Chapter 16 Cheerfully Making Military Reforms (II) as well as the Succubus, this Life, and the past Life

"Not bad, not bad at all."

Looking at his army forming ranks and files to do field exercises, Hercule nodded in satisfaction. Thanks to the practical experience gained from the last campaign, he could now carry out more specific military reforms.

Till date, the smallest unit in the Lemurian Army was the century consisting of 80 men. You have to wonder how a unit of 80 men could be called a century, though…

Maybe it didn't have to be 100 men exactly, just around that number was fine?

Anyway, two centuries formed a company of 160 men. Three companies formed a cohort of 480 men. And ten cohorts consisting of 4,800 men plus ~200 light cavalry formed a regiment of 5,000 men.

But those units were optimized for close-quarter fighting with short swords, so it didn't suit the new Lemurian Army's needs. When exchanging short swords with long spears, some degree of flexibility had to be sacrificed. That led Hercule to make drastic changes to the unit composition.

He was dead set on abolishing the 100-men unit and created a new smallest unit of 50 men instead. Three of those platoons formed a company of 150 men, which would be the basic tactical unit of his new army.

Slimming down the smallest unit would boost its flexibility. To draw an analogy, it's like how your finger joints are so much more flexible than your arm joints.

As an aside, each company in most armies of modern Earth had around 150 soldiers. For whatever reason, 150 seems to be the maximum number of soldiers that one officer can effectively command. This is called Dunbar's number.

Anyway, let's return to the main subject.

Eight of those companies formed a battalion of 1,200 men, and eight battalions formed a regiment of 9,600 men.

Battalions in one regiment didn't all have the same equipment, however. Two battalions were equipped with the halberd—a combination of a spear and an ax. The other six battalions were armed with seven-meter-long pikes.

Each regiment was made up of the above two types of units. The reason being that…

Halberdiers could protect longbowmen against enemy cavalry and infantry, allowing longbowmen to attack from a safe distance. With their great range, longbowmen could easily shoot over the heads of friendly halberdiers.

This way, they could whittle down enemy strength as much as possible during the initial skirmish. Longbowmen would be able to rain arrows on enemy troops until the two sides got right next to each other.

Just before the two sides met, longbowmen would move aside and take the support role.

Then it would be pikemen's turn to shine. With seven-meter-long pikes, they would outrange enemy troops in close quarters. The destructive power of pikemen would smash enemy formations to pieces.

Halberdiers' role would then be protecting the flanks of the pikemen who would be vulnerable due to their lengthened spears and compensate for the pikemen's low mobility and flexibility. While pikemen engaged enemy troops in the front, halberdiers would prevent the enemy from surrounding the pike square and, should circumstances permit, push forward and envelop enemy flanks.

Archers and cavalry were similarly organized into platoons, companies, battalions, and regiments.

"That's the idea. What do you guys think, Darios, Garphis?"

"That would definitely make us more flexible, but…"

"Does Your Majesty really intend to go through with that?"

"Of course I do."

The reforms might sound simple, but to actually implement them would be very difficult. Sure enough, making several types of troops working in conjunction with each other was no easy task…

"Darios, what did I take you in for?"

"…Well, if you ask me whether it is possible to be done, I would say that it is."

Darios figured, if it was Hercule who was just as talented as himself, he might just be able to realize those wild ideas after all. But Darios still had his doubts. If an army could only be led by an excellent commander, was that truly a good army?

"Don't worry. I'm going to thoroughly formalize our army. The ancient Lemurian Army was able to make much more complex maneuvers, this is no big deal compared to that."

"The ancient Lemurian Army… that is funny in many ways."

The ancient Lemurian Army could do things like splitting into three lines that could rotate on orders, giving troops time to rest between each rotation thus allowing them to keep up a prolonged fight.

A run of the mill army couldn't do something like shifting its formation in the middle of a battle. That required thorough formalization and training.

"And that's why training is important!! Training! Training! Training! Training! Training! Training! Training! Training! Training! Training! Training! Training! Training! Training! Training! Training! Training!"

(Uwah…)

(A training-obsessed ruler, huh…? Now that's something you don't see often.)

A training-obsessed ruler means a ruler who loves to train his troops so much that it becomes his hobby. This sort of ruler has a tendency to be fascinated with giants.

Incidentally, Hercule's favourite animal was the elephant, so of all the races of this world, he wanted to see the giants the most.

"Ah, that's right… I'm thinking of adding another corps as part of the military expansion."

Currently, the Lemurian Empire had two infantry corps. During the course of replenishing the losses from the last campaign, both corps were reorganized. Their current total strength was 19,200. One more corps would add another 9,600 men.

As for what that really meant…

"The way Darios lost made me think that a strategic reserve force is needed, you see."

"A strategic reserve force?"

