The 100 Days War - Chapter 12

Deep beneath the Dread Keep, nestled in a tunnel in the dungeons, lay Jorōgumo’s lair.

After joining the Demon Emperor’s council, the great spider was invited to stay at the keep and she was provided a luxurious room. However, she refused it and instead asked to make her own home in a place more comfortable to her.

A deep, dark tunnel with no natural light, surrounded by her children, both big and small.

She lay upon a bed of webbing, her eyes closed and listened to her children’s echoes from across the world.

This one has uncovered a small rebel cell in the ruins of Black Port.

This one has identified a group who wishes to become the next Sons of Tartarus.

This one reports that the Free People’s Alliance is still unable to decide upon a leader.

This one sees a great army gathered outside the Kingdom of Rhodes’s capital.

Every single voice of her more than two thousand spies resonated in her mind constantly, but she was still able to absorb and process it all at once.

As Jorōgumo processed that information, hundreds of her children were telling undead transcribes what they had learnt. That information would then be taken by the Ravens, organised into stacks of documents and then sent to the relevant people in the Demon Empire.

Though, Mímir made sure to acquire a copy of every single bit of information Jorōgumo uncovered for his own personal use.

Suddenly, her eyes flew open and her children sensed that something was wrong.

“Fear not,” she whispered, slowly dragging herself out of her tunnel using her spider appendages. “I merely have a guest. Continue.”

Her children did so as Jorōgumo lifted herself back into the dungeons and found the Demon Emperor himself waiting for her, accompanied by Mania.

Jorōgumo bowed “Master, Mania; is something wrong?”

“Far from it, Jorōgumo. The Dark Lord simply wanted to thank you for your service to the empire and to ask what sort of reward you would like.”

“A…reward? I am unworthy of-”

“Jorōgumo.” The Demon Emperor’s booming voice silenced not just Jorōgumo, but also her children that had been scuttering about the dungeons. “You are a vital member of my council. Without you and your children, we would never have been able to create such a large, perfect spy network and defeat so many of my enemies in the 100 Days Plan. Blind devotion is a wonderful thing, but I reward loyalty and hard work; name something you desire and, if it is within my power, I will grant it to you.”

“…I.”

“Jorōgumo - it would be incredibly rude of you to refuse the Dark Lord’s generosity.”

“I understand that, Mania, but I cannot think of anything I desire at present.”

“Hmm, is that so?” The Demon Emperor folded his arms. “Then, let me ask you this: is there anything your children need or perhaps you desire a place for them to call home like you have made here?”

“…I am unsure, Master.”

“You-!”

“Hmm, that’s fine for now then. Give it some thought, Jorōgumo, for this reward does not have a time limit on it. Return to your work.”

“I thank you, Dark Lord.”

With a deep bow, Jorōgumo climbed back down into the depths of her tunnel and her children got back to work.

“Mania?”

“Y-yes?!”

The Demon Emperor chuckled. “There’s no need to be so frightened. I’m not upset at you for taking that tone with Jorōgumo.” The succubus breathed a sigh of relief. “However.” She stiffened back up. “I’m disappointed over the lack of progress in your new Awakening project.”

“…I have no excuses, your majesty.”

“You have little time left before the west invades - if he isn’t ready, then-”

“He will be, I swear on my life, Master! With your permission, I’d request time to spend dedicated to breaking him into the weapon you desire him to be.”

“How much time do you need?”

“One week, Master.”

“You have five days. That foolish count intends to strike six days from now and I will need you back at the border before he gets there. Is that understood?”

“…By your orders, your majesty.”

Sensing her slight dissatisfaction, the Demon Emperor lent close to her ear and said, “I believe I was clear with my last warning, Mania. Do not disappoint me again.”

“…I swear on my life that I won’t, your majesty.”

***

After his somewhat concerning conversation with Mania, David retired to his personal quarters.

He ordered his maids to remove his armour, dismissed them, then collapsed onto his bed.

“It’s almost time.”

