We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The flames that struck down my father.
We fled across the national borders.
I have no idea what method Kadis used to pursue us. In such a situation, if we just move around aimlessly, we’ll just be caught and cause trouble again.
So, should we fly east and enter the territory of the Giant Demon Lord? Or would it be better to head south into the territory of the Sage Demon Lord? As I considered this, I chose south.
The territory of the Puppet King is on the border between the Verdant Demon Lord and the Sage Demon Lord. So, if we fly south, we can immediately enter the Sage Demon Lord’s territory.
No matter how strong Kadis is, he shouldn’t be able to easily enter another country.
Nimia flew over the fortresses and castle towns guarding the border and, in the blink of an eye, entered the Sage Demon Lord’s territory.
Then, she descended into the mountains in the remote border region.
“If we’ve come this far, Kadis won’t chase us, right?”
“Stupid Dragon King! Idiot Dragon King! Troublesome Dragon King!”
Astel, who had been held by Nimia along with me, was constantly complaining.
It seems she was very angry with me for getting her involved in the commotion. But we were also victims who got caught up in it, you know?
“Meow. Older Sister Astel, please calm down, meow?”
Nimia, who had shrunk after setting us down, flew around Astel charmingly.
Astel, though puffed up with anger, hugged the cute Nimia and enjoyed her fluffy fur. Meanwhile, Lyra, Mejina, and I began preparations for a break.
We started a bonfire and prepared food and drinks.
Night had already fallen deeply, and the sky was filled with a myriad of stars.
“This has turned into a difficult situation, hasn’t it?”
“Is that the Demon Lord’s true power…”
Lyra looked troubled. Mejina was terrified by Kadis’s overwhelming magical power and the great magic that had turned the surrounding area into a sea of flames. I stirred the pot Lyra had entrusted to me, tilting my head at Mejina’s words.
“Hmm. That magic was certainly amazing, but…”
Even if the surroundings were covered in easily flammable trees of the treacherous forest, that fire magic was a threat. If such a wide area could be turned into a sea of flames in an instant, then those who fight at close range, like Lyra and I, would be forced into a difficult battle.
But then I thought something.
“Even though he possessed the Soul Spirit Seat, why didn’t he draw it?”
As his owner, I know. The ultimate magic sword, “Soul Spirit Seat,” possesses terrifying power. Merely drawing it releases a fearsome miasma, and touching it shatters the soul. For me, it might be problematic, but if the Soul Spirit Seat had been directed at Lyra, Mejina, or Astel, it could have been a problem before the fight even began. However, Kadis summoned and used a magic sword of flame, not the Soul Spirit Seat of overwhelming power.
Of course, it could just be that he chose to fight without relying on the “Soul Spirit Seat” like me. But if Kadis had truly intended to eliminate us, he should have been able to use it. Yet, Kadis did not draw the Soul Spirit Seat.
Why…?
Did he underestimate our abilities? Even though he recognized me as a “Grand Duke”? Even though he knew about Nimia’s existence and Revalia? Did Kadis judge that he possessed superior abilities even without drawing the Soul Spirit Seat? Or was there a reason he couldn’t draw it? Perhaps he wasn’t used to it yet. Or maybe…?
As I pondered the inconsistency in Kadis’s strategy, Astel, whose mood had finally improved, came to the pot with Nimia in her arms.
“Hmph. He was an arrogant fellow. To get so full of himself just because he defeated the Puppet King and the Verdant Demon Lord.”
“Indeed. Astel?”
“Rejection! Who would listen to your questions!”
“How cruel! I haven’t even said anything yet!?”
“Hahahaha! Duke Cat, please help Young Lord Elnea!”
“Help, meow?”
“Duke Cat, help—!”
Lyra handed me a drink, and Mejina gave me some food. Then, as Nimia’s fluffy tail swayed, Astel averted her sharp gaze from me. I see. You succumbed to temptation?
“Hey, hey, Astel. What do you think? Do you really think Kadis defeated the Puppet King and the Verdant Demon Lord?”
While carefully observing Astel’s mood, I voiced the question I had been considering from the beginning.
“According to the stories we’ve heard, the Puppet King has the ability to control even a demon army of 100,000, right? And I don’t think Demon Lords can be defeated so easily, do you?”
We have experienced glimpses of the Puppet King’s power several times before. His troublesome magic, the ability to freely wield fine threads of magical power and control his entangled opponents like “puppets.” Not only that, but he could create lifelike puppets to deceive his opponents.
The Verdant Demon Lord is also a genuine “Demon Lord,” on par with the Giant Demon Lord and the Fairy Demon Lord. Even if the opponent was his own son, I don’t think he’s someone who would be defeated so easily, do you?
