Chapter 14 : Commander-in-Chief (1)

It wasn’t Alec standing next to the twisted lump of flesh that used to be a massive wolf.

It was an elderly demon with blond hair.

Just looking at him, he seemed like an ordinary old demon. But the moment I saw him, chills ran

all over my body like crazy.

“Hmm… must be because they’re beasts. Not very smart, even though I warned them.”

I had to run. I didn’t know how, but I had to escape. I quietly started to back away, but the old

demon spoke to me.

“Don’t try to run.”

“There are wyverns flying above. If you’re alone, they’ll mistake you for prey.”

Before he even finished his sentence, a huge shadow swept across the sky. A wyvern.

Why are monsters from the northern demon valleys here…?

“So, you’re the Saintess… What are you doing here? Have you lost your mind, entering the

Burning Forest?”

“Don’t be scared. Since you’re the Saintess, I don’t plan on killing you.”

As if I’d believe that. He knows I was part of the Hero’s party that killed the Demon King. There’s

no way he’s not after revenge.

“You’re badly hurt.”

“Don’t come closer.”

As the demon approached, I tried to grab the mace on my belt—

—“Shit, I must’ve lost it when I rolled earlier.”

The old demon slowly walked over and held my face.

“This wasn’t part of the plan… I’m not sure if it’s good luck or bad.”

“It’d be nice if you turned out useful.”

When his finger touched my forehead, I suddenly felt overwhelming sleepiness. I bit my lip to stay

awake, but it was no use.

“I hope you repay me for sparing your life.”

[Meanwhile, at the same time Charlotte departs for the eastern grain region…]

It had already been a week since I flew out to the eastern Empire after getting intel about a

possible uprising from the Beast King’s forces.

But even after all that time, I couldn’t get anything useful out of the beastkin. The rebellion was

definitely happening, but I had no idea why.

The beastkin kept running away until they finally holed up inside the Great Forest.

“You bastards!! Open the gate!!”

“No matter if you’re the Grand General! You can’t stop our noble cause!!”

“Hey!!! Garaa treated you guys so well!!!”

“Exactly! We are fulfilling Garaa’s will!!”

“That’s wrong~!! Garaa would never want this!! I knew him better than anyone~!!!”

We’d been arguing at the entrance of the forest—blocked by the remnants—for over two hours

now.

I tried asking what their problem was, but it was hopeless. It’s not the first time beastkin have

shown low intelligence, but this time it’s seriously worse.

“Don’t move from there! I’m going to call the Demon King!”

“Go ahead and try! We won’t obey the one who abandoned us!!”

“When did he ever abandon you?!”

It would be easy to subdue them with magic. But if I use force now, the resistance will just grow.

And my magic… it would kill them, so I didn’t want to use it at all.

“Grand General, they’re not responding. Should we torture one? We captured a beastkin earlier.”

“Do we really need to go that far?”

“You’re not the one doing the dirty work. Why are you hesitating?”

As the unit commander grumbled, I smacked him in the head with a gravity-infused chop.

No insubordination, not even from you, Commander.

“I’ll try talking to him first. Torture comes later.”

“It’s been a week already. We barely caught that one.”

“Still, I’ll give it a shot. Take me to him.”

I hated bloodshed. That’s why I didn’t take part in the Hero’s battle.

Even the Demon King acknowledged that and let me be. He respected my whole ‘Love and Peace’

mindset.

In the tent the commander led me to, a beastkin was tied up and soaked in blood.

“Hey… I told you I don’t like blood.”

“He resisted too hard. Most of the wounds are self-inflicted.”

“Is he nuts?”

Looking closely, the wounds were all scratches along arteries made with his own claws. I’d

assumed the commander had used a blade.

“Beastkin uncle, mind if I ask you something?”

“Heh heh heh…”

“What’s with the creepy laugh?”

Did he go mad from blood loss? That eerie grin was seriously unnerving.

“The Grand General himself, huh… Even the Demon King must be panicking.”

“I’m the one panicking, not him.”

I dragged over a chair and sat in front of him.

“It’s been over two years since Garaa died. Why the chaos now? What’s your problem?”

“We’re just carrying on Garaa’s will.”

“What is Garaa’s will, exactly?!”

Same answer every time. Garaa’s will, Garaa’s will…

He wasn’t exactly the thinking type. If he wanted to fight, he fought. If he was hungry, he ate. If he

needed to crap, he crapped.

A brainless idiot. But his carefree charm and popularity made him the Beast King.

‘If this keeps up, I’ll have no choice but to believe Garaa actually plotted a rebellion. But… Garaa?

That guy? No way.’

Someone must have tricked the beastkin. That was the only explanation.

