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Chapter 127. Clan and Home

――Lumiafia Reiju was raised in a loving family.

Her grandfather, parents, and even her older brother, who was only a few years older, adored her to the point where it would hurt if they looked at her too much.

To the Demon Race, which finds it difficult to have children, the birth of the first daughter just a few years after the firstborn Eijivart was an unexpected joy.

Especially, her brother Eijivart was born with a strong sense of responsibility and took care of his little sister at every turn. It was only natural that Lumiafia, always clinging to him and calling out “Onii, Onii,” became quite the little brother’s girl…

However.

The reason Lumiafia was so pampered was because of significant circumstances.

‘—I’m being treated pretty strictly, you know?’

One day, exhausted from spear training, Eijivart was carrying little Lumiafia on his shoulders and muttered that.

‘I want to make it so you don’t have to struggle too much.’

Eijivart, who would one day inherit the clan, received a strict upbringing from both his father and grandfather.

The Reiju Tribe, known as one of the few users of healing magic in the Demon Lord Kingdom, was expected to prioritize healing skills over martial prowess, but that did not mean the chief’s family could be weak.

Thus, Eijivart was given a spear to wield even before his horns sprouted. It was only natural for him to be beaten down until he could no longer move with a training spear. Even if he cried and resisted, he would be dragged from his bed and told, “I’ll beat that stubbornness out of you,” and be pummeled.

Thanks to that abusive training, Eijivart indeed became ‘strong.’

However, perhaps because of this, he felt it was too cruel for even his adorable little sister to undergo the same hardships.

Although the roles expected of the chief’s children differed between boys and girls, it was merely an unnecessary worry…

‘—You too will have to go marry someone someday.’

What shook little Lumiafia to her core was one day when her mother casually dropped this line.

‘Huh? Where do I have to go?’

‘…Not to the Reiju Tribe, you’ll go to another clan.’

Her mother smiled gently, but there was a hint of melancholy there too.

To another clan.

At first, Lumiafia didn’t understand what that meant, but when she learned she would have to be separated from her familiar home and beloved family and go far away alone, she cried and protested fiercely.

‘I don’t want to! I want to stay with everyone forever!!’

Her mother hugged the sulking Lumiafia and gently swayed her.

But she offered no comforting words.

――For the Demon Race, strength comes from blood.

Bloodline magic. The unique magic that can be inherited from both the father’s and mother’s sides is the source of the ‘power’ of the higher demon race. In this case, ‘blood’ is not merely about blood relations, but is closely tied to the concept of ‘clan.’

When members of the same clan have children, even if both inherit bloodline magic from different clans, they can only pass on the bloodline magic of their own clan—for the Reiju Tribe, that would be the teleportation spell.

To inherit two separate bloodline magics simultaneously, one must take a spouse from a different clan.

Therefore, Eijivart, as the future leader, would likely take a wife from another clan to ensure strong offspring.

――And what of Lumiafia?

Naturally, the Reiju Tribe couldn’t just be the recipients. Whatever they receive must be repaid.

As the daughter of the chief’s family—Lumiafia has an obligation in the future to share that strong blood with another clan. Just like her mother did.

She too came from another clan and married into the family of her father Zikvart…

‘…This is your role.’

As she stroked Lumiafia’s head, her mother simply said that. She understood deeply the pain and loneliness of having to leave her hometown and venture alone into the other clan.

That was why she couldn’t offer many comforting words.

She knew that it was something that could not be avoided.

The thought of being married off to an unfamiliar man when she grew up was nothing but terror for Lumiafia.

She had already been somewhat harsh towards anyone besides her family, and her dependence on her brother along with her dislike for men intensified with these circumstances—

(Ugh, no way…)

――In the mansion’s courtyard.

With the noise of the welcoming feast behind her, Lumiafia pouted and leaned against a tree, gazing up at the night sky.

Lumiafia Reiju, 13 years old. In just two more years, she would be an adult. While it was unlikely for her to be married off immediately upon reaching adulthood—given the need to carefully choose her spouse—it was inevitable that ten or twenty years down the line, her place would no longer be in this house.

‘…………’

She was no longer so young as to cry and throw a tantrum. Reluctantly, she accepted that it was unavoidable. Still, it would be infuriating if ten or twenty years passed without her finding a suitable marriage partner despite being the daughter of the chief’s family.

In the past, she thought, “If I marry my brother, I won’t have to go!” But even setting aside the issue of blood becoming too close, considering bloodline magic made it an impossible option.

Just as her brother was a strong warrior.

That child must also become strong.

‘…………’

She peeked back into the banquet hall through the window again. As always, her brother was smiling affably at the end of the table.

Her brother was a wonderful person. That’s exactly why she wanted him to shine brightest in the Reiju territory.

Yet…

“That damn brat…!”

In the seat right next to him, where her brother should have been, sat the prince, sprawled out like he owned the place.

That young upstart was taking advantage of his status and doing as he pleased—how infuriating.

