"That was great!" Angerly exclaimed. "I didn't know you could speak that well, Haell! Great job!"

"Should I be offended?" I snorted and led Moonwash and Granuel to the restaurant table.

"It was a good speech," Therick admitted. "And a good presentation from Moonwash."

"Oh. She definitely carried the event," I smiled as I took my own seat.

"I'm proud of you guys," Berry said. "I really hope it works!"

The three of them had returned for today's big event, and the hellvesters were united once more. Despite their objections during the process of getting here, they all seemed to be happy and hopeful about the ultimate result.

"I hope so too."

Our food arrived shortly after, and we caught up with each other's lives as we ate. The conversation lasted well into the night as a constant stream of lighter foods made its way to our table after the full-course meal that we enjoyed. My friends were somehow interested in Blur, the spymaster, and I talked about how he was as a person without getting into any of the more gruesome details. And put that way, he did seem like a nice dude who was helpful and only wanted the best for his people. Someone who stood on the right side of history from the very start.

Moooonwash shared her experience with teaching a team to create the anti-sympathy enchantments(very unfortunately named!), and she found some of them to be… inadequate. Thankfully she was used to teaching students who had fallen behind… because she was the one who taught me how to forge.

"Gee thanks!"

Everyone laughed.

Our friends also shared their own adventures. Angerly had experienced with her partner Vardago all of the fun the Southern New Grandera had to offer. She told us about the kinds of plays there were, the museums that had been built, the legalized drugs, the bards, the raunchier establishments, and so much more. There was no outright nobility here, but there were still businesses that catered to the wealthy and the powerful, and she expressed how much fun it was to show this side of the world to someone new. But of course, she visited the places meant more for the regular masses too. From bards asking for coin to be thrown in hats, to paintings made along the walls of decrepit buildings, or just the countless other knick-knacks on display if you were to step into someone's home. She enjoyed the grand concerts, dined in places that served the authentic cuisine of so many cultures, and participated in the colorful flying events of the harpies, which would occasionally spill out unto the rest of the settlement depending on the city.

"It's almost like every other painting, play, or song is about war," she said, both irked by that fact, but still amazed by the creativity.

"Well, they are in constant war. Have been for decades now. I'm not surprised."

"Yeah, I know. It is beautiful in its own way, but also very bleak."

"Our reality is very bleak. Art simply and naturally reflects that." I paused, looking out through the window of our private booth. There was a slight shimmer in the air, from the wind distorting and silencing anything that we could say. And beyond all that, I could just vaguely make out some posters, both big and small, that depicted art in the exact way that Angerly spoke about. "But that isn't the full story, yeah. A lot of that art is getting used as propaganda. Officially so, as those artists are getting hired and paid by the government. And then it's all boosted and shoved everywhere. I'll admit that this state of things did not come about purely from people's inspiration and creativity."

A long silence passed where we just ate a really big pizza, and then I asked Therick how his time had been.

"Not much. I just did much of the same thing as Angerly, except I was alone I guess. I met up with Berry sometimes," as did the rest of us, because she visited everyone while we were scattered, "but for the most part I just… got to know the place. Read a lot of books. The… council is not great, is it?"

"No," I chuckled. "I don't think that's what a republic is. They're very insular and the only way to get in is for the existing councillors to let you in. So it's not really that much better than the nobility. They've shown themselves to be very willing to show nepotism, anyhow."

Berry then talked about what else she'd done other than visit us as our long dinner came to a close. Therick asked about her new prosthetic that looked like many delicate hooks, and she explained how it was there to help her play the koto even with her missing arms.

The koto was a large stringed instrument that was set on the ground instead of held close like a guitar.

"I've learned a lot from the crustecars here, and they could be so different! I wanna see their underwater kingdoms someday. And you'll love them, Haell, because they have like a very… warrior-oriented culture. I did ask them to teach me, and um… I wasn't expecting them to go that hard! But, those are some very important skills, and now I'll be able to protect you guys better. Not that I want us to get into a fight…"

