As dusk settled in, someone arrived at Governor-General Simurid Kormadino’s mansion.
The visitor was none other than Tovitz Hughker, a name well known among high-ranking soldiers like Kormadino. As a former officer, Hughker had been a key figure in the brutal revolt led by Jayce Partiract and had helped him slaughter many fellow officers and regular soldiers.
He was a brilliant staff officer… I still can’t believe he joined the Demon Blight.
Hughker was undoubtedly a man of extraordinary talent. But he had one glaring flaw: a total lack of drive. Had he remained in the military, he would almost certainly have stagnated without advancement or success. Kormadino had always felt that it would be a shame to waste such a sharp mind. Personally, he’d thought the man would make a good vice-captain in the Holy Knights. Perhaps if he’d been paired with someone like Xylo Forbartz… Though the idea of that man rather grated on him.
But if Hughker has finally found a purpose, then…
He’d be quite a threat to humanity’s future.
Kormadino chose a single attendant and summoned him to his private chambers to ready the room for an audience. The young man was visibly nervous, but Kormadino didn’t believe he had anything to be concerned about.
“This is Fomor,” announced Tovitz, holding aloft a box just big enough to fit in his arms. “The sixtieth demon lord recognized by mankind.”
“It’s surprisingly small.”
“Don’t worry. It will grow in due time.” Tovitz gently placed the box on the table. “Once it’s fully grown, it should be large enough to destroy the First Capital, at least.”
“Surely, the Goddess of Prophecy would see a threat like that coming, don’t you think?”
Kormadino wasn’t about to underestimate the Holy Knights. Among those left in the capital, the Third and Tenth Orders in particular, were forces to be reckoned with. He was especially wary of Mavika Reagar, the seasoned captain of the Third Order and her goddess who could see the future. He understood well why a warrior of that caliber would be entrusted with the royal capital’s defense.
“What’s stopping them from striking before it’s fully grown?”
“We plan on creating as much chaos as possible to distract them. We’ve already instigated a group of bandits to start a riot in the east, and we’ve arranged for several other distractions.”
“That still doesn’t guarantee this will to work.” Kormadino wasn’t a dreamer, and no matter how bleak reality was, he refused to look away. “We can’t let our guard down, and we can’t be overly optimistic. Do you have a backup plan in case this fails, Tovitz Hughker?”
“Of course. We are making preparations in advance of the spring offensive, as well as chipping away at their forces. You may think of this as a preliminary skirmish. Are you familiar with the Uthob Front, Unit 7110? They’re already working behind the scenes.”
Kormadino knew the name well. They were a covert unit allied with the coexisters, specializing in espionage and sabotage. They had only a dozen members, and all shared a unique trait: Every one of them was a faerie. However, these were no ordinary faeries; they were highly intelligent and articulate—experts in their field. In fact, Kormadino had relied on them for help once himself. However…
“I thought they were Demon Lord Abaddon’s personal task force?”
That was what Kormadino had heard, at least. The only way that unit would take orders from humans was if the Demon Blight who spawned them commanded it. In the past, the Uthob Front, Unit 7110 had merely been loaned to the coexisters by Demon Lord Abaddon when deemed necessary.
Abaddon, however, had perished in the Second Capital. Someone must have taken over for him.
“Lord Abaddon foresaw his demise, so he left the unit to a certain individual to use at their discretion. Through them, I have been appointed commander, and I have been given orders to support you in every way possible, Governor-General Kormadino.”
Interesting.
It all made sense to him now. It appeared this man had already become deeply enmeshed in the Demon Blight’s chain of command.
The Uthob Front, Unit 7110 might be small, but they are a powerful force.
Kormadino knew firsthand just how strong they were. After all, he had once sent them to annihilate Xylo Forbartz, his goddess, and his Holy Knights.
The memory was still fresh in his mind. Xylo Forbartz and the Fifth Order had come to rescue him and his people that day, when a demon lord and its army laid siege to Kormadino’s lands. Of course, what wound up happening was hardly a “rescue.”
I had already struck a deal with the Demon Blight, and the battle was a farce. At least, it was supposed to be…
Even back then, Kormadino had been in contact with the Demon Blight, and the demon lord’s invasion was the result of a deal they’d struck. In exchange for allowing them to raid a village on the border of his territory, he had secured a one-year truce, so he wouldn’t have to worry about being invaded anymore. In effect, the Fifth Order’s “rescue” had ruined everything. After repelling the faeries, Xylo Forbartz had stormed Kormadino’s castle.
