"Boom, boom, boom!"
"Coming, coming..."
The wooden door was knocked upon urgently. Today, only Nanoda was at home.
Linie had gone to find the cook at the Lord's Manor to learn cuisine, Jane was assisting Qual with experiments, and Aura had gone off to wander who-knows-where again.
The door opened to reveal Zari, clad in light knight's armor and covered in sweat.
"What is wrong?"
"Big trouble! Follow me quickly! I will explain as we walk."
Nanoda felt a bit baffled but followed the hurried Zari.
Ever since Zari and Vincent had submitted to Gaderia, they had become Aaron's hidden assets. This unit of troops, originally from the Empire, had become subjects of Gaderia, vanishing from the Empire's line of sight.
"Demons. A large group of Demons is heading this way. Vincent has already notified the Lord using magic."
"Where did this intelligence come from?"
Nanoda was somewhat curious. If they were within the range of her Mana Perception, it would be impossible for her not to sense them. That meant those Demons were still some distance away from Gaderia.
Moreover, the Demon Race had been very quiet recently; why would a large group suddenly appear out of nowhere?
"An old man fleeing for his life arrived. He said he saw a massive pile of Demons on his way here. I had Vincent use Telescope Magic from a high vantage point to verify it. There are indeed Demons rushing towards us. Judging by the distance, they will arrive by evening."
"So?"
"You decide. Aaron said that matters concerning the Demon Race in Gaderia are left to your decision. This is his respect towards you and the Demon Race."
As they spoke, the two arrived at the city walls of Gaderia.
"Eek! Why is there a Demon in the city as well?!"
Upon seeing Nanoda, an old man with a graying beard and a black headscarf collapsed to the ground in paralysis, pointing at Nanoda while his arm trembled violently.
Looking at the terrified old man, Nanoda frowned.
"Have you confirmed his identity?"
"He said he originally lived in a village upstream. After the village was destroyed by the Demon King's Army last night, he jumped off a cliff alone, fell into the river, and happened to drift near here. I have to say, this old man really has a tough life," Zari replied.
"Oh, right. Those Demons are indeed coming from the north upstream. As for the upstream village, we are not very clear on the details," Zari added two more sentences.
Beside them, Vincent, wearing a green mage robe, helped the old man up and voiced some comfort.
"Rest assured, old gentleman. This one here is a good Demon; she will not harm people."
Hearing this, the old man's eyes went wide, and he was rendered speechless for a moment.
"Take this old gentleman down and settle him in."
Vincent called over a few soldiers guarding the city and had them take the old man, who was too frightened to walk, down from the wall.
Watching the sun, which was already tilting somewhat to the west, Nanoda knew that there wasn't much time left for her.
"Vincent, help me keep an eye on the speed of those incoming Demons. Zari, send people to garrison the city walls and protect the populace. Also, send someone to help me find Aura."
Zari nodded and retreated.
Nowadays, he was bound to Gaderia. If he left this place and was discovered by the Empire, he would face pursuit and assassination.
He dared not slack off regarding Nanoda's orders; after all, he had witnessed Nanoda's strength firsthand.
*
Inside the Gaderia Lord's Manor.
Aaron tapped his finger against the table, lost in thought.
When Vincent transmitted the news of the Demon army, Aaron's reply was to throw the matter directly to Nanoda for consideration.
He believed in Nanoda's strength, and even more so because Nanoda was also a Demon.
Without thinking further, he rubbed the space between his eyebrows and picked up a report.
This report was Glück's assassination list. It contained quite a few corrupt nobles like the former Earl Mannier.
Aaron knew that what he was doing was a wicked deed, but if it was for the sake of Gaderia's subjects and Gaderia's freedom, he had to do these things.
Aaron could have pushed Nanoda onto the stage to deter the Empire with her strength. But how would that be any different from those arrogant fellows who monopolized royal power?
He did not do so. Nanoda was a Demon, not a tool; she had her own freedom as well.
Aaron also had a premonition: the moment he made a request that exceeded the boundaries would also be the time of his death. Maintaining the current state of cooperation was the best condition.
He wanted to make Gaderia a free and inclusive utopia.
*
"This number... there are probably close to a hundred Demons."
Vincent put down the lens in his hand and spoke to Nanoda.
"What is this? Clairvoyance?" Nanoda was very curious about this convenient magic.
"Ah, this is a magic tool. Its function is magnification. Combined with my Telescope Magic, it can see things at a very far distance. However, calibration is a bit troublesome; it is best to know the specific direction to investigate before using it," Vincent explained.
"Eh, truly convenient."
"What do we do next?" Vincent was actually somewhat afraid. A Demon army gathered in such numbers was very rare.
Unless it was on a large-scale battlefield, it was hard to see a Demon army of over a thousand. Even a hundred was enough to flatten a small city.
"Wait. Wait for them to come."
Nanoda's optimal plan in her heart was to use Aura's name to subdue these guys after she arrived, or simply use the simple and crude Magic of Obedience directly.
But she didn't know where Aura had gone to fool around, nor did she know if Zari and the others could find her. If it really came down to it, she would do it herself and beat them into submission directly.
Seeing that the time had not yet come, she closed her eyes and rested her mind.
Beside her, Vincent's Adam's apple bobbed.
Is she this calm?
In the distance, a squad of expressionless, armored Demons numbering a hundred was marching forward in a mighty formation. Except for the two Demons leading them and a dozen or so Demons without armor, the entire army moved with unexpected uniformity, like robots.
At the head were a Demon male and a Demon boy.
The Demon male stepped in white long boots, wearing a deep cyan European-style noble formal suit. His carefully groomed light yellow long hair draped over his shoulders, and his expression was cold and severe. If one removed the horns on his head, he would look just like a human gentleman.
The Demon boy, on the other hand, wore a pair of small brown leather shoes and suspenders. He had scallion-green short hair that covered his left eye, and the horns on his head were twisted. Although he was expressionless, he looked extremely unruly and arrogant.
"Is it really this direction?" The Demon boy inserted one hand into his pocket while twisting his wrist with the other.
"Should be... yes."
The dozen or so unarmored Demons looked at each other and nodded their heads.
"Be patient. It was confirmed with that human before; it is this direction," the Demon male said with his hands behind his back.
The sun sank increasingly westward.
A large pile of mana sources appeared within Nanoda's Mana Perception range. Among them were two General-level mana signatures.
Seeing that Zari and the others hadn't brought Aura over yet, Nanoda hardened her heart. She could only handle it herself.
____
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