Chapter 180 - 16: Demon Lord

Chapter 180: Chapter 16: Demon Lord

’One person?’

’Just one person dares to confront the army of tens of thousands I’m leading?’

’This is far too arrogant.’

’Even if she somehow mastered Magic, judging from its power, she could defeat me at best. There’s no way she can fight ten thousand all by herself.’

"You’re too confident," Hammond said coldly.

"Am I?" Lilia didn’t mind that he hadn’t answered her question.

She lifted her gaze to look behind him. "On the contrary, I think I’ve prepared quite thoroughly."

Lilia’s words guided his gaze, and Hammond subconsciously turned his head.

He was stunned to find nothing but empty space behind him.

’...What’s going on?!’

’Where’s my army?’

’Where are my men!’

’How could they all disappear in the blink of an eye?!’

As if sensing his astonishment, Lilia explained with mock kindness, "It’s just the effect of a simple Array."

"You... why are you..."

"Why I’m able to master so many Magic Circles?"

Lilia smiled.

’Indeed.’

’Magic Circles and Magic are completely different things. When I was at the Magic Academy, I never systematically studied the subject.’

’But...’

’Then again, I did spend a great deal of effort studying that manuscript with Victor.’

’The Magic Circles recorded in it were quite a wonderful surprise.’

Lilia narrowed her eyes. "Hmm... Perhaps you know a Lord named Gersas?"

Hammond’s pupils constricted.

’Ger...sas?’

"You... what in the world..."

Hammond was utterly horrified, but Lilia couldn’t be bothered to talk to him anymore.

’End this quickly.’

’She didn’t like leaving loose ends.’

...

The outcome of the battle was never in doubt.

Hammond was very strong. In terms of physical prowess alone, Lilia could only manage a stalemate against him.

But once Magic was involved, the scales of victory tipped unsurprisingly in Lilia’s favor.

「About ten minutes later.」

Inside Red River Territory, Lilia’s figure appeared out of thin air.

She was still at the entrance to the territory. Just a moment ago, she had merely pulled Hammond into a special dimension created with Magic.

Outside, upon seeing her emerge, Ronan immediately flapped his wings and flew over to her.

"My Lord! Lady Lilia!"

The Little Demon’s voice was as sycophantic as ever.

Just from its tone, Lilia knew everything was under control without even needing to hear the report.

Sure enough.

"Victory! A great victory!" its voice chirped, high and sharp like a magpie heralding good news.

"Without their Lord’s command, the remaining Demons were like a colony of headless ants—no threat at all!"

"Before our well-trained army, they only lasted a few minutes before being completely crushed!"

"So much for the strongest Lord west of the Red River! So much for the Hammond renowned throughout the Spirit Realm! He was nothing special after all!"

"He was no match for you at all, Lady Lilia!"

Lilia gave a slight nod, ignoring the string of effusive praises that followed.

Ronan might seem unreliable, but he had handled similar situations countless times over the past six months.

She could trust him to handle the aftermath.

From assessing her own troops’ casualties to managing the prisoners who had surrendered, Lilia didn’t need to worry about a thing.

What concerned Lilia more than any of this was Hammond’s attitude before his death.

He seemed to have lost all will to fight the moment he heard the name "Gersas."

Otherwise, Lilia wouldn’t have been able to kill him in a mere ten minutes.

But his reason for losing the will to fight wasn’t fear—or at least, not just fear.

Hidden within those scarlet eyes was also a flicker of glee.

It was as if he believed Lilia was about to face her own doom.

’Why?’

Lilia couldn’t quite understand why.

"Ronan."

"Present, Lady Lilia! What are your orders?"

"Once you have a count of the prisoners, don’t rush to send them to the Reformation Camps."

Lilia ordered, "Pick out a few who held high-ranking positions and send them to me. I have some questions for them."

"No problem!"

Ronan raised a foreclaw in a solemn salute. "Go and rest, my Lady. You can leave everything here to me!"

Lilia nodded.

To ensure victory, she had laid numerous Arrays in the valley and at the entrance. Those, along with her battle against Hammond, had consumed a great deal of her Magic Power.

She definitely needed to rest now.

"Oh, right."

Just before leaving, Lilia asked offhandedly, "Have you ever heard of ’Gersas’?"

Ronan, still basking in his excitement, blinked his big eyes. "...Never heard of him, my Lady."

"Oh."

’That’s what I expected.’

’That’s why I want to interrogate Hammond’s subordinates. I hope to learn something about "Gersas" from them, like his relationship with Hammond...’

’Though I’m pessimistic about my chances of getting an answer.’

’A pity.’

’If I’d known this might be a dead end, I should have spared that guy’s life.’

Lilia turned and left.

With a respectful expression, Ronan watched her figure disappear into the distance before turning to get back to his work.

’In the past six months, Lilia had used an iron fist to train an exceptionally skilled team.’

’When he first saw the results, even he was surprised.’

’A team this disciplined, that obeyed their leader’s every command without question... Was it really composed of those Demons who usually couldn’t even understand simple words?!’

’It just goes to show how effective the carrot-and-stick approach is.’

’That was precisely why the Red River Territory had won so quickly: one side was organized and disciplined, while the other was a chaotic mess.’

’As expected of Lady Lilia...’

Before that admiring thought had even faded, Ronan suddenly remembered the name Lilia had just mentioned.

’Gersas...’

’Hammond.’

’If Lady Lilia heard that name from Hammond...’

’If that name really refers to *that* Lord...’

’...This is bad!’

...

「Red River Territory, Central Area.」

Six months was enough time to upgrade the small tent of the past into a reasonably decent house.

As a Lord, Lilia’s residence might not have been opulent, but it was certainly imposing.

However, she was used to the Earl Mansion and had spent more than a decade in the Royal Court.

To her, even the most imposing house looked merely ordinary.

Lilia wasn’t used to being waited on by servants, and besides, there were no Demons in Red River Territory capable of threatening her.

Therefore, she didn’t even keep any guards, retaining only the beautiful Demon handmaiden to relay messages for her.

She pushed open the door and entered.

"Congratulations on your triumphant return, Lady Lilia," the handmaiden said, bowing low.

Lilia nodded lightly, gesturing for her to rise.

Just as she started to walk further in, Lilia’s steps suddenly halted.

"My Lady," the handmaiden said, following behind her. "Snacks and tea are ready. Is there anything you require?"

"No need."

Lilia’s voice was calm. "You can leave for now."

"...Huh?"

The handmaiden was surprised.

’Usually, the Lord needs a large amount of food to replenish her energy after a fight.’

’Why is today different...?’

She didn’t understand Lilia’s reasoning, but she knew her Lord’s commands were not to be defied.

She nodded, bowed, and withdrew.

THUD.

The door to the room swung shut, cutting off the last sliver of moonlight from the world outside.