The Guidebook for Villainesses

Early that morning, while Lara was telling Isadora that the giant of fire would fight against the Hell Corps on humanity's side, Demian appeared in Memoria castle, where the Emperor's body was laid in state.

He walked past many people, yet no one recognized him. Neither the guards, the knights, nor even the sorcerers brought in by the Emperor noticed Demian's presence.

The Emperor was lying in a cold stone chamber. Perhaps to prevent the body from decomposing, it was very cold and dry. Demian walked slowly to the Emperor's side. Then, he looked at the decapitated body and said in a low voice.

"Had you said you wanted to live, you humans would have been defeated."

That was the law of the world, it was also called cause and effect, and it was also a chain that restrained the Gods and demons.

"And… I will bear this karma."

After saying so, Demian swept the Emperor's neck with his palm. The ugly cut had healed and disappeared without a trace. The Emperor's distorted and stiff face became calm, and his wound-ridden body regained its original appearance.

The Emperor looked just like a man who slept in peace. Demian turned around. A dark and sad emotion shone on his face. It was a very short moment. And soon, he became expressionless.

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The Hell Corps was armed with a formidable force, a durable vitality, and a ferocious spirit. But they did not have rules, nor did they have a sense of responsibility or duty, honor, or comradeship. All they desired was destruction and carnage.

After the Emperor's death, the Barbarians' appearance had divided the Hell Corps into two and had set the war situation right. The royal knights from Hautean also fought for their lives. Though they were knights of a small country, they did not cower in front of the demon troops and their threats toward humans. It was the same with the mercenary wolves. Leaving behind the past when they were disrespected for risking their lives for money, they fought fiercely with their weapons in exchange for nothing. The Imperial army, which had collapsed before the Emperor's death, rose again.

The Imperial army that the Emperor brought to Memoria was by no means composed of a small number. They were soldiers trained to the limit due to frequent warfare. The knights did their best to save even one more such soldier. While the knights of Hautean and mercenary wolves secured their retreat, the knights of the Tarragon Empire kept the front line of the battlefield. They were like ramparts. Even while dealing with violent monsters and demon troops, they did not back down.

A lot of knights died, and victory was earned at the expense of their sacrifice. The Imperial army was able to preserve the maximum number of troops from the attack of the Hell Corps, but it also had to lose many honorable knights.

The day after the Hell Corps and Imperial army clashed head-on, both encampments watched each other and continued their sporadic battle. They were buying time.

The Hell Corps waited for the gates of hell to be fully opened. All the strong demons, the commander of the corps, came over.

The Imperial army waited for Acerus. When he arrived in Memoria, he was determined to hold an informal funeral for the Emperor and march towards Gorgon with the reinforcements.

"The three eastern countries were finally united under the name of Sias. As soon as the King of Lafort abdicated his throne to Prince Nicholas, the Prince rushed to his mother's country, Sias, and announced that he would call the three eastern countries Sias if they recognize him as the king."

"It must have been a big blow to the King of Lafort."

"It seems that Prince Nicholas was greatly influenced by his mother. He didn't use Lafort, he used Sias."

"No way. He just compromised because Sias has the strongest troops. He didn't want to fight after all."

When Isadora spoke with a cold face, Sebastian nodded and told her the next news.

"Even the north, which had long been at odds with the Empire, sent a fairly large number of troops. The death of the Emperor has shaken the continent."

"It's obvious even if we don't look at that side. I'm sure Acerus said this."

"Said what?"

"If you don't send as many troops as you can, I'll attack the north after this war."

There could have been no faster way than threats. After being devastated by the events that Lilith had caused, the north could not afford to deal with the furious Crown Prince of the Empire. Furthermore, they knew that the Barbarians had joined hands with the Tarragon Empire in the great demon war.

The Barbarians were an existence that the north feared the most. Perhaps they accepted Acerus's request to avoid becoming the Barbarians' enemy.

"And to top it off, the other countries in the southwest gave a helping hand. Additionally, the Temple of Glory has closed and armored priests are joining the reinforcements."

