Chapter 47: Betrayal and Coup 'd'etat
...
"So this must be the place... We have to make sure we won't fail our mission."
A succubus knight drew her steel sword while leading her group through the large tunnels filled with wooden infrastructures that were built in almost every corner. The captain swore that the entire place was built like a colossal sewer system, but why here underneath the midst of Lescatie Forest?
"We could've known this before Lescatie became a Demon Realm because... we never knew this place existed."
"I don't recall that we have a massive sewer system underneath a forest and we're far from the major capital."
"Like if I know? It's strange... then why is it here?"
The captain overheard her subordinates discuss with each other behind her back, telling with many questions as if Lescatie Forest had something more unknown anomalies underneath the landscape of nature. Once they went past some wooden fences, her heart freeze when she sees a few corpses belonging to the Knights of the Dark Ice Flower, who disembodied limbs and some were tied to a burning stake. And what makes her companions reel back with terrified looks is that they saw a monster couple, an incubus and a werewolf. Both were impaled on a stake from the bottom through the mouth.
"They're... the forward scouts...!"
It was the most gruesome display that they have ever witnessed in their entire lives. Even their memories when they were still human, the public executions from the Pre-Demon Realm era, weren't as gruesome as this nightmare they've stepped on. While an incubi knight tried to recover one of their friends who were still alive and tied to the stakes, he was suddenly smashed into bloody bits by a large wooden club that came out from the shadows.
His sudden death alarmed the rest of the expeditionary group until an infested barbarian revealed itself into the flame's light. The succubus saw her lover lies dead and drew her sword in a fit of rage. With steel sword in hand, the weapon tore through the monster's belly and its humongous body crashed backwards against the wooden beams.
Once she had slain the beasts, more horrific creatures emerged from the darkness and overran the Demonic Knights of the Ice Dark Flower with their sheer numbers. The ghouls of Blighttown came from everywhere, from above, underneath the wooden platforms and charging out from the shadows. Inflicting acidic toxic substances from their spears which grazed their skins with burning pain, and some smashed an unfortunate succubus knight with the sheer weight of an unknown corpse.
The group split up, yet little did they know the dangers that await them.
"We have to warn the others!"
"Shit! We are being split up! Ouch!"
In the air, a pair of succubus dark knights were trying to navigate their way to the nearest outpost. Unfortunately, they were caught in the midst of a swarm filled with large mosquitos that came out from nowhere until they were hounded down with their stings, which were as large as knives and sucked the blood out of their bodies into lifeless husks.
On another location of the sewer system of Blighttown, a pair of incubi knights were running away from a large group of infected dogs. Then one incubus tripped into the ground and he was mercilessly thronged by the attack dogs with their flaming breaths. Burning him alive while the other was cornered at a dead end. He pulls out his sword, trying to scare them off. As if he can get away from his fated death, he felt a pair of hands grab his shoulders coming from above.
Once he turns his gaze up, the unfortunate incubus saw the gleeful eyes of an abomination. A Cragspider caught him and lifted him until two more came to its side before their appendages stripped the victim from his armour. Then he let out a terrifying scream when he felt his own flesh and bone were torn apart.
...
At the other location of Blighttown, another expeditionary group of the Dark Ice Flower heard the dying screams of both incubus and mamono that echoed through the colossal tunnels of the forsaken sewers. Their screams made their skin crawl as they prepared their steel swords.
It has been a few hours since Lord Governor Noscrim gave out an order to kill any inhabitants they can find within the distorted place they've recently discovered underneath the forests of Lescatie. Unfortunately, a few could achieve insignificant victories, while many were caught under the grips of death as if the Demon Lord and their gods had abandoned them.
In this cold, murky place... it can be perfectly described as the one True Hell.
"Mina! More enemies coming in front of us!"
Mina, the succubus knight, heard her subordinate calling out and immediately casts an orb of light before flinging it out into the darkness. And there, they caught numerous shadows, consisting of ghouls, barbarians and infected dogs marching through the murky waters of filth. The captain of the group raised her hand and gave out an order.
"Fall back! Warn the main force!"
With that, they stepped back until one of their members at the rear was soon caught by some slithering tentacles coming from the shadows above. Mina heard a cry as she turns around and look up, seeing her fellow sister-in-arms being lifted into the obscurity until her guttural scream was cut short by the sounds of flesh and bones being crushed and blood raining down like a shower.
Soon, large maggots erupted from the heap of toxic waste, surrounding them in their death trap until they were overrun by the hideous inhabitants as their torches faded into the darkness. Only what is left of them were the voices of their dying wails.
...
"What's the situation?"
"It is worse than we imagined... We've sustained a lot of casualties."
The words of the succubus knight captain didn't please the Arch Devil. Parshe Lufarshe was holding her magic mirror to see the status of every knight she deployed within the forsaken underground dungeon of Blighttown. Most of her battalion had mamono she saw on the list was highlighted as red, while only the lucky ones were green and some were orange, showing their injured status.
"I-Impossible... the plan should work...!" Parshe felt her hands shaking in utter shock. "And yet we're being beaten up by a bunch of horrifying hobos that lived there! How are you guys not dealing with them!?"
"W-Well... some of our knights reported that they're hesitating to kill them." The knight captain reported as sweat rolling down her face. "Other tell there is something else that lurks there that we can barely sense and see them."
"Grrr!... Damnit all!... Wilmarina wouldn't like to see the results and we'll be adding another long list of dead casualties for the Funeral Company! What will their friends and families think about this!?" Parshe vented out her frustration as she slumped her head down against the table. "Any other results? Did some of our soldiers get these... um... these things called Ti-ta-nite?"
"Yes. Our troops scavenged these ores from our fallen knights who went deep into that forsaken dungeon." The captain replied as she looked over at a pile of sacks filled with shards. "I heard Wilmarina has a reason to give out an order was to collect these that will benefit for us... does it gives a worth as we sacrificed the lives of our dear comrades?"
