Field was a greedy demonkin.
He had once fought side by side with the Demon King and had briefly become one of her most powerful subordinates.
He was one of the subordinates whom Demon King Ophitia had originally trusted the most, but now things had changed completely.
The demon race woman named Vera had stolen his position, used her charms to promote the Atia he despised, and in the end, even got the Demon King to sideline him.
Field would not let this go so easily. At the very least, he wanted to prove his own strength.
Thus, after the Demon King left, he led his army in an attempt to launch a preemptive attack, but he ended up exposing his position.
On the way, however, he encountered the Great Sage, and he charged at her along with his subordinates.
But they were beaten down in just a few exchanges.
The Great Sage gave him the Ritual Dagger and a tool sufficient to conceal himself.
“If you can kill Lace and bring her back to me, I’ll kill Ophitia and make you the king of the demon race.”
Field didn’t believe the Demon King could defeat this person.
He fully recognized the Great Sage’s terror, and there was no helping it.
Moreover, he had long wanted Lace and Vera, who had suppressed him, to taste some bitterness. This was simply what they deserved!
But before Field could make his move, he noticed a young girl slowly approaching him.
What a coincidence. It seemed the assassination plan would have to wait for another opportunity.
However, when he hid himself, that girl walked straight toward him!
“How long do you plan to hide?”
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Tilves’s Second Princess, Maryvian!
“The Holy Sword in my hand has already told me your position.”
The next second, Field found himself unable to move.
He felt the world spinning, and then dragon breath flames came rushing at him.
He wanted to flee, but the raging inferno swiftly engulfed him, leaving only pitiful screams behind.
In the end, Field turned into a pile of charred bones that no longer even resembled a corpse.
“You’ve really helped me out big time, Maryvian. I didn’t expect him to attack me at a time like this. It’s quite surprising.”
Lace smiled at the woman who walked over from the other end of the corridor.
“Field actually betrayed us for real. Good thing we have plenty of insurance.”
Maryvian nodded and gave a wry smile.
“This war is truly complicated.”
Lace had met Maryvian once before. She knew that the girl before her was the informant sent by Lady Demon King, and not long ago, she had learned that Maryvian would return to provide support.
However, she didn’t know exactly how Maryvian had seen through the Illusion Mirror.
The Great Sage was proficient in almost all the magic in this world—yes, not just mastered, but proficient.
It was said that humans had a magic tutor organization acknowledged by numerous countries, which only medal-level magic tutors had a chance to join, and yet the Great Sage alone could represent the entire organization.
“The loss of eighty percent of the world’s magic tutors has an impact on magical development that’s infinitely close to zero… That’s what they say about her.” Maryvian’s voice was cold and clear.
Lace nodded. She was indeed a highly dangerous figure.
Maryvian stepped forward and carefully placed the Holy Sword on the ground.
“After the battle ends, hand this over to your mother.”
Maryvian felt a bit strange.
Because Lace was her sister’s daughter, she should be calling her niece.
“Huh?” Lace tilted her head. “What happened?”
“I was able to find my way here all thanks to Lady Avira and this sword.”
The Holy Sword hadn’t originally wanted to help Maryvian.
But it knew Maryvian’s goal was for Avira and the Demon King afterward, so it assisted her, guiding her with flashing patterns.
“I’m staying behind.”
Maryvian smiled. “Because there’s someone incredible on my side too.”
Maryvian led Lace to a certain room in the Residential District.
A golden-haired girl dressed in the demon race’s purple skirt had a healthy, slender body and skin as smooth as porcelain skin, enough to make many girls who prided themselves on their beauty envious.
Her eyes stared blankly at the floor, her hands resting on her thighs, as if she had lost all vitality.
“Catherine?” Lace said warily. “Why is she here?!”
“Well, a lot of things happened, to sum it up.”
Maryvian shook her head.
That day, she had seen her own sister fall and become a demonkin, sprouting pitch-black wings.
She had already lost hope. Why not just keep walking, go to another country, live in seclusion, and cut off contact with everything…? But recalling Avira’s protection before she left, she hesitated.
Avira had joined the demon race.
Thus, she remembered the Sword Saint who had been influenced by Avira and went to find Catherine.
And what she hadn’t expected was that Catherine had actually been saved by Avira.
She realized many things, such as…
Sister Avira had truly chosen the demon race of her own will.
She had never seen demonkin harm civilians, or even harm herself.
Instead, it was humans who had started killing each other.
“Catherine fought against the Great Sage for my sake, and she lost.”
“…Uh.”
Lace walked up to Catherine, who curled up as if suffering from some trauma-induced stress, letting out whimpering sounds.
So that’s it—the Great Sage had done this to her!
“I want Catherine to stay here. I should stay too to take care of her. After all, we’re the only humans left.” Maryvian gave a wry smile. “Of course, right now, the priority is to win this battle.”
Maryvian stepped forward and touched Catherine’s shoulder.
“Catherine, you just stay here. You don’t need to go anywhere.”
“Mm…” Catherine nodded.
At that moment, Maryvian seemed to remember something.
“Lace, that Ritual Dagger…”
“Do you need to use it now?”
Lace pulled out the treasure she had “looted” from Field’s body—the only item left after she burned him to charcoal.
This small dagger gleamed brightly; it looked very valuable at a glance.
As a dragonkin, who wouldn’t like money?
“It needs a simple treatment, then send it to your mama along with the Holy Sword.”
“Ugh, got it.” So it was something for Mom, Lace had no choice but to compromise.
They opened the entrance to the underground warehouse of the Royal Palace, which led to a deep spiral staircase.
Along the way, Lace pondered one thing.
Maryvian was Mom’s little sister, right?
In terms of her relationship with Lady Demon King, that made her an aunt, didn’t it~?
How should she address her…
But Maryvian was human. Was this really okay?
Lace slapped her forehead and decided to keep it simple.
“Maryvian, why don’t you become a demonkin too?”
