Rachel doubted her ears.

Summoning the Demon King here?

“Hero. You’re joking, right?”

“No, I’m not joking.”

Though it would have been nice if it were a joke, Choi Hyun-seok’s expression was completely serious.

“Rachel. Think carefully. What’s the core of what we need to do right now?”

“To defeat Gatren!”

“That’s right too, but it’s a situation that’s difficult to resolve with force.”

“Yes.”

“So rather than defeating Gatren, we need to focus on winning people’s hearts. Then Gatren’s plans will naturally fail.”

How to change the hearts of the hardliners.

This was the core of what Choi Hyun-seok was thinking about.

And from what he had observed so far.

The hardliners’ main issue was this.

“We cannot trust the words of the demon race!”

This thinking of the hardliners wasn’t incomprehensible.

A relationship of fighting for over 500 years couldn’t improve overnight.

The emotional divide was inevitably deep from the long years.

It was only natural for distrust to sprout.

Gatren and the Deusis faith also dug into this point to instigate people.

“But what if the Demon King comes personally to make the promise?”

What would happen if the Demon King personally visited human territory to promise peace?

The situation would surely change if that happened.

While it wouldn’t completely eliminate distrust, it could at least create a flow strong enough to change the overall tide.

“Strike while the iron is hot, let’s ask right away.”

Choi Hyun-seok took out a communication crystal from his inventory.

He began urgently contacting somewhere.

***

“Demon King. The Third Corps Commander has arrived.”

“Let them enter.”

As Sidriel answered, the door opened.

Entering was Reidrun, a muscular bull-head demon.

He bowed his head.

“I come before the Demon King.”

“What is it?”

“We received contact from Choi Hyun-seok.”

Sidriel’s head tilted slightly.

“Choi Hyun-seok?”

A welcome name.

The human who helped her become Demon King.

Once a member of the Demon King’s Army, but now heard to be working to stop the war in human territory.

“Why Choi Hyun-seok?”

“Well…”

After trailing off briefly, Reidrun seemed to make up his mind and began explaining.

“…So he requests that you personally come to the human kingdom’s capital.”

“Ah… This isn’t a joke, right?”

Sidriel asked again to confirm.

Reidrun answered with a serious expression.

“It is not.”

Right.

The bull-head demon wouldn’t make jokes.

Then it meant Choi Hyun-seok really made such an impossible request.

“Asking the Demon King to cross into human territory to make a peace declaration.”

“I apologize.”

Reidrun bowed his head and continued.

“Honestly, I debated whether to tell you, but I thought it right for you to judge directly, so I’m reporting it.”

“Don’t worry about it. You did well.”

Sidriel stroked her chin, deep in thought.

“Reidrun. What do you think?”

“I am against it. The risk is too great for you to move personally.”

This was a completely different matter from Sidriel declaring peace from the Demon King’s castle.

Until now, no Demon King had ever left demon territory.

No, even leaving the Demon King’s castle is rare enough to count on one hand.

For such a Demon King to declare peace in human territory?

Depending on perspective, some might see it as completely submitting to humans.

“There’s likely to be talk within the demon race.”

If corps commanders and delegates oppose this, it would become a headache.

For Sidriel, whose royal authority was already precarious, this was too much of a gamble.

“Moreover, while I don’t think Choi Hyun-seok would betray us, we must consider the possibility of a double trap.”

“Right. Someone could be deceiving Choi Hyun-seok to set this up.”

“Besides this, there are too many elements in human territory that could threaten you. And in fact, this is the biggest problem…”

Reidrun continued with a dark expression.

“We are at war right now.”

“That’s right.”

“If you leave your post while we’re busy fighting the Holy War’s army, the front line could collapse.”

The demon race and Holy War’s army were still engaged in fierce battle.

After Sidriel took power as Demon King.

The demon race united again but couldn’t drive out the Holy War’s army.

Rather, they were being pushed into a corner bit by bit.

Currently, they could barely block their advance.

If Sidriel goes, at least one corps commander would need to move for her escort.