"I-... I have no clue. The Lord Governor said that we'll be improving the army as soon as possible to get rid of the Silver-Blue Knight." Parshe sighed as she regrettably tilts her head sideways. "However, the thing is... Lady Druella doesn't know what we're doing."
"Look, I know this can go too far for everyone else. But this is the only shot that we can achieve our victory." Parshe continued while dismissing her handheld magic mirror. "We should stall our expansion and request reinforcements. The knights of the Dark Ice Flower were suffering too much from this expedition."
"As you wish." The captain saluted. "I'll spread the message and give our troops a breathing."
Parshe dismissed the dark knight from her tents and call it a day. The Arch Devil then gave out a stressful sigh as she massaged her temples. She can hear the captain barking out the orders before pulling out their forces from the forsaken underground sewers. Then another few hours have passed. Nightfall came around the horizon and cries of regret and the moans of grief howled at the night skies.
The mamono mourned and cried for the Goddess of Life and Death to revive their beloved partners who died in the forsaken dungeon, but none of their prayers was heeded. Soon, a pair of dark knights wrapped the corpses under the white rags before the carriage parts their way back to the city.
"So these guys remained, and it's a miracle they're still alive from that hellhole," Parshe said as she tensed her gaze at the recruits. "Out from one hundred and five... only fifteen were left."
The monster girls who stood in front of the devilish fencer appeared to be dishevelled, battered and bruised from combat. Some were having a thousand-yard stare, and a few were shaken from witnessing the terrors of Blighttown.
"Alright, listen up ladies... now you know what you've signed up for!" Parshe then spoke out loud, addressing the recruits. "This... your first battle proves that you're lucky to be alive. The place, Blighttown, will tell that not everyone can come out alive just to prove their strength! Out from a hundred five... only you, what's left of it, have become the new defenders for our Demonic Realm of Lescatie!"
"... What? Just for that? You're telling me our husbands and our friends have fought for nothing?!" The Arch Devil noticed one recruit stepped forth. A newbie Dark Knight snarled towards the Devil Fencer. "Don't give us that crap! Y-You threw us into that death trap, you fiends!"
Parshe reeled back as her bodyguards slowly drew their blades to take down the deserter. "... Did you forget what you've signed up for?"
"Oh, I do... but you didn't tell us we should kill something else!" the recruit yelled out in a fit of rage. "We were trained to corrupt... but not prepared for this!"
"... We do this to prove the effectiveness of our troops." Parshe reasoned, but the recruit balled her fist in a fit of anger. "Our nature was changed from being humans that we shouldn't kill... until this day, we will resort to the actual killing of the old times."
"So this proves my point..." The newbie Dark Knight unsheathed her weapon, intending to attack her superior officer. Her act caused the other recruits to flinch back in shock. So as Parshe and the other knights who were present. "Y-You're all incompetent!... That's why... THAT'S WHY MY SISTER NEVER CAME BACK FROM DRAGONIA!"
The Devil Fencer raised her weapon to take down the deserter. Once the recruit brought down her blade, someone else swings a blade of steel, sending her weapon flying and kicked the deserted behind her legs, forcing her to kneel. Then the blade draws a single slight wound on her neck, silencing the deserter from her words.
"Doing such acts will lead to your execution, recruit." Her voice was cold as if the chilly winter covers the entire encampment. "Do you really think the deaths of your friends are worth nothing that has led to your glorious position as the Defender of Lescatie?"
The recruit slowly lift her glance and saw the cold eyes that belonged to the Lord Governor, Wilmarina Noscrim. Her face screams no emotion, and she has no qualms about killing someone who goes against her plans.
"A deserter like you to commit mutiny will face death. A fool who's nothing more but a coward," Wilmarina glowered as she lifts up the Dark Knight's chin with her titanite sword. "You miraculously survived, and it's a waste that you threw away the chances to ensure the survival of our Demon Realm... would you like to see what your death is like?"
"N-... n-no..." The deserter stuttered in fear as she closed her eyes and tears broke off. "I-I don't want to die!"
"Good... then make sure you don't sully your duty!" The Dark Hero hissed as the tip of her blade pressed against the throat, choking the poor recruit as a lesson from the consequences of her undisciplined acts. "And there will be no second chance if I ever caught you doing it again... understand?"
Wilmarina then released her blade, letting the recruit cough down for air. The Lord Governor then turn her attention to the other surviving recruits and they stiffened, standing up straight to show off their discipline and not wanting their throats to taste the wrath of Noscrim's Blade. Parshe and the Dark Knights made their salute to the Hero of the Demon Realm.
"Parshe... how was the operation doing?" Wilmarina's words caused Parshe to lower her hand. "I heard there had been a lot of unfortunates who lost their lives."
"Y-Yes... this place isn't as easy to overcome as we think of it." Parshe cleared her throat. "Those creatures of Blighttown... I can't believe their strength alone will overwhelm even our best knights."
"The dungeon is distorted and there's no question about it... such places will weaken our powers once we ever step foot." The Dark Hero then turns her attention to a wooden cart filled with sacks full of Titanite shards. "But it looks like we have what we wanted."
"Then what's the reason for having Titanite, Lord Governor?" Parshe asked. "Is there any value worth for our benefits?"
"... There is... and this ore will become a fresh addition for our weapons to defeat the Silver-Blue Knight and his pathetic fellowship." Wilmarina smiled wickedly while grabbing a small shard with a leather glove. "Listen Parshe, Druella and her so-called "Radical Faction" have failed us. Their attempts to take him out tried to bring us victory... but it only led to the deaths of our friends and comrades who fought for us. Do you really think that they will decide for us before it turns out that we'll be the next in line?"
"... no, we ensure that will not happen to us," Parshe answered honestly with a saddened tone. "I know that this is going too far... but will your plan can end this tragedy?"
