The gates didn't open!
Of course they didn't...
While it didn't deter Sera in the slightest, it annoyed her that the Demon Lord was taking his sweet time opening them. They were massive! Black iron fused with jagged bone, pulsing faintly with something alive. Something that was watching…
She didn't have much experience with magic and had no idea what it could do. The most she'd ever interacted with it was once when her father had taken her out for a car ride and had explained to her that "magic crystals" powered the engine.
Only the very rich and extremely powerful could afford such luxuries – like King Reinhart. He used a car to drive Elena around on one of their dates, she remembered. The first time around, she'd been sick with jealousy. The second and third time around, it hadn't bothered her. In fact, she'd been busy doing other things, building the happy life that she wanted for herself and her friends.
Now that quest had brought her here!
She figured that if the war didn't break out, then she wouldn't die and could finally break the loop – as well as live the happy life she'd always dreamed of.
Now you might ask:
Why am I so sure that the Demon Lord is the reason the war breaks out?
Well, I have a couple of reasons…
Firstly, I knew that Leo did everything in his power to prevent this war. In my previous lives, I'd watched the lines of exhaustion on his face as he fought tooth and nail to rebuild after demon outbreaks. Or how he would sigh like his soul was screaming for air, trying to recover the stolen crystals.
So, I knew he was doing everything in his power to get things back on track.
Secondly, I knew that the previous Demon Lord had been completely uninterested in the crystal supplies and had only been obsessed with creating powerful offspring. He'd gathered brides and alliances like Pokémon cards!
Obviously, when he passed, the country had descended into chaos as all of his children laid claim to the throne. Things only stabilized when the current Demon Lord – Lord Kael'tharion Virex – had taken over the throne and physically beaten his subordinates into submission. And after that---
Well--- he hadn't done jack!
In every outbreak and every convoy that had been attacked, he'd never been there, despite being bound by law to protect the convoys!
Every time.
He didn't show up…
And finally, when the war broke out, he was leading the berserker demons!
Seraphina was glaring at the gate as if her will-power alone could make it crumble before her. The demons moved around her, her horse moving nervously as the dangers surrounded her.
But she remained unmoving.
Unafraid!
(Well--- mostly unafraid, anyway…)
She knew how to defend herself. She didn't have the trained body she had back in her third life, but she remembered every grueling training session. The sword had been too heavy in her hand, but the daggers sang through the air as they easily found whatever target she wanted them to. She'd changed into something more comfortable for the long journey, and that could hide her weapons
So she was protected…
But alone facing a horde of demons?
Yeah--- about that!
"What will it be?" She called out, impatient. "Are you going to let me in? Or will you let me freeze out here?"
Silence answered...
Heavy and oppressive, it settled in my chest like a boulder, crushing my lungs.
"You don't belong here!"
The whisper came from the forest.
Sera cast a glance over her shoulder, noticing a goblin-like demon with black eyes and green skin that had snarled the words.
She clicked her tongue – amused.
"Wow. So this is how you treat a lady?" She grinned. "Rude!"
That seemed to surprise them…
Maybe they were used to humans trembling and covering before them. But after her excursions in her third life, she'd been face-to-face with far more terrifying creatures than demons.
Her beast-folk trainer being one of them…
Suddenly, the valley cracked with a boom as the gates creaked open.
Slow.
Deliberate...
Like something ancient had just turned its head...
And just like that---
Darkness yawned open before her!
At first, she wasn't sure what to do. In Landermany, when you called on someone, you waited until a servant showed you to the master or lady.
What did you do when facing a Demon Lord?
Sera forced back her nerves and dismounted the horse, ready to storm the castle like a one-woman army. But before she took one step, a shadowy figure stepped out of the darkness. He (she?!) was an avigat: a demon that looked like someone put a big cat into a dragon's skin. And---
Oh!
They had an affinity for fire magic!
They were a rare breed, but extremely powerful. Some even claimed that if they ever went berserk, they had the power to destroy a thousand cities…
And this one was playing Butler for the Demon Lord?
Once more, Sera wondered if she was making the right choice. If she was doing the right thing or if her plan to escape the loop and finally live a happy life was too reckless – even for her!
But it was too late to turn back now.
The demon turned, gesturing for her to follow.
And with her head held high, she followed the demon inside…
*
Serphina was taken to a room that could only be the Throne Room. It was much bigger and brighter than she expected.
Of course it was!
Everything about this place screamed excess.
Towering pillars carved from obsidian rock, with dragons curling around them. Walls lined with flickering blue flames that gave off no warmth. Huge glass-stained windows that told stories of old, yet let in more light and warmth than I ever imagined possible.
It was stunning!
And it almost managed to distract from the shadows that moved---
Even when nothing else did!
Without meaning to, her eyes followed the flickering shadows, her eyes being led to the very end of the room. And there---
The throne!
Massive.
Ancient...
Carved from black stone that looked like it had been dragged straight out of the abyss itself.
"…She's going to die!"
