At this point, every councilor's eyes were fixed on Testarossa.
Now that the council had summoned their military forces, executive command would eventually fall into her hands.
It was only natural that everyone began evaluating her at the same time.
Among the seasoned, aging councilors, Testarossa stood out like a flame in the middle of a dim hall—young, elegant, and stunningly beautiful.
Many of them could not help but think:
"How many beauties does Eterna even have…?"
But no one was foolish enough to say it aloud.
More importantly, no one knew why this woman—this 'Testarossa'—held such frightening authority within Eterna.
The success of the entire operation rested on her shoulders, and through her, the fate of humanity as well.
One councilor couldn't restrain himself anymore.
"T–Testarossa-dono…" he stammered. "Forgive my rudeness, but… do you truly know how to command an army?"
With a soft, bewitching smile, Testarossa responded:
"Please rest easy. My master, Atem-sama, has already issued his order—
to protect every nation allied under the Western States Council.
My subordinates are already deployed to each nation."
Then she lifted her hand slightly.
"Moss."
"Yes, ma'am," said Moss, bowing. His voice carried tension—and respect.
"According to the latest report, reliable reinforcements have reached the northern defense."
Shock rippled through the room.
"W–what?!"
"I–is this true?"
"T–then, Testarossa-dono—what are these 'reinforcements'?!"
Testarossa nodded.
"Moss."
"Yes ma'am. Dragon ships from the Sorcerer's Dynasty Sarion are heading directly to the north. Some lesser demons are fighting there, but with that elf's subordinates, the threat will be eliminated immediately."
"Everything you've heard is true."
Then Testarossa narrowed her eyes at Moss.
"But Moss… calling Her Majesty Elmesia simply an elf is extremely rude."
"Ah! I–my deepest apolo—"
"Do not let it happen again. Never demean the allies of Atem-sama."
Her voice was soft—too soft.
Moss froze. His face lost all color.
He understood.
If he had still carried the arrogance from his former life as a high-ranking demon,
Testarossa would have executed him on the spot.
But Moss had changed. His loyalty to Testarossa was absolute—eternal.
So she let him off with a warning.
Testarossa was gentle.
Testarossa was merciless.
Both truths existed in her without conflict.
The room returned to chaos.
Some councilors stepped forward.
"Our nation trusts Testarossa-dono."
"O–ours as well. We entrust all military command to her."
But others rejected her.
"How irresponsible! What if the reinforcements are a lie?!"
"Human society will fall under demon rule!"
Voices clashed. The council was splitting into two.
Testarossa simply watched with a faint smile, eyes moving calmly across the room like a predator observing prey.
Then she suddenly stood up.
"I see. So it's you. You hid yourself well."
Silence.
Confusion.
Then—
A single person turned pale.
Johann Rostia.
One of the Five Great Elders.
"W–what did I do…?" he asked, trying to keep fear out of his voice.
Testarossa's smile sharpened—beautiful, but terrifying.
Johann panicked first.
"A–as expected! Monsters are untrustworthy!" he screamed. "We must protect humanity ourselves! Guards! Guards!"
His soldiers rushed in, violating every rule of the council.
Councilors were horrified.
Testarossa twirled a strand of hair, utterly unbothered.
"You are Johann Rostia, correct? Duke of Rostia. A rather prestigious seat."
"S–so what? Flattery won't save you—"
"Johann-dono," she said softly, "who were you communicating with using Magic Communication just now?"
His face froze.
"Why," she continued, "did you order the disruption of this nation's Defensive Barrier?"
"H–how did you—"
"Won't you tell me?"
Her tone was like someone asking about tea preferences.
At the same time, councilors gave frantic orders:
"Check the barrier!"
But before the report arrived—
The ground shook.
Rumbling.
Deep.
Spreading.
Like the city itself was crying.
"It's real!"
"He destroyed the barrier?! The capital is exposed!"
"What have you done, Johann?!"
Fear spiraled. Some lost composure. Others—like Johann—found clarity in the chaos.
A serene smile formed on his lips.
"Girard-dono," Johann called. "The time has come. Summon that lord."
The man who stepped forward—
Leader of the mercenary band Apostles of Verte.
Commander Girard.
Councilors panicked.
"The Apostles of Verte?!"
"They served Gavan—now Johann too?!"