"... Are you doubting me...?" Parshe then felt her skin crawl once the Dark Hero glared at the Arch Devil. "Do you want to become a traitor?"
"N-No!... Forgive my words, I will not doubt the words of the Dark Hero." Parshe apologised while bowing formally. "I shall follow your orders and make sure no one should turn their backs against us!"
"... Very well, then don't fail me and let the plan succeed. I'll head back to the Capital to make some short business..." Wilmarina spun around and heads back to her carriage until she stopped, turning her foreboding red eyes, striking deep into Parshe's core which made the devil feel her bones rattle in trepidation as sweat poured down her skin. "If your efforts didn't achieve something... then you will be forever forgotten and I'll choose someone else who can take your place... So don't fail me."
Parshe gulped. Her words terrified the Arch Devil as she was shaken. No monster would ever threaten her with such words, not since they were monsterized because their very nature should not be malicious to one another. Even so, it still did. Once the noble carriage left the demonic encampment, Parshe knelt on the ground and cried in tears. Regretting her decision to join Wilmarina's new faction will soon turn out for the worst that shall come for her life as a monster.
...
Inside the carriage, Wilmarina set her eyes on a distant city through the windows, which is the Capital of Lescatie. She took a deep breath while knowing that her plan was to get rid of the Radical Faction from Lescatie is underway while Druella already left the City to get her husband back.
But deep down, she knew the lilim's plan will fail and they can never retrieve her husband. The only solution is that she will take the matter into her own hands.
A few hours later, she arrived at the Fortress City of Salvarision while the guards made a respectful salute towards the Dark Hero. Once she arrived at the headquarters of the Dark Ice Flower, her knights welcomed her while heading for the wooden podium that stood on top of the stage. Monsterized Knights and Heroes gathered together as the Lord Governor cleared her throat to make her speech.
"My friends... sons and daughters of Lescatie. It has been a good time that we enjoy the fruits of our happiness since this land became a Demon Realm from the shackles of our suffering." Wilmarina speaks out. "However, as we stood confident of our new power... our enemy, the Silver-Blue Knight, stood in defiance against our path to happiness and took away the lives of our kin... and my profound love."
Eristia stood amongst the monsterized heroes while hearing her speech. "We threw everything we have... but none of them worked."
"As I struggled with this pain within me... I now saw the flaws within our Order... is that Druella and her Radical Faction are full of incompetence!" Wilmarina's tone was shaking as her fingers clenched. "No matter what... we tried to fight back our enemy to make them regret... but they ensure the deaths of our comrades without hesitation. And Druella... our so-called "Leader" has the gal to make us her pawns! Wasting our lives while trying to bring this person to justice!"
At that moment, some heroes, warriors and knights nodded in agreement until one of them speaks out while raising their fists into the air.
"That's right!"
"My sister died because we were fooled by Druella's propaganda!"
"A lot of our sisters-in-arms were killed because of her!"
"Even some of us were heroes... not even fate could protect us!"
"Now I ask of you all... will you take up the arms of steel to ensure victory or will you take the weapons of monsters that will lead to your deaths?" Wilmarina asked the crowd with a dark look behind her shadow. Until then, one by one, the Heroes and Knight slowly dropped their silver realm weapons to the ground while the Dark Hero snipped her fingers, summoning a wooden carriage that is driven by a pair of Dark Warriors until they brought down wraps, showing off their new weapons. "With these weapons, forged by the new shards called Titanite... we can bring anyone to their knees! Only those who tried to hinder our path! Now join me and take get rid of those cowards who are in charge of us!"
"UUWWOOOOHH~!"
The monsterized knights and heroes cheered in a radical demeanour as Wilmarina smiled maliciously that everyone shared her pain and felt theirs as well. While most knights within her order hadn't confronted the Silver-Blue Knight, they were in pain after knowing the fate of their relatives, friends and lovers who were involved at the Fallen Tower and Anor Londo. As the Knights of the Dark Ice Flower exchanged their weapons, an Echidna peeked out from the corner after witnessing Wilmarina's speech to her followers.
"I can't believe you're going this far..." Merse stared down with a saddened look. "Wilmarina, don't do this... please, this isn't what everyone wants!"
...
Royal Makai.
...
"What?... Dragonia no longer favours us?"
"Yes, your highness. Queen Deonora is leaning for independence from our influence." An Alp messenger bowed to the Demon Lord. "After the mysterious dragons left the destruction behind their wake, Dragonia is never the same as it used to be."
"Then what's the Red Queen's reason to lead her rebellion?" The Demon Lord frowned at the messenger. "It is impossible. That Demon realm should never abandon our beliefs despite their victory over their otherworldly adversaries. Then what caused it?"
"Her sole reason is that... Queen Deonora was disillusioned by our beliefs. Claiming that love cannot triumph over everything." The Alp messenger gulped once she felt the anger emitting from the Lord of Monsters. "Their new adversaries caused a lot more destruction than they have ever experienced from their time since the Revolutionary Wars in the era of the Dragai Empire."
'That can't be... this shouldn't have happened... I know Fate will never let this happen!' Lilith bit her lips in frustration. 'What made the Queen of Dragons abandon our cause?'
"I shall speak with the Queen herself!" Lilith then dismissed the messenger as she stood up from her throne and snips her fingers, summoning a pair of kikimora's to bring the magic mirror into the throne hall. "I must hear the words of reason from this backstabbing turncoat."
Once the magic mirror came to life, the image of Deonora appeared within the reflection. The Red Queen was sitting on her throne while expressing her calm demeanour in front of the Demon Lord. Lilith frowned toward the Queen of Dragon as she crossed her arms while tapping her heels against the marble floor.
"Deonora, what is the meaning of this?... Care to explain why were you no longer aligned with us?" The Demon Lord demanded. "I'm sure your predecessors will be displeased by your renouncement of us as... unreliable."
