The watch-town of Wodtrim, two nights before the outbreak of war.
A man stood atop the stone wall that encircled the town. Although he looked to be in his prime, an aura of exhaustion hung about him. The cracks surrounding his eyes only intensified this gloomy demeanor.
These cracks were like fissures in dry mud—proof that he wasn’t human. The man was a demon.
The stone wall had been created with the man’s own magic. The ground around the wall had been scooped up, swooping into the wall as if funneled upward.
“Such an unsavory plan,” the man muttered, taking in the sight below.
Burning homes lit up the town like bonfires, casting shadows upon the stone wall.
“There you are… I can call you Sod, correct?”
“If you wish,” the man named Sod replied, speaking to a younger man who had suddenly appeared at his side.
This younger man was also a demon, from a race with distinctive catlike features. His body was covered with short fur, his face was pointed like a cat’s, and he even sported a catlike tail. There was a hint of feline contempt for humanity in his warmly colored eyes.
“Should the First Prince really be loitering in a place such as this?”
“We are on the cusp of realizing Zhorguan’s destiny. Where else would I be?” said the First Prince of Zhorguan.
Commendable words from the young catlike demon.
“Why not be honest and just say that you were curious?”
“Ha-ha, fair enough! And why shouldn’t I be? Look at it! Humans being transformed into monsters. It is marvelous!”
The First Prince sneered at the town below.
Wodtrim had been invaded by demons from Zhorguan. All throughout the town, captured humans were being forced to drink a strange red liquid. Afterward, these humans transformed into monsters, which were loaded into cages being pulled by other, horselike monsters.
“I have to thank you, Sod. Without you, we could have never pulled off something like this. Celebrate! Tales of this glorious deed will be handed down for generations!”
“I’m touched.”
Sod was unable to rise to the same level of grandiosity as the First Prince.
“Those three humans you gifted us with are quite powerful as well. Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer to keep them for yourself?”
“Apparently not. Personally, I would rather make use of them, but the commander general has other thoughts on the matter.”
“An offering to Zhorguan? I applaud the sentiment, at least, ah-ha-ha!”
The First Prince’s gaze was directed at the three humans currently relaying orders to the demons of Zhorguan. They were the same three soldiers previously under Rotraud’s command.
The three soldiers looked exhausted. A line of demon warriors had formed in front of them, waiting to receive orders. As soon as the line petered out, one of them, a man with a nasty look in his eyes, exploded into complaints.
“Dammit, why do we always have to be the ones to do this kind of stuff? Aren’t we ever going to get a break?! I’m sick of this!” the man—Horeicho—said.
“Just be thankful that we’re still alive, Horeicho. There isn’t anywhere else for people like us now,” said the large, well-built man—Gail.
“Yes, what are you whining about? Look at how much stronger we’ve become. Things are only looking up from here on out! We just need to keep getting stronger, and then it won’t matter who gets in our way. We’ll just shut them up!” said the high-nosed woman—Khett.
Horeicho, Gail, and Khett. After running away from Rotraud, the three had been placed on Galdorssia’s wanted list for their complicity in his wicked deeds. Their getaway had eventually led them to the Dark Lord’s army.
“Gail, Khett…”
Horeicho turned his gaze toward the two. His old childhood friends, who were now half transfigured into monsters. Horeicho also sported features that were noticeably inhuman. Uniquely shaped horns sprouted from each soldier’s head.
Their appearance made it clear. The three had already abandoned their humanity. Despite this, Horeicho seemed cheered by the sight.
“When we were made to drink the Curseblood of the Dark Lord, or whatever that stuff was called, I thought our lives were over. But in the end, as long as you two are by my side, there’s nothing else I need.”
In exchange for their humanity, they had gained strength. They had lost much, but they had gained much as well.
“We really have been through a lot together. When we finally escaped that shabby village where we were born, I was so happy that I cried. I never dreamed the person who took us from that place, Rotraud, would turn out to be the kind of person that he was,” Gail said, his voice thick with emotion.
“By the time we escaped his clutches, our hands were already soiled with his wicked deeds, and there was no place for us there any longer. But we were lucky. An invitation came from the Dark Lord’s army just when we needed it the most. Life is so much easier when you have strong allies by your side. And it will get even easier once we grow stronger ourselves,” said Khett, sounding cheerful.
“I know we had help from Zhorguan’s warriors, but I still can’t believe we were able to defeat a squad of gold badges.”
“Maybe that curseblood was our reward for all the hardships we’ve endured.”
“Praise the Dark Lord, I guess.”
The three laughed in amusement.
Sod watched the three transformed soldiers with pity in his eyes.
“Poor creatures. One day they’ll realize the weight of being cut off from what is ordinary. The commander general is playing a cruel game…,” he muttered, before turning toward the First Prince once more. “Either way, it is we who should be thanking you. After all, the Dark Army has only just come back together, and we are short on men. We were grateful to receive help from a demon tribe so versed in the art of war.”
Sod really was grateful. He was a member of the Dark Lord’s army, after all.
Zhorguan was ruled over by a race of catlike demons like the First Prince who were protected by a splendid race of beast-man demons that resembled lions. These lion-men boasted powerful physiques and impressive strength.
Zhorguan was not strong enough to pick a fight with Galdorssia on its own. But with the help of Sod and his followers, it had been able to capture the soldiers protecting one of Galdorssia’s towns. Zhorguan’s beast-men were now forcing the humans of the town to drink the Dark Lord’s curseblood.
“A hundred years ago you seemed nigh unstoppable. Oh, how the dark horde has fallen. Hmph. Come to think of it, you begged for our help back then, too, didn’t you?”
The First Prince seemed to hold even the Dark Lord’s army in contempt.
“Yes, I still remember that time. How many generations ago was it? Your king then was a haughty ruler, just like you. But after Galdorssia’s victory, he quieted down considerably. Perhaps the Dark Lord’s unexpected fall left him frightened. No, I’m sure that couldn’t be it… I only pray you age as wisely as he did,” Sod said by way of retaliation.