The air inside the dilapidated meeting hall of Kraven's City Hall buzzed faintly with a tense, low-pitched sequence of whispers.
"Miss Valkira, exactly as you requested, I have gathered all of the most important and influential figures left in this village," the old chief, Dave, announced as he guided us inside.
I had been incredibly nervous walking through the doors, but as I looked around, the anxiety evaporated, replaced by a deep sense of dread. More than half of the wooden chairs at the long table were completely empty. Seeing the vacant seats made me feel far more concerned for the grim future of these villagers than for my own safety.
Before the formal proceedings could even begin, I awkwardly raised my hand like a student in a classroom.
"Uh, excuse me, Chief… but where exactly is everyone else?" I asked, looking around the barren room. "Are the other leaders just running late, or are they not coming at all?"
"No, human," Dave replied, his raspy voice entirely calm. "The individuals sitting before you are the only ones left in Kraven who possess any actual combat or military experience. Everyone else outside is just an ordinary, defenseless demon villager."
"I see… hahaha…" I let out a weak, hollow laugh, though a cold knot of worry tightened inside my chest.
There were exactly four local demons present at the table. To make matters worse, three of them looked like actual children—practically the same age and height as Verixa. I glanced sideways at Alira; the elf archer was wearing an equally grim expression, clearly thinking the exact same thing I was.
We're supposed to start a revolution with a retirement home reject and a middle-school daycare squad, I thought, sweating.
"If everyone is properly settled, let us officially begin this emergency council meeting," Valkira announced, her voice echoing with military authority. "But first, it would be highly beneficial for everyone at the table to introduce themselves."
Immediately, the most muscular demon of the group stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floorboards. He possessed spiky blond hair, piercing brown eyes, and was wearing absolutely nothing on his torso except for a strange, green, diamond-shaped pendant resting against his collarbone. Deep, jagged battle scars crisscrossed his chest.
"The name's Ken. Universally known as the absolute strongest demon in this entire sector," he said sharply, his eyes narrowing as he glared directly across the table at me. "That is all you weaklings need to know about me. But before we get to business… what the hell is a filthy, useless human doing sitting at our war table?"
Ken leaned forward, aggressively cracking his massive knuckles to emphasize the threat.
I flinched slightly, my survival instincts telling me to slide out of the room, but before the meathead could utter another word, a mocking voice cut in sharply from the side.
"Huh? That's funny. Didn't a 'filthy, useless human' completely kick your butt during the border skirmish last month?" a red-haired demon girl chuckled, leaning back in her chair. "Oh, terribly sorry—I completely forgot. Your skull is far too thick to store basic memories, isn't it, Ken?"
A brown-haired demon boy sitting next to her frantically waved his hands, trying to calm her down.
"Hey! You bratty little hitchhiker!" Ken roared, taking a violent step forward.
Instantly, a quiet, blue-haired demon boy standing directly between them raised a heavy iron trident, the sharp prongs pointing dead at Ken's throat.
"You really want to go right now, fish-boy?!" Ken growled, cracking his knuckles a second time as his magical aura began to flare.
"Hey! All of you, sit down and shut up this instant!" Dave interrupted, slamming his wooden staff heavily against the floorboards. "Do not dare embarrass me and the village in front of the royal bloodline!"
"Tch." Ken clicked his tongue in deep irritation, aggressively tossing himself back into his seat and crossing his massive arms.
"Now then, allow me to properly introduce myself. I am—" the red-haired girl began, throwing her chest out proudly, but the brown-haired boy quickly cut her off.
"She is Siriel, the quiet one over there is Liriel, and I am Tez. It is an absolute honor to meet you all," the boy said smoothly, offering a polite, disciplined bow.
"Hey! Brother, that is completely unfair!" Siriel protested, her face turning red as she puffed out her cheeks. "I was in the middle of giving a dramatic self-introduction!"
"You always steal the spotlight," Liriel added from the corner, letting out a synchronized pout.