"... I have my reasons, Demon Lord. I knew fully that my message was a shock to you." Deonora said as she closed her eyes. "While I felt bad about severing the relationships between our realms, it seems we no longer share our common interest."
Lilith then raised her brow in question. "And what will that be, 'O Queen of Dragons?"
"The world no longer favours us and our long-standing belief of your system was diminished since the invasion of our enemies," Deonora replied until she cast a glowering look at Lilith. "It has been a good run to praise love for almost a thousand years... until now. On that day, I did not expect it has brought us nothing but death and unfortunate luck. So I declare my nation's independence and sovereignty from your influence, and then retain the glory for the empire."
"You will regret telling those words, backstabber!" Lilith growled while balling her fists. "Think about the deal that I and your predecessors had made for a paradise. You can't discard it! The peace for the world is more important than you think!"
"Your problems no longer matter to us, and I am dealing with something that is greater than you expected. The plan of your so-called "Eternal Peace" is nothing more but a sham and that will lead us into ruins when facing an enemy who is not under the system of the Chief God." Deonora's response made Lilith speechless and the Demon Lord did not expect her to talk back with doubts. "Look what happened to my kingdom and to the people I deeply cared for... do you think Fate and Love will save us all as we shall get no consequences?... No, it is only a farce of your self-deluded illusion that will be the death of us... Now heed these final words as my farewell to thee."
Lilith's glare remains once the Queen declares her ultimatum. "From this day on, Dragonia shall close its borders on the Royal Makai to maintain our sovereignty and its customs... That is all. Any word last words?
"... Do whatever you want. One day, we will let you regret your decision when our time comes." Lilith seethed out in frustration. "Mark my words, Red Queen. You will feel my wrath that your first Queen of Dragonia has ever experienced!... As for now... have a good day."
With that, the magic mirror came to a buzz as the connections linked between the two realms had been severed. The monster servants and succubus knights stood in worry after hearing their conversation. Deonora's declaration of her nation's independence from Lilith's influence could mean one thing: that one day, their fears of everything will fall apart have come true since Ilassa's rebellion from the Royal Makai.
Lilith then mustered her air and then venting out her rage. "Damnit all!... DEONORA! YOU GODSFORSAKEN TRAITOR!"
The Demon Lord was out of breath while falling back on her throne and massaging her temples from the stress she hadn't had since her profound quarrel with her thirteenth daughter. Nowadays, the Empire of Dragons also took down the same path that will lead to another problem.
'No... I refuse to believe it...' Lilith breathed out, pouring out her temper as she remembered the words that reminded her of the dreams about the cindered hollow. 'No... No! JUST WHAT DID YOU DO!?'
...
Dragonia, Royal Castle of the Main Capital.
...
"Hah~... what a relief... I have finally kicked out the bucket." Deonora exhaled as she laid her back against her throne. "Finally... I will no longer preach the nonsense that I've done for hundreds of years... what do you think, Ledo?"
"... You made the right choice. Your highness." The Silver Knight nodded as he expressed his proudness for the Queen. "I must say... the Temptress shall best to be kept within her bubble and her Ideals of an Eternal Paradise of Depravity as well... So by the way, since you're now the Queen with full authority. I think it's best for you to rule the entire nation of your own as a lovable leader from now on."
"Oh dear~! Your words flatter me~! As expected from the retainer of Lord Ornstein~!" Deonora smiled with a blush while her gaze looks up at the Silver Knight. "I must say, Sir Ledo. C-can we go somewhere so that we can talk about something privately?"
"Huh... and what will that be, O' Queen of Dragons?"
"I want to know more about you and your history as a wandering Lord." Deonora then leaned further into the Silver Knight as Ledo raised his concerns. "Also... I would like to ask if you ever have someone who's into you other than Ornstein and some friends you knew. But as far as you know... as the Queen of this nation... I'm quite feeling lonely~!"
"... Hm?" Ledo raised his eyebrow. "If you seek companionship to ease your loneliness. Then I can provide thee to tell my tales!"
"Oh~! How lovely~!" The Red Queen smiled with a light chuckle. "I'm sure that someone will be thrilled as me if she's going to make you a consort of a royalty~!"
Ledo laughed out loud at her joke until he realises something she had spoken in her words. "Hahaha-!...? Wait, what?"
...
Kingdom of Gaul, Town of Gerth.
...
"I can't believe they're already here..." Ash said while looking through the windows and closing the curtains. "Stay vigilant. No one knows when they would pop out."
"Elt! I'm scared~!" The young orphan, Emiyu, felt frightened as she hugged Elt tightly by his left leg. "The bad monsters are coming to get us again!"
"Don't worry, Emiyu. I'm sure Sir Cyrus and Big sis can catch them." Elt said as he gently pats the young girl on top of her head. "They know what they're going to do."
"I hope that terrible lilim named Druella won't find us!" Ralph jumps from behind the sofa, wearing a steel cauldron on his head like a helmet. "Big bro Ash has beaten many butts, even the meanest one that was supposed to be scary!"
"Ralph, Language! Big sis might hear you!" To Ralph's left, Lisia hushed as she covers the mouth of the rowdy orphan. "Also, don't make loud noises! They might hear us!"
"Elt? Kids?" Elt and the orphans turn their attention around to see Sasha wearing in her nightgown, who comes around the corner. "Kids, go to your room... and Elt, keep the children safe, aright?"
"Yeah, I'll have my sword ready to keep them from harm," Elt responded with a nod as he led the kids upstairs. "Have a safe night, Sasha."
Once the young knight led the children upstairs, Sasha turns to Ash with a worrying look as the Silver-Blue Knight peeks through the window curtains to see any suspicious activities outside. Only that he noticed some pair of figures jumping on top of the rooftops while their shadows were illuminated by the moonlight. He closed the curtains and hoped that those pair shouldn't figure out where their hideout was.
