"Lady Beatrice, I have brought them."

Leaving her encounter with Yuru behind, Beatrice returned to where she had been and summoned the citizens of the Krata capital once more.

"There are about 10,000 of them."

10,000.

At the demon's report, Beatrice briefly held her breath before turning her gaze.

There stood the citizens, their faces tense.

'There must be fear.'

Even if most of the citizens had been sacrificed in Neville's plot, not everything could change in an instant.

They were human. Not demons.

Now that the immediate crisis had passed, they must be caught up in all sorts of complex emotions. Even if the Demon King's army had saved them, it didn't immediately mean they had become complete allies.

'This is troublesome.'

Even for Beatrice, who had lived for a long time, this was a first. She looked at the murmuring people.

They were also looking at Beatrice. The humans watched her every move. Not to attack, but only wondering what words would come from her.

'Still…'

She was not ignorant of what needed to be done.

Destruction was not her only skill. She knew well how to unite and manage a group. At least as a commander.

"Listen."

She sent her voice far and wide using magic.

"We are not your guardians."

They were merely a byproduct obtained during the war with Krata.

"But we have no intention of harming you either."

Clay had no hobby of massacring ordinary citizens. Even though he could endlessly hate and resent all humans, he did not.

Beatrice respected that will. Although she had asked him to teach her how to live without being forgiven, he was not a being who would become an annihilator. No matter how much he drew a line with the past, there must be something he simply could not discard.

Beatrice was prepared to accept even that side of Clay. It had been that way since he had grabbed her from in front of the flames.

"Repay what you have received."

There was no need to argue about affection or to build up hostility. Beatrice decided to 'calculate'. That would be the most appropriate method for both sides right now.

"This ruined city needs to be rebuilt. Of course, not like it was before."

Krata had fallen. From now on, this place would be managed by the Demon King's army.

"This is now a city ruled by the Demon King. Make it take a form befitting that."

It was a command to turn their backs on the god that humans served.

Elhaen.

In the city that had been closest to him, she was telling them to insult him.

"If there is anyone who dislikes this, speak now," Beatrice said softly.

"I will grant you mercy."

A generous offer.

The people looked at each other, thinking that if they spoke up now, they might be allowed to leave.

However,

"Even if we leave here, there's nothing for us."

"The Krata imperial family tried to use us as sacrifices."

"What does it matter if we submit to the Demon King's army?"

Those who had been to the brink of death no longer distinguished between human and demon. Moreover, hadn't that death almost been in an incredibly horrific way?

"Um, if we work here, will we be paid?"

"Paid?"

At the unexpected question, Beatrice tilted her head.

"Yes! A place to live, food to eat..."

"Even if you're not our guardians, you'll protect us if we become your workers, right?"

"I have nowhere else to go. Please let me serve under Lord Clay."

Having seen the ugly side of the Krata imperial family, they were, on the contrary, actively trying to submit to the Demon King's army.

'If it's like this...'

Beatrice sighed inwardly.

'Does this cease to be a simple calculation?'

It was more than just getting back the price of saving their lives. Beatrice was lost in thought for a moment.

In the meantime,

"Don't be ridiculous!"

A few among them tried to deny what they had experienced even in this situation.

"They just happened to save us! Are you saying you'll beg for food from demons?"

"Get a grip! This is all just a ploy to make us their slaves!"

"Are you planning to betray Lord Elhaen?!"

Betrayal.

The most fatal word for those who had lived in a holy nation.

'So it comes to this, after all.'

Beatrice sighed as she watched the wavering people. They were truly shallow humans. To be so easily swayed by a single word.

'It can't be helped.'

That's what humans were.

Beatrice took a step forward. Before the embers could catch fire, she intended to establish discipline.

"You son of a bitch!"

However,

"You bastard! My brother died, and you say what?!"

"My father was taken by the priests and became a sacrifice too!"

"Talk about betrayal! What did we do wrong?!"

Something she hadn't expected happened.

A large number of people began to beat up those who had just declared their refusal of the demons.

"Ugh!"

"Y-you traitors!"

Those who still cried out for Elhaen even after being saved by the hands of demons were thoroughly trampled by other humans.

Dust rose around them, and shouts were exchanged here and there. The demons looked at Beatrice as if asking what they should do.

Beatrice gave no orders to the demons. She just watched and confirmed.

That those who had agreed to cooperate with the Demon King's army had eventually formed a group and united.

And that they had beaten the opposition to death and become the absolute majority.

"We will serve Lord Clay."

"Please just accept us."

"We don't want to meet those disgusting hypocrites again."

They too, like Clay, had tasted a certain darkness. Beatrice could clearly perceive that.

'I see.'

Though not to the same extent as Clay, these people were also not the original citizens of Krata. They were victims, betrayed by what they had believed in.

