Chapter 150 The case for cooperation (1/2)

I'm no longer human, I get that, but coming from my world, I understand things like the sanct.i.ty of life. Even those soldiers that were killed by Tiny, justified as I felt ordering their deaths due to the ma.s.sacre of my family, my stomach still twists thinking about whether those soldiers had families themselves, children, wives, parents.

Mindless killing serves no purpose. These villagers may be misled, or just incredibly dumb, but I don't especially feel the need to ma.s.sacre them because of it. They aren't a threat after all, I could probably fight a village full of farmers by myself.

Almost as if they could sense my thoughts, Enid and the Queen immediately turn to me to plead for the life of their a.s.sociates.

[These villagers are misguided, monster, there is nothing to gain from their deaths. Won't you spare them?]

Well, I have no intention of killing them, but that statement isn't technically correct.

[The colony would gain Bioma.s.s and experience. Hundreds of workers have died recently, our numbers need to be replenished] I point out.

It's not like we would gain nothing, right?

The Queen's face falls and so does Enid's when my words are relayed to her. Enid looks even more despondent when she questions the Queen and her ruler has to reply, I think she's explaining just how my colony ended up losing hundreds of members. More specifically, how I lost hundreds of my siblings.

Grrrr.

Feeling crushed, the old lady falls to her knees and pleads with me, tears beginning to fall from her eyes. The Queen looks deeply moved and also kneels to plead with me.

[Enid begs you to spare the townspeople, they are ignorant but not malicious. She offers you her own flesh as payment, I too am prepared to offer my life in exchange. It is the duty of a ruler after all!]

Yikes, these two sure are keen on saving a pack of morons.

Still having humans bow down before my magnificence is refres.h.i.+ng, empowering even! Royalty, forced to beg me for favour is something I couldn't have dreamed of happening in my last life. What is the feeling swelling from within?! Superiority? Power?! Yes you puny humans, kneel, beg! If you wish for this great one to spare your pitiful friends then you must grovel!

Muahahahahaaaaaa!

Wait! These are the words of Dark Anthony! Down, Dark Anthony! Down, you fiend! Back to the void from which you came!

I mentally shake myself free of the influence of the dark one. I mustn't allow myself to fall down the black path, I'll end up being some cartoonish supervillain who'll no doubt be killed whilst scheming for world domination or some such.

I have no intention off ma.s.sacring these villagers but if I can extract maximum value from the Queen and protect the colony at the same time…. I totally will!

[There is no failing greater than ignorance. If you wish for me to spare these people, as well as to a.s.sist you in reclaiming your city, then you will need to be prepared to make fair exchange].

Yes, I'm preparing to try and make a deal here. If I can keep the colony out of it and only expose myself to the risk then I'm prepared to take it on in order to get those cores. With so many of the precious gems in my mandibles I'll be able to strengthen my entourage to the point where we will be invincible in the top layer of the Dungeon. We could secure the colony for ages as well as accelerate the timetable for my most ambitious core modification project.