"... Sasha, are you feeling alright?" Ash asked the former priestess. Sasha nods as she took her seat on the couch. "I can't believe that the leader of the Radical Faction will show off her face sooner than expected."
"Likewise, I fear this town will face monsterization if she unleashes her powers." Sasha sighed while anxiously rubbing her arms while bracing the warm heat from the fireplace. "I hope Ilassa has other plans to prevent another incident that will befall us."
"Then stick to the current plan... The Knights of Mirrah send a mail pigeon to the Centre Region to request reinforcements." Ash explained the details of their plan. "They'll arrive within four days on horseback."
"Four days... Druella will arrive before they could reach here." Sasha hugged her ankles tight. "I hope we can put up some distractions to buy time."
"That sounds like a good idea you have there," Ash said, impressed by her idea while taking his seat at her side. "So... do you have something interesting to talk about?"
"Hm?... Well, I would say that your performance in the match was amazing." Sasha smiled with a slight blush on her cheeks. "It's quite embarrassing that Dracolinde popped out of nowhere and didn't claim your prize."
"It's not worth it... at least I experienced some great fun at the fair." Ash smiled back with a hearty chuckle. "And now we have something else to deal with later on."
"I see, then I'm glad you're happy as well!" Sasha spoke up in joy as she placed her hands on her cheeks and swayed sideways as if she was dreaming of being together with her knight. "Ah~! It truly feels like a date! Don't you find it romantic?"
Ash felt his cheeks flustered by her words while scratching the backside of his head in a nervous demeanour. It was indeed that he went on a date with the Maiden of Lescatie.
"It... sure was as if we were going on a date," Ash muttered under his voice, admitting it before asking Sasha. "Speaking about dates... do you have someone else within your family?"
"My family?... Not anymore. But I do have someone whom I dearly loved... and that was my mother before she died from overwork." Sasha said as she looked down with grief. "She was the owner of an old orphanage where I used to live and she's the one who picked up Elt from the streets and nursed him back to health... it was a harsh time back then and I was just a young girl who's training to be a nun until the Chief God has chosen me to become a new Hero of Lescatie."
"... What about your father? Did she ever tell something?" Ash asked curiously.
"My father... I never met him. As I recall from the stories which my mother told me..." Then Sasha sighed to tell the story of her father's life before his unfortunate fate. "She told me he was a famous Bard who earn sums of money by singing the ballads of heroes of old. He used his fortune to support my mother before I was even born... Mother said that they were happy to raise me together when I came to the world... until the day... he never came back."
"... What happened to him?"
"People said that he ran away from the family as he falsely claims himself to buy milk... but my mother didn't believe them and she knew they did something to him," Sasha explained and spoke softly in sadness. "When I was helping the monsters as a hero... I found someone who knew about the fate of my father. The Inquisitors of the Order arrested him because of his punishment... his sole crime is to speak out against Priest Noscrim's scheme to take power over Lescatie and my father was branded as a heretic before his execution within the deepest pits of the prison... and none told my mother."
Ash listens more closely to the unspeakable tale from her family's background. He felt pity for the young maiden to experience the pressures of the burden later on in life, as he already knew the latest part of her background.
"So I took all responsibility from which my mother left behind and helped Elt to enrol his training as a Soldier of the Chief God's Order." Sasha spoke solemnly while looking down. "Years of fighting as a hero for Lescatie, and establishing a new orphanage within the slums... the Nobles of the Noscrim faction took a toll on me for their political gains... and then, you know what happens next."
"I already understood... Even though you were desperate to fix the country." Ash said, understanding her reasons for helping the monsters. "Nevertheless, you already knew the risks. But you didn't have a choice, do you?"
"... Yes. It was idiotic of me... naïve and without reasonable guidance." Sasha broke off a tear. Recalling the ugly part of her backstory was even more painful in her core. "I have failed my country as a hero ... it was stupid of me..."
"Then again, I'm sorry to hear that from you," Ash said sincerely as he sits closer to Sasha to comfort her.
"There's no need to apologise... As my status remains as a hero, I cannot undo my actions that had led to consequences." Sasha smiles while wiping off her tears. "I thank you for listening to me... Now that aside, can you tell me a part of your story?"
"Oh, me? Well, As you can say... I went better off in my younger days." Ash said while reminding himself of his past life in nostalgia prior to becoming one of the chosen undead. "I've seen Astora in their golden days. When I was a young kid, I was raised in the countryside with my parents. My father is a wealthy farmer and my mother, Miriam Cyrus, is an Acolyte of the Sunlight."
"Oh... sounds like you have a nice life," Sasha said, peaked with interest. Yet her knight grimaced.
"My life was never easy, to begin with. My father, despite his status as a common citizen and a wealthy farmer, he's one of the respected Elite Knights within the army of Astora." As Ash recalled his past, Sasha was surprised to hear that his father was a professional knight. "Johnatan Cyrus... he was a man I knew who can take responsibilities with care and the sole reason he inspired me to become a knight."
The priestess raised her brow in question. 'His father is a respected knight? I never knew that! His family is very well off!'
"It was a peaceful life, and I remembered my sparring time with my father in sword fighting until he was called by the Army." Ash continued while crossing his arms and closing his eyes. "Where his fate lies is at the valiant defence of Mortenburg. A fortified town that was raided by a horde of hollows and he fought there while buying time to evacuate the civilians until the relief force arrived. He... unfortunately, died while succeeding in his mission and his corpse returned home and was later buried under an oak tree. My mother prayed for him every once in a week while my uncle maintain the family farm to raise a steady income... and of course, I spend his sparring lessons with him."
"Is your uncle a knight as well?" Sasha questioned.
"Yes... My uncle told stories of his younger days. He says my father was a better swordsman than he is." Ash chuckled heartily. "I've spent most of my time doing labour, reading, writing and calculating... then I enrol the Astoran Military to become an Infantry Knight."
