[City of Paradise—Capital of the Great Empire] Home to over three million citizens of the empire, true to its name, the City of Paradise was considered to be the most prosperous city in the entire continent. This city, almost seven times the size of the capital of the Kingdom of Lukas, was protected by two massive walls. The outer walls spanned thirty meters in height, while the inner walls, which protected the Central District, boasted a height of forty meters. Numerous powerful defensive artifacts, along with thousands of mages and a hundred thousand-strong elite army, protected the city.
It was a city with several centuries of history.
An impregnable fortress.
A city that had never fallen into the hands of an enemy.
The city where the Emperor, Sylvius Lockhart Mavis—the so-called Devourer of Lands—resided.
Inside the throne room of the royal palace, the emperor was conducting an audience with several high-ranking officers and nobles of the empire.
"Lazarus," said Emperor Sylvius. "How many months has it been? You still haven't taken care of those pests who dare encroach our borders?"
Although there was no hint of anger within the emperor's voice, most of the officers who heard it couldn't help but tremble in terror. Each of the emperor's words held indescribable pressure. It suffocated them, as though a weight was pressing down on their throat.
Although the empire had managed to defend all of its cities against the parasitic demons, they were unable to completely annihilate them until now.
After the Lord of Parasitic Demons returned to the Demon Realm, the parasitic demons attacking the empire scattered and hid themselves. Every now and then, the government officials and military officers would receive news that a town or a village had been attacked by these demons.
Specifically, the demons' ability to parasitize their opponents proved quite a headache.
"I apologize, Your Majesty," said General Lazarus, the highest-ranking officer in the south. Together with the late General Alvaren and Rizel, he was among the pillars who'd been protecting the Great Empire. "We've been sending out several groups to hunt down the creatures, but killing all of them proves to be a difficult task. Not only are they capable of digging underground, they are also capable of moving through steep terrain."
The emperor stared at the kneeling General Lazarus for several seconds. He did not doubt the abilities of this man in the slightest. His gaze moved to the old woman kneeling next to the general.
"Master of the Research Tower," said Emperor Sylvius. "Has your research bore any fruit?"
The Master of the Research Tower lowered her head. "Yes, Your Majesty. After conducting tests on several bodies, we came to the conclusion that the creatures that attacked our cities aren't monsters, but demons."
Demons?
The other officials looked at the Master of the Research Tower as though she'd gone mad.
Most of them believed that demons were simply myths. Existences told in folklores and fairytales to scare children. After all, according to records, the last sighting of demons was several hundred years ago. And there wasn't even a way of verifying if those records were true and accurate.
"Demons," repeated Emperor Sylvius. "Creatures of legend. You're telling me that tens of thousands of demons suddenly appeared, entered our borders, and attacked our cities. Is that correct?"
"I believe so, Your Majesty," said the Master of the Research Tower. "If our deductions are correct, they are demons belonging to the parasitic species. They are weak, but tricky opponents. Demons capable of planting their seed into their prey, granting them control over the bodies of their opponents. I've consulted with the Master Librarian, and according to him, the records left behind by the Grand Historian, Gustav Chavalion, corroborate these findings."
Emperor Sylvius stroked his beard. He knew there were merits to listening to the Master of the Research Tower.
"Your Majesty," said General Lazarus.
"Speak," said the emperor.
"I recently received a message from Admiral Colodus of the Andora Port," said General Lazarus. "After much investigation, his men found that the creatures that attacked our cities came from the seas. Particularly, from the direction of the Mullgray Islands."
Under normal circumstances, had they not been in the presence of the emperor, the officials who'd heard those words would have cried in outrage by now, believing that those demons were funneled to their territories by the despicable pirate scum.
Now that they'd thought of it, those damn pirates would benefit the most if the demons continued attacking the cities under the empire.
Or so they thought.
Contrary to their expectations, the next words of General Lazarus proved otherwise.
