Her Majesty’s Swarm - Volume 2 - Chapter 6

The Purge 

“Oh, this is bad,” I whispered. I had observed the recent events in Schtraut through the collective consciousness from the safety of the Arachnea’s base. “Our biggest enemy has strong-armed permission to pass through the Dukedom. I can’t believe the impeachment plot actually worked... I thought things were going well with Duke Sharon, but I guess I’ll have to fight that third-rate noble, Leopold.” 

Caesar and I had discussed forming an alliance at length. I made many concessions, including giving the Dukedom the right to develop Maluk’s land for itself. In exchange, the duke had to forbid other armies—especially the Popedom’s—from crossing through his territory and into ours. 

Now that that third-rate idiot had assumed the position of Duke, all those negotiations had gone down the drain. I didn’t think it could get any worse, but he followed up with the pettiest, most inane move imaginable... 

He began a political purge. 

Leopold’s purge involved hanging any nobles who opposed his stances and burning their domains to the ground. It was a primal, asinine strategy of the highest order. The Dukedom had the Arachnea as its next door neighbor, and somehow it had us beat in that department. 

Worse still, he had a flock of other third-rate nobles backing him. The situation was spiraling out of control. 

“Sérignan, there’s been a change of plans. Now that it’s come to this, we have to subjugate Schtraut by force. Get ready to set out at once.” 

“Yes, Your Majesty,” she replied with a bow. 

“War again, huh?” I muttered sadly. “Fighting is the Swarm’s way of life, but I can’t help but feel a hint of regret. I really did like that country.” 

At my side were a great many Ripper Swarms and some new Swarms I had just recently produced. Meanwhile, Sérignan and Lysa were making the necessary preparations for our march. The Masquerade Swarms I had snuck into the Dukedom would be an asset to our invasion; they would slay and devour soldiers garrisoned inside the border’s walls and help us break into the country. 

“Listen up, everyone... Our alliance with Schtraut has fallen through. The country that was supposed to be our ally was stolen away by a foul usurper and has now become our enemy.” My voice resonated through the collective consciousness. “The usurper has, in his foolishness, made us the enemies of his country. We are no longer on good terms; the Dukedom of Schtraut is now acting in direct opposition to us. And the enemy must be exterminated. Such is the law of the Arachnea.” 

The Arachnea devoured all. All who opposed the Arachnea would be consumed. 

“We will tear the enemy apart and swallow them in our dark tide. There is no need for mercy. Trample them thoroughly and utterly. May victory shine upon the Swarm.” 

“All hail the queen!” 

“All hail the queen!” 

Voices of praise filled the collective consciousness. 

Wait, no... Stop it. I really wanted to ally with that country so we didn’t have to shed any needless blood. But I failed. I’m just a hopeless idiot. 

“Your Majesty.” Sérignan stepped in front of me, interrupting my self-derision. “It is not your fault that your efforts did not bear fruit. That usurper is to blame. Let us set forth and strike him down.” 

“You’re right. It’s time, Sérignan.” 

“We’ve arrived, Your Majesty.” 

“Yes... It’s only been a short while, but it still feels nostalgic.” 

Our forces decimated the guards stationed at Schtraut’s reinforced border, allowing our entire army to enter the Dukedom and begin our conquest. My Masquerade Swarms, stationed all over the country, informed me that the enemy forces had already begun mobilizing their army but were weighed down by internal opposition and domestic backlash. 

That’s what you get, you third-rate noble. 

We stood before Marine, the first city we’d visited in the Dukedom. The city gates had been opened by the Masquerade Swarms, but something felt off. 

“Your Majesty, do you smell that?” 

“I do, Sérignan. It reeks of blood and iron. The bastards really did it.” 

The seaside city I’d grown fond of had completely changed since the last time we’d been here. The buildings had been razed to the ground and reduced to rubble. The inn Sérignan had first chosen for us was burning, and the sight of its expensive furniture between the gaps in the blackened roof made me wince. This was where we had stayed while working hard as adventurers, but now it was crumbling to ash. 

We soon found that the tavern was on fire, too. The owner who had given us information and some unlucky patrons were riddled with projectiles. The dwarf who’d warned me not to drink at such a young age was lying in a pool of blood. 

