War Games

I was sitting in the bath when I began to break down the way I could incorporate magical circuits to expedite the spell casting process. My androids had enhanced physical abilities, but the only ones who could use magic were the the Nymphs Androids. I had watched the way they did magic, and it was slower than what I was used to seeing. 

I envisioned a faster type of magical combat. To do that, I was wondering if there was a way I could imprint the magic circuits into their skin, but that would require me to find a good material to use to imprint the circuits.

I was thinking of different possibilities. There was a material called mithril, which was a very malleable material that could even be used as ink, so it was a prime candidate.

However it was rare. Extremely rare. What I could produce right now, which I had started mass production of, was steel alloy. I had been watching the trade for rulers, and the thing a lot of people lacked was steel. Metal working usually took a long time to get started, because you needed the knowledge along with the constant influx of materials, but Alice's miners had been putting in a lot of work. 

They produced more than enough ores that I had already outfitted everyone with weapons, and now I could begin to sell them. I was hoping to sell them for different amenities, to improve the lives of my citizens.

I was currently in a private chat with a ruler who would give me the plans for a sewage, and water system. This would allow me to implement running water into homes, further improving the hygiene. 

Although I had been away from the public for over a month, I had not been idle. I couldn't afford it right now, as I never forgot about the message when we first arrived, about having to wage war against others. This was another reason why I wanted to rush the research of mana conduits, as I needed to upgrade my units ASAP. 

The first few rounds of the War Games might be easy to secure, since the Androids were several times stronger than regular people, but what about when I run into Kingdoms with the likes of Angels or Demons who could each cast magic. I would lose. 

But science was always capable of fashioning a bridge.

I just didn't have enough of a sample size... I didn't currently have the capabilities to create offensive magic. If I did, I could even create artifacts that could emulate a magic circle, but alas I couldn't even understand the Nymph's magic.

Yet.

I got out of my bath, after a long soak, and looked over the papers I currently had of mana conduits. I ran the simulation of how they worked in my head, seeing if there were any things I could improve on, and the different applications of it.

I also studied mana crystals, and I was reminded of a creative idea from a novel I had read before. 

"What if I can turn the mana crystals into a liquid form... And use that as ink to create magic pathways along the body of androids? Then switching their core to an advanced mana gathering device? This would act as the Mana Heart, that the Nymphs had. While the nymphs had been converted to androids, because of my gift, there were things that couldn't yet be converted. This might be something to look into..."

I wrote down my ideas, before I moved to my balcony, overlooking the entire valley. My palace was currently the highest point in the valley, so I had a good look at everything. 

I wished I could see throughout the city, so that I could even experience normalcy just a little, but the technology for image transmission was still lacking.

It always came down to lacking the technology. It frustrated me to no avail, so I stepped away from the balcony and headed to my bed to rest for the night. I sat on an incredibly large bed, that was made from our latest harvest of silk that I had traded for. Alice had developed a noble hierarchy, distributing the limited silk to them.

At most they had clothes, which would cost a lot, while I had an entire bed covered in it. We also officially created a currency, that we would use from now on, as we expanded. It was a simple system of Bronze, Silver, and Gold coins that were all imprinted with a special seal depicting my profile. 

It was weird to have my face on literal money, but I didn't let my ego grow much. I was currently a normal person, which bummed me out as I knew there were rulers out there who led their troops from the frontlines, while I sat at the back of my android army. However we have to work with what we have, so I didn't change my tactics just yet. 

Alfred arrived by my bedside with a teapot, and a teacup. He expertly poured the tea slowly into my teacup, and served me a cup. Inside the tea was a special leaf that the Nymphs had given me. I asked them to produce a plant that could help me fall asleep, while reducing stress, and they delivered this a few weeks ago. 

Since then, I had required it everyday to sleep. Being an Emperor of a growing kingdom was hard.

****

When I woke up the next morning, I walked down to my research lab and handed over the ideas I had thought of yesterday. I asked them to break into three teams. 

One team would be a single android researching mana crystals, and the process to make them into a form that could be used to write or pass mana through. 

Another team would begin research on a mana gathering device, while the final team of two would be focused solely on studying magic. They would study how magic was cast, the process for a spell to be formed, and even document the conversion of energy during the spell's deployment. 

I then left the research lab, and headed towards the city, deciding to take some time off to relax today. It wasn't more than ten minutes into my walk that I, as well as every other Ruler, received a sudden notification.

[Round 1 of War Games will begin tomorrow morning. The gear your troops are physically wearing are all that will be brought to the battleground.]

[Reward for surviving Round 1 will be distributed after you win. Reward will depend on what your Kingdom could use the most to advance.]

I stopped my walk, and headed to Alice's estate. The nobles in her city lived in the Upper City, which was next to the river, and closest to my palace. They were also physically raised, while the Lower City was where normal people lived. The Lower City was actually not bad at all, but it was more crowded. Allowing for less privacy, but it was where trade thrived.

I had just arrived at the gates to the Upper City, but I was stopped by what I could only assume were guards. 

"Stop! No one is allowed to enter the Upper City unless they are a Noble, or they are accompanied by a Noble. Sorry, but you will have to solicit somewhere else. Now leave before there is trouble."

I looked at the guard, as he must have been summoned after I left the public view, and he was just doing his job. As I was about to order Alfred to fetch Jenny, she herself appeared. Apparently she was coming to talk to Alice, coincidentally. 

"Magistrate Jenny! Are you here to visit the Queen Alice? What? You're still here? Get lost! Can't you see Magistrate Jenny is trying to get in?" The guard once again admonished me.

