0.0000001% Demon King - 0DK Chapter 50: A Human's Warfare (2) (Part 2)

The maid’s face turned pale. She swallowed hard and bowed her head.

“Yes, sir…”

The maid left the room, trembling. Irina hid her contempt behind her teacup.

“I’ve seen your brother a few times.”

The pig sipped his tea and said.

“He was quite a good fellow.”

“He must have been from your perspective.”

Irina smirked.

“My brother was a good source of income, wasn’t he?”

Her territory was small. There was nothing luxurious enough to satisfy a noble’s splendor.

Therefore, her brother bought extravagant goods from various territories, including the pig’s.

“It was a wasteful extravagance. If we had that money, the number of villagers freezing to death would have significantly decreased.”

“The lord must maintain appropriate authority.”

“If authority is maintained by such things, it’s not needed. Your territory doesn’t seem much different either.”

From the carriage, she had seen the state of the territory. The land was filthy, and the people were emaciated. The market was filled with flies, a typical impoverished territory.

“Your future doesn’t seem bright.”

“The villagers always exist. That’s your limitation, woman.”

The pig sneered at the languid Irina.

“Return the lordship to its rightful owner.”

“I have been directly granted authority by His Majesty.”

The emperor had recognized her position. Defying her meant defying the emperor’s will, but the pig mocked her.

“The great emperor does not concern himself with things below him. No one will protect you.”

“Protect…”

Irina muttered. The pig interpreted it as despair and nodded.

“Choose. Ruin or return everything to its original state.”

“…”

“If you surrender, I will mercifully allow you to fulfill a great role for everyone.”

A great role for everyone. It was a metaphor. It was a term used exclusively for fallen noblewomen.

There was no need to think about what that meant. Irina stood up with a dry smile.

“I will see you on the battlefield.”

“Even though I offer mercy, you refuse. Truly, a lowly woman.”

The pig laughed and pointed a finger at Irina.

“Your body will be defiled, and your honor will fall to the ground. We will make it so.”

At his ridicule, Irina paused with her hand on the doorknob.

“That letter.”

She spoke with a hint of laughter.

“The content is not wrong.”

“…What nonsense?”

“Justice is indeed on your side.”

A human lord.

A lord cooperating with the Demon King.

There was no need to think about who was the villain. The pig’s face hardened at her smile. Irina opened the door with a cheerful face.

“Therefore, do your best.”

* * *

“You’re back?”

Karos welcomed Irina as she returned to the territory. He was waiting in his room, and Irina was speechless at his presence.

“Why are you here?”

“There’s no need to wait when the result is obvious. It’s better to prepare in advance.”

Karos spoke casually and unfolded a map.

“So, how many can we conscript?”

“A hundred.”

“That’s more than I expected.”

It was a small territory. Karos expected it would be hard to gather even a hundred, so he was quite surprised.

“They all said they would fight for me.”

Irina had a bitter face.

“They have no obligation to sacrifice their lives.”

“Is that so.”

Karos changed the subject.

“How many on their side?”

“A hundred and fifty.”

“A fifty percent difference…”

A hundred versus a hundred and fifty. The superiority was clear. Karos frowned.

“We have mercenaries, but will it be enough? Their equipment will likely be better too.”

“It’s difficult, but there’s a chance. Karos.”

“What?”

“I don’t want to lose.”

Her voice was calm but determined. Karos replied.

“Me neither.”

“Is that so.”

Irina smiled faintly.

“Then I will entrust the command to you. Please.”

The Demon King was competent. He would likely command better than her, who had been imprisoned all her life. That was her judgment.

But Karos laughed heartily.

“What are you talking about? You have to do it.”

“…What?”

Irina blinked. Karos’s expression was serious.

“…You are the lord.”

“I have never learned about warfare.”

She had been imprisoned. Moreover, her land was within the Empire, in human territory. There was no need to learn to fight.

“You’re the Demon King. You should know about these things, right?”

“How would the Demon King know about human wars?”

In the academy, he learned how to control monsters to attack humans. He never learned about human wars.

“Wait.”

Karos muttered as he realized the situation.

“There’s no one to command?”

Even in a small territorial war, command made a big difference. Irina groaned.

“Those in the Demon King’s castle…”

“Bathesia and Sinclair can’t come out! And do you think those idiots can command?”

“…What about Lillis?”

“She’s just like me.”

Irina’s face hardened. She clenched her fists with determination.

“Then I will…”

“What do you have that I should trust? I’d rather do it myself.”

“What do you have that I should trust? They are all my people. I will command.”

“You said you don’t want to lose!”

“That’s why I’m saying it! Don’t worry.”

Irina confidently pounded her chest.

“I’ve always adapted quickly. Commanding a war won’t be any different.”

“No. It’ll end before you get used to it.”

“It’s okay. I’ll be fine.”

“Such baseless confidence.”

Their voices began to rise. Just as Karos frowned and was about to shout, they heard the door creak open. They stopped arguing.

“Um, excuse me…”

A slender man scratched his head awkwardly at the door.

“I came to ask when the preparations need to be finished…”

“I forgot about this guy.”

Karos muttered as if he had realized something.

“You came at the right time.”

Karos pulled the slender man into the room.

The slender man, making a helpless sound, was dragged into the room.

Hyung_Otaku

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

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