Side Story ASMONADIA’S CLANDESTINE OPERATIONS Asmonadia, aka Dusk Lightning. A high demon, one of the highest ranking of all demons. One of Sequence’s three daughters. As the daughter of a distinguished family of high demons, she was raised to bloom on the battlefield and honed to perfection. From combat arts like the sword, the spear, archery, and magic, to strategy, tactics, blacksmithing, domestic affairs, diplomacy, and trade. She was raised believing there was nothing she couldn’t master, regardless of her innate strengths and weaknesses. And Asmonadia showed remarkable talent, especially in fighting. The sight of her running across the battlefield swinging her giant ax made the warriors of the Alliance tremble in fear. She was also highly proficient with magic, though not as skilled as Popratika. Her nickname of Dusk Lightning came from her ability to pierce even the armor made by the master dwarf craftsman Gabarabanga. Indeed, she had laid waste to many dwarven warriors. As a demon, though, she was a little lacking in foresight and tended to be impulsive and somewhat reckless. She wasn’t a particularly good commander because of that, but as a warrior, she had no weaknesses in either attacking or defending ability. She was considered one of the strongest warriors alive, even among the demons. The humans were definitely keeping an eye out for her. “Hmm.” Asmonadia had come to the border. The sole border separating the lands of the demons and the beastkin. “Lie if you must, but don’t insult my intelligence.” “I’m not lying. I’m heading to the orc country to marry an Orc Hero.” She’d been stopped by the border guards, of course. “There’s no way a demon would marry an orc…” Asmonadia was facing off against the captain of the same unit that had been sent just the other day to man the border. Though he remained outwardly composed, he was clearly nervous about talking to this famous demon general. “True… For a noble demon to marry an orc… Well, it’s unheard-of. Of course you’re skeptical. But it’s the truth. As a proud demon, I must repay the kindness of one who has aided my people. Thus, I will marry the Orc Hero.” “Right…” What is she even talking about? thought the border patrol captain. However, the Orc Hero had indeed just been escorted to Black Head Territory by some traveling knights just the other day. It was obvious she was following him. Still, he couldn’t figure out what her true intentions were. “You know that Popratika’s gang has been causing mischief all over the world, right?” “I didn’t know that, actually. You humans are the ones who control and obstruct information channels. Even if I did know, my sister’s business is none of my concern.” No, that wouldn’t fly. She couldn’t just shrug off responsibility. Though Asmonadia shrugged and acted disinterested, the captain wasn’t having it. “I don’t know, you demons are good at playing tricks on others.” “Well, I suppose I’ll take that as a compliment. But you humans are no match for me. You not only deceive your enemies but your allies as well.” “What are you talking about?” “You’re a grunt. You don’t understand, of course. You don’t even notice when you’re being deceived… But never mind. Let me repeat myself. I have zero affiliation with my sister. If she is up to some sort of secret scheme, then yeah, I guess she might become a nuisance to various countries. I don’t know what she wants. But I think I can guess. My guess is she wants to find some way to reignite the fight against you humans and shake up this new world order.” “…” “My sister, she’s a shrewd strategist. If she’s cooking something up, it won’t be some simple, harebrained scheme, like: Attack and get revenge! …No, she won’t act unless she’s got a high probability of success. You should be prepared. Most of the demons, myself included, have no idea where my sister is or what she’s doing. But if fighting breaks out, the demons at the Gije Fort will be quick to act.” The commander gulped. Waves of pure power were radiating off this demoness. Instinctively, he reached for the sword he wore at his waist. But he did not draw it. If he drew it, he’d probably be killed before he could even lift it high enough to swing. That’s how powerful an opponent a high demon is. “But as I’ve said many times before, it has nothing to do with me. I’m simply off to marry the Orc Hero. If it turns out the Orc Hero is in cahoots with my sister and plans to beef with you humans, then I’ll join in the fray on their side as well, of course. Still, I think that’s highly unlikely.” “What makes you think so?” “Whatever the Shadow Vortex, Popratika, is planning, I doubt she’d use an Orc Hero as a pawn in a dragon-slaying scheme.” “Dragon slaying…? The other day, we did get a report that the dragon had flown away… Could it really be true…?” “Yeah, the Orc Hero bested the dragon and saved us all.” It wasn’t that hard to believe. Even humans knew of the rumors about the Orc Hero and his dragon-slaying exploits. But humans, who have never fought a dragon head-on, could not understand the majesty of this act. “Just for that, a demon’s willing to shack up with an orc?” “‘Just for that?’ How rude! Still, I can understand why you’d say that. We, too, thought we could take down the dragon by ourselves for a time. A Sage brought it there… It appeared on the battlefield with little fanfare… But it died relatively quickly. Naturally, the inclination is to dismiss that dragon as weak. But dragons are more powerful than you or I could ever imagine! One of them was certainly powerful enough to suppress us demons…” Few could ever triumph against a dragon, Asmonadia insisted. The captain raised a brow, not quite getting what she was saying. Asmonadia spotted that. “You really don’t get it.” She chuckled lightly. “Anyway, allow me passage through the border at once.” “Hold on. No. I won’t let you through. Demons can’t pass. Not as long as the treaty stands.” “No, that’s not a rule.” “What?!” The captain grew visibly flustered. But Asmonadia remained calm. With a faint smile, she continued speaking. “The treaty does not prohibit demons from passing through, and I fulfill the conditions necessary to cross the border.” “Conditions?” “The conditions you humans agreed upon. