Chapter 207
Chapter 207. Burning Emotions
In the upper outer layer of the Demon Lord Castle.
While gazing at the night view of the town below, a demon woman strolled leisurely.
—Platiphia Reiju.
She wasn’t dressed in her usual elegant gown; instead, she wore attire resembling easy-to-move riding clothes. After all, she was just finishing up her work and was about to return to her room.
(Today was peaceful… No emergencies either.)
Her job.
She was the highest-ranked healer at the Demon Lord Castle.
As the wife of the Demon Lord and the Duchess, Platiphia held the highest title, but that didn’t mean she spent her days idly playing around.
Unlike ordinary demons who could only fight, she possessed a special skill—【Teleportation Spell】.
In the treatment room of the Demon Lord Castle, she was responsible for instructing junior healers while preparing for emergencies involving high-ranking demons that ordinary healers couldn’t handle.
With her extensive battle experience, Platiphia could respond to a wide range of ailments, from holy attribute injuries to certain curses. Moreover, her formidable magical power made it no exaggeration to say she was among the top healers in the country.
The only one she could not treat was the Demon Lord himself, whose magical resistance was unparalleled.
No matter how much magical power Platiphia channeled, her teleportation spells were repelled by the Demon Lord’s magic resistance.
“……..”
Suddenly stopping in her tracks, she gazed at the night sky with a sense of helplessness before starting to walk again.
There were moments when she felt emptiness, realizing she couldn’t do anything for her beloved Demon Lord should anything happen to him.
Knowing the history of the Reiju tribe, which faced criticism and hardship when the first Demon Lord could not be healed, only added to her feelings.
If possible, she wanted the Demon Lord to live out his life without incident—
“…Am I tired, I wonder?”
Such thoughts were unbecoming of her. Moreover, they were ill-omened.
Platiphia shook off the pointless thoughts.
—While she couldn’t treat the Demon Lord, the Demon Lord’s Prince could possibly be treated.
In fact, Platiphia had treated the first Demon Lord’s Prince, Aiogias, when he returned injured from the front lines. Despite Aiogias possessing greater magical power, it was possible for her to succeed with her teleportation spells as long as he didn’t resist or use【Claim】.
How many teleportation spell users capable of treating Aiogias existed in the country?
(That was back when Zilbagias had just been born…)
She reminisced fondly. It had been a major task soon after she had returned from maternity leave.
Although the injuries weren’t life-threatening if she could use the teleportation spell, she remembered struggling to wash away the holy attributes completely.
(—I thought we might end up as enemies in the future…)
Even so, she never held back in her treatment.
Under the mandate of none other than the Demon Lord, all demons were strictly forbidden to cut corners in their duties. Allowing even a single instance of negligence would lead to the Demon Lord’s army failing to function properly due to ugly faction disputes.
Thus, the Korvto tribe conducted proper construction even on enemy territory, the Vernas tribe ensured food was properly refrigerated without rotting, the Izanis tribe carried out messenger duties impartially, and the Reiju tribe dedicated themselves fully to healing.
Put another way—
As long as they weren’t on duty, they could fight freely within the bounds of common sense.
…As demons, within the bounds of common sense.
“Oh, Platiphia, is that you? It’s been a while.”
Just as she was about to enter the residential area, she ran into a certain woman.
Dressed in a vivid and somewhat poisonous green gown adorned with emerald necklaces, the demoness had long, green hair tied back and was opening and closing a fan, making it snap loudly. Her black, cunning eyes held a hint of void.
—Nephradia Izanis.
Mother of the fourth Demon Lord’s Prince, Emelgias. She held the same rank as Platiphia, the Duchess.
…However, there was a considerable difference in raw power between Nephradia, a skilled martial artist known as the most capable woman of the Reiju tribe, who continued to train even after becoming a duchess, and Platiphia, who leaned more towards strategies and was a spellcaster.
The beastmen and night elves employed nearby avoided getting involved, feeling they couldn’t handle the unexpected encounter between the women of the Demon Lord.
“Oh, Nephradia, isn’t it?”
Acknowledging her with a glance, Platiphia responded.
“Well then, good day to you.”
She attempted to leave, as if to say she had no business with her.
Her entirely dismissive attitude seemed to irk Nephradia, who furrowed her brows before plastering on a wicked grin.
“Sorry for the late congratulations on the victory of the Reiju tribe. I hear you took the capital rather quickly.”
With a flourish, she opened her fan, hiding the smile on her lips.
“I also heard that a lot of your younger and middle-ranking fighters fell short. Quite the trouble, huh?”
