Chapter 186: Chapter 27: The Empire Of Death - The Red Oni

The once serene and beautiful fairy kingdom was completely changed, the walls carrying countless fierce, muscular oni women armed in their black armour, heavy weapons, and crossbows beside them.

Beside them stand the tall but dainty frost hares with powerful legs and beautiful upper bodies like models.

As for the cute and petite snow elves, Sherwood archers and ice fairies, they were all hidden safely in well-guarded and covered towers of everfrost, able to shoot at will and avoid most external damage while the angels and succubi alternated aerial defence patrols. seaʀᴄh thё nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Phew... Marimo, did your scouts say the enemy had already moved?" Lancelot asked, sitting at a long table with many of the commanders, captains, Maria and Melodica.

They were eating a light meal as the scouts from several groups in a wide area confirmed several reports that the forces of the entire kingdom, now turned into disgusting and dreadful undead, finally approached.

"Yes, Master! 10,000 knights are marching in the eastern plains, which seem to be detouring around to the eastern walls. We couldn't get an accurate reading, but most of the forces were undead but seemed to retain most of their living minds and abilities."

Marimo's black hair fluttered across her face as she looked around and began handing out the magical crystals that contained the information for everyone to see.

"Oh? A thousand archers, sneaky bastards." Milvar chuckled as she placed her red legs on the table and leaned back, checking the information.

Lancelot didn't mind how the Oni girls acted and let her actions go...

'I can see inside her skirt, though. Maybe I should make her wear pants next time.'

Their culture was different, and she never spoke with disrespect. Even Maria and Melodica showed no dislike... It was cute how both Marimo and Ikumi lifted their legs to show off their thighs... seeming to think it was a competition to attract his gaze.

"How about your reports, Lusia and Vellan?" The twin succubi heroes were scouting the central area with the flying succubi and should have managed to scout even further than the elves of Marimo.

"Ahem... brother~ the troops in the central column were mostly soldiers with spears or basic archers with leather and poor armour, and as sister Marimo said, they were all undead and smelt nasty.

"Numbers? Anything that looked dangerous?" Lancelot seemed impressed as they looked smarter and more mature since returning. Vellan was training the other succubi in close-quarters combat earlier and seemed to have started to shine.

"Hmmm... Master, there were no significant threats, but the necromancers you spoke about seemed to be at the very back with the man who seemed to be a zombified king. Somehow, his aura was spread... like strands of string to all the zombies we saw with a strange dark mana."

The more detailed answer came from Lusia, who seemed more suited to that kind of task, weaker in melee and combat compared to Vella, but she had truly developed her intel gathering and ability to sense and see mana and magic traces even without an eye like Lancelot's divine eyes.

"As for numbers, probably 20,000 at least... less than 3,000 of the poor grade archers."

'Much larger than the previous assault... good thing my lovely wives have loaned me some of their resources to improve this town's defences... Rena, you were so helpful. I must make it up to you when I get back.'

She had not heard from him in months, yet the moment he needed her aid, she came to him without any requests other than his affection, giving him over a thousand of each resource and lending him more than half of her total troops to fight off the enemy... of another of his women.

Normal women could never compare to this kind, gentle and compassionate Oni.

"Good work, both of you... so we are dealing with around 26,000 melee troops and 4000 archers? That seems like a tough battle... We will have to re-distribute the forces as the necromancers will need me, Milvar or you girls to deal with them."

Lancelot hoped that the western flank, a bog and quagmire of horrid, slimy swamps before reaching the frozen lake, would have far fewer troops... Turning to Ikumi, who was the one who scouted the west, she was eating some of the snacks before tilting her head when I looked at her.

"Mmmm darling, is something wrong?"

"How was the West?" His voice was a little anxious, but only Milvar noticed; she could only smile because although she knew of his skill and prowess in battle, the depth he cared for troops was beyond even Rena, who held a funeral for them all.

She closed her eyes and seemed to decide something while nodding when Ikumi finally started speaking after eating her food.

"Mmmm, it was a bit quiet, but there were five weirds... ghost-like things that could see me from miles away and kept disappearing while pouring strange magic into the swamps... they seemed like necromancers you mentioned but were floating and ghosts."

'It's a little strange... necromancers are usually still living, or only part ghoul or ghost never fully blown... are they some kind of phantom or a powerful enemy... I've never fought the undead in such a big manner... I pray they are not liches or high-tier ghosts...'

He leaned forward, nodding to the bright-eyed Ikumi, not wishing to put her down as he placed both hands on his forehead, covering his face from the others seeming to be watching one of the image crystals... only Milvar and Nuriel could see the truth... while Marimo could just sense that Lancelot was feeling a sense of weight, or pressure.