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten.” Yes, the humans did indeed present the demons with conditions for leaving the country. “First, carrying weapons is prohibited. “Second, contact with succubi and ogres is prohibited. “Third, you must have an invitation. You must clearly state the intended destination and the reason for your visit. And you must promise that you will not do anything that violates the sanctity of the Alliance of Four. “In other words, nothing forbids me from passing through. We’re forbidden from starting armed uprisings, conspiring with succubi or ogres to start rebellions, and so on. But we are permitted to carry out acts of diplomacy with other countries. It’s only because of the dragon that we haven’t been able to do that all this time.” Asmonadia grinned, causing the captain to break out in a cold sweat. The sweat began to drip into his eyes. He felt he’d already made some sort of terrible mistake. “…But you haven’t been invited.” “I have, actually. The Orc Hero desired me for his wife. I consent and am on my way to his country. If you don’t consider that an invite, then what is?” Asmonadia’s expression as she spoke was that of a young maiden. However, that look quickly disappeared. And then that demonic look returned. The typical sneer of the demon, mocking the mistakes of their opponent, crowing over their own victory. “You humans have grown arrogant. There’s no way us demons would cast aside our arms and go join hands with the likes of lizardmen and harpies! Much less fairies and orcs!” Both the captain and Asmonadia knew that this wasn’t a case of the humans being arrogant. It was just that the Dark General had made sure that the treaty contained several gray areas. In a world that knew anything of peacetime, no doubt those gray areas would have been identified before the ink had even dried, and swiftly removed. But those who had planned out the treaty had never even experienced a cease-fire. “So? Why not turn a blind eye? I mean, it’s not like you five could stop me, Dusk Lightning Asmonadia.” Five people. Yes, this fort was once manned by more than thirty men, but now there were only five. And these newly deployed soldiers were by no means experienced. Though, if word of a skirmish reached the Black Head Territory, hundreds or perhaps thousands of soldiers could be sent here to protect this fort. But as of right now… Five people was all they’d gotten. The captain… And the other four… Didn’t seem to have any skills to speak of. Well, since they survived the war, they couldn’t have been complete pushovers. But in a fight against Asmonadia, they’d be annihilated. Actually, it was odd that Asmonadia didn’t just instantly leap to deadly force. All she wanted was to get by. At any cost. As he thought this, a chill ran through the captain’s entire body. “Ah… You know what, sorry about all this.” Asmonadia’s expression suddenly seemed to have softened. Now her expression was gentle, like that of a kindly teacher or a priest granting forgiveness. “In your position, of course you would have to try and stop me. Silly question, really.” “…” “By way of an apology, I’ll give you some information. You won’t get in trouble if we cut a deal that benefits the humans, right?” The captain gulped again. Frankly, if Asmonadia wanted to pass, then he had no choice but to stand down. But if he turned a blind eye, he’d be in for a reprimand, for sure. He might even lose his job as a soldier… Something he’d clung on to all this time. Fear and panic made him naive. “Information…?” Though he knew it was a trap, the thought of getting out of trouble was enough to hook him. “About the current situation with the demons. You people can barely send scouts into our land, right? This is information your people are desperate to have, right?” “…Let’s hear it, then.” The commander nodded and listened to the information Asmonadia had. The demons… The once glorious and most powerful race had been facing extinction. But now their biggest threat had been eliminated. It was highly possible that they would now return to power. After all this time, they’d been cornered animals. And, if Popratika started an uprising… Most of the demons would no doubt join her. He had some trouble believing the info at first, though. Demons often told lies. Lies that would make a fairy’s tall tales seem insignificant by comparison. Still, it wasn’t the captain’s call to decide if Asmonadia’s information was genuine or not. That was for the higher-ups. All the captain had to do was relay the information from Asmonadia. “…I will make the report.” “You do that. And I…will be on my way.” With that, Asmonadia got to her feet and marched briskly through the fort. No one stopped her. And she never looked back. Dusk Lightning Asmonadia had passed through the border. This information spread throughout the Alliance with lightning speed. Heads of the various countries scratched their heads over this. They’d heard about a demon woman called Asmonadia traveling. But they couldn’t fathom why. Or what it was she planned to do. Become an orc’s wife? No country was crazy enough to believe that. The most natural assumption was that she was plotting something with Popratika. Even so, it was odd. If she wanted to pass through the border for nefarious means, she could just as easily have quietly assassinated all the border guards. It had happened before. This puzzling behavior left the leaders of the various countries completely bemused. If she was working with Popratika, then she had to be stopped. Asmonadia had to be captured and tortured for information. If their assumptions were wrong… Well, no matter. Who cared if a demon died? That’s what the beastkin thought as Asmonadia passed through their territory. After the recent incident, the beastkin had softened a little when it came to their resentment of the Orc Hero. But their resentment toward members of the Coalition of Seven remained unchanged. The war had ended, so they no longer sought to eliminate the demons. But the war wounds were still fresh. They’d take the chance if it came to them. The memories of being driven from their homes and pushed to the brink of extinction were still embedded deep in the soul of every beastkin. And then, just a year ago, the Sacred Tree had been withered. So they were angry about that, too. “She’s in cahoots with the ogres, after all. Don’t mock us. We can smell it.” Asmonadia was captured by the beastkin hound unit, near the border with the country of the ogres. But why was she here in the first place? “Your dog Koro has a good nose but absolutely no brains. I mean, confusing an orc for an ogre?” “What?” “I’m going to orc country, geniuses. What have the ogres got to do with that?” “You foolish demon wench, you’re approaching ogre country, don’t you realize that?” “What? Oh my. Have I taken a wrong turn?” Yes, Asmonadia had indeed taken a wrong turn! “Don’t mess with us, wench!” “Whoops, ha-ha-ha.” No way she had simply gotten lost. There was no way that Dusk Lightning herself, Asmonadia, would have taken a wrong turn. She was a cunning demon woman. She knew where she was going. Her plan was definitely to swing by the ogre country and get some intel. For four years, the dragon had almost completely blocked off the flow of information from outside of the demon territory. As a result, Asmonadia knew almost nothing about the post-war world. So she figured she’d better educate herself first. But she didn’t want to linger in the human or beastkin countries to get that info. Demons only trusted information that came from the ogres and the succubi. “This is the dog Koro we’re talking about here. Being messed around with a little… That’s par for the course.” Okay, she admitted to lying. But Asmonadia needed that info. An uneducated demon was powerless. That wouldn’t change even if she became an orc’s wife. And a