Chapter 56
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Aslan Kingdom's Hero Sage (3)
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The rumor of Knight Commander Bergio's death—and his head being delivered to the royal palace—spread like wildfire.
The Aslan Kingdom was plunged into shock.
He was the kingdom's most renowned swordsman, famed as its strongest.
A knight who could stand toe-to-toe with the empire's powerhouses, yet only his head had returned. The rumor heightened their wariness of this newly arisen Demon King.
"We must request reinforcements from the empire!"
"We need to call for aid from the eastern elves and dwarves!"
"The kingdom's forces alone aren't enough! We have to enlist adventurers and mercenaries!"
Some of the younger knights argued that external forces were essential to defeat the Demon King.
They claimed a small elite unit would be far more effective than sending thousands of soldiers.
Invite elite troops from foreign lands, gather adventurers, and strike the Demon King together.
Because this Demon King, appearing after centuries, wasn't just the kingdom's problem.
"Nonsense! How can we invite foreign armies into our kingdom's affairs?"
"Do you think those foreign troops will just leave peacefully after entering our lands?"
"No nation that relied on foreign aid ever met a good end!"
The elders argued that inviting outsiders would only create another enemy.
They insisted the real threats to watch were the bordering empire and other kingdoms, even more than the Demon King.
Neither side was wrong.
"What do you think, Hero?"
The king asked.
Sage, the Hero whose fresh country girl innocence had vanished, replaced entirely by seething rage, turned to the king.
She had taken the fallen Knight Commander's place and attended as the kingdom's new Knight Commander.
The Hero and Royal Knight Commander, Sage.
She gazed at the king expressionlessly, then bowed her head.
"I believe the kingdom's matters should be settled by the kingdom's soldiers. Foreign troops would cause chaos, and internal politics would hinder our movements."
The king smiled.
He shared the same view.
"I shall issue the mobilization order. I hope each lord gathers their forces. Barons and below shall provide soldiers; counts and above, knights. For the kingdom's safety."
And so, the mobilization order for the Demon King subjugation was decreed.
The knights and Hero, burning for vengeance against the Knight Commander, willingly took up their swords. Many kingdom knights who admired Bergio converged on the capital, each for their own reasons.
For the honor of slaying the Demon King who killed Bergio.
For revenge against the wicked Demon King who took his life.
Mages from the Mage Tower arrived as well.
Not to support the expedition.
These mages from Aslan were dispatched by the Mage Tower's police force.
"Pleased to meet you."
He had come to investigate the two rank-6 mages who betrayed the kingdom.
Rumors swirled about these police mages from the force: they had killed their own capacity for emotion to make cold, rational judgments.
After meeting the king, they visited the office of the new Knight Commander, Sage.
"Why won't the Mage Tower help?"
The mage shook his head at Sage's question.
"It's not our jurisdiction. Whether they fell to the Demon King and corrupted, or betrayed for magical advancement, the Mage Tower is here to analyze why they turned on the kingdom. To prevent more victims."
"So you're refusing to avenge the kingdom?"
"Of course. I understand your anger, Hero, but the Mage Tower doesn't intervene unless our interests are deeply involved."
"Our Knight Commander died because of you mages!"
BAM!
Sage slammed the desk, splitting the wooden surface clean in half.
But the mages didn't so much as blink.
At least, these ones weren't intimidated by Hero Sage.
"It was the result of the Knight Commander's independent decision to deploy. Though triggered by faulty mage intel, it's hard to call it the Mage Tower's fault."
"Preventing further victims is our priority judgment."
Sage ground her teeth at their emotionless tone.
This was mages for you.
Brainiacs who thought they always had the right answer.
Selfish cowards dodging responsibility.
"We'll do our job."
She thought to herself.
After avenging the Knight Commander, she'd deal with these Mage Tower bastards next.
They bore responsibility for Sir Bergio's death too.
"Leave. If you're not here to help, I have nothing to say."
"We'll inform you once the investigation concludes."
No interest.
It wouldn't help anyway.
A month after the summons.
Countless soldiers and knights gathered.
Mages loyal to the kingdom resolved to join the expedition; the rest fled Aslan, fearing casualties.
The king did not stop the departing mages.
Watching them, the Hero's hatred for mages deepened.
All forces except those defending borders and the capital had assembled.
The outer city of Mir was especially furious.
Two hundred citizens had died because of them.
Even the dispatched knights had fallen, fueling demands for certain revenge.
The city's soldiers were all enfranchised citizens.
It was as good as crippling the city's driving force.
Meanwhile, the Hero honed her strength, swinging her sword.
Without Bergio, her teacher, she had no gauge of her growth.
As time passed, anxiety gnawed at her.
The Demon King who killed Bergio.
Could she win?
'Don't be afraid.'
