Volume 11 Chapter 1 The True Enemy
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
In Sanrid, within a relatively well-preserved estate whose boarded-up windows kept it hidden from prying eyes, Klock sat in the parlor facing the five girls.
”Rodney was just being threatened!” Viola argued, leaning forward with a sharp glare. “Following the Count was never what she wanted. So do not go being mean to her.”
Mermy immediately stepped up beside her, matching her stance. “Yeah, what she said! Don’t you go messin’ with her, got it?”
From his seat on the sofa, Klock looked at the pair with an unreadable expression. Trapped between them, Rodney hugged herself and glanced back and forth in visible confusion, while Linaria and Rugandia stood behind the group, fighting off sleepy yawns.
”…Yeah, sure.”
His answer was so flat that it almost sounded uninterested.
”You do not even need to ask,” Klock continued. “I am not going to do anything to her.”
Viola folded her arms. “Nah, you’ve gotta say that stuff upfront.”
Mermy nodded vigorously. “Exactly. Men are always lookin’ for faults so they can be jerks. That’s just how you lot are.”
Klock let out a long sigh. “I have not even said anything yet, so quit casting me as the villain.”
Even so, he could not entirely blame them. Things at the Moon Court had clearly been rough. One of the biggest reasons for that—the Count himself—was already gone, and although Klock hoped their distrust would fade with time, he was not optimistic enough to expect it anytime soon.
Then a thought crossed his mind.
A cruel smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
”Though that Barnea bastard is unforgivable for doing whatever he wanted to Rodney.1 Honestly, I wanted to grope her tits and have my way with her too.”
Rodney froze.
Her eyes widened, blinking rapidly as she slapped both hands over her chest and began edging away from him.
Scoot, scoot, scoot.
”Well,” Klock added as his gaze drifted elsewhere, “Rugandia’s not bad either.”
Rugandia stiffened. After exchanging a glance with Rodney, she quickly covered her chest and backed away as well.
Seeing that, Klock’s gaze shifted toward Mermy.
The moment she felt it, Mermy flinched and crossed her arms protectively over her chest before retreating after the others. Linaria sensed where the conversation was headed and quietly backed away without waiting to become the next target.
”Viola…” Klock said thoughtfully before dismissing her with a shrug. “I do not really care about you.”
Viola’s eyes narrowed.
”Hey!”
She grabbed his cheek and twisted hard. Looking down at him as though he were something stuck to the bottom of her shoe, she continued glaring while Klock ignored her entirely. Instead, he found himself appreciating her features from up close. She was undeniably beautiful. It was hardly surprising that so many nobles had been interested in her.
A slow breath escaped him as he looked past her toward the vampire girls.
Some were smiling. Others wore expressions he could not easily read.
Not long ago, they had been enemies standing on the opposite side of the battlefield. Now they were his allies. Just as he had planned, they had descended from the Moon Court to the wasteland. The goal he had set so long ago had finally become reality, and although it felt as though years had passed since then, he had at last reached this point.
”You lot.”
His tone sharpened at once.
”You’re staying indoors for the time being.”
The room quieted.
”Your first instruction is simple. Do absolutely nothing.”
He glanced around to make sure they were listening.
”You’ve probably already heard, but it has been decided that you will not be participating in this war.”
”Is that really okay?” one of the girls asked, sounding genuinely puzzled.
”We only have a truce with the Moon Court,” Klock explained. “If you show up on the battlefield, people will see it as the Vampires betraying the Demon Lord’s Army. That would not be a truce anymore. It would mean you’ve openly joined our side.”
”Sounds convenient for you,” Viola shot back.
”That depends on how you look at it.”
Klock turned his eyes away.
The Demon Lord’s Army remained humanity’s enemy, yet he also occupied a unique position as one of the Chosen Ones. Preserving the Vampire forces while maintaining a place for the Demon Lord’s Army at the negotiating table required a balance delicate enough that a single mistake could ruin everything.
”For now,” he said, jerking a thumb over his shoulder, “I’ve decided to leave you in Kispe’s care.”
Standing quietly behind him was the Great Succubus of the Crimson Spire.
She carried herself with the polished grace of a capable secretary, yet there was something irresistibly charming about her presence. The moment her amethyst eyes swept across the room, tension rippled through the vampire girls.
”Master,” Kispe said, her voice wrapped in refined, icy politeness, “if they are being left in my care, may I assume they are now under my command?”
”Yeah. Cook ’em or fry ’em. Your call.”
Kispe stepped forward with flawless posture.
”Everyone, you are standing a little too close. Please take three steps back.”
The vampires exchanged uncertain looks before obediently retreating in unison, moving with the precision of a practiced drill.