"Infantry Knight? I never heard of that term before." Sasha comments.
"Well, Astora is a land of knights... hence, it was stated by foreigners. Its army of fully armoured soldiers. Ranging from archers to horsemen and engineers. Including clerics and sorcerers from other branches of the Army." Ash explained and Sasha was awed to imagine Astoran soldiers who have a knightly appearance like Ash. Then that means the common soldiers of Astora were more well-equipped than the common soldiers of Lescatie. "The training was harsh. We ran for miles to build up our endurance to carry our armour and equipment. I remember my time when we get yelled at by Drill Instructors if they find recruits slacking off during training or doing stupid things that are going to be way worse to face punishment."
When Sasha heard about his time in training within the Astoran military, she couldn't help but fall speechless. "You got yelled at by your instructors? I kinda find that rude to say something nasty to their recruits."
"It's a way to toughen us up and take our shape to be a soldier." Then Ash smiled as he recalled something. "I remember a funny incident that had happened in my old barracks when Knight Sergeant Hartman caught one recruit named Pyle, who stored an almost expired cinnamon roll in his footlocker. The poor sod got yelled at for stealing food from the messhall until the Hartman got the rest of us doing push-ups while forcing him to eat it."
"...Eh?... PPFFFF! Hahahaha~! That's the most hilarious tale coming out of you, Ash~!" Sasha laughed out loud. "So what happens next?"
"After our training... I graduated alongside my colleagues, and I was enlisted in the 33rd Knight's Battalion." Ash continued his story while looking back to his past, where he stands in the midst of a square formation along with his fellow brothers-in-arms. "Then take part in the Kingdom's Defence against the invaders. It was a four-year campaign where I faced a variety of enemies... ranging from an army of raiders to a swarm of hollows. My life on the battlefield was never easy. Even some of my friends who I grew fond of... never made it out alive."
"Oh... I'm very sorry to hear that." Sasha muttered sombrely while Ash held up his old dog tags. "It must've been hard to see something unfortunate that befalls them."
"It's alright... they gave their best and their efforts weren't in vain." Her knight cleared his throat while placing his dog tags back in his pouch. "Sometimes... bad things happen and we were always ready to give our lives in line to be sure that everyone is safe."
"... I see. So was that you always lived with it?" Sasha asked while her hands cushioned him by his left arm and then gave him a pout. "To give your life in line, huh... then that's where your stubbornness stemmed from, huh?"
"I've been a soldier, Sasha... such is my dedication for protecting the ones who can't fight," Ash said while staring at the flames crackling within the fireplace. "After fighting the four-year-long campaign and with enemies no longer threatening us... Astora retains their peaceful days... but my career within the army ended... when I heard the news that my mother fell sick from an incurable illness and that was the day when the higher-ups were trying to promote me as an Elite Knight."
Sasha held her breath. She didn't expect to hear that he would befall in the same place as her, which means he as well is an orphan like her who lost their parents.
"... Then what did you choose?"
"I choose to leave the army and to take care of my mother's illness... I had a wish when I was young that I want to prove to my parents what I am capable of..." Ash spoke softly. "My uncle passed away in an accident when I was at war and my mother is the last family I ever had..."
Ash went silent as Sasha felt heartbroken to hear what has become of his family. Her knight has lost everything that was dear to him, yet the astoran gently clenched her hand. Giving her a sensation of a warm embrace.
"On her deathbed... she told me something important, which I will never forget that soon changed my life," Ash said as he looked down and the priestess saw the emotions swirling within his clear blue eyes. "She said... "showing off what you're capable of... it doesn't matter anymore. I am already proud that you've come so far, and your father will be proud as well in the afterlife. Now I tell thee, my son. Search for your purpose somewhere in the world, so as long as the light guides thee until you can settle at the place where you can be happy."... Those are her last words... after her last breath, I bury her under an oak tree... the same place where my father's grave lies and they could be together. Then I left my homeland in search of something where I can have a purpose."
"So you travelled through the lands to become an adventurer... and found Lordran." Sasha smiled while holding tight to Ash. "Then you save Oolacile and survived the Curse that plagued your homeland until a hero ended it. You are truly one lucky knight!... or perhaps... were you the only hero at that place all along?"
"... Heh, you believe that? My butt went through time and saved an ancient kingdom which I earned that title." Ash said with a half-hearted chuckle. "But I doubt I can save anyone from the curse."
"... You know Ash, we have talked a little about ourselves until now," Sasha replied as she slowly closed her eyes and leaned her head on his shoulder. "We told our stories and shared about our own troubled past as if... we're closer than ever. Oh, I've wished my mother could tell me her last words."
"... Are you sleepy?" He asked.
"Mhm~... *Yawn*... My eyes were getting doozy~" Sasha yawned as she tucked her blanket over and snuggled with her knight. "Teehee~!... Ash, thanks for sharing your tale with me."
Ash smiled as he let the priestess sleep beside him and then stared back to the fireplace as the flames weakened themselves before his eyes slowly drifted to sleep. Meanwhile, outside of their rented house, a Royal Dragon peeked through the windows and stalked the couple as they slept on their couch. Dracolinde couldn't help but bite her own thumb and wag her tail in a fit of jealousy and tried to cull down her rage.
"Grrr! This isn't fair!" Dracolinde growled in spite. "I can't believe Sasha had it off easy! Maybe... maybe... I will try my best to prove myself!"
As if she tries to muster up her motivation, the eerie silence of the neighbourhood remains still and the Royal Dragon slumped herself down in defeat as if she had done something embarrassing. Dracolinde then heads back to the inn until something stopped her and felt her heart thumping in a heavy beat.
*Ba-Thump!*
Dracolinde gulped. She doesn't want to intrude on their house, yet her monstrous instincts within her are forcing her desire to be with her fated partner.
"N-No... I-I don't want to ruin their peaceful moment."
