Lucy sat upright within the nameless tomb at the northwest corner of the Darklord Citadel.

Dark and damp, where sunlight never reached, moss grew wild and unchecked.

Before a stone sarcophagus stood a weathered throne. The empty burial chamber lay utterly silent.

Dust had been deliberately swept from the floor and steps. Flickering blue flames burned in sconces along both walls.

…Whenever her mood darkened or she needed inspiration for a new doujin, Lucy often returned here to sit quietly alone.

Her slender fingers brushed the sarcophagus surface, tracing its delicate carvings with deliberate slowness.

This was where Lucifer fell. Where she was born. The origin point of the Darklord Citadel itself.

Faint black wings materialized behind her—each flawless feather gleaming like obsidian blades.

In the desolate tomb, those colossal wings trembled slightly, stirring the still air.

Lucy turned and settled onto the stone throne, reaching to touch her own wingtips.

Once, they’d been pure white as winter snow—radiating beauty and virtue. Six powerful wings in all.

…That was a thousand years ago.

Human affairs came and went, cycled and repeated, like a creaking spinning wheel. Like fate playing cruel tricks.

Her frail body craved quiet. Having witnessed countless mortal dramas, she’d grown languid with indifference.

Over endless centuries, humans and demons alike were mere passersby before Lucy’s eyes. Partings, deaths, fallen kingdoms, dynastic shifts—all slipped through her fingers like ordinary sand.

But only one being remained… that crimson dragon.

Her oldest companion.

She remembered standing among the Nine Heavens when Gabriel’s trumpet blared and Michael led the charge. Sisters who’d once been closer than kin now raised swords against her—all because she refused to bow her proud head and worship humanity, God’s newest creation.

She craved the right to choose her own path. To grasp freedom and love. She couldn’t bear seeing her sisters—who’d toiled faithfully for eons—kneel before insignificant newborns. Even if those newborns were called "humans."

…But as a rebel, she’d lost utterly. She fell with her dignity, her pride, her seven most loyal followers, and the great red dragon who’d fought beside her.

Nine dawns and dusks plummeting from Heaven to Hell’s deepest pit.

All her co-conspirators received divine punishment: stripped of immortal flesh. Only she endured eternal torment alone.

Yet Lucy soon found her followers’ reincarnations.

Even without memories or original bodies, knowing their souls remained unchanged satisfied her.

Only the battle-scarred Dragonmaid vanished… It took Lucy three centuries to find her.

Their reunion happened in a distant eastern land. The girl sat beneath a fig tree, reading a book titled *Day and Night*.

Thirteen years old then. Her youthful face held eyes like desert oases—clear, pure, shimmering.

"May I sit here?"

Lucy’s voice had been soft but firm. She’d sensed the familiar soul she’d sought for so long within this human girl.

The girl’s surprised gaze held a smile.

"Of course! Want to look at this picture book together?"

"Mm."

Lucy nodded, walking over to sit stiffly beside her.

"Pleased to meet you, and…"

"Long time no see."

That day, a porcelain jar beside the girl brimmed with cool spring water. Soon it became wine. Then, wedding nectar.

Dazzling petals carpeted their path. Forests and meadows blessed them. Death toasted their union; demons dragged away scowling onlookers.

A priest carved their vows onto an immortal stone tablet. They pricked their fingers, letting blood fill the grooves of each other’s names.

…But human names couldn’t last forever.

With each reincarnation, impurities clouded the soul until recognition grew difficult. Yet Lucy never gave up.

At their final parting, the girl lay in Lucy’s arms.

"I think I’m… leaving you again… right?"

"No. I’ll find you. No matter how many times. No matter how long it takes…"

"…But that won’t be today’s me. Or the me you remember…"

Lucy’s heart ached.

"If someday… you rule the human realm… declare war on Them.

"…I want you back in Heaven. To reclaim what’s yours. To live happily forever…

"As for me… I’m no help at all. Just making you waste time searching…"

Her boneless hand touched Lucy’s damp cheek, offering a frail smile.

"Do you cry every time? Or… only for me… this once…?"

"Every time."

Lucy wiped her eyes, lying.

"I don’t want you grieving for me each time… So… maybe we shouldn’t meet again…"

"……"

*Ah… Is this… a breakup?*

Lucy laid her gently on the ground, nodding slightly. She watched those eyes close peacefully—never to open again.

Lucy believed it was their final goodbye.

Later, she built the Darklord Citadel among mortals. Clumsily imitating God’s work, she created beings that multiplied across the continent—now called demons.

Her research scattered magic throughout the world, letting any intelligent creature wield this divine power through forbidden means.

In her spare time, she drew many doujins under a pen name honoring their first home’s location.

Things rarely went smoothly. But she planned to conquer the mortal realm with her creations someday. Then, storm Heaven itself.

Until recently, when she met Feliana at a political summit.

Same elegance. Same beauty. Same power. Same Dragonmaid nature. Same… unreadable mind.

*Was it her?*

Lucy wasn’t sure.

After so long, soul signatures blurred beyond recognition.

But when Feliana—leading her young dragon princess—glided gracefully forward and murmured:

"Pleased to meet you~ I have a request for the Great Demon King—"

Lucy felt her long-dormant heart pound violently.

*It can’t be wrong… Probably… No. Absolutely her…!*

"How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!"

Lucy’s hoarse whisper echoed through the tomb’s gloom.

"You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.

"What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness, no rest, but only turmoil…"

Suddenly, midday sunlight stabbed through a crack. Footsteps echoed from that direction.

