Chapter 10: Three

Sein

This was several years ago from now.

In other words, it was a story from the distant past.

Sein and the Demon King Lashian were not merely in a lord-vassal relationship.

This was especially true from Sein’s perspective.

They were friends and comrades-in-arms who had fought back-to-back, traversing battlefields together.

Through such long battles, they slowly opened their hearts to each other.

Of course, they didn’t have any particular conversations.

However, they became the kind of relationship where just being together brought comfort.

“Sein!”

“Yes!”

In fact, there was no need for much conversation.

Even amidst the suffocating battlefield, their synergy was perfect.

When Sein split through enemy lines with whirlwind-like speed.

Lashian’s overwhelming demonic energy supported her from behind, opening a path.

Their synergy was excellent.

They were a major pillar in the Demon race’s continuous victories.

Until then, Lashian wasn’t as rigid as she was now.

Very occasionally, she would even show a faint smile.

On some days, she would pat Sein’s shoulder and offer brief words of encouragement.

Sein genuinely respected such a Demon King.

To the extent that she felt her life wouldn’t be a waste if it were for her.

But that didn’t last long.

Cracks slowly began to appear in their firm trust.

The Empire’s offensive grew fiercer day by day.

The Demon race was gradually pushed onto the defensive.

Every time she opened her eyes, she heard tragic news of her kin.

Each day was a continuation of suffering.

Then one day, Sein returned after an arduous battle.

Something caught her eye.

A village swept clean by the remnants of the Imperial forces.

Smoke was rising from various parts of the village.

It was a situation where ‘ash heap’ was a more fitting description than ‘village’.

Sein felt a faint terror as she looked at it.

She stumbled along the familiar path towards her home.

However, ominous premonitions never proved wrong.

Amidst the collapsed rubble, she fumbled and found something.

The first thing her eyes fell upon was her father’s tightly closed eyes.

Soon after, she found the cold, lifeless forms of her mother and younger sibling.

Sein’s legs gave out.

She then collapsed to the ground.

Each of them was in a horrific state.

Everything before Sein’s eyes turned blank.

She couldn’t hear any sounds around her.

Only the pounding of her heart echoed in her ears.

That day, Sein’s world collapsed.

They were days of agony.

In her grief, she desperately wished for the Demon King’s immediate retaliation.

However, the Demon King remained silent despite her pleas.

‘It’s not the time’ was the only reason she repeatedly gave.

From that day on, Sein’s mind grew cold.

‘Why aren’t they moving?’

‘Can they not see our suffering?’

An inexpressible sense of betrayal slowly began to rear its head.

Behind the figure of the lord she had so respected.

Suddenly, only the shadow of an incompetent bystander flickered.

“Demon King! Now is the chance to strike at their weak point!”

“…”

“Why are you hesitating?!”

But the reply was still the same.

‘It’s not the time.’

“When exactly will that ‘time’ come?!”

“…”

“Our kin are falling!”

Despite Sein’s desperate cries, the Demon King’s decision did not change.

As always, she merely gazed at the battlefield with cold eyes.

That silence was no longer something Sein could wait for.

It was a lack of communication, an evasion, and a deception.

Respect gradually turned into dissatisfaction, and then into deep resentment.

And one day, a man Sein had never seen before appeared by the Demon King Lashian’s side.

Kyle.

He was someone whose origins were unknown.

Among the Demon race, he was merely whispered about as an external mercenary.

That day, Sein once again offered her counsel to the Demon King.

A new strategy to break the stalemate.

She had believed that this time, it would be accepted.

But what returned was still the cold reply, ‘It’s not the time.’

And heavy silence.

It was just as Sein was about to retreat.

That man, Kyle, suddenly approached the Demon King.

And then whispered something.

The content was inaudible, but the Demon King, uncharacteristically, nodded.

A clear attitude of listening to his words.

She even issued new orders based on his opinion.

At that moment.

Something snapped inside Sein’s head.

Her own earnest advice had been completely disregarded.

Even after traversing battlefields together for years.

But the words of a man whose origins were unknown.

The Demon King listened to him and immediately accepted it.

This was no longer incompetence or indifference.

It was an insult to her, and to the time they had spent together.

From deep within her cold heart, a hot flame surged.

Thus, the distance between the two people who had once been closer than anyone else grew uncontrollably.

