Chapter 79: Looming Plot
Dammit! My order was for her to hunt down the pack, not for her to torture their alpha to death and take over the pack.
The monsters I create retain their personalities. I have this same problem with Lily.
Her need to nurture caused Amelia to purchase dozens of stuffed toys for her. She pretends they are her kids and even talks to them.
It’s the same thing for Aphrodite. She sees herself as a queen, which influences her personality.
This little hornet was a narcissistic psychopath.
I could use that since she didn’t pose any threat to me. I had a strong connection with each of my monsters, so I could sense their absolute loyalty.
"Master, I left the biggest one for you. Are you happy with me?"
Well, the fact that she didn’t devour the alpha for her own benefit and instead left it for me is something at least.
"You did good killing the alpha."
"Really?"
"Yes, but you didn’t follow all my orders and kill all the wolves."
Her expression sank like a student being scolded by their professor.
" It’s fine if you want to torture your prey and make them submit before killing them. But always make sure you complete my orders fully."
She bobbed in response, which caused her antennae to sway.
"I will!"
Her eyes glowed ominously as she launched herself at the wolves, who were still prostrating themselves before her.
At the same time, the ground began to shake until Dracule popped his head out to see what was happening.
"Dark liege, you should’ve executed her for her insubordination."
Dark liege? Why is he referring to me as if I’m some dark lord in a fantasy game?
This one also has a strange personality. It will be a while before I get use to this.
As he stared at my blank expression, Dracule tilted his head curiously.
"Sire, are you alright? If you want me to punish the cockroach in your stead, then I will."
"Cockroach?" A cold, irritated voice laced with malice echoed behind us. Aphrodite overheard Dracule’s comment and didn’t take it kindly.
As she finished killing the last of the wolves, blood covered her entire body. She turned around maniacallly the moment she heard Dracule’s comment The side of her face seemed to twitch as her entire body suddenly was engulfed in flames.
"Cockroach?"
Dracule feigned Indifference and puffed out his chest proudly as if refusing to take back what he said.
"We should go," I said, cutting them off before an argument or a fight could ensue. "Let’s get back to the army."
We had bigger issues at hand. I only wanted insurance in case the soldiers proved to be useless.
Their main goal was to help me collect biomass.
Aphrodite and I soared through the sky while Dracule followed us from underground.
The army was progressing steadily, as they were all on horseback or on horse-drawn carriages.
As the beautiful golden sun spread its light across the horizon, I spotted the faint outline of a massive wall.
"We’re almost there."
The closer we got, the more visible the vast city became.
So this is the capital of the demon kingdom.
This is also the first city I’ve seen in Vesperia.
The walls were manned by roughly about a hundred men on each side. There were even towers on the wall.
Suddenly, as they finally saw us approaching, their movements got busier until smoke began coming from the tower facing us.
*’Huh, what is that?’*
This smoke seemed to have led to a chain reaction as more smoke began coming from the other towers, one by one.
’A signal. But why? Maybe it’s just procedure.’
Still, I remained cautious and began watching the soldiers on the wall carefully.
They were all lined up, facing us, until more demons began appearing.
These ones were dressed in robes and carried staffs.
Mages?!
Without a second’s delay, I quickly activated Mana Sight. With it, I tracked the mana coursing through their bodies, and I was right to.
They were preparing spells.
Realizing this, I became even more alert as I prepared to dodge or intercept any attack they threw at me.
Aiming their staffs, they fire balls of flaming purple energy. The fireballs ripped through the air, creating strangely beautiful purple streaks in the air as they moved and hit their targets with pinpoint accuracy.
To my surprise, I wasn’t the one being targeted. Instead, it was the army and the princess.
"Why would they attack their own princess? This makes no sense."
Yeah, she was leading an army to attack them, but they shouldn’t have known that. This was supposed to be a surprise attack after we were allowed in thw city.
For all they knew, she was just returning after being gone for a while.
There was more to this, I’m certain.
The princess’s army fired their own magical attacks to intercept the wave of incoming fireballs. They could only intercept a few, which led to many soldiers being hit with the purple fireballs.
A ripple of death tore through the army, and the moment the soldiers were hit, both them and their horses were dead on the spot.
For a moment, I was completely stumped by the display. Heretic magic was one terrifying form of magic.
Rightfully, I should’ve been helping them, but I decided to watch for now and observe the situation carefully.
Instead, I sent Aphrodite and Dracule to the front line. Their main task was to collect as much biomass as they could from either side.
...
As she watched her men die before her eyes, the princess gritted her teeth and kicked her horse, which traveled at breakneck speeds to get to the wall.
She was temporarily overcome with emotions and blocked out everything and everyone around her.
"That treacherous bastard! I swear I’ll kill him!"
Tears rode down her face as she rode, but she quickly wiped them away and glared at the wall.
Her crimson eyes were burning with rage as she stared at the demon who watched from atop the wall with a smug smile on his face.
