The Queen Villainess Eavesdrops on My Heart and Won’t Let Me Slack Off – Chapter 79

Chapter 79: The Empress Successfully Raids the Home

North of the Kambsak Desert, outside Skrena City.
Blood stained the yellow sand and rough stone walls, magic streaked across the azure sky, and the Rommel Legion had begun to attack the city.
Under the cover of magic fully suppressing the Orc Tribe’s firepower, Azurevine soldiers successfully scaled the city walls and were pushing the Bell Tribe’s Royal Guards back step by step.
Roger emerged from Rommel’s temporary camp, gazing at the soldiers of both races clashing on the city walls not far away. He listened to the earth-shattering roars, the clanging of weapons, and the explosions of magic, feeling the very ground beneath him tremble.
Everywhere he looked was engulfed in war. Being in the midst of it, he felt his own insignificance.
True war, even for the victor, was so brutal.
There was no romantic sentimentality like in novels, movies, or games. Looking at the wounded soldiers on stretchers, Roger’s gaze grew heavy.
Driven by loyalty, honor, fame, and fortune, youths in their prime charged forward, only to be carried back covered in wounds, missing limbs.
Of course, many more fell on the front lines, blown to pieces by enemy magic, their very bodies untraceable.
Magic in this World was miraculous; severed limbs could be regrown, and the dead could be resurrected.
However, magic in this World was also expensive. The precious magic power of the accompanying mages had to be used to strike the enemy, making it impossible for every wounded soldier to receive comprehensive care.
The Empire had countless retired veterans left with permanent injuries.
Roger had come at the invitation of the Empress of Eternal Night to witness her prowess in conquering the Orc King’s City.
As he was personally curious and yearned to see a real battlefield, he had crossed space with her to the front lines.
Then, he regretted it.
Watching a CG was one thing; smelling the pungent scent of blood here was another.
Compared to the suddenness of the Blood Night in Audou, the nearly boundless, omnipresent combat here was a different kind of spectacle, and also a different kind of despair.
He suddenly recalled the saying, “The worst peace is better than the best war.”
“But if you don’t defeat the enemy until they dare not fight, how can they possibly grant you peace?”
Roger muttered to himself, discovering a logical paradox.
Sometimes, life really didn’t require overthinking because you had no choice.
It was like that war in the past when the rabbits, despite countless hardships and losses, had to cross the 38th parallel.
Without that battle, who would allow you peaceful development?
Greed was boundless. The Seven Gods’ desire for faith was the same as capitalists’ pursuit of profit; it was always a case of you yielding an inch, and they advancing ten.
If you didn’t want to be bled dry by the Seven Gods, you had to fight, even if you had to grit your teeth and fight.
The good news was that most people in the Empire were still passionate and unafraid of war, even eager for it. They followed the Empress of Eternal Night’s sword, knowing nothing of retreat.
Even the three new armies, led by veterans charging onto the city walls, coupled with a little mental suggestion from the mages, became increasingly courageous.
With fervent blood boiling, they entered a state of self-forgetfulness, daring to swing their greatswords at the orcs’ heads.
Typically, in a narrow pass, the brave win. Battles like this didn’t require consideration for defense; if you cut down all the enemy, you survived.
“After this battle, the Empire will gain another ninety thousand warriors.”
The heroic and handsome Rommel emerged from the camp, standing shoulder to shoulder with Roger, a cigar clenched in his mouth, a faint smile on his lips.
Clad in his military uniform, his stars shining brightly, he exuded a captivating confidence as victory, which he personally commanded, was imminent, and he was about to capture a powerful enemy for the Empire.
At this moment, Rommel was far more charismatic than the young Master Elvin on the night of the Abyss Mill.
“Congratulations, such a great victory, you are one step closer to the rank of Marshal,” Roger replied somewhat absently.
Rommel glanced at him, quite surprised. “With your courage, you shouldn’t be someone who fears war and death. Yet, I can sense your aversion to the battlefield.”
He remembered their mutual performance under pressure that night, and he admired him for using himself as bait to slay powerful enemies—traits that the people of the Empire appreciated.
So, he was surprised that such a young man didn’t yearn to go to the front lines and achieve immortal deeds.
Roger smiled wryly. “A general rises from the bones of countless soldiers. How could I possibly like it?”
Rommel savored the words, finding them fitting, but he disagreed.
He corrected Roger solemnly, “Is Prime Minister Right too kind, and therefore influencing you? While you sympathize with the casualties of the soldiers, don’t forget that without the merits forged from these bones, more people of the Empire might die.”
Angelina’s kindness was known throughout the Empire. Rommel thought she was influencing her brother, guiding him back towards the valorous combat expected of the Empire’s nobles.
“This is not my sister’s influence. My sister greatly admires the bravery of the officers and soldiers and spares no effort in providing logistical support for your achievements,” Roger quickly shook his head, clearing Angelina’s name. “It’s just that I personally haven’t adapted to the atmosphere of the military camp yet.”
