Lord Of Puppets

[2 hours later.]

"..."

(This is hopeless...) – thought Thauma as it was just standing next to its library desk, just not doing anything, and just staring at the bunch of documents and notes that layer on the floor and were hanging on the wall, which contained all the information that Thauma gathered to understand to opposing side.

(I’ve been in this room for hours now... But no matter how I put information together... No matter what I link or not.... The answer is always the same.)

(The outside world wants me to be dealt with.)

(My messenger golem never returned.... Nor I had received any form of reply....)

(At first, I thought these black soldiers and knights were just working independently, since they didn’t looked like average group of adventurers... But turns out they were with each other!?)

(I’m still confused WHY only those black knights appeared.... Then again, I think I know reason why.)

(It is why I normally never get easier opponent to deal with and only harder ones.)

(They want to minimize the casualties.)

[Sending a lot of weak adventurers to strong dungeon -> Dungeon survives / get fed / grows stronger.]

[Sending a powerful army of adventurers -> dungeon destroyed / doesn’t get a chance to grow.]

(They are doing it smart.... Dammit!)

(...)

(What do I do?)

(Do I finally give up on archiving peace?)

(I mean... I’m in the MIDDLE of the "empire".)

(Empire which not only knows about my existence, but also wants to have me dealt with?)

(....)

(God dammit.)

(Do I really have no choice but to go to the war?)

(Logically speaking I have to.... But.... DAMMIT!)

"..."

(I’m scared... Okay?)

(I’m always scared.)

(I mean, I knew things would get harder when the dungeon would evolve.)

(I was fully aware of the possibility of the stronger adventurers and what not making their appearance to counter attack my existence... But now?)

(Experiencing it?)

(It is.... Terrifying to say the least.)

(Not only that, I’m still STUCK, when it comes to my research.)

(If I don’t advance it, the dungeon won’t be able to grow stronger.)

(But I need better materials and what not!)

(And the dungeon research can provide it!)

"..."

"..."

(SCREW IT!)

(I don’t want it!)

(I really don’t want it!)

(But by the looks of things I really have no choice in the matter.)

(And the war is the only path forward!) – Thauma finally given up.

The golem tried non stop coming up with any possible plans to secure the peace for hours, even torturing the prisoners to make sure that the information they had provided was as accurate as possible.... But no matter what, Thauma was faced with a grim reality.

Obviously, the golem didn’t wanted to go down with this path.... But again, no chance at peace.

Thauma knew it could argue bit more with itself regarding this issue.... But there was a problem.

TIME.

Thauma knew that sooner or later yet another will come.

It didn’t had time to try archiving peace, since it knew sooner or later, it will end up getting exterminated if it doesn’t prepare for the next attack.

It wasn’t truly matter of a "choice" in this subject at all.

Thauma was truly left with only path forward being war.

(But still... Even if I really have no choice but to go to the war... What do I do?)

(I don’t have enough means of acquiring miasma.)

(True, I’ve obtained large amounts of it, enough to somewhat replenish my troops... But I need more!)

(I need to expand the dungeon more!)

(I need to advance dungeon research!)

"..."

(Do I attack nearby villages?)

(I.... I have a map, which that has location of each village in the area, as well as the city.)

(Should I raid them?)

(...)

(Well... Now that I’m really going to the war... And that I’m already their enemy and prey they want to hunt down no matter what... Then I really have no reason to hold back.)

(Not only that... Since peace is no longer possible.... I no longer have anything holding me back.)

"..."

(But again... Is this a good move here?) – thought worried Thauma.

(Let’s say I set my army of golems loose, to hunt down and bring me sacrifices of any kind.)

(Forest will be left for an attack.)

(Again, the enemy all they have to do is to kill me and all the golems will no longer have any possible commands given to them.)

"..."

(No.)

(Right now I have possible opening.)

(The fact that there is no attack coming by now must means they are preparing themselves.)

(They took on some heavy losses and.... No wait.)