”For your own safety,” Kispe continued with the same terrifyingly pleasant smile, “I will be carving slave marks onto you later. I ask for your understanding.”
The color drained from their faces.
”Slave marks…?”
”Relax. It’s mostly a formality,” Klock said. “If you’ve got them, I can convince everyone around us that you’re safe. Especially you, Viola. Just accept it quietly.”
”…I really can’t be forgiven?”
Kispe tilted her head. Her smile never wavered.
”The Hero is a ruthless person. If she sees Ms. Viola without a slave mark, she may kill her on the spot. You bit Master once before, did you not?”
Viola visibly shrank.
”The slave marks are for the other four,” Kispe explained. “Since Ms. Viola is an apostle, she will instead receive a familiar contract, just like myself.”
”A familiar contract?” one of the girls repeated.
”That is correct.”
For the first time, a faint edge entered Kispe’s voice.
”Ms. Viola’s power will be used to protect Master. Naturally, she has no right to refuse. If she insists on making a fuss about it, I will throw her outside, so please keep that in mind.”
”No, no, no, no! I’ll obey…!!”
The thought of facing the morning sun was enough to crush any resistance Viola still had.
”We can discuss the contract later,” Kispe said. “The situation is urgent, and Master is very busy. We shall handle it once there is time.”
”U-u-su…”
Viola’s shoulders slumped.
”And the rest of you agree as well?”
”Yeees~~~”
Once the matter was settled, the girls drifted into their own conversations and wandered off together, their voices gradually fading into the distance. As the noise disappeared, a surprising silence settled over the room.
Klock found it strangely unsettling.
That loud, colorful group had only just entered his life, yet their absence already felt noticeable.
”Now then,” Kispe said as she turned back toward him. “Has today’s schedule been decided?”
Klock looked at her and was once again reminded how much she resembled a highly capable secretary.
”I’m meeting Hanover again. The northern advance starts tomorrow, so today is for rebuilding and reorganizing the troops.”
”Is it wise to be so relaxed?” Kispe asked calmly. “Orrid may fall at any moment.”
”I know.”
Klock nodded.
”But the meeting with Hanover matters too. If we do not speak today, I do not know when we will get another chance.”
After Kispe returned to the Crimson Spire, Klock finally found himself alone.
The peace lasted only a few moments.
Hurried, uneven footsteps echoed through the estate, and before he could even lift his head, the door burst open.
”Klock~♡”
Alice.
The rabbit girl launched herself straight into his arms.
”I saw you at the Crimson Spire~! You did super great!”
”Instead of watching, how about helping?”
Despite the complaint, he caught her easily and pulled her into an embrace.
”Lady Kispe said, ‘It’s dangerous, don’t go,’” Alice pouted as she wrapped herself around his neck. “She told me to stay and watch from the Crimson Spire.”
”Yeah. That sounds like her.”
Alice immediately puckered her lips.
Klock accepted the kiss, allowing himself a brief moment of relief. Kispe had never appeared during the Battle of Sanrid itself. As always, the succubus only stepped in once victory seemed likely, and she certainly was not the type to gamble her followers on a losing fight.
”You free after this? Wanna make a kid~?” Alice asked brightly.
”I’m so busy I’m getting sick of it, so no.”
Alice’s face collapsed in dramatic disappointment.
”Waaaah! So there’s no time for sex?! Then what do you think I came to the wasteland for?!”
She poked his cheek repeatedly while glaring at him.
Klock had no answer for that.
Instead, he let her complain while he sat there in silence.
The truth was that he was exhausted. Ever since forming the Brigante Troop, it felt as though he had lived through a lifetime’s worth of battles. Even so, there was no turning back now.
Only one step remained.
The succubi, the vampires, and the beast-kin were no longer threats.
All that remained was to drive Bandanzine’s Demonkin from the Human Continent.
Once that was done, Klock’s long and grueling assignment would finally come to an end.
As that thought lingered in his mind, Alice studied his face for a moment before suddenly waving him over.
”Hey, come here.”
With a light hop, she slipped off his side and trotted toward the corner of the room, curling her fingers in a beckoning gesture.
”What is it?” Klock asked.
”You’ve got such a gloomy look on your face, silly! Let me cheer you up!” Alice chirped.2
The grin she flashed him was so shamelessly mischievous that Klock immediately understood what she meant. Apparently, Alice still believed every problem a man had could be solved with affection and physical attention.
A dry laugh escaped him.
”…Alice. You want to get married?”
”Yayyy! I’m super happy right now! Sure!”
The answer came without even a second of hesitation.
Klock could not help shaking his head. Somehow, she had already skipped past the present conversation and arrived at marriage.
For a short while, he allowed himself to forget about war, politics, and strategy. By the time Alice finally seemed satisfied, he felt a little less weighed down than before.
