Chương 45: The Demon King's Daughter

It was a kind of natural palace (if that was even the right word for it), formed from entire trees that had intertwined of their own accord, along with countless vines. The structure was fairly large, but it was infinitely smaller than Dusk Manor, and there was no way it would pass even the most basic moisture-control building code. Still, he could not complain. It had been a gift, after all.

Nerez had told Avelle that he would soon have to leave in search of the river of death, but the local goddess had replied that it was meant for his future visits. It was the first time Nerez had seen it completed, as well as the first time he had entered it, but the inauguration ceremony would have to wait. At that moment, everyone's attention was fixed on the figure prostrated on the floor. On the floor of a throne room, so to speak.

The throne itself was made of wood and decorated with various reliefs depicting the battle in which Nerez had prevailed over Avelle's forces. A rather curious choice, considering Avelle herself had prepared it. Nerez sat on that throne (he had given in to everyone's expectant gazes), with Cerys and Avelle standing beside him. The rest of the hall was filled with dryads and other forest spirits. All of them were staring, each with a different expression, at the figure prostrated on the floor.

"I cannot believe I attacked Lady Avelle's own lord, the god of death himself..." Drazira lowered her head so deeply that it struck the floor.

"More importantly, I attacked the very person who rescued me from the water when everyone else was afraid. I deserve to have my head cut off!"

"And don't forget you took advantage of me!" Cerys exclaimed, causing Nerez to cover his mouth to hold back his laughter.

"What are we to do with her, Lord Nereziel?" Avelle asked in turn.

"I would like to request clemency, considering I have only just finished healing her... But it is true that raising a hand against you is a grave offense."

"That's true," Cerys agreed.

"We should cut off her head like she's asking. And after that, Avelle, the coward, comes next, since she did the same thing before." Hearing that, Avelle crossed her arms indignantly.

"Were you not the first to raise your hand against Lord Nereziel, Lady Reaper? You drunkenly boasted that you had given him a good fight only a few nights ago!"

"I wasn't drunk! Besides, it was a fair contest, and I did die for it, so it doesn't count anymore!" Whispers had begun spreading through the hall over the exchange between the two goddesses, but silence returned when Nerez raised his hand.

"Cerys, it's about time you made peace with Avelle. It's true she didn't make the best first impression on you, but she's doing me quite a few favors right now, especially by handling one very important matter I've entrusted to her."

"It is not a favor, Lord Nereziel. It is my pleasure to serve you," Avelle replied, bowing to him and sticking her tongue out at Cerys in the process. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. The sparks in Cerys's eyes seemed intent on reducing the place to ashes, but Nerez raised his hand again to stop her.

"You too, Avelle. You know how Cerys is. Don't go adding timber to the fire... Mm, considering the nature of you two, that's a pretty fitting metaphor."

"So? What are we going to do with this pervert?" Cerys finally huffed, turning her attention back to the prostrated Drazira.

"At the very least, I think we should cut off her lips."

"Cerys, you need to learn not to be so impulsive, and above all, not to shove me around whenever you feel like it... Consider that kiss your punishment and let it go once and for all."

"Tch..."

"Besides, I'll be the one to bring this up when you least expect it, just so I can laugh in your face."

"When that happens, you're going to earn yourself a bite!"

"A bite?" Avelle asked, not understanding anything. But Nerez had already turned his attention to Drazira. She felt his gaze on the back of her neck and tried to press her forehead even harder against the floor, though with little success.

"This scene reminds me a little of my first meeting with Avelle... Drazira, right? Can you stop doing that? You're really going to make a hole in the floor..."

"Please forgive me, Lord Nereziel! It was not my intention to damage your property!" Drazira replied, straightening up immediately.

"That wasn't the problem... And you can just call me Nerez."

"Please forgive me, but that would be far too disrespectful..."

"It wasn't an order... I really can't get through to anyone in this world." Nerez let out a sigh of resignation.

"Anyway, tell us more about yourself. Avelle told me you were the daughter of a demon king. If I hadn't seen demon kingdoms in several worlds I've been to, I would think this was a story straight out of a video game."

"Video game?" Drazira murmured, tilting her head, but she hurried to answer.

"I did not know there were other demon kingdoms besides ours... But that is true, although nothing remains of our kingdom now. My parents were killed by someone summoned in the southern empire. The humans called him a 'hero'..."

"This really is a story straight out of a video game..."

"Video game?" Drazira repeated.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it. More importantly, can you tell me what happened to your old world?"

"My world, Lord Nereziel? It is neither a very interesting nor a very beautiful place... Magical and sacred places were already things of the past, and there was nothing but war." Drazira lowered her head as she remembered her past.

"My father believed the southern empire was interested in our kingdom because it wanted to steal our resources and magic. But I must say it did them little good, since we possessed nothing that could help that corrupt nation. Its people were dying of hunger and plague in the streets, like most people in that world." Nerez brought a hand to his chin, deep in thought.

"I see. A world that never developed technology because of its dependence on magic, and ended up overexploiting that very magic. I never saw a situation as severe as the one you're describing, but I did live in several worlds where I wouldn't have been surprised if they had ended up the same way."

"You really did like traveling, Nerez," Cerys remarked beside him.

"..." In any case, I think it's pretty much confirmed now. Miri's post-apocalyptic world, Atlenia and the Isle of the Visiare, and now this... As I thought, it seems the mortals brought to Eryndea aren't chosen at random.

"Lord Nereziel, if you will allow me," Drazira said, raising her head again. This time, there was a certain determination on her face.

"Rather than stories about my world, there is a more urgent matter I must inform you of..."

"Are you sure it was her?"

"I saw it with my own eyes. Escarion, the sword of the god of thunder, blazed atop a hill."

"Could someone have taken it from the corpse?"

"You ignorant fool. Only the royal family can wield that sword. And in recent history, only Lady Drazira was able to awaken its power and be accepted as its master." At that moment, two hooded figures were moving away from the valley at great speed, slipping into one of the cavern networks that surrounded it.

"If that is true, then Lady Drazira is alive... Lord Drazel was right to be suspicious."

"There is also the matter of those strange creatures living inside that mysterious barrier that controls the light within it. It does not seem complete yet, but if they finish it and it becomes a defensive barrier, it will be a problem for us."

"We must inform Lord Drazel at once."