Ch.49Prelude (2)

A dense forest where the sky is not visible.

In the poisonous swamp, the aura of death lurked relentlessly. There was no better place to wage battle against the white wings, but it could not paint a scene from mythology.

Here, combat was desperate and horrific. There was no war. Just two races fighting with malice.

If humans saw this, they would faint at the realization that the celestials and demons trapped in their fantasies were not so different after all.

“We must turn the tide of battle. At this rate, we’ll only face disintegration.”

The commander of the western front, the lizardman Lakart, spoke in a gloomy voice.

Among the numerous legions where countless demons were spilling blood, he was the only native who had become a general. Following central command’s orders, he had brilliantly led his forces in sporadic guerrilla warfare and admirably held out against the white wings who were gradually shifting to offensive after the angels’ descent.

The problem was that this was all they could do.

While conducting delaying actions and retreating, they had no decisive blow to seize the advantage. Slowly pushed back, they would eventually become like rats trapped in a jar, strangled to death.

“Is there no communication from central command? I heard they raised an army, but I don’t know what happened after that.”

“I apologize. Our communication mage was sniped, so we’ve completely lost our means of receiving news.”

“That’s troublesome.”

His thick tail thumped against the floor. From the moment the demons began to slowly withdraw from the front line, elite enemy forces had infiltrated, completely destroying their communication and supply networks. Their passive response had only led to greater losses.

Lakart’s forces had managed to protect the remaining support facilities by countering the angels as they appeared, but the casualties were severe.

Cut off from central command, they had only two choices: wither away or fight valiantly and perish.

For a legion serving the Demon Lord, the latter should be the obvious choice, but given the current situation, even choosing courage would not be particularly honorable—they would merely be passing the wounds of defeat to the reinforcements that followed.

“General!”

A messenger rushed into the tent, panting. He seemed like the Demon Lord himself, arriving in response to Lakart’s concerns. Lakart felt hopeful.

He prayed that the communication mage they had kept alive until the end would prove his worth.

“Reinforcements have arrived!”

The soldier who burst into the tent shouted, almost screaming. His intense emotion infected Lakart as well.

With his tail stiffened in excitement, the old lizardman asked in a trembling voice:

“Reinforcements, you say…?”

“I don’t know the details, but the Regent has personally appeared on this battlefield.”

“I need to hear nothing more. The Regent is here, and that’s what matters.”

Lakart slammed his fist on the table in joy.

“This is no time to dawdle. Go prepare for what’s next. We cannot afford to lose ground before the Regent arrives!”

“Yes, General!”

#

“Our legion hasn’t retreated yet. We’re maintaining an even battle.”

“If Your Excellency commands, we can annihilate those angels immediately.”

“Please allow us to be at the vanguard!”

The western demons competed to flatter him. As warriors raised in harsh terrain, they exuded confidence, but the situation board told a completely different story.

Overall, they were at a disadvantage. They were barely holding on by using the terrain as a barrier and actively employing local troops.

In fact, they were on the verge of collapse as Azakiel’s elite legion attempted to break through at a single point.

Nevertheless, the demons did not falter. Instead, they busily pounded the ground with their spears, claiming this was a favorable battlefield.

Arrogance and hope. The western warriors, walking a strange line somewhere between these two, were quite unique.

“Enough. Be quiet.”

“We apologize, Your Excellency.”

When Durin sternly rebuked them, the western demons fell silent.

Having just emerged from the gate, he decided to look around and assess the situation.

“Which legions are currently deployed to the front?”

“The leader of our continent, under Your Excellency’s command, has mobilized a total of sixty thousand troops to repel the angels’ offensive.”

“The main battlefield must be the swamp. Have you drafted many local troops?”

“To be honest, the participation rate of horned demons is very low. They don’t consider fighting in swamps to be honorable.”

“Such privileged complaints.”

Durin sneered. The western continent’s lieutenant who attended him grew restless.

As he worried about having offended the Regent’s mood…

“I’ve been waiting for you! Regent!”

A boisterous voice called from afar. Simultaneously, the western demons became busy.

Despite the distance, an oppressive demonic aura could be felt. It was clearly the powerful authority and strength that only a ruler could possess. As if to prove this, the legion formed ranks on both sides.

“Finally, we can turn this damned war around! Honestly, I’ve been quite nervous.”

Clank, clank.

The sound of military boots echoed through the silent gate.

The king of the western continent appeared majestically among the lizardmen and various beast-hybrid soldiers.

“Regent Durin. The Queen of the West, Ruler of the Swamplands, Yoannina welcomes you. How do you find it?”

The black-horned demoness spread her arms wide in a show of friendliness.

With dragon blood mixed in her veins, her vertically slit pupils were striking—she was the woman known as the Queen of the Swamplands.

“Let’s keep the formal greetings to that for now. Shall we go inside and continue our conversation? Time is short.”

