The Jaeburg Invasion

On that day, an army advancing toward Jaeburg was spotted from afar on a mountain road.

This had already been anticipated, so the report was swiftly made, relayed via communication magic, and immediately delivered to Manesh.

Their numbers: tens of thousands.

Having come through the mountain pass, they were far fewer than the army that had attacked Magic City, but it was still more than enough to bring Jaeburg to its knees.

Moreover, among them sat a massive robot painted in crimson.

"Well, this is a problem…"

Vargas, commanding Jaeburg's forces, was inwardly holding his head.

Ria had told him not to open hostilities from their side. But even if he ignored that, there was no way to attack anyway.

However, when the demon army made camp, they simply surrounded them and nothing more.

The next day, Ria and Carla flew over from Manesh. Literally flew through the sky.

And waiting until dusk, an envoy emerged from the demon army as well.

Among them was a girl with flaxen hair, the vampire Asuka.

"Sorry about the timing."

That was Asuka's first words. Vampires couldn't function properly during the day. Even a powerful vampire like Asuka was no exception.

A tent had been set up midway between the demon army's encampment and Jaeburg's gate.

From Ogress's side there was Ria, Carla, and several officials. From the demon side, aside from Asuka, there were only military officers.

"Before we talk, I want to ask about what happened three years ago. What was that werewolf thinking?"

Ria's voice contained anger. When someone almost destroyed the person most precious to her, how could she not be angry?

"That was… I apologize. We weren't keeping a close enough watch either… Apparently His Majesty barely made it in time."

The one who stopped Ria's katana was certainly the Demon King. With that timing, he could indeed have saved Carla as well.

However, Ria was not satisfied.

"To be honest, I'm wondering whether I can trust a Demon King who keeps something like that around."

"I also thought that thing should just hurry up and die, but… well, his loyalty to His Majesty was genuine at least. And well, even someone like that had a family…"

So he had a family.

Even someone like that had a family.

Now a parent herself, Ria could pity those left behind, if only a little.

"Thirteen wives and twenty-five children, I think?"

Correction. She didn't pity them at all.

"What the hell. How much of a skirt-chaser was he?"

That said, Ria herself already had three wives and four children.

Behind her, Carla's expression remained unchanged.

"So, what is it you're seeking?"

Carla, the one directly involved, moved the conversation forward. That was already in the past. For her, it was over and done with.

At her words, Asuka's expression relaxed with relief.

"We do not wish for war with humans."

That was certainly true. The lie detection magic Carla was secretly using didn't react. Though there was the possibility of concealment.

"We want the land from those mountains to this area. We want to cultivate it and build a town."

This wasn't a lie either. Though if this vampire girl were to lie, it would probably show on her face immediately.

"And then, we'd like you to recognize coexistence between us and humans."

"Hmm…"

Ria fell into thought. Coexistence with demons. That was something she had been thinking about for over three years now.

The matter with Carla had almost derailed it once, but looking at it calmly, even if she fought the enemy here, massive casualties would likely result.

And more than anything, there was one thing that concerned her.

"Where is the Demon King right now?"

That was the most crucial piece of information.

If he was watching this meeting from nearby, he would attack once Ria and Carla crushed the demon army on their own. The two of them, exhausted, wouldn't be able to defeat that man.

If that happened, regardless of Ria's preferences, they would have no choice but to accept the demon army's terms.

"That's… something even I don't know."

Her voice grew weak. However.

"But he will always be where he's needed. That's the kind of person His Majesty is."

In contrast, those words were filled with absolute trust.

Ria didn't have many options.

Broadly speaking, it was whether to fight or not.

If they fought, it would be simple. Combining Ria and Carla's strength with Jaeburg's forces, even including this vampire they had become acquainted with, they could win. But there would certainly be casualties.

Ria didn't want to allow those casualties.

"I'll approve of building a town. But the conditions will be quite favorable to our side."

