Chapter 15 : Commander-in-Chief (2)

“Wow, look at that cane—guess the Demon King’s really lost his power.”

“Yeah. That’s the only weapon His Majesty has now.”

The Grand General slowly sipped the tea the Head Maid had prepared, thinking back to what had just happened.

Honestly, if this had been the Demon King at full strength, their limbs would’ve been torn apart and their life ended on

the spot.

“So… what do you mean the Demon King is in love?”

“Exactly what I said. When His Majesty’s head got cracked open, apparently the Saintess’s eyes were all he could think

about.”

“Her eyes?”

“Yes, her eyes. That’s what brought him running. But when he got there, he saw the Saintess and just—well…”

“Well, maybe it was just a moment of weakness. You support him the best you can. After all he’s done for us, we owe him

that much.”

“Easy for you to say when it’s not your problem…”

The Head Maid shot a disgusted glare, but it really wasn’t the General’s problem. Honestly, working at the Demon King’s

Castle all this time, he hadn’t even had time to date. Best to leave romance to succubi who can actually find partners.

Just as he was finishing his tea, a message came in from the Unit Commander. Had the beastkin finally slipped up?

“Grand General! We have a big problem!”

“Yeah? What is it?”

“It’s Fenrir! Fenrir!!!”

“…When did I approve your vacation?”

“You said I could rest after this!”

“I’m not joking—it’s really Fenrir!!”

What the hell is he talking about? Why would Fenrir be in the west? And with the beastkin, no less? Was he here to hunt them?

“You probably just saw a giant wolf. Fenrir? Please. You been drinking?”

“I swear! I’m from the North, I know what I saw!”

The Unit Commander looked pale as he pleaded. Still, it was hard to believe.

“If I get there and you’re wrong, I’m canceling your vacation.”

“I swear I’m not wrong! And riding on Fenrir was none other than Rugal, the beastkin squad leader!”

Riding Fenrir? Seriously?

Fenrir never bows to anyone unless it loses in battle. It’s proud, noble, and vicious. And yet it’s carrying a beastkin on its back? What kind of nonsense—

“I’m going. Take care of His Majesty. If anything happens, I’ll contact you.”

“Yes, sir. Please punch the Unit Commander once for me.”

“I plan to.”

With that, the Grand General headed back to the field, intending to smack some sense into the babbling Unit Commander.

“So you’re saying that beastkin Rugal—the one obsessed with Garaa—was riding Fenrir?”

“Yes.”

“…Show me the way.”

The General had been ready to smack him for being drunk. But the Unit Commander looked way too serious for that. It wouldn’t be respectful to ignore a subordinate being that earnest.

“They went into the forest. I saw them clearly—Rugal was riding Fenrir.”

If this was true, something really strange was happening. So strange it was almost beyond understanding.

Looking down from above was useless. The trees blocked the view. The Grand General started getting a headache. The Demon King had given him five days. He had to solve this somehow before then. Should he just burn it all down?

“Okay, five days. If I don’t figure this out by then, I’ll be torn limb from limb.”

The Unit Commander looked genuinely terrified as he stared into the woods. The General hoped he was just seeing things.

The North, Fenrir, leaked info only a few top people knew… There was definitely someone suspicious.

Five days passed in vain. Nothing moved in the forest. The only update came from an agent on the other side, who reported that a human army was gathering.

“Great. Total waste of time.”

“What’s the plan now?”

The Grand General hated fighting. Hated bloodshed even more. So how did he climb to the position of Grand General? 500 years of experience, that’s how. Plus everyone above him had either been ripped apart by the Demon King or retired.

Just as he racked his brain for a peaceful solution, black smoke rose from the human side of the forest.

He tried using communication magic to reach his agents hiding in the human side of the forest.

No response.

Not even a signal.

There are only two reasons for failed communication magic: either the other side is blocking it… or they’re dead.

The Unit Commander’s eyes were shaking violently. There was no way his agents would ignore him.

That left one answer.

“What the hell is going on?!”