"Indeed. But let's leave that for later."

One corps would be led by Hercule, another corps would be under Darios's command. But who would lead the third, additional corps? Adding to that was the financial burden, so further expansion was not feasible for now.

"Besides, our current army needs training before all else!!! That said, it's a pain so I'll leave their training to you generals… I have something more important to do today."

Waving his hands, Hercule departed from the training field.

"Y-Your Majesty… How much longer do I have to wear this…"

"Hm… Until I feel like it? By the way, pour me some tea, will you?"

Hercule brought his teacup towards the red-haired girl who was wearing a lovely maid outfit—Carolina.

"Please wait a minute."

Carolina went towards the tea cabinet within Hercule's private chamber.

As a matter of fact, Hercule liked tea more than coffee. While he promoted and monopolized coffee, he preferred tea personally.

One cup of coffee in the morning, hydrating during the day with tea and drinking wine at dinner. Hercule consumed these three kinds of beverages depending on time and situation.

He only drank green tea and black tea at first, but over time he had collected a great variety of tea. Hercule was probably the only person in the world who had the power to import so many kinds of tea from the distant Orient.

"Your Majesty… which one should I get?"

"Get me green tea."

Hercule pointed at the tea bottle kept in the highest spot. That spot was a little higher than Carolina's head, so she had to stand on her tiptoe to get the bottle. But…

"Y-Your Majesty! S-Stop looking at me like that please!!"

"Don't mind me."

"I-I do mind!"

Carolina's skirt was barely long enough to hide what was underneath—just a small movement and the wind would hold it up. Standing on her tiptoe made her posture shaky… and that was enough to let Hercule see under her skirt.

Carolina's face flushed, she used one hand to hold down her skirt and the other to reach for the tea bottle…

"Carolina, this is an order. Stop holding down your skirt."

"—!!!"

Grunting, Carolina removed her hand from the skirt. Each time Carolina tried to grasp the bottle, her butt shook, allowing Hercule to catch a glimpse of what was underneath.

"How much longer do you intend to show off your panties? Get the tea already."

"I-I can't reach…"

"You have strong legs, just jump up and grab it."

With their superior physical strength, elves could easily jump as high as a meter. If Hercule could do it, there was no reason Carolina couldn't.

But if she jumped up…

"Hey, Carolina. I ordered you to fetch green tea for me, didn't I? I'm the Emperor, and you are my vassal. Carry out my order if you want to show me your loyalty."

"L-Loyalty…"

"You said you would do anything, right?"

"…"

After giving it some thought, Caroline resolved herself and bent her legs… and kicked the floor. As her body floated up, the underside of her skirt came into full view.

"Black, huh. That's some erotic underwear."

"N-No need to give your thoughts!!"

Carolina yelled with a bright red face.

"Honestly… You are awful, Your Majesty."

"Haha… Don't get mad. I'll give you this as an apology."

Hercule pushed a small box towards Carolina. When she opened it, she found a pair of green jeweled earrings inside.

"They are emerald."

"Your… Your Majesty can't cheer me up with these, you know!"

Even as she said that, Carolina put on the earrings with a delightful look. While thinking that she was as simple as ever, Hercule made a follow-up strike.

"They really suit you. Make you look even prettier."

"Such obvious flattery won't please me," said Carolina, pleasedly. She was just that easy to understand.

"Carolina."

Hercule embraced Carolina. Holding her close, he wrapped his arms around her back, not allowing her to escape.

"Y-Your Majesty…"

He placed a kiss on her forehead.

That evening.

"I'm here to take the payment as per contract, Master."

"Asmodeus?"

Upon waking up, Hercule saw a girl straddling on top of him.

Gorgeous, silky black hair. An amorous pair of lips. Fair skin. Bountiful breasts like ripe fruits. Oriental facial features. And for some reason… she was wearing a kimono.

The enticing girl's name was Asmodeus. She was Hercule's contracted spirit, one of the 72 Demons—the great spirit of nightmares.

It seemed the expression "upon waking up" just now was mistaken. Asmodeus was the great spirit of nightmares—she couldn't have manifested in the real world.

What Hercule was seeing was simply an extremely realistic—dream.

While sucking on Hercule's lips, Asmodeus removed his clothes with familiarity. Then she pulled her own kimono open, baring her beautiful skin that was like smooth porcelain.

Asmodeus's slender fingers traced Hercule's chest.

"I'm going to receive Master's that, then."

"Just leave me alive, alright?"

Asmodeus placed her hand on Hercule's trousers and underpants.

The great spirit of nightmares, Asmodeus. One of the 72 Demons who once served the Sorcerer King in ancient times. She was ranked at the 32nd place and held the status "King".

Her original identity was a Cherub. She was the fallen angel who ruled over Lust—one of the Seven Deadly Sins—and a great demon.