"What about Hautean?"

"Princess Sonnet publicly declared herself the next King of Hautean and expressed her deepest condolences for the death of the Emperor. And… It seems that the royal family of Hautean is quite rich. They decided to add the largest amount of war aid on the continent."

"The royal family has no money."

"But I heard they're sending a lot."

"They must have squeezed out all the money from all the nobles, government officials, and wealthy merchants. Sonnet is a smart kid. A young princess is about to sit on the throne so there must be so many adults who look down on her. So what she must have done was empty their pockets so they can't fight back."

"That young princess is already thinking that far…"

Sebastian felt sentimental. He recalled when Sonnet said that she admired Lara, all while blushing while feeling shy. She used to be a princess who looked good with a big ribbon.

"A king's child eventually becomes the king. If they don't become a king, they either become a traitor or will be forgotten. Sonnet is a child who is determined to become king since she was very young. She can't just be a normal child."

"How do you know all that, Madam? You weren't interested in politics. You listened without much thought when it came to something that didn't bring in money."

"Lara said so."

"Pardon?"

"The day Lara came here, she said so to me."

Isadora leaned her back deep in the chair and looked at the sofa where Lara had sat. The proud feeling she had for her daughter had coexisted together with her sorrowful emotions derived from her daughter's untimely growing maturity.

"Sometimes…"

"Yes?"

"I feel like I forgot something important."

"Are you talking about milady's business?"

Sebastian asked. He knew better than anyone else about Isadora's guilt—when she was so busy that she could not look after Lara's growth.

"Children are amazing."

Isadora said.

"They look like they're so weak that they can't do anything, but next thing you know, they've already grown up well alone. And soon enough, they won't even need their parents' help anymore."

Isadora got up and put firewood in the fireplace, the thick branches burnt violently in the heater. The flames flared with a crackling sound, they were as red as Lara's and Isadora's eyes.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Lara was in a forest not far from the city with the giant of fire in her arms. It was a forest leading to the mountain range, so the topography was rough and there were many uphill paths. Every time she moved, her chest would ache and she would be out of breath, but still she walked firmly in the forest without even a single groan.

Some of the monsters of the Hell Corps were scattered in this forest. They had already got a taste of human blood and could not calm down easily. That was the reason why they kept charging into the city.

After several sporadic battles, the Hell Corps began to take the humans seriously. At first, they used to charge recklessly, but now, they have begun to use a strategy of walking around in groups to attack and run.

The humans that were unable to deal with the Hell Corps with only their strength or speed often vented their anger whenever the Hell Corps ran away.

Lara decided to secretly sweep them away for the humans. She reckoned that she could deal with them if she carried a demon around.

"How much further do I have to go? You said they were close? You said we're almost there?"

Lara, who had been talking without saying anything, suddenly asked. Valac replied with a shrug.

"I told you, I will give you a piggyback ride. Vassago told me so many times not to let you step on dirt."

"I don't want you to piggyback me."

"Is it because of my face?"

"Yeah, it repulses me."

"Aren't you being really mean now?"

Valac asked Lara with a hurt face. Of course, Lara did not even care at all.

"It's here."

Valac bent down, pointing to an open area inside the forest. Lara also followed him into hiding. But there was no one there.

"But this place is quiet though?"

"That can't be true… Until this morning, I checked that there were about 30 or 40 of them."

Having that many Hell Corps meant that the area should not be this quiet. Lara wondered about that and sprang to her feet. If they had already gone out hunting humans, she was going to punish Valac for missing on that. However, all that remained there were traces of a fierce battle and the body of the monsters that were lying on the ground.

"Huh?"

Valac stepped forward, uttering his confusion. He wandered around the open area and looked at the traces. Then, he returned to Lara and told her.

"Wreckage from a sword. Well, it seems that they were all attacked without even having a chance to counterattack. Who in hell is doing this?"

"I'd like to know too."

Lara murmured dejectedly.