Next morning.

"Vera, which of these two ceremonial outfits looks better?"

Inside a dilapidated demon palace, a black-haired, handsome youth stood before a mirror. He held two demon ceremonial outfits, constantly comparing them. He asked the opinion of the black-haired girl beside him.

"Bro, you look good in anything!"

The black-haired girl had bright eyes like the night sky and fair, glowing skin. She wore a dark purple gown. Her angelic face made her look like a delicate doll.

The youth was Albel, formerly the First Demon King of the Otherworld demons. He had been stripped of his title. The girl beside him was Verdandi, his sister whom he had found ten years ago.

"But I still need to pick one. I can't wear both to fight the Light Sanctuary."

Albel glanced at his empty wardrobe and sighed. Down on his luck as he was, he only had these two outfits to choose from.

"Then the black one. Ten years ago, Bro wore this to carry Vera back from the Holy Domain."

Verdandi tilted her head and pointed to the outfit in Albel's left hand.

"Haha, this outfit is my battle gear."

Albel put on the black ceremonial outfit, untouched for ten years. He had worn it to fight the first Holy Maiden of the Light Sanctuary back then. Just thinking about it gave him a little thrill.

"Bro, Vera doesn't quite understand. You've been stripped of your Demon King title by the demon council. Why are you still answering the Light Sanctuary's army's challenge?"

Verdandi's slender legs, clad in black over-the-knee socks, swung back and forth at the bed's edge. Her body swayed as she watched Albel's back.

"I heard this generation's Holy Maiden is the best ever. I want to snatch one as a wife, just like those bastards did."

Albel adjusted his clothes and sat beside Verdandi. He couldn't help but swallow hard.

"Bro, you're disgusting!"

"Ouch!"

Hearing Albel's reply, Verdandi kicked him off the bed with one swift motion. Then, furious, she shouted loudly.

"You already have Vera, yet you're still not satisfied!"

"I-I just wanted to find you a sister-in-law."

Albel clutched his aching waist and sat back on the bed, grimacing. He thought to himself, this brat still doesn't know her own strength.

"Vera doesn't want a sister-in-law."

Verdandi turned her head away, clearly sulking.

"But I really envy those guys."

Albel approached Verdandi with a pained expression, putting on a pitiful look. His good friend, the Third Demon King Begasus, had captured three Holy Maidens as wives. He lived a shameless life every day and rarely visited Albel anymore.

"Al, if you want, I'll give you two. Don't be shy. I can catch new ones."

At that moment, Albel recalled what Begasus had said that day. He was furious.

"Like hell I'd want your hand-me-downs! I'm a Demon King too, you know. Just wait, I'll catch a Holy Maiden and bring her back to show you."

Though he had replied so forcefully, he had waited a full five years for the declaration of war from those "Holy Maiden couriers." After all, as an exiled Demon King, he was unpopular in every way.

"If Bro brings back another woman, will he stop loving Vera?"

Verdandi puffed out her cheeks as she looked at Albel. Her expression was incredibly cute.

"Impossible! I'll treat you both equally."

Albel waved his hands frantically. He knew the basic tricks to coax girls.

"Bro, you're lying. Then Vera will only get half the love."

Verdandi wasn't an easy girl to coax.

"Vera, think about it. Love isn't like cake that shrinks when split. I'll wrap you both in my love. So you're both enveloped in a full share of it."

Albel didn't know where he got such crooked logic. More importantly, Verdandi actually believed it.

"Okay. But if Bro dares to stop loving Vera, Vera will punch your chest with little fists."

"N-No, of course not. Don't worry, haha."

Albel looked at Verdandi's little fists. Cold sweat slid down his face. He had experienced the power of this girl's punches before.

"It's getting late. I should head out."

Albel checked the time. It was almost time for his appointment with the Light Sanctuary.

"Be careful on your way, Bro. Vera will wait at home for you... and your wife-to-be."

Meanwhile, at the edge of the Wasteland, the Light Sanctuary's army had arrived. They were about to lay siege, but awkwardly, Albel's territory had no walls at all.

"For the glory of Goddess Freyja!"

"For humanity's millennia of history!"

"For a brighter future, we must expel the demons from this world!"

At that moment, the Light Sanctuary's knight legion, led by the High Priest of unknown generation, marched proudly toward the faintly visible palace in the Wasteland.

All soldiers, as if pumped with adrenaline, marched in perfect unison. They chanted the Light Sanctuary's slogans. They followed a girl with sun-like golden hair, clad in sacred armor, riding a warhorse.

