The Necromancer Who Was Despised

“…It’s become troublesome.”

The black star had joined hands with the red ogre.

Just these three were already formidable…

Especially, the problem is that they are magicians.

If magicians, who are much stronger in their own territory, were to team up with the red ogres, it wouldn’t have ended as easily as today’s battle.

“…How many leaders does the Black Star have?”

“Excluding the chief, there are seven active leaders. Two support the giants, one follows the chief, and one is neutral.”

All of them are at the level of a magic user, and there are many others who are hiding or have retired.

“The chief is also a magic user, but they can’t leave the Black Star’s base due to some past incident.”

So, the chief tends to listen to the other leaders’ opinions.

“They’re quite fair, considering they’re black magicians.”

“It’s just that they don’t have their own opinions.”

Rantem added with a sneer, seemingly not liking the chief very much.

There are also black magicians who are used to hiding and don’t interact with the outside world, but they don’t get involved unless provoked, so they can be ignored.

The group of black magicians is fragmented, and not only the leaders but also individual members are active, making it difficult to unite them.

If they could just unite, they wouldn’t be hiding in the Black Star like they are now.

“…The Empire is also a problem…”

“They’re being held back by the 6 Kingdoms and the interracial union, but if we leave them alone, they’ll become more and more dangerous.”

Tinus seemed to think that prioritizing this side was necessary.

Of course, it’s not that the Empire is weak.

They’re taking a slow but steady approach to pressure the interracial union, and considering that the union’s main forces, including the governor, have moved to a neutral area, it’s proven that they’re a threat.

However, the Empire at least has a responding force, whereas this side has no checks and balances.

The surroundings are full of monsters, and there’s hardly any information available.

“At least the orc warriors who were fighting inside were defeated and chased out…”

The ones who were suppressing the red ogres have disappeared, and it’s assumed that they’ll join hands with the Black Star now.

While I was thinking, the ones who had finished cleaning up the battlefield returned, including Quhar, the leader of the dragon hunters.

He requested information sharing as soon as he returned, and we shared most of the information.

Explaining the giants and dragons would be too complicated, so we just told them that the red ogres and the orc warriors who had joined the interracial union were competing inside the Dark Forest, and that the orc warriors had lost and would likely join hands with the Black Star.

By the way, the orc warriors under Akachi’s control have been secured and are currently in a state of suspended animation.

If we try to revive them and fail, we’ll have no choice but to let them go.

It’s only possible to try because Tinus exists.

“…With these guys and powerful interracial forces too…”

Quhar gazed at Sold and Rantem with a hateful gaze.

Rantem didn’t avert his gaze, but Sold looked down, seemingly afraid.

It’s a pathetic sight, only caring about their lives and having no pride left.

There’s a strange similarity to Bolledi.

“We can’t just leave these guys alone, but our position is the worst.”

Quhar said, looking at us after taking his eyes off Sold and Rantem.

It seemed like he was thinking about what to do with them.

After all, the Black Star has revealed its ambition, and we can’t just leave them alone.

It’s like having a knife pointed at their kingdom’s throat.

But as Quhar said, our position is the worst, since the Dark Forest is full of all sorts of dangerous monsters, excluding the red ogres and the Black Star.

Just by looking at how those demon hunters operated at the entrance, I could infer how dangerous it would be as we went deeper.

Tinus probably knew that as well.

But despite that, he seemed to think it was something that had to be done.

To be honest, I had the same thought.

The red ogre and the black star… In the long run, it wasn’t good for these two to be united.

“What are we going to do?”

Tinus asked for my opinion.

It wasn’t just him, though.

My undead, as well as Kailana, Artina, Yeriya, and the two dark elf elders, were all looking at me.

The demon hunters were the same.

In reality, I was the leader of our group.

They had probably figured that out a long time ago.

This was something that even the Hectio royal family knew, although Griern, with the royal seal, seemed to be the one communicating with the king and taking responsibility.

I thought for a moment before speaking.

“Let’s head back first. We need to visit the Rinetta territory.”

“…Please help us. We need the kingdom’s alliance.”

It seemed like they thought we were going to give up.

“We’re not abandoning this place. We just… can’t leave it as is.”

“Then why…?”

“We still have things to do, and we lack information to go deeper. We’re going to bring people who know the way.”

On our way back, I planned to create as much dark water as possible to fill the lake and bring Rithild and Kellet with me.

People who knew the way. Quhar seemed to know who I was talking about.

“Are the horned orcs in the Rinetta territory?”

“I have people with me. Although our numbers are fewer compared to the interspecies alliance, we can’t bring troops from the alliance right now.”

Of course, there were people in the rear, but I had already pulled Kellet and his tribe into this at a certain point. It was difficult to ask for more in this situation.

‘And we have an indirect conflict with the elves.’

Although there was no direct conflict between me and the elves yet, our opinions had diverged, and it would only waste time if we asked for the horned orcs.

In reality, I had made it clear that I would prioritize this side, and Quhar’s face showed relief, while Tinus nodded in agreement.

The dark elf side also seemed to be in agreement, and since I knew that the black star was targeting me, I thought it was better to strike when they were weakest.

In reality, we had lost three leaders, and our relationship with the red ogre was still unstable.

The black star was at its weakest now.

“I hope the Hectio kingdom will prepare as much as possible.”

This time, it wasn’t about defense, but offense.

Moreover, considering the dangers within the Great Forest…

“Tinus, how many primal spirits can you attach?”

