Chapter 61. The Tenant (2)

Warlord Conquest was a game that received post-launch support for over 10 years.

To be precise, it was to sell DLCs, a kind of expansion pack, but that was the result.

Hundreds of minor updates.

Dozens of major updates and DLC releases.

And four massive World Scenario updates.

Among these, the World Scenario updates always added content on a scale larger than the main game.

Items, factions, heroes, regions, and of course, completely new settings and concepts were poured in with each World Scenario update.

The Theocracy was one of those new settings.

‘The Theocracy was added in the 3.0 update.’

It could be considered the highlight of 3.0.

It was the first time a faction playing the role of a ‘final mastermind’ was added to Warlord Conquest.

The Theocracy was quite different from the previous factions.

It had no clear territory or residents.

It didn't have a unique tech tree or territory-based development.

Heroes belonging to the Theocracy were often also major heroes of other factions.

Above all, the Theocracy faction was unplayable.

To be precise, it was possible to play as Theocracy-affiliated heroes like the Princess of Blood or Tribus.

However, they only had personal victory conditions; it was impossible to achieve the Theocracy faction's victory conditions.

A half-baked playthrough, one might say.

Anyway, despite being a faction with the title of the final boss, information and lore about the Theocracy were rarely revealed.

The lore about the ‘Gods’ was one of the few pieces of information that was disclosed.

The Theocracy, as its name suggested, followed gods.

Not just one, but multiple gods.

I never dreamed that one of them would be a grotesque creature swirling its tentacles on the table, sucking on snacks.

‘They are called tentacle arms. The tentacles are the parts at the end.’

“…….”

‘Don’t you humans clearly distinguish between ‘waving a hand’ and ‘waving an arm’? It is the same for me.’

The tentacle monster said so as it carefully took another honey snack from the bag.

The creature, with its slithering legs—be they tentacles or tentacle arms—brought the snack close to the regular octahedron.

Soon, the tentacle trembled, and the end of the snack began to disappear bit by bit.

Slurp.

Chomp.

It didn't even have a mouth, but the eating sounds were incredibly realistic.

If you just replaced the screen with a person, you could do an ASMR broadcast of someone eating candy.

As I stared at the monster in disbelief, my true thoughts slipped out.

“What are you?”

‘Hm? Me?’

“…Yes.”

‘I am called the ‘Nameless Tentacle.’ Of course, this is not my true body. It is a sacred relic imbued with my will. You are the master chosen by me.’

“Why am I your master?”

‘Isn’t it because I am in your subspace? And well… you give me such delicious things. If you give me a house and food, you are my master. I am the servant. Heh heh.’

Well, look at this.

Did it just laugh with a ‘heh heh’?

‘I jest. No, I am only half-jesting. Not everyone who possesses a sacred relic is acknowledged as a guardian. We read souls and choose. You are qualified.’

The tentacle explained as it snapped a snack.

I understood what it was saying with my head.

But I still couldn't accept it.

When playing as a hero not affiliated with the Theocracy, the Theocracy was literally the final boss.

They spread like cancer cells, corroding the factions, nations, and even entire races they belonged to.

Until they overthrew the existing ruling class and heroes, completely consuming the faction with their own Theocracy-affiliated heroes.

As a result, after the 3.0 update, the very late game of most playthroughs ended with a grand world war between nations controlled by Theocracy heroes and those that were not.

The gods served by such a Theocracy.

The lore about these beings, so-called ‘Outer Gods,’ was as follows.

First, The Theocracy serves a total of fourteen Outer Gods.

Second, All Outer Gods are extraterrestrial beings who seek to toy with and destroy the world.

Third, The Theocracy can only borrow their power indirectly, but their ultimate goal is to have the gods descend upon this land directly.

‘As expected. I did well to choose you as my master!’

“?”

‘To think you know so much! You are prime material for a guardian of the Theocracy!’

“……”

Of course, all of this was the story up until World Scenario 3.0.

It wouldn't be strange if things had changed with the 4.0 update.

However, once a setting was established, it was usually fleshed out, but the fundamental framework rarely changed.

“So, how do you plan to destroy the world from now on?”

I asked, paraphrasing appropriately.

Nothing changes.

I had decided to survive.

I had decided to protect my people.

It didn't matter if they were gods, humans, or a highly advanced alien race.

If they were going to destroy this world, I just had to figure out their plan beforehand and crush it.

