Building A Human Empire By Creating A Clan [EN]: Chapter 19

Grief, who had used sleep magic to lull Jeremy into slumber, asked, “Are you really going to leave it like this?”

“No.”

I gestured towards Calliope.

As soon as Calliope saw the signal, she swung the hand holding the pebble.

The remaining vassals, whom I had spared to locate Count John Dorin, followed after the Count.

“Good work. Your acting was excellent.”

“…Thank you.”

Calliope placed a hand on her chest and bowed slightly.

Her dark blue hair made it easy to see her cheeks flushing red.

With the Count and the witnesses gone, Grief and Ban removed their masks.

They had used illusion magic to create elf-like ears, but their appearance wasn’t quite convincing, so they wore masks to enhance the disguise.

“Do you think I disguised you as elves just to deceive the Count?”

“Isn’t it to prevent the Count from coveting Olymus?”

“Yes. Just like this guy mistakenly believes he’s been recognized by the elves, I’ll also make others believe I’ve gained recognition for my territory from other races.”

Grief tilted his head and scratched his chin.

“Is this because of the representative system [a governing body composed of various powerful races] that you’re doing this?”

“You must have sensed it on your way here. The representative system is very wary of me.”

Everyone nodded.

“Absorbing the Count’s territory as it is would be a poor decision. Count Dorin’s land, Turan, is barren and not very large. Even if I were to occupy such a piece of land immediately after the representative system takes some of my land, there’s no benefit. It would only increase the representative system’s vigilance.”

‘If I’m not careful, they might send me an ultimatum to return it.’

It was something I had experienced countless times in my previous life.

The representative system hated humans daring to stand on equal footing with them, so if they thought I was a threat, they would invariably send an ultimatum.

The final notice was called the Representative System’s Final Recommendation.

‘If I refuse, it’s a total war with the representative system.’

If I accept, I will be fragmented or forced into a vassal state.

I smiled wryly, recalling those past experiences.

‘The representative system’s vigilance must have peaked when I took the territory of the Great Plains last time. If I expand my land even a little bit here, it wouldn’t be surprising if the final recommendation arrived.’

A direct confrontation with the representative system isn’t feasible yet.

If I were to fight the representative system right now, Calliope would be my only real strength.

Even if a full-scale war doesn’t erupt, the representative system has numerous ways to interfere with me.

Do I have to acquire worthless land just because it’s land, while bearing such a burden?

‘I’m not foolish enough to create a difficult game and try to win it through sheer effort. The smartest approach is to create a game I’m sure to win, and win easily. And that game can be created in ways other than outright occupation.’

“Grief, you’ll have to go.”

Grief, who had been clicking his tongue, lamenting the lack of profit even after working, blinked in surprise.

“What do you mean?”

“Make that greedy guy a puppet and rule Turan.”

Grief’s lips curled into a wide grin.

“This guy will think I’m an elven puppet, just like him, you said. I’ll use that delusion to make him think you’re a supervisor sent by the elves.”

“Then I can play the lord with the backing of non-existent elves.”

All the vassals he could rely on had been eliminated.

The remaining vassals must be weak or have weak ties to the Count.

If I give Grief one or two familiars [magically created beings bound to a master], there’s no way they can resist.

“Spread rumors about the death of Count John Dorin and his vassals, so that other lords will have the same delusion as this guy. Then who would dare to do something as reckless as the Count?”

This was the plan that came to mind immediately after receiving Count John Dorin’s declaration of war.

The reason the Count attacked Olymus must have been the mine.

This fact will surely spread throughout the inland soon.

If a rumor spreads that there’s a gold mine in a territory that’s barely a handful?

Ah! Would there be a kind lord in the world who would simply stand by and watch?

There will always be a greedy person who aims for Olymus by any means.

I decided to create a non-existent backing from other races to prevent that.

‘Giving humans the illusion that my rule is guaranteed by the safety of other races.’