demon had ideas about what a perfect wife should be, whether that pleased the orc or not. The ultimate demon wife is one who is both intelligent and beautiful, and who supports her husband’s path to the top, no matter what. Orcs sucked at lying. So after they were married, Asmonadia would have to handle all the lying and deceiving. No demon had ever become an orc’s wife before. So she wasn’t quite sure if lies and deceit were what orcs desired in a wife. But as a demon, she would do her research. She would be prepared. To be caught oblivious, pants down, when it came to the crunch…that would be the ultimate demon shame. That’s what Asmonadia was thinking. So Asmonadia would not back off. She claimed to have made a wrong turn. And yet she showed no signs of retreat. “I’ll finish you off right here!” “You’re going to attack us, Dusk Lightning? With what weapon?” Asmonadia was in a bind. She was unarmed. Up against twenty members of the beastkin country’s Hound Corps. There were more of them than there had been opponents at the checkpoint. All were elite fighters who’d carried out countless missions as the beastkin’s premier strike force. More than that would usually be required to take down a sole opponent. Still, she was a demon. Defeating a demon general was no laughing matter. Twenty men against an unarmed Asmonadia… It would just be enough. “You talk big for an unarmed woman! Graaargh!” “You stupid, mangy curs! Siccing a pack of men on a lone woman who’s simply gotten lost on her way? But whatever! The Orc Hero’s wife will show you what she’s made of!” And thus, the tension in the air reached a fever pitch. Black lightning crackled all around Asmonadia’s arms, and the hounds drew their swords. They tensed as Asmonadia grinned. “Wait a minute!” Just before they all charged, someone yelled out. Good beastkin knew when to freeze. The Hound Corps all turned their gazes to the unknown intruder. Of course, they kept their ears turned toward Asmonadia, and they kept on sniffing the air for the scent of her magical power. She could still strike at any moment. Standing there was a young ogre boy. He stood there, sweating profusely and breathing heavily, holding a large wooden sword that was very much disproportionate to his height. “She may be a demon, but she’s also a woman, and she’s lost her way! Don’t you beastkin have any shame?!” “Who the hell are you?” The boy drew himself up to his full height. “I’m Ludo, the son of Rularula, the great ogre warrior!” “Rularula?! What are you doing here, ogre?!” “I’m allowed to be here! This is ogre country!” The hounds snorted at this. Territorial violations are a problem even for the beastkin, a victorious nation. Especially when it comes to military action. It would be one thing if this was just a nameless ogre pup, but this boy claimed to be the son of the great warrior Rularula. One of the great ogre leaders, no less. They hesitated to cut him down. They could hide the body, yes… But the sin might still be found out. “Whatever your problem with us, this demon is none of your business! Let her through!” But the great hound warriors hesitated to back down. If they didn’t take care of the Demon General now, no doubt she would go on to cause trouble. “You must stand down! This demon is going to become the wife of the Orc Hero! I am his apprentice, actually! And my sister Luca is engaged to him! If this woman becomes his wife for real, that will make us practically family! I can’t just let you do this!” Toward the end of the war, the beastkin fought bitterly against the ogres. The great warrior, Rularula. The premier fighter of the ogres. She had taken down many of the beastkin’s finest. Everyone knew her name. And this boy was her son? And apprentice to the Orc Hero Bash? Those accolades were enough to make the hounds tremble in fear. The beastkin hadn’t tangled much with orcs, toward the end of the war. But they’d heard all the rumors. Despite being on the back foot, on the brink of annihilation… The Orc Hero killed all the human generals, save for Houston the Pig Slayer… And he had fought a death match against the great Elf Mage Thunder Sonia and survived… Terrifying all the humans and elves to their very core. Then, about a year ago, he’d shown up at Innuella’s wedding, dressed impeccably, venerating the name of the Hero Leto. And then there was that incident when he fought for the beastkin when the Sacred Tree shriveled up. Not only was the misunderstanding resolved, but they’d also come to think of him with feelings of gratitude. That Orc Hero. His apprentice. What an accolade! The leader of the Hound Corps clenched his jaw. “…” He could kill little Ludo and take the fall for his men. But could only twenty of them defeat such exalted ones? If they tried but were unable to defeat Asmonadia, they would have to live with the shame of letting an intruder trespass on their land, and the shame of defeat, too. “I guess we’ve done what we can… We’ll back off.” “We’ll pretend we never noticed this intrusion.” “…Thank you kindly.” Right, they had no choice but to stand down. And so Asmonadia met the boy in the land of the ogres. It was the bonds that Bash created that brought the two of them together. A few hours later, Asmonadia was in the land of the ogres. In a town called Margaron, one of the three major towns of the ogre country. Among the three most powerful races of the former Coalition of Seven, the demons, ogres, and succubi, the ogres were the least repressed and were currently the most prosperous race of them all. However, the country was still a defeated nation. Of the three towns, Margaron, the closest to the border, could hardly be described as prosperous. Worn-down houses and ogres with careworn frowns. A race that was once so mighty and impressive, now walking the streets of their homeland with sour faces. It’s the same everywhere, Asmonadia thought. Asmonadia found herself invited to a house on the outskirts of the town. Ludo’s and Luca’s house. “Well, first let me express my gratitude to you, Ludo, son of the great warrior Rularula.” In ogre culture, chairs were not used. There were planks laid on the ground, with cloth woven from fur placed atop them, and then cushions on top of that. In the past, the ogres used to sit on the ground on animal hides, like how modern orcs still sit. But the ogres, after many years of fighting the beastkin, had picked up on certain aspects of their culture. Asmonadia followed suit, sitting cross-legged on a cushion. “It would have been easy to just kill them all, but I’m on a journey. Being pursued by the beastkin would be most inconvenient for me.” “Listen here, more importantly… I mean, the thing is…” Ludo scowled at Asmonadia. “You said you’re the master’s wife?” “And you…? You call yourself the Orc Hero’s apprentice?” Each of them picked up on the hint of suspicion in the other’s words. Those suspicions could turn to fighting spirit at any moment. They were both feisty ones. “Ludo… Listen, the Orc Hero is no ordinary warrior. He is the mightiest of all. Exalted above