"Ah...…"
At that moment, on a high ridge, a beautiful red-haired girl in a leather outfit, her hair tied in a single ponytail, stood there with a troubled expression, anxiously gazing toward the distant battlefield.
This girl was none other than the demon lord Satra.
Truthfully, Satra's feelings right now were extremely complicated.
Back then, she had been invited by the demon lord Nos to participate in operations against Lisas. Yet during her very first mission, she had been sent flying by a single punch from Duanmu Huai, nearly beaten half-paralyzed. After that, she had fled desperately back to the Demon Realm.
At the time, Satra had become the laughingstock of the entire Demon Realm. Many demons even questioned whether she was truly a demon lord at all. A demon lord beaten so badly by a human that she fled home in disgrace—what a humiliation.
She had indeed been furious, secretly swearing that once she recovered, she would seek revenge on Duanmu Huai.
But after that, Duanmu Huai killed Nos, Aizeru, and the former Demon King Jill in Lisas. Then during the invasion of Sest, he eliminated one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Realm—Camilla—as well as Demon Lord Gike, and even subjugated Demon Lord Sezer.
The demon race's attitude toward Satra changed accordingly.
From: "This idiot woman can't even beat a human and had to run away in disgrace."
To: "Holy shit, this woman actually survived against that monster?!"
And Satra's own thoughts shifted from:
"One day I'll kill that human for revenge."
To:
"I actually survived against that lunatic… how lucky was that?!"
If possible, Satra would have preferred never to have anything to do with that man ever again.
But unfortunately, fate had other plans.
Just before the humans invaded the Demon Realm, it had undergone a massive upheaval. Kayblis personally led the demon lords, defeated Hornet, and imprisoned her in the Demon King's castle. Satra had been extremely nervous then, afraid Kayblis would kill Hornet.
Fortunately, Kayblis had only just defeated Hornet and hadn't yet consolidated her forces when the humans unexpectedly invaded the Demon Realm, shattered the defending army, and advanced straight toward the center.
This forced Kayblis to shift his focus to the human coalition, temporarily postponing dealing with Hornet's faction.
For Satra, this was her only opportunity!
Thus, even though she truly did not want to meet that terrifying man again, she had no choice but to approach the coalition's camp and seek an audience.
Luckily, she encountered Sezer and asked her to relay the message to Duanmu Huai.
As for what would happen…
She could only wait.
Fortunately, she didn't wait long. Sezer soon flew back.
"Master is willing to see you. Come with me."
"Ah… mm."
Satra nodded and followed behind Sezer toward the coalition camp.
"Hey… you're really that obedient to that human?"
Looking at Sezer walking ahead, Satra couldn't help asking. She knew Sezer well enough—she wasn't someone who submitted easily.
Even if Duanmu Huai was powerful… could he really make her this compliant?
"…Do you think I'm afraid of death?"
"Huh?"
"To be honest, if you had seen how Lord Camilla was killed by that man, you would understand how unwise it is to oppose him…"
As she spoke, Sezer glanced at Satra.
"Speaking of which, the fact that you managed to escape from him unharmed… it seems I truly underestimated you before."
"…Huh?!!"
Why did that sound worse the more she thought about it?!
Is it too late for me to run now?
Although Satra wanted to back out, it was too late. Sezer had already brought her before Duanmu Huai.
"Master, Satra has arrived."
"Mm…"
Duanmu Huai nodded and looked at Satra.
"I didn't expect you to come looking for me. What is it?"
"Eeeeeeeek——!!!"
Just one glance from him made Satra's hair stand on end. The overwhelming pressure contained within that gaze triggered an instinctive terror far beyond even Kayblis's.
So this is his true strength?
How did I survive back then?
"Speak."
His voice snapped her out of her daze. She hurriedly lowered her head.
"I—I want to propose a deal!"
"A deal?"
Duanmu Huai raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. We can help you defeat Kayblis. But in exchange… you must help me rescue Lady Hornet!"
"Huh?"
Before Duanmu Huai responded, Sezer reacted first.
"Wait—Hornet lost? What about Houzel? Is she alright?!"
"Houzel is fine… at least for now."
"Thank goodness…"
Sezer sighed in relief.
Duanmu Huai recalled what Sezer had once told him—there were two major factions in the Demon Realm: Hornet's faction, led by the daughter of the former Demon King Geis, and Kayblis's faction.
Normally, such internal strife wouldn't arise. But since the little Demon King refused to ascend the throne, chaos erupted. Hornet's faction wanted the princess to inherit the crown. Kayblis wanted to kill her and seize the bloodline himself.
Now Hornet had lost.
Interesting.
But—
"I think you misunderstand. We did not come here merely to defeat Kayblis."
"Huh?"
Satra froze.
"The human coalition came here to eradicate the Demon Realm completely. We will make it disappear from this continent. We will not allow another Demon Realm to threaten humanity ever again."
"What did you say?!"
Satra stared in disbelief.
"You can't possibly—"
"Whether we can is our concern. As for Hornet's fate—it is not."
"To me, Hornet or Kayblis—any demon who can threaten humanity—has only one outcome: death."
"You… you think humans can defeat demon lords?"
"Of course."
Duanmu Huai narrowed his eyes.
Suddenly, Satra felt cold steel at her throat.
A dagger pressed against her skin.
From behind came Suzume's voice.
"Hehe, Suzume advises you not to move. Otherwise… you might die."
The blade nicked her skin. Blood flowed.
"How is this possible?!"
Satra stared in shock.
"You probably don't know," Duanmu Huai said coldly, "but demon lords no longer possess invincible barriers. To humans, you are simply slightly more troublesome enemies. And anyone willing to pay the price… can kill a demon lord."
"Impossible…!"
Her face went pale.
The invincible barrier was gone?
"P-Please wait, Master!"
Sezer hurried forward.
"Please spare Satra. She has been with Lady Hornet since childhood and has never opposed humanity. And about Hornet… well…"
"You want me to spare Hornet?"
Sezer nodded silently.
"Why?"
"Lady Hornet oversees all female monsters, so…"
"I see."
Yes—if it were merely a demon lord, it wouldn't matter. But female monsters…
"I can agree. But I have one condition."
He looked at Satra.
"What condition?"
"Simple. You and Hornet must both become my familiars."
"Huh?"
Satra froze.
"What nonsense is that? How could demon lords become human familiars?!"
"Of course you can. There's one standing right in front of you."
He gestured toward Sezer.
"You became his familiar?!"
"…Did I have a choice…"
"I…"
Duanmu Huai's voice turned cold.
"I'll be blunt. The human coalition is here to exterminate the demon race and unify the continent. After that, humanity will rule. You demon lords have two paths."
"Accept a contract. Become my familiars. Obey. Live as demi-humans in this world."
"Or…"
"Die."
Satra's face turned deathly pale.
Duanmu Huai's eyes gleamed with cruel finality.
"Choose, demon lord."
"Life?"
"Or death?"
(End of Chapter)