"Our navy managed to capture several survivors of the Grand Pierson Pirate Fleet," said General Lazarus. "According to them, the Pirate King already perished in battle, along with the Mad Eye. Several witnesses testified that most of the islanders were massacred by the demons, Your Majesty."
Heavy silence fell in the room.
It was big news.
They'd never expected that the King of Pirates, a human who could kill an adult ragiacrus with his bare hands, would perish in this manner.
Moreover, based on the general's story, it seemed that the majority of the pirates had been killed by the parasitic demons before they even started invading the empire's territories.
But if the pirates weren't the ones behind this mess, then who directed the parasitic demons to them? They refused to believe that there was no one controlling such a massive army of demons.
The empire had a lot of enemies. Currently, it was hard to pinpoint who among them was the mastermind behind this ploy.
"Master of the Alchemy Tower," said Emperor Sylvius. Unlike the other officials who'd become shaken upon hearing the fate of the pirates, Emperor Sylvius remained calm and collected. "How is the progress of the cure for monsterization?"
Although it was more commonly known as parasitization in the Kingdom of Lukas, the empire called the phenomenon monsterization.
Naturally, the task of creating a cure fell into the hands of the Alchemy Tower.
The Master of the Alchemy Tower, a hunched old man wearing thick glasses, slowly shook his head.
"We've tried all sorts of medicine available in the Alchemy Tower, Your Majesty," said the hunched old man. "But to no avail. The Scarlet Poison Pill proved to be capable of halting the progression of monsterization, but it's incapable of curing the body completely. I'm afraid that it'll take us quite some time before we can concoct a cure, Your Majesty."
The Alchemy Tower's master paused, looked up, and respectfully gazed at the emperor. He said in a raspy voice, "But I've heard news… no, rumors… that a cure is already available in the Kingdom of Lukas."
The emperor's eyes glimmered in dangerous light upon the mention of that kingdom. He still hadn't forgiven the damn Lukasians for the death of the Magic Slayer and the Ghost of the Empire.
"According to one of the spies we've planted in the Leonard School, Viscount Zacharia successfully cured the monsterization of his son after obtaining a potion from Behemoth City," said the Alchemy Tower's master.
"Not only that. We also received a report from our spy in Tranta City that a similar thing occurred in their territory. Although it's currently impossible to verify the potency of the medicine created by the Lukasians, if we could somehow get our hands on it…" "Ha! Preposterous!" one of the counts in the room snorted. Despite knowing that he was under the presence of the emperor, he could no longer contain himself. "Alchemy Master, do you truly believe that those buffoons are capable of creating a cure for the monsterization? Those primitive fools who dare to stand up against our great nation?!"
The other nobles nodded in approval. They, too, believed it impossible that such a weak nation had managed to create a cure before the Great Empire.
Another noble added, "They're nothing but a nation composed of illiterate slaves who dared to reject the salvation offered to them by our beloved emperor! A sheep remains a sheep even if you clothe it in gold!
There must be a mistake in the spy's report!"
The nobles who jeered at the Kingdom of Lukas were those who'd lost their fortunes in the previous war. The count, in particular, was the lord of the city ravaged by the mana bombs of the Lukasians. It was no wonder that they hated the Kingdom of Lukas with every fiber of their being. Although several reports indicated that the Kingdom of Lukas had indeed managed to create a cure for the monsterization, they refused to believe it.
While the nobles were busy throwing insults to the Lukasians, a messenger entered the throne room and delivered a sealed letter to General Lazarus.
The moment he read the contents, the expression of the general, who'd remained calm until now, contorted.
"Your Majesty…" said General Lazarus, his voice grim. "We've just received a report from our Intelligence Division."
"What is it?" said Emperor Sylvius.
"Dwarves…" said General Lazarus. He gripped the letter in his hand, crumpling it. "The dwarven kingdom has opened their borders and declared their alliance to the Kingdom of Lukas."
The throne room fell silent.