all orcs. You can’t go calling yourself his apprentice that lightly. The orcs will tear you limb from limb, you know?” “Well, what about you? A demon claiming to be an orc’s wife? Demons are a proud race. If word gets about that you’ve been laying with an orc, won’t that disgrace your entire race for all eternity?” Carefully measured words. “It’s true, I applied to become my master’s apprentice without even knowing just how amazing a person he was. I was…ignoring my own limitations. But he still took me on. I repeat the lessons he taught me every day. It’s all I can do to maintain my honor.” “Well, he saved me from being scorched to death by a dragon. Then he asked my father, Sequence, for my hand in marriage as a reward for slaying the dragon, and he agreed. Even we demons can swoon for an orc, if he’s really strong and brave and good-looking.” There was a breathless pause. The two of them, satisfied with each other’s explanation, exchanged a nod. The Orc Hero, Bash. Both of them owed so much to the man. And once they realized they were being straight with each other, both relaxed. Yes, Asmonadia was a little nervous as well. If Asmonadia was lying, Ludo wouldn’t have the power to hold her accountable. Still, you never knew what would happen when someone was willing to stake everything on a fight. “Hee-hee.” Asmonadia smiled and looked to Ludo’s side. There she sat, the girl with the same stern expression as always… Ludo’s younger sister, Luca. “I figured, as a dragon-slaying Orc Hero, that he’d have one or two other wives. But to think he’d go and lay his hands on a child like you…” Luca frowned at this. “He hasn’t laid his hands on me yet. We have an arrangement for when I’m grown up.” “Oh, my apologies. So he merely spat on you to claim you for later, then.” And Asmonadia smiled smugly, knowing she had the advantage. Well, in truth, Asmonadia herself hadn’t even been spat upon by Bash yet. But in her mind, she had already won him. After all, he had fought a dragon just to claim her. “Oh my, at this rate I wonder how many wives he has…” “I don’t know, but I guess he did propose to his former enemy, so… I guess it tracks.” “Well, orcs will be orcs. But why did you decide to become the Orc Hero’s bride anyway? If you’re really the daughter of Rularula, you should have your pick of men.” “I am going to become his wife as a symbol of my gratitude for his helping to try to avenge my mother’s death.” Hearing this, Asmonadia snorted in disgust. “Oh, I see. Well, you can step aside. I’ll tell the Orc Hero for you. I’ll tell him the ogre girl has backed off.” “I’d rather you didn’t. You see, I…” Seeing Luca hesitate, Asmonadia raised a brow. Yikes. It looked like this girl actually did have feelings for the Orc Hero. “Hmm, I see. Even though he’s an orc, he’s also a man worthy of being loved by us superior races. That’s certainly true. But this man has traveled to many countries. When he returns to his own land, there’ll surely be a number of women worthy of his name and title there, too. You’d better step up your game quick, you know.” Her demon pride balked at the idea of being just one of multiple wives. Still, Asmonadia was confident that she would be the best of them all. Not just confident. Certain. Because she was a demon. “Hmm?” Asmonadia suddenly realized that there had been some strange words mixed in with what she’d just heard. “…Wait, avenge your mother? You mean Rularula is dead?” “Yes. By the hand of the nameless swordsman who attacked the succubus country.” “Nameless swordsman? Who?” “A human female swordsman…with a burnt face.” “…Ah.” A nameless human female swordsman with a burnt face who could defeat Rularula. Asmonadia knew one such person who fit that description. Asmonadia quickly decided that it had to be her. “Well, if they fought, no doubt it was an admirable end.” “You…know her?” “The demons protected and hid her for a time. I hadn’t seen her since the war ended, but I see, so she killed Rularula… With the Orc Hero…” Asmonadia nodded, satisfied. She grinned, thinking how fortunate it was that she could learn so much just from chatting to a young ogre brother and sister. “By the way, did the Orc Hero succeed in avenging your mother?” “No, it ended in a draw. Anyway, it seems the female swordsman had some other business in the succubus country…” “Well, tell me more about that.” “Well, I don’t know everything, either…” As Luca began to talk, Asmonadia listened intently about all the events that had occurred in the land of the succubi. Hmm, I haven’t seen that woman in ages, but she must have become one of Popratika’s subordinates. And thus, she came to a conclusion. Hmm. It seemed that the two siblings had traveled to various countries in order to seek revenge, and so they might be quite knowledgeable about the situations in each country, despite their young ages. In that case, Asmonadia said, perking up, making the siblings warm to her… “Now, Luca. Like me, you are the wife of an Orc Hero, but your status is low due to your age. If you would grant me one request, I’ll make whatever arrangements I can for you as a fellow wife.” “Does that mean that if I don’t do what you want, you’ll treat me with disdain and neglect after the weddings?” “Of course not. Here we are, two women in the same situation. We have to be friends, don’t we? Anyway, I don’t want much from you. You know, we demons have been trapped by bitter snow and dragon flame for years. We’re out of touch with the outside world. All I want you to do is tell me what’s happened over the past few years.” “Well, if that’s all you want…” Thus, Asmonadia achieved her goal. Just as she had guessed, even among the ogres, Ludo and Luca were fairly knowledgeable about current world affairs. They were ogres, yes, but also half-human, and children. The leaders of the various countries weren’t on their guard around them. So they had a little bit of info that normally would never have reached their ears. It’s not like they knew all the plans of each country’s leader specifically, but Asmonadia was a demon. Being the most intelligent of her race, she was able to get a rough idea of the current state of the world just by listening to their conversation. “Hmm, it seems each country still hasn’t fully resolved their own problems.” If so, there was a chance that each race in the Coalition of Seven could recover. Humans were always going to be humans. The weakest of all races, yet the one most eager to fight. They would eventually start fighting among themselves. Perhaps the next target would be the elves or dwarves…but humans are also cunning. They would likely crush the Coalition at the same time. But there was still time. “The Orc Hero will one day become the Orc King. He has what it takes. If I assist him once he becomes king, the orcs will be able to avoid extinction.” “Huh…?” “On the other hand, if I don’t help, the orcs will perish. Orcs are stupid. They can’t keep up with the current situation.” “Lord Bash is not stupid.” “No, but even an Orc Hero is still an orc. He may be