Girard ignored them and bowed to Johann.
"Our contract is fulfilled. Thank you for your cooperation."
"It's nothing," Johann replied. "This is the final wish of our late Great Elder Granbell.
Chaos shall cleanse the world.
Do it. Unleash everything and turn this place into hell."
His eyes lost reason.
Only madness remained.
"Ayn," Girard commanded. "Begin."
"Yes," said the woman—Ayn, leader of Green Rebellion.
She began chanting.
A dark portal opened—
cold, oval, vibrating with hatred.
And she stepped out.
A green-haired beauty in a dark-red maid outfit.
Her presence drenched the room in despair.
Mizeri.
Demon Peer.
Even the elite inquisitors froze. Their instincts screamed:
Move and you die.
Johann smirked.
His mind drifted back to the last meeting of the Five Great Elders.
Granbell Rosso.
Cidre.
King Dolan.
And Johann.
Granbell's final declaration echoed:
"Humanity must rule humanity.
If Atem gains full dominion, humans will become pawns in his hand.
I will gamble everything to stop him."
Dolan hesitated.
Cidre agreed.
Johann accepted.
They would destroy themselves and drag the human world into chaos—
while Dolan survived to rebuild their future.
To achieve this, Johann contacted the Apostles of Verte, who planned the summoning of the Green Deity, a being capable of plunging the world into total disorder.
Their selfish dream aligned with Granbell's dying wish.
And now—
Johann's betrayal
had come to life.
Back in the present—
Johann's mission was complete.
The Apostles of Verte had also fulfilled their twisted ambition.
Because their deity—
Demon Peer Mizeri
—had answered their call.
Mizeri was more terrifying than many Demon Lords.
Destroying the entire Kingdom of Ingracia would not even make her break a sweat.
Kukuku… even the Magic Inquisitors—the so-called strongest force of this nation—froze where they stood.
This country was finished.
Rostia itself might be caught in the flames too…
but Johann felt he could apologize to everyone in the next life.
Content with his success, Johann looked around the meeting hall—
And what he saw made him doubt his own sanity.
Facing Mizeri, the embodiment of calamity, stood a woman wearing a gentle, conspicuous smile.
Beside her, the young man accompanying her looked utterly bored, as if nothing in the world mattered.
W-what is wrong with those two…?
Johann suddenly realized—
those were the delegates from Eterna:
Testarossa
and her servant, Moss.
Testarossa spoke first.
"I see. A clever scheme, Johann-dono.
Do you intend to destroy this nation and plunge the entire world into chaos and war?"
Her reaction irritated Johann deeply.
Her calmness… her confidence…
acting so casually while standing before Mizeri, who surpassed most Demon Lords.
"What if I did?" Johann snapped.
But he caught himself.
Testarossa might be strong for a monster,
but arrogance leads to downfall.
Strength alone won't save you, Johann thought with twisted joy.
You don't even know the true scale of the threat before you. Once reality hits, you'll cry. You'll beg. Yes… beg me for mercy.
The fantasy filled him with sick delight.
Testarossa tilted her head.
"How laughable. Your plan failed the moment I was appointed military attaché."
"Kukuku… what nonsense are you spouting?"
Johann smiled coldly.
The more confident she acted now, the sweeter her fear would be later.
But then the Speaker intervened.
"T-Testarossa-dono! This is no time to chat! Please—escape while you can, even alone! You
must report to His Majesty Atem immediately!"
Testarossa looked at him calmly.
"Ara? And what exactly should I tell Atem-sama?"
In the Western Nations, the understanding of demons was shallow.
Compared to the Eastern Empire, they barely knew anything.
The Speaker was no different.
He had no idea what species Mizeri even was—
only that she served Demon Lord Guy Crimson, terror of the world.
To him, that alone made her an existential threat.
Ignorance was a sin—
but sometimes ignorance protected sanity.
Had the Speaker understood demons better,
he would have despaired the moment Mizeri appeared.
But since he didn't, he still clung to hope.
"Please inform him," the Speaker begged,
"that one of Demon Lord Guy's subordinates has invaded our nation! Surely he will not abandon the council!"
He knew it was naïve.
Even if Atem desired coexistence,
asking him to oppose Guy Crimson was unreasonable.
But he had seen Atem with his own eyes.
