The capital of Krata.

Before the ruins of its collapsed palace.

There, the army of Ezer had arrived.

“What in the world...”

Lilien, Captain of the Imperial Guard, let out a heavy breath as she took in the sight.

‘What happened here?’

From the moment they had entered the capital, there hadn’t been a soul to be seen. No soldiers, no knights—no ordinary citizens in the streets.

“Captain!”

Scouts who had gone ahead returned to her side.

“There’s no one here!”

“It seems everyone has fled!”

For the entire population of Krata’s capital to vanish so quickly was nearly impossible.

Lilien dismounted and walked toward the palace ruins, eyes scanning.

“!”

From the rubble, she caught sight of a hand sticking out.

“Check beneath the debris!”

The Ezer soldiers hurried to dig through the wreckage.

“Knights, here!”

“These are Krata’s soldiers!”

Bodies of Krata’s troops were found beneath the ruins.

‘So the Demon King’s army has already swept through here?’

It made sense. The Ezer army had been bogged down in battles with Krata’s forces along the way, giving the demons time to surge ahead.

Still, there had been no chance of Krata winning.

Lilien’s gaze shifted.

Standing quietly in the wind, staring at the destroyed palace, was one of Ezer’s greatest heroes—Nael.

Thanks to her, the army had reached the capital. So great was her presence that even the fear of fighting in Krata’s capital had been cast aside.

But there was no fight here. No Krata army waiting. The Ezer soldiers looked around in confusion.

“What should we do, Captain?”

One of them asked.

“With the palace collapsed, it won’t be easy to recover anything of worth from within.”

True enough. The palace was gone, King Lutan’s fate unknown, and the city’s people completely vanished.

With no information, lingering here was a poor choice.

Lilien approached Nael.

“Lady Nael.”

“...”

“It seems the Demon King’s army has already passed through. What do you think we should do?”

Nael didn’t reply. She simply stepped forward and lifted a chunk of rubble with her bare hands.

Beneath it lay a sword. A familiar sword.

“T-That’s...!”

Lilien’s eyes widened.

Rutanox.

And when Nael cleared more rubble, more of them appeared.

“So many...?”

Broken and useless though they were, the sheer number of Rutanox found was staggering. The fact that such weapons even existed in this quantity was absurd.

“What in the world happened here...”

Her mind brimming with questions, Lilien looked again to Nael.

“Lady Nael. Until we understand the situation, we should retreat for now.”

“No.”

Nael finally spoke.

“There’s no need.”

“What do you mean—”

Lilien stopped, feeling a presence. She turned her head—

“!”

There she saw them.

Empress Tia de Mezelef of Ezer. And beside her—

Beatrice.

“Y-Your Majesty?!”

“That’s Beatrice, isn’t it?!”

“Why is Her Majesty with her...!”

The Ezer soldiers erupted into confusion. Even Lilien, usually resolute, froze in shock.

“Wh-what...”

Unable to decide how to react, she stood still.

But Nael moved.

Step. Step.

She walked straight through the ranks of the Ezer army until she stood before Tia and Beatrice.

“Nael.” It was Tia who spoke first, “You led my army this far?”

“As you see.” Nael’s voice was calm, “And what were you doing here, leaving your troops behind?”

Her eyes flicked briefly to Beatrice before returning.

“If she’s with you... then Clay must be here too?”

“No.” Tia shook her head, “Clay has already left this place.”

“And Lutan?”

“He was already dead.”

Nael’s brow furrowed.

“Already dead?”

“Which means Lutan was not Elhaen’s pawn after all.”

Tia revealed the truth.

“It was Neville.”

“!”

Nael’s face twisted at the name.

“Neville...”

He was known as one of the very few humans close to Clay, even after he became Demon King.

To learn he was behind everything—Nael rubbed her face with one hand, imagining what Clay must have felt learning this betrayal.

“And Clay... is he alright?”

“He couldn’t be.” Tia’s voice was steady, but quiet, “But he doesn’t show us his heart anymore, so I can’t say for sure.”

“I see.”

Nael fell silent.

A heavy quiet descended.

It was Beatrice who broke it.

“Your relationship looks... strained.”

She gave a small, wry laugh, glancing between Nael and Tia.

“Is it because I’m here?”

“Beatrice.” Nael ignored the jab and spoke plainly, “Is Clay unharmed?”

“He is.”

