Chapter 218
Chapter 218. Survivors
――In a different place, the former capital of Evaroti.
(…Why am I still alive?)
Bitten off chunks of the rationed bread, the soldier with his left hand bandaged hanging asked himself this question for who knows how many times.
The man’s name was Tafuman.
He was just an average soldier with some combat experience.
Originally, he was supposed to escape the capital with the evacuation troops, but he took an arrow from a Night Elf to protect the daughter of a fallen comrade and bled out too much to stay conscious.
When he came to, he found himself a prisoner.
If it hadn’t been for the modest healing miracle from the trainee priestess, which was just enough to form scabs, he would have likely died. Apparently, he had been shot by an arrow in the left arm and chest, leaving a hole in his lung. No wonder breathing was painful.
However, Tafuman had always had the advantage of recovering swiftly from injuries since he was a child, and now he was able to get up on his own.
――But why was a wounded soldier like him being kept alive?
The illustrious Defteros Kingdom’s Evaroti Royal Castle had now turned into a prisoner camp. Disarmed former soldiers, civilians who missed their escape, and members of the Holy Church were roughly categorized and stuffed into halls and large rooms.
For some time now, Tafuman had been living a life of sleeping on the floor with other former soldiers and civilians in a corner of the castle.
(What are the Demon Lord’s army thinking…?)
As he caught a glimpse of the Beastman soldiers in his peripheral vision, he slowly chewed the bread and savored the soup.
The soup had few ingredients, but he was grateful to have an actual meal. The bread was normal without any mold or poison mixed in. He heard there were several bakers among the human prisoners who baked bread every day for the prisoners…
――Surrendering to the Demon Lord’s army brings no good.
That was common knowledge on the front lines. Whether male or female, the outcome was often slavery; if injured, they were killed or fed to goblins and ogres. The sick and elderly became targets for the Night Elf’s arrows or were used in poison and drug experiments.
The general sentiment among the allied forces was that it would be better to fight to the death than to be captured willingly.
Moreover, not just humans, but Beastmen too—dog-like and cat-like Beastmen were deadly rivals, so the dog-like Beastmen on the allied side often chose a straightforward death, and even the Forest Elves were out of the question. They would all say that it would be better to throw themselves into a volcano than to be caught by the Night Elves.
(By the way, in this case, for Forest Elves, “the volcano” implies “hell” or “the worst possible environment.”)
One of the leaders among the Forest Elves, who guarded the branches of the Sacred Great Tree until the end, apparently committed suicide. Tafuman had seen him just once before the war; he was an old elf that looked like a dead tree. How old must he have been to have aged like that as a long-lived species…?
Getting back on track.
For a few days after being captured, everyone was on edge, wondering what fate awaited them, but when they opened the cover—everything was normal. Those who had survived without escaping from the capital were being kept alive as they were.
Of course, they weren’t actively treated for their injuries; they were just given minimal medical supplies and instructed to fend for themselves, so many seriously wounded had passed away. The food was properly provided, and they were allowed to use the well.
What was their actual objective…?
(But it seems the lower ranks don’t know either.)
While observing the prisoners, Tafuman sighed inwardly as he watched a lazy cat-like Beastman soldier swaying its tail.
When he asked the guards about their purpose, they simply insisted, “It’s an order,” giving no insight. In fact, even the guards seemed to wonder, “Why are we keeping these people alive?” especially during food distribution; their expressions didn’t hide this dilemma.
(Surely there’s some ulterior motive, but…?)
Food and medical supplies aren’t free. Yet they go to the trouble of providing them, indicating there must be a reason behind it…
(But I can’t fathom why they’re keeping injured soldiers alive like me…)
Glancing around the hall where he was assigned, Tafuman noticed that from incapacitated soldiers unable to get up by themselves to bent-over old men, there were quite a few “useless” personnel left. These were the same kind of people who would have been killed instantly for wasting food in the past…
This was too far removed from the usual behavior of the Demon Lord’s army.
(This doesn’t sit right with me…)
Slurping down the soup, Tafuman leaned against the wall. There were no chairs or tables, so he was sitting directly on the floor. It was okay now since it was spring, but in winter, sitting like this would have been freezing.
For now—he needed to rest, conserve his strength, and completely heal his injuries.
Currently, the prisoners were categorized, and if one group caused a stir—such as a rebellion—another group would be executed along with them. Therefore, making careless movements was out of the question.
Now was not the time… not yet.
He needed to watch for more opportunities…
While gazing at the sunlight streaming in through the skylight, Tafuman maintained an obedient expression to hide his fighting spirit.
(I wonder if Isabella and Nina managed to escape safely…?)
His concerns were with his comrade’s wife and their daughter. They had tried to escape the capital, but were they safe? Had they fallen behind? With so little to do, he couldn’t help but think about that.
He didn’t have a clear understanding of all the prisoners. It was possible that Nina and the others were captured too.
If he didn’t see them among the prisoners, had they escaped, or perhaps—
“…………”
He shook his head to dispel the ominous thoughts. He had done everything he could. Now he could only pray for the protection of the Gods of Light…
…Then.
Suddenly, the door to the hall swung open forcefully, and a large Demon soldier stomped in. A demon with a single horn growing from his forehead and toxic purple skin. The atmosphere changed with his obvious menacing presence as tension filled the hall—
“Who among you is the representative?”
The Demon soldier looked around the prisoners and asked in a booming voice like rolling boulders.
“…………”
All the gazes turned towards Tafuman.
Tafuman, just an average soldier with some combat experience, was one of the more seasoned veterans among the grouped soldiers, especially since nearly all those of higher rank than him had perished, and above all, he was the most lively.