Furthermore, she was the only spirit who was able to go against the will of the Sorcerer King.

The payment as per Hercule's contract with this amazing woman was an enormous quantity of magic power and… lots of semen.

"I already squeeze Master until you are half-dead normally, though… yet Master still has the energy to flirt with Carolina-chan… Your libido is amazing."

"Don't make it sound as if I spend all day pleasing women."

"I'm praising you, you know? Aside from the Sorcerer King, the only people who had ever managed to employ my service were the underdog who pulled the greatest upset in history; that mountain climber; and the bald, debt-ridden overlord."

Asmodeus's previous masters were all illustrious rulers and eminent generals. It could be that she only named the ones with great achievements, though. Falsehood was demons' nature, after all.

"Hey, Asmodeus."

"Fue? Yes, Master?"

Hercule wrapped his arms around Asmodeus's back and pulled her into an embrace. Even Asmodeus was caught off-caught by such a sudden attack.

"It's bad manners to talk about your past lovers."

"Fufu, that's right, isn't it."

Their bodies then overlapped each other.

A few hours after.

"Master has gotten so skillful now. It makes me miss the old times."

"…The old times?"

"When I took Master's virginity."

Yes, about five years ago… when Hercule was around ten years old.

"…What the hell are you?"

"Aren't you a rude one? You are in the presence of the great demon Asmodeus."

The girl in maid clothes with gorgeous black hair was riding on top of the ten-year-old Hercule. It was in the dead of night, so Hercule shouldn't be able to see anything… Yet the surroundings of Asmodeus' body was lit up faintly, illuminating Hercule and Asmodeus.

"Or perhaps you are not pleased with this appearance? Hmm… how about this, then?"

An instant later, Asmodeus's clothing transformed into a unique garment that did not exist in the Lemurian Empire. This was the kimono, the traditional dress of Japan.

It was another set of clothes that was present in Hercule's memories alone.

"You!! Did you—!!"

"Yes, that is indeed the case. This oriental appearance, these facial features were created based on your memories. Be it white Northern European, white Southern European, Filipino, or African… I could change into any appearance you wish for."

"…Who the hell are you?"

"My name is Asmodeus, as I have already stated. You do know me, don't you? The well-known great spirit of this world, as well a notable demon from your previous world."

"…"

Hercule kept silent. Upon that, Asmodeus inquired.

"And you, who are you?"

"Who am I…? Of course, I'm the Lemurian Empire's—"

"The man of your previous life, and your current self. Are you not curious if there is any continuity between the two? That's what I'm asking."

Hercule opened his eyes wide. True enough… ever since he was old enough to be aware of his surroundings, that question had always been on his mind.

Since childhood, Hercule had possessed memories from his past life—when he was a salaryman in another world, completely separate from this one.

That man certainly was very knowledgable and had a good head on his shoulders. But he could not put that to use. He continued to build up his knowledge all while slaving away at work. He had no dream, no desire, not even vanity…

Why was my past life such a dull person that could be found anywhere? And what am I in the first place? For what purpose was I reincarnated?

Even now, those questions were still nagging at his mind. It pained him that he could not share them with anyone, not even with his first love Carolina. It was too much distress for a ten-year-old boy to bear.

"You can rest easy. That dull man is not you. Yes, he cannot be you. You are the one and only Hercule."

"…Then, these memories are?"

"It's true that his soul slipped into your body when you were young. But… he lost to you. Haha, there was no way you could have lost that fight. How could someone with zero desire hope to win against a lump of conceit, vanity and ambition like you? In the end, his soul died out and only his memories remained in you."

"O-Oh… so that's how it is…"

Hercule breathed out a sigh of relief. Before this, he refused to believe that the dull man was the previous incarnation of his prideful self—and finally that was proved to be false. Nothing could make him feel more joyous than that.

"Anyway… how do you know that?"

"Because I was behind it all. I killed that man and placed his soul in you."

"…You wanted to kill me?"

"Of course not. I simply knew for certain that you would defeat him."

Asmodeus chuckled. Then she brought her face close to Hercule.

His heart was racing. Of course it would be—his face was so close to the sexy older woman that they were touching nose to nose.

"My previous master was the "father of the nation" who united the divided Lemuria and established imperial rule thousands of years ago. But the country he created is heading to ruin, it seems… Fufu, I liked that baldy quite a lot. So I didn't want to stand by and watch this country perish, you see. And an excellent baby just happened to be born in the Imperial Lemurian Family. He was a child comparable to that baldy, to the mountain climber who was my master before him, and to the great king that I served even before that."

Asmodeus smiled bewitchingly.

"Plus… fufu, his face was to my taste."

"!!!!"

Asmodeus's pink tongue slithered on Hercule's nape. His lower half shook as if an electric current was running through.