In this situation, losing two such powerful figures would create too big a gap in their military strength.

The front line could suddenly collapse.

“I see. That’s also correct.”

Sidriel nodded as if she understood.

“Reidrun. I have one question.”

“Yes.”

“If the war continues like this, how much of a chance do you think we have of winning? Speak objectively.”

For a moment, bewilderment appeared on Reidrun’s face.

However, he quickly regained his original expression and answered.

“To be honest, it’s less than 30%.”

“I think the same. That’s why I used the peace declaration as a move to shake up the enemy, but it didn’t work as well as I thought.”

A smile appeared on Sidriel’s lips.

“I think this is an opportunity.”

“… Is it an opportunity?”

“Yes. A chance to reverse the situation in one go. If we succeed, there’s a high chance that human public opinion will turn favorable towards us. If that happens, even the army of the Holy War will have no choice but to retreat.”

Life gradually began to return to Sidriel’s eyes.

The more she spoke, the more confident she became in her thoughts.

“I think it’s better to grab an opportunity rather than continue struggling in a war where defeat is practically certain.”

Reidrun nodded.

He could only provide advice.

In the end, all decisions are made by the Demon King.

“I will prepare right away.”

***

A few days later.

Choi Hyun-seok bowed his head to Sara Dunphy who had come running at his request and worked hard.

“Thank you.”

“No need to be so thankful. It was a simple task.”

Sara Dunphy shook her head as if it was nothing.

Currently, she is in Chersilton, the capital of the Kingdom of Chersi, at Choi Hyun-seok’s request.

It was to prepare some magical devices.

“By the way… Are you really planning to bring the Demon King here?”

“Yes. I’ve already promised, and they’ll arrive soon.”

“You really…”

Sara Dunphy, who was speaking, gave a small laugh.

“You’re amazing. You came up with an idea that ordinary people wouldn’t even think of.”

Bringing the Demon King to the capital of a human kingdom.

Sara Dunphy, who had studied this world’s common sense, knew well how absurd this was.

If she had to make a comparison, it would be like the king of one kingdom visiting the capital of another kingdom they’re at war with.

“Oh? Just a moment.”

At that time, Choi Hyun-seok’s communication crystal began to shine.

It was a contact from Reidrun.

-Choi Hyun-seok. We’ve arrived.

“Yes. I’ll be there right away.”

Choi Hyun-seok ended the communication.

He looked at Sara Dunphy and asked.

“It’s nearby. Would you like to come along?”

“Let’s do that. We’ll all have to gather eventually anyway.”

Choi Hyun-seok and Sara Dunphy immediately left the capital Chersilton.

When they moved to the promised location, they saw Sidriel and Reidrun waiting.

“Long time no see, Choi Hyun-seok!”

“Have you been well?”

Sidriel waved her hand and Reidrun slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

“Thank you for coming such a long way. It must have been a difficult decision.”

Choi Hyun-seok was sincerely grateful.

He also knows about the situation of the Demon King’s Army from what he’s heard.

And what kind of resolution they needed to make to come here.

“You don’t need to thank me. We came only because it will benefit the demon race. Rather, I thank you for arranging such an opportunity.”

At Sidriel’s words, Choi Hyun-seok rubbed the bridge of his nose.

‘How nice would it be if our Rachel could be half as good as this Demon King.’

They say the way you say ‘ah’ is different from the way you say ‘uh’?

When she speaks so beautifully even with the same words, his favorability naturally increased.

‘No. Get it together. I have Ian.’

After momentarily considering Sidriel as a bride candidate, he pushed her back out and looked at her straight on.

“Shall we start right away?”

***

“Die! You fanatic!”

“You demon worshipper!”

Another peaceful day in Chersilton.

Though they should have been tired by now, people still didn’t stop fighting.

No, rather, the fighting was getting more intense.

As the emotional divide between the two factions deepens, their confrontation only gets worse day by day.

“Demon worshipper!? Are you done talking! You fanatic bastard!”

“You want to hit me? Try it! I’ll twist your neck right now!”

