Chapter 81: Occupation

“The king has been assassinated?”

“Yes, sir! The entire Latvin army, including their symbiote users, has fled Sicily. They are most likely running to Vertia. Should we chase them?” the scout said.

“No, let them. They went to the harbor. Maybe they are aiming to escape to another continent,” the general said. “Damn. This is because Mutual decided to execute all Latvin soldiers and nobles. We need them if we are to defend against the tentacle forest in the north.”

“Hey, those symbiote users were dangerous, alright. Do you think they will obediently accept your rule just like that? They had to rely on drugs to control their symbiotes, you know. I thought Litmus did not accept the enslavement of symbiotes!” Altair, who heard her nation being mentioned, argued back.

“My apologies. You are right. Our law cannot accept them if they rely on drugs to suppress their symbiotes.” The general nodded. He understood that from an ideological perspective he could not accept their practice, but from a military standpoint, he needed them.

“That’s right. I know you are worried about how to defend this new territory of yours, but you can always hire symbiote users from abroad. Or…” Altair grinned at Cecile. “We could test how Hiro fares against his cousins.”

“Hiro is not a parasitic tentacle. He does not kill humans!” Cecile pouted.

“Well, back to the topic. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Let’s confirm our intel. Bertrand, does that mean Sicily is completely empty?”

“Yes, sir. The city is completely devoid of any Latvin soldiers. We did not encounter any resistance even when we went inside the city.”

“So they ran away, just like that?” Altair said. “This is a good chance, right? Let’s capture Sicily and the capital with it.”

Altair spoke, but the soldier waited for the general’s order.

“That’s a good idea. Let’s go. March the troops to Sicily, but be careful of ambushes.”

The soldiers saluted and left. There was no resistance along the way, and within a week, the troops had marched to the capital. Without any symbiotes, the little resistance the leftover nobles put up was rendered ineffective, and their heads were hung before the castle the very next day.

Hiro winced at the apparent cruelty, but his sentiment was clearly shared by him alone. The citizens were glad that Litmus would spare them, and they all cheered and saluted as Litmus’ soldiers passed by.

“Let’s split our forces. Cylia will continue north, securing the area near the Forest of Tentacles, while Cecile will go south, securing the area near the Goblin Kingdom. Altair will liberate Vertia.”

“Remember, Mutual is calling dibs on the southern region, understand?” Altair said.

“Yes, we can talk about that in the council.”

“Um… can’t we take the north instead? I don’t want to meet my father there,” Rebecca said. Hiro then remembered that Count Evesys was indeed fleeing to the south, near the Goblin Kingdom.

“Oh? It is an opportune chance, my dear. You should go there and behead your father. Not many get the chance to kill their own disgusting father,” Altair said. Hiro was taken aback at her apparent distaste for things called parents.

There are always bad parents everywhere, huh. I wonder what history Altair had with hers.

“Ah. But the Forest of Tentacles—” The general frowned

“Agreed. My illusion might not be effective against mindless monsters such as parasitic tentacles. I will take the southern area and the goblins. If I find Evesys in Nechwart, I will apprehend or kill him,” Cylia interjected.

“Ah. I don’t care what happens to him. I just don’t want to see him again.” Rebecca turned away. Hiro slithered out from her bosom and caressed her head, nudging her.

“Done. Be careful. I don’t know much about the Forest of Tentacles, but they are notorious for their monsters. Not many survive being assaulted by them.” The general said, Altair soon stepped in, advising the group about the characteristics of the parasitic tentacles.

“Oh, I know a lot about them, all right. When you see one, shoot it. Burn the remnants into ashes. Use fire magic. Don’t let them take ground. Be careful of the ground beneath you; tentacles might shoot out from it, impaling your soldiers. Be careful of the flowers that sprout on their victims; they can poison you or shoot lasers. Make sure to stand on paved rock,” Altair said. Hiro recalled what his skills could do, and what she said summed it all up.

Parasitic tentacles would sneak from the ground or shoot things with their flowers. If Hiro treated Cecile and the others as mindless puppets, he might use a similar method. But if he took root, Cecile and the others would be immobilized.

“Hah…” Cecile was absentminded; her mind was tired because of the long war. She wanted to propose returning to Quantora village after this war was over, but there was still so much to do. Securing these villages wouldn’t be easy even without symbiotes as their enemies.

As the group lounged inside the castle, a palace maiden asked for a private discussion with the general. Palace maiden, the term used for maids in the capital.

“Greetings, General. I have letters from Sheena, Latvin’s symbiote user,” the maid said as she handed him a plain envelope without any decoration or even a seal.

The general read the letter, his face lighting up at once. The letter requested Litmus to offer Sheena and her personal knights asylum. They were willing to change their names and live in secret. They were even willing to work as farmers. The letter only requested Litmus to spare their lives. This letter was a godsend to the general. He was worried about how to handle the expansion of their empire.

With more territory came more responsibility. Not only the forest, but Litmus also needed to watch for dungeon breaks that might occur in these new territories. With Sheena in the mix, they would manage it.