”Feeling better?” she asked proudly.
Far too proud, considering the circumstances.
Even so, her relentless cheerfulness managed to chip away at his fatigue in a way few others could.
Later, Klock made his way through the camp outside Sanrid with Alice hanging from his arm. She clearly had no intention of letting him focus on work. At this point, she had become less of an escort and more of a persistent distraction.
Then, without warning, she bolted.
Klock blinked in confusion as she vanished.
Two seconds later, he understood.
A wolf scent.
Rosetta shot past like a storm unleashed, her hunting instincts taking over completely. It took less than ten seconds for her to catch her target.
When she returned, Alice dangled helplessly from her jaws, dizzy and thoroughly defeated.
It seemed that even a succubus could not completely overcome the instincts of her original species.
After rescuing Alice before the situation could deteriorate any further, Klock met with Kuzuha and Rosetta to prepare for the following day’s operations.
A courier was dispatched to Dayrid carrying news of Sanrid’s liberation and the planned rescue of Orrid from the south. There were wounded to treat, supply lines to inspect, and the Brigante Troop itself to reorganize. The work never seemed to end.
Before anyone realized it, the sun had already begun to sink below the horizon.
When twilight finally settled over the land, Klock met with Hanover once again.
”I know you’re busy,” Klock said. “Sorry for calling on you again so soon.”
”Don’t worry about it,” Hanover replied. “I was interested in hearing what you had to say. More importantly, how are things on your side?”
”The nobility are arguing over our future course. Calling it peaceful would be generous.”
Their meeting took place in the same estate currently housing Viola and the others. The choice had been made mostly out of necessity; there simply were not many buildings left in suitable condition. Viola had also insisted on attending, perhaps because she still found it difficult to believe the Moon Court had truly fallen.
Klock sat across from Hanover with Primlena and Alice standing guard behind him. Viola and Rugandia remained near the wall, while Linaria and the others waited elsewhere to keep the room from becoming crowded.
When Hanover’s gaze drifted toward them, both vampire girls visibly stiffened.
Technically, they no longer belonged to Moon Court society. They had been handed over as restitution. Even so, habits and loyalties built over years did not disappear overnight.
”May I ask you something?” Hanover said.
”What is it?”
”When we spoke earlier, I sensed resentment toward us. Given that, was sparing us really the correct choice?”
The question caught Klock slightly off guard.
He had expected criticism regarding Barnea. Instead, Hanover had gone straight to the heart of the matter.
”If I were only fighting the Demonkin and the vampires, I might have considered wiping you out.”
”Meaning?”
Hanover’s questions always felt deliberate. Each one seemed designed to reveal what kind of person Klock truly was.
”Fighting the Demon Lord’s Army means fighting every race on the Demon Continent. If I exterminate one group, the others will assume they’ll be next. Once people believe defeat means extinction, they’ll fight with everything they have.”
No one willingly accepted slaughter.
An enemy convinced there was no future in surrender became far more dangerous than one offered another path.
”But if I spare you, I become the man who lets defeated enemies live. That gives other tribes options. Depending on how the war develops, some may defect. Others may surrender.”
Hanover listened without interruption.
”Surrender is dangerous,” Klock continued. “A surrendered army remains intact, and those soldiers can become a problem later. Many rulers see surrender as inconvenient for exactly that reason. But when people believe laying down their arms guarantees nothing, they fight to the bitter end.”
”So destroying your enemies recklessly would only make future wars harder?”
”Exactly.”
Klock nodded.
”Look at Bandanzine. He’s slaughtering humans everywhere he goes. That’s why people are resisting him so fiercely.”
There was another reason as well.
Mass slaughter frightened allies almost as much as enemies. Once people began questioning whether such bloodshed was truly necessary, trust started to erode.
Whenever possible, slaughter was a tool best left unused.
”I see,” Hanover said. “A practical judgment rather than a sentimental one. I was worried you might start talking about mercy.”
Klock merely shrugged.
As expected, Hanover evaluated people through logic rather than ideals. That made him difficult to deal with, but it also made him predictable.
”Let’s move on,” Klock said. “Tell me about Parl.”
The court sorceress of the Beast Country.
A dark mage who served as a strategist within the Demon Lord’s Army.
A former member of the first Hero’s party.
She had destroyed nations, dealt with the Abyss, betrayed the Void, and turned against both the Hero and the Saint. Her reputation alone marked her as a threat impossible to ignore.
”You called Parl a ‘wicked Forest Person.’ Were you enemies from the beginning?”
”Partly. But her conduct within the Demon Lord’s Army was notorious from the start.”
”Notorious how?”
”The woman spreads misery wherever she goes. The roads she walks end in corpses. And that applies to allies as much as enemies. Once she decides someone has become an obstacle, their fate is sealed. Everyone on the Council of the United Kingdoms knows her name.”
