The Demon Lord Is An Angel
Chapter 368: Path To Peace

Chapter 368: Path To Peace

Over the course of the next day, Kir settled into his position as Duke.

For his first hour, he took introductions from the gathered generals and their captains. Each general was at least equivalent to what he could remember of General Sreev, a gnossinian who served Maledict. They had strong auras that ranged from green to blue, with The captains felt equivalent to the Valrian Knight Elders, but without the decrepitude of age holding them back.

Hazzarn was the strongest amongst them, though according to Char, one General Zazel had been stronger, but was presently indisposed. Something about having no eyes to see...

Afterward, when Kir dismissed the tent, Char outright said that Zazel should be executed for failing to protect the previous Duke.

"I’m not about to execute someone just because they failed once in service to my enemy," Kir said.

"You have yet to execute anyone, Duke Kir. Especially that assassin. It makes you seem weak," Char replied.

"My personal strength should not be what holds this nation together."

"Your predecessor’s strength was our strength. We were strong through him," Char asserted. "And now I have to believe you are stronger, because you are here and my- and he is not."

"Why?" Kir asked.

"Because it is how we survive," Char said. "And what I need to do to survive."

"Your father protected you, didn’t he?"

Char bristled, "I am not so shameful as to need protecting. The one who needed it was my brother, and where he died, not even a trace remains of Avalore. That was the strength my father wielded, before his death and resurrection."

"I meant no offense," Kir said, knowing from Amarena that Avalore was once the capital of the Valrian empire.

"He did... keep things convenient for me," Char looked away. "I will need to be more vigilant against assassins and those who would turn me against you."

Kir frowned at the last. "You mean you don’t intend to betray me?"

"I didn’t send the assassin!"

"That’s not what I meant," Kir held his chin for a moment. "I guess my question is, for what cause would you betray me?"

"If you failed to live up to your role as Sin of Pride," she said without hesitation. "If you abandon this nation, and I come to rule, I will turn my people to the task of destroying you." Kir felt a surge of amusement from Kiryu. "Since we seem to be speaking freely, I will add this advice: You are an unknown. And yet you are now the Devil of Pride, a role that was once hailed as prime amongst all demonkind. That is what’s keeping you safe from any serious attacks right now, but if you show weakness, then future assassination attempts won’t be a gift."

"A gift?" Kir raised an eyebrow.

"Do you think a mere knife should be allowed to slay a Duke of Hell? What happened earlier was practically a greeting. A way to let you show your power. And yet you spared the demon and let him go without doing so; at least not in a way that is satisfying. I do not know how the others will handle that you seem to be ignoring them."

"Well then, perhaps it’s time to stop ignoring them. Once I’m done freeing your- I mean, my, people, have those in charge come back here. I’ll need a map and something to write with."

"Why?" Char asked. "Why free them?"

Kir thought for a moment. "This nation holds Pride in high esteem. How can that be so when that pride is taken from our own? When only the strength of the few is what keeps people from each other’s throats? That’s no way for a people to live. Not when everyone is capable of strength."

A strange look came over Char’s face. "You sound like Maledict."

"My thoughts are my own," Kir said. "And if I ever see my father again..." he clenched a fist, remembering the casual gesture with which Maledict had Noir killed.

Char looked at him, assessed him, and cleared her throat. "I would check on the progress of the slaves, my Duke. And retrieve the maps."

"Make it so," Kir said, relaxing his fist. "And Char," he caused her to pause at the edge of the tent. "Thank you."

*

When Kir stepped out of his tent, it was to find not only demons gathered before him, but myriadfolk as well. He assumed his war form as he walked, letting his wings flare out behind him, edged with mana flame.

The majority of the camp was still in the throes of packing, but idle demons had gathered around the slaves, behind the soldiers standing guard. A handful of Generals and their captains stood in a small circle nearby as they waited to see what Kir would do.

"Looks like it’s time for a speech," Kiryu noted. "I happen to have memorized the speech ending slavery in Japan..."

"I don’t think universality is the right appeal here. Not yet," Kir said after hearing a few lines. "But I appreciate the spirit."

Taking his time, Kir stepped from slave to slave, breaking their collars just as he had with the assassin. It took him about thirty minutes, since most did not have any form of visible shackle. Some glowed with magic, and Kir made a note to talk to them later.