thoughtful, kind, reliable, and strong, but he lacks wisdom. That’s just his nature. That’s why I must assist him. As his wife, I can’t stand by and watch my husband’s country fall to ruin. Bolstering the orcs will decide the future relationship between them and the various races.” “…You’ve thought that far ahead?” “Of course. That’s what being the wife of the king entails.” Bash didn’t have any aspiration to be Orc King, so this wasn’t a given. But Luca didn’t know that. Her eyes lit up. She knew she was engaged to Bash and would eventually marry him, but she found it hard to picture what that life would be like. However, what Asmonadia was saying had opened a whole world of possibilities. She imagined a future the likes of which Bash had never once envisioned. “Perhaps I’ve been a bit naive about all this.” “At your age, it can’t be helped. But now you know. So there’s no problem. How about it? Shall we go to the orc country together?” “Are you sure?” “Yeah, sure. We’re both wives of the Orc Hero, after all!” What a tempting idea. Demons and ogres are forbidden from interacting with one another, and if they were to intervene together in orc politics, it would infuriate the humans and the elves. “Ludo, you come along, too. You might not be on the level of the Orc Hero, but I do consider you a worthy warrior. And I’ll give you some training myself.” “Are you sure?” “If your sister is engaged to the Orc Hero, then that makes you family. I’ll make you stronger. Besides, if his apprentice is weak, it would tarnish the name of the Orc Hero.” Ludo had been working on his physical strength, just like Bash told him to. Although he’d been swinging the sword on his own, it was about time to learn from someone knowledgeable. He’d been planning to face the master ogre swordsman when the time was right, but if he could study under Asmonadia, that would be perfect. “Thank you very much.” Thus began the journey of Asmonadia and the ogre siblings. “Tuck your chin in and hold your sword straight. It’s not how the Orc Hero does it, but you don’t need to copy him just because you’re his apprentice.” Asmonadia’s training of Ludo began as soon as they set out on their journey. “You just need to learn the basics. Don’t worry. You have good muscles. Your sword swing is rough, but your legs are well trained. That must be due to the Orc Hero’s teachings.” “…Right!” “Ogres have their own style. But first, you need to master the basics. Then you can add your own specialties. Swordplay, magic, or even pugilism. You must envision your own strength and make it a reality. Always be thinking about what you can do to bring yourself one level higher. Then try it out in actual combat. Once you gain strength, everyone will respect you as the Orc Hero’s apprentice. Even if your fighting style is different from that of the orcs.” Asmonadia’s instructions were hardcore in a whole different way from Bash’s. Think hard and consider all angles. Consider the roots of training. Consider everything you’re doing. Don’t do a thing without it having meaning. Use your brain fully when moving your body. Although there was one aspect in which she was the same as Bash. She had Ludo training until he was ready to drop. “Okay, we’re in good shape. Let’s try slaying the magical beast today, shall we?” It was usually Asmonadia who handled the enemies they encountered, but occasionally Ludo was made to step in, for training. Up until now, Ludo would have avoided all magical beasts. He wouldn’t have even strayed near their habitats. The beast Asmonadia had chosen for that day’s training was a cockatrice, with the body of a rooster and the tail of a snake, and the ability to use strong poison and heat-ray magic. It wasn’t a particularly large beast, but it was still twice as large and more agile than Ludo, making it a dangerous opponent. “Gasp… Gasp…” There were many differences between Asmonadia’s training and Bash’s. But it was clear that Ludo’s technical skills had improved dramatically during his training with Asmonadia. That doesn’t mean that Bash’s teaching methods were poor. Thanks to the training Ludo had gotten from Bash, he’d built a solid base that would enable him to withstand Asmonadia’s training. “Hmm. Not bad. It’s about what I’d expect from the son of Rularula.” After a while, all that remained was Ludo and the beast’s corpse. The cockatrice was dead, its tail and neck severed. Meanwhile, Ludo’s whole body was covered in burns. He was badly hurt, but he had not been affected by the beast’s poison. He’d avoided fatal strikes, but it had been a long battle. In the end, though, Ludo had dominated with his physical strength and pulled off a brilliant victory. “If you can fell a cockatrice, you can fell most magical beasts.” Asmonadia was pleased with the outcome. The cockatrice was a powerful magical beast. It had strong legs and moved quickly. And it had poison and heat rays at its disposal. It could attack from long range as well as close range. There were few opportunities to land a hit on it. Even the other magical beasts tried to avoid it. Asmonadia put her hand to her chin in thought, then clapped her hands together, as if to say, All right, then! “Enough beasts. We need you to fight against people! Hmm, though, I was planning to avoid villages and towns until we’d reached the orc country, but let’s find a likely warrior on our way and challenge him to a fight!” Fighting people… Not monsters. Ludo had to speak up when Asmonadia proposed this dangerous plan. “Um, I think that might lead to some problems?” However, Asmonadia just laughed at Ludo. “You fool. What’s the problem with a little lively fight to the death? You’re still young, so you probably don’t understand, but there are warriors in every country. Warriors who wouldn’t say no to a request for training from a young’un.” In fact, there are plenty of them in the orc country. However, Asmonadia wanted to get Ludo polished up to some extent before they reached the orc country. Asmonadia, a demon, knew quite a bit about orcs. She knew that Bash was something special. But most of the other orcs in orc country were morons. Orcs were evaluated purely based on physical strength. What would happen if a boy claiming to be Bash’s apprentice showed up there? He’d be challenged. He’d have to fight. The orcs no doubt would be all excited at the prospect of the Orc Hero’s apprentice. They’d want to test his skills and see what he was made of. Which would be fine, as long as Ludo was tough enough to take on anyone. Or, if he lost after defeating one or two decent warriors and putting up a good fight, that would be fine, too. But if he lost to a weakling orc, someone other orcs looked down upon… Then Ludo would no doubt be executed on the spot. We won’t let a puny shrimp like this call himself the Orc Hero’s apprentice, they would say. If that happened, it would make Asmonadia and Ludo’s sister Luca look small by association. If that happened, then Asmonadia could bust a few heads… But there was a risk that this would reflect badly on Bash. There was a chance