Chapter 87 : For What

The Demon King’s army was pushed back by the Imperial forces in the canyon battle.

Although the Demon King’s army had secured the location and fought under much more favorable conditions, they had no choice but to relinquish the canyon.

This was because the Imperial forces had advanced while enduring heavy sacrifices.

However, this did not necessarily result in a disadvantage for the demons.

At first glance, it seemed as though they had been forced back and put at a disadvantage, but now the Demon King’s army could fight with the inner walls at their back.

This meant a denser defense and shorter supply lines.

Returning to the Demon King’s army, Lucrezia sat in her tent, pondering how the war between demons and humans would unfold.

At the same time, she recalled her past encounter with Wade, the man who had taken her hostage.

A prisoner of war… Yet instead of torturing demons, he had served her delicious meals.

That man was clearly not in his right mind.

Were Wade and his companions truly fond of demons?

She didn’t know.

She had never seen a human behave or speak that way toward demons before, making it difficult to judge.

However, what she could not forget was how they had viewed the Demon King.

The Demon King… in love with a human man.

Swish.

“What’s with the serious face?”

Darkan and Bellard entered the tent.

Although she had encountered them several times since returning to the Demon King’s army, seeing that shameless tin can still made her angry.

“So, you’re here, you dumb hunk of metal? Judging by the shine on your armor, it looks like you were living quite comfortably after abandoning me.”

“When did I ever abandon you? You were left behind because you lost control. I made the best possible decision.”

“Thanks to you, I nearly died.”

“For someone who ‘nearly died,’ your face looks rather radiant. You weren’t tortured, were you? Or did you perhaps feast like a noble instead?”

Lucrezia and Darkan exchanged brief greetings.

She felt guilty about having eaten well while being a prisoner, so she said nothing in response.

Darkan, having left a comrade behind, also chose to remain silent.

Darkan cleared his throat.

“Ahem. In any case… The past is the past. Why did you call us here at this hour?”

“I have something to discuss with you two.”

“If it’s just a discussion, couldn’t we have done this anywhere? And if it’s a meeting between the Four Heavenly Kings, why isn’t Alcatraz here?”

“Alcatraz… is busy, so I didn’t call him.”

Lucrecia gave a vague excuse.

She still wasn’t sure if she believed Wade’s words.

Alcatraz manipulating the Demon King, being the true enemy of the Four Heavenly Kings—such claims were difficult to accept.

However, there was no harm in taking precautions.

Darkan didn’t seem suspicious of her reasoning.

“Well, that guy is always busy with useless things. So, what do you want to talk about?”

“This war.”

“We talk about that every day. No need for a special meeting.”

“I mean… about a truce. What do you two think about ending the battle here and having both the Demon King’s army and the humans withdraw?”

Lucrecia carefully broached the subject.

Darkan answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“I was wondering where this was going… A truce? That’s ridiculous. They’ve invaded this far, and you expect us to just bow our heads and step back?”

“I see. So, both of you think the same way?”

“Are you afraid we’ll lose, Lucrecia? That’s not like you.”

“The Demon King’s army will never lose. That’s not why I brought this up. I’m doing this for the Demon King’s sake.”

Darkan shook his head.

“For the Demon King? You’re not seriously going to tell us that the Demon King has fallen for a human, are you? Have you been brainwashed by a demon?”

“I’m more clear-headed than ever.”

“Then why are you spouting nonsense?”

Lucrecia could understand why Darkan and Bellard reacted that way.

She had thought the same as them before.

However, after spending time with Wade, she had learned too much to ignore.

“I saw humans who sincerely like the Demon King over there. I even saw one who loves her.”

“It’s all deception.”

“Deception? That could be the case. But the real issue is that the Demon King likes them.”

“That again? That must mean the Demon King has fallen for their tricks…”

“No.”

Lucrecia raised her hand, cutting off Darkan’s words.

“You know that’s not true. The Demon King wasn’t deceived—she truly started to like humans. You must have sensed it too, didn’t you?”

There was a moment of silence.

“There have been signs for a long time. We just didn’t want to acknowledge them. I’ve simply come to terms with that simple fact.”

The once emotionless Demon King had begun to show diverse expressions after visiting the outside world.

Sometimes she smiled, frowned, or looked troubled.

Her steps had become lighter, and she went to bed each night with an expectant look on her face.

She started talking to the demons more often.

The Demon King, who had once been content eating nothing but magic-infused plants, had begun requesting real food.

And the one who had never known falsehood had somehow learned how to lie.

The Four Heavenly Kings, who had stayed by the Demon King’s side for so long, knew it well.

She had changed.

“I thought about it all day,” Lucrecia said.

“If she is that happy… If she loves humans that much… Is it truly right for us to wage war against them?”

“We can’t stop the war. If we do, the demons’ status will plummet.”

“Darkan, I think you’re misunderstanding something. Since when did we fight for the demons? Haven’t we always fought for the Demon King?”