The wicked serpent was brandishing her fangs. Platiphia stopped in her tracks with an annoyed sigh.
Nephradia’s reason for coming at her was clear. The main force that suppressed half of the Defteros Kingdom was the Izanis tribe, but due to the switching of forces with the coming winter, the Reiju tribe had swooped in to take the “delicious” capital of Evaroti.
As much as she wanted to ignore this and walk away, she couldn’t let herself be spoken to like this without retort.
“On the battlefield, the Izanis tribe’s messengers are indeed reliable. I’ve heard they performed wonderfully in this battle as well.”
With a chilling smile on her face, Platiphia returned the compliment.
“That’s why I’m glad our family could be responsible for the capital this time. If your family had attacked Evaroti, we would have likely faced a tremendous shortage of healers.”
—Had the Izanis tribe attacked Evaroti, they would have suffered far greater losses than we did.
“Oh dear, how shocking. Intricate urban warfare is actually what my family excels at, you know.”
Nephradia’s smile remained unwavering, as if she anticipated this retort.
“I hear the Holy Great Tree Alliance dedicated quite a bit of their strength as well… That must have been a bit much for the Reiju tribe, right?”
—You guys from the Reiju tribe have been neglected for so long that you must have dulled your edge.
“It was indeed a tough battlefield. I heard that there were many injuries among the Izanis tribe’s messengers… It is quite regrettable that many could not be treated.”
—Most of the warriors of the Izanis tribe that fell could not be treated due to instant death, after all.
“…I’ve also heard your son had quite the ordeal. You’re blessed to have loyal subordinates who risk themselves to save him… How enviable.”
Nephradia praised, intentionally avoiding the fact that there had been a complete annihilation.
“Yes, truly. As we could take revenge, they should certainly be rewarded. Just like your son, it seems the first battle of the Demon Lord’s Prince comes with trials, doesn’t it?”
Platiphia responded with a smile. The losses incurred in the first battle were the same for both sides—
“Fortunately, we overcame the trials safely, and His Majesty acknowledged our achievements. I will soon be elevated to Marquis, just like your son.”
With uncontainable pride, Platiphia declared—
“I look forward to the next chance your son has for battlefield glory. Will he finally be elevated to Duke? Or—will he, like my child, skip a rank and become a Grand Duke all at once?”
Giggles escaped Platiphia, an air of absolute confidence seeping through.
If it were her child, he would surely reach that level eventually.
Her face radiated certainty in her unmatched talent—
“……..”
Nephradia was at a loss for words as she attempted to retaliate, but the words failed her as she compared her own child to Platiphia’s.
Not knowing what to say.
“…Hehe. Well then, take care.”
After flashing a triumphant smile, Platiphia departed.
“……..”
Glaring intensely at her retreating back until she turned the corner, Nephradia began to walk quietly, faintly emanating a poisonous magical power.
Once in her room, away from the eyes of others, she slammed her fan onto the bed.
“Dammit…”
She didn’t specify what, but—
In a foul mood, she plopped down onto the sofa and took her beloved smoking pipe, igniting it with magic.
Taking a deep breath, she exhaled with a “Puhhh” sound.
“……..”
She felt a little better. With a vacant expression, Nephradia reveled in the swirling purple smoke that filled the air.
Her eyes stared gloomily at the garish, solid gold statue of Demon Lord Goldgias decorated on the wall—
“…My lady.”
Eventually, a servant knocked at the door.
“What is it?”
“Your son has come to report…”
The voice was tentative.
Your son. Without a doubt, it referred to Nephradia’s child.
“…Let him in.”
Nephradia grimaced in displeasure again, speaking in few words.
Soon after, the son in question appeared.
—The fourth Demon Lord’s Prince, Emelgias Izanis.
“Mother, I have a report,” he said as he entered the room with an expression as blank as a statue.
“Did you enjoy your meal with His Majesty?” Nephradia asked her son with a sardonic tone.
“…Yes, somewhat.”
After a brief silence, Emelgias answered curtly.
“I see. Must be nice.”
“……..”
“So? What’s your report?”
Finally, Emelgias, who had been showing a stone-like, vacuous expression, suddenly twisted his face with bitterness.
“…Father has proposed to turn Evaroti into a district of the Human Race—”
He squeezed out each word.
“—And for that position, Zilbagias has been appointed as the governor.”
Crack! Nephradia’s beloved pipe broke in her hand.
…And the lit tobacco fell onto her exposed thigh from her dress, scattering everywhere.
“Ouch!”
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