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"—Oh, dear. It's been an hour now since Hero Luke used the skill to cleanse the empire yet there are still demons roaming free…" the auntie handing out the food commented when she noticed a demon crashing into the barrier above. It was then impaled by a magic lance and died on the spot.
The demons were still rampaging even now but the difference was that their attacks seemed desperate. Even the greater demons fought or escaped without regard for injuries, even taking arrows or blue magic lances to the back as they fled.
The priestess replied, "It's a pity they don't die instantly. Now we have to deal with the demons that ran away."
It takes an hour to a few days for demons weaker than Greater Demons to die from the mana in the atmosphere.
"…That's very bad. I hope they can catch any monsters that try to flee. I remember all those monsters related to the dungeon incident wiping out so many villages. It took weeks for the roads to become safe again. I just can't deal with that again since my children still live in my home village while I work here."
"See those lights flying in every direction? It's Archmage Freya York casting high-tier attack spells. I'm sure none will escape under her watch."
"Yes… I should trust the Archmage."
Another human trait that Mumulbur forgot about—trust.
When had Mumulbur ever trusted anyone? Just like how Vulris Queen took away the demons' other terraformers to make it impossible for them to use her as they wished, Mumulbur implemented his own precautions against every ally he's made over the thousands of years.
But humans had this sense of comradery even when they don't personally know someone. Never once had these humans doubted the Archmage, Luke or the rest who were fighting on the frontlines.
But they showed the humans that they're worthy of their trust through their accomplishments. That being said, it wasn't entirely possible for people like them to turn rogue or lose that trust they were given.
Take Archmage Peulik and Arthur for example. The former betrayed humanity by siding with the demons for his own personal reasons while the latter chose achievements over lives.
Both situations ended in the complete distrust towards the two. Both situations led to the unnecessary loss of lives.
Somehow, some way… Mumulbur also wanted a genuine companion he could trust. This was a foreign thought that never manifested during his time as a Lich so it must be this human again.
Still, though… It did sound nice.
"It's a pity we didn't get to see Lord Arnold…" the auntie blushed with a hand on her cheek, "That young man really knows how to make an old woman's heart race."
The priestess chuckled, "He still showed us how much he cares by sending his elite knights, putting his own city in danger in the process."
"Ah! That's right! The demons might target his city next while he's recuperating but he actually sent his soldiers to protect us! I heard that man never gambles from all those rumors."
"Not a single refugee from Whitage city came here, though. In fact, thousands of people escaped to Whitage city during the chaos, confident they'll be safe in his city. Even neighboring lords bought up property. The pastor from my hometown also moved his church branch there after selling the land in Royagard Kingdom."
"Is Lord Arnold really… that strong and untouchable?" a little boy asked, his eyes widened and sparkling.
"Yup! They say he's just as strong as the legendary Valkyrie Guinevere!" the priestess answered boldly.
"And he's not even twenty!" the auntie making the food exclaimed.
Love and admiration—two more emotions he had long since forgotten.
Mumulbur held his hand to his chest, feeling the boy's heart beat fast.
He shook his head to get rid of any useless thoughts.
According to where her signature was, Lauran was helping moving the rubble to pull out the survivors who got trapped under the buildings while the red-armored knights were fending off the remaining demons. It seemed that many hid in cellars or basements but the chaos caused buildings to collapse, most notably the final battle.
Now they needed to be pulled out. Very few likely survived this.
"Oh, look! It's Lady Siana!" one of the workers yelled and pointed to the cathedral where a maiden in an ornamented white dress was speaking to the people, all of whom had smiles on their faces.
Siana was most likely there to keep up morale, a simple thing for such a peerless beauty.
She then looked in this direction before bidding the people in front of the church farewell and headed straight here.
Mumulbur felt her cold mana down to the depths of his soul.
Just being near her made him tremble slightly. If she suspects him, there's no way he could survive. Maybe with the souls of the dead he'd have a chance.
"Is everything going well on this side? Sir Arnold gave me lots of potions to distribute to the injured. It's a very strong potion so unless anyone is severely injured, you can dilute it with water to heal broken bones or other injuries that aren't life-threatening."
"Thank you very much! I'm managing a tent of injured people so this will help a lot." The priestess bowed and took the crate of potions that the red-armored knight handed over.
"Hmm, there's lots more to hand out but not enough hands…" tapping her chin as she looked at the red knights holding the crates, she muttered under her breath.
"Would it be okay if I take a few of the children? My knights aren't very good at doing errands for me. Great protectors, terrible servants."
"Not a problem, Madam! I'm sure they'll be happy to help."
Siana smiled before approaching the children who were sitting in a circle.
"We have lots of things to hand out so if you children can help me complete a few tasks, I'll reward you with lots of delicious food and a pouch of coins. I only have gold, though, but there's lots to go around."
The children's eyes widened.
