Chapter 7

I should stop waking up like this.

I woke up again, still exhausted but fine. I'm still in my armor thankfully.

Instead of the corpses ridden battlefield, I found myself inside of the fortress.

A small cell. I scoffed.

Ripping out its bars, I was out in seconds.

I then started walking with one goal in mind, find the inhabitants of this fortress and give them a piece of my mind.

My armor and weapons are out of energy and ammo. With the exception of my Beam Magnum, I had nothing but the armor's enhancements.

It didn't last long before I found someone but to my dismay, it wasn't the Dark Queen.

It was scantily clad diminutive dark elf.

Wearing what can only described as a fetish outfit in the UC. Clad in nothing but a black thong and a corset that had failed it's one job. The only sensible article of clothing she had is the thigh-high boots and the small jacket she has.

Typical dark elf.

The elf herself is blonde and short, just around my height if I'm not wearing my armor, which gave me a head taller advantage on her. She also had a sheathed short sword on her back which she is had grabbed a hold but didn't pull out.

"If you know what's good for you, you will surrender now."

She said with a look of resolve even in front of me. But I can clearly see her hesitation. A nervous look in her eyes, the way her footing is positioned to run away to possibly lead me to a goose chase and the way she hasn't pulled out her weapon yet.

" This fortress is filled with traps. You won't find your way here easily."

Thanks for the heads up.

Moving fast, I cut the distance between us. I'll give it to her, she managed to react faster and jump back but I grabbed her throat.

" Don't resist or I'll crush your throat and your queen would die."

I threatened her, playing with her loyalty to get her cooperation. She stopped struggling in my grasp and resorted to glaring at me.

I snorted inside the helmet, she's more cute than threatening.

" We'll gonna have a walk with my hand on your throat, run and I'll crush you. Do you understand?" she nodded. " Now walk, I have questions to your Queen."

Following behind her with my hand around her neck, she walked reluctantly towards what was assumed to be the direction of her Queen.

We soon arrived inside of a library where I found the most tantalizing creature I had set my eyes upon.

The Dark Queen.

Olga Discordia, the Dark Queen and Scourge of Eostia is a very beautiful woman. A tall dark haired beauty, she exudes of grace and elegance.

Her choice of attire also magnified her charm. Like her subordinate in my grasp, she wore a corset that failed in its job. I can even see her pink nipples peeking through. She also wore a thong thinner than her subordinate. She also wore the same thigh-high boots like her subordinate. She also wore accessories which is a silver crown and a pair of elbow gloves.

Truly, she earned the reputation of being both dangerous and beautiful.

A Rose filled with thorns.

But I didn't come here to slaughter her army and admire her. No, I came here for answers.

" So you're finally awake, Hero. And I see that you have met Chloe." She said as she turned around to see us from her book.

She had a confident smile with a bit of hidden mirth in her tone.

She isn't afraid.

That's good. I need her coherent and not a babbling fool for my questions.

" A year ago, a small village south from here called Ledian was attacked and pillaged by your monsters. Did you order the attack?"

It's the only reason why I haven't killed the two of them at this moment.

Olga Discordia had a reputation of despising humans, so it's a surprise and very suspicious why a bunch of monsters from her army had allied themselves with Kuroinu.

If her answer isn't unsatisfactory, I will kill her and rest.

Hearing my words, a deep frown marred the elf's beautiful visage.

" I hadn't ordered such attack. I know that village as I keep tabs to all human territories that enroach into my land."

"Ledian is too close to Geofu and Ken, home to not just Princess Knight but Celestine herself. Attacking it would be foolish and would have been a waste of bodies. "

I didn't want to believe it but her reasoning is right. From a tactical standpoint, Ledian had zero value except for being a farm that caters to many kingdoms but we are just one of many.

We are also very close to the center of power of the Shield Alliance, Ken and Geofu.

Any attacks close to these cities is gonna be met with a swift retaliation.

And yet no one came that day.

I need to confirm my hunch.

" A year ago, Ledian was pillaged by your monsters but they aren't alone. Pillaging the village with them are human mercenaries, the Kuroinu."

My words were met with surprise.

" Our army would never betray us!" Chloe, the dark elf in my grasp, yelled.

Meanwhile, Olga remained quiet. I can see her mind racing, putting the pieces of a puzzle she can only see.

" So that's why they had become disobedient as of late. What a mess." She sighed before looking at me.