Sera's head snapped around, her trained ear easily finding the demon who had spoken. He looked surprisingly human, if it wasn't for the huge, bird-like wings that he folded over his chest. He tilted his head slightly, his black eyes studying her like an insect...
"Oh, absolutely."
Another agreed, before she could reply.
"Can I have her left arm?"
A lizard-like tongue hissed.
"No, I called it—"
Yeah---
Now she was genuinely afraid!
She tried not to let it show, but her pulse was racing.
Her heartbeat thrummed in her ear.
She could defend herself.
But---!
"Enough!"
The word dropped like a blade.
Everything stilled.
The demons straightened instantly, their mocking tones vanishing as if they'd never existed.
Even Sera felt it!
The way the air shifted.
A pressure that seemed to fill the room until her ears popped.
She turned---
---and there, on the throne that had sat empty just a second ago---
Him!
The Demon Lord Kael'tharion Virex...
Sera tried not to stare…
It was rude!
It wasn't what a lady did.
She was taught better!
But her body did it for her...
Automatically.
Instinctively!
Like it knew.
…Danger!
The Demon Lord looked down at the assembly much in the same way a master looked down on dirt on his shoe.
He didn't move.
Didn't speak.
He didn't even acknowledge her!
He just sat there—leaning slightly against one arm, fingers brushing lazily against his temple.
Still---
He was one of the handsomest men she'd ever seen!
White hair like silver that framed a face that even Adonis would envy. Two black horns rose from his forehead, making him appear even taller than he already was. Dark clothing clung to his muscular frame; tight enough to hint at his strength but loose enough not to show it off. Black and red wings were folded over elegant shoulders like a royal cloak. His long, elegant fingers were adorned with so many rings that it was almost blinding. And from his ears to his massive horns hung long strings of colored diamonds that caught the moonlight as he moved his head.
Too many to be decorative...
Sera's eyes narrowed slightly as something important crept into her mind. But before the thought could fully form---
"You're all too noisy!"
He let out a suffering sigh, closing his eyes. When he opened them again, his gaze shifted---
And landed on her!
Involuntarily, she sucked in a breath.
Gold!
She'd never seen anyone with striking gold eyes like that...
Bright.
Not warm.
Not cold.
Just---
Watching...
Sharp with something she couldn't name!
And then his lips curved ever so slightly.
Like she was something mildly interesting that had wandered into his line of sight...
"This?" He said, his voice low and smooth, laced with something faintly amused. "This is what all that noise was about?"
Sera blinked--- and then scowled!
Who the heck did this guy think he was?
(Erm… The Demon Lord!!!)
"If you'd opened the door the first time I knocked," Sera snapped back, finding a strange sense of courage in her indignant anger. "This conversation would already be over!"
She folded her arms over her chest, glaring at him with a determination she felt all the way to her bones.
Her plan would work!
Failure was NOT an option...
Some demon gasped in shock.
Some growled in anger.
Lord Virex didn't move…
His gaze dragged over her, slow and assessing. She felt it more than observed it as his eyes trailed over her body. From her boots, to her face...
Pausing as he recognized the fire in her eyes...
She opened her mouth to speak, ready to offer him the deal of a lifetime.
But he beat her to it...
"You're smaller than I expected."
Sera blinked--- and then she was outraged!
Excuse me?!
Her eye twitched, as she forced her anger back...
"I beg your—"
"And weaker," he added lazily, completely ignoring her!
Oh, he did not just---
"And," he paused, tilting his head ever so slightly. "Not particularly remarkable to look at."
Somewhere in the room, a demon wheezed--- and then they were all laughing their asses off, as if he'd said something absolutely hilarious.
"...She's ugly!"
"...Naked monkeys the lot of them!"
Sera ignored the mocking. After three lives, she'd gotten used to it and knew how to brush them off.
Still---
It hurt!
Her heart felt crushed.
Was her dream of a simple, happy life really that laughable?
Was the loop her punishment?
To have what she wanted more than anything, being ripped from her over and over again?
No!
Sera shook her head free of such depressing thoughts.
She'd come too far to turn back now.
Besides---
She'd once been the most notorious villainess in all of history, committing unspeakable crimes with a straight face. She'd faced dangers and out-of-control demons, and her heart didn't falter once.
She would face this Demon Lord in the same way!
Sera lifted her head, looking straight into his eyes.
Then—
She smiled!
Sweet.
Dangerous...
"Are you the Demon Lord Virex?"
She asked, despite the obvious answer.
If he was going to mess with her---
Well...
Two could play this game!
All eyes turning to her.
He paused, arching an eyebrow,
Then—
"I was under the impression that was obvious."
His tone didn't change.
But she somehow knew she'd gotten under his skin.
Good!
"One can never assume, my lord," she replied sweetly--- and then stepped forward, ignoring the way every demon in the room tensed. Ignoring the way the air itself seemed to tighten.
"I'll keep this simple," she continued, only stopping when she was right in front of the Demon Lord. She lifted her chin and met his gaze head-on!
"I'm going to become your fiancée!"