Chapter 82: The Worker, Jenna
Jima recalled that the emperor of the empire was conscripting soldiers in an attempt to move south and block the green tide, which was proliferating like mushrooms in a forest after rain. She did not take it to heart; for humanity, the green tide was as inevitable as plagues or flash floods — it would come once every decade or so, big or small, nothing surprising.
“Are you very tired today, Jenna?” Jima asked. “If you are tired, take a good rest; I can put my matters aside for now.”
Jenna perked up and said, “I’m fine.”
Previously, Jima had appeared in Jenna’s dreams, telling her that she needed Jenna’s help to store her extraordinary abilities for dealing with formidable foes in the future.
As soon as Jenna heard that it would be of great use to Jima and could also help George, she readily agreed.
As for why Jima did not ask George for help — it was simple. Jima had ulterior motives regarding Jenna; after all, there was a task on her list titled “Get Jenna into bed.” Now that she finally had some free time, she naturally wanted to take advantage of it.
Jima “cared,” saying, “Don’t push yourself; let’s eat while we talk.”
“There’s terrible news from the southern kingdom.” Jenna diverted her gaze from Jima’s frivolous attire, sat down, and propped her heavy chest on the table. She forked a piece of venison and took a bite. “So delicious! The style of this dish is quite similar to that of my half-elven teacher. Truly, all the world’s delicacies converge in different ways, right?”
Of course, we have the same teacher; you should still call me sister…
Jima also sat down, enjoying her meal, and asked, “What bad news?”
“The big city of the southern kingdom, Akendo, has been submerged by the green tide.” Jenna said, “Although the southern kingdom has always been destroyed by monsters, this time it happened way too fast. The army had to make a hurried departure, and according to reports from the dwarves, this green tide could be the largest since the founding of the kingdom.”
Jima could understand Jenna’s worries. What she thought would be an ordinary conscription to quell a typical green tide was turning out to be an unprecedented scenario for someone of her strength, with no danger perceived at all.
“What about the emperor? How much support does he have from the electors?”
“Less than when Sigmar was alive,” Jenna said. “The electors always hoped to select an emperor who wouldn’t meddle in their territories.”
The emperor of the empire was not hereditary but elected by the electors. Naturally, the electors preferred to choose a useless emperor.
“Is the current emperor weak or strong?”
“The current emperor is known for his hedonism in Adolf. His rival is Powell from the Nord domain, a renowned elector with many military achievements.”
“So, the current emperor won?”
“He won by just one vote; the state religion fully supports the emperor, with all the high priests voting for him.”
“I guess the electors discovered that the current emperor isn’t a pushover and that his previous demeanor was all an act?”
“You’re really clever, Jima, that’s right. Not long after the emperor took office, he waged war against the dissident city of Marlin. The elector from the Will domain was unhappy, raised an army demanding more autonomy, and followed in Marlin’s footsteps. However, the emperor declared he wouldn’t use the Hammer of Sigmar, which prevented political unrest.”
Jima knew of the Hammer of Sigmar, which was said to have been given to Sigmar by the dwarf king after he saved him from the greenskins. The hammer represented the supreme power of the empire since Sigmar established it.
Jenna sighed, “In short, what a mess; and just at this moment, the green tide has returned. The empire is also divided internally — I really don’t understand. Everyone is human, with greenskins attacking, yet they still squabble among themselves.”
Jima, with a keen political sense, asked, “I say, the emperor’s army isn’t planning to go to the Obsidian Pass to block the green tide, is it?”
To travel from the greenskin-infested area to the heart of the empire, the only route available, unless traveling a longer distance around half the continent, was through the Obsidian Pass.
Jenna asked, “There shouldn’t be any problems, right? Although I don’t know military matters, Sigmar, while still a mortal, once led various tribes to block the greenskins at the Obsidian Pass.”
“No military issues,” Jima replied. “But I have another question. Is this green tide cooperating with the dwarves?”
“Of course, the dwarves have always been allies of the empire,” Jenna said. “They take it very seriously; the high king of the Mountain Kingdom is personally leading the charge. The emperor pronounced it at the meeting today.”