"It had been so long since I found a child worth forming a contract with. However… the current Lemurian Empire is in such a tattered state that a single individual could do nothing about it. On top of that, to the west is the Lion King, Ludwig I, and to the east is the Sun King, Sasan VIII. If you are raised well and accumulate enough experience, you can defeat those two handily. But that would take far too much time…"

Asmodeus grinned. "Therefore I planted in you knowledge from another world where technology, ideology, and learning are much more advanced than this one. That boring man had accumulated plenty of experience in his own way. It's a small boost for you, and most of all, his knowledge is very practical in nature. It's impossible for that man, but you, you can definitely make use of that knowledge. Us demons are allowed to interfere that much. Getting the other demons' consent to bring the soul of a boring man to this world is but a simple task to me."

"Y-You are…"

Hercule glowered at Asmodeus. She might just devour him if he acted rashly. She was a real nuisance from Hercule's point of view.

"Leaving that aside… Today I have come to form a contract with you."

"…Contract?"

"Yes, a contract. Spirit contract. You know about it, don't you? Like General Garphis's Amon and General Christos's Focalor. I will have you form a contract with me."

"Why would I form a contract with a shady demon like you!!"

After shouting at Asmodeus, Hercule yelled out loud.

"Someone!! Help!! A demon's here!!!"

…But nobody came.

Looking at Hercule's impatient expression, Asmodeus giggled and revealed.

"We are inside a dream. Your real body will keep sleeping soundly no matter how much you cry out."

"Y-You bitch!!"

"Don't resist, okay?"

Seeing Hercule struggling to break free from herself, Asmodeus forcefully pinned him down. Her white, slender arms exerted an unimaginable strength.

"Fufu… such an energetic boy."

"Guh! Unhand me, you slutttt!!!"

Asmodeus sealed Hercule's lips with her own, halting his yell of anger. Her tongue violated his immature mouth. Her tongue scooped up, sucked in, licked his gums and fondled around, thoroughly molesting his sensitive parts. There was no way a ten-year-old virgin could win against the demon of lust.

Hercule could no longer put up any resistance.

"Nn, guh, chuu—, s-stop, guh, chu—"

"Chuu—, nn, *gulp*, fufu, you are just so cute, and so very delicious."

Before he noticed, Hercule had been stripped naked. His arms and legs felt weak, he could not move even one finger. Asmodeus slowly caressed his chest.

"Ah, unn…"

Unable to endure it, Hercule let out a coquettish voice. Asmodeus's tongue once again crawled into his mouth. Hercule could only gasp for breath.

"It feels good, right? The sensitivity of your whole body has been heightened several times. Fufu, if you already feel so much pleasure here, then what is gonna happen when I touch your sensitive parts?"

"Urgh, you… perverted demon… argh…"

Hercule kept scowling at Asmodeus even as his cheeks flushed red. Seeing the boy's reaction, Asmodeus got even more excited.

(It felt like this too when I took the virginity of that baldy, that mountain climber, and that great king… Fufu, I can't wait until this boy ravishes me of his own volition.)

Ever since the time with that baldy, no one had made her as excited as this handsome boy.

"The payment for the contract will be your virginity and your first batch of semen… Your first ejaculation, that is. You have never done it, right? I'm gonna make you a man right now. There will be no limit to your semen with the help of my power."

"I said I won't do it with the likes of you… ugh…"

"Fufu, very good. Soon you will beg to be allowed to let it out, to form a contract with me… Let's set our goal at 300 times for starters. After that will be another 60 times, then another 100 times… Fufu."

An hour later…

"That's sixty times!! Once every minute is very good. How are you feeling?"

"I-I will sign the contract!! I give up!! S-So…"

"So?"

"Urgh… argh…"

"Now, now. Holding it in is bad for your body, you know? Say it, what do you want me to do?"

"…Let me come, please."

"Louder."

"Let me come please!!!"

"Fufu, understood… Try to hang on for three more hours, alright? We're aiming for 240 rounds!!"

"Wha!! You said you would stop!!"

"I did say that… but I didn't say when, now did I?"

It was six hours later that Hercule was finally set free, after he had finished 375 times.

"Oh yeah, that happened."

"Master has grown so much. I suppose it's true that a man is unrecognizable after a mere three days… What's wrong? —Kya!!"

Hercule grabbed Asmodeus's hair and held her down. Then he slapped her cheeks with a smack then pinched them.

"It… hurts…"

"…Recalling that time pisses me off."

Hercule frowned. Then he gave a sadistic smile.

"You will accept anything, won't you…? A little pain should be no problem, right?"

"…Fufu, go ahead, Master. Make me beg, make me cry, make me submit if you can. I'm eagerly looking forward to it. Beat me, strangle me all you want… That would be a blessing as far as I'm concerned."