Demon Lord Management Sim Game

It was past midnight, and Candice entered a temple in the royal capital of Durcia. She sighed when she found Velvet still kneeling in front of the Lyra statues, interlocking her fingers and closing her eyes.

"You know what?" The pink-haired mage sat on one of the long chairs, sipping wine from a clay bottle. "Your hand has indeed been healed with magic. However, it's actually not completely fixed yet. You should rest, not be in that position for hours. You should still feel the pain, right?"

"Not really." Velvet responded.

"Ah, I forgot your bloodline. You dragon brute." Candice snorted. "But still, you need good sleep, Vel."

"I've to atone for my sins. I used dirty means and ran away from the fight."

Candice took another sip of her drink. "You have no choice. We met Vorn by chance, so we haven't made a strategy yet."

The prophet turned to Candice and shook her head. "How many times have I told you, don't bring alcohol to God's house."

The mage pulled the bottle when Velvet was about to grab it. "This is to ease my pain, Vel. Painkillers are not working well."

Velvet's brow furrowed, then she folded her arms across her chest. "You used that forbidden potion again?"

"I also have no choice." Candice can only surrender when her friend manages to grab her bottle at high speed. "You expect me to be able to fight them all alone. Vel?"

"Forgive me." The prophet sighed, looking at the statues of Lyra. "We were supposed to be a team, but we split up instead."

"It's not your fault." Candice pulled another bottle out of her robes, making Velvet sigh.

Candice took a big gulp of her wine. The prophet decided not to protest anymore.

"I actually wanted to ask why you brought the forbidden potion, but I don't think now is the time." Velvet sat beside her friend instead. "Today, we've been through a lot. It's a miracle you got away from them."

Candice wiped the drippings of wine from her mouth using the back of her hand. "So, what are we going to do next?"

"That's…." The prophet was silent for a moment. "I don't know. This Vorn is very different from what's written in the manuscripts and holy books. I can't use the same strategy as my predecessor."

"Not to mention, it will be predictable to our enemies." Candice looked up to stare at the ceiling, where there was a painting of Lyra facing a demon with horns. "Yeah, I'm also not sure that attacking the cities they control will be effective. They don't make conquests by force…. Yes, they sometimes do violence. However, that's done to sway people's opinion, not to oppress them."

"Well, let me give my opinion." The voice appeared at the same time as the temple door opened.

Candice and Velvet immediately stood up and bowed to the stooped old man with the golden crown. "Good afternoon, king Julius Durciann."

"Drop the formalities." The king chuckled, then motioned the guards outside to close the door. "I'm sorry for eavesdropping on your conversation. Do you know what I've been called since I was little? The Ears." He held one of his big ears and smiled. "Since birth, my hearing has been above average."

"That's a fascinating fact." Candice widens her smile.

"I know." The king approached Velvet and gave her something wrapped in black cloth. "I ordered the entire army to look for it. It's important to you, right?"

The prophet opened the package and found her white dragon-patterned helmet inside. "Thanks, your majesty. Looking for this must be troublesome for the soldiers of the kingdom of Durcia."

"No problem." The king limped a little, then sat in one of the chairs. "As a kingdom that uses the dragon symbol as a coat of arms, we are very honored to have a dragon-blood like you visit us. Moreover, you are a prophet. We are trying to treat you as best we can…. Ah, [lease sit down."

As soon as the two women sat down, Julian stared at the statues of Lyra. "I have a suggestion, miss prophet. Well, I wouldn't say it's brilliant. However, I think you should consider it."

Velvet exchanged glances with Candice, who just shrugged.

"What is it, your highness?" the prophet asked.

"I believe my people are very loyal. Maybe they don't admit it, or their minds are influenced by Vorn, but there's still god in their hearts." The king wore a broad smile. "So, go to the occupied cities, kill Vorn's agents, and lecture them. It's that easy. You can detect the demon in disguise, right?"

Candice cleared her throat. "Well, sorry if I sound rude. However, we can't even estimate the extent of Vorn's influence…."

"But we can't stand idly by, Candice." Velvet interrupted. "We have to move now before Vorn's influence runs wild. We'll think of a strategy on the way."

"Good. Thank you for agreeing with me." The king rose to his feet. "And let's start from this city. I have caught the people we suspect to be agents of Vorn."

"Are they the ones who 'survive' the battle against Vorn in the Slivland valley?" The prophet stood with Candice.

"Most of it, but there are also others. I've even brought them here." Julian smiled again, then gestured for the prophet to open the door. Velvet raised an eyebrow and complied with the order.

As soon as she stepped out, she found about ten people bound and kneeling in the temple courtyard. Some had blank expressions, while the women looked down, except for one who was crying.

The king smiled at the soldiers guarding the demons. They are Shadow members who are increasingly determined after their organization is destroyed.

"We actually have been stalking them for a long time. But we didn't catch them right away because we thought they could lead us to find Vorn's weakness." Julius lined the prophet. "And we decided to arrest them today during the chaos. It made us think they were very dangerous."

Velvet feels that not immediately killing these demons is stupid. However, some of them appeared to be wearing royal attire. The prophet knew that the country's officials were reluctant to kill people from noble families because it would create unwanted tension.

And maybe the people of this country actually don't know they are demons.

"Yeah, they are demons." Velvet looked coldly at those individuals, then pointed at the only woman crying. "Except her. She's a human."

"I told you, right! I'm not a demon!" The woman was instantly overjoyed.

"We swear to god that she gave these demons information." One of the soldiers explained. "We dare to bear grave sins if we are wrong."

Velvet looked at the sunlight that had started to appear in the distance. She hated this situation. "Then, she will also be punished."

The captive woman opened her mouth wide, then her face turned vicious. "This is why I don't believe in your religion! It has a huge flaw! How could you kill me because of someone else's oath!?"

The prophet crouched before the woman. "I am a prophet, miss. Only I can make a decision like that. Not everyone can….."

Before Velvet could finish her sentence, the captive woman spat in the prophet's face. The soldiers immediately kicked the prisoner's head and face.

"Enough!" Velvet got in their way. "As I said before, she will also be punished!"

The captive woman laughed while lying on her back. "You know what? I'm willing to die with these lord Vorn's underlings, but they ask me to try hard to survive! This is because my duty is essential to them! They really appreciate me, so different from this country that considers me trash for selling my pussy!"

The woman laughed again, this time louder than before. That triggered the prophet's heartbeat to crawl up.

What is she actually up against?