And eventually, Sein drew her sword.

She would personally forge the path if the Demon King wouldn’t take it.

So, she boldly went to the Demon King’s castle.

She had somewhat anticipated it.

The fact that the Demon King and the Seven Great Demon Lords would have noticed her rebellion.

But that didn’t scare her.

Her speed was unrivaled.

If she set her mind to it, escaping from the Demon King’s castle would be no big deal.

Even if the pursuer was the Demon King herself.

However, all of that was an irreversible choice.

Sein realized it too late.

Reality was nothing but a cold floor and regret.

Kyle, he turned his back and was about to leave.

As Sein stared blankly at him, the emotions she had suppressed for so long began to leak out.

“Are you crying?”

Yuriel, who had approached without her noticing, asked, sounding flustered.

On her greatsword, there were even more traces of battle than before.

How foolish she had been.

Even while she was gathering her strength, Yuriel had been traversing the battlefield, following the Demon King.

Only then did Sein realize it to her core.

Hot tears streamed endlessly down her cheeks.

More unbearable than the pain of her immobile body was the guilt that pierced her heart.

But what good was regret now?

She slammed her forehead against the floor.

Then, instinctively, she made a final plea.

“…Just once… could you give me one more chance?”

Sein struggled to lift her head and look up at the Demon King.

“I… I didn’t know.”

Her voice was hoarse, but filled with earnestness.

“I only thought you were frustrating.”

She wasn’t simply begging for her life.

“I… I truly… was wrong…”

Disappearing like this held no fear for her at all.

But leaving without being able to wash away this sin, that was truly agonizing.

Yuriel adjusted her greatsword and subtly observed the Demon King.

She seemed to be waiting for the Demon King’s intention on how to deal with the traitor.

The Demon King received Yuriel’s gaze.

She then turned her head and quietly asked Kyle.

“What do you think?”

At that moment, all eyes in the room focused on him.

Even Sephiron, who had been full of dissatisfaction, was waiting for his answer, his brow slightly furrowed.

Kyle gazed down at Sein, who was collapsed on the floor.

Under his cold gaze, Sein instinctively avoided his eyes.

“…It doesn’t seem like she’s lying.”

At his words, Sein’s eyes widened slightly.

Yuriel let out a hollow laugh, as if in disbelief.

Sephiron’s brow furrowed even deeper.

“However.”

Kyle’s words continued.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to keep someone like her by the Demon King’s side again.”

At those words, Sein’s heart sank.

The last flickering ember of hope was dying out.

“You mean.”

The Demon King’s gaze swept over Sein.

“If it’s acceptable, I propose taking her with me and observing her for a while.”

Kyle’s unexpected suggestion.

At his words, silence once again fell over the hall.

Sein looked around blankly.

Yuriel and Sephiron were openly displaying discomfort.

The Demon King’s expression was also strange, making her feel uneasy.

But there was nothing more she could do.

Only waiting for her fate.

A short while passed.

“…Since it’s a life you saved.”

Finally, the Demon King concluded her words.

“Have it your way.”

And then she declared to everyone present.

“As of today, Sein’s qualification as one of the Seven Great Demon Lords is revoked.”

Her words continued.

“And from this moment forth. The new Seven Great Demon Lord is Kyle.”

That was all.

The Demon King turned her back and left the room without a shred of lingering regret.

Sephiron, despite his uncomfortable expression, followed directly behind the Demon King without saying anything.

Beside him, Yuriel’s voice could be heard, sounding utterly dumbfounded.

“Wow… so it turned out like this?”

Sein instinctively lowered her head.

That greatsword in Yuriel’s hand.

It felt as if it could be swung at any moment.

Because Yuriel possessed an impulsive nature.

However, such a thing did not happen.

Yuriel also seemed to alternate glances between her and Kyle, then followed behind Sephiron and left.

Now, only Sein and he remained in this space.

Silence hung in the empty hall.

Sein’s head slowly turned towards him.

She had committed treason and yet survived.

While begging for a chance, she had actually half-given up on everything.

Because treason was a sin that could never be lightly forgiven.

‘How?’

She couldn’t understand.

‘Who is this man?’

How dare he save the life of someone who had committed treason?

He slowly began to approach Sein.

Sein quietly wiped away the endlessly flowing tears as she looked up at him.