Gold? None of them had ever even held a gold coin in their lives. Being commoners, their families were the first to fall since they didn't have fancy estates with magic barriers so they had to run to the nearest store or noble's estate.
The slum people moved in a group so they were easy pickings for flying monsters and a delicacy for the big demons.
With all this money, they could rebuild their lives and bury their parents… if there's anything left, that is.
"Thank you, ma'am!" one girl suddenly hugged her leg, "Tell Lord Arnold thank you too!"
"Fufufu, I'll do that. Make sure to do a good job, okay? Many were more unfortunate than all of you so they need our help."
"Nn!" all the children nodded at once, their hollowed eyes suddenly lit with a fierce purpose.
Siana patted the little girl's head.
She turned toward the wider square, where hundreds of displaced citizens sat huddled beneath makeshift tarps and scorched blankets.
With a graceful strait, she stepped onto a raised wooden platform nearby. The red-armored knights flanking her stood like silent statues, their breastplates reflecting the morning light. The sheer presence of her graceful figure drew every eye in the courtyard.
"People of the Empire," Siana's voice echoed across the church grounds, carrying effortlessly over the distant sounds of lingering skirmishes. "I bring words from Sir Arnold and the territory of Whitage."
A hush fell over the crowd. Even the groaning wounded quieted down to listen.
"Sir Arnold deeply grieves the tragedy that has fallen upon your homes. While the front lines are being secured, he refuses to let a single citizen freeze or starve in the wake of this disaster. By his direct decree, the gates of Whitage are officially opened to all refugees that can't secure housing and meals."
Whispers rippled through the survivors like wildfire.
"Temporary housing settlements are already being constructed along Whitage's outer border," she announced, holding up a parchment sealed with Arnold's golden crest, stamped by his advisor. "Furnished tents, warm hearths, and daily food rations will be provided to every family—completely free of charge until you are able to work. Furthermore, for those who have lost their livelihood, Sir Arnold is sponsoring reconstruction grants and relocation aid. No one will be left behind."
For a long moment, there was silence. Then, the dam broke.
A weeping woman clutched her child to her chest, falling to her knees. A wounded blacksmith, missing an arm, began to sob openly into his grime-stained hand. To these desperate people who had just watched their world burn, who had been abandoned by fleeing nobles and left to be eaten by demons, Arnold's decree was like a saint bringing salvation.
"Bless Lord Arnold!" a man shouted from the crowd, his voice cracking.
"Long live the Lord of Whitage! Long live Lady Siana!" another cried out.
Within seconds, the entire courtyard erupted into a choir of praise and overwhelming adoration. People who had lost everything only hours ago were now chanting Arnold's name as if he were a living deity descending from the heavens to deliver them from ruin.
Siana faced them all with a kind, almost practiced smile.
Standing near the edge of the tent, Mumulbur felt the wave of emotions.
Even after thousands of years, he could identify those emotions clearly through their cheers.
Though he didn't know the man personally, he felt that Arnold wasn't that kind of person.
How did he know? He wasn't sure yet… From his brief discussions with Malzorath, he said that their spy in the empire said that Arnold knew about Ekterina being in the capital but didn't move.
He had the power to fight, sure, but it would be a very dangerous battle. But heroes put their lives on the line for humanity so he was no "hero". He didn't even warn anyone. If Guinevere knew beforehand, she could've dealt with Ekterina.
Instead, he made a truce to not interfere with each other.
It was as if… she served some kind of purpose. Maybe to serve as a scapegoat for something?
He was clearly told that Arnold isn't a regular human with a patriotic heart. He bleeds the same as humans but his heart is detached from the suffering of his own people.
And yet he goes out of his way to do this kind of stunt?
Seeing the parents hugging their children and soldiers standing with their heads bowed in prayer, even Mumulbur pitied them.
That man saw them as a resource.
Or maybe it was the Hero who was the important resource but he had to appear like a saint so that he could use the Hero.
After this stunt, it wouldn't surprise Mumulbur if that boy became fiercely loyal to Arnold, a man who had power, wealth and connections.
Mumulbur had lived for thousands of years as an undead overlord. He knew how to rule through terror. He understood how to break a population's spirit with plagues, curses, and legions of darkness. If you conquer a country with blood and fear, you are left with rebellious slaves who plot your demise in the dark.
He conquered people by making them love him for saving them from the fires he helped ignite.
The love and admiration radiating from the crowd was a weapon. An unbreakable army of millions who would willingly bleed, die, and kill for Arnold, thinking they were serving a misunderstood paragon of divine kindness.
In that moment, Mumulbur realized the horrifying truth of his position. He wasn't just dealing with a strong warrior or a clever strategist. He was dealing with a demon wearing human skin.
It wouldn't be a surprise if it came to light that Arnold is now the most powerful figure in the empire—no, the world.
What kind of person was this Arnold fellow in his past life to be reborn as a villain of this caliber?