Mersephone trembled.
Since the level is low, he is no different from a normal person.
I put her inside my coat and walked holding her.
Rachel followed and said.
“The servants are worried that the temperature is so low that the zombies will freeze.”
“never mind. I have no intention of mobilizing people whose flesh is rotting away to work. Aren’t there enough slaves or monsters of different races to take on simple tasks?”
“The intention of the servants was that the military operation was disrupted.”
Then you don’t have to worry any more.
The level of zombies is so low that they are not very helpful in battle. Rather, thanks to the severe cold, it is worthwhile that the Lizardman, a mutant animal, is less likely to attack.
“What else?”
“no. The day is a little cold, but there is no problem with the work.”
Rachel’s white breath spread like mist.
“Isn’t it cold?”
When I saw her attire, I hung out my tongue.
She was wearing nothing over her nun’s uniform.
“People with weak faith feel the cold.”
“…”
You are accepting the pain of freezing your body as an ordeal.
I laughed and turned around.
“A cornerstone field? Did you say things were going well?”
“yes. We are taking in and training the workers sent by Vlad. I didn’t even know the existence of saltpeter, and the method of collecting it was a little bit, so it seems that there is a lot of resistance. Still, I ordered it in Vlad’s name, so I don’t express my dissatisfaction outwardly.”
It’s fidgety, though, Rachel added.
“It deserves it.”
I nodded.
It was decided to spread gunpowder weapons to the Mycenae Empire, but there were several problems. Representatively, there is no cornerstone production area like the human empire. What if gunpowder is not supplied even if musket production facilities are built?
Therefore, in order to create a cornerstone farm, he dispatched his subordinates from the Department of Agriculture and Commerce to various parts of the empire. The place and manpower were easily obtained, but as Rachel said, it seems difficult to accept it in the field because it is a method of collecting food scraps and urine and aging them in the field.
“Edar. Are you embarrassed?”
Asked Mersephone, sticking her head out of my arms.
I stroked her hair and looked at Rachel.
“Is this the third time you have accompanied me at your parents’ house?”
“yes. Ugdash and Germania and until this time. The previous two times were short, but this time it’s been almost two years. It’s been almost a year since I’ve seen my father.”
“Has that amount of time passed?”
I laughed and shook my head.
Time is such a strange thing that if you look at it, it seems like it doesn’t flow, but if you look away, it will pass for a long time.
It’s been a while since I became Edar, and already, if at all, at most. It’s only been a few years, but since I’ve come this far, it’s really running without a break.
“It’s important to take a break sometimes, Dad.”
I want to say that I can’t afford that, but I suddenly remembered that space is something you make yourself. Instead of answering, I smiled and asked.