The silver foxes, with their fluffy white ears and tails, naturally settled as the regional rulers after learning how to survive in the northern wastelands for a long time.
In the north, iron, which is just below gold, was rarely produced, so human invasions were frequent, which also attracted the attention of the demon lords.
Thanks to this, they were able to proudly establish themselves as a prestigious monster family.
However, compared to the Reaper family, located near the Raven Gorge close to Underis, their influence was still minimal.
In fact, the daughter of the Reaper family, Lauro, was already registered as the number one among S-rank monsters.
Roshi, who had already been surpassed by Lauro a long time ago, felt undeniable inferiority.
Because of this, she decided that, with the backing of Kan, who was considered the rising sun, she would proudly claim the position of the strongest monster in the demon world.
“…If Kan attends the monster social gathering and supports me just once, that will be enough.”
The conditions presented were not bad.
All they had to do was publicly declare an alliance with the prestigious Silver Fox family and acknowledge their friendship with Roshi.
“Furthermore, I wish to maintain a continuous relationship with Kan, and if possible, get engaged.”
For other monsters, this would be an easy condition to accept. Not only would they gain a noble name, but they would also acquire the beautiful and glamorous body and mind of the fox—there would be no downside.
However, Kan was looking far beyond Roshi’s expectations.
“I refuse. I don’t know what kind of ambitions you foxes have, nor do I know exactly who you have grudges against.”
This meant he had no intention of becoming a political tool.
The polite tone of voice had already disappeared.
Roshi’s white eyelashes fluttered.
Although Kan was recognized as a powerful being, even by dragons, his lineage was still that of an ordinary monster.
At a time when many noble monsters were eager to become royalty and even sought the position of the demon king’s concubine, Kan was boldly rejecting alliances with nobles.
Roshi, recalling the conversation she had overheard on the airship, bit her lip slightly.
“…Is it because of Lauro?”
“What?”
When Kan flinched, surprised, Roshi’s suspicion turned into certainty.
She suppressed the bitterness born from her inferiority complex and said as firmly as she could.
“Isn’t Lauro, the daughter of the Reaper family, someone you already have feelings for? Of course, it’s okay. I don’t mind being second. I’m confident I can become first.”
“No, it’s not that… More than that, I—”
Before Kan could say anything, Damon stepped in, puffing out his chest.
A mesmerizing light flickered in his eyes.
“Don’t mess around just because you have a family name. I’m the second.”
Next to him, Rain, who was of the same beastman species, but who was overwhelmed in every aspect—lineage, ability, and appearance—by her rival’s appearance, bared her fangs and shouted timidly.
“Foxes are worse than wolves!”
Rupia, who had been slumped on the throne, startled awake and ran toward Kan, her short legs almost invisible as she rushed to hug his leg.
“My, my general! I spent more than half of the entire dungeon’s fortune to summon you!”
It wasn’t a lie.
Kan gave Rupia’s small back a pat and tried to calm the situation.
“First, Roshi. You seem to have misunderstood something. I have no relationship with Lauro.”
Roshi nodded, recalling the words Kan had said on the airship about ‘having lived together for a short time.’
Kan seemed indifferent, but Lauro looked uncomfortable during that encounter.
“I understand. She was a past lover, correct?”
“I don’t know where you heard that, but we’re not lovers or anything. We’re just acquaintances.”
The reason Kan couldn’t say Lauro was an old subordinate was that their contract, which had bypassed the monster broker, was illegal.
Roshi flinched slightly and said,
“Is, is that so? I must have misunderstood.”
Although she called it a misunderstanding, her gaze still held doubt.
“In that case, I think the story will be easier. If I get engaged to the girl and form an alliance with the largest power in the northern demon world, the Silver Fox family, wouldn’t that benefit my lord as well?”
At those words, Rupia, who had been standing with her arms crossed and sulking, responded instead with a pout.
“I have no intention of having the general enter into a political marriage. Hmph.”
She didn’t stutter like usual.
Kan shrugged and looked at Roshi.
“That’s my lord’s decision.”
Roshi silently glared at Rupia and took a step back before speaking.
“When the conquest of Masan begins, I will surely prove it. That the girl is better than Lauro.”
“…I already said I have no relationship with Lauro.”
“I already said I’m the concubine, didn’t I?”
“The reason wolves are better than foxes is…”
“My, my general!”
Kan’s skull rang dizzily.
As the atmosphere grew chaotic and the attention of other guests who had arrived at the dungeon turned toward them, he removed the burning firewood.
