Ch.120120. Desperate Struggle

“Move quickly, succubus.”

On the way to the execution ground.

Iclit was trying not to think about anything else. Every time she recalled the past few days when she had clung pathetically to the Hero in hopes of survival, her chest ached.

And I’m supposed to be one of the Tetrad.

Once, I controlled the Demon Lord’s army budget as I pleased.

‘Why did I do that? I should have died with dignity.’

It wasn’t that she felt guilty toward the Demon Lord’s army. She just regretted not seeing through the Hero’s vile intentions before offering up various tributes.

‘Let’s try to forget.’

Iclit squeezed her eyes shut, trying to recall better times. Though she faced execution, they couldn’t take away her freedom to think.

Better times.

‘The kingdoms, right. The kingdoms. Those idiots.’

She once ruled over the kingdoms.

It had been quite satisfying to watch kings and nobles beg for mercy and grovel before her. Nobles with fleets of ships and even the most powerful knights in the kingdoms all tried to curry favor with her.

‘Then they all went to the Empire and got slaughtered. Even though I warned them not to.’

Recalling those fools’ panicked faces made her feel a little better.

Though she had fallen to this state because of disloyal subordinates who complicated matters, she had done everything she wanted to do, so she had no regr—

“Oh.”

Wait. Had she really done everything?

Iclit tilted her head, feeling something was off.

After paralyzing the kingdoms, she had planned to select the useful ones and enjoy them slowly. But those fools collectively went to the Empire and got wiped out. Iclit herself had to flee quickly, unable to hold out in the devastated kingdoms.

That had been a time filled with tension, not leisurely relaxation. After rising to become one of the Tetrad, she’d been busy deceiving commoners.

‘And now… I’m going to die? Without ever enjoying myself?’

As she muttered blankly, someone blocked her path just as she arrived at the execution ground.

“Lady Iclit?”

It was Leila, the succubus who had stabbed her in the back.

Purple hair and a seductive appearance befitting a succubus. Though her attire was modest given the location, she couldn’t hide her voluptuous figure.

“…You traitor.”

Iclit deliberately growled, but Leila paid no mind. Instead, she brazenly raised her chin and looked down at Iclit.

Despite her confidence, the slight trembling around her eyes suggested she was acting on someone’s orders. Iclit could guess who that someone was without asking.

‘Pathetic woman. Fine. Say what you want.’

Iclit turned away sharply, ignoring Leila. She wanted to maintain at least some dignity by completely disregarding her.

However, what Leila said next was impossible to ignore.

“They’re going to let us open a dancing house, you know?”

A place where they could seduce human men without fear of being hunted.

The location was near a military barracks housing about 10,000 royal guards. The conditions included not being allowed to leave the restricted area without permission and facing sanctions if they drained humans to the point of interfering with their activities.

“Those aren’t difficult conditions anyway. With so many young, healthy men around, there’s no need to overdo it.”

“That won’t last. Do you think humans will trust succubi?”

“Of course not. They said I’d have to make a Geas oath and take supervisory responsibility. It’s basically like wearing a collar, but I don’t mind. I’m already branded a traitor by the Demon Lord’s army anyway.”

“Supervisor… wait, you’re the supervisor?”

“Yes, well.”

That’s how it turned out.

Iclit couldn’t bring herself to meet Leila’s brazen gaze and lowered her eyes.

But that was a mistake. Her eyes fell on the spinel necklace gleaming at Leila’s chest.

A 5-carat purplish-red spinel. One of the jewels Iclit had offered to the Hero Erick. It had originally belonged to royalty in the kingdoms.

“…Why do you have that?”

“Everyone who cooperated with the Hero received one. I’m sorry, but you brought this on yourself. We couldn’t let all our kin who were barely surviving die just to save you…?”

“After all I’ve done for you, how could you do this?”

Her rebuke was met with a cold response.

From this point, Leila even dropped formal speech.

“All you’ve done? If you’re talking about negotiating with the Demon Lord for a few gold pieces, that was a mission you volunteered for. I know you raised your hand claiming you had experience as a treasurer.”

“……”

“And about the kingdoms too. Do you have any idea how precarious the situation is for the succubi who were barely surviving there? You shouldn’t spit in the well you drink from when playing politics. They may not say it, but they hate you to death.”

Iclit started to retort but then closed her mouth firmly. Try as she might, she couldn’t find any flaws in Leila’s words.

“…Hey.”

After a moment, Iclit turned to Leila with a more subdued demeanor.

She planned to appeal by asking why Leila hadn’t spoken up earlier if she was so uncomfortable. As her right-hand woman, she could have offered some honest counsel instead of pretending to agree and then suddenly backstabbing her.

“You could have told me earlier. We’re the same kind.”

Unfortunately, there was no time for an answer.

“Place the criminal on the pyre!”

The time for execution had arrived.

Iclit tried to stall with a “Wait,” but no one was listening. She was bound to the stake on the pyre.

The stake was made of iron, and the platform was wet green wood.

“…Ah.”

