ăA few days later.\năThe invasion of the Empireâs territory by the Demon Lordâs army was proceeding smoothly.
ăA significant portion of their army that had been dispatched to the Forest of Yggdrasil had been destroyed.\năAs expected, the empire was found to be lacking in strength here and there.\năThey wanted to get the Forest of Yggdrasil and the elves so badly that they had to put that much effort into it.\năWhile I could understand their feelings, I couldnât help them.
ăThe Empire had gathered troops from all over the country to fight against the onslaught of the Demon Lordâs army.\năHowever, even with their desperate measures, they were only able to slow down the invasion and the damage we suffered itself was kept to a minimum.\năThe Demon Lordâs army was advancing while turning corpses into undead and increasing their strength.
ăThe Imperial Army, which is synonymous with strength, excels at using a strategy that relies on overwhelming numbers, but this did not work with the Demon Lordâs Army.\năThis is because they cannot take advantage of their numbers.\năThe undead, who know neither fatigue nor pain, can take on all attacks head on.
ăHowever, these factors are only within the margin of error.\năThe most important cause is probably the presence of Grom and Henry on the front lines.\năThere is no force in the Imperial Army that can stop them.\năNo matter what schemes and tricks they try, they are as fragile as thin ice against the two leaders.
ăHenryâs shooting accurately killed the commander, and when the troops pace was in disarray, Grom slammed the miasma and magic onto them.\năIt was a simple method, but it was extremely effective.\năIt was also extremely difficult to deal with.\năEven I, if I were to have limited magic I could use, might have a hard time attacking it.
ăAccording to regular reports, they were currently crossing the territory of the Empire at a slow pace.\năThey were proceeding while taking care of the physical exhaustion of their men.\năIt truly was the right judgement.\năThere was no need for them to hurry.
ăLiving subordinates, like demons and elves, were very valuable.\năThe first priority was to keep them alive rather than rushing the march.\năI also properly told them words to that effect firmly.\năIâd be troubled if they carry out an unreasonable strategy in search of greater achievements.
ăBesides, as for the defence of the capital, I alone am sufficient.\năI can deal with any kind of organization that descends on us.\năThereâs no need for the Demon Lordâs army to rush back.\năI spent my time listening to the reports of the war brought in as I worked on the trivial paperwork and future plans.
ăThen one day, a large number of people arrived in front of the royal capital.\năIt was not a raid from another country.\năIt seemed that the people whom I had demanded from the lords had finally been dispatched.\năIn order to check on them, I transferred into the sky and looked down at them.
ăThere were probably 20,000 to 30,000 people surrounded by the undead.\năMost of them were brawny men, with a few women and children mixed in.\năThey were accompanied by a number of carriages.\năThey seemed to be carrying daily necessities and food.
ăIt was a fairly large group, but the royal capital could easily accommodate them.\năCurrently, there was a surplus of land.\năIf we can stabilize the food supply, we will be able to accept ten times as many people promptly.
Now, letâs go greet them.
ăWhen I landed in front of the people, they were filled with surprise and fear.\năIt was a reaction I was already used to, so I didnât think anything of it.
ăThe succubus, who had been handling the situation beforehand, was casually standing behind me.\năI spoke to the people, using voice amplification magic.
âYou will now belong to the Demon Lordâs army. Do you have any objections?â
ăThe people were silent at the sudden announcement.\năIt was clear that they were not happy about it.\năHowever, no one said it out loud.\năIt was a wise decision.
ăI continued to speak in a perfunctory tone.
âThe Demon Lordâs army is currently engaged in a war with the Imperial Army. Therefore, you allââ
ăAs I was speaking, I sensed a presence approaching from the side.\năNothing seemed to exist there, yet the space seemed strangely blurry.\năItâs probably a perception obfuscation spell similar to the one that was applied to Yggdrasil.
ăI followed my intuition and lowered my body.\năSomething passed over my head.\năFor now, it seems that I succeeded in evading the attack.
ăI grabbed the assassinâs body, pulled him down, and hit him with a light electric shock at point-blank range.\năThe pale light flashed, and perception obfuscation was lifted.\năWhat appeared was a man dressed in black.