The golden opportunity to dig up that plan was right in front of me.

After a moment of thought, the statue waved its tentacle.

‘It’s bothersome.’

What?

‘Nom, nom.’

***

I thought I had misheard.

So I asked again.

“What?”

‘I said it’s bothersome.’

I heard it right.

Let’s think.

Bothersome.

A being like a demon, or a god?

It was a completely unexpected answer.

As if reading my thoughts, one of the statue’s tentacles bent its tip and placed it under the regular octahedron.

Like a person lost in thought, cupping their chin.

The creature spoke.

‘Well, it is true that we have annihilated civilizations in many worlds. It was fun at first. But it got boring over time.’

‘At some point, I started asking myself. Why am I doing this? What reward is there? You could say I found my ego. A point to contemplate the meaning of life. Something like that.’

‘I thought it wouldn't be bad to live differently for once. Then I met you and the opportunity arose. Now that I see it, living a leisurely life seems quite nice. Don’t you think?’

A hand, no, a tentacle gesture as if seeking agreement.

What is this, a civil servant in charge of world destruction going on strike?

Of course, I couldn't rule out the possibility that it was lying.

However, I couldn't yet find a reason why a transcendent being, capable of destroying the world, would lie while sucking on half a bag of honey-laced snacks.

“……”

Well, what could I do.

It was true that each World Scenario update had added completely new content.

I would have to adapt.

“Anyway, you’ve orchestrated the destruction of numerous worlds, meaning places like parallel worlds. Is that correct?”

The tentacle drew a circle.

I understood.

In a sense, they were veterans who had gone through dozens, hundreds, perhaps thousands of playthroughs, just like me.

And with the 4.0 update applied, no less.

That meant this tentacle monster would know some information that I didn't.

Especially the changes brought about by World Scenario 4.0.

First, I asked lightly about the Theocracy.

The identities of key figures within the Theocracy, the abilities of the statues they possessed, and their estimated current locations.

‘I cannot tell you.’

“…Should I throw it away?”

‘Th-throw it away! You can’t. This great restaurant, no, master I finally found! I cannot go back to meeting a perverted necromancer who eats rotten meat in a gloomy cave! Please guarantee my rights!’

The tentacles quivered violently.

Well, at least one thing was certain.

This guy had a good eye for people.

To recognize that Tribus was a psychopathic perverted murderer.

Of course, if you lived with him and didn't realize that, you'd have to be blind.

The trembling tentacle monster hastily added an excuse when I remained silent.

‘It’s not that I don’t want to tell you. I cannot. That is the contract.’

“Contract?”

‘Yes. Until we manifest in this world, we can only use the abilities assigned to our sacred relics. Giving information is also an ability. Breaking the contract would be a big problem.’

This was interesting information.

I had long thought that the statues had more abilities than just being a pager and an ID.

“Then what is your ability?”

‘It depends on the level of the owner. For someone like you, master… let’s see, you should be able to use the first stage.’

Wriggle.

The tentacle moved.

At that moment, I felt it.

Everything slowed down.

My heartbeat, my breath, the movement of my muscles.

The same phenomenon as when I fought Chincharina a few days ago.

The next moment, the statue’s tentacle multiplied endlessly and engulfed me.

For a brief moment, I saw the pitch-black space, like the universe, where the two statues had conversed that day.

Unlike then, the strange phenomenon vanished in an instant.

My sense of time and my vision returned.

“What’s different?”

‘Look in the mirror.’

The guest room in the lord’s castle had an expensive full-length mirror.

I stood in front of it.

One thing had changed.

It was a familiar, yet unfamiliar face.

Black hair. Black eyes. Sharp fangs and a vile curl of the lips.

It was Tribus' face, hidden behind the white mask.

[I am the Nameless Tentacle.]

[I am no one, and also everyone.]

[I can change your face.]

[To that of anyone you have seen once, regardless of race, gender, age, or whether they are living or dead.]

I raised my hand and touched it.

The skin texture itself was different.

Pale, parched skin that hadn't seen the sun in a long time.

With this, one problem was solved.

The issue of my unstable second identity.

The possibility of an Inquisitor visiting late at night and putting a silver bullet in my head had almost vanished.

A laugh escaped me unknowingly.

“…Keehee.”

‘Ah, fuck. It’s reminding me of the cave. Shall we refrain from using this ability, master?’

