"Demon King would never do such a thing," Avel said gravely, setting down her empty coffee cup and resting her gloved hand on the desk. "But I fear someone might exploit the situation."
"Most Demon Lords care only for their own interests, not the nation's growth," she continued. "Many oppose the war yet covet the Demon King's throne."
"Among them, the strongest and most troublesome is Silva the Dragon Devourer. By devouring dragon flesh and hearts, she aims to surpass Dragonkind. She's a dragon demon imbued with multiple draconic powers—terrifyingly strong."
"The Court still supports His Majesty for now. Wartime prevents them from allowing the Court Trial demanded by Demon Lords."
"But if Silva and her followers use the Healing Saintess as an excuse to push for the Trial? Whether those conservative Court rulers still back our Demon King becomes uncertain."
Avel slowly closed her eyes, then opened them again. Her gaze gleamed with resolute, radiant light—the glow of one who’d embraced death.
"As a Demon Race member serving the Demon King and acting in his stead, I won’t allow unstable elements to threaten His Majesty’s grand cause."
"I’ll do everything in my power—even sacrifice my life—to eliminate this threat!"
"My plan requires the Demon Race to lose this war."
"The Demon King has already secured a strong advantage. If we still lose, blame falls on the Demon Lords’ poor battlefield performance."
"This lets us strip resources from even non-combatant Demon Lords. Without the Saintess, the Demon King leaves them no room to exploit."
"So, no matter how vital the Healing Saintess is to your strategy—I hope she’s crucial. It’ll make my plan smoother."
"With His Majesty’s ability, in a few years, he’ll reduce the Demon Lords’ lands and resources to barely surviving levels."
"The Demon King will wield history’s greatest power, gripping the entire Demon Race’s fate firmly in his hands!"
"Then, whether he chooses peace with you, weds the Saintess, or restarts the war—it’s entirely his freedom."
"As his executor and proxy, I need only silently assist at his side."
Avel’s eyes flashed with an ambitious, greedy light, yearning for that future. She unconsciously licked her dry lips.
"Now, I’ll do my utmost to help you rescue the Healing Saintess back to the Holy Empire. Will my intel earn your trust?"
Isaac and Joshua the owl exchanged a glance. After seconds of silence, digesting the information, Joshua spoke.
"You didn’t need to tell us so much."
"This is Demon King’s Castle—the Demon Race’s stronghold. Even if you forced us to cooperate, we’d comply."
"So?" Avel leaned against the desk, smiling warmly.
"I believe your sincerity. Until we rescue Noah, we’re comrades." Joshua turned to Isaac. "Agreed?"
"Since Sister Joshua trusts this sister, Isaac trusts her too." Isaac’s innocent smile bloomed—a pure, tender flower that stunned battle-hardened Avel.
"Deal." Joshua extended his wing in sincerity.
"Pleasure doing business." Avel’s daze lasted a heartbeat before she grasped his thin metal wing.
"But if you lose the war, won’t your Demon Race’s resources run dangerously thin?" Post-agreement warmth filled the room as Joshua turned her earlier words back on Avel.
"You started this war from resource shortages. Without gaining land or resources as compensation, many Demon Race citizens will starve this winter, right?"
Joshua asked not as the Saintess, but as a scholar driven by pure curiosity. Only as the Mystic Saintess could she voice such a sensitive question freely.
"Don’t worry. Demon Lords’ warehouses overflow with surplus grain. Never underestimate them—they became Demon Lords through extreme selfishness and greed." Avel revealed state secrets without hesitation, perhaps respecting Joshua’s inquisitiveness or valuing their alliance.
"Truth is, even if the Demon Race seizes human lands, they can’t develop resources like humans."
"Our race’s nature causes this. We’re stronger and better at magic than humans—but that traps us in primitive living standards."
"Vast, sparse lands partly stem from endless disasters. But our true flaw? Inability to reshape environments for survival. That’s why we remain socially backward."
"Demons lack human weaknesses and adapt easily to harsh climates. Yet that very strength stole our creativity and drive."
"Humans grow strong through weakness. Demons grow weak through strength. We still live as we did ten thousand years ago—like other primate-like races on the continent. Development without progress."
"Court nobles sneer at humans yet pride themselves on human-like traits. Heh. Maybe demons are humanity’s inferior offshoot." Avel, well-read as a sociology expert, shook her head with self-mocking scorn for her race.
"Those words were dangerously heretical, Miss Avel. Does your Demon King know your thoughts?" Joshua felt shock and excitement—sensing kinship with this executor.
