Chapter 13: THE KINGDOM PANICS

The Kingdom of Asteria received eleven intelligence reports about Vael in one morning.

None were accurate.

All were technically true.

Director Halric of the Royal Intelligence Bureau read them in silence.

REPORT ONE:

Ancient demonic forces assembled near Elmsford.

REPORT TWO:

Approximately three thousand troops answered to an unidentified dark-haired male.

REPORT THREE:

Subject made sustained contact with descendant of Hero Valcrest.

REPORT FOUR:

Subject transferred food to Valcrest descendant.

REPORT FIVE:

Demonic forces withdrew without engagement.

REPORT SIX:

Subject appears to be becoming progressively younger.

REPORT SEVEN:

Subject purchased twelve eggs, butter, flour, and cinnamon.

Halric lowered the papers.

"What is the significance of the eggs?"

The analyst opposite him swallowed.

"We don’t know, sir."

"Then why is it in the report?"

"The merchant said he looked dangerous."

Halric rubbed his temples.

For sixty years, the Demon King had been considered dead or irrelevant.

Now ancient mana signatures were resurfacing.

Old demons were mobilizing.

A Valcrest descendant had somehow become involved.

And there were eggs.

"Worst-case scenario?" Halric asked.

The analyst turned to a map.

"Ritual weapon."

"With cinnamon?"

"Possibly a stabilization reagent."

Halric stared at him.

"Find out."

Meanwhile, three hundred kilometers away, Vael was trying to make French toast.

[COOKING SIDE QUEST]

[Prepare breakfast for someone else.]

The first batch burned.

The second became wet in the center.

The third caught fire for reasons Vael considered magical sabotage.

Morrigan watched in horror.

"My King, allow me to execute the stove."

"It is not the stove’s fault."

"You have changed."

Vael pointed the spatula at her.

"Do not make this emotional."

Lyria entered the kitchen.

She stopped at the smoke.

"What happened?"

"Breakfast."

"Was attacked?"

"Is being prepared."

The System displayed:

[Progress: Questionable.]

Vael glared at it.

Eventually he produced one edible slice.

Lyria tasted it cautiously.

"Well?" Vael asked.

She chewed.

"It’s... not fatal."

Morrigan slammed both hands onto the table.

"How dare you insult His Majesty’s cuisine!"

Lyria pointed at a plate of charcoal.

"That piece is legally a weapon."

Vael sat down.

The System chimed.

[Quest Complete.]

[Reward: Cooking Skill F → E]

"No youth?"

[No. You need this too.]

Vael hated how often the System was correct.

Later, Lyria unfolded a broadsheet at lunch.

THE DEMON KING RETURNS?

The article contained a sketch of a horned monster eight feet tall.

Vael looked offended.

"They always add horns."

Lyria lowered the page slightly.

"You sound personally insulted."

"It is lazy iconography."

She continued reading.

"Witnesses claim the Demon King has abducted a descendant of Hero Valcrest."

Lyria looked around theatrically.

"Oh no. I have been abducted."

Morrigan nodded.

"A clean operation. No witnesses."

"I am the witness."

"Then one witness."

Lyria read the next line.

"Royal Intelligence suspects the Demon King may be developing an unknown egg-based weapon."

Vael kept drinking tea.

Morrigan looked offended.

"They omitted the cinnamon."

Lyria slowly lowered the paper.

"Vale."

"Yes?"

"Is there anything you’d like to tell me?"

Vael considered admitting everything.

Then he looked at Morrigan.

She was silently mouthing, deny everything.

The System appeared.

[Honesty recommended.]

He chose the traditional path.

"No."

[Emotional Honesty: 3/100]

Progress.

Technically.

That evening, while Lyria was out, Seraphina’s name appeared for the first time in a Royal Intelligence file.

High Priestess Seraphina Aurell.

Historian. Demon War specialist. Church investigator. Known argumentative tendencies.

Halric signed the deployment request.

"Send her to Elmsford."

His deputy hesitated.

"Sir, she once trapped a bishop in an archive for falsifying a citation."

"Good."

"You think she can handle the Demon King?"

Halric looked at the mountain of contradictory reports.

"No. I think the Demon King may be easier."