When the morning sun quietly peeked through the glass and gently fell upon Avira’s face, she opened her beautiful red pupils, threw off the blanket, and sat up.
Then, Avira smiled.
“Hahaha…”
She was purely amused out of sheer exasperation.
She didn’t even need to recap events—touching her slightly aching head was enough to guess what had happened before she passed out.
Not long ago, she had been on the verge of clashing with the Demon King’s sister in a decisive battle.
Her sister, revived by the Great Sage’s necromantic magic, had become the Great Sage’s weapon.
If luck had been on her side, she could have taken her sister’s body, sealed it away in the Royal Palace. Once the Demon King obtained the seal used for the revival, it would save a great deal of trouble.
At that time!
She would become the Demon King’s benefactor—the value of such a relationship went without saying!
If she were the Demon King, she would surely be eternally grateful to Avira. By then, the Demon King would turn into a soft, pliant little girl awaiting her commands. And if she could control Oleniya as well, taming both crystal dragons as puppets, then truly ruling the demon race would be a done deal!
But she hadn’t expected the Moon Mark to flare up right at that moment, craving Ophitia’s demon essence!!
It was supposed to activate tomorrow night—Avira had already planned exactly how to absorb the Demon King’s demon essence.
The timing error shouldn’t have exceeded half an hour.
“Damn it…!”
Just then, the bedroom door opened.
Avira glanced at the clock—it was three in the afternoon.
I’d slept for 19 hours?!
“Mommy! Waaah… Mommy!!”
A little flying dragon came pouncing over and flew straight into Avira’s arms.
Lace wiped her tears all over Avira’s clothes, hugging her body tightly with both hands, refusing to let go no matter what.
“Lace?” Avira was puzzled. Where had all this worry come from?
“Mommy, waaah, the Demon King said you almost got hurt. When she carried you back yesterday, I was worried to death!!”
“I wasn’t going to get hurt at all. Don’t worry, little dragon.”
“Waaah—!” Lace cried even louder, her voice three parts worry and seven parts coquetry as she sobbed: “Mommy said you’re a dummy who doesn’t care about your own safety. Good thing she got there in time!”
“Hm? That woman, then?” Avira widened her eyes.
“Who?” Lace sniffled, clearly unaware of who had fought Avira.
Hold on?
Avira’s eyes flickered.
Ophitia was the one who brought me back? Right in front of Oleniya?
In other words…
This woman didn’t continue fighting my injured sister’s shell—instead, she brought me back and called it quits?!
What the hell? That doesn’t make sense!
By all logic, by the plot…
When Ophitia saw her own sister being controlled by the Great Sage, she should have exploded in rage, unleashing all her power—maybe even burning half the city to ashes. Yet not only did she not fight, she carried me back in that situation…
An irrelevant human?
Avira racked her brains but couldn’t figure it out—unless Ophitia’s head was filled with nothing but lewd junk. But no matter how pent-up she was, she couldn’t possibly forget her own goal!
Thus, Avira finally confirmed…
This Demon King hadn’t even recognized who her sister was!
“Lace, don’t you think your mommy is a bit dumb?” Avira was speechless and could only vent.
Lace cried as she replied: “Mommy’s tactics made the humans’ strongest army collapse. We barely took any losses—it’s a total victory! How could she be dumb? Besides, Mommy’s pregnant!”
“Ah, I meant… never mind.” Avira felt like this whole family was impossible to reason with.
Better to just turn them into my puppets honestly.
Afterward, Avira gave Lace a bit of her blood.
The little dragon originally wanted to refuse, but Avira had already bitten her finger—wasting it would be a shame.
Then, Avira pulled out the new clothes she’d prepared for the little dragon last time, helping her change into them. She also snapped a crystal from the Royal Palace treasury—the kind she liked—and placed it in her hands.
Next, to send Lace away, Avira specifically tasked her with checking on Krenbel’s situation. Hearing that the fool had actually survived, Avira sighed in relief—at least those feathers hadn’t been wasted.
She’d gone to great lengths just to make use of that idiot.
Then, remembering the Demon King made Avira’s anger flare up again.
After some thought, she went to find Ophitia and demand an explanation.
She found the Demon King Ophitia in the sunlit office, where she was discussing matters with Berika.
“That leader was the only survivor?”
“No, we rescued some others and converted them into low-level evil demons. No matter how you look at it, it was a victory—thanks to Lady Vera!” Berika’s eyes sparkled.
Well, in their eyes, it was indeed a great triumph.
Seeing Avira arrive, the Demon King stood to welcome her, while Berika knelt on one knee. For a moment, Avira felt like she was the Demon King and they were her subordinates.
“Vera, you’re awake!”
Ophitia hugged her, her tail even coiling around Avira’s thigh, as if they hadn’t seen each other in centuries.
As expected of Lace’s mom.
“Demon King, I’ve always been fine. Thank you for saving me.” Avira nodded slightly.
“Mm…”
For some reason, Ophitia seemed bashful, like she was hiding something.
What an idiot with no vigilance.
Avira closed her eyes, then opened them again, saying:
“Demon King, before I fainted, I saw a… dragon. She covered her face, so I couldn’t see who it was clearly. But I want to know—are there any other dragon clan members in this world besides you, the Demon King, and your children?”
Avira meant to remind her… that’s your sister! Hurry up and catch her before she gets away!
But Ophitia just shook her head, saying nothing.
Had she realized the truth and been too heartbroken?
“Dragon clan? Lady Vera must have seen wrong. The former Crystal Dragon King lost her life to greedy humans. Aside from Lena and Lady Lace, only the Demon King remains.”
Ophitia lowered her head and continued her silence.
Avira shot Berika a look. Understanding, Berika knelt on one knee and said no more.
Avira pressed on:
“Demon King, what is your purpose in conquering humanity?”
Yes, Ophitia—no setback could defeat you.
You’re someone who pursues your ideals relentlessly, even unto hopelessness. Why ignore your own sister?!
Avira didn’t know why she chose to ask this. She could have just stayed silent, letting the Demon King remain oblivious for easier control.
But Demon King Ophitia’s next actions made Avira even more incredulous.
She cupped Avira’s face, staring into her eyes with unwavering resolve:
“I’m fighting to find the person I love most. And now, she’s right in front of me.”
