Chapter 315
Chapter 315: The Duchess Moves
Platiphia was furious. She was determined to eliminate that wicked and tyrannical Nephradia for good. Platiphia understood politics. She was the Duchess. Having achieved military feats, she had lived in fierce competition with the other wives. Moreover, when it came to her son, she was especially sensitive.
Nephradia, who had driven her beloved son into exile, had been spared solely to maintain the Demon Lord’s honor and respect his judgment. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t have been enough to murder her a hundred times, crush her horns to dust, and display her head at her door; yet, she had only allowed herself to be humiliated whenever they met.
This time, however, she could no longer tolerate it. Platiphia was enraged. Her patience had completely snapped. Perhaps this was the greatest anger she had ever felt in her demonic life. Spreading information to the alliance to sabotage her son? That was nothing short of treason.
“I’ll kill that damned woman!!”
Platiphia was a proud warrior of the demon race. Dressed in battle attire, holding her spear high, she charged into the Izanis Tribe’s residence for a formal duel.
However, the Izanis Tribe was hesitant and said, “N-Nephradia is with His Majesty right now—”
“Are you kidding me?!”
“Y-yes, ma’am!”
The Izanis members nearly fainted in fear at the sight of Platiphia, fully unleashed with murderous intent, even summoning her demonic arm.
“You dare rely on His Majesty at this juncture?! How pathetic!”
These were the very people who had mocked the mercy His Majesty had shown by merely stripping her of her title.
Her previously thought maximum anger had now surpassed all limits, and Platiphia charged up the stairs of the Demon Lord Castle with a terrifying expression, startling passing demons and servants as she stormed into the palace.
For some reason, the usually crowded hallways were empty of petitioners, and without knocking, Platiphia placed her hand on the door of the office.
“Your Majesty! There is a scoundrel here—”
And then she flung the door open, only to freeze.
Inside the office, there was only one other person.
They locked eyes.
First, of course, the Demon Lord Goldgias, looking somewhat listless with a distant gaze.
Next, in front of the Demon Lord, lying on the desk with wide-open eyes, was Nephradia, her expression one that certainly did not reflect sanity.
—Her severed head.
“She… she’s dead.”
“Ah, Platiphia…”
The Demon Lord sluggishly turned his head as if noticing Platiphia for the first time, while she stood there, dumbfounded.
A suddenly wafting smell, reminiscent of iron, filled the air. The office was a sea of blood—the blue blood of the demon race. Only now did she notice the body of Nephradia, dressed in a green dress, rolling over in front of the desk.
“I couldn’t hold back. It’s been a long time since I felt this enraged.”
The Demon Lord muttered softly. Behind him, the spear of the demon god shimmered ominously on its stand.
“Not only did she leak malicious information against Zilbagias, but she also endangered the intelligence operatives of the Night Elves who infiltrated the alliance. I have applied charges of treason. …She didn’t even try to defend herself.”
So that’s why he snapped and killed her.
At least, judging by her resentful glare from atop the desk, Nephradia showed no signs of regret whatsoever.
“I wished dearly to turn her into a blood spectacle.”
Angry and lost, Platiphia could do nothing but stand there in shock.
“I apologize. If you desire, I can bring home the head for display.”
The Demon Lord said, gazing at the back of Nephradia’s head.
“—”
She was about to respond affirmatively when Platiphia fell silent.
“No, that’s how Your Majesty chooses to punish her. I must not intervene.”
Truthfully, even this meaty lump stirred a desire within her to stomp it flat and relieve her frustrations.
Yet doing so might lead to a settlement with the Izanis Tribe. Platiphia’s cold side whispered that she should prioritize benefits over temporary emotions.
“This debt will be made to fall upon the Izanis Tribe. They’ll bear responsibility for not stopping Nephradia’s rampage, which caused trouble for Zilbagias.”
Surely, there would be consequences from the Demon Lord as well. However, apart from that, as members of the Reiju Tribe, they must make sure there are repercussions.
“And when that time comes, I will ensure that the conditions will be even more favorable when he returns…!”
With grit in her grip, she tightened her hold on her spear.
“…Platiphia.”
The Demon Lord, previously stern, now wore a sorrowful expression.
“Your son will be fine.”
Platiphia, looking down, said this as if convincing herself.
“He can use transformation magic! He can wield necromancy and swordsmanship too! He studied human society in preparation for infiltration and made various preparations…!”
“….”
“And, he’s accompanied by skilled operatives from the Night Elves, even a Dragon! So he’ll be alright. He’ll definitely come back safe…! He will return…!!”
“…You’re right.”
The Demon Lord, standing up, gently placed his hand on Platiphia’s shoulder—her trembling shoulder.
Both Platiphia and the Demon Lord understood the challenges demons faced in the alliance.
Even the mightiest Demon Lord would be at risk of being caught off guard if he tried to survive independently in the alliance. The difficulty level was that high. Without rest or resupply, continuously under siege, a breaking point would eventually come.
And Zilbagias was about to be placed in a situation very close to that.
Once his identity was exposed, it wouldn’t just be a return that would be problematic—his head could even be put on display at the front line.
“…He’ll manage somehow.”
Yet while brushing Platiphia’s hair, the Demon Lord said.
“Born of our blood, he possesses a special talent. …My instincts tell me something is different about him compared to ordinary demons. He’s going to be fine, for sure…”
To be honest, the Demon Lord’s reason told him that even considering Zilbagias’s uniqueness, survival would be tough. However, at the same time, he couldn’t shake the feeling that anything could happen. It was an intuition akin to battlefield awareness, not bound by logic.
(If it’s Zilbagias—perhaps)
That was the feeling.
(But the Night Elves… it will be tough for them.)
In the pursuing search for Zilbagias, a significant number of operatives would likely lose their lives. The intelligence network would become largely ineffective.
…Well, even if the intelligence network was annihilated, it wouldn’t lower the Demon Lord Army’s fighting strength, so their military advantage in war wouldn’t be overturned.
Yet the Night Elves—particularly those of some status—would sustain significant damage due to the reckless actions of demons. Adequate support would be essential for them. As it currently stood, the Demon Lord Kingdom relied heavily on the Night Elves for its internal affairs, and they couldn’t afford to overlook them. Just thinking about it gave him a headache—
(…Zilbagias, I must reward him somehow.)
Suddenly, the Demon Lord thought.
Not just Zilbagias himself but also his wife, who prayed and wished for their son’s safe return, needed encouragement.
“If he returns from exile, it will be a remarkable feat in Demon Lord Kingdom history. This will serve as a trial for Zilbagias to regain his honor and will be a battle in itself. …When he returns, it may even be counted as one of his accomplishments.”
Hearing the Demon Lord’s somewhat soliloquy, Platiphia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“That means… that child will become a Duke…?!”
“That will be a significant step.”
“…Ugh. That child will come back! And become a Duke…!”
Unable to hold back, Platiphia burst into tears once more.
“It’s a certainty, it absolutely is… Your Majesty…!!”
With suppressed sobs, Platiphia wept in the Demon Lord’s embrace.
The Demon Lord gently patted her back while holding her shoulder.
—And watching over the two of them, Nephradia’s severed head quietly glared at them from atop the desk.
