Building A Human Empire By Creating A Clan [EN]: Chapter 141

Vlad ultimately didn’t grant me any official title.

My refusal to yield thwarted his scheme to place me in a public-facing position. Instead, he promised me real power, akin to that of an emperor. This, too, wasn’t an official announcement.

‘I shouldn’t drag this out too long.’

From the start, I had no intention of lingering in foreign lands. I trusted the abilities of Skadi and the other cabinet ministers, but my prolonged absence wouldn’t be beneficial. I planned to return home as soon as I had established a solid foundation.

However, observing the actions of the relic controlling Vlad, I needed to shorten my stay in Mycenae even further.

‘Staying longer will only invite unnecessary schemes.’

Vlad and I were essentially allies, but allies who could stab each other in the back at any moment. Having achieved my initial goals, there was no reason for me to remain in Mycenae.

‘I’ve confirmed the most critical situation with Tiamar. The seal is significantly broken, and Vlad has been consumed by the relic. There’s nothing more to confirm.’

Whoosh——

As soon as I received Vlad’s promise, I headed north.

I planned to concentrate the armory and other industrial facilities in this area.

When Vlad asked why I would build an industrial complex in such a terribly cold and uninhabitable environment, I simply replied that it was safe because it held little strategic value for occupation.

It would take considerable time to construct and fully operate the production facilities. What if the war situation worsened before then, and the enemy penetrated deep inland? The facilities could be seized.

Therefore, despite enduring several logistical problems, I chose a location with minimal military risk: a frigid region within the empire that had little value.

“It’s cold.”

Mersephone shivered.

Being of a low level, she was essentially no different from an ordinary person.

I put her inside my coat, embracing her as I walked.

Rachel followed behind, saying,

“The thralls are worried that the zombies will freeze because the temperature is too low.”

“Don’t worry about it. I have no intention of using those rotting creatures for work. There are enough alien slaves and monsters to handle simple tasks.”

“The thralls meant that it would hinder military operations.”

Then there’s even less need to worry.

Zombies are too low-level to be of much help in battle. Rather, the fact that the cold reduces the likelihood of lizardmen attacks is valuable.

“Anything else?”

“No. It’s a bit cold, but there are no problems with the work.”

Rachel’s white breath spread like mist.

“Aren’t you cold?”

I clicked my tongue at her attire.

A nun’s habit with nothing else on top.

“Those with weak faith feel the cold.”

“……”

She’s accepting the pain of freezing as a trial.

I chuckled and changed the subject.

“How’s the saltpeter farm? I heard it’s progressing well.”

“Yes. I’m training the workers Vlad sent. They didn’t even know about saltpeter [potassium nitrate, a key ingredient in gunpowder], and they seem very resistant to the extraction method. But since it’s an order in Vlad’s name, they don’t outwardly express their dissatisfaction.”

‘They’re grumbling, though,’ Rachel added mentally.

“That’s understandable.”

I nodded.

I had decided to spread gunpowder weapons in the Mycenae Empire, but there were several problems. The main one was the lack of saltpeter deposits like those in the Human Empire. What good would it be to build musket production facilities if gunpowder couldn’t be supplied?

Therefore, I dispatched thralls from the Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce, and Industry to various parts of the empire to create saltpeter farms. The locations and manpower were easily secured, but the method of collecting food waste and urine to mature in the fields was, as Rachel said, causing difficulties on-site.

“Edar. Is it difficult?”

Mersephone peeked out from my coat and asked.

I stroked her head and looked at Rachel.

“Is this the third time you’ve accompanied me since leaving your family home?”

“Yes. Ugdash, Germania, and now this. The first two times were short, but this time it’s been almost two years. It’s been almost a year since I last saw my father.”

“Has it been that long?”

I chuckled and shook my head.

Time is a strange thing. It seems to stand still when you watch it, but it passes quickly when you look away.

It’s already been that long, or only that long, since I became Edar. It’s only been a few years, but we’ve come this far, so we’ve really been running non-stop.

“Sometimes it’s important to rest, Father.”

I wanted to say that I didn’t have the luxury, but it suddenly occurred to me that leisure is something you create yourself. Instead of answering, I chuckled and asked,

“How’s the Public Church doing? You must be busy. Didn’t you overdo it by coming along?”

“It’s okay. I have people I trust to take care of things. I was just curious.”

Rachel looked at Mersephone, who was peeking out from inside my coat. When Mersephone’s eyes met Rachel’s, she quickly closed the coat like a window and hid.

