"…"
Lily was frozen stiff. The army had led her to the largest tent on the Orcish campgrounds. She sat on a throne of logs, and dozens of high-ranking orcs had appeared to give her their adoration.
With their green flesh tempered with muscle and tusks protruding out of their mouths, the orc generals bowed toward her with a steadfast aura. On the one hand, she appreciated the gesture, but on the other hand, she felt it unnecessary. Despite her position as the Demon King, the orcs before her each had incredible strength and authority.
'Can they even breathe?'
Watching them, frozen as statues, Lily wondered how they could take in air. A suffocating feeling came over her. 'I've got to get out of here,' she thought.
"…"
'There's nowhere to run.'
The generals had sealed every exit, and while the path in the center was left open, Lily didn't have the gumption to walk past the burly orcs through it. She continued to fidget with the slime in her hands. The sky-blue slime cooed, as if pleased.
In an attempt to break the silence, she spoke. "Uh… Th… first… I want to hear a report. How are things faring against the Hero's forces?"
The orc general at the front spoke.
"Yes, I will make the report. Currently, 8,000 orc soldiers have been deployed in preparation of an assault from the Hero's forces which is estimated to be at 15,000 men…!"
Lily's eyes grew wide hearing the report. Isn't that twice the number of orcs?! She had also heard the humans had proper equipment on their side.
'Is it truly as dangerous as I heard?!'
She felt strength enter her hands. She was the Demon King, the sole ruler of the demons, their sovereign, and their leader. She felt the incredible burden at the prospect of countless demons being slain upon the humans invasion into Hell's borders. She reassured her powerless self.
'I have to help in any way! I will ask the other apostles for reinforcements when I return to the capital! With good stuff that could be used as equipment…! Yes, I've heard that logistics were also important! I should also ask the Goblin's logistics team so that supplies aren't delayed…'
She had, in her own way, attempted to gather knowledge on what to do regarding administration befitting her position. She felt that the only thing she could do in her position as a puppet king was to gather knowledge and assist them. However, seeing her as a figurehead, her servants ignored her. The apostles had gone against what she wanted to do. Remembering these slights, her hands began to grip into fists.. The slime began to squeal, and Lily relaxed in surprise.
"Ah, I'm sorry."
"Krrrrrrr."
The orc general glanced at the Demon King before continuing.
"… Currently, the orc army records 7 bouts and 7 wins while the Hero's allied forces suffered 7 defeated resulting in retreat."
Lily's eyes grew wide.
'… They won?'
She had definitely heard that they were 'suffering defeats and were cornered' at the palace. Was the report a lie?
'Was there some kind of mistake?'
"There were no defeats?"
"… We, the orcs, have suffered no defeats currently."
She felt puzzled by the orc general's report. Also, she began to recall the werewolf who had delivered the letter. The werewolf slave. They had sent the letter.
'But… why?'
A letter written in error?
Lily unconsciously began to think of the owners of the werewolf slaves. The most sinister of the 12 apostles, the most powerful demons that thirst for blood! Vampire! Also, the chief of the vampires, Vladifer and his sister Karinara.
"I'll have to talk to Commander Karakul myself.."
***
"Life is precious! Only when there is life, you can feel happiness and sadness, and also joy! However…! Those foul demons have raided our precious villages, cities, and our homes to steal our happiness and life!"
A youth donned in white gold threads and silver armor was shouting to the crowd. He was in his early twenties, with brown hair and eyes. He looked down upon countless Holy Knights from a platform, white sword in hand, proclaiming the name of justice.
"Upon the Precepts of Arrtark, he said to never hate those with life! Do not discriminate against others and embrace one another, and he said to correct those in the wrong! However, the Demons are different! They are a sinister existence! By their existence, the world is blanketed in darkness!"
The eyes of the young hero, Ludin, lit up as he pointed his sword below.
"Behold! The horrors aimed at us by the demons…!"
Wherehis sword pointed were boxes, and within those boxes were heads of the Holy Knights, soaked in salt. It was truly awful for human eyes. Not long ago, a riderless horse had carried the heads upon a wagon into the Hero's formation. Ludin, who had believed this to be a warning by the demons, was now shouting with hate.
"Be enraged! Resent them! Aim it toward the Demons! Hold hatred toward them! Give them no quarter! The god that loves all life will magnanimously forgive you and embrace you proudly!"
He turned to look at the Holy Knights. They wore threads embroidered with a white gold cross, their entire bodies wrapped in silver armor. Each were equipped with sharpened long spears and greatswords, along with guns using magic bullets.
"Even if there are countless sacrifices,we can never retreat! If we retreat, all the sacrifices up to now will be meaningless! So be bolstered! Drive out those sinister orcs! Purify Hell filled with those demons and punish the evil Demon King! That is…!"
He shouted with a passionate smile, pride swelling within him.
"…The only path to recovering our family, our lives, and our happiness! Let us fight for peace! Let us protect the ones we love! We shall begin a festival with their blood!"
"UWAAAAARGH-!"
"For the blessing of our god Arrtark-!"
"For the grace of Hero Ludin and the Pope Salem Gatteschuranche-!"
The Holy Knights cheered.
"Tonight, we shall punish them! I shall personally remove them. This hand shall sever the neck of the Demon King and showcase the greatness of the holy Hero by placing it upon the god's altar!"
The hero had made his speech passionately. The drafted soldiers within the encampment smiled as they heard him while they drank. They ate roasted meat and enjoyed themselves for what could be their final battle. However, the slaves looked toward the soldiers with envy. They were only allowed to stay within the tent without even the basic straw as flooring. They swallowed dryly to stave off thirst and hunger. As the soldiers caroused, the servants gathered and complained to one another.
"…Finally, the Hero is going out? After that many of his companions have died?"
"Why is he even stepping up at this point… Weren't they retreating? How many of us have died?! Are we the meat shield again?!"
"It has to be to perform a feat. They're using us to exhaust the demons while they kill the demons to claim their feat. They've completely abandoned us. Why even bother with a Hero at this rate…"
At that moment, one of the soldiers approached the slaves.
"You, what did you say?"
The slave lowered his head in surprise.
"Yes? No, I… haven't said anything…"
"You dare mock the Hero?"
The soldier swiped at the slave and a fight burst out. They kicked and stomped. They punched and got hit. The slaves tried to escape by crawling while the soldiers stomped on them. It was a one-sided massacre.
The other slaves watched, anger in their eyes, but as the drafted soldiers finally understood the atmosphere, they got up to leave. The soldiers had pristine armor and sharp swords; compared to them, the slaves only held a rusted dagger and undergarments. The slaves lost their musterand lowered their gaze.
"You bastards…! How dare you threaten us! You need some lessons!"
"Haha, How dare some cattle…!"
The soldiers began again. They sheathed their swords and swung as though tenderizing meat. The slaves bruised and bled all over, their bones breaking. They cried out in agony, but the soldiers laughed in revelry. The soldiers were afraid, taking out their fear of the battlefield on the slaves because they were slaves: worth less than animals or tools. There would be no punishment if the soldiers claimed that the slaves were feeling rebellious. Even if that soldier was merely a common soldier.
"… Just leave it at that!"
Only there was one who helped them.
"Miss Aris?"
The soldiers turned to her before lowering their heads. She was wearing a dress that was long enough to drag across the floor with a gem-encrusted golden staff in her hand. She was a beautiful woman with fiery red hair and eyes. She had been a member of the current hero's party and Hero Ludin's lover, Arisra was a magician.
— Ω —