the orcs might think he wasn’t fit to be king. Asmonadia was confident that Bash could be Orc King someday. But if the people doubted him, there could be a coup d’état. Of course, she was overcomplicating things. But Asmonadia would not permit Bash to be ridiculed by his own race. She planned to control all variables so that would never happen. “Umm, Lady Asmonadia…” “You can call me Sister. You two are family, after all.” Asmonadia gently admonished Luca, who’d just spoken. “Ah, yes. Sister… I thought that the demons would revive Lord Geddigs. Don’t you want to be a part of that?” Revive Geddigs. Yes, this was info they’d picked up along the way. The conflict in Mistland, Popratika’s clandestine activities… The rumors indeed seemed to be true. After considering all the evidence, Asmonadia had determined that Popratika’s goal was to revive Geddigs and then start a war to overturn the status quo. “I don’t know what my sister or father are up to. I’m just going to go be with the Orc Hero. However…” “However…?” “If you want my advice on who to side with, I’d say go against what most of the demons go along with. The demons still worship Geddigs, so I suppose I’d side with the humans.” “Why?” “If the humans win, then in my position as wife of the Orc Hero, I can plead for clemency for the demons. But if my sister is victorious, then I can still get in with them after the fact ’cause I’m a demon. Since I don’t know how this will all play out, it’s better for me to stay neutral for now. So that’s what I’m gonna do.” Luca’s eyes sparkled as Asmonadia explained this. Ludo listened, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “Should I…? Should I be thinking about all this, too?” “Yes, think about it. Ogres are a wise race. You can’t be a superior race if you don’t use the brains in your head. But now is not the time to worry too much about all that.” Asmonadia shrugged dismissively. Getting stronger was the priority, she said. “Now then, training. But where to go…? Beastkin are no good. Lizardmen might be okay, but it’s a bit far to go. Harpies and fairies are no good for training against… Elves and humans are too cunning. You might get killed. Which leaves… The dwarves. Dobanga Pit’s on our route.” Ludo yelped with excitement. “Oh yes, Master said he stopped by Dobanga Pit! Apparently, he defeated a number of strong opponents during the festival there and ended up the overall winner. Well, of course he did!” Actually, Bash didn’t win, but the info had come from Zell, so it was a bit exaggerated. Still, Bash was the winner in Zell’s eyes. Fairies were known to twist the facts. “Well duh, of course he won. Who could beat the Orc Hero in a one-on-one fight? This is the man who single-handedly defeated a dragon, you know? Actually, a festival tournament like that sounds a bit beneath him. Like a grown adult getting involved in a squabble between children…” Asmonadia raised an eyebrow. “Hmm? Yes, it is odd that a warrior of the level of the Orc Hero would take part in such a tournament. He must have had some sort of reason for it.” Asmonadia pondered what it could possibly be. But she couldn’t come up with anything. She didn’t know that Bash had fought to free the slave orcs. Whenever a fairy gave out information, there was always some important element missing. Still, it wasn’t technically true that he did it only to help the slave orcs… “Still, speaking of the festival tournament, I hear that the winner gets to claim anything they want. It’s obvious what an orc would want.” What every orc wants at the end of a battle. A woman, of course. Even though Bash fought for honor, he wouldn’t turn down a woman if the time was right. Just like how he’d claimed Asmonadia. “There may be other wives of the Orc Hero in Dobanga Pit. We’ll try to find them while we’re there. We’ll also try to get some weapons, though I don’t know if that’s going to be possible.” “Right!” Asmonadia had made up her mind. And so they set off on the road to Dobanga Pit. Asmonadia’s visit caused a commotion at Dobanga Pit. A demon, one of the race who had vanished from the public eye like smoke for the past few years, had suddenly come to visit. And moreover, it was Dusk Lightning herself, Asmonadia, one of the daughters of the powerful Demon General, Sequence. This was a big deal. Every dwarf knew the name. After all, who else had shattered the reputation of the former master craftsman, Gabarabanga? With magic attacks that penetrated his prized shields, that punched holes in his best armor. Laying waste to dwarven weapons and the warriors who wielded them. It was different from how it was when Bash came. Everyone was on high alert. “So what business does this famous demon warrior have here at Dobanga Pit?” Asmonadia and the other two were taken to the dwarven council chamber, where they were called upon to explain themselves. Asmonadia didn’t argue. Instead, she declared boldly: “This here apprentice to the Orc Hero wants to train as a warrior. There’s an arena here, and you dwarves are strong. I thought it would be a perfect fit, so I brought him here.” An apprentice to the Orc Hero? All eyes turned to the ogre boy, Ludo. Any dwarf seeing him would think, Who’d want to fight against such a pip-squeak? But if he was the Orc Hero’s apprentice, then that changed everything. Anyone would be happy to volunteer. As long as Bash was present, that is. “All right, so Lord Bash’s apprentice wishes to train here. But why are you here, demon?” “Do I need to explain that? Hm, I guess I do. So I’m the wife of the Orc Hero. And I’m off to join him in the land of the orcs. Is it so strange for a wife to want to live in her husband’s country?” “…?” A demon, the wife of an orc? The dwarves became increasingly suspicious as Asmonadia spouted this nonsense. Demons sometimes confused their opponents with difficult words. “Hmm…” While Barabaradobanga was away, one of their sons, AraAradobanga, was in charge of Dobanga Pit. But he was unable to grasp what this meant. A demon, become the wife of the Orc Hero? It was a bit too abstract a concept for AraAradobanga. “What do you mean, become his wife?” “I think it’s pretty clear-cut?” “A demon? I find that hard to believe…” If not abstract, then perhaps a complete fabrication. There was not a single dwarf who would believe such a lie. …Or perhaps not. The memory of Bash’s visit to Dobanga Pit was still fresh for the dwarves. He had fought spectacularly at the festival tournament. He’d defeated Barabaradobanga and given everyone a great show in the finals. He’d made it clear to everyone that orcs were more than battle fodder. The memory was so fresh, it was regularly discussed in the bars. Not only that, but when rogue orcs happened to drop by and hear this story, they had a change of heart and returned to their own country. These rogue orcs, who’d been licking their lips and drooling over the dwarf women, catcalling them and being obscene… They’d straightened up at the mention of Bash and listened raptly to the tales of his heroic deeds. Then they’d quietly left. The