Giving the representative system the illusion that I haven’t conquered the Count’s territory.

‘It will be difficult to detect.’

The reason is that there’s almost no communication between other races and humans.

Other races issue notifications, and humans accept them in a one-sided relationship.

Would the noble elves, who lack nothing, engage in such interactions, except for races that need a large number of slaves like orcs or goblins, or through merchants?

‘The lack of communication means that the information gap between the two is very wide.’

I took advantage of that gap to deceive them.

I was confident that neither humans nor the representative system would easily notice.

‘I said it was barren and worthless land, but it’s also very valuable to me. By placing Turan under my influence, I can freely trade with the inland.’

Being able to trade with the inland means I can get things that aren’t available in the frontier.

‘Seeds, manpower, technology. Everything that Olymus lacks. Since I have a gold mine, there’s nothing I can’t get if the gateway is open.’

So, I used my brains to deceive the representative system and get this barren land, Turan, into my hands.

To make Turan a window between Olymus and Wallachia.

“Shall we go to Turan right away?”

Just as I was about to nod, an alarm popped up.

[You can use the Familiar Creation skill.]

[Would you like to use it?]

‘It’s time.’

I glanced at Kisler.

He accompanied me for guidance, but since the Count was dealt with, there was no need for him to stay.

Rather, if he was by my side, it would be awkward to use the skill and conceal its existence.

“Kisler, Ban.”

“Yes, Edar-nim.”

I pointed to the horses that hadn’t run away even after losing their master.

“Load the knights’ equipment onto the horses and return to Olymus.”

“I understand.”

“And if there’s anyone in Olymus who can make harnesses, make them and use them for plowing.”

After sending them away, all that was left was me, Calliope, Grief, and the new Count who had fallen unconscious.

“What shall we do now?”

“Let’s go to Turan with me for now. Now that the representative system’s surveillance is lax, we’ll take everything we can get from Turan.”

[Time remaining until next use: None.]

Of course, I used the skill that was urging me to use it first.

Then, an intense light, unlike any emitted since Calliope’s creation, appeared.

[Legion Commander Gerhard is created.]

“I greet Your Majesty.”

A man with a heavy build, Gerhard knelt on his left knee and bowed deeply.

Wearing armor engraved with ornate decorations and a laurel wreath, he looked every bit the king.

————————————

Legion Commander

Gerhard

Lv. 73

Grade: A

————————————

It was a considerable level, though not comparable to Calliope.

Higher level than Raeragon’s guards or the representative system’s megaphone ambassadors.

There would be no stronger human anywhere.

It was worthy of the title of Legion Commander.

“Welcome, Gerhard. What are your capabilities?”

I placed my hand on Gerhard’s shoulder and helped him up.

Gerhard scanned the surroundings, looking at Calliope, Grief, and Ban.

“Knight, magician, robber. They are merely fighters, scholars, or petty thieves. There may be someone stronger than me among them. But is it possible to rule the world from the saddle?”

Grief and Ban frowned.

Unpleasant feelings were conveyed through telepathy.

On the other hand, Calliope remained calm as always.

She stood next to me without even sneering.

“Are you different?”

“A legion is not just a collection of rabble, but like a small territory. I am the commander of the legion and a familiar. I can’t rule the world on behalf of Your Majesty, but I know how to cultivate a handful of gardens.”

Gerhard added, offering more than anyone else here.

I looked down at his confident demeanor.

————————————

[You have acquired proficiency by using the Familiar Creation skill.]

[The grade of the Familiar Creation skill increases.]

[Grade: 1 star -> 2 stars]

[Skill cooldown reduced to 24 hours.]

[The probability of creating low-grade familiars decreases.]

[The probability of creating high-grade familiars increases.]

————————————

I chuckled at the following message.

“I see.”

If you can sell it, even humans

————————————

[You have acquired proficiency by using the Familiar Creation skill.]

[The grade of the Familiar Creation skill increases.]

