The Demon King's Unyielding Grudge
Personal grudges could be suppressed. Yet right before her eyes, the Demon King was openly radiating a clear, unfiltered fury. Watching her, Octavia felt her entire body tremble with bone-deep terror, but she fought with everything she had to steady her mind.
Stay calm. This is the outcome I already prepared myself for. The Demon King’s presence is far more terrifying than I imagined, but I cannot back down now.
The Demon King had told her to struggle if she wished. Beneath the words lay mockery—daring her to cling to futile hope and do her best—yet they also carried the implication that the Demon King would at least hear her out. Moreover, although the ruler appeared ready to slit her throat at any moment, Octavia knew one crucial truth: the being before her was not one who acted purely on emotion.
From the pattern of the war thus far, the Demon King had always pursued the greatest possible benefit. There was no way such a ruler would discard this golden opportunity.
Even if the war had ended in victory, the internal state of the Demon Kingdom was far from ideal—a fact known to every high-ranking figure on the continent, not just Octavia. The prolonged conflict had devastated the land and claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of demons. In this situation, the Demon Kingdom needed to restore its foundations as quickly as possible and secure every advantage to prepare for any future invasions.
And for the Demon Kingdom, the Elf Theocracy’s offer to “accept any conditions” was essentially a blank check. No matter how deep the racial grudge ran between them, it was not something the Demon King or her people could easily refuse.
There was one more factor… a sensitive one, but the Demon King could not be unaware of it. She would understand exactly what the extinction of the World Tree Jupiter truly meant.
With these points of leverage in mind, Octavia calmed her emotions as much as possible and stared directly at the terrifying monarch of darkness before her. Even now, the aura radiating from the Demon King sent agonizing shivers through her body. Yet despite her modest combat ability, Octavia possessed the resilient spirit befitting the daughter of the Pope. It was that same mental fortitude that had allowed her to cling to life within the deathly flames that had consumed her teacher and comrades.
Having steadied her wavering heart, Octavia spoke in the calmest voice she could manage.
“I am well aware that Your Majesty does not look kindly upon us elves. Even now, mere months after the war’s end, deep resentments still linger between the Demon Kingdom and our Elf Theocracy.”
“…”
“However, Your Majesty, no matter how true that may be, we cannot afford to discard the immediate benefits before us, nor can we simply ignore the disaster that approaches. Would you not agree?”
Even while suppressed by the Demon King’s overwhelming aura, Octavia’s words remained clear and articulate. The Demon King’s attitude seemed to say, Go on. Sensing this, Octavia suppressed her fear of provoking further rage and continued with careful attention.
“As I stated, if you grant us the slightest assistance, the Elf Theocracy stands ready to offer the Demon Kingdom everything we possibly can. Furthermore, if our nation collapses as it stands, you know better than anyone what will happen next.”
“Hmm…”
The Demon King let out a sound that could have been approval or dismissal. Though uncertain, Octavia believed her persuasion was taking some effect and pressed on.
“There is only one thing we desire: a method to block the black flames before you. We swear this will bring no harm to the Demon Kingdom—on the contrary, we promise it will grant you immense benefits. Your Majesty, I beg you… please accept the request of the Elf Theocracy.”
Having laid out every argument she could, Octavia bowed deeply and respectfully toward the Demon King. In her own estimation, she had delivered a logical, coherent explanation without trembling. At this level, she thought, she should have moved the Demon King’s heart at least somewhat. With a mixture of relief and anticipation, she waited for the answer.
And then…
“…Indeed. Not bad at all.”
“…”
The Demon King’s quiet voice answered her. Octavia cautiously lifted her head to look at her.
“It is true that analyzing this kind of magic would not be difficult for us. In exchange, the benefits our Demon Kingdom would reap would be truly enormous.”
The Demon King’s tone had softened considerably compared to before. Octavia instinctively began to believe the situation might resolve favorably.
“Any rational person would seize such a hand. We, too, are one who believes personal vendettas can be suppressed for the sake of the nation’s interest.”
“Ah…!”
At the positive words, an irrepressible, radiant smile began to bloom across Octavia’s face.
But then—
“However… Elf.”
“?”
“Most regrettably, We cannot accept what you have proposed.”
“What? …W-why? What possible reason could there be for such a deci—Guhhhk!!!”
In an instant, the Demon King sharpened her previously dulled edge of emotion once more and spoke in an icy voice. The sudden shift left Octavia reeling with shock and confusion. In response, the Demon King once again unleashed a horrifying wave of magical power, tightening it around her throat.
“Guh… kuh… ah…”
“You truly have a short memory. Did We not clearly state that We would permit no questions?”
“Kuh… ah… ah…”
Octavia groaned in agony. Watching her, the Demon King continued in a voice laced with chilling hatred.
“But since you seem so curious, We shall enlighten you as a special favor.”
With those words, the Demon King slowly rose from her seat, radiating an overwhelming sense of dread. She looked down at Octavia, who was now writhing and rolling pathetically across the floor in pain.
“As We said, We can set aside personal feelings for the sake of the nation. However… most regrettably, this country is home to thousands upon thousands of citizens who, because of your kind, now carry pain and grudges that can never be washed away in their lifetimes.”
“Guh… ah… ah…”
The Demon King extended her hand and squeezed Octavia’s throat even more viciously. The elf felt as if her breath would be cut off at any second. Through eyes filled with despair, she looked up at the Demon King—at the ruler of darkness who was pouring genuine rage upon her.
“And as the monarch of this nation, We have no intention of turning away from the grudge-filled screams of Our people. Until we grind your bones as offerings for the dead and wipe away their tears with your blood, We will never—no matter how sweet the proposal—engage in any negotiations.”
With those final words, the Demon King clenched her outstretched hand violently. In that instant, Octavia felt the entire world turn pitch black and lost consciousness, cast into a bottomless, dark, and hopeless abyss.
How much time had passed, she could not tell. Feeling the hard, cold floor against her skin, Octavia forced her eyes open through a splitting headache.
“Kuh…”
“You’re awake?”
A voice reached her ears immediately after. Octavia struggled to open her still-blurry eyes and pushed herself up.
“…Ugh… Where… am I…?”
The scene that gradually came into focus was that of a damp underground prison. She was locked inside a cell, and beyond the iron bars stood the person watching her—the demon with angelic, pale skin who had guided her to the Demon King earlier. It was the demon named Elisa.
“It appears you’ve regained your senses.”
“Wh-what happened? I… I definitely angered the Demon King at the end and—”
In the midst of the rapidly unfolding crisis, Octavia unconsciously blurted out a desperate question to the person toward whom she had felt a faint sense of favor. At that moment—
“Her Majesty the Demon King.”
“…!”
“Use the proper honorific. Depending on the situation, I may be the one to take your head myself.”
For a brief moment, Elisa’s words carried the sharpness of a drawn blade. Octavia felt a surge of fear mixed with some indefinable tremor in her heart and stared at her in a daze.
Watching the young elf woman rendered speechless by a single sentence, Elisa spoke in a cold voice.
“Your answer?”
“!… Ah… yes… I-I’m sorry. So… I angered Her Majesty the Demon King… and then what happened? Where are my companions…”
Still visibly flustered, Octavia continued asking urgent questions. Observing her, Elisa maintained her chilling, blade-like aura and quietly continued.
“The answer to that question will depend on how you behave from now on.”
“…Pardon?”
Octavia suddenly felt an ominous premonition at Elisa’s words. Watching the elf’s reaction, Elisa inwardly formed a smile filled with her characteristic cruelty and opened her mouth to speak to the girl before her.