”Is that what happened to Revealer?”
”That was a particularly tragic case. At the time, I do not think anyone fully understood what she was.”
Even Hanover seemed disgusted when speaking of her.
That alone told Klock more than any formal report could.
”You mentioned Revealer met a terrible end.”
”His soul was torn from his body and destroyed.”
Klock frowned.
Immediately, he remembered Palze and her discussions of rebirth. Even that process involved separating a soul from its vessel.
”I do not know every detail,” Hanover admitted. “The story came from the Keepers of the Light, not from my own observations. However, one thing is certain. She possesses the ability to separate souls from living people.”
”And how do you know that?”
”Because she did it to herself.”
Klock stared.
”To herself?”
”If you have seen her, then you’ve noticed how young she appears. A Forest Person normally lives eight hundred to a thousand years. Parl has already exceeded that.”
A chill crept into the room.
”She should have died centuries ago. Instead, she possesses the body of someone far younger.”
”Wait…”
Klock’s expression tightened.
”You cannot be serious.”
”It is exactly what you are thinking. That body is not hers.”
Hanover paused.
”It belongs to her younger sister, Lulua Forestier.”
For a moment, Klock could only stare.
The conversation had crossed into territory that should not have been possible.
”Her sister died only a few years after birth, more than twelve hundred years ago. Parl exhumed the body and restored it through necromancy. Then, when her own lifespan finally reached its limit, she transferred her soul into that vessel.”
”…You’re serious.”
An older sister inhabiting her younger sister’s resurrected body.
The idea was so grotesque that Klock struggled to find a response.
Years ago, he would have dismissed such a story as fantasy.
Now, he could not.
”She is a necromancer,” Hanover continued. “But she does far more than animate corpses. She recreates the dead perfectly, restoring everything except the soul. That is why we suffered such devastating defeats against her. She would send our own dead relatives against us. If we destroyed them, she simply raised them again and sent them back.”
Klock grimaced.
”Her history is insane. So are her methods.”
”She is undoubtedly an Abyssal Apostle. To the Grand Cathedral, she is the eternal enemy.”
Abyssal Apostle.
The title fit.
Klock had already known Parl Forestier was dangerous. He knew she had betrayed Teekua. Even so, the reality was far worse than he had imagined.
”She usually hides her hair beneath a hood,” Hanover added, “but there are reports that parts of it are unnaturally multicolored.”
”Multicolored?”
”Haven’t you heard the stories? People influenced by multiple Otherworlds are said to develop multicolored hair.”
”…Now that you mention it, I have heard something like that.”
”The reports remain unconfirmed. Still, the odds that she has been influenced by both the Abyss and other Otherworlds are extremely high.”
Klock fell silent.
If those rumors were true, then the woman standing before us was not merely an Apostle. She was something far more dangerous.
”I heard the Apostles of the Otherworld were originally limited to six—the Grand Cathedral, the Abyss, and the Fragments,” Klock said, his voice tight with concern. “Does this mean she’s becoming an Abyssal Apostle while somehow retaining her status as another?”
Hanover’s expression remained calm and analytical. “I cannot confirm it. She might be a dual Apostle, or perhaps the result of some twisted experiment. Either way, if you intend to face her, prepare yourself. If you lose, do not expect a clean death. Your body will be harvested and used until nothing remains.”
The image alone turned my stomach. At the same time, I was relieved to learn it now rather than later. She was clearly more dangerous than any Demon Lord, and remembering how I had run into her in the Cat Tower without the slightest warning sent a chill through my blood.
…Speaking of Demon Lords, there was something else I wanted to ask Hanover.
”Changing the subject,” I said, leaning forward, “how much do you know about the Chosen Ones?”
Hanover narrowed his eyes.
”For example, what do you think the titles of the Chosen Ones actually signify?”
”Their roles, surely,” I replied. “The One Who Guards and Lights either illuminates the path of a nation as a Human or protects something as a Vampire. The One Who Bites and Inherits gains an ability through inheritance. It seems straightforward enough. I do not see any reason to overthink the divine naming conventions of Teekua.”
When he put it that way, it sounded reasonable. Looking for hidden meanings where none existed might simply be a waste of effort.
”However,” Hanover said, “The One Who Bites and Inherits is unusual. It inherits a Stellar Skill. If possessing a Stellar Skill is what qualifies someone as a Chosen One, then the lineage carrying that role through the generations could also be considered part of the Chosen Ones.”
”True. I’ve thought about that myself,” I admitted. “Still, it may be more accurate to say that the inherited power eventually became a Unique Skill rather than calling it a seventh Chosen One. Even so, the Inheritor helped me form a hypothesis.”
