Ch.80The Demon King and Lilith (6)

The Devil King and Lilith (6)

Lilith was awake.

How could she possibly sleep?

How could anyone sleep in the middle of enemy territory?

Moreover, her only prince charming on a white horse had fainted from the hero’s cowardly attack.

She was simply spending the night with her eyes wide open.

With the hero’s party members nearby looking like grim reapers ready to take her life, she trembled alone in anxiety.

That’s when she saw Lug, who had been unconscious, wake up and crawl out of the tent.

‘Huh?’

In a situation where even the only person she could lean on had disappeared.

Lilith held her breath as she looked at the hero party members positioned on both sides.

Left alone in the silence, all she could do was prick up her ears.

There was nothing else she could do.

And because of that.

Lilith was able to eavesdrop on the conversation between Esmeralda and Lug.

“……”

The two people who somehow exuded familiarity. An atmosphere that never turned hostile despite the banter and complaints.

Lilith realized.

She couldn’t help but realize.

‘Captain Lug…’

Still had lingering attachments.

Had grown fond of them.

Didn’t want them to get hurt and hoped their dreams would come true.

Lilith’s fantasy was shattering.

After all, a prince on a white horse would never side with the demon race.

Demons are cruel beings.

Those who aren’t cannot be called demons. That’s what Lug is.

Though demon blood flows through him, his identity is already closer to that of a human.

‘But the hero party’s success means the death of the Devil King.’

Ironically, Lug was essentially cheering for that.

This was unacceptable to Lilith. Wasn’t she part of the Devil King’s army?

Wasn’t she a high-ranking demon with the qualification and responsibility to lead the ignorant demons?

No, beyond the Devil King’s army, she couldn’t just stand by and watch as one of her few family members was defeated at the hands of the hero party.

Of course, from the humans’ perspective, the Devil King who seeks to invade the human realm is someone who must be defeated.

But from the perspective of high-ranking demons, the human realm is also a place they must return to.

‘We demons are all descendants of exiles. I know well that our ancestors were guilty.’

But the inheritance of that sin has already spanned several centuries.

They say they’ve adapted to living in the demon realm now, but weren’t they originally people who were driven out to die?

Those who struggled to survive, leaving hope and passing it on to the next generation.

‘That’s the fate of the nobility.’

To ensure they can return.

That’s the identity of the high-ranking demons.

The duty they’ve chosen to bear.

Those who have decided to burn their lives to pave the way so that even if they can’t go to a better world, their descendants can.

‘So, Captain Lug. Even if you are my prince, if you’re going to stand in our way…’

First, for family.

Just as Lug cherishes the hero party, she equally cherishes Belphegor.

Second, for responsibility.

The demon realm, where even breathing is painful for humans.

Demons were once like humans and have endured that pain to survive.

By enduring and persevering, they adapted and evolved from humans to become the demons they are today, capable of adapting to the demon realm.

They don’t forget that history of pain.

‘So please.’

Lug has always wanted to return to the Devil King’s army. That’s not a lie.

But at the same time, he hopes the hero party achieves its goal.

A wish where one side must be given up.

Lilith’s mind becomes cold and rational.

And soon she reaches a conclusion.

‘Depending on your choice, I might…’

Have to deal with Captain Lug.

So she needs to hear his true feelings.

Whether he will choose the Devil King’s army or the hero party, and if he chooses the hero party…

‘…I might have to kill you.’

Her first love.

The first flutter she ever felt.

The sight of watching the back of someone protecting her in the face of threats.

Even if she had to leave all that behind.

Even if she had to paint over all of it.

‘Because I’m the only one who can take care of my aunt.’

For the sake of family.

‘Because there are those who risk their lives for the strategies I’ve devised.’

For the sake of saving the demon race.

Even if it means killing Lug. She must lead the Devil King’s army to victory.

That’s why Lilith curled up, hoping her thoughts were a misunderstanding.

Despite all her resolve.

Because she still found herself thinking that she liked Lug.

***

Extra, a former executive of the Devil King’s army and current external agent of the Eye of Truth, was observing the hero party’s movements from a distance. They were certainly strong, but it’s impossible to remain tense at every moment.

During sleep time. While they were on guard duty in a defensive formation, it was possible to watch from a distance.

Of course, hero Esmeralda’s senses were monstrously wide, so even Extra couldn’t get any closer.

“Hmm…”

Extra unconsciously touched his chest and sighed.

The wound he had received from the hero in the past seemed to throb.

In exchange for giving up his heart, he was able to escape from the Devil King’s army.

