episode_0098

“You’re late, Dullahan. You’re the last one.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve met an opponent worth fighting. Though, the stranger thing is you all. What’s with the early gathering? Did loyalty to the Demon King suddenly sprout in you?”

“Keh. More like the sudden blizzard. Only the already-dead like you would want to fight in that cold.”

“Though, I suppose we’ve all been reminded of His Majesty’s power again. None of us could handle Riel Frost, yet he subdued her so perfectly.”

It was the fifth day since the Demon King’s summons. All high-ranking officers of the Demon King’s Army had gathered in the Demon King’s Castle.

“Hmph. From what I can tell, you lot were just weaklings. I can’t believe you struggled this long against some rookie mage girl.”

The words came from a lich who had joined the Demon King’s Army after Riel Frost’s disappearance.

Having chosen undeath to pursue the limits of magic, he took pride in the spells he had honed over centuries.

With a bone hand resting on his skeletal waist, he grumbled, nursing a quiet rivalry with the so-called “strongest mage in history.”

“Might’ve picked the wrong side to ally with…”

“Watch your tongue, rookie. You don’t know her true power.”

“You mean the magic she couldn’t even use in front of the Demon King? Pathetic.”

“What an amusing conversation.”

Click. Click.

The sound of heels echoed as Arina emerged from the shadows.

“The Demon Queen…”

“Riel Frost… is that you?”

Dullahan’s crimson eyes widened slightly, flickering in shock.

Arina raised a finger, silencing the murmuring officers.

“Don’t use that name. From now on, you may address me in two ways: ‘Your Majesty’ or ‘Lady Arina.’”

“Then why has Her Majesty come here? We gathered under the Demon King’s orders.”

“I summoned you. I requested His Majesty’s permission. From now until the war ends, I will be your commander.”

Her bombshell declaration left the officers stunned, each reacting with varying degrees of resistance.

Whether it was because she was once their human enemy, one of the few women among them, or simply because they had all seen her writhing beneath the Demon King—none could easily accept her as their superior.

Even with her status as the Demon King’s consort, the idea of Arina leading them was unthinkable.

“Don’t look so disgusted. If it helps, think of me as His Majesty’s proxy.”

“Even so, you as our commander?! By what right?!”

The Angel of Death, Admiriel, was the first to openly rebel. While she respected Arina as queen, that didn’t mean she would entrust her life to an unfamiliar superior.

“The same could be said for you. Do you even understand the Demon King’s Army’s forces?”

“Total troops: 760,000. Though ‘troops’ might be too generous for savages who fight, pillage, and devour each other. On paper, your numbers are likely even lower. Compared to the 3.87 million-strong human-elf alliance, you’re severely outmatched. Even if each officer kills hundreds of humans, you still can’t break their frontlines.”

“Knowledge alone means nothing. Can you provide a solution?”

“Simple. I’ll join the battlefield. That will end this long, drawn-out war.”

……

No strategy. No plan. The officers were speechless at her audacity.

Most had fought her directly and knew her strength well.

Riel Frost—no, now the Demon Queen—was undeniably powerful. But war was far more complex.

Their struggle wasn’t due to a lack of strength.

“……And what of the Hero’s Party?”

“I’ll handle them. The Swordmaster Cecil Astoria. The Holy Knight Commander Grace van Rodrick. The reforged Order of Flames. You lot deal with the rabble.”

“Hah! Such arrogance! You stupid bitch, do you think war is that simple?!”

The words spoke for every officer present.

But no matter how true, who would dare say it outright?

All eyes turned toward the voice. Unsurprisingly, it was the lich who had been badmouthing Arina earlier.

Though insulted by a subordinate, Arina didn’t lash out.

She simply stared at him, blinking in surprise, her wide eyes almost… cute.

“Who… are you?”

A new officer, one she didn’t recognize. The others exchanged glances—since when was this guy here?

“I’m the lich. Joined a few years ago—”

“Ah, so a rookie is running his mouth?”

“R-r-rookie?! Brat, do you even know how old I am?!”

