NOVEL NEXT Chapter 277
The Dragon Lord bound his hands in shackles and knelt, waiting for the Succubus Queen to deliver her verdict. The dragons found themselves ensnared by the demon race, including the Shadow Knights, and the territory of the Dragon Lord was occupied by the Demon King’s Army as if defeated in battle.
The Dragon Lord quietly asked,
“What happens now?”
“That’s not for me to decide, General. But don’t worry. You’ll soon find that admitting your guilt was the right choice.”
“I hope that’s the case.”
Time was running out in either direction. From the Demon King’s perspective, with the Imperial Army already advancing from the South, leaving elite troops of 200,000 here was a potential threat.
The Succubus Queen, having succeeded in subduing the Dragon Lord, hurriedly contacted her daughter to summon her to this place. It didn’t take long for Violet, who had been observing the situation, to respond to the call.
The Succubus Queen announced loudly,
“The Emperor has arrived!”
With Violet’s arrival, the emblematic black banner of the Demon King flew over the entire territory of the Dragon Lord. The dragons watched with disgruntled expressions as the banner of the Magic Emperor waved, but they couldn’t rebel against their master’s orders. The Demon King confidently approached the Dragon Lord and commanded his subordinates to position a black throne from which he could look down upon the king of dragons.
Violet seated herself in the chair, striking a haughty pose as if to show her victory.
“What do you even call this? Even when I was harshly scolded 100 years ago, I wasn’t treated this pitifully.”
“The humiliation of being defeated without a fight is undoubtedly greater than the humiliation of battling and losing.”
“Is that so? It could be. But tell me, General. Why… did you betray me? Huh? Why? I didn’t ask for much. I simply asked for submission, even if just in appearance. How little must I seem to you that you would defy even that and cooperate with the enemy?”
“What good does it do to ask for a reason?”
The Dragon Lord growled in a low voice.
“Do what you need to do, Your Majesty. I disdain weaving excuses under the pretense of ‘reason.'”
“Hmm.”
Violet frowned slightly, crossed her legs, and leaned back. After contemplating the sky for a moment, she smirked and asked,
“You know I’m not going to kill you, right?”
“It’s an act to survive, and an acknowledgment to keep living. If I were to die, why would I even be tied up like this?”
In an instant, the Dragon Lord summoned strength to break the chains binding him. The Demon King’s soldiers gasped and rushed to apprehend him again, but the Magic Emperor raised a hand and shot black lightning at the Dragon Lord.
Hit by Violet’s lightning, the Dragon Lord tumbled backward. Violet nodded.
“Well, I don’t intend to play games either. The situation is urgent, and the danger still lingers. You understand my intent.”
“Are you referring to the rebel forces in the West?”
“That’s nothing at all. They’re just a bunch of pathetic flunkies who gravitate towards whatever seems strongest. Just like you, General. If I show enough power, those bugs won’t be a problem. Just like how you’re starting to wiggle on your own now that I’m showing my might.”
“That’s a self-evident statement.”
The Dragon Lord trembled while kneeling and responded. The Demon King spoke,
“The threat I worry about is that the Great Sage is still lurking in the middle of the ocean, watching over the Empire’s affairs as though he’s got it laid out on the palm of his hand. He is a half-demon, half-human, the only strategist who can incite internal strife among our enemies.”
“The plan has failed. He won’t rise again.”
“Who can be sure? The opponent is cunning, powerful, and extremely thorough. I just barely managed to defeat his schemes by a stroke of luck this time; what if luck doesn’t come around again? Ah, General, perhaps you’d enjoy that? You’ve got ties to Harker’s family, so even if she tries to kill me, would you be spared?”
“Your Majesty!”
“Well, enough. By now, you must understand what I intend to say.”
The Dragon Lord did not respond, fully realizing the nature of the task being thrust upon him. It was a very dangerous, difficult, and grueling mission. But the Dragon Lord had no right to refuse.
“Gold Dragon.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Go fetch the witch’s head.”
“Many dragons will die.”
“Are you in a position to quibble over such matters right now?”
“Even if I rise up against you here, many dragons will die! At least when I received the order, it should be more beneficial than attacking you!”
The elderly man shouted, losing his temper with the Demon King. Violet nodded as if conceding to his argument.
“When I strike Eramenia and fulfill what you desire, you promised I could remain away from the war for a while if I had no major issues.”
“This is a big deal. If you hadn’t stupidly partnered with the enemy, I wouldn’t have to assign such a task to you.”
“Your words are correct. But the weight of the task you assign is so heavy that I have no choice but to demand a firmer promise.”
“Speak.”
“If I succeed in killing Jenis Harker, please grant me permission to forever withdraw from this war on my own accord.”
“Only on the condition that you execute the mission perfectly and maintain neutrality.”
The Demon King replied instantly, looking as though she had already anticipated what the Dragon Lord would request. In contrast, the Dragon Lord appeared surprised, a trace of color returning to his face as he bowed his head.
“Are you truly granting me permission?”
“I won’t say it twice. At least not on such a grave matter. I permit it. You dragons have always been uncooperative, and the danger of keeping Jenis Harker alive outweighs the benefits of having you. So go to the Magic Tower and eliminate her before she makes any further moves. If you succeed, I will no longer mobilize wyverns and dragons in this war. I won’t interfere if you negotiate peace with the Imperials. As long as you don’t turn your blades against us!”
“That will absolutely never happen!”
“Good. That works. I’ll give you exactly three hours to prepare until the attack begins. Prepare the dragons you will take with you, and take to the skies toward the Magic Tower before the three hours are up. The enemies are already gathering, and I don’t have the patience to wait long.”
“Then please release the dragons I point out.”
“Let them free on their own. No need to whine over mere chains.”
The Demon King chuckled as she walked down from her throne. The Dragon Lord immediately began selecting and preparing the members of his dragon squad. The Succubus Queen carefully approached her daughter and whispered.
“Is this… the right decision? We might have been able to keep the Dragon Lord on our side for a long time and use him as a pretext…”
“We won’t be working with a coward who might switch sides, Mother. We’ve tolerated them long enough. It’s better to ensure our safety and expel him from the fight now.”
The Demon King’s assessment was that when she assured him of not mobilizing him for war, he wouldn’t feel the need to join the alliance either.
“However, that’s a minor issue. The shocking thing is that the brat who almost deceived me and cost me my army was actually tightening the noose around me long ago. Without you, Mother, I might have been waiting for inevitable doom by now, preparing for a last stand. All because of that brat.”
“She’s not just some brat. She has a vibe similar to a deceased hero.”
“That’s exactly my point. Walter Hellhound was not crushed by a simple failure. But this guy, he transcends just bouncing back from setbacks. The more he fails, the more he gathers resentment and vengeance, coming back even more fiercely like a mad fighting dog. In some ways, he’s more dangerous than Hellhound.”
“The Great Sage of the Magic Tower…”
“Perhaps the Grand Lord of the Magic Tower is a more fitting title.”
Violet shuddered.
“This is about the fate of the nation. Before the sun sets tomorrow, the Grand Lord, Jenis Harker, must be beheaded.”
The Succubus Queen nodded in agreement. The blade’s direction was shifting. The blade that was aimed at the Northern Demon King was now directed towards the South.