[Grade: 1 star -> 2 stars]

[Skill cooldown reduced to 24 hours.]

[The probability of creating low-grade familiars decreases.]

[The probability of creating high-grade familiars increases.]

————————————

‘It’s about one person a day now.’

The previous cooldown was 72 hours, or 3 days.

The number of times I’ve used the skill so far is 11 times.

Now, I can create 33 familiars in the same amount of time.

In addition, the probability of the grade of the familiar being created is adjusted.

‘I’ll be able to breathe a little easier.’

I felt like the knot in my stomach was loosening.

We’ve come this far because of the passion and stamina of each familiar.

However, since the number of familiars was so low, there was a clear limit.

Hunting, cutting trees, baking bricks, building houses, plowing fields, repairing equipment, patrolling—all of this was too much for just 10 people to handle.

‘It was because they were familiars that they did this much.’

Who else but a familiar can work without eating or resting and with full motivation?

I smiled and looked at the familiar in front of me.

————————————

Legion Commander

Gerhard

Lv. 73

Grade: A

————————————

‘Legion Commander. What a noble job.’

How can it be compared to a seller of indulgences [historical reference to corrupt religious practices].

I smiled wryly and looked at Grief and Gerhard alternately.

‘The original plan was for Grief to rule Turan.’

Pretending to be a supervisor with the backing of the elves, attaching him to the Count’s side and taking away the real power.

‘The job of Legion Commander isn’t just commanding soldiers. It’s not comparable to a governor, but it also involves governing the territory near the garrison. It would be better than Grief, who is a scholar.’

It might even be overkill.

Gerhard’s level is 73, not a level to be in a small territory like Turan.

Even the kings of Germania and Wallachia were lower in level than him.

Sending such an existence to Turan was like demoting the emperor of a great country to a local lord of a small country.

But,

‘Turan is a place that can be entangled with both Wallachia and the representative system. It’s right to establish a strong and experienced person.’

In addition to the information provided by the status window, he is appealing himself.

“Hmm.”

As I looked at Grief and Gerhard alternately, Grief clicked his tongue and raised his hand.

“I will generously concede.”

Indeed, should I say he is quick-witted?

“Generosity?”

Gerhard frowned.

“Gardening is his hobby, what can I do?”

“That’s a metaphor.”

“I’m also a metaphor.”

The two people’s eyes met in the air.

One was smiling with his eyes slightly narrowed, and the other was glaring with his eyes wide open.

“Stop it, both of you. I won’t always tell you to get along well. But at least don’t fight unnecessarily in front of me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I’ll try.”

I sighed inwardly and looked at Gerhard.

“Gerhard, can you handle that guy?”

I gestured with my chin towards the Count, who was still lost in dreamland.

Gerhard let out a low laugh that resonated in his throat.

“He has a lazy, stupid, and greedy face.”

“Count Dorin. He believes he is the owner of a small and barren territory called Turan.”

Gerhard nodded.

“He seems suitable to be a puppet.”

“Yes. Take away the real power without revealing you or me. And support me while playing the lord.”

“Easy.”

Gerhard smiled, revealing his teeth.

Indeed, could a person with the title of Legion Commander not handle a small lord?

Even the Count’s level was worse than a trainee knight, and he had no loyal forces.

“I will entrust you with the familiars that will be added to the schedule to go to Turan. They may be low-grade, but they are your brothers and sisters, so don’t treat them carelessly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And I am not an emperor, so don’t call me Your Majesty.”

Gerhard smiled silently and bowed his head.

After that, I woke up the Count, and Calliope, disguised as an elf, attached Gerhard as a supervisor.

The Count was embarrassed by the fact that the same human was attached as a supervisor.

Could he not understand the meaning of attaching a supervisor, especially the same human?

But what could he do? We were the strong ones, and the Count was a sinner.

He had no choice but to accept from the beginning.

‘Gerhard, go to Turan with the Count. We will follow from a distance.’