(There is also that army of adventurers that left.)

(Hm... What do I do?)

(I mean, if I want to obtain as much miasma as possible, I need to attack as many small settlements as possible, in order to gather miasma.)

(And that would need I would need to split up my golems into groups.)

(The enemy if they would wish to intercept those attack would need to split up their own forces.)

(BUT!)

(What if they would instead just sent their army here? To attack the defenseless dungeon?)

(....No.)

(It won’t be necessary defenses.)

(This is my dungeon.)

(It is filled with dungeon monsters which haven’t fully manifested yet.)

(Traps and remodeling were also done.... And there is also me.)

(I’ve became far stronger than before.)

(By now I must had already became C rank or C+ rank when it comes to danger.)

(Not only that, I’ve created countless weapons for myself to use... And my own combat body is currently the best possible creation I can use.)

"..."

(But what if I were to fight B-rank adventurers?)

(Enemy wishes to minimize the casualties as much as possible... And even if they would want to attack the dungeon, they would be aware of possibility of this place not being really easy to beat.)

(So... Sending a squad of elite adventurers could possible do the job.)

"..."

(I’m scared.)

(What if the enemy intercept the golems and destroy them while they are split up?)

(What if they truly have enough people and powerful enough individuals to take down the split up army of golems?)

(Or what if they just come straight here?!)

(There are many risks involved and if I screw up, there won’t be a second chance.)

(I need to think this through properly and come up with a decent answer.)

(I know I can lose golems and what not, I’m prepared for this.)

(But I at least need to make it WORTH IT!)

"..."

(The Maw city.)

(A city type settlement.)

(Not an extremely large city, somewhat small city compared the other cities, according to the prisoners that is.)

(But still... If I were to raid that city... I would obtain more than enough sacrifices.)

(But again... I’ve heard something problematic.)

(I’ve found out WHY these adventurers left.)

(Apparently there a flock of flying dragon monsters that goes by name wyvern.)

(They are the culprits behind the whole situation... But according to the information, the city had already started recovering from the attack and there was not a lot of casualties, thanks to the adventurers backing away from the dungeon and heading back to the city.)

(Apparently these monsters appeared out of nowhere and attacked villages, before then heading straight to the city... A wild monster attack?)

(But that timing.... No... It is way too off.)

(By any chance, was it that "Y" person doing?)

(...)

(Anyway... Should I attack the city and destroy it?)

(....)

(No.)

(Attacking the city won’t do... Or more exactly, it won’t be worth it.)

(Major settlements apparently each possess their own set of defenders, a guards and soldiers.)

(Much important place = much stronger military force.)

(Not only that, there is also army of adventurers still out there, which I had previous encounter with.... They may go to the city in order to strengthen its defenses.)

(Not only that, it won’t be some makeshift defenses which my golems can destroy.)

(No.)

(It will be solid defenses.)

(Solid walls and what not.... I may need special equipment if I would want to destroy their defenses.)

(The so called "siege weapons".)

(But researching and constructing them will take time.)

(Not only that, it will be a reversal.)

(This time attacking will be me, the one raiding their home.)

(They will have some advantage.)

"..."

(No... The risk is too high... Especially not only knowing about the army of adventurers exitance, but also about these black armored army... They are far beyond dangerous.)

(I can’t waste too much time, or it will kill me.)

"..."

(That means city or even towns are out of question.... But again... The risk is there no matter what I do.)

"..."

(But then again, I can’t just wait.)

(I desperately need to acquire as much miasma as possible.)

(So I guess I will do it.)

(I will send out my entire army to raid every single village they can find in area, and bring me sacrifices.... And if the attack does comes this way.)

(Then I will be the one needing to face on the enemies.)

(...)

(Well... I say that... But this is really the only choice I have left.... Yeah...)

(I never wanted to fully walk the path of a monster.... But now?)

(I guess I really never had a choice.)

(And the path of a monster was truly the path that I have to walk to survive.)