Beatrice’s reply was soft.

“Though a problem has arisen.”

“A problem?”

“Tia already knows, so I won’t conceal it.”

Clay had once again been able to wield Excalbren. With Elhaen’s holy power.

“The magic circle here seems to have restored his body to that of a Hero.”

“To that of a Hero?”

Nael’s eyes lit up.

“He’s returned to how he once was?”

“Not completely.”

Beatrice lowered her eyes.

“And is that something to celebrate? Can’t you see Elhaen is scheming something with him again?”

“That...”

At Beatrice’s sharp words, Nael drew a breath.

“Whatever the case, Clay has no strength to face you now. I’ll handle things here, so the rest of you should return.”

“What are you saying?”

“I mean that staying here will only burden Clay.”

Beatrice stepped closer to Nael, her face nearly against hers.

“If you have no designs on this land, then I suggest you leave immediately.”

At that, Lilien, who had been silently watching, finally stepped forward.

“B-Beatrice! We came here because of our old enmity with Krata! Whether the Demon King is involved or not, we still have reason to remain here!”

“Investigating Lutan, of course. But we can handle that in your stead. You may leave.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Lilien shouted, “You expect us to leave such matters in the hands of the Demon King’s army?! Any investigation that must be done, we’ll do ourselves!”

“I think you misunderstand.”

Beatrice’s eyes glowed red, flames unfurling around her.

“This isn’t a request. I’m granting mercy only because we happened to cooperate.”

The sheer pressure made the Ezer soldiers recoil in fright. Even Lilien clenched her teeth against the sudden heat.

“Beatrice.”

Tia raised a hand toward her.

“Enough.”

Her voice was steady.

“I have no intention of quarreling with you here. Since Ezer’s army has arrived, I’ll lead them back.”

Huff—

Beatrice exhaled, drawing in her flames.

“So you understand. Good—”

Boom!

Nael’s fist smashed into Beatrice’s face.

“!”

Beatrice was hurled across the square, crashing through the wall of a nearby building. Tia gasped.

“Nael!”

“Tia.” Nael turned toward her, “Now is our chance.”

“What...?”

“We must finish her and break the Demon King’s army.”

“What are you saying...?”

“We can’t leave Clay among demons.”

Nael’s eyes locked on Tia’s, swirling with emotions she couldn’t easily read.

“Even if he hates us, he must return to the humans.”

Her conviction came from the most personal of places.

“Nael.”

Tia knew the danger in this.

“Even if his body has returned, Clay himself will not.”

“Then we’ll make him return.”

Nael ignored her words. She sprinted toward the rubble where Beatrice had fallen.

“Nael!”

Tia chased after her, but Nael spun suddenly, driving a kick into her midsection.

“Khuk!”

Caught off guard, Tia crumpled, rolling across the ground.

“Your Majesty!”

Lilien cried out, rushing to her side. Nael glanced back at the fallen Empress.

“Forgive me, Tia.”

Her voice was quiet.

“My heart changed.”

Clay’s letter had made her resolve to honor his wishes. That was why she had brought Ezer’s army all the way to Krata’s capital.

But upon arrival, what she learned had shaken her resolve.

Krata was destroyed. Clay had become human again, wielding the Holy Sword.

If she could only return him to his rightful place... perhaps every mistake could be undone. If she removed the demons who clouded his heart...

Boom!

Then the one she had to eliminate was Beatrice—the very linchpin of the demons.

It would earn Clay’s fury. But Nael wanted him to realize, if only once—

That his true home was not the Demon Realm.

Bang! Boom! Crash!

Nael pounded her fists into the rubble where Beatrice had fallen, shattering it further with every strike.

“If I kill you, Clay will turn back again—”

Crash!

The debris exploded upward. Beatrice burst into the sky.

“Fool.”

Blood ran down her face from a gash across her brow, her expression twisted with fury.

“Do you think destroying his current home will make him return to the old one? As if nothing ever happened?”

Her crimson eyes blazed.

“Clay has already become someone else.”

It didn’t matter whether the Brands had vanished from his flesh. His path had been chosen by him alone.

“And yet you keep clinging to him, dragging him down into pain. I can’t forgive it.”

Flaaash!

From her back, two enormous wings spread wide.

“If you won’t step back, I’ll force you to.”

Her voice rumbled with fury.

“And that is a lesson best taught in the language beasts understand.”

(End of Chapter)