Ch.152Turning Point (3)

# Turning Point (3)

I had a bad feeling.

It wasn’t a rational judgment, but merely an intuition.

Lilith, who was experiencing this feeling herself, snorted.

“Second Corps Commander, His Majesty is in quite a bad mood right now.”

She couldn’t help but find it ridiculous that she was standing in the way based solely on her intuition, especially in front of someone with superior instincts.

Second looked at Lilith, who was blocking the entrance to the audience chamber, and said.

“I have something important to discuss.”

“Please come back another time.”

“Is this the right thing to do?”

“I wonder.”

Lilith should have been tense.

If Second wanted to, she could become a corpse without even realizing she was dying.

Second was already known for his bad temper. She was blocking this monster who constantly clashed with First and devastated everything around him, based on nothing but intuition.

‘Even a logical explanation would barely suffice, so what am I doing…’

Lilith squeezed her eyes shut.

Even with her eyes closed, she didn’t back down.

However, despite Lilith’s determination, Second was more rational than she had expected.

“It’s truly important. It could cause major problems for our future plans.”

Second tried to persuade Lilith rather than forcibly removing her.

He disliked bullying the weak. He only clashed with First because First was stronger than him.

“You’re saying you want to report such important information directly to the Demon Lord without going through me, the Chief of Staff?”

Thanks to Second’s rational attitude, Lilith was able to compose herself. She used the special nature of her position, which she normally didn’t invoke, to block Second.

“…I see.”

Second acknowledged this.

He could vaguely understand why she was blocking him.

And in her trembling yet steadfast stance, he was reminded of his childhood friend.

“I just defeated the Third Corps Commander.”

“…What?”

That’s why Second spoke. He showed respect for his opponent.

The reason for his visit, something that needed to be resolved.

“I did it. He kept being annoying, so I crushed him in a ranking battle.”

“No, no… wait a moment…”

“He can no longer stand on the battlefield or perform a soldier’s duties, so I forced him to retire.”

“Wait… I told you to wait! What are you saying?!”

“…”

Lilith shouted and then quickly covered her mouth.

Second’s words were so absurd, and she knew what would happen if Belphegor heard them.

“Corps Commander Second, you couldn’t possibly have fought with Third just because he was annoying you.”

“Who knows? How well do you really know me?”

“True, I don’t know you. But I know Third well. He visited me often.”

“…”

Third was one of the few high-ranking officials in the Demon Lord’s army and, as a fellow woman, often visited Lilith.

While Garnet was frightening due to her fierce personality, Lilith, though appearing cold, was actually quite emotional.

Third often played pranks on Lilith, and Lilith frequently spent time with Third.

They might not be close enough to call each other friends, but they were certainly acquaintances.

Lilith knew enough to understand that Third liked Second.

And just from hearing Third’s stories, she knew how much Second cared for her.

Practically like a bodhisattva.

The fact that Second had been taking care of the eccentric Third all this time meant he cherished her deeply.

That’s why it made no sense that Second would remove Third from the army simply for being impudent.

“You did it on purpose… yes, on purpose. You wanted to remove Corps Commander Third from the Demon Lord’s army…”

“Ha!”

Second clicked his tongue.

Lilith’s deduction, pieced together from what she knew, was remarkably accurate.

Honestly, he was surprised. He had thought she was just a parachute appointment, but she was showing more ability than expected.

Second had never shown that he favored Third.

He always displayed irritation, anger, and would kick her backside.

Yet despite seeing this, she had gathered Third’s scattered, incoherent words and arrived at the perfect answer.

Anyone else would have thought he had simply exploded after enduring too much.

“Well, that’s how it is.”

“What do you mean ‘that’s how it is’? Are you crazy? Have you lost your mind?”

Second didn’t bother to deny it. It didn’t matter anymore.

“If, if that’s the case, you should definitely come back later… His Majesty’s mood is too…”

No matter how much fuss she made trying to stop him.

“Let him in.”

Belphegor must have heard the commotion at the door.

From the beginning, Second wasn’t reporting to Lilith, but to Belphegor who might be dozing inside.

Unless she was asleep, she would certainly hear.