“Now I can understand why some electors are worried.” Jima said, “Think about it; who was the emperor of the empire who allied with the dwarves to fight against the ‘unprecedented green tide’ last time at the Obsidian Pass?”
“Sigmar,” Jenna responded, increasingly puzzled. “Is there a problem?”
“After this battle, his prestige will surely reach its peak. The citizens of the empire will see him as the living Sigmar,” Jima said. “Some electors will definitely feel that the emperor is fabricating military reports, portraying himself as the living Sigmar, just like he previously masqueraded as a pig to eat a tiger.”
“Are they not worried about the greenskins?”
Jima speculated, “I guess that’s it. Their territories are not near the Obsidian Pass, and the emperor is not incompetent in battle. Even if the orcs win, they will suffer significant losses.”
Jenna rubbed her temples and said, “Let’s not talk politics; I have a headache, and the food doesn’t even taste good anymore.”
With no appetite, Jenna still had half her meal left after finishing. Jima suggested that Jenna rest well in the “Dream Palace,” which would be much more comfortable than trying to rest in a hurried army.
Jenna refused, worried that if something unexpected happened, the army wouldn’t find her, and she must fulfill her responsibilities.
Jima, feeling a mix of desire and disappointment, sighed internally, growing increasingly contemptuous of the greenskins in the south. They were truly a group of inherently barbaric beings, only knowing how to yell “Waaaaagh” all day long. It left her with no opportunity to entice Jenna into bed.
Jenna did not go back but insisted on using her extraordinary abilities for Jima; she still had about half her magical power left.
Jima did not refuse any longer and chose the most commonly used large-area destructive spell by Jenna. She remembered the glowing orb rolling on the city walls, devouring hundreds or thousands of greenskins, turning them into charred corpses — that was exactly what she needed.
She said, “Perfect. George, Frost Leaf, and I are all lacking in large-area damage abilities.”
Upon hearing this, Jenna became more serious. Outside the palace, she cast the spell, conjuring a brilliant orb the size of a house that floated in the woods, moving unpredictably. Wherever it went, fruit trees burned, and streams boiled, leaving dried-up rivers and charred tree trunks in its wake.
After several seconds, the terrifying orb finally disappeared, and nearly half the trees in the emerald forest were charred to varying degrees, with the beautiful scenery significantly ruined.
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Jenna asked, “Was it successful?”
Jima shook her head, holding the glass jar. “It didn’t get captured.”
The second time, third time…
Each time the interval became longer. After the fourth attempt, Jenna was on the brink of collapse. Jima went to support her, and she managed to steady herself. The forest in front of them was now all charred wood, with wisps of gray smoke rising.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Jenna replied. “It’s not at the point of losing control yet.”
Jima wanted Jenna to try once more, saying, “Let’s call it quits. Your health is more important.”
“I can still try once more.”
“Really, rest. I’ll find another way.” Jima said. “I think I should look for Frost Leaf; her smaller-area extraordinary abilities don’t consume much magical power.”
Jenna straightened up and smiled. “Don’t worry about me; I can use it one more time.”
“Since you’ve said that…”
Jima picked up the jar.
This time, they finally succeeded. As soon as the orb conjured by Jenna appeared, it was drawn into Jima’s jar by a force. The orb shrank and fell into the jar’s opening; a wave of heat surged forth, and Jima hurriedly closed the lid, which made the heat dissipate.
Inside the glass jar, a dull orb of light floated. Quiet, harmless.
“Thank you for your hard work, Jenna.”
Jima “cared” for Jenna, letting her take a bath, personally helping her scrub her back and chest before sending her back.
As soon as Jenna disappeared, Jima hugged the “orb jar,” beaming with joy.
Just then, a wisp of black smoke emerged in the dream.
Jima glanced over and recognized it as Litis’ black smoke. Now that she had some free time, she planned to confront Litis, that nymphomaniac, to see if she had found anything to bring her to this “male-dominant” world.
