"Peaceful coexistence is truly difficult. Conflicts between humans alone trigger wars, let alone with Demons. Well, one shouldn't generalize; humans are inherently complex beings. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Linie, Qual, and Aura all shook their heads.
"Impossible to understand..."
"This old one is not interested."
"So troublesome."
"As expected. Sometimes I really feel that Demons, without love or hatred, are simpler. But then I feel that's a deficiency. Perhaps perfection doesn't exist in this world."
Nanoda gazed at the battlefield from afar, her expression indifferent.
"Tch, pretending to be like a human. That can't change the fact that you're a Demon," Zari spoke with disdain.
Beside him, Vincent hurriedly shoved his shoulder, signaling him to shut up quickly.
"Yes, no matter how you look at it, I am a Demon now. Even if I can understand humans, I can't blend in. In that case, I just need to unite the Demons and change everyone's impression of the Demon Race."
"That is truly a great path," Vincent chimed in from the side.
"You say that, but in your heart, you actually think it's just a naive, unachievable idea, don't you? To survive, humans are sometimes even more cunning than Demons."
"Uh, how could that be? I am sincere."
Seeming to have truly been seen through, Vincent felt somewhat awkward. This Demon seemed different from those in his impressions.
"Let's assume so then. Since I want to unite the Demons, I will also shoulder the responsibility. My subordinates will not be slaughtered by anyone."
As these words were spoken, cold sweat broke out on Vincent. He had a bad premonition.
"What do you think of this new script: Earl Mannier was betrayed by the Demons he collaborated with, and then he was purged by you guys?"
"Ah, this..."
This was flipping the script directly. If they returned and reported this to the Emperor, while they might not necessarily be beheaded, they would still be punished. It differed from the original orders, but colluding with the Demon Race was a capital crime overriding everything else.
"Do not forget, your lives are still in our hands. Since you killed my kin, if you want to return home alive, you must pay some price."
"Alright, I agree."
Vincent decided to go all the way. He had expected Zari to curse him out, but Zari was surprisingly quiet.
Qual was pointing his Killing Magic at Zari's head; this noisy human annoyed him for some reason.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, flames flickered. Earl Mannier had deployed his unit of Mages. These Mages were roughly at the level of Third-Class Mages of the Continental Magic Association, but they had the advantage of numbers.
The Gaderia army, originally holding the advantage, was faintly being suppressed.
"Alright, I'll go chop down that Earl who's watching the show first. Qual, open a path for me."
Qual obediently crouched down. Nanoda leaped up and sat on Qual's shoulder. It had to be said, that patch of white fur on Qual's shoulder was very comfortable as a cushion.
The nearly three-meter-tall Qual sprinted while carrying Nanoda, mana condensing around him. Beams of Killing Magic smashed toward the battlefield from an extreme distance.
A Mage on Mannier's side, who had been arrogantly unleashing magic at will, was pierced through the heart by a beam of Killing Magic descending from the sky. The sudden change instantly threw the battlefield into panic.
Yuna, already somewhat exhausted, was at a loss. Those white beams of light precisely killed the Mages hiding within the enemy army, piercing through even the armored knights protecting them.
Earl Mannier, whose mood had been quite good, saw his expression change dramatically.
"W-What is that?! Where is the Imperial Army?! Why haven't they come yet!"
Earl Mannier was already old; he had long lost the vigor he had when he first became an Earl. He began to feel fear. He had clearly already shared half his wealth with those greedy bureaucrats in the palace, so why would the Imperial Army renege on the agreement? Did he give too little?
"Eh? Qual, your Killing Magic can hit from this far now?"
Pushing back the hair blown over her eyes by the wind, Nanoda narrowed her eyes in surprise.
"This old one just improved it. Still testing. Just happened to use them for an experiment."
Qual grinned; he was most interested in experimenting with magic.
Nanoda couldn't help but marvel. Qual was indeed a magic genius. This Killing Magic was developing in the direction of that big sniper Fern from the future. If Qual were allowed to research Killing Magic for another eighty years, what would happen when he faced Frieren and Fern again?
Sage of Corruption. The title 'Sage' was indeed not given in vain.
"Lord Earl Mannier! There's a Demon!"
The Adjutant spotted Qual coming for the decapitation strike.
Hearing the report, Earl Mannier took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Ultimately, he made the gravest mistake.
"Have all soldiers return to block them."
"But what about our battle line?"
"No buts! This is an order!"
Earl Mannier threw away the cigar in his hand. He knew the terror of the Demon Race deeply; compared to Gaderia, he hated Demons more.
"Hmph, to actually order the army to retreat to protect yourself. You've gotten old too, Mannier."
Baron Aaron knew Nanoda's support had arrived.
"Truly a fellow who loves to meddle in others' business."
Baron Aaron sighed, then turned his head to shout at the sky.
"Pursue! Don't let them escape!"
Gaderia's army launched an assault directly at Mannier's army, which had turned back halfway through the fight. Screams immediately erupted within Mannier's ranks. The rear guard, unable to retreat in time, suffered heavy casualties. This was the massive error caused by exposing one's back to the enemy.
Seeing Mannier's great army coming toward her, Nanoda frowned.
"Qual, can you snipe that Earl or whatever with Killing Magic directly?"
"I'll try."
Qual opened his palm and fired an extended-range version of Killing Magic at Earl Mannier.
Seeing the Killing Magic, two Mages blocked in front of Earl Mannier, combining their efforts to cast Defensive Magic. However, the Killing Magic shattered the Defensive Magic directly, pierced the two Mages, and dissipated just as it neared Earl Mannier's face. The shockwave took off Earl Mannier's head of white hair.
Now, that shiny bald head glistened under the sunlight.
"As expected, if the distance is extended, the power is somewhat lacking and gets affected by Defensive Magic," Qual said, somewhat unsatisfied.
Earl Mannier, suffering this attack, collapsed directly to the ground. His lower half was somewhat wet; the Earl's dignity was completely gone.
On the battlefield, Zari and Vincent arrived with their Imperial troops. Vincent rode his horse at the very front, shouting toward the Gaderia army.
"Don't shoot! We are friendly forces!"
This made the originally guarding Baron Aaron instantly stunned. Why would the Empire send troops to support him?
____
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