Outside the Border Meeting Pavilion.
First Prince Keith stood perfectly straight.
His back was as rigid as a taut sword, his right hand resting on the hilt of his waist-sword. While he appeared calm, every finger was poised to draw at a moment’s notice.
Around the pavilion, the kingdom’s knights stood in formation.
The clerk clutched the contract documents, a faint sheen of sweat appearing on his forehead.
The accompanying priest held a holy emblem, whispering prayers under his breath.
The air was thick with a tension that only preceded a major battle.
The young deputy standing behind Keith couldn't help but lower his voice, asking cautiously:
“Your Highness.”
“Is the Demon King truly that terrifying?”
“That you would personally stand here to greet her?”
Keith did not look back.
His gaze remained fixed on the unlit teleportation array in the center of the pavilion.
The deputy wanted to ask more, but was coldly interrupted by a warrior clad in heavy armor nearby.
“You haven't participated in negotiations with the demons, so you wouldn't know.”
The deputy looked toward him.
The warrior had an old scar running from his brow to his jaw, evidence of countless battles.
His voice was low and heavy.
“The Four Heavenly Kings under the Demon King... just by sitting there, they can make ordinary soldiers unable to stand.”
“Even a Level 70 warrior would feel like a boulder was pressing against their chest under the pressure of their magic.”
“Just trying to remain standing in their presence requires everything you’ve got.”
The deputy’s face turned slightly pale.
“J-just by sitting there?”
“Just by sitting there.”
The warrior watched the teleportation array, his expression solemn.
“And for generations, the Demon King must possess power far surpassing that of the Four Heavenly Kings to hold that seat.”
“Otherwise, the demons wouldn't acknowledge them at all.”
“Therefore, the First Prince must greet her personally.”
The deputy’s throat bobbed as he swallowed.
“To show etiquette?”
The warrior shook his head.
“To withstand the pressure of the Demon King’s arrival.”
“If no one stands at the front, or if all the humans present are knocked unconscious by a mere wave of pressure, then the humans' momentum will completely collapse from the very start of the negotiations.”
The deputy fell silent.
He stared at Keith’s back.
At that moment, he realized that the First Prince was standing at the front not just for royal dignity.
He was bearing the impending pressure for everyone else.
Keith, of course, heard their conversation.
But he did not speak.
He merely reached out and gently grasped a necklace on his chest.
The necklace was made of silver-white metal, with a pale gold gemstone embedded in the center.
Inside the gemstone, tiny flows of holy light seemed to swirl.
—The Guardian's Necklace.
A legendary-grade defensive artifact from the royal collection.
It was said that the first King had worn it to block a lethal strike from a high-tier demon.
Keith hadn't intended to use it so early.
But this time, the Demon King was coming.
He couldn't take any risks.
Especially considering the agreement he was prepared to propose.
This wasn't a simple negotiation.
It was a probe.
A threat.
A contest to determine who would gain the upper hand in the border situation.
“Your Highness,” the priest whispered.
“The teleportation array is reacting.”
Keith’s gaze sharpened.
Everyone tensed their bodies simultaneously.
The knights tightened their grips on their hilts.
The pen in the clerk’s hand trembled slightly.
Cold sweat instantly broke out on the deputy’s back.
In the air, the dark red magic circle slowly brightened.
Complex patterns spread outward like blood-colored vines.
Space vibrated gently.
The next instant, a black figure emerged in the center of the array.
Keith immediately activated the Guardian's Necklace.
A pale gold shield silently enveloped him.
He was prepared to endure the Demon King’s pressure.
So was everyone else.
Everyone was waiting for that legendary, terrifying magic that felt like a mountain crashing down.
However—
There was nothing.
Nothing at all.
No violent magic, no suffocating killing intent, and no pressure that made the knights’ knees buckle.
Even the air only flickered slightly.
The teleportation light faded.
The Demon King, Ivelia, appeared in the center of the array.
Her black outer robe draped over her shoulders, and her dark red eyes were cold and calm.
She truly possessed a majesty that could not be ignored.
But at this moment, the first thing everyone saw was not her eyes.
It was the person she was holding in her arms.
It was a young girl.
Platinum-blonde hair spilled across the Demon King’s arms, a few soft strands hanging down.
Her pale blue eyes were closed, and her cheeks were flushed with a faint red.
She wore a white-and-blue Saintess-style dress, leaning quietly against the Demon King’s chest as if she were sound asleep.
Ivelia looked down at her.
Those dark red eyes, which were rumored to be cold to the point of heartlessness on the battlefield, ignored everyone present.
