Building A Human Empire By Creating A Clan [EN]: Chapter 33

Creating Subordinates to Build a Human Empire 35

Overwhelm

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Less than thirty subordinates clashed with a horde of thousands.

Three of them retreated to protect me, so in reality, there were only twenty-four.

On the other hand, the horde facing the subordinates numbered over 7,000, and the first to engage were the cavalry.

【Lv. 29】

【Lv. 27】

【Lv. 30】

Each one rivaling or surpassing Count Dorin in strength.

The numbers were in the hundreds, nearing a thousand, and all rode not horses, but wolves.

The wolves of Leroupe were as large as horses, with acceleration exceeding that of horses.

Adding to that, they possessed weapons in the form of teeth and claws.

“Kill them!”

As they approached the subordinates, the orcs pulled on their reins.

Reacting to this, the wolves kicked off with their hind legs and lunged forward.

They bared their fangs, revealing long, sharp teeth.

If the opponent had been human, the wolves would have bitten the horse’s neck, and the orcs would have cleaved the knight’s shoulder with their axes.

Thwack—

However, their opponents were subordinates.

“Cough!”

“Ggrk!”

The spear pierced through both orc and wolf.

Skewered like that, they hung in the air, staring down at the subordinate who had impaled them, just as they had lunged.

Their eyes were wide, and their mouths gaped, as if trying to say something.

Swish!

The subordinate, paying no heed, put strength into both arms holding the spear and swung it sideways.

Due to the impact, their bodies were ripped from the spear and sent flying.

“······!”

The orcs who witnessed this recoiled in shock.

How could they lift and throw something so heavy?

That was the look on their faces.

‘You can’t think of subordinates as ordinary humans.’

They came charging, thinking of humans as mere prey.

But the subordinates were different from the humans they used to hunt.

The level of their strength and will was different.

“You pathetic things!”

As Gerhard swung his spear, four or five orcs were torn apart.

The sight of orcs impaled on the spear was almost cute in its grotesqueness.

Chunks of flesh were ripped off and scattered in all directions.

Gerhard, drenched in green blood, roared.

“More! Bring more!”

Some orcs even lost their will to fight and stepped back at the sight.

“Tsk tsk… how ignorant.”

Grif smirked and raised his right hand high.

“Cover your ears.”

As his right hand clenched into a fist, dark clouds gathered overhead.

Boom—

As he brought his fist down, lightning struck.

A large hole was blasted into the horde surrounding us.

It was where the orc shaman group had been.

They were annihilated by Grif just before they could complete their group spell.

The magic power that had been condensed while chanting the spell lost its caster and spread to the surroundings, permeating the bodies of nearby orcs and goblins.

“Cough!”

“Ugh, hmm…!”

They clutched their throats and collapsed, as if they had inhaled toxic gas.

Their bodies couldn’t withstand the sudden influx of concentrated magic power.

Fortunately, they only lost their breath; some even had their bodies explode.

Grif shrugged as he watched this.

“People need to use their heads. Not just charge in mindlessly.”

“Hmph! You weakling.”

Gerhard’s movements became even more violent at Grif’s provocation.

Despite facing enemies dozens of times their number, the subordinates did not falter.

Rather, it was the subordinates who were pushing forward, while the orcs and goblins were using their numbers to defend.

The subordinates numbered only a few dozen, while the horde numbered in the thousands.

If they were ordinary humans, fatigue would have set in, slowing their movements.
The enemies were waiting for that moment, using their weaker kin as shields, maintaining the encirclement while enduring.

“How pathetic.”

I clicked my tongue.

The subordinates do not tire easily.

They can stay up for days without issue.

Would they feel fatigue from mere combat?

Of course, their movements wouldn’t slow down.

The enemies must have sensed it too.

Why, why aren’t they getting tired? They must have wondered.

‘What difference would it make even if you knew the reason?’

I raised my head and looked at Calliope.

She was single-handedly stepping forward and destroying everything.

Even the subordinates would be caught up in the destruction if they were near her.

A single gesture caused an explosion stronger than lightning.

The ground shook as if an earthquake had struck, and fountains of blood erupted like a volcano.

She was far superior to anyone else in this place.

‘Even when facing Raeragon, that elf, she must have held back her full power, worried about me.’

If she had fought like that with me behind her, I would have been caught up in it.

“Too scary to get close.”

Grif joked as he subtly pulled on the reins and retreated.

The battle was slowing down due to Calliope’s might.

How could they fight without flinching when an explosion louder than any scream or cry erupted every time she struck?

The horde near Calliope was busy fleeing, and the horde far away was so busy watching her that they didn’t even notice the subordinates piercing their hearts.

Ugdash, who was cunningly watching from the rear of the horde, was also in shock as he watched her.