To my question, Astel reluctantly replied while sharing the food Mejina had given me with Nimia.
“I don’t know about the Puppet King. However, Kadis’s preferred magic could be a natural enemy to the Verdant Demon Lord. In fact, it could be said that Kadis mastered that magic for that very purpose.”
“Is Kadis’s magic fire-based?”
“Yes,” Astel nodded. Conversely, Mejina tilted her head and looked at me. So, I explained what I knew about demons.
“The magic used by demons involves creating fire and burning things, causing explosions, launching stone projectiles, and attacking with various other natural phenomena, right?”
“Hmmm, hmmm. Teacher Elnea, please continue.”
“Teacher… that has a nice ring to it! Then, a question for you, student Mejina. Is the magic used by demons categorized by family line or tribe?”
“Um? Even among the same imps, some are fire-based and some are wind-based? Perhaps demons use magic systems they prefer?”
“Correct. The Giant Demon Lord prefers lightning magic, and Astel’s close friend, the black cat Sheria, uses explosive magic, right? Well, it’s not always the case, as ogre races sometimes prefer magic unified within their tribes. Nevertheless, I believe demons use magic systems according to their individual preferences rather than being divided by family line or tribe.”
Astel nodded, saying it was mostly correct.
“Then… if what Duke Cat said is true, does that mean the terrifying demon we just encountered honed his magic specifically to defeat his own father?”
“That’s right. Kadis chose his magic system from the beginning and has been honing it to defeat the Verdant Demon Lord.”
“Young Lord Elnea, that’s frightening. To have continuously trained magic to kill one’s own father.”
“Indeed. It’s a terrifying thought beyond our comprehension. Kadis is a truly terrifying demon. Even for a demon, isn’t that a bit extreme in personality?”
Kadis did not seem to think highly of his father, the Verdant Demon Lord. He clearly looked down on the Verdant Demon Lord, who had suffered greatly at the hands of the Puppet King. To the point of usurping the Demon Lord Seat.
“Astel. Could you tell me more about the Verdant Demon Lord and Kadis?”
Kadis rebelled against the Verdant Demon Lord. He then defeated the Demon Lord and overthrew the Puppet King. We happened to appear there, so he approached us, didn’t he? And asked me to become his subordinate. Of course, I absolutely refused. However, if I don’t recover Grivast’s Naginata, which Kadis must have obtained when he defeated the Puppet King, the Giant Demon Lord will be angry, and it will also cause great trouble for the Great Shrine. Therefore, we absolutely must make contact with Kadis again. For that moment, it would be better for us to know more about the Verdant Demon Lord, Kadis, and the situation in that country.
“Alright, it’s a debt. I’ll repay it twofold, okay?”
“Yes, alright!”
“Hahahaha! Young Lord Elnea is making a hasty promise!”
“Lyra, it’s okay. We’ll cooperate fully at that time too!”
“Mejina is also swept up in the moment!? Is it okay to make such decisions so freely?”
“Oh, it’s fine. Even though I may look like this, I am the representative of the shooting star who did not come here, you know?”
“Is that true?”
Well, setting that aside for now. We owe Astel a favor and will have her answer our questions. Astel, perhaps happy to have gained a favor from me, told us with a slightly improved mood.
“Originally, the conflict between that foolish young lady of the Puppet King and the Verdant Demon Lord was over two hundred years ago.”
“I thought it was a recent event!”
“Considering the lifespan of demons, it’s an event from the current generation. But from the perspective of humans, it’s ancient history from many generations ago, isn’t it?”
The Verdant Demon Lord, fed up with the Puppet King’s troublesome behavior, organized an army of subjugation. The Verdant Demon Lord advanced with an army of 100,000. However, he was instead manipulated by the 100,000 demon army controlled by the Puppet King, and the Verdant Demon Lord struggled. In the end, the Demon Lord himself destroyed the manipulated 100,000 troops, and the turmoil subsided. However, the Verdant Demon Lord’s control, which had been challenged by a mere Duke and resulted in the loss of 100,000 demons, rapidly declined afterward.
Astel explained that Kadis, the legitimate son of the Verdant Demon Lord, was born after that turmoil. Therefore, Kadis had always seen the weakened Demon Lord and the declining country, and he looked down on his father.
“Hmph. What a foolish son. To be so conceited just for defeating the senile Verdant Demon Lord, his limits are clear.”
“Astel, you spoke Kadis’s name. That means you’re not afraid of him, right?”
“That guy. You’re calling him by his name from the start, right? He’s just that kind of demon. It was more troublesome to deal with the Puppet King.”