“…It’s me.”
Reluctantly, Tafuman stood up and replied.
“Very well. Follow me.”
The Demon soldier turned his back and quickly walked off. He was a muscular demon wearing tribal-like armor, but a curled tail resembling that of a pig was growing from his rear, and holding back laughter took a considerable amount of mental strength.
He was nudged by the Beastman soldier as he left the hall, following the Demon soldier.
(What’s going on…?)
Is today finally the day of execution? he thought, but it didn’t feel like that at all. It seemed they were heading toward the upper and central parts of the royal castle.
“What is this about?”
“Shut up and follow me, you lowly creature. There will be an explanation at the scene.”
The Demon soldier didn’t even look back. Tafuman thought seriously about pulling his tail hard, but since he was unarmed, he decided against it.
After a while, they arrived in front of a grand door, and the Demon soldier motioned with his chin for Tafuman to “enter.” Cautiously stepping inside, it appeared to be a so-called audience chamber. A place completely unrelated to a mere soldier like Tafuman.
He underwent a rough body inspection by a Night Elf soldier. Naturally, he didn’t have even a paperclip on him, so he was quickly released.
Inside the audience chamber, among the officials of the Demon Lord’s army, were a few people from the allied side as well.
“Oh, you’re here.”
One of them, a weary-looking priest, was the trainee priestess who had treated Tafuman.
“Long time no see, Priestess.”
“No, I’m just a trainee… It’s good to see you’re well.”
Under the cold gazes of the Demon Lord’s army members, the trainee priestess looked quite out of place.
——But she was still alive. The personnel from the Holy Church. Just that alone was hard to believe. Perhaps because she felt that way herself, she looked so worn out.
Others, like bandaged wounded soldiers, middle-aged men who seemed to be former soldiers, and dignified elderly individuals obviously of noble bearing made up the varied group. They all stood awkwardly, probably gathered suddenly like Tafuman…
“Is this everyone?”
A nervous-looking goblin, writing something with a quill in a corner of the audience chamber, asked.
(――A nervous-looking goblin!?)
Tafuman couldn’t help but do a double take. The goblin was dressed and holding a pen, and it seemed like it was actually writing something!?
“What are you staring at, human?!”
The goblin bared its jagged teeth and threatened Tafuman.
(What the hell?! It’s speaking so fluently!?)
A goblin, which should only be capable of grunting and stammering, was speaking fluently…!? While Tafuman was in shock, the trainee priestess tugged at his sleeve and whispered, “That’s a Hobgoblin…”
(A Hobgoblin…!?)
He had heard there were higher-tier goblins, but that was one of them…!?
“Hmmm. It seems everyone is gathered. Let’s proceed with the discussion.”
A night elf with an overly arrogant expression stepped forward, hands clasped behind his back.
“Listen, allied forces… no, former Pan-Humanity Alliance members.”
The night elf spoke in a pretentious tone as everyone exchanged glances. “Former”…?
“Regarding your treatment, it is my honor to relay the decree of the Demon Lord.”
…………!!
Unavoidably, tension rose. Their fates were now at stake…!
“The Demon Lord has decided to reorganize the former territories of the Defteros Kingdom, centering around Evaroti, into the ‘Evaroti Temporary Autonomous District’.”
――Autonomous District.
“You shall be permitted a degree of self-governance as the lowest class ‘citizens’ of the illustrious Demon Lord Kingdom.”
“Wha—”
The person who looked like a noble elder was flabbergasted. No one took this statement at face value and naively celebrated.
Everyone braced themselves.
(What are they aiming for…!?)
What the hell is the Demon Lord thinking!?
“…Hmph.”
As they quietly waited on edge for the next words, the night elf sniffed disdainfully.
“And as the governor of the autonomous district, our esteemed Demon Lord’s Prince, Zilbagias Reiju will take office.”
…There it is.
Everyone knew that name.
The governor is none other than the one who had laid siege to this capital…!?
“By gracious invitation of Prince, you will receive words from him directly. Bow down before the great Zilbagias. Afterward, he will also be available for questions and answers.”
The night elf wore a sticky smile.
“—Whatever you do, make sure to not offend his highness. The fates of not only you but everyone living in the autonomous district are at stake.”
Hee hee hee, heh heh heh… the laughter of the Demon Lord’s army echoed throughout the audience chamber.
(No way…!!)
Even Tafuman, known for his stoutness, broke into a cold sweat.
Here he was, an insignificant peasant with no connection to any nobility, about to stand before a Demon Prince!
(Damn it, I’m unarmed…!!)
He reflexively thought this, showing how thick-skinned he really was.
However, this situation was no longer just about saving his own life. He decided to kneel and listen quietly.
――Inside the audience chamber, the rear door opened.
Footsteps approached, stepping on the carpet—
They took their seat upon the throne.
“Lift your heads.”
…A young voice.
When Tafuman looked up, he was met by the sight of the Demon Prince…
(That’s the Demon Prince…!!!)
What youthfulness! He had blue skin and simply looked like a kid with horns growing out of his head…!
“My name is Zilbagias Reiju.”
Yet, all of a sudden, a terrifying aura like a howling storm surged forth, sending shivers down Tafuman’s spine.
“I am the Seventh Demon Lord’s Prince and the governor of the Evaroti Temporary Autonomous District.”
Sitting confidently upon the throne once belonging to Osshimaier XIII, the beautiful young demon smiled coldly.
The new lord of Evaroti, Zilbagias Reiju, glared at the prisoners with his scarlet eyes.
