○
It was natural for groups that had grown to a certain size to gather periodically.
And for groups that needed such gatherings, conflict was also unavoidable.
Especially so for gatherings of Dungeon Lords overflowing with confidence in their own power.
"Kimaris."
The strange tension permeating the banquet hall of the northern 'Dantalion's Demon Realm' was related to this.
The number one and number two of the large group, and even lower-ranked powerhouses leading forces strong enough not to have to watch their moods.
While all the other Dungeon Lords wore tense expressions without even touching their food, it was a strange atmosphere where only a few were naturally enjoying the banquet.
The cause of the atmosphere was just one.
It was because of the two beings who were the main characters of this gathering.
"P-please spare me... spare..."
Of course, those at the center of the conflict were also enjoying their meal as usual.
Crack!
Today, Kimaris's main dish was a female siren who would have been about 20 years old in human terms.
After very slowly twisting her neck, the Demi-lich who had sucked up all the soul and essence leaking from there slowly turned only his gaze towards the one who called him.
Thud
Only after the mummified corpse of the siren fell to the floor from his hand did he open his mouth.
-You called? Your Highness.
The silver-masked man looked outwardly calm, but formless power that couldn't be defined by a single color was slowly flowing out from his body.
If those close to him weren't all Dungeon Lords with a certain level of power or above, it would have been a dangerous aura that could cost lives just from that alone.
The power of demons combined with otherworldly power.
It was a power that even Dungeon Lords feared, but Kimaris had a level of force that could match him.
"I heard you let that human female go."
-Female...? I'm not sure what you mean.
At Kimaris's vague answer, the small pretty lips under the silver mask twisted slightly.
The demon in the form of a beautiful human boy added, still with an outwardly noble expression.
"I'm talking about that green-haired female that my subordinates had captured."
-Ah! That's right. I had some necessary business, so I used her for that.
A glib attitude, slapping his head as he spoke.
Those who had already anticipated the circumstances tensed their entire bodies, thinking the Archduke's anger might explode at any moment, but...
Surprisingly, Dantalion still asked in a cold voice.
"If you deemed it necessary, there must have been a good reason. Was that upper-rank Dungeon Lord really worth that much? To the point of using my test subject."
-Hmm...
Seeing Dantalion not showing emotion despite several provocations, Kimaris abandoned his glib attitude and looked down at the wine glass in his hand.
The identity of the red liquid in that glass was none other than elf juice.
Gulp.
As he downed that elixir in one go, red light and steam rose briefly from the black skeleton's body.
Feeling his power increase, if only slightly, Kimaris opened his mouth again.
He couldn't confront him head-on right now anyway.
Although he had chosen to 'stay put' rather than 'advance', an Archduke was still an Archduke.
-I don't know.
"You don't know?"
-It seems that test subject was more incompetent than expected. Seeing as she hasn't brought any results so far, and hasn't shown up herself.
"Ha."
This time Dantalion gave a derisive laugh at the Marquis's nonchalant words. He leaned his upper body forward, both hands on the table.
At the dangerous aura emanating from his entire body, weak Dungeon Lords now began to leave the banquet hall one by one.
"You made a contract with her? But she hasn't returned? Then, are you saying she's dead?"
-I said I don't know. I don't even have news of whether she's alive or dead. It's clear she wasn't as pleasing to the Archduke as expected.
"..."
After staring at the Marquis for a long time, the Archduke smiled with his eyes beyond the silver mask and retreated again.
Just as the Marquis was wary of the Archduke, the Archduke was equally wary of him.
He wasn't the second-in-command of the forces for nothing.
"I see. If you say so, then it must be so. What a shame. She was a suitable subject I had secured after a while."
-Well, you should be able to find a better one. There are as many monsters and humans as cockroaches.
"I suppose so."
The conflict between the two powerhouses that almost arose over a mere human was thus settled for now.
'Phew...'
'I really thought I was going to die today, damn it...!'
Other Dungeon Lords finally started eating and chattering, but they still didn't forget to watch the mood between the Archduke and the Marquis.
Kimaris was a Dungeon Lord whose combat power rivaled Dantalion's, no matter what anyone said.
