Aria Christine, Queen of Rubalu

"...What do you mean by that?"

The expression of the woman seated in the center of a room adorned with golden-embroidered silks was far from pleasant.

"As usual, pirate ships appeared, and the Fish-people Corps were dispatched... but they were completely annihilated."

The face of Aria Christine, Monarch of Rubalu, froze completely. The Fish-people Corps were Rubalu's pride.

Most pirates wouldn't even dare consider attacking Rubalu's merchant fleets. Whenever the Fish-people Corps were deployed, there were hardly any enemies they couldn't defeat. But this time was different.

It meant their opponents weren't ordinary pirates. Naturally, she couldn't afford to let her guard down.

"Gather all our forces at once! If we fail to stop them, Rubalu's future will collapse."

Rubalu's current situation wasn't favorable. After the sudden death of the previous monarch, Aria had been practically pushed onto the throne.

But being a woman rather than a man, coupled with her abrupt ascension, meant that even as monarch, she couldn't wield the same level of authority as a typical ruler. The lack of a solid support base was to blame.

And if she couldn't even repel the pirates invading Rubalu now...

'...If things go wrong, I might lose everything as monarch.'

There were already nobles scheming to drag her down. This incident might just give them the perfect justification.

Grind.

Aria clenched her teeth. She was furious that this had to happen precisely during such a precarious situation.

***

"This is Rubalu!"

"Blood! Plunder!"

"Calm down, Zagan."

Hee-hee.

Along with my fellow Demon race members, we docked our ship at Rubalu's harbor. Having just slaughtered a group of Fish-people, the situation didn't seem particularly favorable.

"A welcoming party?"

"Like that would happen? We should flee right—"

"Shut the hell up, sex slave."

Before we knew it, nearly a hundred soldiers had approached us. Armed with spears in one hand and shields in the other, their demeanor was anything but friendly.

"Here to fight?"

Still, it was worth asking first. After all, wouldn't it be better if things could be resolved through dialogue rather than jumping straight into a brawl?

"You annihilated our entire scouting party and now you talk of such things?!"

"They attacked first."

"Shut your mouth! You filthy pirates!"

Upon closer inspection, I spotted a man in the center wielding a slightly larger spear. He unmistakably carried the air of a commander.

"So, no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠intention of talking?"

"Words are useless!"

With those final words, I immediately swung my sword.

Swish!

A single light swing unleashed a massive slash.

"Gaaah!"

Most were swept away by that one strike. The soldiers' skill level was pitifully low. It was fair to say they were utterly worthless.

"Damn it! Retreat!"

"And where do you think you're retreating to?"

I dashed toward those turning their backs to flee and swung my sword. In an instant, their upper and lower bodies separated. A fountain of blood gushed forth as if to split the sky.

"Well, I did try to resolve this through dialogue. If they refuse, what else can I do?"

To be honest, even if they had agreed to talk, I had already planned to kill them to stack resentment points. Of course, it was much better that they came at me like this.

Not just me—most of the demon race preferred violence. The option of resolving things through dialogue simply didn't exist for them.

After cutting down the first wave of soldiers, the next group came charging out, armed with all kinds of weapons.

Unlike before, they looked considerably bulkier. They must have been the fish-people who held real power in Rubalu.

"You crazy bastards! Do you even know where you are?!"

"Seems they're not just ordinary pirates. With those horns... Don't tell me they're demons?!"

I quickly scanned the enemies. There were women mixed in here and there, but none who could satisfy my radar.

"Kill them all."

"Understood!"

There was no command the demon race loved more than slaughter. Zagan and the soldiers immediately began rampaging to their hearts' content. I watched with a faint smile.

'It's nice not having to move myself. Convenient.'

Of course, if I wanted to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stack resentment points, I'd have to do the killing myself, but I could leave this much to my subordinates.

'More importantly, I'm a bit concerned. Is it because they're fish-people? The stench is worse than I expected.'

The smell of blood mixed with the fishy stench was something I couldn't quite get used to. While my subordinates dealt with the fish-people, I surveyed the surroundings.

The tallest and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠most extravagant building on the hill was undoubtedly the royal palace. And naturally, inside would be Rubalu's monarch—a woman named Aria.

'I'm curious about the monarch's pussy, but she's not a fish-person, right?'

If she were, that'd be a problem. The fishy stench of fish-people was harder to stomach than I'd thought.