Primal spirits were essential for operating within the Great Forest.

“It’s better not to do that to the humans of this land.”

“Why?”

“That would be stealing their future. It’s better to just gather those demon hunters and receive as much material support as possible. That’s the better option.”

Although I thought the present was more important than the future, I nodded in agreement, knowing that if we made a mistake, the Hectio kingdom might disappear, and the Great Forest’s territory could expand even further.

If it’s that dangerous, it’s better to follow the advice.

When the situation in the Hectio Kingdom was reported, the king quickly declared a state of emergency.

We told him that we would go to Rieneta to prepare, and he said that he would not forget this favor.

Upon saying that we wanted to gather more information, we sent Sold and Langtem to the Hectio Kingdom.

We received a promise that they would not be killed, saying that they would be made into Rich later.

The two of them, especially Sold, shouted at me with a resentful voice, asking me to take them away, but I didn’t listen.

On the way back to Rieneta.

One of the two elders, Bert, hesitated for a while before asking me about Tinos, and I honestly told him about Tinos’ true identity.

The dragon and the empire, the invaders, the giants.

The dragon, who had become a self-proclaimed commander-in-chief.

It was a moment when they, who were already bound, could never escape from me.

◈ Black Star

On the way back to Rieneta, we had to produce as much black water as possible.

Although we had been accumulating it little by little before, now we were seriously increasing production.

As soon as we arrived at Rieneta, I told Prina that we had to go back and take the Orcs with us.

Prina, who had heard about the situation in the south, had a very serious expression.

“The 6 Kingdom Alliance is being attacked from top to bottom…”

“The barren land won’t be a problem.”

“That side is okay. If necessary, we can put in a separate force trained by us.”

The knights were lacking, but the soldiers were somewhat usable.

“Then, in case of an emergency, it would be good to station some troops on the desert shield side.”

“Understood.”

At least, we were preparing for an emergency. In fact, the barren land was almost completely conquered, so there was no need to worry that much.

When I asked about the trade route with the other species alliance, they said that the trade itself had begun.

“The pass we made earlier is being issued by our side.”

Thanks to that, we were receiving bribes every day.

“Especially the dwarf equipment is coveted by each royal family, so…”

The difference in power between the dwarves on our side, who were enslaved, and the dwarves of the other species alliance, who had been recognized and actively interacting with us, was clear.

However, the scale of the trade was not that large, partly because safety had not been completely secured, and partly because I did not permit large-scale trade from the beginning.

As I left, the current undead castles were not functioning properly.

Therefore, if a large-scale human movement was detected, there was a high possibility that monsters would go wild.

The castles that had just been built were not given time to grow properly, and we couldn’t fight against the monsters that were pouring in.

In that situation, it was clear that Prina’s authority had increased significantly, as she was able to control the merchants.

Especially among the merchants, there were royal-affiliated guilds or Tynairo-affiliated guilds, which would have been swayed if it were in the past.

“You’re doing well. Just keep it up like this.”

I handed her additional passes, and immediately headed to the barren land.

I asked Tinos to persuade Rithild and Kellet, and I went to find the lake.

“…Muter?”

“Hmm? Lord Doynha. Have you returned?”

“Why are you here…?”

There were Mutre and many undead together, most of whom were the five-star undead I had created.

Mutre responded to my question with an awkward smile.

“Because of the waterway.”

“You should have told me not to come, it’s dangerous.”

“There was no choice. The lord of the five stars asked Orié for a favor. It seems that some parts of the waterway are damaged, and the supply of black water is not being properly maintained.”

The black water flows along the waterway.

Moreover, the black water I had stored in the lake is not ordinary water.

It hardly evaporates and doesn’t easily get absorbed into the ground.

Until it reaches the castle, it keeps flowing through the waterway and gets absorbed when it reaches its destination, so it would definitely cause problems if left unattended.

“That’s why I was dispatched. The five lords have sent their best soldiers to escort us, and Orié’s side has also attached some undead to us.”

I knew that.

I could see it.

Shadowy undead.

Some of the undead that had belonged to the castle were hiding in Mutre’s shadow.

“They’ve grown.”

The growing undead.

Since they belonged to me, I had provided them with many things, making it possible.

Orié also seemed to be putting in effort, as if they had something they wanted.

What they wanted was, of course, the commander position.

Becoming an 8-class would be difficult, but even if they succeeded, I wasn’t sure if I would have the leisure to spare.

Tinus’s main body didn’t seem to be ordinary, anyway.

“It’s definitely unavoidable.”

“Haha, please understand. Since we’re at it, we’re also doing maintenance on the waterway. With the recent frequent battles, if we’re not careful, the castle might get occupied, so I can’t just sit back and relax.”

For the group.

I couldn’t say anything to Mutre, who was speaking like that.

“…Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. You’re being too kind for just this. What I’ve received is beyond comparison.”

Smiling as if it was only natural, he added that I should take care, and I was about to attach more undead to him.

However, he declined, saying that this was enough.

Indeed, the troops assigned to him were more than sufficient to protect him.

The skeletons that seemed to be prepared for him showed how much consideration he was receiving.

I had been fond of him, and he had been with me since my weak early days, dealing with many things that couldn’t be resolved with power, earning him significant respect within my faction.

Mutre said there was still much to be done and left, and I poured all the black water I had brought into the lake.

There had been some consumption, so it was barely half full.

“Still, this should be enough for a while.”