Walls were built in every direction to prevent fools from entering my territory.
When my subordinates under my control approached, tools and arrows would fly from the towers beyond the walls as a warning.
They couldn’t hit me, probably because they didn’t want me to get seriously angry.
“Haaah…”
And if I were surrounded, my food would be limited to wild birds.
However, with my possessed magic power, I wouldn’t starve, not even the seedbed women.
Too bad. I want to tell them “Serves you right.”
If they succeeded in sealing me and are being negligent while monitoring us until we starve to death,
Then let’s prepare our combat power further.
“Monster remodeling. Mass production of seedbeds. Creating flying monsters by using wild birds as a base.”
I’m busy. Ah, if only Rikan, who has knowledge of otherworld, were here…!
Can’t my subordinates be possessed by the souls of reincarnated people?
Should I try an experiment? I have time.
Using various methods of forbidden arts over several years, Rayos began an experiment to see if he could possess reincarnated people within his subordinates.
The surrounding countries, without openly making noise about the lack of change in the dangerous death zone reported from the towers,
Worried in secret whether the dual-named wooden dummies and dolls had become junk.
Their fatigue grew from the attacks and defenses of neighboring enemy countries.
Middle management and above suffered from poor health due to the burden of their duties.
Command at the front line and procurement of supplies from the rear were delayed.
The border line continued to retreat.
They were replaced at the front line and their duties were switched.
“Your successor…”
“Haaa, well, do your best.”
“Yes…”
Though their titles and positions were great,
They were just government officials tossed about by the unreasonable demands of the higher-ups.
After the handover was complete,
The previous person was promptly transferred to the front line as a regular soldier.
The successor bowed to their back, conveying a wish for good fortune and the possibility that they too might be going there soon.
◇◇◇◇◇
Well, even among those unfortunate people,
At the front line of a small country in the south.
The enemy soldiers were wooden dummies from Taiyon, a great nation on the southern continent.
They were mass-produced weapons that could be replaced even if they were killed.
No matter how many were destroyed, as long as the caster was alive, the broken wooden dummies would be replenished.
On our side, we were living beings who couldn’t be replaced immediately, or even soon, if we died.
For soldiers, it took years and training to overcome the fear of death.
“Damn it…”
“Again.”
The wooden dummy unit attacked almost without rest.
They were made of mass-produced materials.
Each individual wasn’t a major threat.
They aimed to wear us down through continuous battles.
And sometimes, stronger individuals made of similar materials were mixed in.
After cutting down the weaklings repeatedly, one of us, whose guard had dropped from sheer annoyance, was caught off guard by a flash.
“Shield formation! Spear corps! Sweep their legs!”
Wooden dummies are inorganic.
Arrows were not effective.
Magic tools were difficult to procure in large numbers, requiring funds and significant possessed magic power.
At best, magic tools were used as a minor comfort when the battle was turning unfavorable.
“Shield corps! Hold them back!”
“Ooooh…!”
They could barely support the great shields.
The front-line commander, considering a switch at the border line, took command.
The soldiers’ morale was at its worst.
The enemy country showed no signs of giving up their invasion.
There were no supplies, no alcohol, no women.
They could only go home when seriously injured, with a few days to live if they were lucky.
“Spear corps! Now! Sweep their legs!”
“…Oooh.”
“……”
They succeeded in making the wooden dummy vanguard fall.
Before they could get up, their arms holding weapons were destroyed.
Next, the talisman controlled by the caster was destroyed.
Half of them were incapacitated before the middle corps could charge in.
Again, they were met with great shields, and spears used from the gaps to sweep their legs.
Once no additional enemy units appeared,
They could finally sit down.
“I’m hungry…”
“It’s the usual meal, isn’t it…”
“Haaa.”
A filling bean dish.
Nutritious. Satisfying.
But they wanted alcohol and women more.
Rustle rustlerustle
At mealtime, everyone gathered and complained about the same things.
“Ahhh, I just want someone to hold me, even if I’m a degenerate!”
“Hahaha, dream bigger, alright?”
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of a gong signaling an enemy attack.
“……Haaa.”
They took a breath. They really liked wearing us down with fatigue.
They adjusted their gear and assembled.
“You’re late!”
“Sorry (monotone).”
The commander also didn’t have time to pursue the matter,
Ordering them to take their positions.
In front of their eyes,
They saw wooden dummies marching forward, stepping on their discarded brethren, with individuals holding lights at the center.
…All-nighter. Today. Tomorrow. The day after tomorrow.
They wouldn’t be able to rest properly until they died.
They wanted to escape from here, but both the east and west were enemy countries.
Before reaching the border, they would be detected by allies or wooden dummies from the flanks.
“……”
At least before dying, they wanted to hold a woman and have a child.
They wanted to die…
“Shield formation!”