She did this several times in Olympus, too.

Internal Affairs Minister Griff said it was because she instinctively recognized the fanaticism in Rachel’s eyes.

It was a ridiculous joke, but I thought it was somewhat convincing.

Rachel smiled awkwardly.

“I heard this child is of a higher level than Kali? And I was curious because I heard she can transform into an angel. I thought if I was with Father, I might see her transform.”

For Mersephone to have to use her abilities…

Then it would have to be a very dangerous situation.

“Ah, that’s right.”

Rachel clapped her hands.

“We should hide our identities as much as possible during this expedition, right? Then it will be difficult.”

As much as possible. Not necessarily.

Depending on the situation, we may have to reveal ourselves.

I hope it ends without revealing ourselves if possible.

Thump.

I turned my head at the sound that shook the ground.

A one-eyed giant walked by, carrying a wooden barrel on his shoulder.

“That’s a monster, right?”

“Yes.”

“It listens well without resisting.”

“That’s one of the powers the relic grants. Tiamar’s magic has the property of controlling animals with strong instincts, so you can control monsters. Similarly, Akakosk’s magic raises the dead.”

“Hmm.”

The ruling race of the Mycenae Empire is vampires.

But in terms of population ratio, vampires are almost at the bottom.

It’s hardly a population, but in terms of composition, Mycenae is a country where the undead make up the vast majority. But how could a country with only vampires, corpses, and skeletons create an empire?

It’s because there are monsters to fill the gap between vampires and the undead.

Ogres, trolls, cyclops, and all sorts of other familiar monsters, as well as beasts like those that fought the cavalry in the previous allied forces battle, are used by Mycenae.

“It’s a very unique country. If you exclude the undead, wouldn’t you say it’s a country of monsters in terms of population ratio?”

“You have to say that.”

Other countries can’t do this.

Only the Mycenae Empire can wield the magic of the relic.

That is to say, if they can’t wield the magic of the relic, they can’t control the monsters. What would happen in a country that maintains itself by controlling monsters like this if it lost control?

###

“Order them to stand the guns vertically on the ground after firing!”

“You’re tripping over your feet! Get in a line!”

Training was conducted in parallel with the construction of the industrial complex.

Skeletons and corpses were given wooden sticks modeled after muskets and subjected to formation training. It might seem pointless to train monsters with no intelligence, but the ones being trained were necromancers who controlled the undead.

“Right face! Right face! Front row, sit!”

The movements of the undead were terrible.

Because they had no consciousness, the necromancer had to issue commands one by one.

From simply holding an object in their hands to taking a few steps, everything had to be instructed. Otherwise, the undead would simply stand or lie down.

Therefore, forming ranks and rotating was not easy. Of course, since there was no need to give the undead complex commands, the biggest problem was the low level of the necromancers.

“You idiot! What did I just say!”

“You said three ranks!”

“Then why are you falling over!”

The reason for the low level of the necromancers was that there was no incentive to raise their level. There had to be a reason to use the undead tactically.

The undead were so low-level that they were used to maintain the front lines while the main force, such as the beast units, crushed the enemy. Even if they were operated organically, they would collapse if they encountered an overwhelmingly strong enemy.

It was better to train oneself than to develop the ability to coordinate hundreds of undead. The common thinking was that the undead should be pushed forward mindlessly and simply maintained.

So, when formation training was forced upon them, many complaints erupted.

“What’s the point of this?”

One of the thralls suddenly asked during a training inspection.

The attendant in charge of education frowned.

The thrall did not care about the attendant’s gaze.

“Why is training the undead to move precisely necessary? It’s better to train ourselves during the time we spend on this. What’s the use of skeletons that can be crushed by a single beast?”

【Lv. 67】

This thrall was the highest level among the necromancers Vlad had sent. Compared to the bloodkin [vampires directly related to Vlad], he was far behind, but he could still handle 600 undead on his own.

Considering that other thralls could handle as few as 200 or as many as 500, he was definitely high-level. And that pride was causing him to resist the insignificant training he was being given.

“Even if this musket weapon is powerful, it won’t be as powerful as magic. If it’s as strong as magic, then it’s better for us to take up muskets and jump into the front lines, rather than giving them to skeletons with no abilities.”

The attendant instructor behind him chuckled silently.

Because they hadn’t actually fired the muskets to save gunpowder, they didn’t realize the power of gunpowder weapons. Even if gunpowder weapons were inferior to the magic cast by elves, they weren’t so bad as to warrant such comments.

