"Report." The monster that made everyone its enemy hummed with interest, looking at the purple Demon that wasn't really a Demon.
"On the part of the Superbia Sector, the Pride Lord narrowly survived, though he will still be discarded and a summary of his activity will be passed on to the next Pride Lord." It reported with professionalism and a sinister smile by default. "On the other hand, 98% of the Demons accompanying him died."
"Mm~ They were temporary summonings anyway~ No loss there~" The monster chuckled.
"Indeed, Your Majesty~ To our fortune, a couple of targets were eliminated~" The Demon reported.
"Oh~?"
"The Dragon Champion, Morgol, of the Argland Council, in a mix of the avalanche caused and the low-mid level Demons. Heaven and Earth, Encordiede Maravelouse, 12th Seat of the Black Scripture, being killed in the shadows by the Shadow Devils on standby during said onslaught. And finally, 4 Great Spirits, Rob Malachite, 3rd Seat of the Black Scripture, courtesy of Alice~" He laughed with some sinister malice.
"Fufufu~ Wonderful~ There are still several of those filthy humans left, and the only one who was supposed to survive is fine~ So the Superbia division can be declared as successful~" The woman on a throne hummed happily.
"I'm glad to hear that, Your Majesty~" The purple Devil smiled.
"Mm~ How did the Gula Division fare?" She asked a Devil covered in dark robes from the side.
"Mm… I'm sorry to say that it was less than expected, Your Majesty…" The Devil grumbled with some fear.
"Hm? Tell me then."
"Yes. The Lord of Gluttony successfully overwhelmed the Argland army at the start, nearly killing the Wyrm Dragon Lord. However, it seems that the Youngs of Tomorrow, the most elite and powerful division of the overdeveloped lizards, were able to force the Lord of Gluttony to retreat to avoid total failure. Between the numbers, the difference in equipment, and the access to mysterious skills and magic, the Argland army's casualties were only 62% of the estimated." The Devil bowed deeply.
He even trembled at Her Majesty's near-deadly silence.
"… Mm… Hm~ Well~ As long as the Lord of Gluttony hasn't died, and thus, a replacement can be deployed without suspicion, as well as more than 50% of the estimated casualties have been caused and we have obtained information from Argland's elite, it could be considered a success~" Contrary to the Devil's fears, Her Majesty was far more patient and merciful than imaginable.
"…I see… I understand, Your Majesty, please excuse my stupid blindness that prevented me from seeing the whole picture." The Demon apologized.
"It's okay~" The monster dismissed. "How about Luxuria's division~?" He asked back.
"Mm~ A complete failure, Your Majesty~" The purple Demon hummed mockingly, causing the woman on the throne to smile. "The Lord of Lust could only retreat as all of his units were wiped out by Deorum Regnum on the northern coast~ No major enemy casualties~"
"I see~ A pity~" The woman laughed amusedly. "And the Ira division?" She asked towards the Devil.
"Wonderful despite having 'lost', Your Majesty~" The Devil said with satisfaction. "The Theocracy's casualties reached the minimum expectation and even exceeded it by an additional 19%~ The union between Deorum Regnum and the Theocracy became deeper at the popular level, although the Lord of Wrath was eliminated~ Likewise, the appearance of 'those creatures' was a complete success in practice, proving their effectiveness against entities up to mid-level in groups."
"Ah~ Perfect~ If those things were so efficient then they pose a threat to any army with no margin for error~ Fufufu~ This just elevates us above any other army in the world again~ Who knew the blood of a Dragon Lord would be so useful~?" The Demon Queen purred, smiling mischievously.
She then looked to the side, watching as a certain demonic maid appeared with a tray with a cup of coffee on it.
"Thank you, precious~" She thanked as she took the cup.
"Ah~ Of course, Your Majesty~ I live to serve~" The maid blurted out with nothing but joy.
"Fufufu~ Good~ With the Ira, Luxuria, Gula, and Superbia divisions almost completely wiped out, except for Ira, which was wiped out in its entirety, we are left to replenish the divisions with surviving leaders and keep the Invidia, Acedia, and Avaritia divisions on alert to fulfill their respective roles~" The Komodo Demon hummed with a mischievous smile, before taking a sip of coffee.
"We won't let you down, Your Majesty!" Crimea and Betelgeuse said with determination, looking adoringly at the Komodo Demon, the Demon Empress.
"Fufu~ I know you won't~" She said with a tone that was more than cheerful and satisfied. A successful tone.
Why was she so happy about all of that? Even though all of her deployed units were defeats, be it complete extermination, or just the survival of the leaders of said units…
Well, the answer was simple.
All the Demons deployed, be it Imps and Hell Hounds, to Infernal Protectors and Infernal Knights, to even Hell Giants and Creatures of Hell, and going all the way to the exaggeration of Evil Lords… All, absolutely all of them were… Dispensable, replaceable by identical copies in everything, be it power, mission, and personality.
However, their enemies, the World Theocracy Alliance and the Argland Council… Had no such freedom.
Mm? Didn't she mention Deorum Regnum? Oops~
Simply put, it was a war of attrition that was destined to be won~ If they, the Demon Empire, lost one of their 'Commanders', they could simply summon one more and replace them as a second, or a third, or a fourth, or a fifth. While the human and non-human kingdoms, if they lost their hero, 100 years, 200 years, who knows how long they would have to wait to have one just like them again~? And in the end, all of them would end up worn down, while the Demon Empire would have its elite intact~
And when it came to even eliminating the offspring of the Dragon Lords? And even going so far as to be able to eliminate one of said Dragon Lords… It was more than a victory any way you looked at it~
Such was the brilliance of Her Majesty the Empress of Komodo~
No.
Of the Supreme Ladies~
…
"… Are you sure about this…? You don't have to do it…"
"I know. But I have to… If what the Platinum Dragon Lord said is true, I'm the only one who can use that thing without immediate side effects."
"…"
"Tch, don't bother, granny. I'll be fine. Out of everyone, I'll appear when I'm given the signal. And when they give it, that Demon is supposed to be contained, right?"
"… Yeah, supposedly so."
"Then you have nothing to worry about."
"…"
"… What's the problem? Seriously, I have nothing against the plan."
"You just… Might die…"
"Are you really saying that to someone like me? I've been 'alive' for over 200 years, you old hag. And I don't plan on dying today, or that day, or later. Since when is an old relic like you so sentimental?"
"… Ha, you're right. Haha~ I guess age made me sentimental~..."
"Fine, just remember to keep them safe. They won't be a part of this."
"Yeah, yeah. I get it. I'll keep them safe. In fact, this is one of the safest places in the world, you know~? Who's worrying too much now~?"
"Tch, this mummy… Aw!"
"Oi, more respect for your elders."
"Huh!? I'd say I'm even older than you!"
"Mm~ I don't know~ You claim to be older than me, but you still act like a silly little girl~"
"Huh!? You wanna fight, you old hag!?'
"Haha~ If you want to be used as a rag to wipe dirt so badly, just say it~"
"You'll see!"
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