Chapter 318

Chapter 318

Otherworld Demon King Survival Guide.

Episode 318: Lady Vera (9)

Hall.

I was waiting here for the Duchess alongside my female officers.

This spacious hall was set up with tables and chairs for the meeting. Of course, we had prepared more than just that.

“Good. Everything is perfectly secure.”

You never know what might happen during a meeting.

That’s why we decorated the surroundings with plants. Several flowerpots were brought in, each planted with smaller versions of Bolt Plant Towers.

Additionally—

ㅡChuk.

Dark elves dressed in maid uniforms were stationed on both sides, while armed squads of dark elves were on standby in the hallways.

The female officers stood by my side, ready to defend me. If the Duchess tried anything foolish, she’d immediately find herself surrounded.

“Wouldn’t the foolishness be coming from you?”

“We’ll see about that, Sister Reika. Either way, she’ll be here soon. Everyone, get ready.”

A few minutes later.

ㅡTok, tok, tok.

A dark elf knocked on the door and entered.

“She’s on her way.”

The door closed again. Five minutes later—

ㅡKiiik.

The door opened, and the Duchess entered with her escort knights.

“Oh.”

I couldn’t help but let out an exclamation.

The knights all had red hair, styled uniformly with wavy locks and neatly trimmed bangs.

Their beauty was beyond question, and their height exceeded 170 cm. Additionally, their mana aura was remarkable—strong and captivating. They were powerful, beautiful, and physically striking.

Leading them was—

ㅡChuk.

Duchess Vera.

At first glance, she was an imposing figure. Her confident stride and posture, emphasizing her chest by keeping her back straight and leaning slightly forward, made her appear both proud and commanding.

Her long red hair cascaded down, covering half her face, lending her an air of mystery. On the visible side, her sharp, intense gaze was unmistakably that of a ruler.

In summary, she was a strong, beautiful woman who perfectly matched my tastes. Just imagining someone like her breaking down in tears excited me—she was truly an extraordinary woman.

And that commanding presence… truly overwhelming. She wore a formal uniform with an elaborate coat, further accentuating her authority.

“Saintess.”

At my words, the Saintess stood up from her seat.

ㅡChuk.

The rest of us, except for the Saintess, assumed an “at ease” position.

“Welcome, Duchess Vera. I am Cecilia, Saintess of the Goddess Church and mistress of this fortress. It is an honor to meet you.”

The Saintess spoke with a warm tone and a smile, in stark contrast to her usual demeanor toward other envoys.

“Thank you for the hospitality, Saintess.”

Her voice was slightly low.

“I am Vera, ruler of the southern regions of the kingdom. Truly, your charisma is as formidable as the rumors suggest. It is an honor to meet you.”

Her voice was exactly as I imagined it—bold and dignified, befitting a female ruler. The Duchess expressed her gratitude for the Saintess’s warm welcome with great sincerity.

“You yourself appear stronger than the praise you receive. Hahaha.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

The two women exchanged smiles and greetings before sitting across from each other.

I observed intently, focusing to grasp the atmosphere. Politically, the Saintess was far more skilled than I was, and this was a moment to learn.

The first thing I noticed:

The Duchess and her escort knights.

All of them were pure maidens.

And they exuded a distinctly feminine allure.

Perfect.

“Impressive, truly. Such powerful warriors standing by the Saintess’s side.”

The Duchess spoke as she glanced at us.

However, she made no comment about the dark elves.

“As expected of the Saintess of the Goddess Church. To have gathered such warriors already.”

“Indeed. Given the dire situation, many have risen with noble intentions. My role as Saintess is to unify their strength and resolve the crisis.”

“Such a righteous cause. Truly inspiring, Saintess.”

“And yet, your knights appear no less formidable, Duchess. I’ve rarely seen such strong women.”

“Hahaha, and yet you have plenty by your side, Saintess.”

Such light-hearted, casual conversation continued.

The atmosphere was pleasant. At least from my perspective, there was no sense of tension or rivalry; rather, they seemed to be elevating each other.

In this amicable setting, the Saintess and the Duchess deepened their rapport through dialogue.

I simply observed.

“But Saintess, I do have a personal question.”

