Chapter 15. The Demon Kingdom (7) Part-2

Revoking their authority as Apostles meant that their ability to move soldiers through the kingdom had been taken away. They might be chiefs in name, but supplies, equipment, and all related matters would have to go through Lily.

Her declaration included the unspoken implication that if they did not transfer their military powers to her, their species would be exiled from the kingdom. On the other hand, they would enter an era of her absolute reign if they transferred their military to her. Absolute authority! She would obtain military might that the other Apostles couldn't hope to match.

'…This is quite interesting.'

Nordin stroked his chin. Rather than the royal power being weakened by the rebellion, it had been bolstered. And not just by a little, but by a laughably large margin as well.

Lily continued, "Also, I have selected new people to fill the ranks of the Apostles. First, the one that stood out in the feat of taking down Bludiferr… Wurlf of the Werewolves!"

The Apostles turned around in surprise. The doors to the palace opened as a Werewolf entered. Wurlf, the chief of the Werewolves, lowered his head.

"I am well aware of all the feats you've performed. You have spent your days as a slave for the vampires, but there have been countless more days during which you stood against the human invasion. Also, you've exerted considerable effort in trying to strike down Bludiferr, who had introduced such mayhem to this kingdom for the sake of his rebellion, despite your station as a slave. For such accomplishments, I shall grant you freedom and name you an Apostle."

Nasis shouted in surprise.

"W-wait! Your highness…! That's too much! They are slaves!"

Hecaron followed suit.

"Also, they are the ones that disrupted the kingdom alongside the rebel Bludiferr! You are granting him the position of Apostle instead of punishment? What nonsense…!"

Lily looked at them coldly.

"A slave? Are you referring to your own people…?"

The Apostles backed down upon seeing her response. It was a threat! Also, an order from someone they couldn't hope to disobey.

"He helped us right to the end. As a slave and under Bludiferr's curse, he was helpless, yet he himself was in the frontlines when it came time to kill him. Isn't his ascension in status an obvious reciprocation?"

It wasn't all that uncommon. Those in the rebel's forces betraying their masters to raise their ranks…! It was no different this time around.

"Ellin."

"Yeah…? Ah, Yes. Please give your command."

Ellin corrected herself from staring at Lily while slack-jawed, quickly lowering her head.

"You are responsible for the integration of the Apostle Wurlf."

Ellin looked at her dumbly. Those words meant…?

"Take good care of your student."

When Lily spoke with a smile, Ellin nodded excitedly.

"Okay!"

"Next, regarding the one who suppressed the Hero and struck down Bludiferr…"

Another figure walked into the palace. He was wearing the uniform of an apprentice Holy Knight. He took a knee and lowered his head.

"Tom, the Devil of Lania. I shall also appoint you as an Apostle. You've not only slain the Hero and the rebel leader, but you've also toppled Lania, the capital of the Holy Kingdom. This is a position befitting you. Will you accept?"

Tom replied without hesitation, "I shall accept, Your Highness."

Hearing his reply, Lily stood from her seat and turned to the side. The Moon Rabbit siblings hurriedly pulled something out from the behind the throne and held it out. It was a pole with the national flag attached to it.

They unfurled the flag when Lily nodded. On it was the image of a mountain ram's skull set upon a black and white background.

"I, Demon Lord Lily Golt, command you, the Devil of Lania, Tom, and the Werewolf, Wurlf. Swear to me that you both shall be my sword and shield, striking down all those that block my path or harm this nation!"

Wurlf opened his mouth, "By the command of Your Highness…"

Lily turned to Tom, who looked back at her before lowering his head and finishing his vow.

"I vow to be your sword and shield, and to protect you in this place."

***

Their meeting came to an end, and the former Apostles were immediately freed from their restraints. They were all either reassigned as regular soldiers or commanders, capable of fielding a small platoon.

The Apostles let out a collective sigh of relief. The revocation of their title as punishment was unbelievably lighter than what they had imagined.

Nasis was drenched in a cold sweat as he collapsed on the floor.

"Woah… I-I'm alive. I survived, right? Right? No harm will befall our kin, right?"