The 17th Holy Maiden of the Light Sanctuary—Alicia Chronos.

These guys must be crazy.

Alicia listened to the deafening roars behind her. Her expression twitched involuntarily. She could never shout such embarrassing words herself.

She wondered if accepting the Holy Sword and becoming the Holy Maiden was a mistake. It was said that previous Holy Maidens didn't have good endings.

But there was no choice. Alicia's hometown was on the brink of destruction from demon invasions. To save it, she volunteered to become the Holy Maiden. She successfully drew the Holy Sword Excalibur 17, used the Light Sanctuary's power to expel the demons, and protected her home. The price was to go to the demon realm and fight the Demon King.

"Your Holiness, we're almost at Albel's lair."

The High Priest rode up to Alicia's side and said respectfully.

"High Priest, can we really succeed in this expedition?"

Alicia looked at the kind-faced old man and spoke with concern. She had vaguely heard rumors about the Demon King "Orion" Albel, the former leader of the Thirteen Demon Kings.

"Of course, Your Holiness. You drew the Holy Sword Excalibur. Goddess Freyja will forever protect you. Moreover, the sword's unique effect deals true damage to dark creatures, ignoring defense."

The High Priest replied firmly, seemingly very confident in this campaign.

"But my attack power with the Holy Sword equipped is only over ten thousand, barely reaching 7-star strength."

Alicia looked at the Holy Sword Excalibur at her waist. She still felt uneasy. After all, as a commoner, her base stats were too low.

"Don't worry, Your Holiness. Don't forget, this opponent is the exiled Demon King Albel. His attack and defense stats are zero."

The High Priest shook his head, as if reminding her.

"But he was once the leader of the Thirteen Pillar Demon Kings. His strength must be formidable."

Alicia was still worried. After all, demons weren't fools. They wouldn't appoint a demon with zero attack and defense as Demon King.

"You have a point, but in my view, it's not like that."

The High Priest puffed out his chest and said confidently.

"I conclude that this Albel is just a weakling bluffing his way through!"

"High Priest, why do you say that?"

Alicia blinked, not understanding why the old man suddenly said that.

"Your Holiness, you can deduce this: why did the equally matched human and demon armies vanish after that battle? Why did the first Holy Maiden disappear? Yet that Demon King returned alone and was stripped of his title. What does that imply?"

"What does it imply?"

Alicia tilted her head. She thought, "Stop beating around the bush. I'm getting confused."

"Your Holiness, it means this Demon King is a deserter."

The High Priest stroked his beard and said earnestly.

"A deserter?"

Alicia's eyes widened.

"Exactly. How could a guy with zero attack and defense defeat the first Holy Maiden, whose attack power was infinite? He must have used some despicable trick, sacrificing the entire demon army to achieve mutual destruction."

The High Priest nodded firmly, clearly convinced.

"I see! Then this time, victory is assured!"

Alicia's face lit up with realization. She thought, "So that's how it is. Then this time, success is guaranteed?"

"Exactly. For ten years, our offensives against demons have all failed. The soldiers' morale is very low. We desperately need a victory to boost spirits. And this time is when the Light Sanctuary sounds the horn of counterattack!"

The High Priest raised one hand and shouted the last sentence.

Hearing the High Priest's words, Alicia's heart raced with excitement. If this expedition against the Demon King succeeded, wouldn't she be hailed as a hero of humanity, revered by thousands?

At that moment, Alicia seemed to see money, power, status, and handsome men waving at her.

"Oh, long live the Light Sanctuary!"

Thinking this, Alicia's face showed excitement. She couldn't help but draw the Holy Sword at her waist, raise it high, and shout loudly.

"Long live the Light Sanctuary!"

The soldiers behind Alicia, seeing their Holy Maiden lead the way, roared in unison like a tidal wave.

The Light Sanctuary army, led by Holy Maiden Alicia, advanced with unparalleled momentum. Until Alicia, at the front, suddenly stopped.

At that moment, not far ahead of her, a black-haired youth in pure black ceremonial attire sat on a lone throne in the middle of the grass. He rested his chin on his hand, tilting his head as he looked at her.

"You're finally here."

Seeing that Alicia and the Sanctuary army had arrived, Albel stood up from his chair and continued.

"This is my first arranged battle with the Light Sanctuary. Shall we go through the formalities first, or start fighting right away?"