The rest of the day passes relatively peacefully. Ronan continues helping the goblins with the construction of the village, while I take the two zombie bears from yesterday and go back to leveling up the pup.

By the way, it's a relief the orc sergeant didn't try to swear fealty to me. A few possibilities come to mind—the most likely being that he didn't even realize I could one day become the demon king. After all, the pup can remain hidden until level 20, nothing less than from the divine beasts, and these were just orcs. It could also be that he had no interest in joining a group that had just massacred his men. Or maybe he simply couldn't—after all, he's not the leader of his people. I remember that when the goblins joined me, it was the totem who requested fealty.

As we move through the forest, we find fewer and fewer prey. That's expected since we've been hunting quite a lot. We take a break to eat in the cave with Ronan and the goblins, and then we head back into the woods, straying farther and farther away. As the distance increases, the number of animals begins to rise again. We haven't gone toward the human village, which would be in the direction opposite the mountains, but rather to the left.

We must have reached the edge of the giant bear's territory because I'm starting to feel watched. The two zombie bears quickly return to our side, positioning themselves protectively on either side of the pup and me, growling menacingly.

I carefully look in the direction they're staring at.

I spot several pair of eyes among the underbrush, along with what seem to be the shapes of wolves—bigger than any I've seen in this forest so far. I focus on their system tags.

Black Wolf, Level 4.

Black Wolf, Level 3.

Black Wolf, Level 3.

I have a feeling black wolves are much stronger than goblins of the same level. As long as I can summon the shadow wolf, we aren't in danger. However, if these wolves realize a divine beast is with me, they might attack.

I start preparing an earth control spell on the ground between us and the hostile wolves, ready to shoot up stone spikes to impale them if they charge at us. Well, I don't know if I'll be fast enough for that, but I'll never know unless I try.

However, it doesn't come to that.

The wolves keep their attention on the zombie bears, seeing them as a greater threat than a human and a wolf pup. They growl too, but they don't attack.

After several long seconds of staring at the bears from the underbrush, they vanish into it.

"I think we've wandered into their territory," I say out loud, knowing the pup understands me, while Ronan's bears... who knows? "We should head back."

In the end, the hunting trip wasn't very productive. The seed has only progressed 17% closer to the next level.

"My lady, I will reinforce the patrols along the border between territories," Ronan tells me when I bring it up during dinner with the goblins.

So he already had patrols... or was he referring to the birds?

"Patrols?"

"Birds and other small animals that watch without being detected."

I nod. There's a reason I leave the strategy to Ronan. I have no doubt that if we're attacked from a border, he already has a response plan prepared.

"As for the preparations for your town hall," he continues, updating me, "once the goblin females give birth, I believe you will have met the requirements. My only doubt is whether newborns count toward the city's population criteria."

Hmm… good question. Maybe they have to grow enough to be able to wield a weapon.

"Totem," I ask, "how long does it take for your babies to become useful members of the tribe?"

"We do not grow as slowly and delicately as you humans do. In six months, a goblin can wield a spear and join a hunting party."

"Six months?" I don't realize I repeat it out loud, stunned.

"Yes, that is correct."

Yeah… Now I really understand why they're considered an infestation, like rats or cockroaches.

Oh, damn. If I don't do something, the humans are going to discover us for sure.

I clear my throat and stand up. There are no tables here for eating; we still do it sitting on the ground. As I rise, they start to mimic me, but I signal for them to remain seated.

"Totem, and the rest of my goblin vassals, this is an order," I begin, then fall silent.

What am I going to command them? To stop breeding? They would definitely take that very badly. And if they don't obey, what do I do? Imprison them? Execute them? Yeah, no. Then what—separate the females to keep them from contact? That sounds ridiculous.

I think I rushed into this. I don't want discontent in the village, but I also can't allow unchecked population growth.

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They're all looking at me expectantly.

I see the concern in Ronan's eyes; he looks about to ask me mentally if I need help. I shake my head—don't distract me.

"What I want is for you all to be aware of where we are—a small place, near a remote human village connected by teleportation to the rest of the kingdom. We're surrounded by enemies like wolves and orcs. For now, I would rather we remain few and that our population doesn't grow much more beyond the babies already on the way."

"Bianca, if I may," Totem begins as he stands, and I nod for him to continue. "I would like to point out that the teleportation issue has an easy solution: we only need to destroy their platform with the stones."

"I don't want to fight against the human kingdom; it is my kingdom too—I live there."

"Then what about the orcs and the human kingdom that drove us from our homes?"

"Human kingdoms cannot fight each other; it is forbidden."

"Your emerging kingdom is not a human kingdom. We are goblins, and bears, and undead."

I hear the goblins murmur in agreement at that statement.

It is good to know that my vassals and Ronan's creatures have smoothed things over and are now coexisting so well, I think to myself with irony.

"You have historically reproduced to remain numerous, to be able to attack or defend yourselves. For now, this is your home, and I am ensuring your safety. To guarantee that, I need the human kingdom not to become aware of your presence. That is why I ask for restraint and moderation while we explore other possibilities—such as reclaiming your old settlement or, perhaps, taking the orcs' territory in the mountains for ourselves."