"I know, I know, but this is absolutely not the time or place to be playing around," Tez whispered fiercely to the two of them, his demeanor instantly shifting into something incredibly serious as he turned back to the center of the table. "Chief Dave… why exactly have we been summoned to the hall today?"
"I will take the floor to answer that question," Valkira said, her firm tone instantly commanding the room's attention. "We have come here because we wish to completely restore the ancestral pride and freedom this village once possessed. And to achieve that monumental task, we desperately require your localized help."
Tez looked down at his folded hands, his expression darkening. "I understand the sentiment, ma'am… but look around this table. With only the few of us left standing here, it is a mathematical impossibility to wage a successful rebellion against the human occupiers."
"I am well aware of our lack of numbers, but—" Valkira started, only to be entirely cut off as Verixa suddenly slammed both of her tiny hands violently onto the wooden table.
"Do not fret about numbers for even a single second!" the little queen declared proudly, puffing out her flat chest with supreme, unearned confidence. "We happen to possess a secret, ultimate special weapon! With it, victory is absolutely guaranteed!"
"A special weapon?!" the villagers echoed in unison, their eyes widening in shock.
"Hey! Stop talking like that—you're going to cause a massive misunderstanding!" I frantically whispered to Verixa, tugging at her sleeve.
"Don't be such a party pooper, Zacken!" she grinned back, completely ignoring my panic.
"So, a secret weapon, huh? Alright, I'm bit intrigued," Siriel asked, leaning forward on her elbows. "What kind of legendary artifact or high-tier magic is it?"
"Behold!" Verixa cheered, dramatically extending her arm and pointing her index finger straight at my nose. "Zacken here is our ultimate special weapon! With his magnificent brain on our side, we can easily liberate the entire village from the human empire!"
The room fell into a dead, suffocating silence for exactly two seconds.
Then, the entire meeting hall completely burst into a deafening wave of hysterical laughter.
I immediately covered my face with both of my hands, letting out a miserable groan. I already knew this exact scenario was going to happen.
"What on earth is so funny?!" Verixa shouted, her tiny face flushing with anger as she stomped her foot.
"Hahaha… oh, man! Are you seriously telling us that a fragile, unarmored human is going to accomplish what an entire army of demon warriors couldn't?" Siriel laughed, wiping a tear from her eye. "That is the single most hilarious joke I have heard all year!"
"Hey! Siriel, control your laughter, it's rude!" Tez scolded his sister, though his own lips were twitching.
Liriel shrugged her shoulders slyly. "But Brother Tez, she is entirely right! How can a mere, fragile human possibly help a race of warriors?"
"I know, but still…" Tez fell silent, looking at me with a mixture of pity and skepticism.
"Hah. If you washed-up royals called us to this trash heap just to recite a pathetic comedy routine, I'm out of here," Ken snorted, standing up and turning toward the exit.
SLAM!
Alira suddenly slammed both of her hands violently onto the table, her emerald eyes flashing with raw, uncharacteristic anger.
"Please, do not dare mock Zacken!" the elf warrior barked, her voice echoing off the walls.
"Alira…?" I muttered, blinking in absolute surprise.
"I am well aware that he is a human," Alira said firmly, her gaze locking onto the unruly demons. "But he is the sole reason my elven village was saved from total annihilation. He accomplished what our strongest rangers could not."
Valkira let out a proud, knowing smile. "Indeed. He may be human—but you are making a grave mistake if you assume he is ordinary. He is an Earthling."
"An Earthling?!" Tez gasped, his polite demeanor instantly shattering. "You mean… like the legendary heroes summoned by the human holy empire's princess?"
"I see… that certainly explains his incredibly bizarre attire," Chief Dave murmured, rubbing his long white beard thoughtfully.
"If he is a summoned Earthling, then… maybe there is a tiny shred of a chance we can actually free Kraven," Liriel said, her cautious eyes suddenly shining with a glimmer of hope.
