The goblins could increase their population in the blink of an eye… Not to mention that they consume more resources around their stronghold as they increase their numbers. There was a saying that if you see one goblin, it means that there were another ten of them around.
That’s why when a goblin deserted the army, a team would be formed immediately to kill them, preventing the goblin from breeding endlessly.
「The plan is just you 『Strolling』 a bit. And by chance, you happen to stumble into a group of deserters who used a ruined castle or fortress as their nest. It won’t become your official first campaign since writing 『First Campaign is Goblin』 on the paper is just too embarrassing.」
「In short, it’s training to have me get used to the real march of the army.」
「Indeed… Albeit, I don’t think you need that kind of training…」
Platy revealed a wry smile.
「I got this feeling that even if I throw you into the frontline right at this moment, you’ll just breeze through it as if it’s not a big deal but… I guess it’s just me being a doting parent.」
Well… To be honest, the current me has become much more powerful than my peak in the previous life… And my opponent was the human race instead of the demon race.
Since I even realized that fact… I could only shut my eyes while enduring the agony in my heart.
「Well, it doesn’t change the fact that I have no experience in this regard, Mother. So let me go out for a stroll.」
I mean, strolling was much better than being sent straight to the front line.
""
Meanwhile, I might be able to use this chance to “Miss” a few goblins and let them wreak havoc inside the demon kingdom.
「How reliable. Now back to the topic, regarding the compensation for treating the night elf, you have to consider the option of turning them into your own combat force within a limited amount of time. Night elf’s tactics are weak but, many of them resembled the tactics used by the humans, you can use them as reference for your study before your first campaign.」
About the negotiation, let’s see―― Said Platy as she started to ponder about something.
「I’ll leave the matter of negotiation to you. You can ask me if you have a question but, I trust you can make the best judgment on the spot.」
「Are you sure?」
「This is also to let you gain some negotiation experience. There’s next to no risk even if you fail. The night elves aren’t going to plot against the demon race but they have a strong sense of duty. That’s why treat this as a lesson for you to learn how to handle them correctly.」
「Understood.」
Hell yeah, everything went according to my plan.
At least the first campaign against the human race wouldn’t come in the near future.
「… And now, about that high elf over there.」
Platy was glaring at Liliana.
Oh dammit, I let my guard down in the end huh.
「Jilbagias… Are you really doing you-know-what with THAT?」
She asked in a roundabout way.
Ma~n, even I am going to be troubled if you ask that right to my face.
「Can’t I?」
「… Did you really feel that kind of urge to do you-know-what? I mean, even Diagias has only showed interest in that area after he reached adulthood but you…」
Seriously――――
I had no idea that the demon race had that kind of period in their ecology… I mean, even if I said 「I’m starting to feel the urge to do that.」 to Shidar, that was in fact a big fat lie.
I mean, I amI only on the level of glancing at her boobs from the corner of my eyes, I had yet to feel the urge to have a sex.
I don’t think it was a strange phenomenon either since in accordance with the growth rate of the human body, I was supposed to feel that kind of urge at my current appearance.
I guess even if my body growth had been accelerate, the maturity was supposed to take more times,
「If you… Uhm, feel that kind of urge. You don’t actually need to choose that high elf, there’s a more appropriate partner… From your clan you know?」
E~h…
A five years old kid having a sex partner was already abnormal right…
I thought about it before but, upon a closer look, I realized that the abnormal one was… Me.
「Mother, the truth is…」
But of course, I had already prepared a countermeasure for this situation. I could use my attachment to Liliana for a just cause.
「Mother, you should’ve noticed it already but―― The truth is, my magical power is growing a little bit.」
With her wisdom, the archduchess Platyfia should have noticed that fact.
「Does that mean, this is also the magic of that devil? Are you restraining that high elf, with your constraint?」
「Yes. And that’s why my magical power rose.」
Which was a lie, it was me breaking a taboo by turning my former comrade into my pet though.
「…」
Platy covered her face with her hands.
「Mother. This is for me to gain power faster even just a little bit.」
「… Okay, I understand. Do as you like with that elf.」
Platy heaved a sigh, and then stood from her chair.
「Thank goodness, Liliana! We got the permission!」
I hugged Liliana who was hiding behind the bed, and though it was a forced, over exaggerated acting, it was worth it since Platy heaved a really deep sigh again and left my room immediately.
『――BWAHAHAHAHA! DID YOU SEE HER FACE JUST NOW!?』
Ante was laughing her ass off.
「Woof!」
Even Liliana was barking happily after the scary person(Platy) left.
「Okay, with this you’re officially accepted as one of my family.」
「Wo~of!」
Wahaha, what an adorable girl.
… Ha~h.
――Why doesn’t her memory return?
When I’m talking with Ante about this matter, a possibility popped up in my mind.
『Maybe the person herself refused to return.』
That is just how harsh the suffering she experienced―― In the last seven years.
But, I was convinced that another one was sealing those painful memories under the new personality.
She would forget everything under the guise of her dog persona.
『I already allowed her to remember her real self though. This will be tough since the person herself refused to go back to her old self.』
Naturally―― I could wake her up forcefully to return as the real 『Liliana』.
【You’re not a dog, you are saint Liliana.】
I told her so, compelling her to recall her own self by injecting magical power into my words.
But, when I looked at Liliana who licked my face happily―― I was convinced that it wasn’t my fault, the person herself refused to regain her ego.
Until I found the best chance for her to escape, she had to stay in the demon king castle as my pet.
Well, this state might be a blessing in disguise as it also prevents her from humiliating herself for acting like a dog.
That’s why―― Maybe it was much better to let her stay in her current state until I found the perfect timing.
「Please forgive me…」
I muttered while brushing Liliana’s head on the bed.
「Woof?」
Liliana(Dog) looked up at me with sparkling eyes as if asking me “Is something the matte~r?”.
Though Liliana’s case was unheard of among the long lived race, it didn’t change the fact that she was a proud high elf.
Thus there was the possibility that she might bang her head into the wall due to the shame once she regained her ego.
Not to mention that she might curse me non-stop for weeks.
When that time came―― I could only accept it..
「I hope that day will come soon.」
The day when you regained your freedom.
「…? Woofwoof!」
That has to wait after my “Unofficial” first campaign though.