Building A Human Empire By Creating A Clan [EN]: Chapter 102

Insane Tactics

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So, I narrowed it down to about sixty people.

Half were Familiars, and the other half were Vassals.

Besides Thredret, Lojene, and Kusrorf, the Vassals included some great nobles who had been captured as prisoners in this battle.

‘It’s a shame that Walachia only has Pabe.’

Walachia is practically nonexistent except for Pabe Kusrorf.

I was waiting for their power to wane through internal strife.

Fully subjugating Walachia will come after the visit to the Grand Assembly.

“Huh…”

The Vassals were startled as they passed through the gate and arrived at the Grand Assembly.

The ringing in their ears as they passed through the gate, the Grand Assembly’s magnificent interior, and the excessively desolate atmosphere compared to its grandeur—there must have been many things to be surprised about.

“There’s no one here this time.”

Pasimea frowned.

It was the complete opposite of when she first visited the Grand Assembly.

Before, a carpet was laid from the hall to the conference room, and soldiers in ceremonial uniforms lined the sides to greet the attendees. There were also many other races present, and even music was playing.

But now?

Only silence flowed in the empty hall.

Just like when I visited the Grand Assembly at Raeragon’s invitation.

“Are you sure they really convened the Grand Assembly?”

Pasimea sent a suspicious look to the Lion.

The Lion smiled without answering and led the way to the conference room.

The conference room was also just as empty.

By this point, the Grand Assembly’s intentions were clear.

“They’re putting us first in line and making us wait.”

“They’re playing a petty game of pride.”

The Familiars and Vassals sat at the left end of the semicircle of seats.

I sat at one of the seats at the central table and smoked a cigarette.

The other races entered long after we had taken our seats.

“Since when did the Grand Assembly become a zoo?”

Starting with Goblins, then Orcs, Nagas, and Lizardmen.

The races with weaker power in the Grand Assembly entered first.

“It smells terrible.”

“Is there a circus performance today or something?”

The Vassals flinched at the insults thrown out for them to hear.

Their expressions were filled with embarrassment rather than anger.

‘The habit is too deeply ingrained for them to get angry.’

I clicked my tongue inwardly at the sight.

Why would they shrink back even when insulted?

Because they had lived as servants of other races for generations.

The habit was rooted almost as an instinct.

“Hey.”

However, the Familiars were different.

The Familiars had no reason to cower before other races.

Especially Pasimea—would that fiery personality let the insult pass?

“You, what did you just say?”

Pasimea stood up abruptly and reached out her hand.

The magic gathering at her fingertips pulled the Lizardman who had uttered the insult closer.

“What is this…”

The Lizardman floating in the air thrashed his limbs, trying to shake off the magic.

【Lv. 68】

He was a strong one in his own right, but not enough to shake off her magic.

Realizing the difference in power, he looked at his companions with trembling eyes.

The other races who had uttered the same insulting words.

“He, help…”

They turned their heads away from his pleading gaze.

“…Ahem.”

That was because the other Familiars had also moved.

Calliope, Skadi, Gerhard, Nuadile, and about thirty other Familiars were sending fierce glares, so even if they tried to help him, they would only end up in the same predicament.

It would be different if they had deliberately started a fight.

Since it was an accidental clash, they didn’t want to suffer unnecessary damage.

“Please refrain from violence in the Grand Assembly.”

The Grand Assembly’s guide tried to mediate, but,

was Pasimea the type to listen to other races?

She ignored the mediation and looked at me.

Asking whether to kill him or let him live.

‘There’s no need to see blood unnecessarily.’

“Hmph.”

Having read my thoughts, she snorted and waved her hand.

The magic binding the Lizardman’s body disappeared.

Thud.

“Eek!”

The Lizardman, who had fallen from the air, didn’t even have time to feel the pain before he scrambled to his feet and fled back to where his kin were sitting.

She sneered, twisting the corners of her mouth at the sight.

“Weaklings.”

The Vassals gasped.

They probably couldn’t have imagined a race fleeing in fear of a human, so the psychological shock must have been significant.

I lit my second cigarette and looked around at the attendees.

【Lv. 75】

【Lv. 77】

【Lv. 69】

【Lv. 67】

【Lv. 81】

【Lv. 73】

【Lv. 74】

The attendees filled the seats as much as they had during my second visit.

However, the individual levels of the attendees were higher than before.

The Lizardman who had just been subdued was among the weaker ones.

The overall average level of the attendees was quite high.

‘Are the strong ones on par with Ambassadors? Is the reason they raised the level this much because of me, Vlad, and Lord? To match the level of the opponents they need to pressure?’

I looked at the seat assigned to Vlad.