"But it'll absolutely happen anyway." I patted her hard on the carapace.

~~~

We stayed in the capital for over a month longer. Part of it was to enjoy ourselves as this was the center of this country's culture, which was in itself a melting pot of many others. Moonwash was sought out by the dwarves so that they could learn more from each other, and they actually had over level 40 experts who could keep up with her. I accompanied her for some of those exchanges, and I learned more about forging myself as we showed them what it was like to make a cursed weapon. We frequented taverns, played in parks, attended concerts, and more. Around all these activities, we got to see just how society was reacting to our actions regarding the shepherds. There were debates being had about whether or not our enchantments were even legal because of how illegal mind magic is. Businesses were beginning to allow shepherds into their establishments, and they were starting to hire them too so they could actually afford things. Exceptions had been written so that the shepherds could actually use and charge their enchantments and not go to jail or worse for using mind magic. Not everyone was following those new laws yet, but things were getting better. Guards were being trained to spot the passive mental 'waves' of the shepherds, so that they could confirm that they were indeed using their sanctioned amulets. They came in a small variety of designs, and we'd somehow convinced the government to actually provide them for free. My popularity was going down because some did not like what I had done or had to say, but that was their fucking problem. Not mine.

A few did try to confront me about it, and I enjoyed putting them in their place.

Another reason why we chose to stay here all the meetings I and some others were obligated to attend. Granuel had secured some deals with the government to let us do what we did, but certainly not without compromise. So I went to their balls and speeches and ate the buffet of food that was always present in those kinds of events. I talked to their councillors, but gave no inch other than the things we'd already agreed on. No matter if they wanted me in the military, in some business, or whatever scheme they'd cooked up, I refused it all in the polite ways I was taught.

"I will consider it and consult my allies."

I did not wish to wear their colors, but we set off for one of the frontier fortresses after our stay was over, to participate in at least one defensive battle.

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I would do it as an adventurer. And they would do some mad propaganda about it.

~~~

We traveled back to the frontier, where war raged and blood was cheaper than water. But before we reached the border were a whole lot of other cities and villages along the way, which we took a few stops in. Word of the shepherd situation had reached them, but many had yet to actually do anything about it. They just continued on as normal, and some looked at me weirdly, instead of the overwhelming support I was used to.

Maybe that did piss me off a little. I was right, and there was something deeply wrong if I was the voice of morality and reason. But I was always angry, angrier than they could ever be, so it was fine. I could take their scorn. But if it was anything more, which did happen a few times, then they would hurt.

We took some quests along the way, mostly for monster subjugation, which included a worrying amount of goblins, or things we could easily do along the way like herb picking. But beyond our usual affaire, we also took escort quests and slotted our wagons into ready-made caravans. They were more than accommodating because of our reputation and power, and adventurers in particular still respected me for I was a beacon of strength. Many believed me to have evolved into the realm of gold rank already, and it didn't help that I'd proven my abilities and actually had my adventurer rank raised. People's level sense, for the few that had it, were signals getting mixed signals for what my level was. Which was only natural, for I'd already reached the threshold, I just hadn't crossed it yet.

~~~

A rabid tendril of mind magic invaded my head, and my wrath mana immediately retaliated on its own. The magic flowed through the air and ripped away even more of the glassmaw's jelly flesh. It thrashed and snapped its jaws at me, but it was held down way too tightly by Moonwash's nature magic. Vines dug through the transparent flesh and some even wrapped around the very bone underneath.

I waited there, until the level 40 monster dared to attack me again in the only way it was able. I had an idea, and I needed a mind magic practitioner who would be willing to hurt themselves over and over by bashing their will against mine until I got it right. And no, I refused to have Moonwash do it. Not only because she would get hurt, but because it might be worse than that if I succeeded. So it was really fortunate that there had been a glassmaw sighting near Allale City.

Or well, no. People died, and that's bad.

~~~

We reached the Fortress of Defiance. Granuel had figured out during our travels that this was where the next attack was most imminent, most likely to actually reach a fortress, and so we had stationed ourselves here for the past week under an officially sanctioned quest. The fort itself was a more boring garrison, with only some towers for the harpies for example, and blocky buildings for the dwarves that may reach into the underground.

The crustecars had more open-air barracks, but consisted of multiple floors. The belfegors just had some more greenery and plants in their own towers. And there was precious little in the way of commerce as most food items were actually free for those allowed to be here, but the food was military-grade rations, which weren't the best in taste or texture.

None of us was having a particularly good time, so I was almost excited when the bells finally rang their toll of death.

The enemies had arrived.

We had talked to the commanders of the place already, so I and everyone else immediately made our way to the ramparts. Artists who had no business being here in a warzone followed us with their own set of guards. I had forbidden them, that was to say the council as a whole, from putting any words in my mouth, but I knew that a single image of myself flying into battle on their behalf already said a thousand words. That was fine. People could interpret my actions however they wanted. The fact of the matter was that I acted as I pleased, and killed who I pleased.

