Chapter 11: Big Sister?

The holy knights were stationed several kilometers south of the Blackstone Mountains. 

They wore thick white armor, each helmet bearing a cross that symbolized sanctity. 

They guarded this barren land because, just a few kilometers away at an outpost, two important figures were currently holding talks.

The Demon King, Isabella Seter.

The Grand Commander of the Holy Knights had personally walked into the outpost to meet face-to-face with the legendary strongest demon. 

She had brought only two elite holy knights as escorts, stepping into the unknown between life and death. 

This was entirely her own decision!

The outpost was a tall tower bristling with jagged, wolf-fang-like spikes; a frontline demon watchtower.

Inside, Elsa strode straight toward the innermost chamber with her two guards, passing between ferocious demons without the slightest trace of fear.

Demon King Isabella had been waiting for some time.

To the Isabella standing before her, Elsa declared:

“Hand over the captives, and only then will the Holy Knight Order consider showing mercy to your demons.”

“Your human vanguard was the first to act rudely, and now you dare threaten us?”

“I have nothing more to say to demons.”

Beneath her mask, Elsa’s beautiful face was etched with disdain and fury.

The knight order’s scouting vanguard had been intercepted on the road by the Demon King, captured, and thrown into cages. 

This was nothing less than a humiliating disgrace for the advancing knights.

But Elsa’s true purpose was to find her older sister.

Before the real war began, she wanted to probe the demons first. 

That was why this meeting with the Demon King had been arranged.

“I’m giving you only two choices, Demon King. Release our prisoners and surrender, or the Demon King’s Castle will fall along with you to our holy knights.”

“And if I refuse?”

At those words, fury blazed in Isabella’s eyes. She unleashed a powerful pressure that instantly forced Elsa’s two guards to their knees.

“Many years ago, you humans plundered our demon race’s golden age. Now you greedily march forward again? There is nothing left to discuss.”

“Indeed.”

Elsa was completely unaffected by Isabella’s pressure. 

As Grand Commander, she stood among the absolute peak combatants on the human side. 

She gave a contemptuous smile, showing not an ounce of fear toward the Demon King.

“If my older sister, the Silver-White Sword Empress Gabriella, had not been captured by your despicable methods, the demons would have been wiped out after that battle! Your kind should have been exterminated long ago!”

As she spoke, overwhelming power erupted from Elsa’s body. 

A silver aura, pure and beautiful just like her sister’s, surged forth. Yet she knew full well that she was still far inferior to her sister.

Eight years ago, a priest sent by the Church had personally delivered heartbreaking news to her while she was training with the knight order.

“Lady Gabriella went missing during the battle against the Demon King… We were powerless. I’m sorry.”

That day, Elsa had immediately questioned the returning members of the knight order, then cried the entire night.

In truth, she had been furious.

Because she knew the Church and the knight order were not actually powerless to save her sister. 

They had the means to ransom her or to continue the fight.

Yet they had chosen not to.

Humanity had abandoned her sister.

They hadn’t even been willing to try.

As long as Lady Gabriella was dead, the Church higher-ups could divide her inheritance among themselves.

Elsa was extremely wealthy.

She had saved every coin her sister had ever given her, bought knight equipment, traveled by carriage to great cities to train under masters, passed the magic academy entrance exam within a few years, graduated in just two years as a “magic swordswoman,” and then, in a single year, rose from “apprentice holy knight” to “Grand Commander of the Holy Knight Order.”

She had never wasted time leading armies or indulging in luxury. 

Instead, she traveled the world, continuously growing stronger. 

And now, at long last, she finally had the chance to lead an army to subjugate the demons!

“Isabella, Demon King, you are not invincible. Let me and my knights show you the might of humanity! Our glory and honor!”

She had made up her mind.

She would fight all the way to the Demon King’s Castle, and before the Demon King surrendered, she would force her to reveal where her sister was!

The power radiating from her body grew ever stronger, putting the surrounding demons on high alert. 

They raised their weapons and aimed at her.

Whether to vent her anger or to display her overwhelming strength,

Elsa extended her hand and summoned a beam of silver light that BOOMED through the outpost wall in an instant!

It was the same sacred power her sister wielded.

Poor Elsa had no idea that the sister she missed day and night was right now carrying a basket, smiling brightly, and walking straight toward the outpost.

Gabriella was inwardly ecstatic~

This time, she had added some sweet tomato sauce to the sandwiches; a delicious sauce mixed exactly to Isabella’s tastes. 

She was secretly looking forward to the expression the Demon King would make when she tasted it.

Ignoring the demon soldiers trying to stop her, she reached the vicinity of the outpost.

“Lady Gabriella?”

“It is the Queen Consort!”

Gabriella completely ignored them.

The soldiers didn’t dare do anything presumptuous and all knelt in salute.

She was only a few meters from the tower, about to circle around to the main entrance…

Suddenly, Gabriella sensed an immense surge of power.

Huh?

That power felt… somewhat familiar.

But before she could think further, still immersed in her own little world,

KABOOM!

The silver light Elsa unleashed blasted through the outpost wall and shot straight toward her!

Gabriella twisted aside, swiftly leaping out of the way.

But…

“…Nn.”

As the rubble settled, Gabriella’s heart sank.

She stared at her now nearly empty basket and at the sandwiches and cookies scattered across the ground.

Her beautiful face darkened with gloom. 

Those gorgeous turquoise eyes turned ice-cold, sharp enough to kill.

She snapped her head up and glared at the culprit who had destroyed the lunch and desserts she had spent an entire morning preparing.

Through the hole in the wall, she saw the girl radiating silver power.

“Who the hell… Oh, it’s some damn knight?”

Her voice was cold and detached, laced with barely suppressed rage as she let out a chilling laugh.

At the exact same moment, Elsa looked in her direction.

She had been seething with anger over Isabella, but the instant she saw the maid-dressed girl, she froze.

Silver-white hair, a figure seven parts petite and three parts mature, long legs hidden beneath white stockings and a black maid skirt; adorable yet teasingly sensual.

All the power surging from Elsa instantly vanished. 

Beneath her mask, her sky-blue eyes widened in shock as her trembling voice escaped:

“Big… Sister?”