36: Maggie’s Musings

Maggie’s view

That night, I was able to visit Ophelia in my dreams, and even got to meet Lae, that was nice… her looking like a human was a little odd though, for a god of monsters. Her bringing a human lover with her was even more weird. 

Unfortunately, after learning of what’s happening here in demon lands, Lae wants to free the purified monsters. All I can say to that is: “While I am good at magic, breaking brainwashing really isn’t something I’m any good at. It’d be a different matter if I were to simply overwrite it, but freeing the enslaved is not something I’ve learned. If you want me to summon a giant meteor though, I could do that.”

It was cute watching Lae worry. Her nervous concern for the safety of others reminded me of the way captured adventurers often looked, especially the ones who were in love with someone in their team. 

Wait, I’m supposed to serve her, right? That means not quietly gloating to myself about how superior I am.

You’re just a floating eye shrouded in a dark fog. How can you call yourself superior?!

I’m great! I’m magnificent! I’m the best mage in the kingdom!

Considering how the vast majority of the demon kingdom has been wiped out, that’s not a very impressive claim.

Sometimes I wonder if dealing with such a jerk is better than just being alone.

Of course I’m a jerk, I’m you!

… Maybe I should cast a spell to clear you out of my head.

You know you hate loneliness more than you hate me.

My conversation with myself got interrupted by Lae speaking again. “If nothing is done, that army will capture and enslave more monsters and use those monsters to continue and grow!”

Heh, that would be so ironic. An army of light made from magically brainwashed monsters. Once they finished with the demon realm, they’d start encroaching on the human lands again, and it’d be a war between humans worshiping a god of monsters and monsters serving a god of humans. What a farce. Our former god Dark would be so proud to be responsible for this.

Enough with the smug attitude, Lae wants help.

“This isn’t a simple enchantment that can be unwoven. They’ve had their minds purged of anything that human god disapproves of. Fixing it is more like healing than enchantment or transformation.” As I said this it occurred to me: Shouldn’t Lae be good at that? Healing minds? 

Ophelia then spoke up, “Your priests should be able to handle that, Lae. It might not be fast, but as long as we can capture them alive, healing them should be possible.”

Yes, that’s right. Healing is a priest’s domain, not a mage’s. We all then waited in silence as Lae seemed to be deep in thought after that. Is she working on some sort of great solution? I eagerly awaited her conclusion.

“Then I don’t really need to do anything, right?”

Lae… that’s your conclusion after thinking hard for several minutes? If you were my employee, I’d fire you. I don’t think I can send you back and ask for a different evil god though.

She’s not evil.

… yeah. That seems like a problem. 

At least we won’t have to worry about her being killed in the same way the last one was.

Heh, yeah, summoning her would not work at all. They would just get one of the beings that are a part of her, and such a forced summons can’t be done fast enough to do meaningful harm to her.

…

After chatting with Lae and being soundly disappointed with her (why does she have so little ambition?) I turned my focus back to the battlefield after waking. I could send magic messengers to give orders, and with my magic map letting me view everything happening in demon lands, I was clearly the only one capable of coordinating this conflict. 

You’ve not been coordinating shit.

Ah, shut it. There was no point before. I just sent warnings out to people to evacuate when the army was near. Keeping as many monsters alive as I could was the most important thing. Now? Now we’ve got a war to win.

Is that why your plans appear to be nothing more than surrounding and setting up a siege?

It’s a well known tactic! Wars are won this way!

You can’t starve out an army with that many priests in it.

With the enemy sealing and converting our people, a full assault would just increase their numbers! Can’t risk it! We need to focus on making sure their numbers don’t increase.

They are building fortifications and a full temple. It won’t be long before they have the beginnings of a new holy land.

… uh… we just need a champion. Need time to make a champion.

How? The old tournaments of power won’t work with Lae as our god! She hates bloodshed!

… maybe a fuck festival?

… I suppose that would be fun to watch even if it didn’t work.

***Author Note***

Initial converted angel assault roll: 2… seriously?! Wtf?!

The whole surprise angel army thing was supposed to give the light army a big chance to gain some advantage, but I guess they completely failed to capture anyone in their first offensive?

Is this failure a quality issue? Converted monster quality as an angel soldier in the army: 4… well fuck. This new army is useless >_< I guess the light god purged too much.

Monster Rescue Roll: 2. I guess the monsters aren’t doing any capturing and healing of the converted monsters.

How hard did the monster’s try? 8. I guess the failure was partly due to just not putting much effort in.

Since neither side is accomplishing much in terms of their war efforts, I guess that means it’s a stalemate for now.