Even as the seats at the head table filled up, that place remained empty.

Vlad hadn’t come, and neither had the Ambassador of the Mycenae Empire.

– I spread rumors about Vlad to prevent the Grand Assembly from attacking you directly. I said that the reason he has been reclusive since breaking the covenant is because he was weakened after losing to you.

– This meeting will primarily aim to pressure you and Vlad rather than me. But you are not yet ready to confront the Grand Assembly. So, buy time.

I recalled Lord’s words and caressed the ring.

‘As Lord said, I’m not ready yet.’

Obtaining two thrones and declaring myself Emperor is not the end.

Rebellions and civil wars continued in both countries.

Moreover, the Grand Assembly’s intervention had deepened.

‘As soon as I return from the Grand Assembly, I need to suppress them and start reorganizing the system. I need to organize the haphazard system and raise humans to a level where they can stand against other races.’

The time had come when I could no longer overwhelm opponents with just Familiars.

Familiars are strong, but they are only overwhelming against humans and Orcs.

Compared to other races, it is we who are being overwhelmed.

‘It’s only not obvious because there are asymmetrical forces like Calliope. The mid-to-high-level Familiars or humans who should be the backbone are woefully lacking… If a full-scale war breaks out with other races, we are destined to lose.’

Just as I overwhelmed Vlad with numbers, we would be overwhelmed in reverse.

‘Therefore, what I need is time. Time to increase the number of Familiars, time for humans to narrow the gap with other races, I only need time.’

Lord presented Vlad as bait to buy that time.

He suffered a fatal wound in Walachia, losing his soul and bloodline, and the blood flowing from his wounds would be a sweet bait.

‘If you ask the other races which they are more concerned about, humans or vampires, the answer is obviously vampires.’

Humans were originally regarded as docile livestock.

It was only recently that a problem arose due to a variant like me.

The perception of them as docile livestock that had been raised for a thousand years is quite firm.

But what about vampires?

‘Vampires are parasites. They are terrifying parasites that cannot be distinguished by appearance, with their bloodlines and servants. Moreover, their power is not small. They maintain a three-way power balance along with the Elves and Dwarves.’

Historical grudges,

Racial interests,

Whichever you consider, vampires take precedence over humans.

‘Of course, they won’t neglect me and focus on hunting mosquitoes just because they have a chance to catch one. If that was their intention from the start, they wouldn’t have called me to this place and would have just whispered among themselves.’

The reason they summoned me was to catch two rabbits at once.

The purpose of the meeting must be to join forces to strip the livestock from the wounded beast called Vlad and, at the same time, slaughter the livestock called humans.

‘Therefore, I must make the Grand Assembly focus on Vlad.’

To prevent them from trying to catch both rabbits, to divert their attention away from humans, this was what I had to do at this meeting.

The method is radical but simple.

“Long time no see, Monkey.”

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked up.

The Elven Prince, Raeragon, was sitting across from me.

“Long time? It must be a fleeting moment for an Elf.”

“Well, it should have been originally. But thanks to you, I’ve had too much work to do. I couldn’t just relax.”

He smiled, but his eyes glared sharply at me.

“You’ve been making quite a ruckus.”

“I don’t know, didn’t it end quietly enough?”

“Quietly?”

The smile vanished from his lips.

“Not only did the Monkey secure a seat in the Grand Assembly, but he also caught a mosquito [referring to Vlad, a vampire] and is now swaggering about, saying he’s going to build an empire? And you call that quiet?”

“It’s all happening within my territory. If you hadn’t taken unnecessary interest in my land, this commotion wouldn’t have happened.”

“Hmph. My land? That land is not yours. It’s a barn for raising monkeys in the name of the Grand Assembly. You monkeys need to know your place.”

A barn.

I chuckled softly, as it wasn’t entirely wrong.

“So? Is that why you called me here, because you’re dissatisfied?”

“Dissatisfied? No, it’s a warning.”

“Raeragon.”

The Dwarf interrupted him as he was about to speak to me, baring his teeth.

Raeragon glared at Gothaba’s restraint.

The confrontation between the Elves and Dwarves had not been resolved.

They had only gathered because a tempting fruit had appeared right before their eyes.

It was a relationship where drawing swords and swinging them wouldn’t be strange.

“Is everyone here?”

Amid the tense atmosphere, Lord entered.

He, who had appeared in the bodies of different races each time—crow, dog, human—attended in the form of the old Elf he had inhabited when he had faced me alone.

Before sitting in the seat of honor, he examined those in attendance.

The Elves had the Prince, the Dwarves the King, the Nagas the Princess, the Lizardmen the Crown Prince, and the Orcs and Goblins had each seated their Ambassadors as representatives.

