The Demon King’s heavy sigh echoed through the throne room.
“My apologies, Sire! I gave the matter my all, but Princess Mil has learned forbidden magic from the spell books in the library, and Magic Sword Gram was...”
Not long after fleeing, Grood was kneeling before the Demon King with sweat streaming down his face like a waterfall. Having seen what became of others who’d failed so utterly, the thought of meeting a similar fate had filled him with terror.
The Demon King merely sat on the throne with his eyes closed as he listened to Grood’s report. Then, with a deep sigh, he finally responded, “Did she use a form of forbidden magic that erases regions of space?”
“Ah! Yes! I’ve never seen such magic. The mere sight of it filled me with fear.”
“Extinction Gate. Over a thousand years ago, we demonkin used that same magic to erase the nation of a hostile adversary known as the dragonkin.”
“Yes, I’ve read written accounts of that incident. They say a long war between demonkin and dragonkin ended with a single spell...” Grood then roared in surprise, “That’s the spell she’s using?!”
The dragonkin had been a prosperous people over a thousand years ago, but now, so few traces remained that they were considered extinct. And all because of a single Extinction Gate spell cast by a demon warlock. Written accounts said that all of the dragonkin were erased, but the precise details had been lost to time.
“If Mil only erased one sword, then she probably hasn’t discovered the true extent of its power,” the Demon King said. “But it sounds as though the records are true—the very sight of the spell is enough to instill terror.”
“Then the fear I felt was a side effect of her magic?”
“It’s said that the warlock who used the spell to destroy the dragonkin lost his mind in the process. It consumes not just regions of space, but also people’s minds. Or at least, that’s how I interpret it.”
“And now it’s in the hands of a young girl...”
“Well, no matter what magic she might have learned, a single human’s mana is limited. It’s hard to imagine her ever developing the power to destroy an entire nation with a single spell. Unless...”
Mil was a goddess’s priestess. It could be a mistake to assume she was subject to the same limitations as ordinary humans. We can’t be sure yet, the Demon King concluded.
“Sire, I beg for your mercy.”
Grood kept his head low. He couldn’t have been prepared to face such magic, but he’d failed to capture Mil all the same. He waited, ready to accept whatever punishment was given to him.
“You’ve determined the extent of Mil’s forbidden magic. That’s enough.”
The Demon King knew he’d given Grood a difficult task, but he’d fully expected him to capture Mil. It seemed she was proving to be more trouble than anyone had realized.
And she’s using techniques learned from Swordmaster Crowell... She’ll easily dispatch any ordinary pursuer...
Grood had never been much of a fighter. Powerful as he was, he tended to be overly cautious and entrusted tasks to subordinates whenever possible. The rest of the Heavenly Four were different. It was the very reason they weren’t welcome within the castle.
“Are the other members of the Heavenly Four still engaged elsewhere?” the Demon King asked.
“Yes, Sire. They’re leading expeditions to the north and west. If they were recalled now, the front lines would—”
“Yes, I know. I can give this task to someone else,” The Demon King looked at the large throne room doors and called, “Enter.”
There was a low rumbling as the doors opened.
It was Graun of the royal guard who entered first. “You called for me, Sire?”
By his side, now wearing light armor instead of her former maid outfit, was Crowell. “I am at your command, Sire.”
“Graun, Crowell, I’d like you both to track down Princess Mil.”
“Please leave it to us, Sire.”
“As you command.”
They each knelt and placed a hand to their chest.
“And Crowell, make sure you actually apprehend her. Don’t tell me later that my orders were merely to track and not capture her.”
“As you wish, Sire. I will track down Princess Mil and apprehend her as you command.”
“It’s what you should have done in the first place. Don’t fail me this time. Graun, I’m counting on you too.”
“Yes, Sire. My sister and I will work without rest.”
Whew... The Demon King slumped in his throne. “That unruly princess has been nothing but—”
The Demon King was interrupted by the door to the throne room slowly opening.
Another demonkin entered and stepped in front of Graun and Crowell. “Father, I’d like to talk about yesterday.”
The Demon King didn’t have to look at her directly to know it was his daughter, Mary.
Mary was fearful as she chanced a glance at her father’s face. It was a sorry attitude for someone next in line to the throne.
Already in a bad mood because of his subordinates’ failure, the Demon King replied loudly, “I thought we settled this yesterday. You’re a future queen. You’re not going adventuring over some vague notions about wanting to see the outside world.”
“But...”
The Demon King was unmoved by her pleading eyes. “Enough! I’ll send you outside when the time is right. And not alone. You’ll have guards. I won’t have you going off by yourself and pretending to be an adventurer!”
“But father...”
“What do you think you can accomplish anyway? You’re ignorant of the outside world and lacking in combat experience. Now stop troubling me. Return to your lessons.”
Her father’s dismissal left Mary so deflated that she left the throne room without another word.
“Graun, Crowell, head out at once. I won’t tolerate failure.”
“Yes, Sire,” they both replied before leaving.
No matter what forbidden magic she might’ve learned, she doesn’t have the experience she’d need to escape the brother and sister both.
“I just hope Crowell won’t go so easy on her this time.” Despite their skills, the Demon King couldn’t help but worry nonetheless.
✧✧✧
“So that’s what Father really thinks...”
After leaving the throne room, Mary slumped against a wall with her head hung low.
She’d had a sheltered upbringing in the most literal sense. No matter how much she pleaded, she was always denied the right to even step outside, just because she was the Demon King’s daughter.
As she was sighing to herself, a pair of lizardmen talking at the end of the corridor caught her attention.
“It was a garuda? Aren’t they the birds that lay those tasty eggs?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Anyway, it came down from the mountains and took out a few of our soldiers a short while back.”
“I’m guessing they’ll put a hunting squad together.”
“I’m not so sure. The nest’s in a ravine. It’s no easy trek. We’d never reach it; we can’t fly.”
“Even if we could, we’d be no match for it. From what I heard, it beat one of our demons.”
“No way.”
A garuda?
Mary had read about them in the library. A garuda was a ferocious demonic bird, and if the lizardmen were to be believed there was one giving the Demon King’s forces a lot of trouble.
Combat experience... Her father’s words replayed in her head. If he thinks I’m ignorant and lacking in combat experience then I’ll just have to change that. I can bring back an egg to prove I’ve done it. That’ll change how he looks at me.
Mary clenched her fists. Even if the punishment for sneaking out went far beyond a mere scolding, she was determined to prove she had what it took to handle herself in the outside world.
✧✧✧
In the fortress town of Algram, Mil collapsed with a thud on the main road just inside the town’s gate. “Finally... We made it!”
“M-Mil, you’re blocking the road,” Yulia said.
“So this is the fortress town! I hope the food’s good! Oh, they’re selling meat!” Kuro began to wander away.
“Kuro, wait, you’ll get lost!” Yulia cried. “Mil, please get up.”
The party had left Kuro’s village about a week ago. After leaving the forest and crossing some hills, they sighted a town just as impressive as the royal capital.
Within the huge wall that encircled the fortress town of Algram was a population of over fifty thousand. The close proximity to the Demon King’s Castle and dangerous monsters that inhabited the region meant that the town could never have grown so large without strong defenses.
The town was bustling with not just humans, but also beastkin similar to Kuro and a few types of friendly demonkin. Horse-drawn carts were constantly coming and going along the main roads, as were groups dressed like adventurers, and merchants carrying huge bags of wares. Some gave Mil curious glances as she lay in the dirt.
Yulia dragged her along the ground by her clothing. “Mil, at least get out of the road.”
“Sure is dusty around here,” Mil observed.