”A hypothesis?”
”The Chosen Ones exist as a measure against superior entities—those hostile to Teekua or destined to bring disaster upon the world. But that does not necessarily mean those measures are limited to a single threat at any given time.”
”Oh?”
Hanover’s brows rose slightly.
”Otherwise, it does not make sense. If the Inheritor’s role continued through inheritance, then the current Wolfkin royal family is still carrying out a chosen role. Since that power is passed down, it must be preparation for an enemy yet to come. That would mean Teekua was preparing not only for the threat of a century ago but also for the war we’re fighting now.”
”I see.”
”And if that’s true, then some of this generation’s Chosen Ones may also be preparing for dangers that have not appeared yet. Teekua did not create them solely to solve the crisis of a single era.”
”Indeed,” Hanover agreed. “Inheritance itself is preparation for the future.”
It was only a theory. Even if I was right, there was no proof. Still, I was supposedly one of these Chosen Ones. If I truly had a role to fulfill, then I needed to think carefully about what I was preparing for, what actions I should take, and whether I should work together with the others.
”I want to ask one more thing,” I said. “There is still one Chosen One from this generation we have not identified. The One Who Shoots Down. Do you have any leads?”
Hanover let out a slow breath. The look in his eyes suggested he knew more than he wished to say.
”I do not know for certain,” he said. “But I have an idea.”
”Who?”
”This generation’s Chosen Ones possess extraordinary power. Kispe aside, even compared to Apostles of the Otherworld who wield Stellar Skills, they stand out. Naturally, the person standing beside the Hero, who is also a Chosen One, is the most suspicious candidate.”
(Kispe had been casually excluded from the discussion.)
”I see. You mean…”
”The most likely candidate is Lady Primjune.”
Behind me, Primlena drew a sharp breath.
The name did not surprise me. I had suspected it for some time, and part of the reason for this conversation was to confirm that suspicion along with the matter concerning Parl. Ever since learning more about her, I had wondered whether the Demon Lord’s daughter might be a Chosen One.
”I would not call it certain,” Hanover continued. “She could be an Apostle of another Otherworld, or perhaps someone who serves neither side. Bandanzine possesses power comparable to an Apostle despite belonging to a short-lived race with no connection to the Otherworld. Dainheorl is much the same.”
Hanover dismissed the possibility lightly, but the difference between Delphina and figures such as the Demon Lord or Bandanzine felt overwhelming. People claimed she rivaled Cianie herself. It was difficult to imagine anyone reaching that level without some extraordinary background, and although I did not want to believe it, the evidence continued to pile up.
Lizamis was both a Demon Lord and a Chosen One. That fact alone made it highly likely that the One Who Shoots Down belonged to their side as well. The stories surrounding Delphina’s unmatched strength echoed the legends told about Cianie. A century ago, both the Hero and the Demon Lord had been Chosen Ones. There was no reason history could not repeat itself.
”I cannot know without asking her directly,” Hanover said, “but that is hardly realistic.”
At those words, I let out a quiet sigh. Nothing had been confirmed, yet deep down I was already convinced.
The One Who Guards and Lights had been a Vampire, while Lizamis had been a Demon Lord. The Chosen Ones of a century ago were not limited to Humans; they included people from the other continent as well. Since the One Who Shoots Down had never been identified on the Human Continent, it was only natural to suspect someone from either the Beast Country or the Demon Continent. Among them, the person who stood closest to the One Who Stands Against remained the most suspicious candidate of all.
Could the Demon Lord’s daughter, Delphina, be not an enemy but an ally?
”Well, enough of that,” Hanover said, shifting the conversation. “There is one final thing you should know. I do not know whether it relates specifically to your role, but as a Chosen One, you should be aware that a superior entity is hiding behind Parl’s actions.”
”A superior entity?”
It was a phrase I had no desire to hear.
”Have you not heard of the World Tree Beast?”
”No, I know the name,” I replied. “Are you saying that thing is truly a superior entity?”
”The World Tree Beast no longer exists on the same plane as us. That is likely why Teekua has judged it necessary to destroy it.”
I frowned. Hanover spoke as though these conclusions were obvious, but he was moving far faster than I could follow.
”Teekua wants it destroyed?”
”You seem to believe the Chosen Ones of different eras were selected to oppose different superior entities,” Hanover said, “but the World Tree Beast was also the creature rampaging a century ago.”
The image of the enormous wolf-centipede immediately flashed through my mind.
”Then the selection a hundred years ago… was meant to defeat the Purifier?”
”The One Who Guards and Lights fought the World Tree Beast in the Beast Country,” Hanover explained. “No information surfaced afterward, and they disappeared. It is believed they fulfilled their duty and died. The World Tree Beast vanished after devastating the Beast Continent, so most assume the battle ended in mutual destruction.”