It seems my last sentence has pleased them enough to balance out my request for restraint and moderation (because I highly doubt their society has ever considered the need for a mechanical barrier to conception. And I am certainly not going to be the one to suggest it).

"So it shall be, Bianca," Totem replies, bowing before me before sitting back down.

Before I can do the same, I feel an ominous sensation, as if something dormant has awakened. The goblins seem to feel it too, as their previously displeased expressions freeze in place. I turn to my right.

Ronan.

The boy has not stood up. He does not need to. His dark aura is more pronounced than usual, so intense that, to my eyes, it would overshadow the mist flowing from his cloak—if he had not removed it for dinner.

His expression is pure determination and ice. He is angry. I can feel it, and so can the rest of my vassals. In particular, the four goblins who serve as his soldiers have paled so much that their healthy green hue has turned yellowish, and they are scrambling to prostrate themselves, foreheads pressed against the ground.

"If our lady gives an order, that order is not to be debated. That order is to be followed without hesitation."

His voice, low and steady, is more menacing than if he had been shouting.

"I do not believe you want our lady to have to remind you who she is."

Wow, I had no idea Ronan had such overwhelming charisma. I am his lady, and even I feel completely coerced into obeying—under threat of unspeakable torments beyond death, none of which are vocalized but also do not need to be. The boy has a high affinity for darkness, he is sinister, and right now, he is terrifying.

And to think that I could defeat him without much trouble, at least with the shadow wolf's help. Without the wolf… well, that would be another matter.

Since none of the goblins dare to speak—rather, they are all completely subdued by Ronan's darkness, his charisma, and his fury—I sit back down and continue eating as if nothing happened.

Little by little, the darkness that seemed to have awakened within my friend subsides, and Totem finally manages to apologize. To me. Because if he apologizes to Ronan, I think that would just make him angry again.

A few minutes later, the rest of the goblins resume their meal as well, and the atmosphere even becomes as cheerful as it was before.

Thanks to Ronan, I do not have a rebellion on my hands, and they seem to have accepted that my orders—though they prevent them from growing in numbers—are absolute.

Whew, as if I ever asked for that kind of responsibility…

After dinner, shortly before we return to the academy, Ronan approaches me.

"My lady, I hope you were not displeased by my speaking after your announcement."

Is he asking because he seemed to have more authority than me just now?

Well, I suppose if I had summoned the shadow wolf, I could have pulled off the same effect.

And, honestly, he reinforced the fact that I am the future dark lady, so at no point did he undermine my authority.

"Not at all, Ronan. Thank you very much."

"My lady, you need not worry about the goblins. They will do as you command. And as for those wolves… I would like to tame them."

"Alive or dead?"

"Alive. That way, we would have more creatures in our army and more potential mounts for the goblins or other warriors."

I sigh.

I am not going to get into the whole "I do not want an army" debate again. By accepting the goblins, I have already walked straight into that mess myself.

"Well, they are wolves. Would they not try to kill the pup? When I first met him, a pack of wolves almost took him down. If animals from other gods recognize him, they will attack."

"Most animals belong to nature, the union of the earth and water elements. But that does not mean we cannot tame them. It would be a different matter if they were under the direct control of a divine beast, which I do not believe is the case."

"A divine beast can control other beasts?"

This is new.

"Just as yours will have an army at its feet."

"You are right. It would be foolish to refuse, especially considering that we must prepare for this uncertain future, of which all we know is that we need to become stronger. But for now, we must return to the academy."

"For another day, my lady. You and I will be able to tame them with ease."

I nod. Who knows what he has planned? For the wolves' sake, I hope it works, because I have no doubt that if we cannot keep them alive, Ronan will keep their corpses.

"By the way, Ronan, I did not know your specialization was soul weaver."

He stares at me with those huge, round eyes of his, unblinking.

"Oh, did you not know?" I ask, realizing that he does not have a system and might not have checked the stone chart.

"I found out recently. He told me. I saw my chart at level eight, but no specialization had been assigned yet."

"Well, then you should check it later."

He told me? Normally, I would ignore that detail, but I can no longer pretend that this boy is not speaking with the dark god.

That is the reason he swore fealty to me.

Just like I keep avoiding thinking about the real problem—what will happen when I refuse to become a demon queen and destroy humanity?

I run my fingers over the ring on my finger. The ring of resistance will have to save me.

As for my influence points, I currently have 58. The town hall does not require points for construction, but I am not sure if I will need them for other buildings. Ronan shows me the forge, which is more than complete, and then leads me outside the cave, where goblins are cutting down trees to build a covered storage area for wood, protecting it from the rain. The first structures added outside the cave.

Well, I hope human patrols do not come this far. One thing is clear—the goblins need to build their village.

We head back inside, gather our things, say our goodbyes to the goblins, and promise to return as soon as possible. Then, we mount the bears and set off toward the human village and the academy. The sun is setting.

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