His gaze, which had been examining them one by one, stopped at the empty seat.

“······.”

Lord narrowed his eyes for a moment before sitting in the seat of honor.

“If everyone is here, let’s begin.”

The Elf standing beside him raised his voice.

“The first agenda item for today is the disposition regarding the violation of the covenant by the Emperor of the Mycenae Empire, Vlad von Holstein.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to the empty seat.

The seat that Vlad or the Ambassador of Mycenae should have been sitting in.

“What are you going to do with someone who isn’t here?”

Raeragon asked in an absurd tone.

“The fact that they didn’t even send an Ambassador means that they will fully accept whatever outcome the Grand Assembly comes up with.”

Gothaba said.

“Could it be that they didn’t send an Ambassador, or that they couldn’t send one?”

“It could be both. Does the Emperor not know the rumors circulating in the world? Considering the Emperor’s pride, he would have tried to send an Ambassador or attend himself to quell the rumors.”

The Naga Princess and the Lizardman Crown Prince whispered.

“Violation of the covenant is a serious crime. We demand appropriate punishment and compensation.”

“I, I agree!”

The Orcs asserted, and the Goblins followed.

I quietly smoked my cigarette and watched the situation.

“I agree that violating the covenant is a serious crime, but we need to consider the level of punishment.”

“That’s right. I don’t think the Grand Assembly needs to create an atmosphere of pressuring Mycenae. Compensation? Anyone who hears that would think they were a defeated nation.”

“We are only making a legitimate demand. You severely punished us when we violated the covenant. Now Mycenae has violated the covenant. They must be punished in the same way as us!”

“I, I agree!”

Two moderate races and two hawkish races.

The Dragons, Elves, and Dwarves remained silent.

‘I thought they would pressure Vlad without much resistance, but they are quite passive. Are they hesitating because there is no concrete evidence?’

Because rumors are just rumors.

The fact that Vlad and the Mycenae Empire did not attend the Grand Assembly supports the rumor that he has weakened, but it is not clear evidence.

‘Vlad and the Mycenae Empire are too powerful to punish recklessly. If he is intact, unlike the rumors, the races that insisted on hard-line policies will suffer the damage.’

What if Vlad hadn’t weakened?

What if he was reclusive for other reasons?

Such concerns are likely.

“Wouldn’t it be better to postpone this agenda until the situation becomes clearer?”

So, I understand the Naga’s argument.

However, knowing the truth, it’s just funny.

“Monkey.”

Raeragon leaned forward.

“What do you think?”

The others who had been arguing fell silent.

Gazes gathered on me, waiting for my mouth to open.

“You’re asking something obvious.”

I raised only one corner of my mouth.

“Violation of the covenant must be dealt with severely.”

“Even though the opponent is Vlad and the Mycenae Empire?”

“Is that a big deal?”

“······.”

“Is Vlad such a strong being? Is the Mycenae Empire so strong that everyone here is afraid and unable to punish them? Do you really think so?”

I put down my cigarette and took the ring off my right index finger.

The ring with Vlad’s soul fragment embedded in it.

“Mosquitoes are weaker than you think. That’s why he lost to me and ran away, and that’s why I took his power.”

“You took his power?”

Raeragon blinked.

I showed the ring to those sitting at the table.

Then, I put it back on my index finger and unleashed my magic.

“Ugh!”

Immediately, there was a reaction from the audience.

A Dwarf jumped up from his seat.

“What’s wrong with you?”

As the attendee sitting next to him asked the reason,

“······!”

He discovered that the Dwarf’s fangs were lengthening.

The fact that this change was occurring meant only one thing.

“A, a thrall of the Blood Clan [vampires]!”

“Traitor!”

The Dwarf was not the only one who stood up.

One person from each race stood up.

Fools controlled by Vlad’s magic.

The attendees restrained them as they showed the same changes.

“That ring…”

The Naga Princess covered her mouth and muttered.

“Yes. A part of Vlad’s soul is inside this. You must know what that means, right?”

“······.”

“If you want to protect what you have, you need to show that you have more to lose than to gain. Isn’t that the tradition of the Grand Assembly? Would you lose more or gain more by catching a faltering mosquito? The answer is obvious, isn’t it?”

Silence fell in the conference room.

The Nagas and Lizardmen, worried about Vlad’s retaliation, opened their mouths, the Orcs and Goblins, who had insisted on hard-line policies, closed their mouths, and the Elves and Dwarves stared at the ring with hardened expressions.

And Lord wore a faint smile.

“The severe punishment I want is as follows. Until Vlad and his empire pay compensation for violating the covenant, the Grand Assembly will suspend security guarantees for that individual and nation.”