And it was Lilith who had informed him of this fact. Hadn’t she said that Belphegor was in a bad mood today and he should leave?

“So be it.”

Second shrugged and then opened the door to the audience chamber.

He had no intention of escaping his responsibility. He had committed a wrong born of selfishness and had no plans to reveal it at a convenient time.

He had sworn loyalty to the Demon Lord’s army.

Though he had committed the wrong of removing Third, he didn’t want to turn away from that responsibility.

“Second.”

Upon entering the audience chamber, Second looked up at Belphegor, who was lounging languidly on her throne, and immediately knelt.

“Do you wish to die?”

“If that is your wish, you may punish me accordingly.”

“Do you understand what you’ve done?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Whoosh!

Blue flames momentarily engulfed the audience chamber. It was a technique the Demon Lord Belphegor occasionally displayed, seeming to overlay the space itself.

Second still couldn’t comprehend this power despite having witnessed it several times. He only knew with certainty that if Belphegor wished, he wouldn’t even be able to resist.

“With Third gone, the 3rd Corps has become a rabble.”

“…”

“Without proper command on the front lines, they’ll be annihilated. And since the unit was structured to support Third, they’ll be pushed back instantly.”

The 3rd Corps had been structured abnormally to support Third’s illusions.

It consisted only of magic units capable of large-scale annihilation spells and shield bearers to hold the front line.

A unit focused solely on defense and attack, without infantry or knights.

This was possible because Third’s illusions could deceive enemies during the time-consuming rituals.

If a massive flame suddenly fell from the sky without warning, people would doubt it. They would judge a phenomenon occurring without precursors as some kind of illusion.

But what if they had just witnessed a large-scale annihilation spell created by numerous soldiers performing a ritual?

Then they couldn’t easily dismiss it as an illusion.

That’s why Third’s corps also served as a mobile artillery unit capable of unleashing overwhelming firepower.

“After using one ritual spell, if the shields break before the next ritual is prepared, they’ll all be slaughtered.”

“…”

“Second, tell me. Did you truly weigh all their lives on the scales before making this decision?”

They couldn’t be withdrawn either.

This upcoming battle would be an all-out war determining the fate of the demon realm.

They might not be much help? Even so, they must be used.

They were soldiers raised for war and had enjoyed the corresponding privileges.

If they were withdrawn from the front lines just because they lost their corps commander, other corps would complain.

And it’s obvious what soldiers already anxious about the impending war would think.

“The devastation caused by your single action will be quite a spectacle.”

Among them, some would suggest eliminating the corps commander and fleeing.

In other words, the possibility of a coup. Indeed, the war would be difficult enough, but if an entire corps was removed, who wouldn’t feel despair?

“The 3rd Corps will be used even if only as bait. Don’t forget that you are the culprit.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes, Second. If you have something to say, say it.”

“Are we actually of any help to you?”

“…”

Second knew.

The power of Demon Lord Belphegor was such that even a hundred like him couldn’t overcome it.

So why had she been gathering soldiers and officials?

If she went alone to conquer the human realm, she could erase the Empire more quickly and definitively.

Second thought that if Third died on the front lines, it would most likely be because she got caught up in Belphegor’s violence. That would be the most probable cause of death.

“Do you think I should shoulder everything and fight alone?”

“…”

Belphegor’s retort was surprising.

Surprising enough to silence Second, who had spoken with a hint of complaint.

“I’m genuinely curious. Do you think it would be best if I sacrificed myself alone for the peace of the demon realm?”

“Your Majesty.”

“Ah, right. That was a pointless question. Of course you do. That would be the natural thing.”

Belphegor was self-deprecating.

Her immense power and the current situation seemed to demand her solitary sacrifice.

She now understood why the Pope had given her power.

Knowing this, she had decided to lead the Demon Lord’s army.

“But I have no intention of either dying alone or bestowing favors upon you all.”

There was a greater cause.

There was a reason why it had to be done.

But she had not the slightest intention of sacrificing herself alone.

She wasn’t simply a benevolent sage, and she had even less desire to bear a burden heavier than responsibility.

“Remember this, Second. Either everyone dies, or everyone lives.”

Yes, she was not their god, but merely their sovereign.