“The hell is wrong with you? Twiddling your thumbs like you’ve got nothing better to do.” Xylo’s voice, he recalled, had sounded like a feral growl. “What are all these soldiers for if you’re just going to keep them locked inside your castle? Barricading yourself and hoping for the best, huh? Aren’t you those people’s lord? One of your settlements is being attacked, and you’re just gonna abandon them?”
“But…” Back then, Kormadino had fought back. “Is it not a lord’s duty to make difficult decisions like who to save and who to cut loose? We cannot eliminate the Demon Blight entirely, so we must find a middle ground and—”
“Are you sure you want to be saying that?” Xylo Forbartz’s eyes were like smoldering coals. “Can you say that to the soldiers fighting on the front line? To someone who died in this war? Have you no shame? We’re going to eliminate the Demon Blight. And if you’re not fighting to kill every last one of them, what are you fighting for?”
Xylo’s attitude had been unbearably arrogant, but what was even more intolerable was the contempt he’d displayed. Kormadino felt a wave of nausea-inducing rage. It was men like Xylo who had dragged everyone else into unwinnable battles.
“…You are absolutely right. It appears I was mistaken.”
Kormadino managed to suppress his inner rage and disgust, even managing to utter a few words of remorse.
Nothing could have been more humiliating.
Pathetic idealists. Eliminating the Demon Blight is nothing more than a pipe dream.
It felt like Xylo was insulting all his hard work. He’d done everything in his power to protect his territory while sacrificing only the bare minimum. And he’d only managed it by staying realistic.
It was then that Kormadino truly joined the coexisters. Not simply as a means of self-preservation, but out of a sense of true belief. Half a year later, he finally managed to lure Xylo Forbartz and his goddess into a trap.
“At any rate, Governor-General Kormadino, I have been given full authority to decide how we approach this matter.” Tovitz Hughker had been staring intently at Kormadino, making him slightly uneasy. He felt as if the man were peering straight into his soul. “Our sole purpose is to ensure their spring offensive fails. Is that clear?”
“Is that the shared will of the Demon Blight?”
“Yes, that is correct. This is the will of the king who reigns over them.”
“The ‘king’ of the Demon Blight…?” Kormadino stared straight at Tovitz, unable to hide his surprise. “Does such a thing exist? Have you ever met him?”
“…He is a very fascinating individual. Someone like me cannot even begin to fathom what he is thinking.”
“…Now, this is interesting. How would you describe him?”
“You shouldn’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. The king doesn’t like it when people pry.”
For a brief moment, Tovitz glanced out the window, giving the impression they were under some sort of surveillance. But all Kormadino could see was the snowy overcast sky.
“I am expecting great things from you, Governor-General Kormadino. You have sufficient forces now, I presume? I’ll be leaving this demon lord with you.” Tovitz poked the small box on the table. “And besides, you have ‘Doc,’ too. You’ve been hiding him well. With this much power at your disposal, I believe you have what it takes to strike the First Capital—or even the Holy Knights themselves.”
“…You knew about that?”
It appeared Hughker was aware of “Doc,” Kormadino’s secret weapon.
Three years ago, he’d made a deal with the demon lord known as “Doc” to kill Xylo Forbartz. And he’d been harboring it ever since. But Kormadino didn’t let surprise or disgust cloud his expression.
“In that case, please look forward to my success,” he said. “I am confident you will find my services invaluable.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” Tovitz’s reply was brief and devoid of any warmth. It seemed he was still as indifferent to others as he’d always been. “I leave the rest in your hands, Governor-General. Now, then…I must head to another meeting. I am confident your success will pave the way for your desires to become reality.”
“Ha-ha! My desires are nothing so grand.” Kormadino meant what he said. There was only one thing he wanted, and if anyone else was serious about avoiding total annihilation, they’d feel the same. “All I want is to create a world without war—a world where mankind and the Demon Blight can coexist.”
“I see. I agree with you there. I, too, long for a peaceful world where I can be with the one I love. She is all I need.”
Tovitz smirked and stood up, signaling an end to their meeting. This was a top secret discussion, and it would be best to keep it brief.
“Ahem. Would you see Sir Tovitz out?” Kormadino said to his attendant. “Make sure nobody sees you, all right?”
“As you wish,” the young man replied. He then escorted Tovitz to the back door—a hidden passageway that served as an emergency exit from Kormadino’s mansion.
As he watched Tovitz walk away, Kormadino began to think. He had taken all the necessary precautions. In fact, there was no one else as serious about the future as he was.
And that’s why I can’t fail. I have to do this for the sake of mankind.
Their immediate enemy was clear. It was obvious who was trying to get in Kormadino’s way: Xylo Forbartz and his penal hero unit. And if killing them once wouldn’t stop them, then they would simply have to kill them again and again until all their memories disappeared and they became mere shells of their former selves.