I had already said my piece.

The trees to the west started to fall. A slow rumble began, which inevitably culminated into a low foreboding march. Finally, the first of the enemy army came into view, and at the forefront of them were all the inhexes. I already knew what was to come. They sped up with a pained roar, and the first line of people consisting of our heaviest units met their charge. The force of it was palpable, shields were pushed back, knees buckled, and people died, but the line held. And then came our counterattack. Spells and arrows came flooding in from upon the ramparts, my hellish fireballs included. The enemy flinched, they faltered, but they did not scatter and flee. I knew the rage that fueled them, and that I could respect. I wished they could be set free. But the only way I could do that right now was through the warm embrace of death.

They changed tactics. Reluctantly, but they heard the shouts from some shithead in the army still being kept back. The ant-like people flexed their grasshopper-like legs and jumped over the shield wall. They were turned into twisted porcupines along their arc through the air as projectiles and spears bore holes and buried into them, but the inhexes who survived still managed to bite and stab their way through the people who had not gotten out of the way soon enough.

And now we had to worry about friendly fire if we wanted to bombard the enemies who had dove into our lines.

The rest of the Edengar army marched forward. This was the opportunity they were waiting for. Their own spells and arrows joined the fray, putting our allied forces under greater pressure. They had no problem shooting at any part of the frontlines, for none of them cared if their inhex slaves were caught up in the blast zone.

The initiative was theirs. They pushed into our frontlines, pressuring our forces to retreat into the safety of our fortress. Harpies flew above, but they too had to be careful for the enemy archers were precise and their mages could cast wide. Healers came into play, and the sundertops of both sides gave each army a second wind. Theirs were more numerous than ours, but we were at a very significant number disadvantage here from the start. There were thousands of them that I could see, whereas I wasn't sure if we'd crack even a thousand combatants here.

I jumped and fell and then rose on demonic wings as I gazed upon all who were below me. My aura leaked out of my body in generous waves, and my evil eyes widened with their malevolent intent. The soldiers of both sides gazed up, and all they could see was the abyss staring back. The Edengarian army faltered, and my own side took the initiative. Orders were raised, and projectiles came, but the harpies converge near my position and protected me from all directions. I focused on the offensive, on the breaking of their spirits, as a prodigious tide of wrath magic dispersed from myself as the epicenter.

The dark energy fell like ashen snow, and filled anyone that it landed upon with dread.

They broke and fled, and the first day of the siege was won.

~~~

Two days later, the enemy attacked once more. I pulled the exact same tactic, to similarly devastating results, but they were ready this time and managed to mount a successful counterattack.

"RETREAT!" one of the harpies shouted, somehow still sounding regal in the face of these dire straits.

Projectiles came our way, and we fled back for the walls of the fortress. The harpies continued to protect me, when I knew that they could get there so much faster, and they started to fall from the air and die. I felt angry at how slow I was, and that wrath fueled me as I broke my body in the flight back home, but the Edengarians were still able to rob me of my wings regardless.

I fell through the air, I hurtled towards the wall, I would survive the fall, and allied forces had my likely landing spots covered, but I would not really have to put that to the test. A rope with a rock attached to the end hurtled towards me, and I grabbed hold of the lifeline I'd been provided. Angerly heaved me back up easily, whereas Granuel was the one who had ensure that the rope arrived at the perfect spot.

"Thanks, guys," I grinned and looked back out at how the battle was developing.

They may have been able to drive me out of the air, but the distraction I gave still proved fatal for the enemy forces. Doubly so, for they had committed too much of their ranged units to do so. The enemy army was in full retreat, and our own archers and mages continued to hound them as they did so. Centaurs gave chase and slaughtered anyone who had fallen too far behind. Dwarves immediately got to work on rebuilding their temporary walls and trenches in preparation for the next battle.

"That was amazing!" a crustecar man told me. He was one of the artists sent here to capture my likeness.

"Yeah, yeah! You singelhandedly broke their army!" a human woman added.

"They are no match for our demon," and a shepherd man looked at me with conviction. He was sent here in particular in order to help out the narrative we had been building to help his species.

"I am my own self and no other. But that is correct. I did break their wills. We all did! Today we saw the might of New Grandera!"

""YEAAAAHHHH!!!""

Oh wait. I was supposed to be doing this reluctantly. But well, I'm feeling hyped too. And I, at least, did not wish to claim all the credit for the victory we had earned today.

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