‘It’s not just that, though.’

The fact that we’re human must also make them look down on us.

Even if we haven’t revealed our identities, rumors can’t be ignored.

The fact that at least I and the attendants are human has spread.

‘Livestock are being protected by Vlad and giving ridiculous instructions. They must be seething inside.’

“I’m sorry, Edar-nim. I will warn him.”

“It’s okay.”

I raised my hand to stop the instructor.

Would warning him solve anything? Talking would only waste time and have minimal effect. They need to experience it. To realize that the weapon they thought was insignificant is not to be ignored.

“Gather all the necromancers.”

The thrall’s expression hardened at the order to gather.

He was wary that I might use Vlad’s authority to scold him. Even if I was ridiculous, my backing was not. But I had no intention of scolding him by borrowing the authority of a mosquito.

“I will demonstrate myself.”

‘You’re going to command them yourself?’

Suspicious gazes were directed at me.

I twisted the corners of my lips and extended my right hand forward.

Then Vlad’s ring unleashed magic.

“……!”

The thralls gasped and widened their eyes.

They must have instinctively realized it: that Vlad’s magic was flowing through me.

The vampires in this world are only Vlad’s bloodkin. There is only a difference in how many generations they are removed from Vlad. If you find the progenitor, you will reach Vlad. Therefore, the thralls instinctively recognized Vlad’s magic.

“Arise.”

Swish——

The magic enveloped the skeletons scattered on the training ground.

All the necromancers dispatched to me had the power to control tens of thousands of undead. However, if they controlled the undead precisely, that number decreased to one-tenth. I raised 3,000 skeletons, which corresponded to that one-tenth.

Clack, clack.

The 3,000 skeletons stood on two feet, their bones clattering.

“Move.”

With a wave of my hand, the skeleton horde marched in formation to one side of the training ground in an orderly manner. It was a natural movement that was very different from when the necromancers controlled them.

“How can he do it so easily…”

“Didn’t they say he was human?”

“Even the bloodkin can’t control them like that…”

The skeleton horde marched around the training ground twice as if performing a military parade, then grabbed muskets and realigned themselves.

Krrr…!

The attendants dragged 21 cages containing beasts.

【Lv. 37】

【Lv. 32】

【Lv. 39】

【Lv. 36】

【Lv. 41】

3,000 skeletons and 21 beasts.

If you asked who would win, everyone would choose the beasts.

The beasts’ levels were overwhelmingly high, so the number of thousands was meaningless. The thralls also shook their heads when I tried to fight the beasts with skeletons.

“Aim.”

There was no need to speak because I was controlling them with magic, but I commanded aloud so that the thralls could hear. 1,000 of the 3,000 came forward and formed three ranks, aiming at the beasts.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The beasts barked and gnawed at the cages with their teeth.

Their appearance was similar to lions, but their height was doubled, their skin and fur were dark blue, and their fangs protruded long.

However, their intelligence was low compared to their high aggression, so the moment the cages were opened, they started running, looking only ahead.

“Fire.”

The distance between the skeletons and the beasts was fifty meters.

This distance was a fleeting moment for the beasts.

Ta-ta-ta-ta-tang!

But at the same time as the cages opened and the beasts jumped out, bullets flew out of the musket barrels. The 21 beasts kicked off the ground twice in that short time and collapsed, the distance halved.

“……”

Silence fell.

Eyes widened as they looked at the beasts riddled with bullets.

The thralls, who belatedly realized the power of the muskets, were silent, and then groaned when the field artillery and siege artillery were demonstrated. They couldn’t even think of closing their gaping mouths.

It was certainly lacking compared to the magic of the elves, but what was the problem when corpses and skeletons, which were like consumables, were equipped with them?

Rather, the power of gunpowder weapons would have been even more keenly felt.

“Three ranks!”

The training proceeded smoothly.

After a few weeks, an opportunity to show results came.

“Urgent news! The Council has moved!”

A messenger ran up urgently.

“His Majesty Vlad says that the enemy will widen the front lines before entering winter quarters. Accordingly, nine enemy legions are gathering to retreat. He has ordered that the necromancers provided to you be sent to the main force immediately. Do you acknowledge?”

“Acknowledged.”

I snatched the letter from the messenger and read it again.

The content was the same. Vlad’s urgency was evident in his handwriting.

“Please summon the necromancers. I will guide them.”

“No. I will go.”

The messenger blinked.

“I will lead the army myself.”