The Beast Country.
The World Tree Beast.
If that was true, then the creature Klock had encountered there was not the first appearance since ancient times, but the second.
”It was defeated,” Hanover continued, “but the nightmare did not end there. The World Tree Beast that appeared a century ago was not the true body. The original, which continues growing without limit, remains trapped within the Abyss by some unknown restriction. Yet if Teekua considers it a threat that must be eliminated, it will eventually find a way to emerge.”
”The Purifier… is the enemy the Chosen Ones are meant to defeat…”
The fact that the thing Klock had encountered was only a fragment was unsettling enough. If even that had required such sacrifice to destroy, then the true body would be far worse. A threat on that scale would almost certainly require someone with power equal to Cianie’s.
”The Dark God, Purifier.”
”…What did you say?”
”Parl said it themselves. They called themselves the second god—the one who would replace the Goddess.”
”A god…?”
His thoughts stalled.
”A god? Wait. If that’s true, then Parl is trying to place another god on the throne in Teekua’s stead?”
If that was really the case, then the Purifier was not merely a threat to the world. It was a direct threat to Teekua herself. Assuming its power was not an empty boast, the reason for drawing a Stellar Magic Circle to erase it became painfully clear.
And if Parl was the one enabling that future, then they might be the true target of the Chosen Ones.
Parl Forestier.
The person who betrayed the former Great Saint Teekua.
The sinner who murdered the first Hero.
From Teekua’s perspective, there could hardly be a more dangerous enemy.
The conflict between Humans and Demons, the barriers separating the wasteland from the Otherworld, and all the tangled struggles surrounding them suddenly seemed connected. Hidden beneath everything, lurking in the deepest darkness, stood Parl.
This was no time to concern himself solely with the Demon Lord’s Army or the politics of the Demon Continent. At last, the target of the Chosen Ones was beginning to come into focus.
Defeat Parl.
Stop the birth of a god.
Even if Parl was not the final objective, they were unquestionably one of the most important figures in the world.
He had to capture them.
He had sensed it before, but now the picture was becoming clear. His circumstances, the war between Humans and Demons, the struggle between the Chosen Ones and the Abyss—everything intersected at a single point. And standing in the middle of it all was the Demon Lord’s daughter.
If Delphina truly was a Chosen One, then she occupied a dangerous position.
An enemy.
And an ally.
”Lizamis.”
”Indeed,” the spider-like figure replied in a formal tone.
Once the meeting ended and Hanover departed for the Moon Court, a spider crawled from his shoulder. After making certain the area was secure, he finally turned his attention to Lizamis.
”You promised to talk after the discussion with Hanover.”
”Indeed.” Lizamis lowered himself in a slight bow. “You are one of this generation’s Chosen Ones. If my words can be of any use, I will gladly cooperate.”
The previous day had been difficult for him. Kispe had pinched him, stepped on him, and generally treated him terribly, though Klock had protected him in recognition of his contributions. There was plenty he wanted to ask, including questions about Kupira, but he set those aside for now. Lizamis had suggested hearing Hanover’s explanation first so that everyone could organize the information properly, and Klock had agreed.
”Did you end up like this because your body was stolen?”
”Indeed,” Lizamis replied, a trace of melancholy entering his voice. “It is shameful to admit, but I was defeated. The details of how I came to inhabit this body are a separate matter. What matters now is that Parl Forestier is your enemy.”
His words only reinforced Hanover’s warning.
If Parl truly possessed the ability to tear souls from living bodies, then this conflict would never be simple. He had no idea how they accomplished it, but the thought of facing such a power in battle was terrifying.
”That is likely why I am called the Revealer.”
”Because of that?”
”Not because I contracted with the Lilies?”
”The contract is part of it, certainly, but the true meaning lies in the trail I uncovered. My role was likely to reveal the dark mage’s ritual.”
”A ritual?”
”The child of the Abyss he is raising.”
Lizamis paused.
”To bring it into the wasteland.”
Purifier.
Parl Forestier.
Those were the true enemies.
The brown-skinned wood-dweller Klock had encountered in the Beast Country, the wolf-centipede that had nearly killed him, and the schemes unfolding around Parl were no longer separate mysteries.
At last, every thread was beginning to converge on a single point.
—
Summary:
Klock establishes dominance over the five vampire girls in a Sanrid estate, effectively forcing them into a passive role under the supervision of his succubus secretary, Kispe. He navigates their resentment and fear regarding future slave marks and familiar contracts while preparing for an imminent meeting with Hanover. The scene concludes with the sudden, romantic intrusion of Alice, who offers a stark contrast to the tactical heaviness weighing on Klock.