"I suppose it changes things slightly," Siriel nodded, crossing her arms.
Ken stopped at the doorway, turning around to lean against the frame. He glared at me with pure venom. "I don't care what realm he crawled out of. It doesn't change the fundamental fact that he is still just a filthy, fragile human."
"That is enough, Ken," Dave warned, his voice dropping into a harsh register. "Sit your ass down."
Ken clicked his tongue in defiance but ultimately slouched back into his seat, his eyes remaining laser-focused on me like a predator tracking prey.
The atmosphere inside the hall grew significantly heavier as Valkira's intense gaze slowly swept across everyone at the table.
"Before we move any further into the planning phase, there is a crucial truth that everyone in this room must fully comprehend," Valkira began, her tone carrying the calm, absolute authority of a high commander. "The sole reason Queen Verixa and I managed to successfully escape the demonic capital's high-security dungeon was because of Zacken's incredibly quick thinking and flawless tactics."
Several pairs of eyes snapped toward me in utter shock.
"My… tactics?" I whispered to myself, thoroughly puzzled. I literally just ran for my life and panicked the entire time!
Valkira smiled faintly, nodding at me. "He masterfully coordinated our diversions, mapped out our precise escape routes through the city, and bought us the critical time required to flee the guards. Without his unorthodox mind, neither of us would be drawing breath today."
Verixa grinned mischievously, leaning over to nudge my elbow. "He certainly doesn't look like a grand savior, though. He looks more like a helpless civilian who constantly needs a babysitter!"
"Hey! That is completely uncalled for!" I protested.
A light, genuine wave of laughter rippled through the council table, breaking the thick tension. But the amusement quickly faded to black as Valkira's expression turned utterly solemn once more.
"Listen to me well," Valkira commanded, her crimson eyes glimmering with absolute certainty. "Zacken is not a filthy human. He is our invaluable ally—and more importantly, he is the primary reason why this village still has a fighting chance at a future. From this momentous day onward, this gathering shall be known as the Supreme Village Council. And our very first objective is simple: free Kraven from human tyranny."
A wave of serious murmurs spread across the hall. Tez nodded his head with grim resolve, while Liriel's eyes shone with cautious, bright hope.
"If we are forming a proper war council, then we desperately require an official leader," Chief Dave said slowly. "Someone who can guide our strategy."
The room fell into a thoughtful silence—until Ken violently slammed his palm onto the wood. "I'll take the job! In a demon society, the strongest warrior should always lead the pack!"
Siriel snorted loudly. "You mean the warrior with the strongest ego?"
"Yeah," Liriel added slyly with a wicked grin. "And the warrior with the lowest intelligence and patience."
Ken bared his fangs at the two girls. "Say that again to my face, you little brats, and I'll—"
Before the argument could devolve into a full-blown fistfight, Dave raised his hand. "No. The only individual truly fit to lead this council… is Queen Verixa."
The hall fell dead silent. Every single pair of local eyes slowly turned toward the small, child-sized girl sitting at the head of the table. Verixa blinked, completely startled by the sudden attention.
"Wait a minute… Verixa is the actual Demon Queen?!" Siriel gasped, her jaw dropping.
"I… I honestly thought Valkira was the queen…" Tez muttered, looking completely confused.
Ken's mouth hung wide open, while Liriel froze completely mid-pout.
"Ehh?!" Verixa's small voice trembled violently as her entire world view was shattered. "What do you mean you all thought Valkira was the queen?! You… you all thought I was just Valkira's tiny, unimportant assistant this entire time, didn't you?!"
A soft, uncontrollable chuckle escaped my lips before I could physically stop it. Right beside me, Alira immediately placed a hand over her mouth, desperately stifling a giggle.
"I see you two find my royal identity crisis highly amusing," Verixa huffed, crossing her arms tightly and glaring at us with tears of embarrassment pricking her eyes.