'I'd hate to embrace a woman who reeks of fish. Surely her pussy doesn't smell like that.'

At the very least, I had to hope the monarch was human.

I nudged Beatrice's shoulder.

"What's wrong...?"

"You remember the monarch of Rubalu we talked about before."

"Queen Aria?"

"Yeah. She's not a fish-person, is she?"

"Not as far as I know. The royal family of Rubalu has always been human. Though I did hear the fish-people have been causing trouble lately..."

"Really?"

That was good news in more ways than one. First, I wouldn't have to worry about a fishy stench coming from the monarch's pussy. Second, it meant Rubalu's internal affairs weren't exactly peaceful.

The more chaotic a nation's internal situation, the harder it was to deal with external forces.

"All targets eliminated, Grand General."

"Yeah? Good news, then. Shall we head over now?"

"Where to, sir?"

"Obviously there. No point dragging this out. Once we have the monarch in our hands, it's game over. And make sure no ships set sail—just in case any information leaks."

"Understood."

One advantage of Rubalu being a maritime nation was how hard it was for news to spread. If no ships left, no one outside would know what had happened inside Rubalu.

'Better than letting word slip and having them guard that Precious Jade thing.'

Swallowing Rubalu in one night was the surest way. And making sure no one found out the demons had infiltrated the Empire through the Precious Jade was the safest move.

"Alright then, shall we go retrieve the Precious Jade?"

Might as well take a look at the Monarch while I'm at it.

***

"Don't let them set foot in the royal palace!"

"Arghh!"

"Damn it!"

The soldiers guarding the palace were pathetically weak. Perhaps it was because this maritime nation rarely engaged in battles, but their skills seemed even worse than low-level monsters.

Faced with such laughable incompetence that they couldn't even think to dodge, I swung my sword with a grin. Blood soaked my body.

"Disgusting."

Even after becoming part of the demon race, I didn't derive pleasure from blood itself. Maybe it was because I wasn't born a demon, but I didn't find any enjoyment in slaughter itself. Of course, when it came to stacking resentment, my feelings changed—though even that held little meaning in mass killings like this.

'Not sure about the exact criteria, but it seems the deeper the grudge from a single person, the more the resentment stacks.'

It was frustrating not knowing Tyrfing's exact conditions, given that it was a demonic sword.

"Die, demon!"

"Annoying bastards."

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The blade didn't stop. With each swing, only corpses remained. The soldiers collapsing before me twisted their faces in agony, hurling curses.

Thunk.

Just in case, I made sure to pierce their hearts too.

Before I knew it, my footsteps had reached the front of the palace. An unexpected figure blocked my path.

"Whoever you are, you must be here for me."

"Who's this?"

Looking at her face, she was quite the beauty. I was always willing to listen to a beautiful woman.

"Wasn't I your target?"

"How about introducing yourself first before we talk? I'm willing to listen intently."

At my words, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠woman's expression darkened. But she soon straightened her posture and continued.

"I am Aria Christine, the 21st Monarch of Rubalu. And you are?"

"Ah..."

So this woman was the ruler of Rubalu, after all. A quick glance confirmed she was exactly my type—a real beauty.

Deep double eyelids, and even the subtle curves visible beneath her clothes...

In every way, she was a woman to my liking.

"I am Kim Jin-woo, Grand General of the Demon Army and former Hero."

"...Are you joking?"

"Does this look like a joke?"

I pointed my sword at her. The fresh crimson blood staining the blade made it clear this was no lie.

Aria's expression hardened again.

"Since you didn't even recognize my face, I suppose I wasn't your target. What is the Demon Army's purpose in coming to Rubalu?"

"You already seem to have guessed—I'm here for the Precious Jade."

"So it was that."

"It'd be nice if we could come to an understanding. Will you hand it over quickly?"

"Absolutely not."

"I thought we were getting along, but if you insist on drinking punishment wine, do I have to execute Rubalu's citizens one by one every day until you relent?"

"......"

Though I couldn't see it clearly, Aria seemed to be gritting her teeth. Even that expression looked rather beautiful.

"I'll give you the Precious Jade if you grant me one request."

"Negotiating in a situation like this? You must be out of your mind. I could kill you right now and take it."

"The fact that you haven't suggests you're worried you won't be able to find it, aren't you?"

She was sharper than I expected. Dragging this out would get me nowhere.

"Fine. What's your request?"