Volume 7 Chapter 7 Demon Lord
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Velis restrained Letticia with a hand.
”Letticia. I must march to battle as the Demon Lord. I appreciate your counsel, but… we cannot win by cowering in the castle.”
The noble faction loyal to Velis began to echo Letticia’s call for a defensive strategy.
Soon, nobles from the Fabulanova and Gwain factions actively supported the idea of fortifying the castle and urged Shifa to reconsider.
Before long, the voices advocating for defense overwhelmed the audience chamber.
I glanced at Aldo, who had proposed a decisive field battle.
He wore a composed expression.
In fact, he was smiling.
…He’s definitely up to something sinister.
That scoundrel Aldo…
”…Your Majesty! I previously suggested that the plan to lead the expeditionary army into a field battle be discarded. Most of the gathered nobles support fortification. Supporting such a strategy implies that you would lead the troops in defense, yes? Surely, among the nobles assembled here, there are none who support this but refuse to engage the troops, are there? Lord Velis?”
For a brief moment, an eerie silence fell over the tumultuous audience chamber where Aldo’s words had thrown the supporters of the defense strategy into disarray.
”…Surely, those who serve Your Majesty would not speak with such duplicitous tongues.”
Velis and the surrounding nobles all responded with troubled expressions.
”Then, it seems the best course of action is indeed to fortify Eternita. Lord Blackdagger is at his best in a defensive battle. We would like Your Majesty to command the army from the royal castle.”
Although Shifa had intended to lead the expedition, he shook his head at Aldo’s suggestion.
”I said I would lead the expedition. To not leave the royal castle would not be a proper campaign. Even in a defensive battle, I will move my position to the outer wall. I will stand on the front lines alongside my soldiers to protect the people. Those assembled here, if you claim to be my vassals, I ask you to lend me your strength to protect the people on the front lines.”
Shifa was offering to stand on the front lines, even in a defensive battle.
There was no sign of fear or apprehension on his face.
If he isn’t a regent like Gwain, then he might actually have the qualities of a great ruler.
I could only hope that surviving the battle with Gertroud would allow Aldo and Velis to lead us in a more positive direction.
”Your Majesty Shifa! This Kent Blackdagger has been moved by Your Majesty’s heart! As a loyal subject of the Kingdom, I once again volunteer to fight to protect our people!”
”Oh, Kent. If you are by my side, I feel as if I have the strength of a hundred… no, a thousand… even ten thousand reinforcements! I apologize for being a feeble king, but I need your help.”
Shifa tightly gripped my hand.
”Your Majesty! I will fight alongside you!”
”I count on you too, Aldo.”
Aldo knelt, bowing to Shifa in reverence.
One by one, the other nobles who had lagged behind began to pay their respects to Shifa.
Soon, every noble present in the audience chamber had bowed to Shifa.
”I accept everyone’s loyalty; I will hold it dear.”
Thus, it was decided that Shifa would be appointed as the overall general to face the Living Dead army led by Orphée Bleu in Eternita.
In terms of numbers, my forces combined with my father-in-law’s would stand at around 8 thousand, while Aldo’s troops from the Dracul family would add another 3 thousand, with an estimated ten thousand soldiers mobilized from the noble families near the Capital City.
A total force of over 20 thousand would now be preparing to fortify Capital City Eternita to confront Gertroud’s army.
However, the overall commander was set to be my father-in-law, Arbalest Haydon, while I would be in charge of the 8 thousand soldiers that made up our combined forces.
And then, that night, as we were hosting Aldo and his fiancée for a dinner meeting at the distant palace to discuss our future strategies, an unusual incident occurred.
”Sir Kent! T-Trouble! H-H-Hurry!”
The guard, Orga, burst into the dining room, her words tumbling out in a frenzy.
”Get it together!”
Milly seemed to be thinking the same thing, and she scolded the female Orga.
”S-Sorry! I lost my composure for a moment… Allow me to report properly. Your Majesty has arrived with the ladies to visit Sir Kent!”
Pffft!
Cough! Cough!
At the report from the female Orga, Aldo, who was eating the Japanese dish Keith had prepared, suddenly choked.
I couldn’t help but spit out the grilled eel I was eating along with him.
”Sir Aldo… that’s rather poor etiquette. You’re getting sauce all over your mouth.”
The Dragonia woman Aldo introduced as his fiancée, when traced back to her origins, turned out to be the daughter of a prestigious family directly connected to the royal house of the Black Dragon Dukedom.
I was told she was a distant cousin to our own Dee and Ludmila.
She was strikingly beautiful—so much so that she seemed an odd match for the rather stout Aldo.
He warned me that if I ever turned her into a Carrier, we would become enemies… but he also asked me to protect her if he were to die.
”Kent, you’ve got rice stuck in your mouth as well.”
Milly picked the grain of rice from my mouth and brought it to her own.
Ms. Milly… that too is a breach of etiquette… No, wait, this isn’t the time for that!
Your Majesty is here!
”Hurry and let them in!”
The female Orga dashed out as if propelled by a spring.
A while later, Shifa entered the dining room in simple attire.
Behind him followed 4 succubi women.
”So Miriallia is here today; it’s been a while. Even so, Miriallia has found herself a fine partner. I took a good look at the man who won over the woman who once rejected me… but if it’s Kent, then even I can hold my head high.”
”Haha, hearing you say that makes me feel at ease.”
Milly, burdened by her past with Shifa, was more tense than usual.
Just then, a succubus woman standing next to Shifa hurled a sharp retort.