'Is it enough... do I spend the resources to improve defence against missiles and ranged combat or magic damage? Will the oni warriors resist the necrotic and mental damage that necromancers specialise in?' Lancelot thought deeply... knowing he couldn't make mistakes now that he had so many people relying on him...

"Brother, we are here for you..." Vellan and Lusia said in unison, sensing his mood as Milvar nodded, her strong oni arm patting his shoulder, which made Maria and Marimo nod; there was no jealousy, only the women wishing to support him. Lancelot stood up calmly, stroking their heads and kissing their cheeks one at a time as he stepped towards the exit.

The woman stared at his back, worried as he looked so lonely and desolate from the back... with Milvar stepping forward, she was taller than the other women and imposing.

"Leave him to me; I believe he worries about you so much that it's become a limiting factor for him... I will help destroy that factor."

***

Walking through the icy domain, Lancelot's eyes were heavy and sad. He saw each fairy and snow elf, and a tightness in his chest followed, imagining them being shot to death by arrows, twisted and crushed by dark magic... or impaled on rusted swords as he increased the pace towards his private quarters.

Passing the snow elf girls cleaning or helping decorate the streets and paths, Lancelot smiled gently, patting their heads as he walked... trying to hide his sorrowful face as they waved goodbye... unaware.

'If I lose... Then this place... those innocent smiles will disappear...'

His room was cold, but he ignored it. He was only tossing some wood into the fireplace that crackled gently as he sat in the chair, placed his palms on the arms, and closed his eyes... Desperately trying to maintain his current sense of self...

"I am their overlord... I must fight to keep them safe..."

"You are the man they would happily die for. They are the ones that must protect you."

A husky voice sounded, with the clang of ice and liquid as the heavy steps of someone approaching filled the halls after the doors slammed and locked with a loud click... suddenly the flames of the fire billowed and exploded, warming the room the intruder approaching with a sensual and loud snort.

"Lancelot, why must you take everything on your shoulders? Especially when you have everything in the wrong order."

Milvar's sexy body, no longer wearing armour but a thin dress that barely covered her abs, chest and thighs, her red flesh jiggling as she sat opposite him, without care... pouring two drinks, half full and pushing one over to Lancelot.

"Drink... it's good stuff... Oni women brew alcohol far stronger than humans... this will make you feel better..." Her dark golden eyes gazed at Lancelot, making him sigh and drink it all at once, the burning sensation filling his throat before he coughed slightly...

Milvar chuckled before pouring another glass and drank hers slowly, leaning forward so her cleavage fell free from the dress, almost falling out as she looked at Lancelot teasingly.

"Rena didn't send me here to fight and die but to fight and die to protect you. Do you understand the difference, My King?" Milvar smiled sexily as Lancelot shook his head... making her sigh... finishing her drink before standing and sitting on his lap, her red legs wrapping around his waist as her giant body pinned him in place...

"You are meant to fight to survive, not protect others. If you fall, what happens to them? What happens to us, Oni women whom Rena entrusted you to? It was never your role or job to ensure nobody dies; that is the goal of the commander's tacticians. You are the man who gives us the will to fight; he supports us when all is lost. You stand tall and give us a reason to fight."

"The king is not a tool that should break for the loss of a single troop!"

"But all the troops should die for the sake of a single king!"

Milvar retorted Lancelot's words as she kissed his lips gently, stroking his chest as she tried to calm him down... her soft skin pressing against his body as he became limp.

"Lancelot, I know you wish to protect everyone... but instead, you should trust them to protect you. That is the duty of the troops. That is the honour we Oni women and those girls down there choose to die for."

"We appreciate and love how much affection and love you give to care for each troop death! But that is NOT something that should hinder you from letting your wings soar!"

Milvar finished her passionate speech as Lancelot sighed deeply... leaning forward into her bosom as she hugged him, stroking his head gently.

"Why are Oni Women so annoying and unyielding..." Lancelot muttered, making Milvar chuckle and kiss his cheek.

"Because we live faster and die faster... Lancelot, please entrust the troops to me and focus on fighting the enemies before you. You can blame any losses on me, beat me, fuck me, torture me, but please do not think of the troops when we fight. Think of winning the battle for them and you."

"Can you promise me that Milvar? Are you strong enough to protect them...?" Lancelot looked into her eyes as she smiled brightly and nodded... pinching his nose.

"Idiot, I'm the strongest Oni woman in Rena's army; nothing can match me. If I can't win, then you can punish me by fucking my ass raw."

"Then... Mmmmph!?" Milvari's lips tasted of liqueur and sweet saliva as their tongues entwined...

"Rena promised to allow me to be conceived the next time I met you; now you have two promises to fulfil, My dear King Lancelot."