Chapter 34: A Risky Proposition and the Duke of Madal

“Almilina, it seems your original personality is the more normal one. What exactly triggered this reversion? Did you encounter a ‘meal’ that stirred your heart?”

Andros’s three heads tilted simultaneously, presenting a comical sight.

“Hmph…” Almilina couldn’t be bothered to engage with his jest, her gaze flicking away as she quietly awaited the Demon Lord’s decision.

The age of Yunajin’s current appearance perfectly matched, and given that they were both succubi, their childhood features bore a striking resemblance. With just a few simple manipulations, they could publicly announce that the lost princess had been found.

As for the Keltus imperial family, the succubus queen’s magic could easily deceive them.

In summary, Yunajin could leverage the identity of a Keltus princess to move freely within human territories, without fear of exposure. Furthermore, with Keltus’s national power, she might even command some influence.

Undoubtedly, this was an entirely feasible plan.

“Excellent. In that case…”

“One moment, Demon Lord.” Edesbond, who had remained silent for quite some time, finally spoke. He first apologized for abruptly interrupting Yunajin, then, after receiving the Demon Lord’s assent, explained, “From a subjective standpoint, this plan appears flawless, but you might all be overlooking one crucial detail.”

His scarlet pupils flickered, and Edesbond offered a confident smile.

“What if your succubus spy’s identity were to be exposed? What if her true nature was already known to the Keltus King and the imperial family? Even if the Keltus people don’t reject demons under those circumstances, we are, after all, fundamentally different from humans. They would never assist demons in fighting against the Aldelit Kingdom. I do not wish for your journey, Demon Lord, to be constantly fraught with danger.”

“You doubt my people?” Almilina countered, her brow furrowed.

“No, I simply don’t trust humans. When it comes to ensnaring hearts and devising schemes, they are no less capable than your succubi.”

In other words, no one could guarantee that the thinly spread demonic forces would gain a firm foothold in the Keltus Empire. With the shadow of betrayal yet unexposed, this plan carried immense risks.

‘Ugh… this won’t work, neither will that. It’s giving me a headache.’

Were it not for the presence of all Eight Demon Generals, Yunajin would have had to maintain an appearance of vigor, unable to show any signs of fatigue, all for the sake of the Demon Lord’s dignity.

She truly wished to slump onto the table and simply listen to the Eight Demon Generals argue amongst themselves.

“Regardless, the individuals I’ve chosen are absolutely reliable.”

“Until a conclusion is reached, your assurances are nothing but empty words.”

“Demon Lord…” Eliog, seated at the far end, raised a hand and offered, “Perhaps Duke Madal of Madal City could be of assistance.”

Instantly, all eyes, including the Demon Lord’s, fell upon him. The atmosphere grew tense, and Eliog instinctively clamped his mouth shut.

“That woman…” A rough exhalation escaped Edesbond’s nostrils.

Yunajin seemed to sense the indignation radiating from the Blood-Soaked Monarch.

‘Madal City, a neutral city-state situated on the border between the demon realm and the Aldelit Kingdom, had sprung up from the wilderness at the close of the Third Demon Lord’s reign, over three hundred years ago. I recall its lord being…’

‘It was Ramola, King of the Cold Night, a blood relative of the Third Demon Lord, a Soul-Devouring and Abyssal race member, who had once clashed with Edesbond when he sought to usurp the Demon Lord’s throne during the Third Demon Lord’s disappearance.’

‘But hadn’t she severed ties with the demon realm’s jurisdiction? She wasn’t truly one of my subjects anymore.’

“Ramola Madal… despite being the last Abyssal race member, she would abandon the unique glory of her bloodline. I don’t believe she can offer much assistance to this plan,” Almilina stated gravely. She harbored little fondness for this kinswoman who had forsaken her own lineage.

“I believe I understand Lord Eliog’s suggestion,” Yunajin said. “Assuming the identity under Duke Madal would indeed be more reliable than the Keltus option. After all, Ramola is still a demon; at the very least, she wouldn’t side with the humans, would she?”

For a moment, everyone else fell silent, as if merely mentioning the name Ramola had caused the surrounding atmosphere to turn frigid.

“Demon Lord, Ramola and I maintain some contact. I could step forward to negotiate.”

“Then I shall trouble you, Lord Meredith.”

As long as she could enter Aldelit without exposing her true identity, Yunajin cared little for the means. Before achieving her primary objective, all other tasks were merely incidental.

Yunajin hopped down from her chair and, after declaring “Meeting adjourned,” departed through the teleportation gate conjured by Meredith.

As the purple light gradually dissipated and the boundless space vanished, everyone found themselves back within the Demon Lord’s grand hall.

“Meredith, did you perhaps mention something irrelevant to the Demon Lord, concerning…”

“Whether or not your past grievances with the former King of the Cold Night have been settled is beyond my knowledge, but you must understand that as the sovereign we serve, she has the right to know every individual’s information.”

The Blood-Soaked Monarch clearly perceived that the hasty conclusion of the meeting was due to the Demon Lord noticing their emotional shifts. Perhaps the Demon Lord was aware of past events.

Especially those concerning him, Edesbond.

“Lady Meredith, I’ve heard that Duke Madal has a ‘Morning Star Princess’ under her care, though it seems no one has ever seen her.” Eliog stated respectfully to Meredith.

“With a proper pretext, identities can be fabricated at will. People won’t care where you’ve come from; what they care about is what you will bring.”

Open to all races, Madal City boasted the most prosperous district on the Karkunda Continent. Its low taxes and land prices encouraged merchant guilds, both demon and human, to readily conduct trade within its walls.

Meredith had often suggested to the Demon Lord that, to a certain extent, the nation could be governed by emulating Madal City.

The vast Demon Lord’s grand hall soon held only Edesbond and Meredith. The Eight Demon Generals had other duties, requiring them to swiftly return to their posts.

Eliog, at least, hurried back to his territory, intent on finding that human before the Demon Lord could discover them.

“Do you have anything further, Blood-Soaked Monarch?”

Edesbond gazed intently at Meredith, attempting to find a single flaw within her seemingly unperturbed eyes.

“Stop pretending, Meredith. You actually support our Demon Lord in seeking out that human? Have you forgotten how Gabolis, the Third Demon Lord, met her end?”

“At that time, I was not yet in the position of Demon Lord’s Mentor, so I was not responsible for the Third Demon Lord’s actions. I merely agreed with her choices, and it caused no detriment to the demon race.”

“I don’t understand. Are short-lived, frail humans truly so valuable? Are they special?”

“Elves, demi-humans—you must realize they all evolved from humans. If they were truly as mediocre and worthless as you claim, then why…”

Meredith paused, and Edesbond lowered his gaze, seemingly confronting a truth he was unwilling to accept.

“Enough. I will not oppose the Demon Lord’s decision. For this expedition, I will dispatch my most exceptional executive officers.”