Her entire attention was focused on the girl in her arms.
She slightly adjusted her arms to let the girl lean more securely.
The movement was very gentle.
So gentle it was as if she were afraid of disturbing the other’s sleep.
That tenderness wasn't flashy.
But it was so obvious it practically overflowed from her gaze.
Outside the pavilion, everyone fell silent.
The deputy’s mouth hung open, completely forgetting how nervous he had just been.
The clerk’s pen hovered over the paper, failing to descend for a long time.
The heavy-armored warrior’s expression froze.
The priest stared at the Saintess attire on Lin Ling, his gaze instantly turning suspicious and uncertain.
Keith’s brow furrowed imperceptibly.
A member of the clergy?
Why was the Demon King holding a member of the clergy?
And a member of the clergy who appeared from a demon teleportation array at that?
Several possibilities flashed through Keith’s mind.
Someone from the Church?
A captured clergy member?
A demon disguise?
Or...
That rumor that had been circulating in the capital a few days ago.
The Hero from another world who had vanished after being summoned.
White hair.
Blue eyes.
Saintess attire.
Keith’s gaze darkened.
But he didn't ask immediately.
There were things that could be asked.
And things that shouldn't be asked in the very first sentence.
Especially when the Demon King clearly had no intention of explaining.
Keith suppressed the confusion in his heart and slowly raised his hand in an inviting gesture.
“Demon King Ivelia.”
“Welcome to the Border Meeting Pavilion.”
“Please, take a seat.”
Ivelia did not respond to his pleasantries.
She simply walked to the other side of the long table and sat down, still holding Lin Ling.
There had only been one seat prepared for the demon side.
So she let Lin Ling lean against her chest, adjusting her position so it wouldn't press against the girl’s arms.
Lin Ling was sleeping deeply.
The effects of the Demon Red Wine were clearly stronger than the Head Chef had imagined.
Half of her face was buried against Ivelia’s chest, her breathing steady.
Lin Ling seemed to find the position a bit uncomfortable, as her brow furrowed slightly.
Ivelia looked down at her and raised a hand to tuck back a stray lock of hair.
“Sleep.”
Her voice was very low.
As if she had heard a familiar voice, Lin Ling’s brow slowly smoothed out, and she became quiet once more.
Keith watched this scene, his gaze deepening.
The deputy behind him was practically dumbfounded.
Is this truly the Demon King?
The cold, dangerous Demon King who could suppress the Four Heavenly Kings by herself?
Why does she look like a mother coaxing a drunken child to sleep right now?
Keith did not let the silence last too long.
He sat back in the main seat and lightly tapped his fingers on the table.
The clerk immediately snapped out of it and unfurled the contract documents.
Keith began to speak:
“Since the Demon King has come in person, I will not beat around the bush.”
“The situation in the human kingdom is currently complex.”
“The old King is gravely ill.”
“The succession to the throne is near.”
“The border army and the capital’s nobility are all waiting for a new order.”
He looked up at Ivelia.
“And the demons also need a new way forward.”
“Food.”
“Ore trade.”
“The border blockade.”
“And the worsening land issues.”
Keith’s tone was steady.
“I know your situation.”
“The demon territory cannot sustain itself for much longer.”
“You lack food.”
“You lack medicine.”
“You lack stable trade channels.”
“Even the survival rate of your children is declining.”
“If things continue like this, the demons will be dragged down by the land itself without humans even needing to deploy troops.”
At the other end of the long table, Ivelia did not look up.
She was busy tucking a stray hair behind Lin Ling’s ear.
Keith’s words seemed to vanish into thin air.
He received no reaction at all.
This caused a flash of displeasure to cross Keith’s eyes.
But he continued regardless:
“Therefore, I am giving you an opportunity.”
“The demons will dispatch troops to assist me.”
“Stand on my side in the struggle for the throne.”
“Once I ascend the throne, the human kingdom will reopen some grain routes.”
“I will allow the demons to exchange magic ore for food.”
“You will retain some autonomy.”
“At the same time, the demons must acknowledge the suzerainty of the human crown.”
The clerk pushed the contract forward.
Keith’s voice lowered slightly.
“In other words.”
“You swear fealty to the humans.”
“And I give you the food to survive.”
The air in the pavilion instantly turned cold.
The knights instinctively gripped their weapons.
The deputy lowered his head, not daring to look at Ivelia’s face.
This agreement was not an alliance in essence.
It was submission.
It was turning the demons from an independent race into a vassal under human sovereignty.
Trading freedom for food.
Trading dignity for survival.
Keith, of course, knew what this meant.
