**Chapter 4: A New Strategy**
Monica is an exceptional scout. From reconnaissance to espionage and information organization, her skills, honed in the Rainer army, are unmatched even by I, who has gained formidable power through Noble Blood and Mutation. More than that, she is a lifesaver. Without Monica and Oliver, I would likely still be buried beneath the ground. Though there was once a rift between us, I have decided to let bygones be bygones.
With her long search for me shrouded in mystery, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of suspicion. Monica spoke up.
“I am the successor of the one who defeated the Demon King Rainer.”
It seems that both Monica and Oliver are quite loyal. Or perhaps it’s just a testament to the charisma of Lion Dragon Rainer? If it weren’t for Senri, I might have ended up as one of Rainer’s minions. His army was a dreadful sight, but he himself was a king of the Sei faction.
The likelihood of Monica betraying me is probably quite low. Vampires have many weaknesses, and while Monica struggles with direct combat, she could easily carry out an assassination if she wished. If she were to betray me, it would be simpler just to let me remain dead. Worrying too much won’t change anything, and I now have Mireille, a fiercely loyal Familiar, by my side.
Monica-Ultzvia is a Demon, a type of magical creature. I’m not particularly well-versed in their lore, but Demons exhibit significant differences in power from one individual to another, and Monica is skilled in the art of seduction.
She can transform into a human, wield several spells of darkness, and fly through the skies with her black wings. Compared to Senri and Mireille, she possesses a more voluptuous physical form. The charm she wields, while less immediate and forceful than my own, seems to affect even those who are resistant, particularly when it comes to the opposite sex. I can’t help but think of Monica as a succubus, but if she isn’t one, then I shudder to think of what a true succubus must be like.
I take a moment to scrutinize the information Monica has brought back. With the Demonic Nature rampant and movement between towns nearly nonexistent, both the quantity and quality of information have dwindled. The outside world is perilous not just for humans but also for the weaker magical beings. The Demonic Nature, freed from the Order of the Final Knights, appears to be running rampant, even based on the limited information I’ve gathered.
It’s precisely because of such beings that harmless vampires like me find ourselves in trouble.
Mireille pouts and murmurs, “If only I could use the ‘Demon Eye,’ I could be of help to Brother-sama…”
“If you accidentally expose yourself during an investigation and melt away, that would be a problem.”
The curse of the Demon Eye grows stronger with each mutation. While I, with my Noble Blood, am certainly affected, even Mireille, a Noe-type vampire, would struggle to function under sunlight for even a second. Monica and Oliver, who are unaffected by sunlight, are invaluable in that regard. Vampires must protect themselves during the day. If we act discreetly, there may not be many who would attack us, but if we are to take the stage, allies who can protect us in daylight are essential. In the underground, where sunlight doesn’t reach, we can move even in the morning, but now that the presence of the Demon Lord has vanished, hiding alone is no longer feasible.
I flip through the notes and maps Monica has brought back.
“You did quite a thorough investigation.”
“…While most of the information is scarce, I have made some educated guesses…”
I had entrusted Monica with investigating Senri’s whereabouts and the power dynamics of the nearby Demon Lords.
What would have been easily researched before the world changed has become a challenge in this situation, where humans have lost their leisure and communication between cities is half severed. Oliver is hunting down the rogues in the city, and Mireille and I are wandering from place to place, gathering rumors while training our powers, but we still haven’t made much headway.
It seems we still know very little about Senri’s current location.
“We can only track the Order of the Final Knights through the movements of their resources. If the rumors during the war are true, there must be supply routes.”
“How about I disguise myself as a package and send myself to the Order of the Final Knights?”
I’m not boasting, but I could easily become a package if I wanted to. At my half-serious suggestion, Monica sighed.
“…End-sama, we’ve already passed the point where odd tactics will work. The delivery network is in tatters. Merchants rarely come through this area.”
“Then why not become a merchant ourselves?”
“In larger cities, there are human checks by multiple individuals. You’d be caught immediately.”
“Brother-sama, I want to be a merchant!”
If it were Senri, he would have been much kinder in his refusal, but Monica shows no restraint at all.
It seems we are indeed short on personnel. Our forces consist of only four people, including myself. While we might be sufficient in combat power, we are severely lacking in manpower. While I don’t mind helping human cities, at this rate, we won’t be able to protect even one city we save.
“However, it’s not as if there are no leads. The fact that we’ve successfully resisted the ‘King of Stakes’ coalition suggests we have the advantage of terrain. They are likely receiving support from a major power. If we narrow down the area gradually…”
Monica’s words held logic. Yet, that wouldn’t suffice.
The world is vast. My time is infinite, but Senri’s is finite, and even during the three years I was dormant, he must have grown. If I keep dragging my feet, Senri will become an old woman. I want to meet the grown-up Senri as soon as possible.
Monica speaks in a roundabout manner, while Mireille, with a look of annoyance, keeps calling out to me. I push all those thoughts aside, close my eyes, and make my resolve.
“Alright… Monica, summon Oliver. I’ve made my decision; it’s time to stop being passive.”
Searching for Death Soul Disease patients and conducting investigations takes time, yet the leads are few.
Overthinking things is not beneficial. I have eliminated every obstacle with power until now. So, I should do the same this time. Caution is a virtue, but it can easily tip into cowardice.
If information is lacking, I will search until I find it. If I lack numbers, I will dominate.
There’s no need for a Familiar; I can communicate with my fists, just as I did with Rainer.
I look at the power map of the Demon Lords that Monica created. The base is a rough map of the area, but even the information provided shows that there are several arrogant individuals claiming the title of King in this vicinity.
I will crush all of them and turn them into allies. If they are attacking human nations, I might as well recruit those nations as allies. I will increase our power, defeat the coalition of the King of Stakes that should be fighting Senri, and reunite with the grown-up Senri for a happy ending. This is the shortest route.
Has Senri’s muscle-headedness rubbed off on me?
Mireille and Monica look at me with wide eyes, and before them, I solemnly declare.
“From this moment on, I will crush all of them and make them my allies. I am now the Demon King.”