Her elderly-sounding tone changed instantly. Yoannina spoke in a comfortable voice, acting familiar with Durin.

Of course, the Regent flatly refused.

“We’re at war. Let’s save the casual talk for later.”

“Hmm. You’re too rigid. Take it easy, Durin.”

“You’re the one who’s too relaxed, old hag.”

“There’s no need to rush, youngster.”

Yoannina patted Durin’s shoulder before going her own way. As she turned back toward the tent, her steps still showed no sign of anxiety.

“Your Excellency. Isn’t she being too disrespectful?”

Berdia growled, glaring at the scene. It was anger born from instinct. She showed hostility toward the woman who had insulted her master, looking ready to draw her sword at any moment.

“I’ve met all the rulers until now, but I’ve never seen anyone so arrogant and carefree.”

“That’s just how she is. Get used to it from now on.”

“But still, it’s too much. With an Archangel having arrived…”

Durin, who was about to walk away, stopped. He quietly looked at Berdia. Realizing her slip of tongue, Berdia hastily prostrated herself.

“I-I’m sorry, Your Excellency.”

“Excessive loyalty is poison. You must judge for yourself when to speak and when to remain silent after observing the situation.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“And…”

Durin did not look back at her.

“Yoannina, along with Matheus, is one of the demons who has lived the longest. She would not fall even against an Archangel.”

“…”

“With this natural barrier, she can hold out indefinitely. That’s also why Azakiel hasn’t been able to break through the western front quickly.”

The first and last demon to inherit both dragon and demon blood.

One of the great bloodlines created by the ancestor of the lizardmen and the primordial Demon Lord.

If she had wanted, she could have claimed the throne with the legitimacy and power she possessed. However, due to her carefree personality as seen now, she had never shown herself in central politics.

“Reflect on your actions for a while. I’ll overlook this matter.”

“Thank you, Your Excellency.”

The barbarian Berdia, still not realizing the truth, simply trembled in gratitude for Durin’s mercy.

#

“She was really threatening you. To think I’d see the day when I’d be impressed by you—truly a joyous occasion.”

Perhaps I should have said nothing more.

Durin inwardly sighed as he returned to headquarters and saw Yoannina chattering away. He decided it would be better to quickly discuss the war.

“Why are you so quiet? I was going to praise you more if you just played along.”

“You’re still talking nonsense, Yoannina. I came here to fight a war, not to fool around with you.”

“You’ve always been prickly. What was her name—the Witch of Prophecy? You were so respectful to her.”

“Yoannina.”

Durin spoke firmly, indicating he would tolerate no more. Only then did the dragon descendant stop talking. However, she refused to give up her playful expression.

That was good enough. Durin immediately turned his attention to check the front line situation.

“I’ll go directly to the battlefield that needs support. Have any reports come in?”

“All of them.”

“Then let me ask differently. Which direction is Azakiel currently trying to break through?”

“Right here.”

Yoannina rose from her seat and pointed to a spot on the map.

It was part of the swampland that spread widely across the western continent—an area with relatively less wetland.

The angels’ main force was, of course, the Holy Knight Order, and this was the natural choice if they wanted to secure a safe advance route and maximize their combat effectiveness. There was also a direction leading to the central continent, but that was where our Demon Lord’s main force of 100,000 was slowly advancing. If they changed course, we could respond immediately through the gate.

Even if Azakiel made a sudden appearance on the battlefield, Grand Magistrate Matheus was holding the line, so we could trust him to handle it. Despite his scholarly image of carrying scriptures, he was a demon at his core. Moreover, he was one of the few beings who had lived from the time of the primordial Demon Lord until now.

“Durin, I can pretty much guess what you’re thinking. Your goal is to block the western front and force Azakiel’s hand.”

“As expected of an old-timer, you read my intentions well.”

“It’s a strategy that previous Demon Lords have used successfully. Of course.”

Yoannina shrugged and continued.

“After breaking through this swampland, one immediately reaches the plains that connect to the western cities. In the current situation, what Azakiel is after are the gates and ruins set up there.”

“Naturally, they would want greater coordination with the angels.”

“But if you step in and make them fail to break through the swampland, there’s only one path left.”

Thump! The dragon descendant pointed to a different location this time.

“They’ll have to go straight through the center. What’s more, the fortresses haven’t fully recovered from the civil war wounds. It would be a juicy fruit for those angels.”

“That will become the battlefield the demons have been longing for.”

“Of course! But that’s all predicated on you brilliantly leading the western defense.”

“Haha.” Yoannina laughed heartily. She patted Durin’s shoulder and said:

“I’m counting on you. If you lead us to victory, I too will happily live whatever life follows.”

“It’s a wonder you’re not dead yet, Yoannina.”

The jokes lightened the atmosphere.

But the fate that rested on their firmly clasped hands was anything but light.

And this fact was known better than anyone by these two great demons.