âGuhâŠâ
ăThe man grunted and thrust out the dagger in his hand.\năI dodged it, and crushed the hand holding it.\nă I then grabbed the man by the neck and lifted him up.
ăThe face of the succubus behind me quickly changed colour as she feared for my safety.
âD-Demon Lord! Are you alrightâŠ!?â
âNo problem. It seems that an assassin was mixed in with the personnel that were provided.â
ăThe man was struggling to get out of my hands, but it was not possible.\năMy physical strength had been enhanced by magic.\năIt was not something that could be teared off by a mere human.
ăAs I grabbed the man, I focused on the dagger that had fallen at my feet.\năThe blade was engraved with a holy attribute array.\năIt was a weapon meant to slay the undead.\năIt was very expensive and not something that an individual could easily purchase.
ăI asked the discomposed succubus.
âFind out the identity of this man. Which territoryâs lord sent him?â
âPlease wait a momentâŠâ
ăThe succubus flipped through the documents in her hand.\năOnce she confirmed the manâs identity, she reported to me the lord who had sent him.
ăThe lord was one who had been subjugated early on.\năI thought he prioritized self-preservation, but I had no idea he was planning something like this.\năI was a little surprised.\năAs expected, this was something I could not tolerate.
âIâll be right back.â
ăI told the succubus as I teleported.\năThe place I had transferred to was the city of the lord in question.\năFrom there, I warped further in and broke into the lordâs mansion.\năI walked down the corridor, ignoring the petrified servants, broke down a wall and stepped into a room in the back.
ăThere, the lord was enjoying a drink served by women attending to him.\năThe lord and the women froze at the sight of me.
ăI held up the assassin in my grasp and asked, âDo you recognize this manâs face?â
âWha-âŠ!?â
ăThe lord was shocked but quickly feigned composure.\năHe reacted as if he knew what was going on.\năHe had approved my assassination.
âI see. I get it now.â\năI poured miasma into the assassin, and before the assassin could scream, he was burned to ash by black flames.\năI dusted off my hands as I told the lord.
âThe idea of the assassination was not a bad one, but you werenât thorough enough. You canât kill me with something like this.â
âAh, UwahâŠ.AughaaaaaaaaaâŠâ
ăThe lord raised an unintelligible scream.\năI dragged him along as I transferred and returned to the royal capital where the people were waiting.\năI flew up into the sky and spoke, emphasizing the lordâs presence.
âEveryone, I want you to see this man. He is the mastermind of the assassination. I have brought him here just now.â
ăThe place was filled with a tense silence.\năMost of the people were anticipating what would happen next.\năIâm sure theyâre right.\năIt was my role to keep up to their expectations.
âThis is what happens to those who defy the Demon Lordâs army.â
ăAs soon as I finished speaking, something strange occurred to the lord.\năHis toes turned black and spots appeared on them.\năIn addition, his skin began to split open, spewing mucus and foaming up as he collapsed.\năIt permeated his entire body.
ăWhat I applied was a curse of corruption.\năThe lord will continue to taste death while still alive.\năHis flesh and blood were rotting and dripping onto the ground.\năThe people watching them screamed and backed away.
ăEventually, the lord was reduced to nothing but bones and clothes.\năAs soon as he dropped to the ground and I let go of his hands, the lord began to move on his own.\năHe ran away from the scene, making the sound of bones scraping together.
ăI felt the people gasp.\năThey shuddered at the gruesome manner in which the lord had died and how he had ended up.\năIt was perfect to make an example of him.\năI turned to them and warned.
âThere may be assassins still lurking amongst you, but I advice against proceeding. I donât wish to waste lives in vain. If you are confident in your assassination skills, I will gladly buy you. I want you to use that power for the sake of the Demon Lordâs army. Thatâs all I have to say.â
ăIâve conveyed what I wanted to say.\năItâll be fine to entrust the rest to my subordinates.\năAfter I finished talking, I used transfer magic and returned to the castle.\nThanks to all Patrons for their Support!\nIf you want to read the next few chapters, donât forget to support the TL on Patreon!