Next, we stopped by the Adventurers’ Guild, which had also been thoroughly destroyed. The party we’d worked with to take down the manticore had clearly protected one another to the bitter end. They lay with their glassy eyes fixed forward and not a single wound on their backs: Edgar, the swordsman who had guided us and taught us so much; Bruno, the archer who’d fought alongside Lysa; and Bridgette, the sorceress who had worried for my safety... They were nothing but corpses now. 

While there, we also came upon the body of the chatty receptionist. After being assaulted and murdered, her head had been stuck upon the guild’s signboard. 

Just what did these people do wrong? All they wanted was to live in peace. Hatred and anger bubbled up inside me. But thinking back on it, hadn’t I done the same? When the Kingdom of Maluk’s knights attacked the elven forest, I struck back out of vengeance and many innocents died. Am I any better than those who brought about this tragedy? 

My actions were in no way just, but they were not truly evil, either. We’d had a noble cause: to defend the elven forest. At the time, the Kingdom of Maluk had been, without a doubt, an intruder that put the Arachnea at risk. 

That didn’t mean the massacre was justified, though. In the end, there was no real justice in this world, only repugnant deeds hiding beneath righteous banners to promote people’s selfish goals. Even back in my old world, it hadn’t been easy to decide who was right and wrong when it came to war. Everyone was right... and everyone was wrong. 

But in that sea of gray morality, I could confidently say this: the “justice” enforced by Leopold and his lackeys was so downright wrong that it made me sick. 

“Who was this town’s mayor again?” 

“It was the man called Basil, Your Majesty.” 

Oh, that old fart. He helped us a great deal. 

It wasn’t long until I found him. He had been hanged in the city square, and his body swung back and forth in the wind. 

“Let him down,” I ordered. 

“Yes, Your Majesty,” said a Ripper Swarm, obediently setting to the task. 

“Once we are finished here, you are to turn all the citizens into mincemeat. Not out of hatred and contempt, but out of a desire to absorb their wills. This is the only way we can pay our respects.” 

Leopold had done this; there was no doubt about it. He was cutting down the opposition one after another. He was killing any nobles who went against his decisions and burning their lands to the ground. 

These people must have hated the soldiers who came to slaughter them and their families and comrades. They probably cursed their own powerlessness, lamenting that they were not strong enough to change their tragic fate. At least, that was my impression. 

Rest assured, you didn’t die in vain. I’ll turn you all into meatballs, and you will fuel the forces that will destroy the man who did this to you... and the Popedom, too. 

It was an awkward, grotesque mourning rite, but my gesture was filled with the utmost respect. 

Forgive me. 

One by one, we turned everyone in Marine into meatballs—the innkeeper, the people at the tavern, the Adventurers’ Guild receptionist, and Basil de Buffon. We used them to bolster our forces and set up a forward operating base in Marine. After building a Fertilization Furnace, we used Marine’s departed to create more Ripper and Digger Swarms, which we then sent out to the front lines. 

I couldn’t help but feel uneasy about this gesture, but it also seemed oddly fitting. In this way, the citizens of Marine would be able to exact revenge for their own deaths. 

Let us press onward, everyone. I have a great deal of hatred and frustration to let out today. 

The idiot noble finally deployed an army from the northwest to stop our invasion. It was a mish-mash of soldiers gathered from other nobles’ territories. He sent a detached force of 100,000 soldiers, but their gear and weapons weren’t consistent and they lacked coordination. 

We clashed in the Samhul Plains, a flatland with excellent visibility. It was a great place to fight—a fine stage upon which to trample the enemy. 

“Ripper Swarms, are you prepared?” I asked. 

“Yes, Your Majesty.” 

The Ripper Swarms are good to go. 

“How about you, Lysa?” 

“Ready, Your Majesty!” 

So is Lysa. Excellent. 

“And you, Sérignan?” 

“I am, Your Majesty.” 

My knight is ready to fight as well. 

“Then let’s begin,” I said, urging them forward. “Sérignan, Lysa, you two go ahead.” I would let them lead the pack and break through the enemy’s front lines. 

“Ripper Swarms, march!” 

300,000 Ripper Swarms followed my order. Conquering Maluk had netted me enough resources to build this force of Ripper Swarms, and this was still only a fraction of my total army. Their numbers would only grow larger as we went along. 