"Boss! Brought the guest~"

Crisp steps descended the entrance stairs, followed by Doros’s unmistakable cheerful voice, cutting off Lucy’s murmurs.

"Enter."

Lucy’s wings dissolved into faint light. Her posture shifted instantly—regal, cold, every inch the Demonlord.

"Whoa… so dark… so cold… why this creepy place—eh? Great Demon King…?"

Lilith followed Doros down the steps, spotting the Demonlord seated on the stone throne at the chamber’s heart.

"Yes. It’s me."

Lucy’s gaze flickered over Lilith. Something stirred faintly within her.

*This adorable young dragon… Feliana’s adopted daughter.*

*Also unreadable.*

"W-what do you need from me, Your Majesty?" Lilith asked timidly.

"…Doros, guard the entrance. I have urgent matters to discuss with Lilith alone."

"Yes, ma’am."

The door sealed behind Lilith. Only the sconces’ eerie blue flames lit the tomb.

"Lilith, I’ll be blunt."

The Demonlord lounged on her throne, legs crossed, eyes sharp as she studied the young dragon.

Lilith tensed under that gaze. Since entering, she’d sensed the Demonlord’s aura felt utterly different today…

Though still a petite loli outwardly, something ancient had awakened within.

"O-okay… I’m listening…"

"I suspect… there’s a traitor among our Demonkind."

"A… traitor—!?"

Lilith gasped—only to be muffled by Lucy’s small hand clamping over her mouth.

"Shh—quiet."

Lilith nodded at the shorter figure before her. She’d never seen the Demonlord this grave.

Lucy released her.

"…Can’t confirm who yet. But someone’s leaking my confidential intelligence."

She paused.

"If it were an outsider, my magic would trace them. The problem is—"

"No traces of strangers, right?" Lilith finished.

Lucy gave a curt nod of approval.

"Likely a spy from foreign powers infiltrated the Citadel. Or… one of our own has betrayed us. Even a Department Head or one of the Four Heavenly Kings."

She returned to her throne, offering Lilith a reassuring smile.

"But you—I trust absolutely. You’re no traitor."

"…Th-thank you for your trust, Your Majesty! But why me—?"

"…A competent spy wouldn’t slack off like you. Or clock in late every day."

Lilith wiped sweat from her brow, forcing a strained smile.

*Guess my chronic laziness finally paid off, huh…*

"…Besides, you’re Feliana’s daughter. And…"

"And?"

"And you’re adorable. So I believe you."

"……"

*Since when is ‘being cute’ a security clearance standard…?*

"W-what about Auntie Doros?"

"She could be the traitor too. Right now, Lilith… I trust no one in the Citadel but you."

Lilith’s smile drooped into a bitter grimace. The weight on her shoulders suddenly felt crushing.

*Wait—so ‘being cute’ is the logic?! This is straight out of a cliché manga! Next she’ll make me hunt the spy, right—?!*

Predictably, the Demonlord’s tone shifted.

"Which is why I’m assigning you a critical mission.

"Find and expose the Citadel’s spy."

"C-can I refuse…?" Lilith whispered weakly.

*Like getting a ‘big project’ call right after pulling an all-nighter with a workplace injury…*

"……"

Lucy’s silence spoke volumes.

"…Fine, fine… got it. Catch the traitor—" Lilith surrendered with a sigh.

"But I’ve zero experience! How do I even—?"

"Don’t worry—remember when I visited you earlier? About hosting newcomers from Demon City?

"Hmm, it rings a bell..."

Lilith nodded obediently as Lucy continued:

"These soon-to-be new hires are top suspects on my watchlist. Your official duty is to welcome and interview them. But secretly, you must investigate if any have spy connections—or are spies themselves."

"Of course, if you spot promising talent unrelated to the spy case, recruiting them into your Dungeon Department for fresh blood isn’t a bad idea."

As she spoke, Lucy magically produced a report sheet. She tapped its complex charts—lines, curves, decimals—and held it before Lilith.

"Your recent success recruiting the Hero was outstanding, truly commendable. But your department’s efficiency keeps dropping. Performance is down 17% year-on-year versus the first half. Monthly captives average six—a 22% month-on-month rise, yet growth is clearly slowing."

Lucy glanced at Lilith’s reaction. Her eyes had already spiraled into dazed swirls. Lucy pressed on:

"Your head also reported veteran staff slacking off, acting arrogant, and skipping shifts. Absences due to drinking binges, hangovers, or even hiring substitutes have spiked. As the new warden, you can’t tolerate this."

"I... I..."

*Didn’t I cover for Rek in Chapter 2? He was just too drunk...*

"So, recruit capable newcomers unlinked to spies into the Dungeon Department. Train them well—consult Doros for details."

"Understood..."

The Demonlord nodded, satisfied. Seeing Lilith turn to leave, she hopped down, called her back, and walked over. Standing on tiptoe, she gently patted Lilith’s head.

"This mission demands extreme patience, sharp observation—and courage. But I know you’ll succeed. You even won over that stubborn Hero."

"Still, if you find a spy, think twice. Report to me first. Never tip them off or act alone. If trouble arises, come to me anytime. Your safety comes first. Remember?"

Warmth spread through Lilith’s heart at the touch on her head.

*I never expected the Great Demon King to be so... human.*

"I remember."

"Mhm. For the newcomers’ reception details, find Doros after you leave. She’ll handle arrangements."

"Got it!"

Lucy released her, watching Lilith stride out of the mausoleum, brimming with energy. Her eyes held pride for her capable subordinate—and a trace of unspoken affection, even dependence.

"Then... I leave it all to you—"