So his tone also carried a hint of a threat.
“Demon King.”
“I hope you understand.”
“This is the best condition you can get right now.”
“Refuse me, and the demons will continue to be dragged down by the food crisis.”
“And once I ascend the throne, the border army’s spears might not continue to show restraint.”
“You are an intelligent person.”
“You should know how to choose.”
His voice trailed off.
The pavilion became so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard.
Ivelia still didn't look at him.
She only looked down at Lin Ling in her arms.
Lin Ling was sleeping soundly.
Perhaps because her position was slightly uncomfortable, her head tilted a bit.
Ivelia reached out to cradle the back of her head, letting her lean more steadily against her chest.
The movement was too natural.
And too gentle.
It was as if the contract on the table that decided the fate of the demon race was less important than whether the girl in her arms was sleeping comfortably.
Keith finally frowned.
“Demon King.”
Ivelia finally looked up.
Her dark red eyes fixed on Keith.
At that moment, the Guardian's Necklace on Keith’s chest grew slightly warm.
Ivelia spoke.
Her voice was cold.
“Are you finished?”
Keith’s gaze darkened.
“These are my conditions.”
Ivelia looked at him.
“The demons will not accept.”
Keith narrowed his eyes.
Ivelia continued:
“First, the demons will not dispatch troops to help you seize the human throne.”
“Second, the demons will not swear fealty to the humans.”
“Third, the demons will not sign any contract that trades freedom for survival.”
Her voice wasn't loud.
But it fell onto the meeting table like a cold blade, word by word.
“We lack food.”
“We suffer from magic erosion.”
“We are indeed being pushed to a point where there is almost no way back.”
“But the demons are not livestock begging to be fed.”
“Nor are we pawns in your struggle for the throne.”
“Not a single demon will trade their freedom for the pity you speak of.”
Keith’s face turned completely cold.
“Are you certain?”
Ivelia did not answer.
She simply stared at him.
The next instant.
The terrifying pressure belonging to the Demon King descended.
And it was precisely directed at Keith alone.
The Guardian's Necklace on Keith’s chest instantly lit up.
The pale gold shield vibrated violently.
His previously straight back suddenly sagged.
His fingers pressed hard against the table to keep himself from recoiling on the spot.
Cold sweat slid down from his temples.
The pressure wasn't violent, wasn't chaotic, and didn't even have killing intent.
But because of that, it was even more terrifying.
It was like an invisible hand calmly pressing down on his shoulders.
Telling him—
Your so-called bargaining chips.
Your so-called royal threats.
Your so-called benevolence.
Before true power, they were no heavier than paper.
Keith grit his teeth.
The gemstone of the Guardian's Necklace shone to its limit.
But the pressure still seeped through the shield, making his chest feel tight.
Ivelia said coldly:
“Prince, do not treat the suffering of the demons as the steps to your throne.”
“Otherwise, the next time we meet, it won't be for negotiations.”
The pressure vanished abruptly.
Keith took a sharp breath.
The knights finally reacted, half-drawing their swords.
But Ivelia had already stood up.
She held Lin Ling securely with one arm and raised her other hand.
A dark red teleportation array unfolded beneath her feet.
Keith stared at her, his face dreadfully dark.
“Demon King.”
“You will regret today’s decision.”
Ivelia did not look back.
“Perhaps.”
She looked down at Lin Ling in her arms.
The girl was still sleeping; she had even drooled a bit on Ivelia’s chest.
She was completely unaware that she had just overheard a negotiation that could change the border situation.
Ivelia’s voice returned to its calm state.
The teleportation light closed in.
The next instant, the Demon King and the Saintess in her arms vanished from the pavilion.
The pavilion was deathly quiet.
No one spoke.
No one dared to move immediately.
Only after the dark red light had completely faded did Keith slam his fist onto the table.
“Bang!”
The contract papers were knocked into the air.
The silver cup overturned, spilling wine across the table.
“Arrogance!”
Keith grit his teeth, his face so dark it was almost distorted.
“These starving, savage races.”
“I gave them a chance to live.”
“And they dare to reject my mercy!”
The deputy lowered his head in fear.
No one dared to respond.
The light of the Guardian's Necklace on Keith’s chest had already dimmed.
But the pressure from just now still lingered in his memory.
The power of the Demon King.
It was more terrifying than he had anticipated.
And that girl.
Keith closed his eyes.
Platinum-blonde hair.
Saintess attire.
Being held in the Demon King’s arms.
The Demon King hadn't even put her down during the negotiation to avoid waking her.
This was definitely not normal.
