Taking control of a group of bandits, he had attacked trade caravans and conquered whatever towns and villages he could find that didn’t have the protection of the Sages, making their inhabitants into his slaves as well. Whenever he was able to get the defeated monsters close to death without finishing them off, he made them into familiars to boost his army as well. Even small animals and insects were drafted into his ever-growing troops.

This was all set up to happen automatically. As the cycle continued successfully, he gained more and more new slaves at an incredible rate.

-Volume 1 page 177

盗賊 団 を 配下 に し、 商 団 を 襲い、 賢者 の 庇護 下 に ない 町 や 村 を 蹂躙 し て 住人 を 奴隷 化 する。 　 倒し た 魔物 を うまく 瀕死 に できれ ば それ も 使い 魔 として さらに 仲間 を 増やす。 　 小 動物 や、 果ては 昆虫 までをも 支配下 に 組み入れ た。 　 これ を 全自動 で 行う よう に 設定 し て い た の だ。 この サイクル は 成功 し、 今 も 凄まじい 勢い で 奴隷 を 増やし 続け て いる。

-Volume 1 page 212