chapter_0133

As time passed, with only one day left before the final exams began, both my routine at the Academy and my work in the Demon World were nearing completion.

In the end, it was decided that I would only take the exams for the morning classes, excluding the afternoon classes and magic theory classes, which were of little significance. Of course, the dungeon practice in the afternoon was an exception.

Around this time, another minor incident occurred. The words I had said to Priscilla in the Succubus Castle had spread to the other possessed girls.

The incident started when Rosalia, seeing Priscilla giggling alone in the club room, asked her what good thing had happened to make her look so happy, and Priscilla, having no request to keep it a secret, told her exactly what she had heard.

Naturally, Rosalia, being who she was, soon informed Elysier and Laura as well.

“Wow, that’s touching. You said you’d show us a happy ending, so I might have been a little excited. Anyway, since you said it yourself, Mira, I can expect it, right? Right?”

“What a grand and sweet ambition. Very well. I shall eagerly anticipate the happy future you will bring.”

“I created the ending of this world, but you said you would create our ending, did you not? It is a perfect declaration, my friend.”

“Uh……?”

Rosalia, who had been teasing me with a smirk, suddenly looked taken aback and tried to backtrack, but it was too late.

“…… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it seriously.”

In the end, when we were alone, Rosalia and Priscilla apologized with their heads down. It was a prank I could understand, so I didn’t hold any grudges.

Out of the four of them, Rosalia was the most playful, so if I turned it around, it also meant that her mental breakdown due to the regression was relatively minor.

For me, as long as they didn’t cross the line, I actually preferred this kind of reaction. It wasn’t good to have a one-sided relationship where Priscilla and Laura relied too much on me.

“…… So it’s okay if I continue like this?”

Rosalia’s face lit up as I nodded, and after comforting her a little more, I returned to the Demon World to finish the almost-completed work.

And when I returned to the Demon World after two days, it was completely different from what I remembered.

“It’s a big problem, our Majesty’s Master.”

Clione, who had been pacing anxiously, calmed down as soon as I arrived. The other succubi also rushed towards me with relieved expressions, having been worried sick.

“Why? What’s the matter?”

“Undead have begun to awaken all over the Demon World.”

‘…… It’s him. The Elder Lich.’

I immediately understood the situation. The Elder Lich had finally revealed his ambition to become the Demon King.

Otherwise, there was no reason for undead to awaken all over the Demon World, and there was no other demon capable of controlling such a large number of undead.

“The awakened corpses all say the same thing. They tell us to serve a new Demon King. They say that those who do not serve in life will serve in death.”

“I’m not surprised. I kind of expected it. Have you figured out where they’re heading as well?”

“It’s hard to be certain due to the limitations of our scouts, but…… it seems that some of them are heading towards human territory.”

“Some? How many are we talking about?”

“Approximately seven to eight hundred thousand, by our estimates. They are all Death Knights or lower-level undead, one or two stages below them. It’s not just a matter of numbers.”

The number of undead was so large that they could only be described in vague terms.

I put on the necklace and informed Elysier of what was happening in the Demon World. After hearing the whole story, Elysier ended the communication with a cold voice, saying she would inform the other three as well.

“Clione– Ah, Your Majesty’s Master! Outside……!”

A succubus rushed in, out of breath. I summoned Dragon Tooth and asked.

“Undead?”

“No. It’s the First Legion Commander! And he seems to have brought his entire legion with him!”

Fortunately, it seemed that I wouldn’t have to fight the undead just yet.

‘I didn’t expect that I would be fighting alongside this guy for so long…’.

It was better than facing millions or even billions of undead alone. I put Yong-ah away and wore a long coat with a hood and a mask to conceal my face before heading outside.

A large number of ghost cavalry were lined up in perfect formation. They all rode black ghost horses, wore black armor, and carried black spears and shields.

At the very front, Dullahan jumped down from his horse and approached me, holding a sword in one hand and a spear in the other.

“I know you were enjoying yourself, but it’s time to get back to work. The situation isn’t looking good, so let’s hurry.”

He seemed absolutely certain that I had been doing something to the succubi, despite my repeated denials. It was a bit awkward to explain, so I decided to let him keep his misunderstanding.

“I know. I just heard about it myself. It’s that damn Elder Lich, isn’t it?”

“Yes! He dares to proclaim himself the new Demon King and demands our loyalty! He says the Demon King is definitely gone! It’s unforgivable treason!”

Dullahan stomped his spear on the ground in anger, causing the ground to crack like a spider web. The succubi screamed and hid behind me, including Clione.

