Ch.60The End of War (2)

“Will news of victory arrive?”

Serpin had been plagued with worry and anxiety throughout her declaration of war.

This was her first war as queen. She couldn’t help but be tense, especially since its scale wasn’t merely suppressing rebels but rather a great war against the celestials. If she had been alone, she would have been pacing restlessly inside the command tent.

Fortunately, she had the Grand Magistrate to provide stability.

“Do not worry, Your Majesty. Our vanguard commander is Durin.”

“But we’re facing the Celestial Battle Commander. Even the Regent would struggle…”

“Ho ho ho. You seem to underestimate him, Your Majesty.”

The Grand Magistrate laughed kindly. He opened a scripture while on his swaying warhorse.

“This historical text, containing a thousand years of history, records countless battles.”

“I’ve examined some of those wars myself.”

“Most excellent for a sovereign. Then you must have seen Durin’s exploits as well.”

Serpin nodded.

Before becoming Regent, Durin was the one who, as captain of the Demon King’s Castle guard, single-handedly sustained the demon realm to prevent its collapse. He fought against the celestial invasion forces until the Black Army was completely annihilated, and he executed all traitors who harbored rebellious thoughts.

The number of heads he had crushed until earning his nickname “Skull Crusher” easily reached tens of thousands. This was an unprecedented record not seen since the Primordial Demon King. She could see why the legions of the Demon King’s Castle reluctantly worshipped him.

“Trust and wait. A sovereign’s virtue lies in unwavering trust.”

“Yes. I suppose that’s right.”

Serpin took a deep breath. She straightened her posture and gazed ahead.

This was the anxiety of someone who had never witnessed his prowess firsthand. If only she could see his martial might just once.

Because she couldn’t, she had resolved to join this expedition herself. Waiting in the Demon King’s Castle would have made her like a frightened beast hiding in a cave.

Didn’t she want to stand tall as the rightful Demon Queen of Istria, without repeating past history?

Recalling her initial feelings, she mounted her warhorse. Though the harsh climate of the demon realm tormented her, she endured until the end.

And so she arrived at this border region.

“I’ll trust the Regent I appointed.”

She gazed at the fortress where the sun was setting, and beyond it, the battlefield that would be.

Even though she hadn’t completely shaken off her fear, she held her head high.

“Let’s go, Grand Magistrate. He’s waiting for us.”

“With the Regent’s personality, he’s surely already finished the war and is waiting for us.”

“I won’t doubt the news of victory.”

“That’s the attitude, Your Majesty.”

Serpin opened her eyes again. She strengthened her resolve.

She didn’t think about what results might await. Only Durin.

She believed without doubt that the demon realm’s vanguard commander, whom she had personally appointed, would definitely have defeated the celestials.

As the Grand Magistrate had said.

That was precisely a sovereign’s virtue.

……

The western campaign fought along the walls of heaven had come to an end.

The result was a perfect victory for the demons. While there were certainly casualties, they had annihilated the main celestial forces and impaled them all on poles—arguably the greatest achievement in the demon realm’s 1,000-year history.

Particularly, they had not only overcome the white wings in the field battle but also successfully concluded the siege warfare, making it truly incomparable.

“Your Excellency. A report from the messenger.”

“Speak.”

“We have beheaded 300 more expedition forces who fled after plundering the celestial settlement. Additionally, we’ve captured numerous lower celestials as spoils. What shall we do with them?”

“Allow the legion only the plunder. The prisoners are to be presented to the Queen. Anyone who cannot control their greed shall be severely punished.”

“I will follow your orders!”

Durin controlled his army with strict discipline.

The fruits of war typically came through plunder, but they were not simply a barbaric army.

This was an army that came to kill sworn enemies, not traitors. Victory brought infinite glory along with the satisfaction of honor.

The soldiers faithfully followed the Regent’s orders.

They didn’t even glance at the treasures, having gained something far greater. They talked excitedly, imagining themselves in the scriptures.

“You should have seen it. I struck that celestial standing on the wall, and his head flew off in one blow!”

“Ha! That’s nothing. I, for one, stabbed that celestial commander lying over there!”

“Didn’t you just stab a corpse that His Excellency the Regent had already killed? I saw everything, so don’t try to lie.”

The victory brought after 1,000 years intoxicated the legion.

The joy within their orderliness made them even more elite. Especially the Southern Army, which had stood at the vanguard of the charge, became a new legend. Their influence spread beyond to the rugged Western Army.

“I want to join the Central Army too.”

“Such a powerful army. If I reach the Demon King’s Castle, could I become like them?”