He had felt the king's charisma, his conviction—
that overwhelming presence that could make anyone believe in him.
Maybe… maybe Atem would defy logic and protect them.
Even if that thought was absurd,
the Speaker couldn't stop himself from believing it.
That belief was the only thing preventing him from breaking down.
Testarossa smiled at him.
"That is why I am here."
The Speaker blinked.
He didn't understand—
not yet.
And Johann?
He was just as confused.
Her calmness, her attitude, her ease—
he couldn't take it anymore.
"Do you think I'll let you interfere?" Johann shouted.
"Girard-dono! It's time to show her reality!"
But Girard, preparing himself…
felt uneasy.
Mizeri-sama… why haven't you acted yet?
Ayn, Girard's lieutenant, had collapsed the moment Mizeri appeared.
Summoning her consumed almost all of Ayn's life force.
The fact that she was still breathing was a miracle.
Girard had planned to retreat soon—
take Ayn, abandon the city, and sacrifice all its citizens to Mizeri.
That was his plan.
But the plan collapsed.
Because Mizeri had not moved since her arrival.
She simply stared at Testarossa—
Until she finally spoke.
"Unbelievable, Blanc.
How did you obtain a body?"
Testarossa smiled.
"Ara, that title sounds lonely. Someone already granted me a splendid name—'Testarossa.'
Surely you wouldn't want to be called the green demon, right?
No, Mizeri?"
"You… you received a name?! How is that possible—"
Testarossa giggled.
"Quite possible, it seems.
It's kind of you to visit, but unfortunately, I won't lose to you like this.
If you insist on fighting, I can gift you a thousand years of slumber. Wouldn't that be amusing?"
Not only did she have a physical body—
she had been named.
In that moment, Testarossa had evolved into a Demon Peer,
same as Mizeri.
They now stood on equal ground.
Logically speaking, Testarossa should have been at a disadvantage—
having a new body, lacking full adjustment.
But Testarossa was a primordial who had fought for her life every day for millennia.
Mizeri, though powerful, mainly handled Guy Crimson's administration.
Experience could not be compared.
And Moss stood at Testarossa's side.
Mizeri calculated instantly.
I may have more raw magicules, but fighting two Demon Peers at once… combined with the black-white duo's reputation… is unwise.
Guy-sama ordered only a disturbance, not a battle to the death. I should withdraw.
Mizeri spoke clearly:
"There is no need to provoke me further, Testarossa.
My task was only to destroy the barrier over the capital.
I have achieved that."
"Ara—are you running away?"
"Indeed. My life belongs solely to Guy-sama.
I have no right to risk it here."
"I see. Then I look forward to our next meeting."
"That is my line.
Adjust to your body quickly.
I will not accept excuses when you lose."
Testarossa's smile deepened.
The two stared silently—
then Mizeri vanished.
"—Eh?" Girard gasped.
The room fell into stunned silence.
Their god—
their invincible, omnipotent deity—
had been dismissed by a woman whom they thought was merely beautiful.
To Mizeri, the Apostles were disposable.
A minor tool for surveillance.
Nothing more.
She abandoned them without hesitation.
But Girard refused to accept it.
"N-no… no way! You made our god leave!"
He screamed, charging at Testarossa.
His rank-A skills made him deadly.
His blade moved faster than human eyes could follow.
But to Testarossa,
he moved like a child waving a stick.
She didn't even need to act.
Moss moved for her.
Clang.
Girard's sword shattered instantly.
Moss seized him by the throat.
"Don't kill him," Testarossa said.
"The same goes for Johann."
"But they insulted Testarossa-sama—"
In an instant—
Moss's ear hit the floor.
"Moss," she said softly,
"are you asking me to repeat myself?"
He dropped to his knees.
"I would not dare! I spoke out of turn—I overestimated myself!"
He knew his mistake.
Testarossa was usually in a good mood lately,
and it made him careless.
But she was, at her core,
an egocentric primordial.
As were Ultima and Carrera.
"Since you understand, I forgive you this time."
Testarossa twirled her hair proudly.
"Ara ara… I have such a generous heart.
Isn't that right, Moss?"
"Absolutely! Without question!" Moss replied instantly.
He was no fool.
Even if he occasionally slipped,
serving Testarossa for over ten thousand years
was a feat few could ever dream of.