'It hasn't turned out badly.'

Of course, whatever will they possessed was not important to Beatrice.

What was important was how this would help Clay.

'I don't know if it will be necessary for Clay in that state, but...'

Clay had tried to gather faith. If their actions could be directly linked to faith, it could help him in some way.

'I hope it's a blessing in disguise.'

After finally taking on the form of the Demon King, Clay had reverted to his body from his Hero days. She felt at a loss as to how he would fight Elhaen in that state, but at least not everything was a disaster. If so, then she too had to muster her strength.

"Good."

Beatrice spoke to those who had decided to remain under Clay on their own.

"I will give you shelter and food. In return,"

She stated clearly to them.

"I hope you can prove you are worth it."

It was a warning. Not a simple wish, but something closer to a command that it must be so.

"Yes, we understand!"

But for the humans here, that became an even clearer directive.

"We will do our job properly!"

"Thank you!"

Watching them, full of vigor, Beatrice let out a slight groan.

'I'm not sure if this is the right way.'

Still, it was certain that things were flowing in a not-so-bad direction.

***

♧

"Ugh, mmm."

In the place where the citizens of the Krata capital were gathered.

A location not far from there.

"Where is this..."

Tia, having regained consciousness, slowly opened her eyes and looked around.

"A barracks?"

It was a familiar type of barracks. With the same markings she had seen at the Demon King's army encampment.

"Ugh."

Clutching her throbbing head, she looked down at her body and sighed.

Bandages were wrapped around her injuries. As if someone had treated her.

'Don't tell me.'

There was only one person who would do such a thing. As she was lost in thought with a troubled feeling, she soon noticed that there was one more person next to her.

"Nael..."

The one who had caused a commotion, insisting on taking back Clay who had returned to the body of his Hero days, was lying limp, her whole body wrapped in bandages.

"Haa."

She wasn't dead. Confirming that she was breathing, Tia swallowed dryly.

'It's a relief, I suppose.'

Tia hadn't wished for her death either. But at the time of the fight, she had indeed swung her sword with the resolve that she might really kill her.

She was an opponent she couldn't win against without thinking that way. Nael was that strong.

Moreover, she had been filled with a madness born from her obsession to take Clay. If she had faced her with a half-hearted mindset, it was obvious who would have died.

'In any case, we both survived.'

They had avoided the worst-case scenario where one of them would die. Nevertheless, Tia couldn't feel at ease.

'How will she act when she wakes up again...'

From Nael's perspective, Tia had been subdued with her back turned, and when she woke up, she would find herself having been treated by demons.

'I just hope she doesn't go on a rampage again.'

Because then, she didn't know if they could both survive like this time.

Slowly getting up from her spot, she headed towards the entrance of the barracks.

"Hmm?"

A single goblin stood there.

"Human, you're awake?"

"You are..."

"I was ordered to watch over the two of you here, kirik."

The goblin of unimpressive appearance said, waving a small club.

'I see.'

It must have been none other than Beatrice who assigned this goblin here.

'She just let us go.'

For Tia and Nael, a goblin like this was no match. Even if they were injured.

There was no way Beatrice didn't know that. In fact, it was because she knew it all too well that she had posted only one goblin.

'But...'

Tia couldn't even decide if she should leave this place.

Considering her position alone, she had to return to Ezer. No matter what anyone said, she was the Empress of Ezer. She had to go and take care of the country.

Hadn't she even turned her back on Clay for that very reason?

"Haa."

But it was because of her regret for having done so that she was here now. She was just confused about whether the title of empress was something she must protect anymore.

"May I ask one thing?"

"What is it."

"Could you guide me to where Beatrice is?"

At that question, the goblin looked surprised.

"Wh-why are you looking for Lady Beatrice?"

"I have something to talk about."

"If you tell me, I'll pass it on."

At those words, Tia stood still for a moment, then suddenly started walking.

"Hey, hey!"

The goblin's eyes widened and it ran to block her path.

"Wh-what are you doing!"

"Is it okay for me to follow like this?"

Tia gestured towards the barracks with her eyes.

"You have someone else to watch over besides me."

"Th-that's..."

"Don't worry. I made a promise with Beatrice."

"A pro-promise?"

"Yes, to see her once before I leave here."

Of course, it was a lie.

"If you understand, then let's go. Unless you're not going to guide me."

At that, the goblin looked back and forth between the barracks and Tia, then said with a tearful face.

"Lady Beatrice is over there."

Then it pointed to where Beatrice was and started walking towards the barracks.

"You have to come. If you don't, I'll die."

"I'll keep that in mind."

After sending the goblin off, Tia started moving again towards where Beatrice was said to be.

'Beatrice, I need to know about you.'

Her thoughts, the one who is both demon-like and not, the one closest to Clay.

(End of Chapter)