The Demon Lord Is An Angel
Chapter 446: The Lovers

Chapter 446: The Lovers

He will speak to you in five days.

Gather any information you can find and disable any portal and teleportation blockers.

With those words, Rain was left to his own devices.

It wasn’t hard to do what she asked. The blockers were placed in the inner courtyard, along with most of the embassy’s defensive wards, and angels only used paper for the orders they gave to mortals, after all.

Aside from unsent orders, there were stacks of reports from the local Syndicate, which had been tasked with hiring and ferrying mercenaries, adventurers, and supplies to Ironport as part of some long-term plan to expand Syndicate control over Armedon.

From the remains of Helios’ memories, he knew everything else would be accessible from the local Akash node, contained in a heavily inscribed cube that the late Ambassador kept on her desk, of all places.

At least the food and drink were good.

On the fifth day, Rain sipped right from a bottle of Heavenberry schnapps as he watched Myrti work through her unarmed forms in the embassy’s inner courtyard.

"Again. Your steps are too wide," he called out after letting a sip burn its way down.

"You try doing this with a tail!" Myrti griped. "I’m still not used to being a demon."

"You’re only half a demon, like I’m only half an angel. I’m sure the full demons will remind you of that soon enough." He took another swig. "Hurry up and do it right. Then we’ll move on to sparring with your kusarigama."

"That shows how little you know, Rainier," a smooth, familiar voice said from behind Rain.

Rainier jumped to alert and pulled his newly forged claymore from its place on the bench he was sitting on and into a fighting stance. His movements made the bottle fall to the ground, but seeing who it was, Rain relaxed his guard.

Maledict had arrived, and he was holding one of the angelic data tablets behind his back. His face was all smiles, but Rain also saw the glint of mad ambition in his eyes.

In his demon form, Maledict towered over Rain, filling even the high doorways of the embassy compound. He looked similar to Kir, only demonically red, and his horns rose upward more like a crown than Kir’s swept-back ones. His clothes were made of fine black silk with a nine-eyed raven embroidered in shimmering gold and black on his chest, crossing both sides of the placket. His pants were embroidered to match, with golden lines along the sides, and on his feet were fine leather sandals that allowed his clawed feet to retain their deadliness.

"Perhap’s it’s as you say, Lord Maledict." Leaning his sword on the bench once more, Rain spared a glance for the lost alcohol to cover for his surprise at not detecting Maledict’s arrival. He’d expected to be contacted by scrypen, which was why he had his laying flat on the bench on some paper. "I’ve been thinking lately that I might only be good for one thing."

"And what’s that?"

"Destruction. There should have been no way I triumphed over a lesser seraph and two dozen angels, but here I stand."

"From what I saw, the guards fought like fools who didn’t think they would ever fight on less than equal footing, and the workers here were even more pathetic. I would have preferred if you kept the latter alive for interrogation, but you have still handed me a victory, and for that, I am inclined to forget your... misappropriation of resources," Maledict cast a glance at Myrti.

"The girl is diligent and more useful as a warrior than she seems at first glance. If I may ask a boon, I would like her to carry a message for your son." Rain had decided a few days ago to lead with the truth regarding Myrti, at least with Maledict.

"Your reports on the tower have been disappointing, but I have been looking over the embassy records for the last few hours. I think between you, my agents elsewhere, and Regiel, I can surmise that the tower will change properties once it has finished its growth. When that happens, I will need explorers."

"I will gladly take on the task," Rain said. "May I know why you’ve reached this conclusion?"

"The specifics of how, no. But I will tell you that the dungeons that began their inversions first were those nearest to the Duat. Ironport, Chainsfree, Golda Lun... In those cities, the towers have already formed themselves into pillars, and at the base of those pillars have appeared doorways. Now, what does that tell you?"

"That the inversion is the work of someone and not a natural phenomenon."

"Correct. And this tower will be finished within two days if my estimates are correct. When that happens, I want you to lead a team of demons to the top. Fast enough to be the first one there."

"If the tower acts like a dungeon, you’ll need demons who have tempered their mana to avoid mana poisoning. That will cause delays."