The eyes of everyone in the room widened as they tried digesting the words the general had just uttered.
Although those gathered here today were part of the Great Empire, they all knew that the only reason the Great Empire could assert its dominance over its neighboring nations was due to the non-interference policy of the dwarven kingdom.
Even without the dragon protecting its borders, the military might of the dwarven kingdom surpassed that of the Great Empire. This was especially true now that the Magic Slayer and the Ghost of the Empire had just perished in battle.
The dwarven kingdom declaring their alliance to the Kingdom of Lukas meant only one thing: It would be nothing but foolishness on their part if they remained the enemy of the Lukasians.
But why had the dwarves, known to hate humans and beastmen alike, suddenly opened their borders and declared such alliance?
They heard that the dragon protecting the kingdom enacted the laws in that nation. Therefore, it should be impossible to declare an alliance with a human nation unless it had been approved by the dragon himself.
It did not make sense, no matter how much they thought of it.
"T-There must be a mistake," one of the nobles in the throne room mumbled.
It was the very same thought running through everyone's minds. Even to Emperor Sylvius Lockhart Mavis, the so-called Devourer of Lands, this news came as a shock.
*** A few days passed since the Great Empire received news of the dwarves' declaration of alliance.
It was more than enough time for Emperor Sylvius to gather himself and come up with a decision regarding the matter. Although he still had grudges and grievances with the Kingdom of Lukas, he knew that it would be nothing but foolishness if he continued with his declaration of war now.
Even the Great Empire wouldn't be left unscathed if the dwarves decided to participate in the war. Moreover, if the dragon himself made an appearance, it would be easy to ravage the capital of the empire to the ground.
He summoned his second youngest daughter and a Royal Court Magician to the sitting room.
"You called for me, Father?" said Luna Lockhart Mavis.
"I've come upon your orders, Your Majesty," said Jacob Fraser, one of the twenty Royal Court Magicians of the empire.
Luna was in her mid-twenties. Jet-black hair, black eyes, and ivory skin that seemed so fragile that it would break upon a moment's touch. She looked exactly like her deceased mother—the so-called Flower of the Empire—when she was young.
Jacob Fraser, on the other hand, was the only surviving member of a fallen noble house. At the young age of twenty-seven, he was currently the youngest Royal Court Magician of the empire.
"I have a task for the two of you," said Emperor Sylvius. His gaze moved from his daughter, to the Royal Court Magician, then back.
Luna and Jacob silently listened as the emperor continued, "The two of you will serve as envoys to the Kingdom of Lukas. Form a friendly relationship with their new king. And if possible, beguile him."
Luna understood what her father was trying to say. She'd also heard that the new king was previously known as a womanizer. A young man with questionable morals. She even wondered how such an incompetent man had managed to become the ruler of a kingdom.
"It shall be done, Father," said Luna.
Whenever the question of who was the most beautiful woman in the empire came up, Luna's name was always mentioned among the top contenders. Luna was confident of ensnaring the King of Lukas.
"Fraser."
"Your Majesty," said the Royal Court Magician.
"Together with a hundred elite soldiers and several magicians, escort my daughter," said Emperor Sylvius. "At the same time, I want you to secure several vials of the medicine created by the Lukasians for the monsterization. Obtain the potions, no matter the cost."
"As you wish, Your Majesty."
Now that the dwarven kingdom had openly declared their alliance with the Kingdom of Lukas, Emperor Sylvius no longer had any intention of further antagonizing the kingdom. He deemed that the best course of action was to focus their military might on the Kingdom of Everfrost instead.
"Entice and seduce their king with your beauty, my daughter," said Emperor Sylvius. "All men hold the same desires within their heart. Even that new king shouldn't be an exemption to this."
Luna licked her lips. Her well-fitted dress accentuated her voluptuous body. "No man is capable of resisting my charm. I shall make sure that he dances on the palm of my hand, like a cute little puppet. Please leave it to me, Father."