dwarves might be an insensitive lot, but it was clear that Bash had had a big impact on them. “So Bash traveled to the Demon Kingdom and took a demon’s daughter as his wife…” Such was the power of Bash that such a tall tale actually seemed plausible. “I would never marry an orc who wasn’t the Orc Hero. Please give me some credit. But when a man is truly magnificent, race is irrelevant.” “Yes… A truly great warrior… The rumors are that even the great Elf Mage Thunder Sonia was smitten with him. And he attended the wedding of the beastkin princess, even though the beastkin were their sworn enemy! Perhaps a demon wife isn’t so unthinkable for him after all?” “Ha-ha, yes, I heard Thunder Sonia turned down his proposal! What an idiot! Silly proud woman! Silly proud elf! But still, she was smitten, eh? Of course she was. He defeated the dragon that had tormented us demons for years! Even a prideful elf had to realize his greatness!” “A dragon…!” At the mention of the dragon, looks of interest appeared on the dwarves’ faces. However, Asmonadia wasn’t about to elaborate. Not for free, anyway. And anyway, Asmonadia didn’t really know the details. How did Bash defeat that dragon? Asmonadia was rather curious. How she would love to hear the story from the man himself! She’d listen with a blissful expression on her face, held in Bash’s arms. “Anyway, that’s my story. I’m a demon, but I’m also a member of the orcs from now on! And what I want is to get some training done, so that the orcs won’t look down on my brother here. And while we’re at it, we’d like some weapons and so on as well.” “Aren’t demons forbidden to carry weapons outside of their country?” “Read the treaty more carefully! It only prohibits us from taking our own weapons when traveling abroad, but it doesn’t prohibit us from acquiring weapons out in the world. It sucks to not be able to have my own familiar gear, yes, but… I have to say, I’m rather interested in dwarf weaponry! You guys make good stuff.” “Hmm, is that so?” Dwarves loved it when people praised their crafts. Especially when it was a demon, since they weren’t known for complimenting other races. Asmonadia might have been just buttering them up to get her hands on some free weapons. But still. If you compared dwarf stuff to that of all the other eleven races, it was a toss-up as to which was better: that of the dwarves or that of the demons. When it came to magical weapons, demons had the advantage, but dwarf stuff was higher quality when it came to traditional arms. “How about it? Give me just one weapon.” A demon… Their biggest rival… Asking for one of their weapons? The dwarves sucked their teeth, but inside they were thinking, Well then, well then! However, no matter how insensitive dwarves may be, they’re not stupid. It was dangerous to furnish a wandering demon with weapons. If something went wrong, responsibility could fall on the dwarves. Maybe the humans and elves would condemn their decision. “We will give you permission to carry dwarven weapons. Although I’m not sure there is anyone who would be willing to furnish you with weaponry…” The dwarf leader looked solemn. Dwarves appeared honest and strong-willed, but in reality, they were very conservative. Yes, very conservative indeed. At the same time, they liked the idea of a strong opponent carrying one of their weapons. After all, Asmonadia was the one who would be wielding it. This woman, who’d casually ripped apart dwarven armor…now wanted to wield dwarven weapons. What would happen next? Such anticipation. Perhaps she would become the world’s ultimate warrior? The dwarves looked at one another. Not, not me. What? You’re not going to do it? I suppose I’ll volunteer…? She seems stubborn. She probably won’t leave until she gets what she wants, right? As they looked at each other, trying to gauge each other’s feelings on the matter, one of them got to their feet. “If you fools aren’t going to give her a weapon, then I will!” It was a young woman who’d stood and spoken. Her facial features didn’t look fully dwarf. She was clearly half-human. “And you are?” “I’m Primera. I will furnish Bash with weaponry one day! Bash has been so kind to me. If you’re really his family now, then I’ll make you some arms!” “Hmm? You think you’re going to furnish Bash with weapons? That’s a bit presumptuous of you, isn’t it?” “Yes. But I made a promise. If his current sword breaks, I shall forge a new one for him!” Primera blushed but held her head high, and Asmonadia grinned. “Hee-hee-hee, I see how it is. The Orc Hero is quite the dish, isn’t he?” Primera blushed violently. “What? You got a problem?” “Nope. All right, then. I’ll have you make me some weapons.” Primera looked around, clearing her throat. “My brother and grandfather seem to be against it… But it’s fine if I make weapons for her, right? After all, I’m still just a novice.” After hearing Primera say that, there was no way the other dwarves could say, “Actually, I wanted to make the weapons for her myself.” Still, maybe it was better to outfit a demon with sub-quality arms, after all. “All right, then, you do it. You may have the sole honor of furnishing Asmonadia with dwarven arms.” “Thanks, that’s very demon of you.” And so Asmonadia and Primera met. A few hours later, Asmonadia and the other two stepped into Primera’s workshop. “Hmm, it may be small, but it’s a pretty good smithy.” “What do you demons know about blacksmithing anyway?” “I know enough. I may not look it, but I’ve pounded a sword or two in my day.” “A highborn demon lady like you?” “Yes, a high demon lady needs to be well-rounded. Blacksmithing is just one of the skills she needs to know. If she can’t repair her own weapons, she won’t be able to continue fighting.” Then why don’t you make your own damn weapons? …is what Primera was about to say, but she stopped herself. Primera was only a newbie blacksmith. But she knew that nothing could be made without a furnace, tools, and materials. And she wasn’t about to let Asmonadia loose in her workshop. Anyway, Primera was still in training herself. Demon smithing. Their style was different from that of the dwarves. They used magic to hammer the material and extract elements. By engraving magic symbols into the weapons and imbuing them with magic, they forge much more magically powerful weapons than the dwarves make. Dwarves make use of the magical power inherent in materials, but the demons imbued magical energy into the weapons themselves. The dwarves considered it unorthodox. But the Alliance of Four had been menaced by it for many years. Primera had also been working hard to hone her skills over the past year. She was now able to forge much better weapons than she’d been able to forge during the festival. But she still wasn’t good enough to make a sword for Bash. She was continuing to train in dwarf techniques, but she felt like she needed to innovate. “Hee-hee-hee.” The demon picked up on this. “Don’t look so jealous. Forge me a weapon, and in exchange, I’ll teach you the art of demon smithing.” “I’m… I’m not jealous. But