Dullahan smashed the ground near them, then calmed down and took a deep breath.

“The only forces we can rely on right now are my ghost cavalry and the succubi. The rest must have submitted to that traitor. Disgusting creatures who know nothing of honor.”

“You should exclude the succubi. They don’t know how to fight properly. It would be pointless to bring them to the battlefield; they’d just end up increasing the number of undead.”

I heard a loud agreement from behind me. I wondered how Astaroth could have ever thought of using these succubi in battle.

“So, the only actual fighting force we have is your ghost cavalry and yourself.”

I could trust the First Legion Commander’s ghost cavalry in this situation. This was due to the difference between ghosts and undead.

The undead controlled by the Elder Lich were reanimated corpses, but the ghost cavalry was made up of ghosts who had died and wandered the world, so they were not under the Elder Lich’s control.

That was probably why they were organized into a separate legion as well.

“Do you have any ideas?”

Dullahan asked without hesitation, perhaps because he believed I was a human who had defected to the Demon King’s side due to my loyalty.

“Not really. But if I did, I’d definitely go for a breakthrough. The longer we drag this out, the more disadvantageous it is for us.”

“I agree. We must end this as quickly as possible.”

The living demons would just keep coming back to life and attack, and the undead were so tough that even if they were reduced to chunks of meat, they could still regenerate as Flesh Golems.

There were millions of undead all over the Demon World, plus the ones the Elder Lich already had, and now the number of demons and monsters who had submitted to him.

It was a situation where chipping away at their numbers slowly wouldn’t work.

‘It would be impossible to bring Leona here as well.’

Since it was confirmed that a “part” of the undead army was heading towards the human front, Leona had to be with the Sword Saint there. We couldn’t expect any support from them.

“At least we know where they are. The Demon King’s Castle, right?”

“Yes. That damn traitor has set up his throne in the very spot where our beloved Demon King used to sit.”

“Good. We have our destination, and now we need to defend this place…… Clione, contact Nika and tell her to come here. If Beatrice tries to stop her, tell her it’s an order from the Young Master.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Clione closed her eyes and concentrated. Soon, a succubus queen named Nika appeared, wearing extremely revealing clothing instead of a maid outfit.

“You called, Master–”

Then she hid behind me, startled by the First Legion Commander. Dullahan was surprised to see a succubus queen acting so affectionately towards a mere human.

“…… How is this possible? Aren’t you human? How can you stand being near a succubus queen?”

“Thanks to the Demon King.”

“As expected of the Demon King!”

It was fortunate that he was a simple-minded guy who believed everything was due to the Demon King’s arrangements. I didn’t have to make any separate excuses.

I asked Clione to explain the situation to the succubi and snapped my fingers. A tornado of white flames descended and surrounded the entire succubus territory.

The succubi began to back away towards the castle, intimidated by the sight and heat of the flames.

“Even Death Knights won’t be able to get through this. This should serve as a decent defensive wall. Just in case, though…… Nika?”

“Yes, yes! Master!”

“Send out the succubi to check for any breaches. If you think a breach is about to happen, don’t hesitate to flee with the succubi. Got it? Don’t try to stop them half-heartedly. If they get through, you won’t be able to stop them with your strength.”

“Yes, I understand. But in order to do that……”

“I know. You need mana. I’ll give it to you later, so for now, just divide the succubi and have them keep watch.”

“Hehe, yes!”

Nika grinned and led the succubi towards the castle. Despite her innocent appearance, she had read the memories of the previous queen through succession, so she would fulfill her role well.

I turned to the ghost cavalry. In the original story, they had come with great pomp and circumstance, only to scatter and eventually disappear after Dullahan’s death at the hands of Leona in a duel.

It was a strange feeling to be fighting alongside them, even if it was only temporary.

“So, are you ready to face honorable deaths?”

“Did you just say honorable deaths?”

Dullahan immediately showed interest. As expected, he had no interest in dying.

“In a situation where we are clearly outnumbered, where the enemy’s numbers are ridiculously high and ours are pitifully low, where victory is uncertain and the situation is hopeless, to charge forward with only loyalty to our lord as our last hope…… If that’s not an honorable death, then what is?”

“Ohh, indeed……! Your words are absolutely correct! That is indeed the most honorable death a knight could wish for!”

The First Legion Commander’s enthusiasm affected his ghost cavalry, and their morale soared. The ghost horses reared, the ghosts stomped their feet, and the riders banged their weapons against their shields.

“Death to the treacherous rebels! For the Demon King! For honor!”

‘Maybe I should have said that later.’

They hadn’t even heard about our departure yet.