Rationally, she understood the prince’s importance. If he continued to grow properly, he would bring immense benefits to the Reiju tribe.

However, as a person who already disliked men and felt disgusted by the dynamics between the genders, being indifferent to her beloved brother made it impossible for her to harbor any affection.

“Ugh…”.

But despite that, there was nothing she could do. As Lumiafia bit her nails and glared at him.

“—Good evening, Lumiafia.”

Suddenly, she heard a cat-like voice calling her name from behind.

A chill ran down her spine.

When she turned around, she found a man with ash-gray long hair flowing in the night breeze standing there.

“Ugh…”

“‘Ugh’ isn’t much of a greeting. What’s a pretty little thing like you doing out here all alone?”

With a wry smile, the overly familiar demon approached her.

“Germadios…”

With a face like she just crushed a bitter bug, Lumiafia wrapped her arms around herself in rejection.

――Germadios Reiju.

Around 80 years old, he was a man known for his spearmanship and magical prowess.

“…What are you doing here?”

“Oh? I saw you heading outside.”

He smiled cheerfully as if he had come looking for her.

(So creepy…)

Lumiafia felt disgusted. Germadios’s eyes—those eyes that seemed to lick and pry into her soul; that underlying intent coated with a friendly smile made her uneasy.

Ever since he heard Lumiafia was reluctant to marry into another clan, he had been approaching her frequently for various reasons.

What exactly he was thinking, she didn’t even want to imagine as it made her feel nauseous, but it seemed he was targeting a relationship with her.

Why?

It was to regain his status within the chief family.

This man—Germadios, bore the blood of the ‘former’ chief from the era of the first demon lord.

…Now, the Demon Race forms clans, but there is also the concept of ‘house.’

Typically, among the Demon Race, a male often inherits part of his father’s name. It’s all about names like Jijiivart, Zikvart, Eijivart.

This is referred to as ‘house’ or ‘lineage.’

For instance, Lumiafia, the child of Zikvart, would belong to the ‘Vart House’ or the ‘Vart Lineage.’ For Zilbagias, it would be the ‘Gias Lineage’ that continues from the first demon lord Raougius.

――And before her stood Germadios Reiju, who belonged to the ‘Dios Lineage.’

The Dios household once held a position that ruled over the Reiju Tribe. However, when the first demon lord Raougius fell due to holy attribute injuries and couldn’t be treated due to overwhelming magical resistance, the chief at that time died in loyalty.

A history where the Vart household, possessing power second only to the Dios, became the new chief of the Reiju Tribe.

Since then, despite changes in generations, the Vart household has retained the position of chief. Their strength beyond reproach, they have made significant contributions in the current demon lord Goldgias’s succession battle.

(They have suffered many losses in battle, including Jijiivart’s father and the former chief Jidoovart, as well as Jijiivart’s wife and Duke Platiphia’s father.)

However, the Dios household is certainly not satisfied with the current situation. They are eyeing the chief’s seat, actively working to influence the powerful figures within their clan whenever they have the chance.

This is extremely bothersome for the Vart household, but it’s also undeniable that the Dios family has a legitimate history.

Furthermore, it was inevitable that the first demon lord could not be treated, and the accusations hurled at the Reiju Tribe from other tribes became nearly baseless. The chief’s death resolved that blame.

‘Since the Dios family stepped back to maintain their dignity, the Vart family continues to cling to the chief’s seat without shame—’

The Dios lineage would insist on this, but the Vart clan was aware of their precarious position, so they couldn’t push back too strongly.

That said, the Vart family has managed their affairs wisely and produced results while contributing significantly to the current demon lord, so there was no need for the Dios family to retake the chief’s position at this time.

Thus, the behind-the-scenes struggle for the chief’s seat is in a deadlock.

And it’s this man, Germadios, who seeks to rock the boat.

…The fact that his method is “marrying Lumiafia” can only be deemed a disastrous choice.

Because of the bloodline magic, if one aims to reach the position of chief, a marriage within the Reiju tribe is simply out of the question.

Even if they were to become involved—an utterly nauseating assumption—having strong offspring would require marrying into a different clan.

In other words, Lumiafia would only become Germadios’s concubine. There was no way she could accept that.

‘—You want to stay with your family, don’t you?’

Germadios once taunted her.

How dare he.

Of course, she didn’t want to be separated from her family.

But Lumiafia was also trying to endure and accept it.

Being seen as a mere child, having her determination spit upon—it was highly unpleasant.

First, there is no benefit to the Vart household from accepting this man’s proposal. Germadios, in desperate attempts to gain her favor, would come bearing gifts, shower her with compliments, and try to sweet-talk her, but it was all just so incredibly creepy.

(All men are like this…!)

While Germadios continued talking beside her, every word slipped off Lumiafia’s heart. As she sighed and averted her gaze, she found herself staring at—

That prince she disliked so much.

(…That’s it!)

In a fleeting thought, a devilish idea struck her.

If everyone she met was annoying—

Then she could just pit the annoying ones against each other.

 

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