“I wonder when Clay will return.”

Within the Demon King’s army encampment.

Beatrice sat inside the command tent, waiting for him.

‘Is it really fine for me to just sit here and wait?’

Of course, wars were not decided in a day or two. It was not strange to remain in one place for weeks.

But Beatrice didn’t feel comfortable with the current state of things.

‘The fighting in the west must still be raging.’

The Supreme Commander of Ezer was now with the Demon King’s army. She couldn’t believe that the western front was turning in their favor.

‘And it makes no sense for us to directly support the west either.’

That meant the Demon King’s army had to make its move while Ezer still managed to hold the line. Only by coordinating indirectly could they seize initiative in the war.

Relying on human allies disgusted her, but war was no game. To turn away from advantages out of pride would be foolish.

“Hmph.”

Still, moving the army without Clay was difficult. No matter how much authority she had been delegated, she couldn’t know his exact intent.

That was why they had remained in a defensive posture. But now Beatrice rose from her seat.

“If I cannot act, then someone else must.”

Fortunately, the Demon King’s officers were strong enough to carry out missions on their own.

She thought of one such officer and went to find her.

“Athanasia.”

She spotted her sprawled across a nearby boulder.

“There’s something I need you to do.”

“Out of nowhere?” Athanasia lifted her head, “Has Clay returned?”

“No.”

“Then there’s no one here to give orders.”

“You haven’t forgotten that I hold delegated command, have you?”

“Well…”

Athanasia turned her gaze away, letting her words trail.

“Still, considering the situation… With the Saintess now in play, things are unstable. Asking me to act alone right now doesn’t sit well.”

“You’re frightened, then.”

“Wh-what?!”

Her face twisted in indignation.

“You haven’t even told me what you want me to do—so how could I be scared?”

“You already know it has to be war-related. If the Saintess is so powerful, then even Clay must sense the enemy isn’t to be underestimated.”

“…”

Athanasia fell silent.

“To be frank,” she finally said, “the Emperor of Krata is the one who revived beings like me—ancient gods. But he never unsealed the strongest of them.”

“The strongest?”

“The God of Creation.”

As the title implied, he possessed the power to bring forth existence itself.

“If I don’t even know where he is, then surely only the Emperor does. Who knows what scheme Elhaen has devised around him? Reckless moves would be dangerous.”

It seemed the sight of Selimia’s ordeal had given Athanasia a grim vision of what might happen should an even greater being appear.

“Anyway, I won’t act until Clay returns. Find someone else.”

“And what will change once Clay is back?”

“What?” Athanasia frowned in confusion, “What do you mean by that?”

“Clay’s presence doesn’t erase the traps the enemy has set. So how will his return make movement possible?”

Athanasia narrowed her eyes.

“Are you seriously asking? Clay always exceeds expectations. He’ll be more prepared than any of us.”

“In other words, you want to rely on him alone.” Beatrice gave a dry laugh, “You’ve come this far. Shouldn’t you do something for him as well? Something you can stand by when he returns.”

“If that’s what you want, then you do it.”

Her refusal was blunt.

“I won’t move without Clay. Right now, we need him.”

Beatrice didn’t press further.

‘Not easy.’

Athanasia’s reasoning wasn’t baseless. Even with the Demon King’s army entrenched, Emperor Lutan of Krata hadn’t made any bold moves—likely because he too was setting a trap.

‘Could it be another ancient god…?’

The God of Creation, Crea.

The one who had fought Elhaen most fiercely. Even with the power to create, he wasn’t limitless. He had been defeated in the end.

‘But if Elhaen can command him now…’

If Elhaen harnessed her divinity to wield the God of Creation, the calamity would be far worse than Vlad’s resurrection in Yaphenon.

‘Speculation… but troubling nonetheless.’

For now, there was only suspicion that Lutan was plotting. What lay within Krata remained unknown.

“Athanasia, there is one thing you should know.”

“What’s that?”

“Clay has expectations of you.”

Beatrice’s words made her blink.