*Ba-Thump!*
"B-But still... All I want is to share my love with Sasha."
*Ba-Thump!*
Dracolinde won't take it, and her heart is yearning for him. The Royal Dragon then brought up her tail and crept into the windows. As her tail searched for every nook and cranny, Dracolinde noticed the sound of a click and the windows were open. The wind entered the house as the chilly breeze brushed over the weakened fire. The Red Dragon slowly took her steps into the living room without making a sound.
As soon as she reached the couch, Dracolinde loomed over the couple and sat on the right side of Ash Cyrus. Once her arms braced his right arm, doing the same thing as Sasha. She was utterly surprised by how warm he felt, despite wearing his armour, which was supposed to be cold. The Red Dragon blushed as she slowly embraced the knight.
"Ash~... I would also like to tell my tales as well." Dracolinde whispered with a smile as she softly caressed his cheeks. Then she slowly closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep. "I'm sorry for intruding on you and I'll apologise once we wake up... perhaps I'll do you a favour from me, teehee~!"
...
"Damn, we couldn't track them down," Markus said while looking out the windows. "At least we're still alive."
"You don't have to worry about it, Markus~!" The incubus heard his wife's sultry voice until he felt something go hard between his legs. "At least, for now. We should take our break and have some fun~!"
Markus turns around and felt a bright blush on his cheeks to see his wife was stark naked and seductively made a gesture for him to come over to their bed. Without a second thought, he pulls his pants down and embraced Aurola to make their fun throughout the entire night. Yet unbeknownst to the couple, a pair of Mirrah Knights, Lucrezia and Lucena, were peeking through the windows without making a sound. Although they felt very uncomfortable as they were spying on their enemies doing their fun time.
"Jeez! Why are we the ones who were stalking our enemies while they're having sex?" Lucena complained. "We should head back to the inn and get some sleep. I won't spend an entire night while watching them having a non-stop fornication!"
"... yeah, I think you're right." Lucrezia nods in agreement. "We should come back early morning and see what they're up to."
...
... Meanwhile...
...
"Huh... so this must be Gaul... the nation which my older sister failed to conquer."
Druella and her small group, made up of demons and devils, appeared in the midst of the landscape through a portal after their departure from Lescatie. After their brief sightseeing of the serene landscape under the clear moonlight, she pulls up a map to head in some directions leading to Gerth while using her disguise as a human.
"Now... we'll see what this Federation will offer us~!" The Lilim smiled as she walked down the path. "And girls, remember... we're not here for a shopping spree to find a husband, alright~?"
The demons and succubus knights then made their salutes. "Yes ma'am!"
As soon as they followed her, a pair of demons behind their backs were whispering and sharing their talks with concern.
"Psst! Hey, Mirelle. Did you hear about the rumours circulating in Lescatie?"
"Rumours? What kind of rumours were they talking about?"
"Someone told me that Wilmarina is plotting to take over Lescatie to form up a new faction that will replace us."
Upon hearing it, Mirelle flinched in surprise and scrunched in mild concern. "What? A plot to overthrow the Radical Faction? No way, they shouldn't be that stupid. What will they think when Druella finds out about this?"
"I dunno what's going on lately." Her demonic partner replied anxiously while pressing her fingers together. "It feels like... at any moment... something bad is going to happen."
...
Capital City of Lescatie, Radical Faction Headquarters.
...
Inside the office, a variety of demons and devils were doing their usual jobs on the menial paperwork. Some were eating their lunch and signing up for more papers. Others were having some fun times with their male partners.
"... Hmm? What's that?"
At the gate entrance of the Headquarters. Two succubus guards saw a marching column filled with Dark Knights and Warriors marching from around the corner. The monster couples nearby were left speechless as they stepped back in a mix of confusion and fear until they stopped in front of the gates.
The one who was leading the column was Wilmarina, and she stepped forth while unsheathing her sword. The guards exchanged their glances with confusion until one of them came to greet the governor.
"Lord Governor? Is there something you need?"
As if silence reigned in the atmosphere. The Dark Hero flashed a wave of her killing intent, catching the security off-guard and a swing of her titanate sword beheads them without warning. Then she raised her one free hand and froze the entire gates before shattering them into a million pieces. Some demons who were present in the courtyard stepped back to see dark knights marching through and the purple skies above were taken over by the Dark Musketeers who were aiming down at each member of the Radical Faction.
"Hey! What's going on!?"
"What were the Knights of the Dark Ice Flower doing here?"
"Is it me or is the Lord Governor not feeling well?"
Each member of the Radical Faction who just came up to see the fiasco, don't know what was going on until the Dark Hero of Lescatie raised up her sword.
'It is time to reclaim what is ours.'
Wilmarina then frowned at every member of Druella's Faction with spite and she knew they were the ones who were controlling her nation and not her or anyone who's a Lescatian. Even the Roper Queen Francisca was only a puppet under the hands of Druella and she knows that Lilim will not let her take revenge on the enemy, who has stained his hands with the blood of her beloved knights.
"Seize this building and raze it to the ground!" Wilmarina yelled out an order as she lowered her titanate sword, her blade pointed towards the terrified members of the Radical Faction. "Let none of these incompetent conquerors of ours shall be spared! Capture them all and execute them! Reclaim what is ours!"
With that, the Knights of the Dark Ice Flower charged forth, slaying any members of the Radical Faction in their sights without warning as they screamed for help and begged for mercy. Wilmarina smiled wickedly to see her most trusted knights were mercilessly impaling their titanite blades into each member so that they can embrace true death. Then she turns her glance up to the skies, wondering how the other groups were dealing with the collaborators.
'The plan is working. It's a good thing to send the recruits in Blighttown to deal with the bloodthirsty horrors to become our new members.' Wilmarina's thoughts speak with malevolence. 'Other than that... My trusty followers who shared my pain... I let them hear my words that the world will take away anything that we've held dear. So we will fight with blood on our hands to reclaim it!'