“This is what we get…”

“…You still haven’t learned anything, huh?”

“What now?”

“We arm up. Anyone who gets close—kill them.”

“Yes, sir.”

“…Sorry. I’m a worthless boss.”

“That’s not true…”

The Unit Commander drew two daggers and stood beside him. Just as they prepared to enter the forest, a massive shadow passed overhead.

And then the doubts turned to certainty.

“…Shit. The Dragon King…!”

The ruler of the Demon Realm’s North. Older than the Demon King. The Gold Dragon—Dragon King Fafnir.

One of the only beings in the Demon Realm capable of commanding wyverns and overpowering even Fenrir.

Only a handful of beings could do that: the Dragon King’s own family… or the Demon King before he weakened.

The Dragon King only has one granddaughter, and she’s in seclusion.

Which means there’s only one suspect.

‘What the hell is the Dragon King thinking?!’

The forest reeked of smoke by the time the Grand General reached its middle. Just as he was wondering which way to go, rain started to fall.

So that’s why the humans set the fire.

He wanted to use magic to end this quickly, but if he did, the forest might collapse—or even the nearby leaves might get crushed.

His only option was to rely on the Unit Commander.

“We head for the wyverns! The Dragon King should be below them!”

“What?! The Dragon King?!”

“No time to explain! Hurry!”

The Unit Commander climbed a tree and located the wyverns. He looked horrified by how many there were and quickly came down.

“They’re really close! I’ll guide—!”

Suddenly, a sword-wielding maniac burst from the bushes and aimed straight for the Unit Commander’s throat. He barely blocked it and rolled to the General’s side.

“Found you… Demon scum!”

“What the hell?! What’s a human doing in a burning forest?!”

The human’s blade sliced through the air and the rain, aiming for the Unit Commander’s neck again and again. Wait… that guy looks familiar…

“You pretend not to know after provoking us?!”

Shit! A hero just jumped out of nowhere?!

Even if the Demon King had allowed them to live, their combat power was still serious.

“Run! Run! RUN!!”

“Yes, sir!!”

They slid down the slope to escape the hero. As he started to follow, he stopped at the sound of a voice behind him.

Thank goodness.

Eventually, they reached the area beneath the wyverns and saw—Fafnir, the Dragon King, standing calmly.

“Yo. Long time no see.”

He stood there smiling like he didn’t know a thing.

“…Why are you here?”

“Good question. Why am I here, I wonder?”

“…Seriously…”

The Dragon King laughed and looked up at the sky. Dangling from his tail was a woman.

“You seduced the beastkin, raided the Empire’s grain region, and you know what’s supposed to happen after the Demon King dies!”

“ This old man has no idea.”

“Don’t try using your uncontrollable magic here. Can’t you see the girl behind me?”

“…A human? Wait—what?!”

The Saintess? Charlotte? The one the Demon King is obsessed with? Why is she here?!

“You found something nice, didn’t you? And after 500 years, you still can’t control that one spell?”

“…Shut up. That’s what I get for having a garbage teacher.”

“Such words in front of your teacher, eh?”

The magic the Dragon King taught the Grand General was gravity magic.

It can only do two things: crush everything around him, or make something feel light as a feather.

The reason he could even reach his current rank was thanks to his battlefield experience, his past war feats, and the Demon King’s blessing.

“Leave the Saintess and return north. Stay in hiding.”

“You really think I’ll do that?”

“Can’t even grant a student’s request?”

Before he could finish his sentence, the Unit Commander charged, daggers flashing, aiming straight for the Dragon King’s neck.

He had calculated that Charlotte’s safety came first.

But—

As if that level of attack could work against a being like him.

“Tell the Demon King this: attacking the eastern Demon Realm would’ve been harder. This was the easier path.”

“…Dragon King… no—Master!”

The Dragon King leapt into the air, landing atop a flying wyvern and began to leave the forest.

The Unit Commander and the Grand General stared after him in silence.

Shit. I’m screwed.

The Saintess… was kidnapped.