“Me, Lucrecia, Darkan, Bellard… Before we became the Four Heavenly Kings, before we gained power, we were all destined to die in the streets. And who was it that took us in?”

“The great Demon King.”

“Exactly. Our duty isn’t to win wars or slaughter humans. Our true role is to protect the Demon King and follow her will.”

Lucrecia didn’t trust Wade.

She didn’t care about his dreams of a world where humans and demons coexisted in peace, nor about his warnings regarding Alcatraz.

She had simply made a choice—to act for the sake of the Demon King.

Meanwhile, the Imperial Army celebrated another victory.

They had suffered some sacrifices, but pushing back the Demon King’s forces in a battlefield as unfavorable as the canyon was a significant achievement.

“It’s all thanks to Lord Wade,” said Nervas.

Inside the command tent, where the noble heads of families and commanders had gathered to celebrate, he spoke without hesitation.

“His power was truly overwhelming. Even as the demons’ magic rained down like a storm, he tore right through it all.”

“Is that really so impressive?”

“Impressive? It was beyond that! Even if all the heads of the noble families gathered, it would be impossible to cast such powerful magic. He’s practically a god of magic!”

When I casually questioned it, Nervas and the others made a great fuss.

After the canyon battle, I returned to find that, in their eyes, I had transcended being a mere hero—I had become a divine figure.

All I did was break through enemy lines to meet Victoria, yet it must have left a huge impression.

Regallant, a noble standing beside Nervas, bellowed with a voice loud enough to shake the tent.

“Kuhaha! And that’s not all! Lord Wade’s charge through the demons, all the way to the Demon King herself, was the pinnacle of bravery!”

“Haha…”

“The sheer audacity of diving into an army of thousands without hesitation is incredible enough, but to cut through their formation without a single scratch? Even after spending my life on the battlefield, I’ve never seen anything like it!”

The nobles were in a frenzy, endlessly proclaiming their admiration.

If I just sat there listening, it seemed they would continue their praises until morning.

So I nodded appropriately and slipped out of the tent.

Thinking I had finally caught a break—

“Lord Wade.”

Nervas had followed me outside, along with Regallant and Altera.

Unlike their excitement in the tent, they had now returned to their usual composed selves.

“Apologies for holding you up, but there’s something we must tell you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s not yet confirmed information, so we were unsure whether to report it to you…”

Nervas glanced around, making sure no one else was nearby, then lowered his voice.

Seeing that they deliberately chose a place with no people around, it seemed like a sensitive topic.

What were they trying to say?

“The one who is always by Wade-nim’s side, Kalian.”

“What about him?”

“We received information that he might be colluding with the Demon King.”

“Kalian and the Demon King…?”

“Yes. I heard that when the Demon King disguised himself as a human, he was quite close to Kalian. I wouldn’t have thought much of it, but… there are rumors that Kalian has feelings for the Demon King.”

My head went blank.

What? How did they find out?

The fact that Kalian and Victoria have feelings for each other is something only a handful of people, myself included, know.

There’s no way this information could have been leaked.

At most, when the two of them clashed at the empire’s border, there was some suspicious dialogue exchanged, but all the soldiers present were in a state of panic at the time.

Did someone just make a wild guess?

The idea that a human and the Demon King could have feelings for each other isn’t something that would come up easily.

I calmly asked,

“Where did you get that information?”

“It’s just a rumor we heard.”

“Kalian is the representative of the human army, and yet you’re saying he has feelings for the Demon King? That’s quite the stretch. It’s nonsense.”

“I think so as well… but just in case, please be careful, Wade-nim. There’s a chance he might turn against you at a crucial moment.”

“You don’t need to worry.”

Thankfully, it seemed they had only picked up some baseless gossip.

When Victoria disguised herself as a human, she and Kalian did seem particularly close, which might have sparked these rumors.

If that were the case, though, I should be getting caught up in similar rumors as well, but I hadn’t heard anything about myself.

Could it be that I’m under suspicion too?

“Oh, and one more thing.”

Nervas quickly moved on from the topic of Kalian and brought up something new.

“I have a request regarding tomorrow’s battle.”

“What is it?”

“Would it be possible for the three of us to join your unit? Considering your combat style, adding skilled fighters would help ensure stable breakthrough power.”

They wanted to join me?

Was today’s battle that impressive to them?

Or… were they making this proposal with Kalian in mind?

I couldn’t say for certain, but I should keep my guard up.

More than that, though, having them around would make it difficult to talk to Victoria if I got the chance to meet her.

Starting tomorrow, we’ll be launching another siege using the inner walls, so I probably won’t have a chance to see her for a while.

But keeping them by my side still wouldn’t be a good choice.

I shook my head.

“That won’t work. My breakthrough strategy relies on the other family heads maintaining their formations in their respective positions. The current setup is ideal.”

“I see. Understood.”

“Disappointed?”

“Of course. How often does one get the opportunity to fight alongside a transcendent? But if that is Wade-nim’s decision, we will humbly follow it.”

Nervas, Regallant, and Altera bowed their heads respectfully.