“What is it?”

At that moment—

ㅡChuk.

The Duchess’s gaze turned toward me.

“You are quite an impressive figure. Saintess, by any chance, is that young nobleman…”

“He is indeed.”

“I thought so. May I know the name of the General?”

“Kyuse. Come forward.”

My turn, it seemed.

ㅡSwoosh.

I relaxed my stance and walked to stand beside the Saintess.

“Greetings, Duchess. I am Kyuse, a General serving under the Saintess.”

“Ah, I’ve heard much about you. You’re the one who repelled Count Saidin’s lackeys, correct?”

Her tone shifted immediately.

“That’s correct.”

But I could sense a certain warmth in the Duchess’s gaze.

No matter how I looked at it, she seemed to like me.

Could this mean… things might go smoothly? Should I create an opportunity to seduce the Duchess? That way, I wouldn’t need to resort to coercion or dominance. A more harmonious approach could work.

“Indeed. It’s thanks to our General’s capabilities that we’re here today. He is someone I trust deeply.”

The Saintess gave me a glowing endorsement.

“Ho, I see. Truly, the aura around him is remarkable.”

The Duchess said this as she looked into my eyes again.

ㅡFlinch.

What was that feeling just now? There was definitely a sense of favor. I could instinctively tell she liked me.

But on closer observation, it seemed as though she wanted something from me—not from the Saintess, but from me. That was curious, yet I remained stoic.

In situations like this, silence was golden.

“Your military prowess must be exceptional. In this harsh world, we need talents like yours to survive.”

Wait a minute.

Could she be after my abilities?

“Of course. While the Goddess cherishes peace, it takes people like him to protect it.”

“How perceptive. Saintess, let me get straight to the point.”

The Duchess’s demeanor suddenly shifted.

“To defeat Count Saidin, hold back the elves, and ultimately eradicate the angels…”

Straight to the heart of the matter.

“We must forge a strong and unyielding alliance.”

Strong and unyielding… Honestly, I’d rather… never mind.

The Duchess has proposed an alliance.

“I thought you might say that. Indeed, this Saintess shares the same opinion. The wicked Count seeks to exploit the angels’ invasion for his gain. The treacherous elves revel in human conflict, and the angels harbor ambitions to reign over this land. To thwart these schemes, the righteous must unite.”

“Precisely.”

The Duchess responded with evident delight.

“Saintess, I need a bulwark to secure my flanks and rear. If you agree to this alliance, I will provide the necessary support. Please assist in waging this holy war.”

I immediately realized the Duchess’s intent.

As she presented her case, she subtly but firmly suggested that she should take the lead. The alliance she proposed framed her as the protagonist and us as her subordinates.

So that’s her angle.

She didn’t come here to form an equal alliance but to turn us into her vassals. Naturally, this was expected. It was only a matter of time. Our role now was to ensure the alliance was equal.

The Saintess had the skill to achieve that.

“You ask us to support you?”

“Yes. To bring order to this troubled kingdom, lend me your strength. If the Saintess supports me, we can undoubtedly end this chaos.”

“Hmm.”

“Of course, such a proposal requires irrefutable proof of absolute allegiance.”

Proof?

What kind of proof was she talking about?

“Speak.”

The Duchess’s gaze turned back to me.

“Before that, Saintess, may I ask the General a question?”

“You may.”

“General, are you a follower of the Goddess Church?”

She’s asking this?

“Of course. The Goddess is the only deity I serve, and the Saintess is both my sovereign and my mentor. I am ready to lay down my life for the Goddess and the Saintess at any time.”

“Ho, remarkable. Such divine and radiant loyalty.”

The Duchess nodded in satisfaction, looking genuinely pleased.

“Saintess, I propose a marriage alliance.”

What?

Wait.

What did she just say?

“W-What did you say…?”

The Saintess was visibly startled.

Did I mishear that?

“I said I propose a marriage alliance, Saintess. And naturally, the candidate would be…”

ㅡChuk.

The Duchess placed her hand on her chest.

“Myself and your General.”

A marriage alliance here?!

“Of course, adopting your General as my heir is also an option.”

What on earth was this woman talking about?!