“What does that matter? Age doesn’t give you seniority.”

(Of course, by tenure, Arina was the newest. But as commander, rank overruled that.)

“Woman. You won’t like making me angry. Your husband’s authority isn’t yours, and it won’t protect you.”

“You should realize I’m being lenient with you.”

“Oh? Gonna tattle to your husband? Waggle your hips and beg the Demon King to punish me?”

Pfft.

A few officers failed to suppress their laughter.

Every single one here had seen Arina lose herself in pleasure under the Demon King.

That image was too vivid for her title alone to intimidate them.

“Ah… I see.”

Finally understanding their thoughts, Arina slowly nodded.

“Now you get it? You’re nothing but the Demon King’s cocksleeve. Your place isn’t barking orders—it’s bouncing on his—”

“You’ve all misunderstood something.”

Arina’s voice dropped, icy and sharp.

“What?”

“I’m not here as a woman. I’m here as a warrior. Do you understand the difference? Dullahan?”

The sudden address made Dullahan stiffen.

“Me?”

“Yes. Do you find me laughable? Not as His Majesty’s consort—but as a warrior.”

“I know your strength well. I’ve never once mocked you when you fought seriously.”

Satisfied, Arina turned to the others, meeting each of their mocking gazes.

“Yes, I am a woman who has given her body and soul to His Majesty. But that is only in front of him. To you, I am the strongest mage of this era. Never forget that.”

“You dare call yourself the strongest in magic—?”

Crack.

Thud.

Roll… roll…

The lich’s skull hit the floor, severed in an instant.

“Seems words don’t work on ignorant rookies. At least he made a good example. Anyone else still displeased with my command?”

Not a single sound.

The lich, though new, had once hunted Demon King officers for research.

Among them, he was mid-tier in strength.

Yet this being, who defied death for eternal life, had died in a blink.

No one dared oppose her now.

“Good. Though we still need to organize. Everyone, sit. And someone clean up these bones.”

—

Kingdom of Gilneas, Border Watchtower

“F-fuck… It’s freezing my damn balls off.”

“You think you’re the only one cold? Hurry up and light the damn fire.”

Two sentries struggled to ignite a pile of straw.

Since last summer, an unnatural blizzard had raged nonstop.

Men froze to death daily—sometimes literally.

But they were the lucky ones. Unlike the frontlines, where minimal supplies still arrived, cities had lost tens of thousands.

No one knew when this endless winter would break.

Every day was despair, waking to find another comrade frozen stiff.

“At least the Demon King’s Army’s been quiet lately.”

“Even those bastards can’t handle this cold. Half of ‘em don’t even wear clothes—bet they’re dying more than us.”

“Fuck. Hope they all freeze to death. Goddamn it… haah…”

If not for that thought, the creeping despair would consume them.

“If only I had a woman to warm my side…”

“H-hey! Look over there!”

Annoyed, the sentry turned—then froze.

A woman stood before the barrier separating the human and demon realms.

Raven hair. Snow-white skin. Eyes like ice and sky.

A black robe, hood dusted with snow.

Unbelievably beautiful, she waved at them from the demon side.

“Excuse me! Could you open the gate?”

Everything about this was suspicious.

But if she was a civilian, protocol demanded rescue.

And they were already entranced.

Even if she wasn’t human, they wanted to believe she was.

“What’s the harm? Demon King’s forces haven’t shown up in weeks.”

The first sentry unlatched the side gate and approached.

“How’d you end up on that side? Civilians can’t cross the frontlines.”

“I was kidnapped by demons. I escaped.”

Narrowing his eyes, he pressed, “A normal person couldn’t escape them.”

“I know a little magic. The blizzard kept them distracted.”

To prove it, she conjured a flame in her palm.

“Apologies, but I’ll need to search you.”

No horns.

No tail.

No fangs.

Most importantly—demons couldn’t use magic.

Her story checked out.

She was human.

Relieved, he offered his hand.

“Let’s go. I’ll escort you.”

But she sidestepped him.

“I’m sorry. I’m a married woman.”