“If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll have no choice but to torture you. I know how loyal you all

are.”

I took out a cigarette, and the commander lit it for me.

That’s why I keep this guy around — he knows how to be useful.

“I also know you won’t give up easily. But this guy here? He’s pretty good at breaking people.”

“That’s me.”

“You know his torture methods are famous even in the Demon Realm, right?”

The beastkin visibly flinched. One more push and he might spill.

“Heh heh heh…”

“Stop laughing and just—”

I had no choice. We had to extract information through torture. We had no other leads, and it was

impossible to drag more beastkin out of that fortified forest.

Soon the humans would make their move too. I had to end this before that happened.

Then the beastkin glared at the commander with bloodshot eyes and hissed:

“A powerless woman as the Demon King? You idiots serve that b*tch—”

Snap!

Before he could finish, the commander twisted his neck. His spine cracked in a way it shouldn’t.

My head spun from the sound alone.

“Commander…”

I sighed and took another puff of my cigarette.

How the hell did he know the Demon King lost her powers? Only the Four Lords and her closest

aides knew that.

“It’s suicide, then.”

He must’ve provoked the commander on purpose to get himself killed.

These freaks… Creepy bastards.

“I… I’m sorry…”

“Forget it. Go clear your head outside.”

“Yes…”

After sending him away, I stared at the dead beastkin.

Still grinning, even in death. What the hell was he so happy about?

“This is a real headache.”

I thought it was just a rebellion over Garaa’s death.

But now even the beastkin knew the Demon King had weakened.

Only we, the closest aides, and the Four Lords knew that—so how did this leak?

‘Could one of the Four Lords be spreading it…? But why? Who benefits?’

The Demon King and the Four Lords weren’t on bad terms. If anything, they got along well.

Maybe it was just a coincidence… But what if it wasn’t?

“Grand General!”

“Holy shit!”

Snapped out of my thoughts by the commander rushing into the tent—he was pale as a ghost.

“The Demon King… she’s calling you regarding the beastkin issue…”

“What?”

“She said to compile your findings and return immediately…”

…I’m screwed.

Truly, royally screwed.

In 500 years as Grand General, I’d only been summoned twice.

Each time, I nearly died. Barely made it out alive.

“If I die, please send a letter to my wife in my hometown…”

“You don’t have a wife.”

I pulled myself together and started compiling the reports. But I had nothing. Just ‘a rebellion

started,’ that’s it.

What do I even say…?

“Keep watching the beastkin. Contact me immediately if anything happens.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Please. The only info I have is that there’s a rebellion.” Please.

“Understood! I’ll contact you right away if anything happens!”

“I’m counting on you!!”

Leaving my nervous commander behind, I tore a supply teleport scroll and warped to the Demon

King’s castle.

As I arrived, the head maid rushed to greet me.

“You’re already here? Am I late?”

“No, I just got here too.”

“How’s the Demon King’s mood?”

“…Furious.”

“…I’m dead.”

I took a deep breath and stood before the massive audience chamber doors.

It had been a good life. Only my second one, but I swear in the next one, I’ll never be Grand

General again.

“The Grand General may enter.”

As the doors opened, I saw the Demon King sitting on her throne—still in her academy uniform.

She must’ve been in a serious rush not to even change.

“What kind of chaos is happening in the eastern Empire that you dare stain my ears with it?”

“Beast King Garaa’s forces raided the grain supplies, so I went to investigate—”

Lightning shot from the staff in her hand.

Shit. She even brought her staff. I’m really going to die.

“What did you do to get the Saintess dragged to the east?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Crap. Think fast. Why would the Saintess be involved?

Even if we wanted backup, imperial knights should’ve been enough.

“…Because of the rebellion, I think.”

“Rebellion?”

“Yes… Garaa’s forces started a rebellion.”

The Demon King quietly stroked her staff. If that thing hits me, I’m dead. Period.

“Why would Garaa’s troops rebel?”

“…I’m sorry. I haven’t figured that out yet…”

“You have five days.”

“Five days. Get me answers. Even if you have to kill every last one of them.”

“Yes!”

“Because of them, Charlotte and I—!”

A death sentence had been issued for Garaa’s forces.

I can’t stop this. Killing them will have to be the last resort.

So she followed the Saintess to the academy…

The obsession is intense. But why?

Thrown out of the audience chamber, the head maid followed me.

“…My head still on?”

“Yeah, it’s on.”

“What’s with the Demon King’s Saintess obsession?”

“Because it’s love.”

“…What?”

Did I hear that right?

“Your ‘Love and Peace’? Well, that’s the love part.”

So I just risked my head… because of a boss’s love life?