...
"Hmm... What article should I write?" Mila, a Ratatoskr Reporter, scratched her head with her pen while thinking about the name of an article for the latest news outlet. "... Oh, I know!"
At the Demonic Newspaper Company of Lescatie, a group of Ratatoskr were printing down their latest weekly newsmagazine until someone barged through the doors with a loud slam. The mamono, who were silently working inside the company, immediately stopped their activities when they saw their employer was catching her breath for air.
"Hey, what's going on?" A Ratatoskr employee then came up to their manager. "Are you alright?"
"Th-They're coming!" Their manager stuttering out. "We have to warn everyone before it's too late!"
"Wait, who's coming?"
Mila peeked out from her office to see the commotion going on and saw her employer was trembling with fear. She raised her brow in concern at what just happened. That is not until the ground quakes. Mila's left ear jolted when she heard her glass of water shaking before a loud explosion occurred, coming from the left.
The employees of the Newspaper Company were shocked that something blew a sizeable hole through. Out from the dust, a Heavy Dark Knight stood and raised her Titanite Lance to any attendants of the Demonic Media News Outlet.
"Under the orders of Lord Governor, spare none of them!"
Out from the cloud of smoke, Dark Knights charged forth and without warning, they drew the blood of any employees in their sights. Not even the manager of the company was fortunate enough to escape their wrath. Mila trembled in shock to see what just happened and saw the succubus begin their massacre to kill anyone who worked for the News Outlets; Reporters, Writers and anyone who was involved.
She ducked under her desk and slowly make her way to the exit while trying to avoid the Dark Knights. While the massacre ensues, Pashe came to the scene and flicked a single spark of embers before spreading it through the facility, creating fire across the office and burning down everything in its way. Mila was horrified that the Knights of the Dark Ice Flower had done something that shouldn't happen.
A massacre against her own monster folk.
Mila reached the back entrance without being detected while coughing to get out of the toxic fumes. Once outside, the Newspaper Company building blazed itself in an inferno. The Ratatoskr felt her tears while shaking in despair. Her career, her friends and her manager were all gone... and only she was left alive.
"Parshe, mind telling us why are we razing this building down along with its workers?" Mila heard someone coming from around the corner and hid inside a nearby wooden barrel. "It's unnecessary while it posed no strategic value."
"No, Wilmarina has a reason to burn it down. Because this company collaborates with the Radical Faction to spread their propaganda." Parshe said with no sympathy in her voice while crossing her arms. "Can you imagine it will spread a bad image about us? Beyond the borders of Lescatie?"
"Oh... I see. We never knew about that." A Dark Knight said while nervously scratching the backside of her head. "Well, that keeps them from telling anyone."
"We still have some collaborates left on our kill list." Parshe then unsheathed her titanite blade and raised it into the air. "Let's go! For the Order of the Dark Ice Flower!"
"For the Dark Ice Flower!"
Mila watched as the Dark Knights left the scene until they were out of sight. The mamono came out from her hiding spot and looked up at the purple skies to see a squadron of Dark Musketeers flying overhead.
"What in the Demon Lord's name is going on?"
...
At the Royal Castle of Lescatie, Francisca, Primera and Mimil arrived at the balcony which faces the city and they stood horrified to see several buildings across the capital razing in flames.
"What is going on...?" The Roper Queen uttered. "The Headquarters of the Radical Faction... just what on earth..."
"I have a bad feeling about this," Primera said while tightening her bow. "No one tells that we're under attack!"
"Uhh... guys, behind us!" Mimil cried out as she caught their attention. The three princesses of Lescatie were suddenly surrounded by the Dark Knights and pointing their blades at them. "Hiiek~! What going on?! Why are they pointing their weapons at us!?"
"Everyone... stand down." The Dark Knight listened to someone's voice and obeyed her orders. Out from the shadows, a Dark Hero arrived along with an Inari. "Well, well, well... the Roper Queen of Lescatie... still having fun for being a pawn?"
"W-Wilmarina?..." Francisca gasped as she stepped back while Primera readied her bow and Mimil hid behind the Roper Queen in fear. "This is all of your doing!?"
"Why yes~! Can't you see how fed up we've become~?" Wilmarina said in a merry tone. "Heh~? Does no one have a clue what I'm currently doing?... Alright, fine... for what I did is a minor change to the government."
"Minor change...?" Primera stepped forth, frowning at Wilmarina. "Are you out of your mind!? This is a coup against the Demon Lord!"
"A coup against the Demon Lord? Heh... hehehehe~! How laughable~!" Wilmarina chuckled. "As you see here... I'm not against the Demon Lord and she knows full well what kind of enemy we're up against."
"Wilmarina, stop this! This is taking too far!" Francisca spoke up sternly and raised her arm, pointing towards the Dark Hero. "I order you to cease this foolishness of yours at once and arrest her!"
As the Roper Queen expected to follow her orders, no one budged to enforce her ultimatum and instead. The Dark Hero stood with an evil smile on her face which caused Francisca to step back as if no one will heed her.
"What are you doing...? Can't you see what this madwoman is doing!?" Francisca cried out and then turns to the Inari. "Koyoi! Do something!"
"My sincere apology, your highness," Koyoi responded with a regretful look and then bowed to the Queen of Lescatie. "I have no choice or else... we'll become an enemy."
"Koyoi... you bastard!" Primera snarled while clenching her weapon. "You'll regret this!"
"Ufufufu~! Poor Francisca... We know that you're the Queen of our country... but the only one who's controlling was Druella herself." Wilmarina spoke haughtily. "You're just nothing but a pawn, but not a useless one, as if your status alone can be of good use~!"
Then the Dark Hero stepped forth and lent out her hand for Francisca.
"Now join me... or... shall we make you join us?"
...
Chapter 47: Ends