Nasis asked to confirm that he wasn't dreaming. Hecaron groaned and linked his elbow to Nasis's.

"But, we're no different than slaves now. Since all of our military powers have been transferred, it might be that we'll simply be used as vanguards or meatshields."

Nordin, who was sitting beside them, shook his head.

"No, that shouldn't be the case. From our Demon Lord's personality, she wouldn't be so callous. Although it was outside my expectation that she would take all of our troops."

Nordin smiled as though he was very amused.

"You all! Consider yourselves lucky! Haha! Her Highness is just too soft-hearted! Why did she let you bastards live?"

Kulbo jeered, looking at them coldly. Ellin slapped him on the back of his head.

"Let's stop this. It is something Her Highness decided. Don't speak more on this subject…!"

"Mooooo-!"

Allin roared as he easily grabbed his horns in his large and muscular hands. His veins became more pronounced as he let out a sharp breath through his nose excitedly.

"Kuwaaa!"

With that final roar, he snapped off his horn. With a loud 'crunch!', the hard horn turned to dust. The other Apostles flinched in surprise. The horns were a source of pride for the Minotaurs, representing their warrior spirit. Broken horns marked them as criminals and designated them as someone to be hated by the species.

It was common to see Minotaurs who would rather lose their lives if it meant their horns would remain unbroken. However, Allen had done so himself. He looked around with bloodshot eyes.

"Karakul!!"

The palace wall cracked as Karakul became embedded into it. Allen was holding his neck in an excited state.

"Wa…! What are you…!"

As Ellin tried to speak, Tom held her shoulder and shook his head.

"…You're excited, Allen. Cool your head."

Karakul spoke with emotion, even as blood spilled out of his mouth.

"This horn is the price of my crime for having been involved in the insurrection! I myself can do nothing more than break it! Now you, bastard, pay the price for having killed my kin and so many others!"

"Price…?"

"Karakul, I am neither wise nor meticulous in thought! However, I know this! This is something even the most dimwitted of the demons know! The kingdom will soon be shattered once news of what you've done spreads…! They won't forgive us… No! They won't forgive you! And that resentment will end up pointed toward the Demon Lord…!"

Karakul was surprised by Allen's words. He wasn't entirely wrong. Karakul would be hated by the masses, and the responsibility of the actions that he hadn't atoned for would be turned to Lily instead.

"…All the blame lies with me!"

"That is your opinion! Others will think differently!"

The pair stared at each other overflowing with hostility, until Karakul frowned.

"Responsibility? Fine… I'll take responsibility."

Suddenly, blood poured out from Karakul's right eye.

With a grotesque squishing sound, his eye was pulled out. Blood dripped onto the floor like a fountain. Karakul, who was holding his eye, yanked it from its socket in one swift motion. Allen looked dumbly at the eyeball in his hand, and Karakul, closing his now-empty eye socket, passed it to Allen.

"…Orcs without working eyes to fight with are nothing more than slabs of meat. However, I can't give you the other eye. It is something that belongs to the master I serve."

Allen looked at him wordlessly, shocked

"This useless eye. Use this as an offering before the graves of your kin and the other demons. Will that be enough?"

Allen gritted his teeth but released Karakul from his grip. He then glared at him fearfully.

"You're not joking! You damned green bag of muscles…! You dared pull out your eye!"

"Aren't you crazy as well? A minotaur without his horn is nothing more than common cattle. Isn't that right, cow-face?"

Allen took the eyeball in Karakul's hand and walked away with a huff. Even so, he turned back and dropped his final words.

"…Everything that happened, I'll let everyone know of it all. The graceful Demon Lord has chosen mercy, and the damned Orc bastard pulled out his own eye to use as an offering. Hah! True savages, you green Orcs!"

"Hah, who are you calling savages, you hornless dairy cow."

Karakul laughed as Allen left. Ellin's face grew pale as she clumsily rushed over to him.

"C-commander Karakul! Healing! Heal…!"

Karakul pulled out a bottle of Holy Water from his possessions and poured it into the empty socket. The injury mended in an instant, but the removed eye did not regenerate. His only eye turned to Tom, who was simply looking back at him with a smile.

— Ω —