Seventy days had passed since his plan had begun and not everything had gone exactly as expected.

Abaddon was drawing close to his deadline to conquer the north-east.

Mania hadn’t managed to make their most valuable prisoner Awaken.

Mímir had been busy hunting down rebels and spies, and he had been largely successful in his endeavours, as had the Twins and Fenrir.

Jorōgumo was doing fantastic work, as were the Vampire Court, Rebecca and Hilda, but David still felt uneasy in his heart.

Soon, Count Arlan Barthlow and Prince Augustus’s army would cross the border and try to break through, though David’s spies had uncovered almost every part of their scheme.

The north-east would be overflowing with rebels, informants, smugglers and saboteurs which would take valuable time and resources to pacify.

And Eris’s thirty summoned heroes were going to appear not too long after that.

There’s still so much to do and worry about.

A soft knock came at his door.

“Forgive me for disturbing your rest, your majesty, but Lady Scylla and Charybdis are here to see you.”

David smiled. I suppose that means Abaddon’s finishing off the northern lords right about now then.

“Send them in.”

The Twins excitedly entered the room, curtsied and greeted the emperor.

“Charybdis, report.”

“Yes! Per your orders, Scylla and I have assisted Lord Abaddon in finishing off the remnants of the northern lords. Likewise, Lord Abaddon and Fenrir are mobilising together to finish up their conquest - Lord Abaddon sent us word that said he intended to finish his tasks by the end of the day.”

“Excellent news. Well done, both of you - now, as for your reward, have you-?”

“We want to be spoiled by you today, Master!” Scylla excitedly cried, her eyes practically sparkling with joy.

“…Spoiled?”

“What my sister means to say,” Charybdis continued, forcing her sister’s forehead into the ground. “Is that we wish to spend the rest of this day relaxing with you. If this request would trouble you, then we can-”

“I’d be happy to.”

Both girls were stunned by their Master’s response.

David, however, was relieved about what the girls had asked him for.

I am not going to miss a rare opportunity to relax.

After the initial attacks to take control of the empire, David had sent the Twins to the coastlines to sink any refugee vessels, patrolling war ships, or would-be invaders. They would alternate between the north and south coast each day and had done that for an entire month, which earnt them their first reward from the Demon Emperor.

Immediately after that, David sent them to assist Abaddon in his campaign and they hadn’t had any rest since then, so he could justify this not only to Eris but also to the rest of his council.

“B-but do you not have work or-?”

“I can order others to take care of it for me. To clarify, Charybdis, what is it exactly that you both wanted to do?”

“We simply wished to relax with you, Master, perhaps by drinking some tea, having some sweets, being pampered by your royal self, having our head’s pat or-”

“So, you didn’t want the same reward as last time then?”

Charybdis’ cheeks turned slightly crimson. “I-it’s not that we did not enjoy last time, Dark Lord, but we felt guilty about using our requests to take your night away from Lady Lilith.”

“…I see.”

Good! I felt awful for betraying Lilith like that, even if she told me it was okay with a bright smile. I truly hope no one ever request something like that again.

“Maid!” A timid woman stepped into the room. “Send word to the kitchens to have tea and sweets prepared, then tell Rebecca that I won’t be accepting any more work or requests for the rest of the day unless it is of the utmost importance.”

“…At once, your majesty.”

The maid, who had kept her head low and eyes closed throughout their entire exchange, bowed and left to relay his orders.

After that, David sat down at the ornate table in the corner of his room, before Scylla leapt up onto his lap.

“Scylla!”

“What? Jealous?”

“N-no, but you can’t just-!”

“It’s fine for today, Charybdis.”

“But…”

“You guys can swap every hour.”

“Thank you for your generosity, o Great One!”

David couldn’t help but laugh at Charybdis’ completely different character.

Usually, she was a cruel, collected woman who spoke and acted elegantly, but now she was just a cute girl in his eyes.

If only you weren’t secretly a terrifying sea monster.