Just as the two men were grabbing each other’s collars and shouting,

Rumble-rumble-rumble-!

A thunderous sound rang out.

A noise so tremendous it seemed like the sky was falling.

The two fighting men looked up in surprise.

“Wh-what…? What’s happening!?”

“Look over there!”

Black light pours down from the sky.

A phenomenon commonly called light descent.

Like sunlight falling through clouds, the black light pierced down toward the center of the capital Chersilton.

People looked at the black light with half curiosity, half fear.

“There! There’s someone in the light!”

“Looks like a person?”

“There’s something about them that’s not quite human…”

Just as everyone was staring at the light with bewildered eyes,

Sidriel’s voice echoed throughout the capital.

-I am Demon King Sidriel.

People were startled at the words ‘Demon King.’

“De-Demon King!?”

“It’s a demon! No, it’s the Demon King! The Demon King has appeared!”

Even amid the confusion, Sidriel continued speaking calmly.

-Do not be alarmed. I have come to promise peace with you.

Finally, Sidriel completely descended to the ground.

By then, a crowd of over thousands had gathered around.

People whispered while looking at Sidriel and Reidrun.

“Is this really okay? It’s the Demon King we’re talking about…!”

“Right! Shouldn’t we run away? What is the capital security doing?”

“Is that red monster the Demon King? The pressure is certainly incredible!”

The last comment was about Reidrun who stood behind Sidriel.

Just looking at appearances, Sidriel was a small-framed girl, so people didn’t think at all that she could be the Demon King.

Suddenly, tremendous demonic energy burst forth from Sidriel.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. I am Demon King Sidriel.”

“Gasp…!”

People took a deep breath.

She hadn’t particularly made any threats.

Yet just by releasing her energy, thick demonic energy spread throughout the capital.

Sidriel originally possessed Corps Commander-level demonic energy.

And now, after being officially recognized as the Demon King, her demonic energy had become even more intense, about 1.5 times stronger than before.

People trembled with instinctive fear at the overwhelming demonic energy.

“N-no! We’re all going to die!”

“Get a grip. They said they came to make a peace treaty!”

“How can we trust the words of demons!?”

People were in confusion, not knowing what to do.

Someone needed to step up and sort out the situation, but no one dared to do so.

Reidrun’s fierce appearance contributed to this as well.

“Hmm.”

Reidrun standing behind Sidriel.

To ordinary people’s eyes, he was completely a monster.

A physique far beyond human proportions.

Muscles covering his entire body and red skin.

Flames constantly rose from the huge horns on his bull-head.

It would be fortunate not to wet yourself when facing him.

And with Sidriel’s thick demonic energy added to the situation.

If someone remained sane, that would be the stranger thing.

“Don’t lie!”

That’s when it happened.

A man burst out from the crowd.

He was a priest of the Deusis faith wearing pure white priestly robes.

“Do you think we’ll believe the words of demons!”

“Believe it or not, it’s the truth. I stand here for peace.”

“You! How dare you wag your wicked tongue! God will punish you!”

Before anyone could stop him, the priest charged at Sidriel.

Even while trembling with fear throughout his body, the priest ran with his eyes rolled back.

“Die!”

Reidrun was about to move, but Sidriel raised her hand to stop him.

Soon the priest reached right in front of Sidriel and swung his staff.

Whaaaaa-!

Pure white holy power burst forth from the staff.

And then struck Sidriel’s head.

Thwack!

A heavy sound.

The priest dropped his staff to the ground as if strength had left his grip.

And silence fell.

“…”

Everyone stared at the priest and Sidriel with wide eyes.

“Hmm.”

A streak of blood flowed from Sidriel’s head.

Her skin had been torn by the holy power.

Sidriel reached out her hand.

“Eek…!”

“It’s alright.”

Though the priest cowered in fear, Sidriel picked up the fallen staff and returned it to him.

The priest received his staff back with a dazed expression.

“Where is your king? I wish to meet the king.”

“…”

“Is there no one brave enough to guide me to the monarch?”

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