Gasps were heard here and there.

Because, frankly speaking, it was no different from a declaration of war.

“······.”

Could Vlad’s crime be considered that serious?

‘Vlad’s crime is not violating the covenant. Being weak is the crime.’

The Grand Assembly is a place where hungry wolves gather.

Lord is the one who coordinated the wolves to prevent them from biting each other.

But now, no one accepts Lord’s coordination.

Then, it is a natural result for the wolves to bite each other, right?

“Any other opinions?”

No one objected that it was excessive.

After a long silence, Lord made a declaration.

“It has been agreed. Following Edar’s proposal, we will temporarily suspend security guarantees for Vlad and his empire.”

Lord finished the declaration and nodded slightly to me.

‘Making the Grand Assembly focus on Vlad is the first goal.’

How could they not covet one of the three pillars that has weakened?

With this, the first goal was achieved.

‘The second is…’

“Then, next—”

“Wait a moment.”

Raeragon interrupted the moderator’s words.

“What are the remaining agenda items?”

“The report on the decline of Tiamar’s influence, the lifting of the ban on entry to the southwestern peninsula, and the disposition of the human race, for a total of three items.”

He rested his chin on his right fist and looked at me.

“Anything else to say, Monkey?”

“No.”

“Tiamar’s influence has disappeared. Therefore, the ban will also be lifted. The beautiful days when the Monkey was protected by the Grand Assembly are also over. And you still have nothing to say?”

Anything to say.

I looked at each of those sitting in the seats.

Everyone except Lord was sending me fierce energy.

The attendees sitting in the audience also added to the energy.

But it didn’t even tickle me.

I let out a light laugh.

“The answer is already decided anyway. The agenda will be passed no matter what I say. Because that’s how you decided and convened the Grand Assembly. Isn’t that right?”

Raeragon slightly raised the corner of his mouth instead of answering.

“And then you’re going to demand that I submit.”

“Yes. If you swear to obey us as your ancestors did, we will show mercy and make you the king of humans.”

“I don’t need it.”

“You don’t need it? You can even have the territory you conquered guaranteed?”

Guaranteed?

What good is that guarantee?

What would have to be offered as a condition for the guarantee?

More humans than the slave trader Pinto sold would have to be offered, all the resources of humanity would have to be offered, and they wouldn’t even be allowed to have a handful of soldiers.

The Grand Assembly’s guarantee is nothing more than euthanasia.

I said firmly.

“I’ll say it again. Humanity doesn’t need you in its history. Humanity will not be placed under you again. I have declared it, and I will make it so.”

“If you refuse—”

“You’ll make us prey? The land where the ban is lifted is just a hunting ground. The only thing that can protect humans is the Grand Assembly, is that what you want to say? Did you think I wouldn’t know your shallow proposal?”

Thump!

I slammed the table hard with my palm.

“Stop using the ridiculous word ‘hunting’ and call it war! Humans are ready to fight you. They are not beings to be hunted by you.”

“A monkey dares to stand against us?”

Raeragon frowned.

His ears turned red with humiliation, and he clenched his fists tightly.

“You’re being arrogant because you have the ninth seat and you beat Vlad? No matter how strong you and your pets are, you can’t beat us. You can’t beat empires and kingdoms even if you beat me. Do you understand what I’m saying, Monkey?”

“I know. I know very well. As you said, we can’t face all of you.”

“Then how dare you say such things?”

Raeragon gritted his teeth.

I had a calm expression, but my eyes were filled with firm determination.

I declared with only my body, without the light of the soul.

“But we can make one of you the same as us.”

“What?”

“Even if we can’t face all of you, we can perish together with one of you who is trying to exterminate us, and prevent you from ever standing on the world stage again!”

Thump, thump, I slammed the table several times and raised my voice.

“The World Tree of the Elves will not be able to sprout leaves, and the Dwarves will not be able to see the sunlight. The Orcs and Goblins will not be able to set foot on the western lands, the Nagas will wander in the deep sea, and the Lizardmen will wander in the desert. Thus, humans will become extinct, but you will not be able to erase us from history!”

I scanned the silent ones and continued.

“It’s already too late for you to hunt us safely. If you want to hunt us, be prepared for your own extinction as well.”

This is the second goal.

To prevent the Grand Assembly from paying attention to humans.

The method is to make humans a thorny existence.

In other words, to portray them as difficult-to-handle madmen.

‘You may be able to catch us. But you have to give up the Mycenae Empire. And are you prepared to bear the risk of one of you falling to a third-rate race? Just for hunting livestock?’

I wore a calm expression on the outside and smiled inwardly.