As soon as he finished, he returned to where he had started.

"All of you are now free," he said. "I invite you, here and now, to journey with me to a place of peace. No one - demon or otherwise - will be enslaved any longer. Should you wish to depart, provisions will be given for you to journey home or to Isegart. For those who would remain, the sun has set upon the old era. If this is a nation of Pride, then we shall be proud together, or not at all."

He took a long breath. "Take your time and decide. Generals, to my tent."

"Short and sweet. I’d say seven out of ten," Kiryu said as Kir turned on his toes and stalked back into his tent.

General Hazzarn was the first to enter behind him.

"I had thought you meant to slaughter them," he chuckled. "The droggur could use the food."

Droggur were omnivorous, warm-blooded draft creatures that resembled crocodile-faced sloths the size of bears. They were known for having strangely person-like screams and grumbling sounds, and humanoid silhouettes when they stood.

"If you do not like my decision, then you can leave," Kir said as a large table was brought in, behind which Char followed with an armful of rolled-up maps.

"I serve Pride, and you are Pride," Hazzarn shrugged. "The only way that changes is if you die."

"I have no plans to do so," Kir said.

"No doubt Kainur thought the same," the large demon crossed his arms and grinned. "How did you do it?" he asked.

"Do what?"

"You destroyed Kainur’s soulstone. Bit through it like candy, from what I hear. Even I could not reduce him to show it in battle."

The tension in the room rose in an instant, and Char glared at Hazzarn like she wished to skin him with her gaze alone.

"It is something I can do," Kir said. "Eating mana stones. Soul stones. I don’t know how, just that I can."

"Wise answer. I would not reveal the means of such an ability either," Hazzarn said, looking around at the other Generals.

With Char in the room, that made six plus Kir. The soldiers left the tent as soon as they finished with the table, rotating it so the head was before Kir’s throne.

Kir had barely sat when a new demon entered, a tall, spindly one with seven eyes with flesh that was disfigured around them.

"Apologies for my lateness, My Duke. "I am Zazel, once prime amongst your predecessor’s Generals."

Behind him, a familiar set of ears ducked under the tent flap before Kordia entered, her face a mask of uncertainty.

"Kordia," Kir called out.

"I just came to see what you planned to do," she said, not looking at his eyes. Behind her, Encke and Kassin stepped into the tent.

"I invited her, Duke Kir," Zazel said. "Char implied we have a destination in mind?"

"Yes," Kir sorted through the maps until he had three that, together, showed the northeast region of Areth. "My plan is to have the army move south. Along the northern shore of the Barrow Lake, and then west to Montmorency."

"Hmm... invading through those hills will be a challenge," Zazel noted, clearly eager to prove his worth. "We would at the very least need to rejoin the forces we left in Nyandor."

"I do not plan to invade them at all," Kir said. "I will seek passage from there to Norneau, and build the ships myself if I must."

A relieved look settled on Kordia’s shoulders as she heard these words.

She whispered something under her breath, and Kir smiled when he heard it.

"You’re still you..."

So that’s why she was worried...

"I am," Kir whispered back, spotting the twitch in her ears that acknowledged him. And then he got to work.

*

It was hours later when Kir finally left the tent for the perpetual afternoon sky.

He had a brief word with Kordia, enough to learn that she still felt unsure over what exactly their situation was.

"I’m just... trying to reconcile what I saw back there," she confessed as they walked.

"I didn’t even understand what was happening until after I chose to end the fight the way I did," Kir said. "It... bothers me that I lost control." He reached out, and even though she flinched at first, she let him touch her on the shoulder. "I need to check on Amarena. Find out if she’s coming with us... will you be alright?"

"I’m still worried... and during the battle, I..." Kordia shook her head. "I’ll be fine. I still have a lot to tell Encke and Kassin, and then there’s Halie..." She took a deep breath. "She’s still in a coma, and I don’t know what to do."

"We’ll have to take her with us," Kir said. "I don’t trust the Valrians not to pull something if they see her like that..." He still needed answers from her too. He let go of Kordia’s shoulder. "May I... give you a kiss before I go?"

She nodded, and Kir bent to kiss her on the forehead. "Come back soon," she said, tugging on his arm to let him know she wanted more. "I want to... understand what happened."

"I will," Kir promised.

Kir touched his forehead to hers for a long moment, before they parted ways.

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