The problem was Mutual. He pondered whether to do this discreetly or openly. He wanted Sheena to guard the new border, but if Mutual got wind of this—and they most likely would, since they were neighbors—their relationship would take a hit.

The only chance was to resolve this through diplomatic means, leveraging their achievements or perhaps offering concessions. But Mutual’s mind was not fully focused on gold and silver. Latvin had been cruel to symbiotes, their god and object of worship.

“Maid, what is your name?”

“My name is Lily, milord.”

“Do you know whether Sheena’s symbiote can talk?” The general began constructing a scheme to persuade Mutual.

“Yes. It can talk,” the maid answered. Symbiote users were often secretive. Not many had actually seen the symbiote itself. The general was surprised she answered.

“Do they have a good relationship? Sheena and her symbiote? Does she use that drug?”

“Yes. Sheena has used the drug sparingly. Their relationship is similar to that of a squad leader and her teammates. The drug was only used as punishment or when she felt the symbiote had sapped too much of her strength. She has not relied on the drug lately.”

“Damn… Well. If the symbiote can talk and Sheena does not need to rely on drugs, we could still do something. Wait, how do you know about this? I thought information about symbiotes was a state secret in Latvin.”

“Because I am Sheena,” the maid said.

Then the maid’s face transformed. Tentacles writhed across her face and slithered out, revealing the true face underneath.

“...”

The general tensed, his arm reaching for a nonexistent sword on his hip. Sheena casually sat on a nearby chair.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of killing you. If worse comes to worst, I suppose I will just let myself be killed so my knights can live,” Sheena said. “My life should mean something, right?”

“Your life wouldn’t mean much, but your symbiote would,” the general said.

“I see. So, what’s the verdict? Do you want to meet my symbiote?”

A tentacle slithered out from her neck. It then formed a copy of Sheena’s face.

“Greetings, honored general. I am Sheena’s symbiote. You may call me Varka. Yes. That is my name,” the symbiote said. Its words were a little cluttered.

“Greetings. Hm? Your tone is a bit incoherent.”

“Yes. I rarely speak except to Sheena. As you may know, Latvin has prejudice against our kind. They think of us as mere tools and refuse to grant us even a shred of dignity. Only Sheena has ever called me by name.”

“That much, huh.”

“Yes.”

“So, will you testify to Mutual that you wish to stay with Sheena?”

“Yes. She has been my friend since birth. She might be strict, but she is more welcoming than other hosts, as far as I know.”

“I see. Let’s plan a meeting with Altair. If you can testify that you wish to stay with Sheena, they should not interfere with her. After all, separating symbiotes from their user is a taboo among taboos.” The general stood up, gesturing to Sheena to go to the conference room.

“…Alright. Does that mean you are amenable to giving us clemency?”

“Yes. As long as we dismantle the ruling body of Latvin, we are satisfied. We do not encourage needless killings.” The general nodded.

Sheena sighed in relief. That meant her only opponents would be Mutual and possibly Delana.

Altair, Cecile, and Cylia assembled in the meeting room in less than an hour. Altair didn’t like meetings, but as she had been humbled before, she was now cooperating. Sheena waited next door, hoping for the general to give her the signal.

“So, another meeting. You said it was very important—what is it? Any new intel about their movements?” Altair asked.

“Altair. I have intel that one of Latvin’s symbiote users is planning to seek clemency and asylum. Will you grant it?” The general began the discussion.

“No. They must all be executed. They have dishonored symbiotes, driving them like mindless tools with that drug. They must not be forgiven. You should not forgive them either, unless Litmus endorses slavery of symbiotes.” Altair answered, and the general nodded. It was extreme, but her answer matched his expectations.

“However, I have just found out that not all symbiote users practiced such slavery. I have testimony from the symbiote user, and the symbiote itself says that he was not mistreated. Would you kill them despite this?” the general said.

“…” Altair glared at the general. Killing a non-resisting symbiote was taboo in Mutual. The general knew this.“They must stand trial. We must ascertain whether the symbiote in question was coerced into giving that testimony.”

“Understood. General Sheena, if you please.”

The general called Sheena. Altair raised an eyebrow.

“What is this, General? You let an enemy symbiote user among our midst? Does this constitute treason?”

“General Sheena sneaked into my office, masquerading as a maid. I harbor no traitorous intent,” the general said.

“I am Sheena, former general of the Latvin army, pleading with you to grant us clemency and asylum in the Kingdom of Litmus. Here is my symbiote, Varka. He shall testify that he wishes the same.” Sheena bowed to Altair.

“That is true, Divine Host Altair. I am… Varka. Sheena’s symbiote. I wish to plead for my life.”

Lizzy, Altair’s symbiote, slithered out from Altair, trying to get a closer look at him.

“I see. My words will hold some power in the council, but they are not absolute. Let us hear your speech—your symbiote’s only. I do not speak to Latvin’s scum.”

The trial began.