Only then did she realize why the Hero had sent Leila. He wanted her to die slowly while envying her kin who would go on to live happier lives.

Indeed, Iclit now felt bitter jealousy and nausea rising within her. She wondered why she had gotten herself into this mess and brought death upon herself.

But.

“…I’m going to die anyway.”

Iclit’s face was suddenly calm. Though her eyes were moist, she at least didn’t look pathetic.

Of course, she had no means of retaliation.

She couldn’t strike back at the Hero or the succubi who had cooperated with him.

But there was one group—an easy target. The refugees approaching her with clubs in hand. Where had their happy faces gone when they received those certificates? Now they all wore expressions stained with anger and despair.

Iclit decided to spread her final malice at least to these ignorant people.

***

Thwack! Thwack!

“Why did you lie to us! Why did you lie!”

Iclit was now facing her fraud victims.

This opportunity was provided by me, of course.

I didn’t arrange this hoping she would repent and sincerely apologize at the end. I just wanted her to be a punching bag before she died. Let her be beaten thoroughly by the commoners she had disparaged.

Indeed, for a while—quite a long while—violent beating continued.

“Evil bitch!”

The refugees pounded Iclit mercilessly with iron clubs, thrashing her with the skill they once used for threshing grain.

“Ugh…!”

Each time, Iclit twisted her small body in pain.

Though she had a sturdier body than humans, Iclit was not strong enough to ignore a beating from clubs imbued with holy power.

All she could do to escape the pain was to beg.

The refugees paused their beating, as if willing to hear her final plea.

But what Iclit showed next was quite different from what I had expected.

“I’m sorry about this.”

The words from her mouth were an apology.

Yet the expressions of the refugees who received this apology were souring. Not because of her insincere tone, but because of what she added next.

“I’m really sorry. So take out your anger on me and then quietly go back to your homes. Our Hero Count might arrange carriages for you if you ask… Of course, by the time you get there, the harvest will be over, and all your livestock will have gone to your neighbors.”

“…We can ask the village head to mediate.”

“Me…diate? Think logically. Why would the village head or anyone else risk being criticized by others just to return your property? Would they really do that for people who left their homeland hoping for a better house?”

With these words, she tilted her head quizzically.

Her attitude was amusing, considering she was about to die.

But the refugees didn’t seem to find it funny. Many of them lowered their clubs limply.

One of them even mumbled with a tearful expression, “I really believed what you said.”

Hearing this, Iclit grimaced and laughed.

“I appreciate your trust… but don’t you feel pathetic? It’s strange to abandon the homeland where you’ve lived for generations just because a stranger said a few sweet words.”

“Fuck…”

“Don’t act like you were forced to leave your homes. You made the choice.”

After that, there was no more beating or cursing. Everyone just stared helplessly at the battered Tetrad member Iclit.

Iclit looked down at them mockingly, then turned her gaze toward me. She seemed to think she had ruined my production nicely.

It was almost admirable how she was trying to outsmart me until her final moments.

‘Should I burn her now?’

Of course, that would be fine.

The refugees might be filled with emptiness, but the fact remained that Iclit would be beaten to a pulp and then burned to death.

However, I didn’t want to let her leave thinking, “I still won,” in her final moments.

“Hero, now.”

“No. Wait a moment.”

I walked steadily toward the pyre.

Iclit flinched but didn’t avert her gaze. She even tried to smile. I stared at her face and announced:

“Iclit, these people will not return to their homes.”

“…What?”

“Not only those present here, but also those who are on their way. I plan to accept everyone who comes with the certificates you issued as residents of my domain.”

A chorus of “Wow!” erupted from behind me.

But Iclit still wouldn’t yield. After gaping momentarily, she sneered, “In that small domain of yours…”

I nodded quietly.

“True. The numbers are too large to accommodate in Wellesley County.”

“Such trouble for these commoners.”

“So I plan to use this as justification to receive another domain. One that’s more abundant in resources and larger than my current territory. I’ve been restraining myself from abusing my position as the Hero, but this works out well.”

“…What?”

“In a way, you paved the path. Thanks to you, I can now establish a foundation as a great noble that will last for generations.”

I regret that this is the only way I can repay you.

I stepped back after saying this. Though my words were insincere, managing my expression wasn’t particularly difficult.

Iclit stared at me with her battered face, looking dumbfounded. The refugees gazed up at me with tears of gratitude. Professor Weaver, though casting a complicated look, was chanting a fire spell to light the pyre.

I looked at them all and gave a slight nod.

Immediately, Professor Weaver set the fire.

“Ah…”

Iclit didn’t immediately cry out in pain. She was standing on a ginkgo wood platform (soaked in water, no less) that didn’t burn easily, with the firewood piled beneath it.

“Make sure she doesn’t suffocate. She should live for about three or four hours.”

“Yes, Hero. The mages are standing by.”

Iclit was scheduled to die slowly, savoring the heat and smoke for a long time. The refugees, whose expressions had brightened, watched while holding additional firewood to add to the fire.