Chapter 563 – Return of Middle-Earth #20
I won so easily that it was so bland. It ends with a simple location identification and charge. It was not a war, but it broke the enemy’s troops as if it were a sport.
“It’s miserable.”
The price of not surrendering was disastrous.
It is full of corpses trampled and torn by monsters. It’s really unfortunate. If I had surrendered, none of this would have happened.
“Clean the battlefield! Redeem the prisoners!”
Anyway, the war is over, so we need to clear the battlefield. Take everything you need. Those who were still alive were collected and made prisoners.
“Oops…!”
“Khaaaaa! Help me!”
“Help me, please!”
The captives screamed for help while being arrested, but in fact there is no need to be afraid.
They are all precious labor, and will be safely returned home. Because there must be a lot of ordinary people like this to be able to collect a lot of taxes.
This is all labor and taxes.
Healthy workers make a prosperous nation.
I shouted at the prisoners.
“Do not be afraid, prisoners! As I said, those who surrender will be spared! I promise to send them home!”
“…!”
When I shouted with magic power, the overwhelmed prisoners closed their mouths all at once.
“So follow the controls! If you don’t listen, you’ll get in trouble!”
“Yes!”
“Neeet!”
“Ugh!”
This is reassuring enough.
“Okay then.”
As we discuss the treatment of prisoners, let’s try to destroy all the enemy armies. The level of the army of the small kingdom was all this level, so the result was already decided.
* *
Some time after that.
We won the war
“Waaaaa!”
“Long live!”
“I won it!”
In the first place, the opponent itself should not be.
In addition to my experimental unit, Vera and Buril’s army marched to different places, defeating the small kingdom alliance’s army and taking a large number of prisoners. At the same time, many knights, nobles, and kings were captured, and it was very easy to convince them.
“Convert now and cede the throne to the princesses! And serve me as emperor! Got it!”
“Huh…!”
How can it not work when they show the overwhelming power of the army and threaten while thrusting their fists into it?
“I can’t!”
Of course, there were also those who could not grasp reality.
“You’re kicking a chance at a good end. Good! I’ll put you in jail!”
“Annit!”
All you have to do is put them in jail.
My request is simple.
You guys just retire and live a leisurely life gardening and handing over the throne to the princesses. This was decided at the point of our overwhelming victory in the war.
If you refuse, you are garden, nabal, and go to prison. And in any case, at my command, the princesses will be crowned queens.
Then, after making those queens my own, converting them, and making the state religion the Kulse religion, I can wield them at will while providing material support.
After stabilizing like that, it’s over if you suck up taxes and life energy again.
It is to make the small kingdoms the administrative districts of my empire.
“His Majesty the Holy Emperor, long live!”
“Hurray!”
“Long live the Culse Church!”
After swallowing the small kingdoms, various political discussions came and went. It’s good that the small kingdom is mine, but it’s another matter to establish and manage the administrative system here.
It is necessary to win the hearts of the people while treating existing talented people as much as possible.
“Burilla. Let the kids do the public support. Just do it kindly and smoothly so that our monster army can be friendly.”
“Keruk Keruk. I know. Keruk! Listen up! Public support is planned! Spread the word to the children and make them familiar with the precautions!”
“Kerreuk! I understand!”
For now, let’s spread some supplies while providing public support.
“Vestina! Release the priestesses and conduct the missionary work! If there is an existing religion, persuade or hypnotize it to follow this side!”
“Yes, Demon King!”
Propagation is another specialty of Vestina.
Hearing my orders, Vestina led her priestesses and escort troops on her missionary pilgrimage. Now she will come all the way around her little kingdom, increasing her followers.
She is a Vestina who has already conducted propaganda hundreds of times in my kingdom and Sharoud Kingdom. This seasoned pagan saint will brainwash people according to my will.
“Lucy! Please take charge of this place from now on!”
“I’ll do my best!”
And the overall management of the small kingdoms was left to Lucy. I looked at him all the time, and he seemed to be the most ambitious and talented.
It is easier to work once a general manager is appointed.
“Good.”
I finished my work in the small kingdom.
* *
Time has passed since the small kingdom was conquered.
“Very good, brother Culce! Clearing out all the periphery!”
“It’s only natural that you have the same strength as me.”
Currently, my influence is expanding very smoothly. The administrative system is slowly settling in, and the work of converting the people of the small kingdom is progressing rapidly.