If the two Dungeon Lords seriously clashed, it was clear that at least the power structure of the northern continent would be completely overturned.
'It's certain he's hiding something.'
'He seems like such a sly one.'
Of course, they themselves knew this better than anyone else.
That they weren't in a position to fight in a situation where other Archdukes and competitors were eagerly looking for opportunities.
○
A week had passed since the 'Xenota army' invaded Heisen's border.
Elena was still standing in the middle of the battlefield.
"Phew..."
As her magical power flowed out with a sigh, the spear responded with a sad cry.
-Aaah...
A mournful cry reverberated through the surrounding air.
As if lamenting the tragedy of war.
However, the reality was 180 degrees different.
Elena felt the magical power swirling inside her.
More precisely, the powerful force created by resonating with the spear.
'I've become much stronger than before the war.'
The power she had now was incomparably stronger than a week ago.
Although she was still at the elite rank, she had grown to the point where it would be rude to compare herself before and after the war.
She had filled in training and practical experience that should have taken a month with just a week of battle.
But that was purely in terms of magical power.
'My body can't keep up with this power.'
The weapon she received by her master's grace was constantly making her stronger. But her physical body couldn't keep up with that growth.
Like trying to hold more water than a container can, she couldn't properly handle the overflowing power.
-Ah...
This was also why sorrowful magical power was leaking from the spear.
While responding to her feeling of regret, power was leaking due to imperfect control.
"Haah."
Finally sighing, Elena wrapped the spear blade with the special leather given by her master.
The most unique ability of this spear called 'Devourer of Sorrow' was that it absorbed negative emotions occurring on the battlefield and converted them into magical power.
For this reason, the spear could not be left unwrapped in the military tent during normal times.
It could even swallow the 'reluctance to fight' among soldiers, potentially causing unnecessary conflicts between them.
"Lady Elena."
"Camilla."
Turning her head at the familiar voice, her adjutant was standing there.
'Jiangshi, was it...'
Elena's gaze naturally turned to her red hair.
Although she looked like a perfect human on the outside, her true identity was a jiangshi, a corpse monster from Yuran.
'Michaella.'
She who was once her sister had now become her younger sister's adjutant, having lost her past memories.
Her charming appearance had also completely changed, now closer to fighting spirit than sensuality.
The only trace of her past life left was the red hair Elena was now looking at.
'You reap what you sow.'
Elena thought with a sneer.
Considering the 'misdeeds' she had done in life, this kind of ending could even be called merciful.
Of course, whether she herself would think so was unknown... Elena didn't sympathize with her at all.
She had been a woman who was nothing but a hindrance to the family and herself when alive, and rather, she had become a much more useful existence now.
"There's a communication request from Lady Adelaide."
"...Again?"
"Shall I reject it?"
"...No. Connect me."
At Elena's answer, Michaella, now called Camilla, took out a communication crystal from her bosom.
As a soft light spread from the crystal, a face with an always cold expression appeared beyond it.
Hair that becomes more splendid from brown to reddish-gold towards the ends, and grayish-blue eyes identical to Elena's.
It was Adelaide Ironfield, the eldest daughter born from the Marquis's second wife and one of the two likely successors.
-Elena.
"Sister. I heard you were looking for me."
-Yes. It's nothing much.
The following conversation was about supplies and additional reinforcements to be sent to the front lines where Elena was.
However, in reality, the meaning of those words was no more and no less than small talk. Such detailed contents had already been coordinated between working-level officials.
-It seems Reinhardt is sending additional reinforcements. No doubt to keep you in check.
Moreover, it wasn't a conversation worth having between a family's successor and the general on the battlefield. Such trivial intentions were already being read by both sides anyway.
'In the past, I would have thought this was such a bothersome thing to do.'
Elena carefully observed Adelaide's small gestures visible through the communication crystal.
Constantly fiddling with her ears, touching her hair, scratching the tips of her nails... Minor actions she would never have done normally, saying it was 'uncultured'.
Seeing all these behaviors that seemed to be appealing 'I'm not interested in you', Elena inwardly smiled bitterly.
Because her anxiety was so clearly visible.
In a situation where there were already suspicions, these were too definite signs.
"Don't worry about me, Sister."