"I-I am profoundly sorry, Your Royal Majesty," I said in a teasing, playful tone, bowing my head. Alira quickly turned away, pretending to let out a loud cough to hide her rampant laughter.
However, Alira's expression soon sobered up, her analytical elven mind taking over. "Humor aside, Chief Dave, Her Majesty is far too young to bear this kind of heavy, psychological burden. I do not believe it is wise for Lady Verixa to directly lead a high-stakes war council."
"Then who do you suggest we appoint?" Dave asked, narrowing his eyes.
Alira didn't hesitate. She shifted her gaze and pointed directly at me. "Zacken."
"Wait, what?! Me?!" I yelled, instantly jumping back in my seat. "No, no, no—absolutely not! I am perfectly, one hundred percent fine being the random guy who stands quietly in the corner and says a clever remark once every three chapters!"
I frantically gestured toward the old man. "The village Chief is literally sitting right there! He's perfect for this!"
"I am far too old and tired for this nonsense," Dave said sternly, shutting down my escape route. "And the rest of the youth here trust Valkira's military judgment."
"I officially second the motion," Valkira added, a faint, beautiful smile playing on her lips. "Zacken is the one who has guided our steps this far. His strategies are undeniably… unconventional, but they are incredibly effective."
"Unconventional? That's a funny word for completely reckless and terrifying," I muttered under my breath.
"Smart and unusual," Alira corrected gently, giving me a warm look. "You always view the world differently than we do, Zacken. In a desperate situation like this, we need that perspective."
Every single eye in the room was now locked onto me, weighing my worth. Even Verixa let out a decisive nod. "Fine! Since I am the Queen in name and royal authority, you can officially serve as my Council Leader."
I let out a massive, exhausted sigh of pure defeat. "Great… just great."
Ken snorted loudly, standing up and cracking his neck. "Hah! This is an absolute joke. A fragile human leading proud demon warriors into battle? I want to see this alleged 'brilliance' prove itself in blood."
Before I could even attempt to defuse the situation, Valkira stood up abruptly, her heavy armor clanking loudly.
"If you wish to challenge his authority," she said coolly, stepping directly into Ken's path with an icy glare, "then you will gladly face my blade instead."
The tension in the meeting hall immediately boiled over as the entire council moved outside to the dirt training grounds. A small crowd of curious onlookers quickly formed a wide circle as Ken stepped into the center, aggressively cracking his knuckles yet again.
"I won't be going easy on you just because you're a woman, General," he growled, his muscles bulging as a golden mana aura erupted around his body.
"You won't need to," Valkira replied smoothly, not even bothering to draw her greatsword. She simply stood in a relaxed, open-handed stance, a faint smile on her face.
The ensuing clash was incredibly brief.
Ken lunged forward with explosive, brute strength, the ground cracking beneath his boots as he unleashed a devastating, high-speed punch aimed directly at her face. But Valkira's defensive movements were entirely fluid—almost ghostlike.
With a single, effortless dodge, she pivoted cleanly around his blind spot. Before Ken could even realize he had missed, Valkira's open palm struck the center of his exposed chest.
BOOM!
A concussive shockwave of pure physical force erupted from the impact. Ken staggered backward, his breath instantly leaving his lungs in a loud gasp, before he flew through the air and landed flat on his back in the dirt.
An absolute, stunned silence swept across the training yard.
Valkira calmly stood over him, her voice carrying firmly across the grounds. "For now, Zacken stands as our undisputed leader—because if you lot ever hope to defeat the human empire, even the strongest demons must finally learn that raw strength alone is no longer enough to survive."
Ken groaned miserably, rubbing his heavily bruised ribs as he lay in the dirt, completely unable to find any words to counter her statement.
Verixa immediately jumped up and down, cheering loudly, "Hooray for Zacken! The Mastermind!"
"Please, I beg of you, do not start making that a thing," I groaned, burying my face in my hands as a vibrant wave of genuine, warm laughter finally erupted across the newly formed council grounds.