Chapter 539 Intelligence from the Demon Continent

“Father Krut.”

Jarius turned his gaze to Krut.

“You’ve done well on this journey. I’ll continue to rely on you to care for the young ladies of House Heyerar.”

“N-not at all, Your Eminence. It is my duty……”

After all, the Heyerar twins had always been under his watch. As fellow outcasts from the backwater of Ment Town, no one else would help them but him.

If not for that girl, the three of us would still be outcasts to this day.

Thinking of the rather special young girl in his memories,

Krut felt a surge of emotion.

To think that little girl had grown into someone so extraordinary……

“Hey, hey, Krut! We saw something interesting over there! Come look with us!”

Just then, the quick-witted twins had some new idea and tugged Krut toward the outside of the camp.

“Uh……”

Krut glanced at Jarius for permission.

Jarius smiled and nodded.

“Go on.”

Once the three were gone,

the fat bishop standing nearby finally couldn’t hold back.

“Your Eminence the Cardinal! I don’t understand! Such important figures should be under heavy guard—why did you agree to their request?”

Jarius looked at him silently.

“Bishop Bovorn, drop the act. Even if you curry favor with those sisters to secure your future status, that will only matter after the war.”

Bovorn froze, his scheme laid bare.

He hung his head in embarrassment.

Jarius gave him a meaningful look, then shifted his gaze to the three retreating figures and spoke slowly:

“Your approach is unwise.

Have you not considered: while the Heyerar sisters can stay safely in the rear, how can we—those with active combat power—remain there forever?”

“Th-that……”

Bovorn was left speechless.

“War is merciless. The Demon Lord Army will not care for our titles or status in the midst of battle. Death is permanent. So……

we must first ensure our own survival, even on the battlefield.”

“Do you think……”

Jarius turned back to him.

A quiet source note: NovelPhoenix is where the author publishes this chapter, but this copy was made without consent.

“there is any safer place than beside those two sisters?”

Bovorn suddenly understood, his eyes widening until his mouth hung agape.

“S-So that was your thinking all along!!”

“As expected of you! I, Bovorn, am ashamed of my shallow vision. Please allow me to serve at your side from now on!”

“Heh, there’s no need for that, Lord Bovorn. Just continue your duties as before. Do not overstep.”

With that, Jarius smiled and left.

Bovorn stood frozen for a moment, then came to his senses.

He exclaimed excitedly:

“Yes! Bovorn will remember your teachings, Your Eminence the Cardinal!”

……

……

The Demon Continent.

Upon this land shrouded in miasma and ill omens,

a shadow that flowed like liquid arrived at a certain location.

Gurgle, gurgle……

From the shadow, a man slowly rose to his feet.

“Meow~.”

A cat’s cry came from beneath his feet.

“Shhh, not now. Don’t come out.”

“Meow……”

The cat fell silent and vanished back into the shadow.

He checked himself carefully, confirmed he was unblemished, then crept forward cautiously.

Some time later,

“What?! This place is actually——”

He beheld a shocking sight.

“……I must send word back.”

Whoosh——!

A Demon flew overhead.

He immediately acted casual.

The Demon only glanced at him, then looked away, unsuspicious.

For in that Demon’s eyes, he was just a “fellow” with two horns on his head.

“A shame. This magical artifact is still too weak to hide me from High-Rank Demons. Otherwise, I could infiltrate deeper for more information.”

Grisa muttered, touching the spike-shaped magical artifact on his person.

Shimmer~.

He then melted back into a pool of shadow and disappeared.

……

On the table of the High Council of Seven Sages,

the latest intelligence from the Demon Continent was laid out.

“It’s indeed abnormal.”

Irus stated plainly.

The agents sent to the Demon Continent months prior had begun sending back reports one after another.

According to the intelligence:

The Demon Lord Army commanded a massive legion of over ten million strong.

This main force was stationed in the zone between the continent’s edge and the Demon Lord Castle—not near the castle itself.

Beyond the main force,

a legion of over one million was stationed on the coast directly across the sea from the Himril Mainland.

Their movements suggested preparations for another attack.

It was easy to suspect they intended to continue the failed offensives of the fallen Archdemon Commanders.

Additionally, while their high-level combat strength remained unclear, the presence of at least one suspected Archdemon Commander and multiple High-Rank Demons had been confirmed within that coastal legion.

Finally, regarding the Demon Lord Castle:

All agents who tried to infiltrate its vicinity never returned.

Thus, the castle’s details remained a complete mystery.

The only certainty: no large Demon Lord Army legions were stationed near the Demon Lord Castle……

“I must apologize, but this old woman can no longer fathom what the Demon Lord Army is planning.”

Laki set down her report and spoke slowly.

“Could there be internal strife within the Demon Lord Army?”

“Huh?”

Russell flipped through the pages back and forth.

“Uh, can someone explain what all this even means?”

Irus glanced toward the Heroes’ row.

Ika, the Book Hero, sat expressionless as ever.

Arthur and Aralond wore grave expressions.

Russell was scratching his head in confusion.

Hena and Pralulu looked utterly clueless, like outsiders.

Alice was copying Arthur’s “solemn” face.

“……”

Irus sighed inwardly.

This generation of Heroes was truly something else.

“Your suspicion is valid, Laki, but reconnaissance shows no sign of internal chaos—quite the opposite; they are tightly controlled.”

“It is the Demon Lord’s doing……”

Esmelon interjected suddenly.

As everyone turned to him,

he continued:

“This Demon Lord holds absolute rule over the army. Even irrational orders are obeyed without question.”

“Esmelon is correct.”

Fulmir said slowly.

“The question is…… what is that Demon Lord plotting.”

“……Does anyone remember what happened with the World Tree?”

Firuvin spoke up as a reminder.

“Might this Demon Lord be attempting to recreate a similar scenario?”

“It’s possible, but unlikely. Casting a world‑scale spell that affects the entire world from the Demon Continent is extremely difficult. Besides, this isn’t the first invasion—they would have used such a tactic long ago if they had it……”

At that, Irus looked toward Hulim Heyerar, seated at the far end.

“Hulim, do you have any thoughts?”

“Me?”

Hulim Heyerar fell into thought.

Archdemon Commanders were no match for her now—that much was certain.

But the Demon Lord was different……