“But Kadis defeated a Demon Lord, even though he was old and weak? And the Puppet King too…”
“Stupid Dragon King. I told you. Kadis’s magic is compatible with fighting the Verdant Demon Lord. He controls forests, hence ‘Verdant.’ Kadis’s fire magic that burns them would have burned the branches of the senile Verdant Demon Lord quite well.”
“So that’s what you mean!”
Finally, I understood the Verdant Demon Lord’s power. Come to think of it, ever since we entered the Verdant Demon Lord’s territory, it has been nothing but deep forests and treacherous woods. The Verdant Demon Lord was skilled in magic that manipulated forests and trees. Therefore, Kadis honed his fire magic to burn down the trees.
Many demons favor fire magic. It looks flashy and its power is overwhelming. However, ordinary demonic fire magic is ineffective against great demons who have climbed to the Demon Lord Seat. After all, the Verdant Demon Lord, who manipulates nature, should have known better than anyone that fire was the weakness of his own magic. Therefore, he should have had perfect countermeasures. Kadis, however, had been continuously honing his fire magic to defeat the Verdant Demon Lord.
In order to defeat his father in the future… And Kadis truly defeated the Verdant Demon Lord with fire magic. We trembled at Kadis’s terrifying obsession and cold-bloodedness in killing even his own father. Is this the nature of demons who attain the Demon Lord Seat? They utilize and eliminate anyone for their goals. Conversely, without demonstrating this much resolve and ability, they cannot be recognized by the true rulers of the demon race.
“That’s right. We must not forget or misunderstand. Demons are truly this kind of race. To be chosen as a Demon Lord, they would destroy their country and even massacre their own people. The land after Kusharilla left was truly devastated, wasn’t it?”
If the Giant Demon Lord had not quickly raised an army and taken effective control of Kusharilla’s former territory, it would undoubtedly have been even more devastated by now. That Giant Demon Lord was also ruthless towards those who defied him or were in his way. He eradicated all lingering grudges, demonstrated overwhelming dominance as a Demon Lord to all demons, and completely took control of Kusharilla’s former territory.
And now. Kadis was also trying to show his dominance to the demons within his country. Defeating a Demon Lord alone was not enough. Defeating the Puppet King was not enough. He is trying to grasp control of the country by showing his strength, dominance, and terror to the demons who still swear loyalty to the Verdant Demon Lord. He also tried to use our presence there. If we obey, so be it. If we resist, he will use us as fodder to further spread his fame by defeating us. It might not be just that. If he doesn’t show his strength to the outside world, the Giant Demon Lord and the Sage Demon Lord who border his country might make a move. Can a newly appointed Demon Lord contend with the oldest Demon Lord? Frankly, it’s impossible. Kadis must be well aware of that. Therefore, he is trying to gain complete control of the country by utilizing those he can and quickly eliminating those who are in his way.
“Young Lord Elnea.”
As I voiced my thoughts based on the information I received from Astel, Lyra tugged at the hem of my clothes anxiously.
“I’m worried about Kadis too, but… um… I’m sad about the Puppet Duke, aren’t I?”
“Yes, I agree…”
I kept my attention focused on Kadis. But I mustn’t forget. Just as Kadis defeated the Verdant Demon Lord, he also defeated the Puppet King. We, who had been deepening our relationship with the Puppet King, even though he was a nuisance, are also sad that he was defeated. It’s the same for me, you know? If I close my eyes, I can still vividly see the scene of the Puppet King’s castle burning. Young Lady Elin, who cheerfully smiled and left, saying, “If you want the Grivast’s Naginata back, come and get it.” Yet, when we finally tried to visit the Puppet King’s castle, he had already been defeated… To be honest, by forcibly directing my attention to Kadis, I was looking away from the sad reality. Surprisingly, I seemed to be deeply saddened by the Puppet King’s death. I might have been in denial, trying to postpone confirming the tragedy that befell the Puppet King. But, as expected, I should face reality…
“Well then, Astel. Tell me what you know as well. I understand that Kadis’s magic is the natural enemy of the Verdant Demon Lord. Kadis defeated him with fire magic, overcoming the Verdant Demon Lord’s magic. So, how did Kadis defeat the Puppet King, who could control an army of 100,000 demons with his magic?” Did the same fire magic work on the Puppet King? Or did he use the Soul Spirit Seat, which he took from the Verdant Demon Lord, on the Puppet King?
As I was asking Astel my question. Rustle, the deep bushes behind us rustled.
“Fufu. Fufufu.”
We immediately braced ourselves. We hadn’t sensed any presence until a moment ago!?
“Who’s there!”
I shouted warily. Then, beyond the light illuminating the bonfire, from the depths of the deep night, a dignified woman appeared. Click on the heart to easily convey your support. (Login required)
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