The tentacles trembled.

It seemed our Outer God had developed PTSD from cave life.

***

I named the tentacle statue ‘Kkumteuli.’

It was a sort of code name.

Even if someone happened to hear it, no one would think it was the name of an Outer God that destroys worlds.

It was also historically accurate in a way.

Because it really does wriggle and whine for food all the time.

‘Still, what kind of name is Kkumteuli? Aren’t there more elegant words?’

“Then how about Jingjingi (Whiner).”

‘…That’s a bit much.’

Anyway, the atmosphere of the city quietly began to change.

Count Laman Maenenwood began to reveal his true colors as a member of the Pro-Imperial Faction in earnest.

A counter-offensive operation was established.

The objective was to form an encirclement by capturing the rear of Marquis Ricardo, who was likely confronting the Emperor at the Jilber River.

The influential figures of the city, who had been Pro-Imperial from the start, began to move as if they had been waiting.

In fact, Count Maenenwood usually moved in this position whenever a civil war broke out.

It had only faltered because of the sudden intervention of the Indika curse-caster.

Preparations proceeded smoothly.

I, too, brought the mercenary band into the city.

The Count treated us by renting out several of the best inns in the city entirely for us.

He even gave rooms in the lord’s castle to the commanders, including myself.

“Everyone, get some rest. It will be difficult to rest for a while once we leave the city.”

Thanks to him, I was able to give the mercenaries, who were weary from the long operation, ample rest.

But the Count’s gifts didn’t end there.

About three days before our departure.

I was meeting with Count Maenenwood to discuss the operation as usual.

Thud. Thud.

The Count’s knights brought five boxes and stacked them in front of me.

“These are armors for you and your centurions.”

The knights opened the boxes and showed me the contents.

Inside were five sets of armor that were clearly high-quality goods at a glance.

“I wanted to have new ones made, but there was no time, so I picked out some good ones from what we have. If you take them to the blacksmith, they can adjust them to your body in a day or two.”

“…Thank you.”

“I haven’t even properly repaid you for saving me yet. This is a small token of my gratitude. I will formally reward you after the civil war ends.”

For a small token of gratitude, each one seemed to be a masterpiece worth more than a decent warhorse.

Three sets of dark plate armor.

One set of leather armor with a bumpy surface.

And a noticeably sleek, silver plate armor.

“They are made of black iron, wyvern leather, and silver steel. The leather one should be worn by that ranger centurion. The silver steel one is yours. Silver steel is a material with good mana conductivity.”

They were even perfectly suited for each of our roles.

It seemed he had listened carefully to the information about the centurions I had shared during the planning process.

The wyvern leather had a camouflage color that naturally blended with its surroundings.

Black iron was one of the hardest materials, excluding magically enchanted metals.

I immediately distributed them to the centurions.

“Whoa! What’s this! It’s for me?”

“Thank you so much, Commander.”

“I heard they also trade with the dwarves along the Maenenwood River, and their metallurgy seems quite superior to the Imperial standard.”

“I haven’t done much for the mercenary band yet… Thank you, Commander.”

Thanks to this, I had strengthened our hero-level forces.

I had clearly felt it during the process of rescuing the Count.

An army must be fought with an army, but what leads that army is, in the end, the hero.

As it was a strategy game, the quality and quantity of troops were paramount.

At the same time, it meant that the individual prowess of the heroes was correspondingly important.

Because in this world, a commander had to not only have outstanding morale-boosting and tactical abilities but also survive on a battlefield where magic, bullets, blades, and curses rained down.

Three days after that.

Count Maenenwood’s army left the city.

In place of the Count, whose body had not yet fully recovered, his nephew, Captain of the Guard Melburn Maenenwood, became the supreme commander and led the Count’s army.

The number of mobilized troops, scraping together the remaining Imperial soldiers, the Count’s private soldiers, our mercenary band, and citizen volunteers, reached a staggering twelve thousand.

‘A month and a fortnight, is it?’

A considerable amount of time had passed since I infiltrated the heart of the Anti-Imperial Faction’s territory through the Elcanto Forest.

The pawn, which was a mercenary band of only twelve hundred, had reached the end of the chessboard in a month and a half.

And, like the rule of promotion, it had been promoted to a queen, an army of over ten thousand.

The preparations were complete.

It was time to strike Marquis Ricardo from behind.