I mean, is it really okay? I mean, you’d really teach me just like that? Demon blacksmithing is a sacred secret of the demons, isn’t it?” “Right. It’s a secret. We use techniques you dwarves would never dream of! But it’s okay. I’ll teach you.” “…Why, though?” “The Orc Hero won the festival tournament. The prize was anything the victor wanted, right? And the orc was the victor. It’s obvious what he asked for. And it…or rather, she was all too happy to oblige. In dwarf custom, she sought to prepare a weapon for her new partner… You seem to be hiding it from your people, but it’s clear that the Orc Hero has already laid his hands on you. In other words, you’re essentially his bride.” Sister wives. Asmonadia grinned wickedly. She didn’t only come to Dobanga Pit to train Ludo and grab a weapon for herself. She came seeking Bash’s other wives. The woman he’d claimed as his prize for winning the tournament. Namely, a dwarf woman. “…No, Bash didn’t win.” “What?” Asmonadia’s smile faded. “He lost in the final. Although yes, if he did win… We had an arrangement…” “That’s ridiculous… The Orc Hero was defeated? What the hell?” Seriously? This man single-handedly felled a dragon, you know! Asmonadia scoffed, but Primera just stared flatly at her. “Have you not heard the rumors? Tch. Even demons have their weak spots.” Primera sighed as she recounted the events that had taken place at the festival tournament. Bash chose the inexperienced Primera as his partner, and although Primera’s equipment was defective, Bash was so strong that he’d made his way through the rounds with ease. But in the finals, his equipment was destroyed, and he was defeated. But even in defeat, he’d achieved what he sought. Bash had freed the slave orcs, and now no one in Dobanga Pit was allowed to look down on them… Asmonadia, Ludo, and Luca listened in rapt attention. The story from Zell had been a bit vague on details in the end, so they’d just assumed that Bash had won the tournament. “Hmm, if it were any other orc I would shrug it off as a fluke… But considering this is the Orc Hero, I doubt it was a coincidence that he lost at all…” Asmonadia, having listened to the full story, made this smug conclusion. Of course, it was a coincidence, though. “Naturally, I fell for him. But… I ended up losing, myself… I got shot down.” “Shot down?” “Yeah, I proposed marriage, but I got turned down.” “Hmm, a typical roundabout dwarf proposal, was it?” “Not at all. I told him I want him to use my weapons for the rest of my life. Straight up.” “You idiot. That’s completely roundabout. You were proposing to an orc. You have to really spell it out. Spread your legs and tell him you’ll be his woman.” “Wh-whaaat? Spread my what? Is…? Is that what you did, then?!” Primera yelped in dismay, and that was when Luca, who’d been silent all this time, piped up. “Um, I didn’t go that far, but I did say that I wanted to marry him. Straight up.” Primera gawped at the young girl. Then her shoulders slumped. How could a young girl like this have had the confidence to say what she could not? Asmonadia had one brow raised, as if to say, Aha, so you’re the only one of us who wasn’t quite woman enough. This annoyed Primera. But then she realized that even this arrogant demon woman had been able to propose successfully to Bash. Ah, of course Bash would inspire the best. In reality, this never happened, though. Bash didn’t even know what Asmonadia looked like. “Don’t be so glum. You’ve still got a chance. Why don’t you come along and become the Orc Hero’s wife for real?” Asmonadia held out her hand to Primera, who stood there slouching and despondent. Usually, this wasn’t something that she could suggest without Bash’s input. But if Bash had been present, no doubt he’d have been pleased by this gumption. “Me…?” “You’re half-human, but you’re still a Dobanga. You can become the wife of the Orc King and represent all of dwarf-kind.” Primera looked confused. Then she put her head to one side. “Well, I did promise… I said I’d do my best to make him a sword he’d be glad to wield…” Primera made a fist and glared at Asmonadia. “So until I reach that point, I won’t be swayed by your honeyed talk!” Under Primera’s death glare, Asmonadia threw up her hands. But she was grudgingly impressed. This kind of woman is exactly the type worthy of being Bash’s wife, she thought. “I see. I think you’ve misunderstood me… But no matter. I’ll teach you my demon blacksmithing secrets.” “Are…? Are you sure?” “The Orc Hero is smart. He did not lay his hands on you. But no doubt, he wanted to. I mean, for a dwarf, you’re very pretty. And a good wife wants to grant her husband’s every wish. It might be tough forging a sword good enough for the Orc Hero, but I’ll certainly help you all I can.” Asmonadia chuckled. All the other stuff aside, no doubt Bash would approach any pretty woman and ask her to be his wife. But he’d certainly be well pleased with this one. The problem was… Bash didn’t even know what Asmonadia looked like. The problem was that Bash didn’t even know Asmonadia was still alive. “Now, listen carefully. I’ll tell you everything! Every demon tip, trick, and technique!” Thus, Primera learned demon smithing from Asmonadia. An inexperienced dwarf blacksmith. Could she really become elite, just by learning demon smithing? No one knows. But those who knew Primera would attest… It would not be a wasted endeavor. “Once you’re confident you can craft a weapon worthy of the Orc King, then you can travel to the orc country at any time. By that time, he’ll be king, so you can enter freely with no concerns.” “…Well, I’ll keep that in mind.” “Hee-hee-hee… Ah-ha-ha!” The demon’s cackling laughter bounced off the walls. It was the laughter of someone who has achieved total victory. Primera didn’t know what the sudden laughter was about and felt a shiver. But demons were prone to random cackling laughter. It was probably normal. “…” Surely within a month, Primera would be able to create one perfect halberd weapon. Maybe it wouldn’t be a masterpiece, but it would be something completely new… A forging of demon and dwarf weapon technology! And no one would be able to stop Asmonadia once she was armed with it. She would go to the orc country and claim dominance as the orc’s number one wife. Then she would build her own empire within the land of the orcs. Asmonadia’s ascent was assured. Thinking this, Primera muttered. “I hear the orcs are having a tough time right now. But if you join them, they’ll probably be fine.” “They’re having a tough time? Well, I bet they are. Orcs are inherently stupid. They’ve been oppressed by the humans, and it’s taken the wind out of their sails. But if I go, I can negotiate on their behalf, and…” “No, I mean, a dragon flew in from the north and made a nest near the Shiwanashi Forest. And every day, it flies into the orc country and eats a couple of orcs.” “…What?” Later, Primera, Ludo, and Luca would tell the tale… In that moment, Asmonadia’s blue skin turned pure white…as white as the driven snow.
Chapter 60
51 min read