“Then you must adapt quickly. The Empire’s army is one where everyone is skilled in battle and dares to fight. That is the best atmosphere, and that is the strongest army!” Rommel said with great pride.
Roger hesitated, feeling that the atmosphere of the troops in this era was quite brainwashing compared to the strong army in his mind.
It would be too much to call it a stepping stone for the promotion of noble lords and mages, as commoners also defended their homes, and nobles fought desperately.
In this azure era, the Azurevine Empire was truly remarkable.
However, Rommel was a discerning and sensitive person. He thought highly of Roger and was curious about what he was truly thinking. He pressed on, “I feel you don’t believe me. You think there are better armies in the world than the Empire’s. Are they the Elves’, Dwarves’, or Dragonkin forces?”
Roger met his gaze, knowing he had caused a misunderstanding. He didn’t want to be labeled a traitor, so he could only explain:
“Human. It’s an army that exists in my ideals, one that hasn’t appeared in this era yet. They don’t need the finest equipment, but from officers to the lowest ranks, they understand why they fight. What unites the troops isn’t hierarchy, power, money, or mind magic, but a common ideal.”
“Fighting for an ideal? It sounds beautiful, but such an army is impossible to appear in a thousand, or even ten thousand years—” Rommel exclaimed.
Roger said solemnly, “It’s possible, but the conditions are harsh. But once this military spirit is forged, everyone is skilled in battle, everyone dares to fight, everyone fights to the death! If the general dies, the deputy general takes over; if the deputy general dies, the brigade commander takes over. Because they understand the objective, there will be no chaotic formations, no fleeing at the sight of wind. They will fight until the last soldier… Tell me, can the Empire’s army compare to such an army?”
Rommel frowned in deep thought for a long time, then sighed softly. “Such an army is indeed incomparable. Young Elvin yearns for it, but doesn’t know how to achieve it.”
“I don’t know how either… However, General, you should focus on the battlefield at hand. The Orcs are quite strong, so don’t be careless.”
Roger dared not say more, for fear of driving Rommel to obsession.
Such an army required perfect timing, favorable geography, and human unity, and also a specific era.
Forging feudal troops into that mold was too unrealistic.
It required at least a universal education rate and literacy rate to be possible.
In the current Empire, it was faster to achieve results through the Empress of Eternal Night’s personal charisma and collective fervor.
Rommel smiled upon hearing Roger’s reminder.
“Don’t worry, we have His Majesty, and I’ve kept enough reserves.”
In this World’s wars, generals, training, equipment, morale, luck, weather, and so on all influenced the course of a war.
However, there was another crucial deciding factor, absent on Earth but extremely important here: the duel of powerhouses between both sides.
The Azurevine Empire, with the Empress of Eternal Night at its helm, was invincible in confrontations of power as long as the Seven Gods did not intervene.
Therefore, all that was needed was to boost comprehensive national strength, pour resources into equipment and training, and victory would be easily secured.
However, even with an absolute powerhouse leading, capable of negating many variables, Rommel, a renowned general, had many contingency plans.
He wouldn’t place all the pressure on the Empress of Eternal Night, lest he appear too useless.
Roger had to admit that Rommel’s confidence was well-founded.
If the Empress of Eternal Night hadn’t chosen to be a combat mage today and instead played a stealth mission, providing support fire like a human cannon, the battle might have ended long ago.
But now, as the Empress of Eternal Night had infiltrated Skrena City, and even Rommel didn’t know her whereabouts, the situation had become somewhat tense.
However, Roger had a nagging feeling that something was wrong.
Based on his game experience, the strength of the Orc Tribe should not be this weak.
In the plot, the Orcs also had a stunningly beautiful Princess Tequila, who, at a critical moment, rallied the various tribes and assembled a powerful allied force, tying up a significant portion of the Azurevine Empire’s troops on a secondary battlefield.
Those powerful combat units, fierce mounts, terrifying archery, and shamans perfectly suited for open warfare had left a deep impression on him.
By his calculations, Princess Tequila should have gained considerable prestige by this time.
Why had she not appeared to turn the tide when the Empire had advanced to the doorstep of their royal court?
Was she hoarding a powerful move, or was she absent due to menstrual cramps?
Just then, a colossal pillar of bloody light suddenly rose from the center of Skrena City, exploded, and then a golden rain fell across the entire city.
Rommel’s face lit up, and he raised his arm, commanding the entire army: “His Majesty has infiltrated the enemy’s palace! First Army, stand by, Second Army, follow me!”
“Long live the Empress!”
A thunderous cheer erupted from the Azurevine Empire’s formation.
The soldiers who were still engaged in combat felt a surge of new strength flow into their weary bodies, their eyes gleaming with excitement.
His Majesty had already stormed the city; how could they remain outside? They had to join His Majesty as soon as possible!
Instantly, the morale of the entire Azurevine Empire army soared, and their sword strokes became a third faster!
On the other side of the city walls, the Orc Royal Guards, fighting desperately, looked back at the astonishing commotion and were stunned:
“Holy hell, where’s our palace?”
“Our massive palace has just disappeared from the map?”