If that truly was the missing Hero from another world...
Then the problem was even more serious.
Why would a Hero, deemed a failure by the Church, appear in the Demon King’s arms?
And why would the Demon King treat her with such an attitude?
Keith slowly opened his eyes.
His anger had not vanished.
But his reason had suppressed it once more.
“Send an order.”
The deputy immediately looked up. “Your Highness.”
Keith said coldly, “Send someone to contact the Church’s Saintess.”
“Lady Leticia?”
“Yes.”
Keith turned around, looking out at the dark border sky.
“In my personal name.”
“Ask her if she is interested in a private collaboration with me.”
The deputy hesitated for a moment.
“Your Highness, should we inform the Church first?”
Keith gave him a cold look.
The deputy immediately lowered his head.
“I understand.”
Keith added:
“Also.”
“Find out exactly who that girl in the Saintess attire is.”
“Who she is.”
“Where she came from.”
“Why she is in the demons’ hands.”
His voice was low.
“And whether she is the Hero from another world whose contract was terminated, as Bishop Karl mentioned.”
“Yes.”
The deputy took the order and withdrew.
Outside the pavilion, the wind blew across the border wilderness.
The human side gradually became busy.
No one noticed that in the shadows behind the pavilion, pale purple magic patterns flickered for a brief moment.
Aliviel stood in the shadows, her lips showing not a hint of a smile.
She had arrived via the second teleportation array.
She simply hadn't revealed herself immediately to avoid alerting them.
She had originally intended to confirm that Ivelia and Lin Ling were safe.
As it turned out, she had overheard Keith’s final orders.
Contact the Church’s Saintess.
Private collaboration.
Investigate Lin Ling.
Aliviel narrowed her eyes.
“This is trouble,” she whispered.
“Miss Saintess, you only got drunk once and managed to pull out all the most troublesome threads from the human side. You truly are a trouble-loving Saintess.”
She raised her hand, and a purple magic circle appeared beneath her feet.
The next moment, her figure vanished into the shadows.
The Demon King's Castle.
Lin Ling was still sleeping soundly.
She had absolutely no idea what she had experienced after getting drunk.
She was simply lying in her bed in her room.
The blankets were neatly tucked around her.
Her breathing was steady, and her cheeks still held a bit of the flush from the alcohol.
Ivelia stood by the bed, watching her quiet sleeping face.
After a moment, she reached out and gently brushed away the platinum-blonde hair that had become messy on Lin Ling’s forehead.
Lin Ling moved slightly in her sleep.
She muttered softly:
“Lord Demon King...”
Ivelia’s movements paused slightly.
She looked down at the girl on the bed.
After a moment, she whispered:
“I am here.”
As if she had heard, or perhaps just finding peace in her dream, Lin Ling’s brow slowly relaxed.
Soon, she was sound asleep again.
Ivelia watched her, her gaze softening for a brief moment.
Then, she turned and walked out of the room.
The door closed softly.
In the corridor outside, Aliviel was already waiting.
She had just returned from the border, and the smile on her face was much fainter than usual.
Ivelia looked at her.
“You heard?”
Aliviel nodded.
“The First Prince is preparing to contact the Church’s Saintess privately.”
“And he wants to investigate Lin Ling.”
Ivelia’s gaze turned cold.
Aliviel said in a low voice:
“He has already begun to suspect that Lin Ling is the missing Hero from the Church.”
“Moreover, the human Saintess will likely find out soon as well.”
The corridor fell silent.
The footsteps of demon guards on patrol could be heard in the distance.
Ivelia did not speak immediately.
After a moment, she said quietly:
“Increase the protection for Lin Ling.”
Aliviel nodded.
“It’s already been arranged.”
Aliviel looked at the door.
Inside, Lin Ling was still sleeping without a care in the world.
She didn't look at all like a key figure who had just been caught in the undercurrents of the human royalty, the Church, and the demons.
Aliviel let out a soft sigh.
“When she wakes up tomorrow, she’ll probably only worry about whether she caused trouble for the Head Chef.”
Ivelia fell silent for a moment.
“She might also worry about whether she said anything strange.”
Aliviel: “...”
She couldn't help but chuckle.
“Then she might be worried for quite a while.”
The night in the Demon King's Castle returned to silence.
Beyond the black land, human conspiracies were slowly approaching.
The name of the Church’s Saintess was also truly intertwined with Lin Ling’s fate for the first time.
And the one who had started all this was currently sleeping sweetly in her bed.
She had no idea that just taking one sip of wine had turned a serious border negotiation into the starting point of a new storm.
Rate on N.U.