‘Yeah… you can’t believe it, can you? Just a few dozen. And those monkeys are trampling on you, the superior civilized beings.’

The increasingly slow fight stopped as if by agreement.

Everyone’s gaze was directed at Calliope and Ugdash.

I spurred my horse forward slowly.

“‘I am not afraid of anything.’”

Ugdash flinched at my words.

“Those are your words, Ugdash.”

“······.”

“But in my eyes, you seem to be more afraid than anyone else here.”

I raised one corner of my mouth and faced Ugdash.

Ugdash gnashed his teeth and stepped forward.

Calliope stood in his way.

A wide-open space formed around them.

“Human. You will pay the price for angering me.”

Instead of answering, I chuckled softly.

Ugdash, ridiculed, gripped his axe tightly and charged.

The distance between Calliope and Ugdash closed in an instant.

Clang—

The axe struck the blade, creating an ear-piercing metallic sound.

Calliope effortlessly parried Ugdash’s attack.

She didn’t deflect it like flowing water, but rather received it like a wall.

She didn’t move, as if her feet were deeply rooted in the ground.

Even though the orc, several heads taller than her, struck with all his might, Calliope stood her ground and did nothing but move her right hand.

Clang, clang— Thud—!

“He’s no match.”

Gerhard, who had returned to my side just after the duel began, commented.

He clicked his tongue and shook his head, as if watching something boring.

The reactions of Grif and the other subordinates were the same.

‘She toyed with Raeragon, who was only 1 level lower. There’s a tenfold difference in power from then, so it wouldn’t make sense if she didn’t overwhelm him like this.’

I took out a pack of cigarettes from my pocket and put one in my mouth.

Grif ignited his fingertip and lit the cigarette.

I took a deep drag and exhaled slowly.

The pungent smell that stung my nose was somewhat alleviated.

“Kuaaagh!”

Ugdash screamed.

Anger rose at the futile fight, and he stopped attacking and struck his chest.

“End?”

Calliope put down her sword and asked.

It was a quiet voice, but everyone here could hear it.

“It’s not over!”

Ugdash stomped his foot.

Then, several orcs rushed out from the surrounding crowd.

【Lv. 59】

【Lv. 56】

【Lv. 57】

【Lv. 53】

Judging by their levels, they were high-ranking warriors of the tribe.

They charged from four different directions.

Familiar movements, as if they had done this many times before.

Calliope turned and swung her sword.

Thud, roll—

And the heads of the guards rolled on the floor.

“End?”

Calliope asked again.

“······.”

Ugdash was silent.

He was leaning forward, about to charge.

But before he could even take a step, it was over.

A look of despair flickered in his eyes.

‘You fool.’

To waste high-ranking warriors like this.

His actions were exactly as expected.

‘It would have been different if he had targeted me during the chaos.’

If he had, few subordinates would have been able to stop him.

My life would have been in danger too.

But I knew Ugdash wouldn’t do that.

There was only a very small chance that a variable would occur.

The reason I proposed the duel was to prepare for such variables.

‘You’re always the same, no matter how many times I repeat it.’

I smirked.

As I said, I’ve faced him countless times.

I knew exactly how he would fight.

It was no different from reading the answer key and solving the problem.

Pfft…

Grif squinted and stifled a laugh.

“Look at that pig, he’s scared.”

“Shut up, monkey!”

Grif couldn’t help but burst out laughing at Ugdash’s roar.

“A monkey is better than a pig!”

“Kuaaaaaaak!”

Ugdash charged again.

His movements were faster than before.

A speed that my dynamic visual acuity couldn’t keep up with.

Ugdash’s figure appeared as if the video was stuttering.

But what was clear was that his attacks were not working at all.

He was the one attacking, but Calliope, who was defending, was moving faster than him.

As if she knew the future, beyond just reading his movements.

When Calliope lowered her sword, Ugdash struck that spot.

“It’s like training.”

“Hmm.”

“I think you said before that she was just a fighter or something. What do you think when you see that, Commander?”

“I’ll correct myself.”

Gerhard scoffed at Grif’s sly question.

“Huff… huff….”

A long exchange… or rather, exercise.

Ugdash gasped for breath and distanced himself.

Has there ever been such an enemy in his life?

Has he ever been humiliated by being overwhelmed by someone?

“End?”

Calliope, who had asked the same question for the third time, was calm.

Not a single drop of sweat had formed on her.

Her breath, her complexion, everything was as if nothing had happened.

A moment of despair flashed across Ugdash’s face.

“——!”

He struggled to muster his will and charged, but unlike before, Calliope didn’t receive him and swung her sword.

Slash!

“Keuhk!”

Ugdash’s arm was cut off.