Though they refused to believe it, they had to grudgingly admit that while they were fighting hard here, the enemy had executed a shameless home-raiding tactic!
The Empress of Eternal Night hadn’t just infiltrated the palace; she had flattened it!
Numerous magnificent palaces were now reduced to ruins.
And within the rubble, covering an area of several square kilometers, floated hundreds of Orc chiefs and high officials, their attire still resplendent.
They were being held by their tails by Mage Hands, dangling helplessly in the air like overturned turtles, unable to exert even a fraction of their strength, no matter how powerful they were.
Margaret, watching from afar, instinctively clenched her buttocks.
She could relate all too well; they all had tails, and they had all been personally…
Ahem, trivial details, best left unmentioned!
Compared to the other captives, Chief Francis Katchini of the Bell Tribe had a slightly more dignified appearance.
This wasn’t due to his leadership of the Orc Royal Court but because his tail was very short, resembling a ball.
The Mage Hands couldn’t grip his tail, so they had to pull him by his feet, making him dangle upside down in a rather conventional manner.
These Mage Hands all converged on a woman wearing a gray hooded robe, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Although the loose robe concealed her appearance and figure, the glimpse of her cherry lips and slender hands made many Orcs’ mouths water, and they felt an awe-inspiring pressure emanating from her…
Despite being just a woman, she was more terrifying than the dragon that had appeared outside the city a few days prior!
The gray-robed woman slowly ascended, the Mage Hands, along with the captives by their tails, spinning them in place.
Simultaneously, all the Mage Hands began to orbit above where the palace had stood, gradually accelerating.
This wasn’t a merry-go-round at an amusement park, but a high-powered centrifuge!
Under the strain, the powerful chiefs and high officials screamed in terror.
*Bang!*
Finally, a chief couldn’t withstand the force. Blood erupted from within him, exploding outwards!
One by one, the chiefs succumbed to the force, becoming bloody fireworks!
This was truly a novel and brutal method of execution. Even the most basic spell, “Mage Hand,” was being used in ingenious ways.
The Orc soldiers and citizens who realized what was happening began to roar, scream, cry, or flee in all directions, or launch countless arrows and spells toward the demon-like woman in the sky.
Unfortunately, they were all blocked by a thin magical shield, unable to even touch the hem of her robe.
Even the attacks of legendary priests were completely ineffective.
The gray-robed woman reached up and removed her hood, revealing a cascade of glorious golden hair and a flawless, peerless face.
A casual, languid chuckle echoed throughout the inner and outer city of Skrena:
“Heh~ What a disappointing and uninteresting opponent. Orc Tribe, is this all? Is this it?”
“Is this it?”
The Azurevine Empire soldiers saw their invincible Empress, and sensing the contempt in her words, they began to cheer along.
Some sensitive individuals noticed that their Empress seemed different today than she was outside the Wolf Tribe’s territory.
But undeniably, she was still as powerful as ever, inspiring unwavering loyalty!
“Me? Is this the Azurevine Empress?”
The Orc soldiers panicked, recognizing the woman’s face.
Realizing this, they felt their weapons grow heavier, their fighting spirit rapidly waning.
The Empress of Eternal Night was a powerhouse at the pinnacle of mages and a peerless commander who had slaughtered millions.
There were countless tales of her ruthlessness.
There were even malicious rumors of her eating children, drinking a cocktail of their blood daily, and dissecting a hundred rabbits when she couldn’t sleep.
Even for the naturally ferocious Orcs, the name Empress of Eternal Night was a terrifying legend that could silence crying children at night.
Now that she was among them, and Princess Tassika had taken the elite main force, how were they supposed to fight? Where was their chance to turn the tide?
The Azurevine’s morale grew higher and higher, while the Orc Tribe’s soldiers lost their will to fight, their faces filled only with fear and unease.
Moreover, with all their chiefs dead, who were they to continue fighting to protect?
The most terrifying thing was that the Empress of Eternal Night behind them had not yet made a move.
When she joined the fray, they would be attacked from the front and the rear—wouldn’t they be instantly defeated?
As the Second Army led by Rommel joined the battlefield, the Orc Royal Guards’ psychological defense finally collapsed completely.
Generals committed suicide, and soldiers surrendered.
The remaining scattered strongholds of resistance were instantly overwhelmed by concentrated fire as soon as they showed themselves.
Under the cry of “No mercy for surrenders,” few Orc civilians in the city resisted and accepted the Azurevine Empire’s entry.
Roger frowned, finding it all too easy.
The strength displayed by the Orc Tribe was completely inconsistent with what it would be ten years later. Something had definitely gone wrong…
Just then, an alarm blared from the central army tent.
He rushed into the tent and saw an urgent dispatch from the Empire:
“Asiford City has lost contact. The Sky Dawn Army claims responsibility for this incident!”
Simultaneously, a silver dragon unfurled its wings in the sky, its form faintly visible.
PS1. For three consecutive days, updates have been steady at 7 PM. From now on, I will strive to be a man who updates at a fixed time! Discipline, discipline, discipline…
PS2. Bounty progress (28/48)