"I have a few half-demons that will serve. Former adventurers, all." Maledict chuckled. "You continue to prove yourself far more intelligent than you give yourself credit for..." The demon raised his hand and brushed his fingers along the stubble on Rainier’s jaw before lifting his chin so that Rain was looking into his eyes. "I wonder what you’re willing to do... to see my son again..." Maledict leaned down, his lips nearing...

Rain took a step back, failing to keep the disgust from his face as he regarded Maledict, who burst into laughter.

"Such gall! To refuse your master... there is fight in you yet." The demon smirked. "Conquer the tower. Kill anyone that stands in your way. Only then will I judge if your service has been worth enough to put you in contact with Kir."

Maledict turned, lifting the tablet and regarding it. "Your new team will arrive shortly, and my army will arrive to take the city in two weeks. Do not let me find you here."

"What about Myrti?" Rainier asked.

Maledict barely spared a glance for the girl. "Take her with you in the dungeon. Consider it your reward for removing a troublesome element from my next conquest."

"This city might not have many protectors, but the population is larger than Dorred’s." Rain noted.

"Don’t you worry about that. Soon enough, the only people living on this continent will be demons," Maledict grinned. "Even if not a single drop of blood is spilled."

With that ominous prophecy, he stepped away, leaving Rain alone with Myrti and the chill in his spine.

"I don’t like him," Myrti said, after a few moments. She’d stopped her training, and Rain wasn’t in a mood to reprimand her. "He never feels what’s on his face."

"What was he feeling?" Rain asked.

"It’s hard to describe... It was like, when the other kids used to pick on me when my mom was away, and then she came back and beat up one of their dads, and then they stopped."

"Righteousness," Rain said. "He feels that what he’s doing is justice for how demons were treated." He paused, considering the implications. Then, with a sigh, he admitted, "I can’t say he’s wrong."

Myrti made an uncomfortable sound. "We should stop him."

"I don’t think we can without changing Maledict’s mind," Rainier said. "But I think... to have any chance of making our case, we need to get through that tower."

"What do we do until then?"

"I need to get you ready as if the tower is a dungeon. Grab your kusarigama. From now on, you will enhance your body while training. And we’re going to start by sparring." Rain stepped into the center of the courtyard without his sword.

Myrti groaned. "How long are we going to do this for? Can’t I just use a bow?"

"Until you can draw my blood," Rainier answered.

*

Two days later, Rain and Myrti were in the courtyard when a portal opened up, depositing two half-demons Rainier recognized and one he did not.

The first was Janice. Even disguised as an elf, Rain recognized her. She was in leathers that accentuated her curves all the way up to the breastplate that she wore over her clothes. For some impractical reason, she carried a pair of whips on her hips.

The second was Janice’s lover, a demonkin named Lucifer, who Rain had not had much chance to interact with. He’d seen the man playing his lute during meetings, and Ranier did not doubt he had some skill with the rapier on his hip if he’d managed to survive amongst demons.

The last demonkin was a skittish-looking gnossinian with oddly feline features, tall and lanky with a mop of black hair that hung from the back of her head in ragged bundles secured by string. She was covered in green and black striped fur and had an extremely long cat tail. On her face she wore a look like she’d rather be anywhere else, and judging by the fear in her eyes, she was not here willingly.

After the three filed out of the portal, a team of full demons followed with equipment in dimensional bags before parting ways and moving to occupy the embassy compound. Rain thought it likely they were here to open the gates for Maledict’s army once it arrived. It’s what he would have set up in advance if he could.

"I take it you’re in charge?" Rain greeted Janice.

"Actually, that would be Lucifer," she slid her hand along her lover’s shoulder. "That brat of yours better not drag us down."

"I would say the same of you. I thought you were a lover, not a fighter," Rain shot back.

"I’m here to handle any pesky adventurers we encounter. You boys can handle the killing parts," Janice replied coolly.

"And what’s she here for?" Rain tilted his head at the gnossinian-like demonkin. He had a feeling he wasn’t going to like the answer.

"This is Sahaja. Go on, tell our pet angel about yourself." Janice said in a condescending tone.

"I-I was a healer... I mean, I am a healer. I am, w-was, beastkin... before Maledict transformed everyone in the city..."

Rain felt the bottom fall out of his stomach at those words.

The only thing he could think was that he hated being right.

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