She could almost hear Bergio's voice, the one who taught her the sword.
"Sir Bergio..."
But the Bergio before her eyes...
'Don't fear until you've avenged me against the Demon King who killed me.'
Was just a severed head, eyes bulging, tongue lolling.
Body gone, it floated in the air, head alone, repeating to her.
'Avenge me.'
'Avenge me.'
'Kill that Demon King bastard and bring peace to the world.'
Bergio's voice echoed in her ears.
Crunch!
She couldn't face that face.
Eyes shut, she bit her thumbnail.
Blood trickled from it.
The metallic tang in her mouth made her bite her index nail next.
"I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm okay."
She clutched her head, eyes squeezed shut.
And when she opened them again...
The hallucinatory Bergio's face was gone.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
"Pleased to meet you, Knight Commander Sage."
It was the police mage.
"What is it?"
Her voice was ice-cold.
"The investigation is complete."
"What was the conclusion?"
"Demonic residue was detected where they stayed. Various magical reactions occurred, but no evidence they were corrupted by the Demon King."
Her head throbbed.
These uncooperative mages.
They nitpicked to the end.
Annoying.
Wanted to just rip them apart.
Hold back.
Killing them gains nothing.
"You said there's demonic residue. Isn't that evidence?"
"Yes. But the amount is too faint for them to have been turned into his minions by the Demon King. Rather..."
"Rather?"
"It's more accurate to say they voluntarily submitted to the Demon King for some reason. Whether a deal or something we couldn't detect, we couldn't determine."
"So what's your point?"
"The Mage Tower can't provide support."
Knew it.
"Got it. Get out."
She waved him off.
Talking to these emotionless golems was a loss for a human like her.
Expedition tomorrow.
No need to stress elsewhere.
"Apologies."
"Spare me the insincere words and get lost. I don't want to talk to mana-addled cowards who won't own their mages' mistakes."
"Very well."
No reaction to her insults.
No point talking to those stripped of emotion.
"Haaah! Demon King! Your cock feels so good... I'm cumming!!"
Kina's slick pussy clenched around me with each orgasm, squirting fluids as it milked my cock.
Perfectly molded to me now, it stroked glans and shaft alike, pleasuring me fully.
Because she was a wind mage?
Each squirt carried a faint phytoncide scent.
Made sex with her uniquely refreshing.
"Demon King! The kingdom's forces departed three days ago!"
Ariana burst into the bedroom then.
Excluding Yulia, she had the swiftest feet among us, so I'd sent her to report from Aslan's capital when the army mobilized.
"Oh, you're in the midst of grand congress."
Ariana glimpsed me fucking Kina, blushed, and turned away.
"Don't mind it. Report. How large is the enemy force?"
I asked, thrusting into Kina's pussy.
"Capital forces: 3,000 soldiers. 80 knights. 40 rank-4 mages. 4 rank-5 mages. Plus 2,000 more from the small city of Mir and nearby territories."
"Main force, huh."
"Yes. Seems they've gathered maximally, excluding border and capital guards."
Splash!
"Haaah!!!"
Kina shuddered, hips bucking.
Unable to hold back, her moan cut Ariana off.
I grabbed the hair of Kina, who muffled herself yet still moaned.
"Insolent. Moaning during a briefing."
"S-sorryyy."
I savored Kina's pussy again, then asked Yulia standing by the bedroom side.
"Yulia, soldier prep?"
"Goblins, orcs, kobolds breeding steadily. But not enough for frontal war with the kingdom regulars."
"Shame. Means we'd lose in open battle."
"If we use all dispersed traps from forest to dungeon, we can handle them."
New monsters and traps bought with fame from absorbed knights awaited the kingdom army.
"Lorangleble Village?"
"Planning to withdraw them first. If there's a Hero, their presence might expose everything."
"I see."
A pity.
Wanted to use them for deception.
"If the village doesn't fall, we can use it someday. But..."
I eyed Yulia beside me.
"Your cheeks are flushed lately."
Unlike usual, Yulia's face bore a rosy tint.
"Increased workload lately."
"Thought it was my cock getting to you."
If workload's up, reduce it.
"I'll tell Amy to bring human followers into the dungeon. Need to lighten your load. Can't have you flushed all day; trouble might brew."
"I'm fine. Goblins are helping already."
"Oh?"
"Sorry for worrying you."
Yulia bowed.
Sweat beaded on her chest, trickling into her cleavage.
A sweet feminine scent wafted from her sweaty skin.
Not Kina's.
I wasn't fool enough to mistake my women's aromas.
'She's lying.'
I thought, glancing at Yulia stealing looks at me.
Interesting.
Means she's gotten that strong.
This stoic Yulia, aroused just looking at me.
'Handle the Hero first, then enjoy.'
Disciplining a lying subordinate would be new fun.