“Expectations? Of me?”

Beatrice stopped and looked back.

“When it comes to faith, you and he share a certain common ground. Because of that similarity, he’s more likely to rely on you in his absence—to fill the gap.”

“Me…?”

“You know Clay is a man of few words. He’d never say it outright.”

But Beatrice had seen and heard enough at his side.

“Ancient gods perceive things mortals cannot. You’ve lived long. Clay must value that.”

Athanasia looked taken aback.

“Really?”

“You can ask him yourself when he returns. Though whether he’ll like having his thoughts exposed is another matter.”

Athanasia let out a sigh.

“Hard to believe…”

“Believe it or not, that’s your choice. But if you’ve chosen to stay here, you must decide your stance.”

She was an ancient god, yet now moved alongside Clay. To everyone else, she looked like nothing but an ally.

“If the Demon King’s army loses this war, do you think you’ll have anywhere to go? If Clay is to protect you, then you must support what he’s trying to achieve.”

Passive help would only add to Clay’s burden.

“Think it over. I’ll leave what I want you to do here.”

Beatrice set down a piece of paper on the boulder and walked away.

“Hm.”

Athanasia picked it up, and her eyes widened.

“What… is this?”

The words written on the paper were something Athanasia had never expected.

♧

“You’ve returned, Clay.”

Three days later.

Clay and his companions came back to the Demon King’s encampment.

“Well done, Beatrice.”

He first commended Beatrice, who had been holding command in his absence.

“Thanks to you, I was able to complete what needed to be done and return. How were things at the front?”

“There were a few small skirmishes, but nothing of real consequence.”

“I see.”

As he expected.

“So they really had no intention of leaving the capital.”

Part of the reason he had left the Demon King’s army behind while traveling to Hanumayer was to provoke Krata—to see if they would seize the chance to strike in his absence.

‘Lutan must have seen it as a feint.’

Surely the Emperor knew Clay had left Krata; no doubt he had scrying orbs scattered throughout his realm.

“Beatrice. Did you confirm the western situation?”

“I had our scouts and the elves in camp investigate. It seems the front suddenly froze in place.”

“Froze?”

“Yes.”

It was as if the western army were waiting for the Demon King’s army in the east to move.

“I was surprised they had such leisure, even with the Saintess crossing over. But I found the reason.”

“And that is?”

“Nael.”

The name made Clay flinch.

“Nael is there?”

“She seems to have become their commander.”

“…Commander.”

Clay recalled the letter he had sent her. It had told her to follow his will.

“So she didn’t choose to defect outright.”

“She must have thought obeying your words was enough. Whether she truly grasped your will or not.”

Clay turned his gaze aside, silent.

It met Selimia’s, who had returned with him from Hanumayer.

“Should I go and find out?”

She asked with a nervous smile, as though interpreting his look.

“No. Lutan’s scouts must already be watching our every move. There’s no need for you to be seen moving as well.”

Clay replied quietly and glanced around.

“I don’t sense Athanasia’s presence. Did she wander off alone?”

“She went to Krata’s capital.”

“…Krata’s capital?”

Clay’s eyes widened.

“Why would she suddenly go there? I never ordered it.”

“Because I sent her.” Beatrice looked him straight in the eye, “Whatever you discovered in Hanumayer, it doesn’t change the fact that our true opponent is one backed by Elhaen.”

Which meant they needed to uncover exactly what that wretched god was preparing.

“And for that, we need someone capable.”

“It’s dangerous.”

“That’s why I used a volunteer.” Beatrice smiled faintly, “She said she wanted to learn what lies there.”

“Athanasia volunteered…?” Clay caught his breath, “I didn’t think she’d go so far.”

He had been wrestling with whom to send as scouts. The gap between ordinary demons and officers in the Demon King’s army was too vast—only someone of her level could manage it.

“If she returns, she’ll deserve a great reward.”

As he spoke, Beatrice murmured under her breath.

“If she returns safely, that is.”

(End of Chapter)

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