“Sérignan, Lysa... I want you to kill as many people as the Ripper Swarms do—and then some, if you can. Earn those points, girls.” 

“Understood, Your Majesty!” 

Honestly, I could finish this battle just by rushing the enemy with Ripper Swarms. Our impending victory was obvious; we had three times as many troops. There was no real need to bother with strategy, as we would one-sidedly slaughter the enemy either way. 

Still, I couldn’t afford to do that; I needed Sérignan to gain experience points. Besides, simply defeating the enemy with sheer numbers didn’t have the elegant flavor I preferred when it came to battles. I wanted to thoroughly and carefully make my preparations, then crush my enemies with deadly efficiency. 

“Aaahhhh!” 

“Hah!” 

Sérignan cut down enemy soldiers with her longsword one after another. Meanwhile, Lysa was firing off countless headshots with her longbow. 

“Don’t take them on by yourselves! Group up and surround them! Those girls aren’t normal!” barked one man, presumably the enemy’s commander. 

“You heard the man! Surround them!” 

Sérignan and Lysa are keeping the front lines busy. Good; they shouldn’t be able to move. 

“Ripper Swarms, advance from both sides. Box them in.” 

Taking advantage of the enemy’s distraction, I sent my Ripper Swarms out in two massive wings. The ragtag army flew into disarray as the great insectile pincer closed in on them. As the Ripper Swarms advanced into the fray, they began shredding the soldiers apart. At this point, the rest was easy—with the enemy’s formation in tatters, this would be a simple extermination. 

“Help me!” 

“I-I surrender! I surrender!” 

“Have mercy! Please, spare me!” 

Some of the soldiers here had probably been in charge of setting fire to Marine, so I couldn’t afford to spare anyone. They had provoked our wrath, so they needed to face the consequences. If they felt entitled enough to bring death upon others, we had the right to bring death upon them. 

I’d prepare myself if I were you, Leopold. Your personal army is next on the chopping block. 

“Help me! Somebody, save me!” 

Oh, would you look at that. A survivor. 

“Sérignan, why aren’t you killing him?” 

“I thought he could serve as an example, Your Majesty.” 

“An example, huh? Planning on stringing him up as a warning or something?” 

“Actually, if I may be so bold, I was thinking we could have the Ripper Swarms tear him apart or flay him alive in front of his comrades. Our enemies seem to be under the impression that we are beasts of some sort, so I believe we should show them otherwise. They must see that we’re intelligent beings capable of calculated cruelties.” 

“Not bad. I like it, Sérignan. A public execution would show them we’re intelligent and that we do more than murder willy-nilly. Let’s show the fools who picked a fight with us what we can really do. We’ll keep him alive until the next battle.” 

“By your will, Your Majesty.” 

We were the Arachnea, an organized faction of sentient beings connected by the collective consciousness. I couldn’t allow them to lump us together with mindless beasts. The Ripper Swarms, created solely for slaughter, were far smarter than the third-rate buffoon trying to snuff us out. 

“Still, a simple execution is lacking in taste. Let’s have him confess his crimes.” 

“Confess?” 

“Yes. He’ll confess to slaying the citizens he was supposed to protect and to massacring numerous innocents. It should strike a blow to the enemy’s morale... assuming they can still feel shame, that is.” I looked down at my hand, where a Parasite Swarm had begun coiling around my fingers. 

In one quick motion, I shoved it into the pleading soldier’s mouth. Under my control, he would report the truth of what happened in Marine to the rest of his comrades. I would’ve preferred him to willingly admit to those crimes, but I couldn’t expect that level of decency from one of Leopold’s underlings. The man probably didn’t even think he’d done anything wrong. 

Despite preparing this punishment, however, I didn’t really feel like I’d achieved anything. It just felt hollow. Having dealt with that matter, I led Sérignan, Lysa, and the Ripper Swarms further east into Schtraut. 

The towns along the way were in about the same condition as Marine. I saw many nobles who must have opposed Leopold hanged in their territories, which had then been burned down around them. 

Those poor nobles... And all these innocent commoners... It’s fine. I’ll avenge each and every one of you. Retribution is the only mercy I can offer.