”Miriallia! Do you know how uncomfortable it was for us sisters because you disregarded Father’s orders and dashed out of the house?!”
It was Irmgard, Shifa’s legitimate wife, who hurled insults at Milly.
She was the second daughter of Gwain and had become Shifa’s wife in Milly’s stead.
At Irmgard’s harsh words, Milly’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
Oh no, Black Milly is about to activate!
Milly despised Irmgard, the daughter of Estelle, who had deposed their mother Lila as the legitimate wife.
If Irmgard weren’t Her Majesty’s wife, Milly might have already captured her and subjected both her and her mother to a cruel fate as her pets.
”Oh, really? So you’ve experienced a tight squeeze… My condolences.”
”How dare you speak like that to Sister Irmgard! Even as the eldest daughter, it’s disrespectful for a vassal like you to address her in such a way… Eek!”
The red-haired succubus beside Irmgard, speaking haughtily, was presumed to be the third daughter, Ferraris.
She was born from a different mother than Milly and Irmgard.
When Milly shot her a glare, she instinctively stepped back, hiding behind Irmgard.
”Your Majesty… to glare at us, your concubines, is quite disrespectful.”
The 4th daughter, Dorianne, was also a daughter of Estelle, just like Irmgard.
As for the fifth daughter, Silvana, she seemed unable even to look Milly in the eye.
”Milly… We’re in front of Her Majesty, so let’s all get along, alright?”
”That’s impossible. Those girls don’t think that way at all.”
Shifa was trying to mediate with his wife Irmgard, but it seemed she was just as stubborn.
With no other option, I decided to change the topic.
”By the way, Your Majesty, what brings you here tonight?”
”Ah, right. Irmgard had a request for us to defend the territory of the Haydon Marquis family in the north. I had informed Irmgard that I decided to go into a siege, but…”
Shifa looked at Irmgard with an awkward expression.
Irmgard must have come to her desperate about defending her family, regardless of the war situation.
With Gwain, the head, missing and presumed dead, it was thought that Estelle, Irmgard’s mother, would be in charge of the Gwain faction.
”Don’t be foolish! Your Majesty! There’s no way we can defend anywhere outside of Capital City!”
Aldo stood up, his face beet red with anger.
”I know that much. But Irmgard…”
”Your Majesty… I wish for the disposal of my foolish younger sister. To whisper to Your Majesty that she should defend her own territory, ignoring the current situation, is tantamount to treason. Please, I beg you, dispose of my sister for the sake of Miriallia.”
Milly was fuming at her sisters’ incompetence and was pressing Shifa for a punishment.
”Wait, wait. Irmgard and the others have served me faithfully. You can’t just casually demand their disposal.”
”But, these women are ignoring Your Majesty’s wishes.”
”Milly. Even if she’s your sister, to suggest disposing of Your Majesty’s queen is not something a subject should say. We should hold back.”
While such a statement in an official setting would result in Milly being punished, this was an informal, internal discussion, so her words were left unchallenged.
”Kent… I’m sorry. Your Majesty, I apologize as well.”
Milly also apologized, considering the impact her words could have, but her eyes glared daggers at her sisters.
”Fine. I hope Irmgard and the others won’t say things like that again. I want my sisters to get along.”
Irmgard was furious that her opinion hadn’t been heard.
”Your Majesty! So you’re saying you’ll just let your family be destroyed? Isn’t that too cruel?”
”Lady Irmgard, it’s highly likely that the northern territories will be ignored. Gertroud has already started moving south towards the Capital City, and the Black Dragon Army is preparing to intercept.”
Aldo tried to persuade the unyielding Irmgard, his frustration simmering beneath his calm demeanor.
”But isn’t it true that the Black Dragon Army is communicating with the enemy? And I’ve heard rumors that they might change their target and attack my family estate at any moment. Can you take responsibility, Mr. Aldo, if such a situation arises?!”
”Irmgard… calm down. If you continue to focus solely on defending the estate, I, as the general, will have no choice but to punish you. I don’t want to do that. Understand?”
”No! Please, send troops to defend the estate?!”
SNAP!
There was a sound of something breaking.
In that instant, Milly whisked Irmgard away to the adjacent room with amazing speed.
I couldn’t stop Milly, her movements were too smooth.
Ahh!
Milly’s cut off!
This is bad… I don’t want her to kill Irmgard, but the possibility of subjecting her to such exquisite torture is too tempting to ignore!
”Milly! Stop! Don’t be hasty!”
”I will properly scold Irmgard. Miriallia.”
His Majesty and I pounded on the locked door of the adjacent room, calling out to Milly in an attempt to stop her.
From inside, we could hear Irmgard’s gasping breaths and a low, growling sound.
”No. As the head of the succubus clan, I must reeducate this foolish sister of mine. This is a matter of our race. Your Majesty, I hope you will understand. She may change a bit in character, but I will present you with a girl who will serve you even better than before.”
It’s too late──!
We’ve already lost control… She’s got His Majesty right where she wants him…
”Your Majesty… I’m sorry… My wife has gone berserk.”
”…Few could possibly stop Miriallia, the Black Dagger of the Dream Demon… And if the chieftain brings up the issue of race, not even I, the Demon Lord, can intervene or punish… Even if she was the Demon Lord’s consort… Irmgard was far too reckless.”
Shifa also regretted being dragged here by Irmgard.
Ferraris, Dorianne, and Silvana huddled together, trembling as they stared at the locked room.
They could break down the door and rescue Irmgard, but there was a chance they would see something they shouldn’t.
Everyone in the room held their breath, maintaining a tense silence.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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