Klock finalizes the elimination of immediate threats and consults with his team. He then holds a grim strategy meeting with the noble Hanover, who provides chilling details regarding the antagonist Parl Forestier. The conversation uncovers her status as a necromancer who uses her own resurrected sister’s body to sustain her life, establishing her as an existential threat linked to the Abyss. The status of Parl as an Abyssal Apostle remains the central, unresolved tension.
Klock and Hanover discuss the nature of the Chosen Ones, deducing that their roles are part of a multi-generational strategy by Teekua to counter superior entities from the Abyss. They conclude that the daughter of the Demon Lord, Delphina, is a highly suspicious candidate for the missing Chosen One title. Klock further learns that the World Tree Beast and the Purifier are interconnected threats, with Parl Forestier acting as a facilitator for the emergence of a new god. The scene concludes with Klock consulting the spider-like Demon Lord, Lizamis, who confirms Parl is a common enemy and reveals the ritual involving an Abyss-born child.
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Trivia:
The Count was one of the primary culprits behind the mistreatment of the vampires at the Moon Court.
Vampires under the Demon Lord’s Army face a delicate political existence due to the ongoing truce.
Kispe requires succubus-assisted success to be earned through tactical planning on the battlefield.
The “Hero” is established as a lethal threat to those without official marking or contracts, specifically targeting individuals like Viola.
Klock is increasingly feeling the psychological and physical weight of his role as the troop commander.
The Rabbit Girl, Alice, is physically resilient despite her “childlike” appearance.
Hanover’s decision to provide information is based on his own calculation of power dynamics, not altruism.
Parl’s method of necromancy involves a “perfect recreation” of the deceased, making her previous battles against the Demon Lord’s Army nightmares.
The “Keepers of the Light” are a source of occult intelligence.
The concept of “Abyssal Apostle” suggests a direct hierarchical link to the Abyss.
The title of Chosen One is not limited to a single entity per generation.
Stellar Skills can be inherited, turning into Unique Skills over time.
The World Tree Beast faced by Klock was a mere clone, not the main body.
Lizamis’s current form is a result of having his original body stolen.
The “Revealer” title is linked to Lizamis’s contract with Lilies and his role in exposing rituals.
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Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Sanrid – The location where Roldi reportedly went the day before the attack on Portline. This movement is a key piece of strategic information Misha provides during her interrogation.
• Klock – Mud-caked Chosen One and battle-worn Conro master with purple eyes, a healed gut wound, and a massive weapon-like penis, he pragmatically leads the 2,600-strong Brigante Troop—including vampires—west of Conro. Wielding ‘Authority’ and a Cianie Knife, this vengeful street hero commands a succubus harem, phases through stone, and warily navigates Demon Lord and human politics to protect his men.
• Rodney – A Vampire Maid Corps member previously forced to follow the Count, she tried to reinforce Viola and Rugandia before being bound by Kuzuha’s seal. She is now one of five vampire girls under Klock’s command.
• Viola – A pale vampire apostle and Moon Court princess from the Demon Continent, she has crimson eyes, fangs, a scar from a Hero’s blow, and a mud-stained, tattered red dress. Bratty, sharp, and cynical, she once defiantly led maids against Klock, but post-Rosetta’s coup, she is tense, cautious, and hostile yet forced under his command by a familiar contract.
• Mermy – Calm, dutiful dampir maid with sharp eyes and freckles. A member of the Vampire Maid Corps and childhood friend/subordinate to Viola, she fought in the Orrid sky battle and advocates vocally for her allies during negotiations. She urges sunrise retreats to avoid burning. Recently, she dove from the sky to attack Rosetta but was intercepted by shadowy bindings.
• Rugandia – Slender Sand Village maid in a crisp white uniform and red apron, serving as Sylvia’s loyal attendant at the Croce Estate. Revealed as one of five members of a secret vampire coven meeting in the old church, she wears a black robe for nocturnal duties. Now protecting Viola, she cautiously watches negotiations alongside her peers, using Shadow Walking via darkness, though formal attire hinders her.
• Linaria – A quiet, dependable Sand Village vampire girl and member of the five-maid corps who joined Klock’s side. Longtime maid and childhood friend of Viola, she stayed back during the strategy meeting to avoid crowding. Famed for her long, decorated nails, she participated in a dive-attack on Rosetta before being immobilized by the Law of the Sword Seal.
• Kispe – Queen Kispe, the Succubus Princess Asura, is a high-ranking, winged Crimson Spire succubus with long black hair, amethyst eyes, a petite slender build, and a black-tied one-piece dress. This powerful Otherworld Apostle acts as Klock’s polite, efficient secretary and lover. She manages the vampires calmly, while maintaining a flirtatious, mischievous bond with Klock via telepathic teasing.
