"What, are you that interested in that human?"

Lucifer settled onto a nearby seat, crossing his legs as he watched Lolis with keen amusement.

To him, Lolis had always been a walking glacier—rarely letting genuine emotions surface on her face.

Yet here she was, utterly rattled by a mere human. *Hmph.* Now he was curious too.

"Trespassing in Demon Kin territory is a death sentence for humans. Yet I let him slip right under my nose."

"My failure. Since I allowed his escape, it falls to me to find him... and end him personally."

Lolis crossed her arms beneath her ample bosom, her gaze sharp as it locked onto the throne atop the dais.

Demon Kin law brooked no violation. As both witness and one of the Four Demon Kings, she would not tolerate its desecration.

Only by hunting down that man and spilling his blood could she atone.

"You’d do better to focus on the Dark Lord’s affairs," Lucifer remarked lightly. "Haven’t you noticed those two restless fools stirring?"

"And it’s not just us. The humans have caught wind of the Demon King’s arrival too. Their Holy Light Church must be in utter chaos by now."

A faint smile touched his lips as he glanced up at the gargoyle mask glowing crimson above the throne.

Hostility toward the Demon King’s return ran deep—among both Demon Kin and humans alike.

"Besides," he added, rubbing his tired shoulders, "why would the Dark Lord manifest in human lands instead of this palace? Any theories?"

The Demon King’s choice made no sense. As a Demon Kin sovereign, human realms should hold no allure for him.

"The Dark Lord’s will is beyond our petty comprehension," Lolis stated coldly, her voice low but firm. "His wisdom and foresight eclipse minds like ours."

"Our sole duty is clear: find him. Unite the Demon Kin under his banner. End this endless strife."

She drew a slow breath, her delicate features set in icy resolve.

The Demon Kin could not fracture further. Factions had splintered, loyalties divided.

If this continued, minor clashes would ignite full-scale civil war.

Their numbers were already scarce. True power lay in the hands of few.

Civil war would scorch every corner of their realm, extinguishing their strongest warriors.

For the Demon Kin’s future—for their very survival—she *had* to stop this war before it began.

Only the Demon King’s power could rally their people. Only he could halt the bloodshed.

To prevent their race from crumbling into ruin, she must find him. And bring him home.

"How certain are you of finding him?" Lucifer’s tone turned serious. "Don’t assume you’re the only one hunting him."

"Underestimate Hell and Abyss at your peril. They may revel in war, but they’re no fools."

"And the humans? Their vigilance will be sharper than ours. The Demon King’s shadow is etched into their bones as pure terror."

"Between the Holy Light Church’s ancient relics, that revered Holy Maiden... and humanity’s final trump card—"

His smile vanished. His handsome face hardened.

Humanity had never been stronger. This era marked their zenith.

Meanwhile, the Demon Kin stood at their weakest—fragmented, leaderless.

Against human might? They’d be crushed like dust.

Especially with *that* force still lurking on the human side... the one that had felled Demon Kings time and again...

"The Hero..." Lolis murmured, biting her fingertip.

A Hero blessed by the divine was indeed the only true threat to the Demon King.

Individually, he might be weaker—but with endless reinforcements, his power would surge.

Especially after merging the Holy Maiden’s sacred blood with his own Heroic Essence.

Their union would ignite a divine aura, doubling his strength. Pushing him toward—and beyond—the Demon King’s might.

This war was already lost. The fractured Demon Kin couldn’t withstand a single Hero’s assault.

"The Holy Light Church has summoned their Holy Maiden," Lucifer continued, oblivious to Lolis’s darkening expression. "But the Hero didn’t manifest in their temple either. Vanished."

*That* was the only silver lining. Humanity would scramble to find their Hero first, easing pressure on the Demon King.

"After claiming the Holy Maiden’s purity, the Hero’s power doubles," Lolis suddenly cut in, her voice glacial. A cruel smirk twisted her lips. Her crimson eyes glinted with mockery.

"But reverse that thought: without her purity, his potential remains shackled."

Silence hung heavy before she spoke again, low and sharp.

"The Holy Maiden can sense the Hero’s location. She’ll lead the search herself."

"Kill her before they meet... and the Hero loses his wings forever."

"Then," she murmured softly, tracing her chin with a finger, an icy smile blooming on her frostbitten face, "the Dark Lord will crush him without breaking a sweat."

Time to move.

Finding the Demon King could wait.

First—she’d erase the Holy Maiden from this world.

A lone Hero?

*Pathetic.*