Need some kind of know-how?
Vestina, who has thoroughly analyzed the part where people are obsessed with religion, has conducted propagation in a more advanced way, so the rate of people in the small kingdom joining the Kulsu Church is growing rapidly.
“But, well… It will take a few years to make it completely mine as it’s a bit far from my home country.”
It takes a lot of time to stably collect taxes and reap life energy. Only when that happens can I call it mine.
“That’s only a matter of time, Culse oppa. In fact, we’ve got a lot of room right now.”
“Relax.”
“You’ve gained more life energy than you’ve invested in Middle-earth, right? That’s how much you’re widening your gap with other demonic clans. Of course, the demons who noticed this fact are showing signs of forming an alliance and trying to attack us… Well, the angels aren’t moving too well these days. In any case, I can build up my strength smoothly.”
Thanks to the work that has worked out on this side, we’ve all been able to afford it.
In times like this, you have to calmly build up your inner strength and increase your weight class. But I do have a bit of a boundary.
A vast empire beyond a small kingdom.
I don’t really know because the information about that place is limited, but it’s sure to be very difficult if they start moving first.
“So, build up your strength step by step, Culce oppa! We’re building up our inner strength!”
Hehe, that’s how it should be.”
“Ah, but. I think it’s necessary to send spies to the empire soon.”
“Spy.”
“It’s essential to get information. There is little information about the empire. It’s spread and it’s hard to verify the authenticity. That’s why you should send spies. Choose the ones with high loyalty.”
“Hmm.”
I have to do it.
“Then, shall we try to nurture spies?”
“Yeah. It’s better to foster as many as possible. We’ll support you with artifacts that are useful for spying, so let’s start today.”
“Don’t do that.”
Alright then.
Which women should I spy on?
* *
“If that’s the case, we’re perfect.”
Barca, wearing the uniform of Admiral Hegun, said.
“Because of my job, I work at sea, so I don’t have much access to information about the Empire, right? Besides, since I was baptized and turned into a succubus, my physical condition is good. They’re kids.”
“Hoo.”
Hearing Barca’s words, he nodded his head.
“Besides, there are many people who have flowed in in various ways. There are even members from the Empire.”
“Ohh, then that’s perfect!”
“Yes?”
Raising female pirates under Barca as spies. It seems like a pretty reasonable choice.
“Then Barca? Gather those who are related to the Empire separately. Oh, but they are from the Empire. Are they also succubus?”
I don’t even know her name because she turned so many women into succubuses.
“No. None of the kids have been honored that much.”
“Right.”
It seems that he was not a key member. Besides, off-white also seems to fall behind. Anyway, this is enough. No matter what, training should be done step by step.
“Anyway, gather as many people from the Empire or know about it as possible and educate the spy candidates.
“Of course. Trust me.”
It’s cool and it gives me a sense of trust.
What so
As I was going about my daily life after giving orders to Barca, a report came up. As I ordered, I gathered personnel related to the Empire and trained spy candidates well.
I called one of the candidates’ representatives to hear her knowledge.
“Hello, Maou-nim. Do you remember me? My name is Mora!”
The female pirate Mora… I remember her face, but I can’t even remember her name. There must be so many women who ate.
“Of course I remember. You’re still cute.”
“Oh…!”
Still, I couldn’t break the illusion, so she smiled and touched her hair. So I love her as she blushes right away, and the protruding demon tail starts to rustle.
It’s cute.
“As you know, you guys are going to be dispatched as spies to the Empire.”
“I’ll work hard!”
“You must have been educated accordingly. Tell me about the Empire.”
“Yes.”
Mora outlined the story she had heard.
“Basically, the empire is ruled by one emperor. There are no nobles, but in reality officials rule each city pretending to be nobles. These officials are said to be selected through some kind of test, but in the process, all sorts of corruption is rampant. Because of this, commoners cannot become officials, and only the children of officials can be attached.”
“Uh.”
As I listened to the story, something became clear.
“To become an official, you need a huge bribe. I heard that those who became an official are exploiting the citizens of the city to make up for the losses. They said that life was difficult. That child from the Empire was the one who ran away like that.”
I heard this
Isn’t it a condition that seems to be weak in religion?
Well, it’s just a summary based on the testimonies of people who didn’t know where they were from and were from the lower classes. Reliability is low, so let’s take that into account and think about it.