• Hanover – An intelligent, manipulative Theocracy envoy and noble who provides exposition on the Chosen Ones, Apostles, and the Abyss. Composed yet strategic, he constantly tests others’ resolve and logic. He validates Barutoro’s legitimate authority and protects the Hero from being forced into Barreith’s political obligations, deeply involving himself in the unfolding of events.
• Orrid – Southern pleasure town near Conro, known for its chaos and vice. Serves as Brigante’s next destination and Count Grasso’s sphere of influence. Rumored den of spies and mercenaries.
• Alice – Energetic and mischievous, this young-looking rabbit beastkin/succubus with long ears is one of the Six Noble Ladies. Appearing as a playful volunteer at the Barreith gathering, she has a simplistic outlook and wields superhuman strength despite her tendency to throw tantrums. Provocative yet comforting, she is deeply attached to Klock, showing clear romantic interest in him.
• Bandanzine – A veteran Earth General, short-lived race individual, and one of the Four Heavenly Kings, he bears a dignified gaze, grey hair, and a scarred, authoritative presence. Cynical and pragmatic, this frontline combatant lacks an Otherworld connection but boasts power rivaling an Apostle. He distrusts Parl Forestier and serves as the Demon Lord’s right-hand “Second Demon Lord.”
• Rosetta – Wolf Princess, King of the Wolfkin, is a petite descendant of Bairan with white-and-black hair, jagged teeth, and a fluffy tail peeking from short pants. Cold and combat-focused, she can sever magic with her roars. As a wolf-like demon with fierce hunting instincts, she maintains a clear hierarchy over other demon species, asserting dominance while leading her kin.
• Kuzuha – A young woman with long black hair, a black tail, and fur-covered arms, known as the Princess of Karakas Foxes. She utilizes the Law of the Sword Seal, wears a half-undershirt, and serves as a strategic ally alongside Klock and Rosetta in their planning sessions.
• Dayrid – The city the Demonkin army is planning to attack next, intending to strangle Dayrid from land and sea. This confirms the Demonkin’s immediate military objective for Klock.
• Primlena – An orange‑haired merfolk priestess, fierce yet elegant, sister to Sea General Primjune and former Demon Lord officer now in Klock’s inner circle. Calm and disciplined, she leads Obsidian Riders on giant fish, wields a trident, and seeks Klock’s downfall. A protective presence, she stands guard during Hannover’s meeting and reacts with shock to news of Primjune, hinting at deep underlying ties.
• Parl – A dark mage and the primary antagonist, a sinner who betrayed Teekua and murdered the first Hero.
• Palze – Female character tied to Succubi and beastkin complexities—Fairy Queen, mother of Kupira, often displeased on her throne. (From prior context on Palze’s obsession yielding the cursed fairy daughter.)
• Parl Forestier – First Princess of fallen Forestier city-state—Demon King’s strategist with sharp ears, high-pitched voice; known for annihilating resistant tribes. Dark Forest-Dweller appearing as young girl (over 800 years old), bronze skin, pointed ears, dark green eyes, snow-white hair with blue tint.
• Primjune – A scaled and finned figure, she is one of the Four Heavenly Kings who executed the saint’s kidnapping plan. Hanover suspects this lady of being one of the current generation’s Chosen Ones, specifically the One Who Shoots Down.
• Dainheorl – He is the conqueror of the Demon Continent, appeared as the council leader, known for his godlike strength and four horns.
• Delphina – The Demon King’s daughter is a six-horned, water-blue haired figure with a godlike presence. Rumored to possess immense power, she is suspected of being a Chosen One who holds massive influence over others.
• Cianie – A noble girl in a fluffy white and light blue dress, her high status contrasts with a hesitant, flustered, yet kind and courteous personality. Her accidental encounter with Klock blossoms into romance, complicated by her existing fiancé. Beyond her delicate appearance, she is a powerful figure whose immense strength serves as the benchmark for comparing Delphina and others.
• Lizamis – Palm-sized spider guardian of Kupira, once the human Great Sage and Revealer, now exists as a flickering, husky-voiced entity with eight ribbon-tied legs clad in knightly armor, shifting between shadowy silhouettes and living tapestries woven from portraits and fabric—observing the battlefield from Klock’s shoulder, speaking telepathically only to him, bound to the world by echoes of its past self, and possessing deep knowledge of unique skills and historical lineages, emerging from mirrors, dresses, or painted scenes as if from memory.
• Kupira – A female Fairy outcast with white hair, porcelain skin, and cursed golden eyes, born from Palze’s (a Fairy Queen) obsession and abandonment, chosen by Kispe (a Succubus familiar) as a potential familiar for Klock (a male leader)
• Lilies – A figure with whom Lizamis has a contractual agreement, linked to his role as the Revealer.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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