However I was no longer even looking at him.

"Jenny. I need to talk to Alice."

"This is Emperor Atom. He has unrestricted access to all parts of the city, do not stop him again." when Jenny announced that, the two guards froze in place. They were clearly scared for their lives, as they had just offended the Emperor they had never met. 

They fell to their knees immediately, as they had heard rumors of how little I valued the lives of others, and pleaded for their lives.

"WE APOLOGIZE FOR NOT RECOGNIZING THE EMPEROR! WE DESERVE DEATH!"

I simply looked down at them prostrating on the ground, before I started walking and said as I passed them.

"You know now. Continue your diligence for keeping the safety of the people."

"THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE, YOUR HIGHNESS!"

I was already several feet away, as Jenny led me towards Alice's estate, I took in the scenery. My androids knew I was not talkative, unless I was talking to humans, and only humans I was close with so they typically didn't bother trying to make small talk with me.

However this had the opposite effect on humans. They saw me as a cold and silent Emperor. 

I was appreciating Alice's style, as she went to a medieval look that I also enjoyed, when I heard a voice ahead of me.

"Your Highness? Are you looking to talk to me?"

I looked ahead and saw Alice. She had ditched her school girl cosplay, and actually went for a noble's dress, which looked much better. She looked really mature, most likely from running a kingdom the past month, but there was a obvious element of respect in her eyes. Which slightly surprised me, as I thought perhaps with her rapid growth she had forgotten about me. 

"Yes, I was coming to make sure all your preparations are in order for tomorrow. I can only assume you just received the same message as I did?"

"Oh! Yes, of course Your Highness. My troops are prepared. If it is not too impudent of me to ask, is there anything you would like me to prepare for your troops?"

"No, my androids are enough with their steel weapons. However, in the future can you inform me when you manage to nurture a mage? I have some research I need their assistance with."

"Of course! I will be happy to serve when that time comes."

I nodded and turned to leave, as she bowed towards my leaving figure.

"One more thing, Alice."

Surprised, Alice raised her head slightly just to see me staring at her with cold eyes again.

"Do not lose tomorrow. It will be a waste of the effort I have put into nurturing you."

"I-... Yes.. Emperor Atom..."

With that I left. I had been having these moments where I excessively expressed myself from a lack of social interaction, causing me to say something I usually wouldn't. However, while I usually wouldn't say it, it didn't mean I didn't mean it. If she died, I would simply feel regret that I raised a weakling as a subordinate. 

Alice also understood me as well, as she was once again reminded of the reality of things. If I didn't have a working business relationship with her, no one would care if she lived or died. At least I did, even if it was only because I would be inconvenienced by her death.

She quickly left to double check her troops, and relay the situation to them. I on the other hand simply went back to my palace. I didn't feel like interacting with anyone anymore. My mood had changed from carefree to being slightly on edge in anticipation of the coming battle. I told Jenny to prepare the troops of the coming battle tomorrow morning, and that all combat units are to have their gear on by the morning.

I had Cookie as a personal cook now, since Alice had managed to summon a few, so they cooked for themselves now. I ordered Alfred to inform Cookie to prepare a small feast for me. We had advanced the fine dining of the city as well, as we created crop fields, and now the choices of dinner I had expanded by a lot.

I spent another hour soaking in my bath, before I came out wearing silk pajamas I had made for me, and enjoyed something akin to a final meal. 

"If I were to die tomorrow, I wonder if anyone would care. Alice is simply a business partner, while my family probably thinks I went missing or I was dead. Even then... Would they care... After the harsh things I had said?"

I became quiet. Quieter than usual as I stopped talking aloud, which I did a lot. I finished eating, and headed to my room. I was laying on my bed, when I had an interesting idea. I edited my room, and created a large skylight above me. Alfred came into the room with my tea, and after drinking it I fell asleep while staring at the full moonlight. 

Oddly enough, for the first time in a long time, I slept peacefully.

****

When I woke up, I felt hyper focused, and got straight to business. I changed into my Emperor's outfit, that I had commissioned from another Ruler, which was a perfectly fitting full black robe with white trim. I didn't wear armor, but I had a mask. It was a white porcelain mask that had pink lotus petals painted across it. 

When I walked outside my palace, I saw the Alice's citizens standing along the river, all waiting to catch a glimpse of me. Alice was standing next to Jenny, while they both looked over the troops one last time. It was a few minutes before we were transported, and I decided to make a comment to inspire everyone.

I stood on a raised marble platform, overlooking the troops, and where everyone could hear me. Including the citizens across the river.

I looked at Alice's troops, who I could clearly see were scared and nervous.

"There will always exist the possibility that you would be one of the unfortunate men who fail to make if home alive from a battle... But you must never forget why you fight. For who you fight for. To protect your family... To protect your loved ones... You fight for you entire Clan. If you die, make sure you're dying for something worth protecting." With that my body was shrouded by light, and I felt my presence be moved through space at an absurd speed. 

When my vision adjusted, I was already standing in a large field with my troops before me. I then saw another Ruler appear before me, about 100 feet away.

Together with him were what I could only assume were Orcs.

Large builds, with green skin, and pig like features. Including their tusks, and protruding snouts.

I then locked eyes with a middle aged man, wearing a business suit.

He was worried at first, but when he saw my army was made up of different men, women, and children he laughed to himself.

"Kill him, the leader, and then you can eat whoever you want." the opposing Ruler declared confidently. 

"Sigh... What is with everyone underestimating me..." I said.