Her Majesty’s Swarm - Volume 4 - Chapter 1

The Merchants’ Country

“So the Popedom of Frantz has fallen.”

In the Empire of Nyrnal’s capital stood the majestic Imperial castle, Noie Vejya. Inside, Emperor Maximillian sat at his office desk, having just received a report from Chief Cabinet Secretary Bertholdt von Bülow regarding the fate of the Popedom. The Arachnea had defeated Frantz and turned the conquered nation into its vassal.

“What are we to do about the army we sent to invade the Popedom, Your Imperial Majesty? Shall I have them punish the Popedom’s people?”

“No need,” Maximillian replied. “If we defeat the Arachnea, Frantz will crumble to ash. What of the former Maluk territories?”

“Our troops have just reached the Dukedom of Schtraut. The Arachnea has abandoned all the kingdom’s former territories, but they’ve been reduced to no-man’s-lands. There’s nothing left worth taking.”

What had once been the mighty Kingdom of Maluk was now nothing but wasteland. There were no people to reign over it, no resources to collect. All that remained was an expanse of barren, unpopulated soil.

“Is the Dragon Roost up and running?” Maximillian asked.

Bertholdt nodded. “Yes. We’ve begun producing lindwyrms. But our resources are lacking, and having only one Dragon Roost impacts our production rates. It will take time to amass the forces we need.”

What were Dragon Roosts? And lindwyrms?

“There’s not much to be done about that,” Maximillian said. “Few people can move inside Gregoria’s heritage. Everything about that place is complex—incomprehensible, even. The palace mages have a hard time just wrapping their minds around it. Having more Dragon Roosts would be beneficial, but it’s just not a possibility.”

Gregoria was a neutral faction of dragons featured in the same game as the Arachnea. How could this name have left Maximillian’s lips?

“Have our soldiers buy time until we have enough dragons. We’ll need them if we’re to oppose the Arachnea’s insects. We can gather all the heavily armored men we want, but the enemy will simply send out more powerful units. We’ve no business fighting this war without dragons.”

Maximillian began checking the papers sitting in front of him.

“Oh, right. What about the Eastern Trade Union?”

“They intend to officially reject our call for an alliance,” Bertholdt reported. “They say they will protect their country with their own strength.”

The Eastern Trade Union was situated between the Empire of Nyrnal and the Popedom of Frantz. They had likely begun arming their adventurers and hiring mercenaries in preparation to oppose the Empire, which had launched invasions of all the countries the Arachnea had conquered.

“War funds are becoming an issue too,” Maximillian said. “I intended to ignore it for the time being, but we may have to consider invading the Union as well to gain the funds we need. That country is abundant in riches, after all. Besides, we’re defending mankind from the threat of the Arachnea; we deserve a reward for our efforts.”

“As you wish. I could have some of the army bound for Frantz relegated to the Eastern Trade Union. Fifty thousand men should be enough to sink them.”

“Don’t underestimate our predicament. The Arachnea could be considering the same thing. After fighting Maluk, Schtraut, and Frantz, they may be lacking in war funds themselves. Though far be it from me to know if those bugs require salaries...”

After that spot of gallows humor, Maximillian gazed down at the map.

“No, that won’t do, Bertholdt. If we overlook the Eastern Trade Union, we allow the Arachnea to use it as a bridge to us. The defensive line with Frantz is cut off by the lower banks of the Khalkha River. Leaving this unresolved could cause us problems later.”

“Then do we stage some kind of military operation?”

“Just hold off for now. The enemy’s bound to notice eventually, but until then, let them think that place is a glorified treasure vault. If the situation changes, however, we’ll have to make a move. How many rats did you sneak in there, Bertholdt?”

“Countless rats are working for me. Give the word, and I’ll have them begin snooping around immediately.”

“Not yet. For now, let them bask in transient peace. We’ll collect the price for it when the time comes—and it will be with steep interest.”

Maximillian scoffed before getting to the rest of his paperwork.

♱

“Frantz has fallen! The Popedom has been defeated!”

“What do we do? What are we supposed to do now?!”

The Senate of the Eastern Trade Union had gathered in the capital city of Khalkha, where they were holding a loud, animated debate.

“Silence! I will have order in these halls!” roared Ventura Breton, chairman of the Senate.

Ventura was an aging dwarf with a bushy mustache. He had acquired a great fortune through his skillful management of mines. This, in turn, had propelled him to his position as leader of the Eastern Trade Union.

He went on, “Our enemies are no longer just the monsters that toppled the Popedom! Nyrnal declared that they would protect us, and now their soldiers are stationed at our borders, demanding we let them in! They want to build a military base outside Khalkha!”

“That’s a load of hogwash!” countered a mercenary captain. “That would be occupation!”

This man was Konrad Crevlas, captain of the One-Eyed Black Wolf mercenary company. It was a particularly large group that stood out among the rest. Konrad, who was in his thirties, had fought against Nyrnal during its war to unify the south. His experiences had given him a deep hatred for the Empire.

“The question is how we handle this situation. Can we really defeat a force that destroyed the Popedom without relying on Nyrnal’s help?”

These words came from Honnoson Alphtel, president of Alphtel Bank, the largest institution of its kind on the continent. He backed many of the Eastern Trade Union’s guilds and companies, which were often so successful that he hardly struggled to collect his dues.

“We just need to ally with another country that hasn’t surrendered to the Empire or been devoured by those blasted insects!” Konrad declared in a booming voice. “We’ll form a new union, one that’ll fight for true freedom!”

“What are you saying?!” shouted the leader of the Carpenters’ Guild. “Most countries have already surrendered to Nyrnal! I can count the few that haven’t on my one bad hand!” He held it up, showing the three fingers he had left.