" Looks like I must thank you, my dear Hero, for unraveling this conspiracy and plot against myself." She said, surprising Chloe for thanking me.

"I'm not a hero."

With my hunch being proven, I pushed Chloe off to her, her worth is now zero. It's time to leave. There's nothing to gain here.

" But I insist. If you hadn't revealed this, I won't find out that my monsters are conspiring with humans. And it looks like we have the same enemy now."

She said with a smirk.

" As humans say; An enemy of my enemy is my friend. "

Her words stopped me in my tracks. Anger swelled up in my veins.

" And pray tell why I would ally myself with you, choose your next words wisely, Oh Dark Queen." I snapped at her, mocking her current situation.

Without her army, Olga is no threat aside. from her magic.

I still had my Beam Magnum and I'm itching to shoot something.

" Ledian. You came from Ledian when it was attacked."

One word. It only took her one word to stun me.

" How do I know this? It's quite simple. There aren't any heroes in this time and age that would do what you did unless they had lost everything and had nothing to lose anymore. "

" And also, your words had betrayed your purpose. You want revenge. "

She smiled wickedly. In just a few sentences, she figured me out. No wonder she is still a threat even after years of warring against humans.

Olga Discordia is dangerous.

Seeing my silence, she continued.

" As of now, I lacked an army due to you. So it's only proper that you take responsibility. I will cater to your whims of revenge as long as you work with me. A partnership if you will. "

She offered. Based on the look of surprise Chloe has, it was a surprising offer.

A partnership, not a subordinate.

An equal.

I weigh the pros and cons of such a partnership.

The pros are winning heavily.

And then Olga gave the killing blow.

" If you think, you could slaughter the Kuroinu the same way you slaughtered my army, then forget it. Celestine would stop you. "

I was surprised by that fact. I simply asked why. Her answer astounded me.

" Think about it. How did a simple mercenary group manipulate Ken and Geofu, two of the strongest cities in the alliance in not defending Ledian. An attack that close should alarm them both."

"And yet no one came that day even after hours after the attack." I finished her sentence.

It was the worst scenario. This Kuroinu had deeply entrenched themselves in the cities. Their political powers must be so strong to be able to manipulate these two.

If I attack, it would alert these powers and would lead to Celestine's intervention.

Fighting the Goddess reborn is no easy feat.

"Fighting the Goddess reborn is no easy feat. I would know from experience." Olga said nonchalantly.

That broke the camel's back. With a sigh and an apology to my deceased family, I accepted her offer.

" I will accept this partnership of yours but I will not be your servant." I snarled.

" Obviously." she smiled. A hint of smugness in her tone.

That's when my stomach betrayed me by gurgling loud, begging for food after days of no fuel.

I'm glad I had a helmet to hide my embarrassment.

" Looks like our dear hero is hungry. Chloe, prepare for a feast, let us celebrate this new partnership of ours." Olga clapped. Chloe immediately scurried away to follow her orders.

Looks like I'll get to eat now.

With a hiss, my helmet retracted and folded itself in my armor. A gasp escaped Olga's lips upon seeing my face

" So young!" She said, blinking in surprise.

" I'm still ten and seven summers old, so don't you dare put your paws on me. Cradle robber." I snorted.

" Cradle robber? " she blinked in surprise before the insult registered into her mind. Her beautiful face turned into a scowl." WHO ARE YOU CALLING A CRADLE ROBBER, YOU INSOLENT FOOL?! "

Even scowling, she is still beautiful.

" With the way you dress, do I need to protect my chastity from now on? "

Making her angry might be a bad idea but it's a nice distraction and a way to deter her from any hidden agendas.

This partnership is only for our own.

If she betrays me, I'll make sure her death is painful.

But for now, I need to eat and escape the dark elf berating me for disrespect.

Chapter end

Author notes

I made an error on the map.

Ledian (Mika's old village is north of Geofu and Ken, not Ansur)

Mika had now allied himself to the Dark and evil Queen herself.

What's gonna happen next will be revealed in the 5 year timeskip.

Credit score = 45 300

Kills

Orcs = 100 000 - 100 credits

Lycans = 5000 - 50 credits

Goblins = 10 000 - 10 credits

Total income =

10 000 000

250 000

100 000

= 10 354 530 credits

Mika is now rich in credits.

All will be used for science. (Mika loved science and engineering).