The words that had been flowing endlessly through the communication crystal stopped abruptly.
The expressionless look on Adelaide's face was different from her usual one.
It was neither nonchalance nor coolness.
Should I say it looked like someone who suddenly forgot how to make expressions?
In other words.
It was a trace of long years etched on the face of a woman who had tried hard not to make her younger sister her 'weakness'.
"I'm not weak. Neither as an individual nor as a group. So you should focus on Reinhardt."
-... I don't know what you're talking about.
After a moment, Adelaide, who had broken out of her frozen state, turned her head sideways and avoided eye contact.
Looking at her like that, Elena continued speaking with a firm expression.
"If so, then do your best as is. Your competitor is not someone you can face while being distracted."
-...
"I will take care of our younger siblings."
Adelaide's face froze for a moment upon hearing those words.
Even though she must have expected it, having her long-hidden secret discovered by her 'incompetent younger sister' seems to have been a shock to her too.
-You... think about such things after winning this war.
'As expected.'
Elena reflected again on that point she had recently realized.
That they, her younger siblings, were Adelaide's true weakness.
She could now clearly understand why she had subtly tried to draw in other siblings while pushing herself away.
'Both brother and second sister were interested in politics and power.'
So she tried to embrace and protect the younger siblings who had already been caught up in the succession struggle as much as possible.
'But I was different.'
Elena, formerly Elias, had the goal of 'proving herself'.
So she wanted to push herself to the border to get her out of the enemy's sight.
To give her a chance to find her talent instead.
Realizing this, it became difficult to simply hate Adelaide.
'I too... was just as starved for affection in the end.'
She wanted to be acknowledged by her charismatic father, and by her always cool and strong older sister.
Although the object of wanting acknowledgment had changed now, the remnants of that emotion still remained in a corner of her heart.
As love-hate.
"Please contact me moderately. I won't get hurt, after all."
-To think I contacted you to check on such things...
"I understand. Then, is today's business finished?"
-...Yes.
The current Adelaide had now become a sister who, while no longer worthy of respect to Elena, at least couldn't be abandoned.
"Then, I'll contact you again next time. Stay healthy, Sister."
-You too... take care.
She thought she saw a faint smile pass over the fading communication crystal.
That couldn't have been.
Her face had been frozen for so long that it would take even longer for it to relax.
Or it would need a trigger.
'To find that trigger... I need to win here first.'
Thinking so, Elena turned her gaze to look west.
Flutter!
Many flags fluttered in the wind in the distance.
She could also see as many military tents as those flags, and the army busily moving between them.
And behind that, a fortress was visible.
Cheox, one of the two main cities of the Dryaz Duchy and Cheox Marquisate.
It was right before her eyes.
"..."
In the heavy silence settling over the battlefield, Elena gripped her spear even more firmly.
The cry of the magic spear devouring the enemy's pain and allies' fear was faintly audible in her ears.
○
"The head of the family wants to see me?"
At the sudden words, I paused for a moment.
It wasn't unexpected news. I had anticipated that such a day would come someday.
"Yeah. I was against it, but..."
In response to my question, Serica scratched her forehead and answered with a somewhat uncouth and troubled look.
Her usual bold appearance was nowhere to be seen, and her attitude was cautious, like a subordinate delivering bad news.
However, her next words were as resolute as could be.
"You can refuse if it's burdensome. I'll persuade Father... the family head."
"What did he say the business was, to go that far?"
Serica's reaction was strange.
If it was simply that the head of the family wanted to see me, there would be no need to be this cautious.
There must be something more.
"That's... well. Haa."
The appearance of opening and closing her mouth repeatedly.
Then, as if steeling herself, she let out a deep sigh before opening her mouth.
"...A son-in-law candidate? Or a daughter-in-law candidate? Anyway... he's seeing you as that kind of prospect."
"What... did you say?"
For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood what I heard.
But seeing her red face and embarrassed expression, my ears hadn't been wrong.
Whoosh!
A moment later, I felt a subtle hostility rising from Eve standing next to me towards Serica.
Her hostility was controlled so delicately that no one but me could sense it, but its intensity was by no means light.
'What's going on here.'
I sighed inwardly.
I could quickly guess that something troublesome had happened.