Indeed, after the Arachnea had conquered the Dukedom of Schtraut, the Nyrnal Empire had annexed most of the small countries and free cities. Their pretext for it was that they were protecting those countries from the Arachnea, but in reality, the Empire had simply occupied them. The kings and queens of those nations had no choice but to abdicate their thrones as Nyrnal hoisted its banner and enforced its national policies. Seeing this, the Eastern Trade Union had refused to let Nyrnal’s army take even a single step onto their land.

Fifty years ago, the Eastern Trade Union had declared independence. The merchants and guildmasters were small in number, but they had ample funds. Using that money, they had cleared and cultivated the land, forming a new nation.

Their independence hadn’t been easily bought, however. The Popedom of Frantz had interfered constantly with their affairs, and the Nyrnal Kingdom—which would develop into the Empire later down the line—had often gotten in their way as well. Many different countries had called the Union’s existence into question.

Still, wielding financial power as their greatest weapon, they had fought through their many obstacles by hiring mercenaries. With their help, the nation had finally become a free agent. Those mercenary groups would go on to become some of their most influential citizens.

This turbulent past still fueled their fervent insistence on staying independent. All the members of the Senate were men of indomitable spirit who refused to submit to another country. They wouldn’t relinquish their hard-earned freedom so easily. Doing so would be betraying every single citizen in the Eastern Trade Union.

Ventura raised his voice, as if forcibly changing the subject. “Adventurers’ Guild! How goes your research into the monsters?!”

The one to answer his call was a woman: Keralt Ruano, leader of the Adventurers’ League, a large, independently functioning guild of adventurers separate from the rest. They operated strictly out of the Eastern Trade Union. Keralt was known for being a capable guildmaster who had single-handedly organized and coordinated the rowdy adventurers. The Adventurers’ League had more than a ninety percent completion rate for its requests, which was a testament to their skill.

“The Adventurers’ League has looked into the faction that conquered the Kingdom of Maluk, the Dukedom of Schtraut, and the Popedom of Frantz. Allow me to report our findings,” she said, clearing her throat. “These bug-like creatures are indeed monsters, but unlike the demonic creatures we often see, they possess advanced intelligence. As a group, they display a more complex social structure than orcs or goblins.”

“Are you saying those things are strongly united?” Konrad asked.

“Calling it unity wouldn’t be apt,” Keralt replied. “Each individual monster moves as part of a singular whole—you could say it’s reminiscent of a human army. Every monster, which is individually called a Swarm, has its own role and function within the greater group.”

Worker Swarms built frontline bases and siege weapons, while Ripper Swarms served as scouts and patrols. Genocide Swarms were frontline units, while Toxic Swarms were the rear guard. Each Swarm had its appointed role and worked obediently to fulfill it.

“They call themselves the Arachnea, and their entire army is commanded by a queen by the name of Grevillea, a girl who appears to be roughly fourteen years old. She’s presumed to be human.”

“The fact that the monsters have a leader makes things that much harder,” Konrad said. “All that power has a human mind at the helm; that explains their efficiency.”

Keralt’s adventurers had come quite close to the Arachnea and gathered a great deal of information. Her command of the greatest adventurers’ guild on the continent was not without merit.

“So if we kill this queen, Grevillea, will the enemy group collapse?” Konrad asked.

“It’s unlikely,” Keralt replied, shaking her head. “There are at least three other humanoids besides Grevillea within the enemy ranks. In the event the queen dies, those monsters will most likely take command of the enemy forces and try to exact revenge. I honestly dread to think of such a fate.”

“But if those monsters have a chain of command,” Honnoson piped up, “wouldn’t it be possible to negotiate with them?”

“What, do you intend to offer them a favorable loan to avoid the war? Don’t be stupid,” Konrad spat.

“Perhaps not a loan, but there are plenty of things we can offer. If we’re not fighting mindless creatures, but something akin to a nation, then there are probably many things they have a shortage of. They may need food or supplies of some kind.”

“So you’re saying we should treat this collection of monsters, the Arachnea, as another nation?” Ventura asked.

Honnoson offered a nod. “If so, we may be sacrificing less in the long run. They could even become our allies. We can all agree that we detest Nyrnal’s insidious methods, so if we must ally with someone, let it be with the Arachnea.”

He paused to take a breath, then added, “Of course, that all depends on their attitude. Even if you would count the Arachnea as a nation, they’ve already destroyed Maluk, Schtraut, and Frantz. They’ve acted just as brutally as Nyrnal has. Whether they’ll actually be interested in joining forces is questionable.”

“We’re actually considering joining forces with monsters here,” Konrad muttered. “The end times must be upon us.”

“They very well could be,” Honnoson said bitterly. “Three nations on this continent have been ransacked, one after another.”

“It seems like the Popedom of Frantz made some kind of peace treaty with the Arachnea,” Keralt remarked, turning her eyes on Ventura. “That suggests there is room for negotiation. We’ll continue to look into the Arachnea so that we can make a more informed decision.”

“An alliance... Yes, if we can make an ally out of the Arachnea, we should be able to oppose the Nyrnal Empire. But right now, we have no guarantee that the Arachnea are any more trustworthy than Nyrnal is. I agree; we should dig a little deeper.”

Ventura looked around at everyone present, then said, “If the alternative is to kowtow to Nyrnal, we may as well trust those insects.”

“No, if you ask me, Nyrnal might be more open to negotiations.”

The tumultuous meeting concluded without a concrete decision. Would they ally with the Arachnea or let Nyrnal occupy them instead? The time for the Eastern Trade Union to make its choice was fast approaching.