It ignited the hearts of countless warriors. A procession formed of those wanting to insert their faces into the mythical scenes of fighting celestials.

From lower demons to warlords with territories, they all came to the Demon Queen’s military commanders and officers to plead.

Tearful requests to secure a place in the legion formed a line.

“Despite appearances, I’m the strongest in our region. If you want, I’ll show you right here.”

While some demons boasted of themselves…

“Hey, catch that one! He’s trying to pull a celestial’s head from the pole!”

“Let go of this! I cut this one down myself, so I’ll present it to the Regent!”

Others struggled to catch Durin’s eye. It was utterly chaotic. If an elegant Eastern noble had seen this, they would have immediately found it disgraceful.

But the Regent, who witnessed all this firsthand, couldn’t hide his satisfaction.

This was the true nature of demons. Being true to their instincts was enough.

Wasn’t the demon realm’s greatest weapon not the Demon King or the Great Demons, but the demonic rage boiling from their instincts?

He hoped this power would continue.

“Your Excellency! The main force has arrived at the border!”

And he would present this sight exactly as it was to the Queen.

It was the greatest trophy Durin would show to Serpin.

#

Western border region.

An army exceeding one hundred thousand arrived at the treacherous land.

The Golden Guard centered around Serpin was at the vanguard. If there were a sudden celestial attack, they were poised to charge forward and sweep them all away.

However, they had no need to draw their swords.

From the shadows of the distant forest approached an army that signaled the end of the war.

Durin. The demon realm’s only Regent.

The pinnacle of existing demons.

A commander who could face celestials.

The demon general who had earned numerous titles approached the Queen. His bearing was majestic.

Despite having fought a great war, he was without a single wound. Rather, as if he had raised his status even further, red demonic energy adorned his back like a peacock.

As if entranced, Serpin pulled her reins. The Queen’s warhorse stepped forward.

This time, the royal guard did not follow.

The meeting of the waiting army and the returning warriors.

Between them remained only Durin and Serpin.

“Regent.”

“Your Majesty.”

At the affectionate call, Durin knelt.

He raised both hands to pay respects to the Queen.

“I have returned victorious. It is an honor to repay Your Majesty’s trust in this way.”

“The honor is rather mine. It’s a great victory that drove the celestials from the demon realm.”

Saying so, Serpin approached Durin.

A gentle hand grasped the sturdy gauntlet. As she exerted strength to raise him, cheers erupted from all directions.

“Durin! Durin! Durin!”

“Our Queen! Our Queen!”

Having escaped the crisis of destruction, crowned a new queen, and dealt with the remaining enemies.

The soldiers who had witnessed this entire process shouted at the top of their lungs.

“Defy the celestials! Rule over humans!”

They revived their forgotten duty. And they pledged.

“Be eternal!”

“Our glory shall continue!”

They no longer looked back at the past.

They only looked to the future.

#

As darkness fell.

Durin arrived at the Western Army’s encampment.

The main force of the Demon Queen’s army was stationed at the border, and only a small elite force accompanied Serpin to the battlefield.

It was time to report the results of the victory directly.

When he returned to the tent, the key figures of the battle were waiting.

“Your Majesty.”

“Be praised.”

The demons knelt in unison and paid homage.

Serpin took her seat at the head while receiving their obeisance.

“Durin. Do you want to talk about the victory? I’ve already heard plenty through others.”

“You should clarify what you need to know. Please receive the results of the victory as Queen.”

“Very well. I’ll do so. Regent, will you present it yourself?”

“I will.”

Durin spread a situation board before Serpin.

The parchment was densely covered with writing. The battle had been that large in scale, and the numbers mobilized on both sides were enormous.

Just the casualty count at the very top exceeded forty thousand in total.

Serpin’s face, which had been briefly intoxicated with victory, hardened.

The sudden encounter with death startled her. The Queen bit her lip at the number of deaths, which was greater than she had expected.

“The losses are heavy.”

“They are those who fought without yielding to holy power.”

“Did they perish on a glorious battlefield?”

“They will be remembered forever.”

Durin emphasized:

“Your Majesty. Put aside your previous emotions now. It’s time to face reality.”

“By reality…”

“There remains the benediction for the dead and the spoils of war.”

She was well familiar with the former, having performed it during her time as the Eastern Grand Duchess. The spoils were also naturally obtained when war occurred, so she could have passed over it lightly, but suddenly a question arose.

“Seeing how you emphasize this, it seems there’s something I must take personally.”

“You must make a decision.”

That way of speaking meant…

“It’s time to discuss what to do with the surviving celestials.”