Of course, it wasn’t a reckless act; he had received instructions from La•Pa beforehand to give up his heart.

He had a second heart. A second heart located a bit away from where the original heart was positioned, a dragon heart.

In some ways, he was in a similar state to Tina. No, having been accustomed to that power for a long time, he was stronger than Tina.

“Chancellor, what should we do?”

Extra contacted La•Pa with a cold gaze as he looked down at the hero party’s camp.

In response to his serious tone, a reply soon came from the magical communication device.

-Hmm…? What did you say? Sorry, I was sleeping. Did you find Lilith?

“…You’re sleeping after giving me a job? You’re really a terrible boss.”

-That’s what all bosses are like.

“I see. That’s certainly true. My previous boss was like that too.”

Extra readily agreed, as his previous boss had been Five.

Bosses are inherently bastards.

They are cold-blooded beings who don’t understand the hearts of humans, demons, or dragons.

How is it that having worked for both demon and dragon factions, he only encountered such terrible bosses?

It’s a reasonable guess that the human side is likely the same.

So he refuses any further job changes.

“I found Major General Lilith.”

-Really? Where was she?

“…She’s with the hero party? It seems she went to meet Lug directly? Well, a smart woman like her would have noticed something about Lug.”

-That’s high praise. Isn’t she just a demon?

“For a demon, she’s quite intelligent. I can think to some extent, but she’s a woman who’s incomparably smarter than me.”

-My goodness…

La•Pa grumbled that he should have recruited Lilith instead of Extra. Extra felt his blood pressure rising, but having gone through numerous social experiences, he wouldn’t lose his composure over something like this.

-This works out well.

“…Works out well? No, I’m telling you she’s with the hero party right now.”

-That’s why it works out even better. Take this opportunity to attack them all at once.

“Weren’t we supposed to support the hero party?”

-The current hero party can’t defeat that damn kid. No, not just the current hero party, even considering their future growth, they’re still far from enough.

“So you’re telling me to be a sacrifice for the hero party? Me against those who have already defeated a corps commander? Isn’t that a dog’s death?”

Extra clicked his tongue at the order that was essentially telling him to die.

Of course, Extra is strong. He was a field-grade officer from the beginning.

If he hadn’t been defeated so easily on the day of execution, he could have had a good match with Esmeralda.

Though he would have lost anyway.

At least he would have put up a fight memorable enough to leave his name in their minds.

But what about him now?

He has been reborn as a dragon through the dragon heart.

Even so, he would still lose.

Because while he was getting stronger, the hero party wasn’t just sitting around.

-Ah, I’ll give you one more ally. And anyway, if you go as you are, you’ll be suspected by both sides, including the ascetic of Capilla, right?

“That’s obvious. I’m on familiar terms with the hero, Lug, and Major General Lilith.”

-Right, so…

Thud.

While Extra was continuing the communication, showing his reluctance, suddenly a massive figure dropped silently in front of him.

At least they knew the basics of infiltration. Extra was at a loss for words as he looked at the being that had appeared silently despite the distance.

Yellow scales and blue eyes.

A massive horn protruding from the forehead.

“Wear it, it’s a gift from our great mother, so accept it with gratitude.”

“…No way, is this.”

Extra looked dejectedly at the metal armor dropping in front of him.

“You want me to fight wearing this?”

“You’ll also have the honor of riding on my back.”

“Damn it, really…”

Extra, who suddenly found himself in the position of becoming a dragon rider, let out a deep sigh.

It’s called a dragon rider, but in reality, he’s just the most conspicuous fixed target.

After all, he has never ridden a dragon before and doesn’t even have the skills to cooperate with it.

Just a target sitting on top of a dragon. That’s about the role he can play.

“Well, let’s give it a try.”

Extra put on the helmet from the armor that had fallen in front of him and grinned. Although he was clearly being exploited one-sidedly…

‘The opportunity to ride a dragon doesn’t come often.’

Honestly, it seemed like it would be fun.

After putting on the armor and picking up a long spear he had never handled before, leaving behind the greatsword he usually used, Extra received final confirmation from La•Pa before departing.

“What should I do?”

-As long as you don’t kill them, it doesn’t matter. Oh, and make sure to bring that woman Lilith before me.

“That’s a request that’s harder than killing, yet you say it so simply…”

-What can I do? We can’t kill the hero party. Our cute youngest daughter is with them too.

“What about Major General Lilith?”

-She needs to be kept alive to serve as a hostage too, obviously.

“Well, there’s no room for negotiation here.”

Extra pressed down his helmet with a sigh, not knowing how many times he had sighed today.