Even with his face contorted in pain, he didn’t back down.

He grabbed the fallen axe with his remaining hand and lunged at Calliope.

Then, the ligaments in his calf were severed.

“Keuhk…!”

Thud—

The leg with the severed ligaments couldn’t be controlled by will.

He tried to stand up and sat down several times, finally kneeling.

Calliope placed her sword on his forehead.

“Stop.”

I got off my horse, exhaled a long stream of smoke, and stood in front of him.

“Do you want to live?”

“······.”

The eyes that looked up at me trembled.

“Do you want to live, Ugdash?”

“…I want to live.”

I took half a step forward with my right foot.

Shoes stained with dirt and worn out.

“Beg. Like a pig.”

Ugdash trembled like an aspen.

He looked down at my shoes, then looked up at me again.

His bloodshot eyes were filled with humiliation.

“Don’t you want to live?”

But his hesitation didn’t last long.

He supported himself with his remaining hand on the blood-soaked dirt floor and lowered his head.

He pressed his forehead against my instep.

“Calliope.”

And Calliope beheaded Ugdash.

Why?

The head that fell to the ground wore that expression.

As expected of an orc, his tenacious life force meant he was still alive.

I knelt down and whispered in a voice only he could hear.

“Why would I forgive you?”

It’s ridiculous to think he could be forgiven.

How many humans has he eaten, raped, and killed?

Do you think the orcs and goblins here sprang up from the ground?

Do you think I don’t know they were born from the humans Pinto handed over?

“I will exterminate your filthy race from this world.”

“······!”

Ugdash’s eyes widened.

But that was all.

The life remaining in his eyes faded.

The severed head was about to scream in horror, with its eyes and mouth wide open.

‘Now one is finished.’

I felt one of the burdens weighing on my shoulders lifted.

You might think Ugdash was nothing special because he was toyed with by Calliope, but he wasn’t such an easy opponent originally.

At the start of the main story, his level was higher than Raeragon’s.

His power was that of a king of orcs, and even the elves felt threatened.

He was dealt with so easily because he was caught just as he was about to stretch and yawn.

‘There won’t be such opportunities for the other guys.’

Raeragon, Gotava, Vlad…

The races I met in the Deliberative Council had finished growing.

Among them, Raeragon was just unable to heal his injuries.

In terms of power, they were already established overlords.

They were on a different level from Ugdash, who had only occupied the plains for a little over a decade.

With the size of their forces and their individual strength, it would be impossible to deal with them with the current commando-level subordinates, even in my dreams.

‘Now it begins.’

I stood up.

The battle was only temporarily paused, not over.

The Steel Mist horde, who had been watching the duel between Calliope and Ugdash.

Those thousands were still alive, breathing, and looking at me.

The subordinates asked me telepathically if they should continue the battle.

I shook my head and ordered them to wait.

Even without a leader, there were too many of them.

How could I catch them if they scattered and ran away?

‘I have to kill them all without leaving a single one alive.’

The answer to this was already learned through experience.

I lifted Ugdash’s head and showed it to the horde.

“Ugdash is dead.”

The horde, trembling, took a step back.

“Your leader was weak and cowardly, so he was defeated by even my subordinates and begged for a pathetic life.”

I threw the head.

The head, still dripping with blood, rolled on the dry, cracked ground.

“I don’t need cowards.”

The gazes that had been looking down at Ugdash’s head turned back to me.

“I want those who are strong and courageous. If you meet that criteria, I will become your master and give you what Ugdash could not.”

“…What is that, human?”

The orc with the highest level among the surviving horde asked.

“I will give you humans.”

He blinked.

A look that asked if he had misheard.

I repeated the answer.

“I will let you hunt humans to your heart’s content, something Ugdash could not give you.”

Interest, desire, and disbelief flickered across the horde’s faces.

Among them, disbelief didn’t last long.

The greed imprinted on their instincts, the inferiority of the humans they had encountered so far, made them believe even the nonsense that I would hunt my own kind.

“······.”

The Steel Mist tribe, who had lost their leader, bowed their heads to me, fearing my power and anticipating the reward I had promised.

‘If an elf said they would sell out elves, no one would believe it, but if a human says they will sell out humans, they will accept it.’

It’s like how people would take it as a joke if a saint predicted murder, but they would take it seriously if a murderer predicted murder.

Because there are too many precedents.

The human history of this world began with selling out their own kind.

‘I don’t need that kind of history.’

I climbed onto the saddle and raised my hand.

“We are going south. There are humans you desire there.”

It’s not a lie.

Isn’t there an army that Pinto is gathering?

That army will naturally be composed of humans.

It’s just composed of humans who are not human.

‘I will let you hunt humans as promised.’

Instead, both of your races will perish together in that place.