“Let’s pretend we didn’t hear anything. Take back what you brought.”
Roshi firmly shook her head, refusing.
“If you refuse the gift, the girl will have no face to meet the family head. Please accept it.”
At the same time, she respectfully presented an invitation-like item she had brought in her arms to Kan.
“The next monster social gathering will be held in Underis. You don’t have to stay long, but please attend at least once.”
Roshi handed over the invitation as if she were pushing it onto someone, then left, shaking her tail before any more words could be spoken.
The invitation bore the symbol of the Silver Fox family, a nine-tailed fox.
Late at night, the sky was smiling brightly.
On the castle wall, looking at the crescent moon, Kyleen recalled her lord, Ed.
The legitimate heir of the great warrior Carlos, and the emperor of the continent, known as the ruler of the empire.
The reason Kyleen served a powerful person was simple: she was weak.
Emperor Ed had never acknowledged her from the start. Kyleen had to literally do anything to catch his attention.
During her training days, Kyleen, known as the only “flower” of the knights, endured all kinds of insults and humiliation.
Ed barely even glanced at her.
It was only when Kyleen proved herself by rising to the position of the youngest captain that Ed finally paid attention to her.
However, what the emperor saw was not the scars of honor, but only her fair face.
At the banquet, instead of other soldiers, Ed singled out Captain Kyleen and ordered her to perform the sword dance.
The intention was clear.
Kyleen still felt she was inadequate. She worked hard, and through even more effort, she eventually became the emperor’s sword.
She became the first knight captain and cut down all enemies who challenged Ed.
She rose to a position where she could look down on the bustling army on the highest castle walls.
But Kyleen could not smile as brightly as the sky.
…What is it that disturbs my heart? What clouds my vision?
The Death Knight, Kan.
A wrongly recorded dead witness in the empire’s history.
Now, a revived undead.
It must be him.
If I can meet him just once more, could this tangled feeling in my heart be untangled in some way?
‘If he falls to my sword, it will certainly prove…’
That the emperor was right.
A history of invincibility, and a great knight I respect, could not possibly be defeated.
To clear her muddled mind, Kyleen took out a cigarette from her pocket and lit it.
The high-quality cigarette, with all its effects, was a rare gift from the emperor himself.
Just then, someone approached from the narrow path on the castle wall.
Without torches or lanterns, their face was not immediately visible, but Kyleen’s sharp eyes recognized the figure at once.
“…What brings the sage here?”
Though her words might have sounded arrogant, Kyleen was trying her best to show respect.
The mute sage, Gordon.
He was one of the few clear powerhouses in the empire.
Gordon, wearing a gray robe, pointed with his finger to the area beneath the castle wall in place of his sealed mouth.
Like tiny ants, soldiers were moving busily. The boundary between day and night had blurred due to the siege of Masan and the dungeon attack.
Gordon, who was also heading out for the siege just like Kyleen, had come to observe the situation.
However, Kyleen was not naive enough to take his words at face value.
She lit the cigarette and spoke.
“If you wish to change locations, I will accompany you.”
Hiss.
The flame on the cigarette disappeared in an instant.
Kyleen hadn’t extinguished it.
Gordon had waved his finger and put it out.
When Kyleen stared at him, Gordon shook his head while pointing at the cigarette.
“I appreciate your consideration, but…”
Before Kyleen could politely protest, a massive shadow approached from another direction.
“The captain of the knights is here.”
The grand chancellor of the empire, Alvesto, with his imposing stature, smiled warmly.
Kyleen slightly bowed her head.
“I greet you, Lord Chancellor.”
“I’ve been looking for you… Were you in the middle of an important conversation?”
Kyleen glanced back at Gordon. As always, the sage remained silent without showing any signs of emotion.
Even with her insight, which could see through everything, it was strangely difficult to read Alvesto’s true intentions.
Perhaps, as the chancellor of an entire country, his heart was tangled with hundreds or thousands of intricacies.
She decided to hide her thoughts.
“It’s no problem. What brings you here?”
“This open place isn’t ideal for a conversation. I would appreciate it if you would follow me… Sage, would you mind?”
Gordon silently glared at Alvesto.
“Then, I’ll take that as permission,” Alvesto said, interpreting the sage’s silence as agreement.
Alvesto then disappeared into the castle wall’s shadows, with Kyleen following him.
The sage’s eyes, glowing with a soft blue light, silently watched their retreating figures.