Asuka silently urged her to continue.

"First, we won't allow the construction of ramparts. This is to prevent the demon stronghold from being used in an emergency. A fence is the limit."

"Fine. That's acceptable."

"As for the land we're granting, it will be a bit further from Jaeburg. This is so we can organize our defenses if something happens."

"That's fine too."

Unlike Ria and Asuka, the subordinates behind them grew tense.

"And this might be the biggest problem…"

Ria stared at Asuka. A strong gaze that said she wouldn't tolerate any lies.

"Until we deem you safe, I want some hostages."

Asuka sighed and nodded.

"Understood. I'll leave myself and a few others who seem weak in your care."

"No, I don't need you. You're too strong."

Asuka slumped in defeat.

"For the hostages… would those people standing behind you work?"

"Eh, no, that would be a problem. Without them, the army won't function."

There were orcs and goblins among them, but they were probably staff officers.

"Then I guess just you is fine after all. You're weak during the day."

Thus, in Continental Calendar Year 3003, a non-aggression treaty between Ogress and the demons, known as the Jaeburg Treaty, was signed.

This was initially meant to be a treaty lasting only one year, but it would be extended by mutual agreement between both parties.

The demons, with many physically powerful races among them, quickly began building a settlement a day's walk from Jaeburg.

Along with this, the demon army that had been surrounding Jaeburg moved and began cultivating the land Ria had designated.

Ria personally went to observe it with her own eyes.

Eventually, caravans began traveling from Jaeburg to the demon settlement.

At first, either Ria or Carla always accompanied them. This was to act as a deterrent in case anything happened.

But truly, nothing happened at all.

The demons silently cultivated the land, and with knowledge unknown to humans, they coaxed crops from soil that had been thought barren.

Asuka in Jaeburg was also well-behaved, occasionally being escorted by her watchers to tour the human town.

Though this was limited to daytime hours, when the vampire's powers couldn't be used.

 

*

 

As the days passed peacefully in this manner.

A piece of information was sent from Manesh.

Serge had returned home.

When she first heard this news, Ria simply looked happy.

But when she heard that Serge wanted to speak urgently with Ria, Carla, and even Guinevere, her expression became suspicious.

She had been receiving regular letters from Serge, and had also heard news from liaisons.

And now this sudden request.

She had a bad feeling about it.

"Asuka, would you mind coming with me?"

"I don't mind, but is that alright with you?"

"Leaving you here would be too dangerous."

Currently, Asuka's personal combat robot was housed in a tent set up inside Jaeburg.

If she started a battle with that, it alone could devastate Jaeburg.

She trusted Asuka, but considering worst-case scenarios was a ruler's duty.

 

*

 

Ria, Carla, and Asuka flew through the sky and rushed to Manesh.

When they arrived at the royal castle's courtyard, there was a nostalgic face.

"Nee-chan!"

But only the face was nostalgic.

Serge's height had easily surpassed Ria's.

"You've gotten big, haven't you."

He was easily over 170 centimeters. Though Ria was tall for a woman, she wasn't that tall.

"There's a lot to catch up on, but first… Asuka-san is with you too?"

The sun had already set, with not even any afterglow remaining. Otherwise Asuka couldn't have flown.

"If it's a problem that I'm here, I could just look around somewhere?"

"No… rather, I'd also like to know how much you demons know about this."

 

*

 

The five, including Guinevere, gathered in the castle's reception room.

The meticulous use of silencing magic to prevent voices from leaking made the other four wonder what was going on.

"Where should I begin…"

Serge seemed to be hesitant. His expression no longer held the childishness it once had. He even seemed mature beyond his years.

"Start with the conclusion. We can talk from there."

Ria urged him. Serge was glad that her straightforwardness hadn't changed.

"Alright, I'll say it."

Even so, he gulped before speaking.

"At this rate, humanity… no, the world will be destroyed."

That was the truth of the Great Collapse.