Chapter 26:

A Deal For Mercy

The Demon Lord Shouldn’t Be At This Much Of A Disadvantage!!: What do you mean the descendants of the Heroes are overpowered due to nepotism?


Number of times König Geistdunkelrustung has resurrected: 85

Without healing magic to help her regain consciousness faster, Lylia awoke the day after what she was sure the Council would call a mental breakdown. She had seen the stonework of the castle’s dungeon enough times, coming to give sermons to the criminals awaiting their punishment, to recognize that she had been brought to the capital.

Light was fading through the east-facing window as the sun had begun to sink below the horizon, and she sat up. The cells of the castle’s dungeon were perpetually kept in a state of magically induced chilled dampness for maximum discomfort, yet the air was dehydratingly dry for maximum annoyance. However, neither were sensations that she hadn’t endured before. “So, she really struck me down. Good girl, Essa.” She said softly, looking at the information that Seepu constantly displayed to each sentient being individually.

Lylia [Advanced] | Race: Human | Level: 10
Hit Points: 130/130 | Mana: 0/91 | Stamina: 0/33

Her stats. Her true stats. Not boosted by the Divine Artifact. Just what was truly hers.

Looking down at the thin and tattered clothes she had been changed into, barely better than the rags she had made do with before Audrey brought her into the church, she could only manage a single, dry laugh.

As what she had done replayed in her mind, the only thing that she regretted was forcing Inessa to make that pained face as she turned her sword on her. The lives she ended, snuffed out like so much an unwanted ember that flew from a fire, didn’t even register. They all had made their choice, thinking they could antagonize people with so much more power than them without repercussions. And a small part of her wondered how different things would have been if Inessa had sided with her.

“No… With this, Essa should be more well-regarded.” She thought aloud. “She will be able to live a better life now. Much better than if we had gone on the run.” Her stomach groaning loudly from not eating for over an entire day, she looked at the bare cell she was in and laid back down on the stiff, uncomfortable bed. “I just hope I am not kept waiting too long for my execution.”

“Oh, your execution can not come soon enough, you bitch.” A voice said harshly as Victoria opened the cell door and stepped in. Her gaze was contorted into harsh lines of barely restrained hate and anger, and in her hand was a tiny piece of crumbled, bloody metal that she could barely. “And I would gladly take your head myself!”

“Save me the blame and entitled outrage, General. Simply do what you are here to do, but remember, I am sure the Council wishes to make a public example out of me.” Knowing her ultimate fate, and having seen how someone can face even the most brutal of deaths with dignity, Lylia wasn’t intimidated by the enraged, grieving mother. Even as the cell door opened and a towering woman of toned muscle and focused violence encroached upon her, she didn’t flinch.

This, too, was all too familiar. Another piece of her childhood coming to visit her before the end.

*****

Number of times König Geistdunkelrustung has resurrected: 89

Because the King’s Council would have to hold more frequent meetings to handle the fallout of the Saintess Fall Massacre, as the incident came to be known, Inessa was once more required to present the Mana Crystals she collected from Geist before the chamber filled with nobles. As much as she wished she could be granted permission to go see Lylia, her requests were continually denied, but these reports allowed her another chance to ask.

“For now, I alone should be sufficient in eliminating the Demon Monarch.” She said, finishing her report and waiting for the king to ask if she had anything more to inform them of.

“Very well. This Council meeting shall not adjourn as of yet, but the Champion may take her leave.” However, predicting that she would use the chance to speak as another opportunity to request to visit the desanctified Saintess, the king dismissed her instead.

Not expecting that, Inessa forgot herself and raised her head, looking directly at the monarch. “W-Wait, Your Majesty. Please, allow me to speak with Li– I mean, with the criminal!” She begged, her eyes wet and near overflowing with tears.

For her to look directly at the sovereign ruler of the kingdom caused most of those present to gasp and mutter at the audacity, though some were willing to forgive her lack of manners due to emotional stress and having been raised in another world. More specifically, those with family, relatives, and friends who had been part of the failed attempt to frame both the Saintess and her were the ones to speak up in her defense.

“Ah! M-My apologies, Your Majesty!” Remembering herself, Inessa bowed and lowered her head again.

The murmurs continued until the regal, imposing man tapped his scepter on the ground to silence them all. Clearing his throat, he scanned the room, notably at the empty spot where Victoria should be, before returning his gaze to the kneeling Champion. “We understand your desire for closure, but it is unwise for the Champion to be seen with the desanctified Saintess. Your service and loyalty to the kingdom in this unprecedented time are appreciated. As such, We shall bestow upon you a suitable reward, but for now, We require you to continue to shoulder the responsibility of the kingdom’s safety.”

“Yes, Dear Champion.” The Popess added in a warm, grandmotherly tone. “A suitable candidate for the church’s set of Divine Artifacts has not yet been found, so we, too, ask that you remain patient.”

“...But, you are going to have Lylia executed soon, are you not?” The brunette asked, not so much a question as an accusation. “I’ve heard people talk about it. How you won’t be able to select a new Saint or Saintess until she dies or names someone as her successor. Please, allow me to speak with her, and I can convince her to pass the Divine Artifacts on to someone else!”

While the Council maintained no illusion that she wouldn’t hear about their plans to sentence the former Saintess to death, it was also a topic that was improper to even broach.

“Speaking with such a heinous criminal that you were once so closely associated with, after having detained said criminal yourself, will have far-reaching implications, Champion Inessa.” The queen said, standing up and moving to descend the steep stairs. “You understand that We cannot allow rumors of the Champion plotting to release the criminal from captivity to spread, yes?”

“I simply wish to speak with her, Your Majesty.” Inessa insisted, desperate for their understanding. “If I wanted to break Lia out of the dungeon, I would have done so already.”

“And that is precisely why we cannot allow you, the Champion, into the dungeon at this time.” The older woman countered, her voice stern with just a touch of alarm. “Do you not understand that you stand as the most powerful being in all of Facide at this moment? Without a Saint or Saintess to oppose you, who in the kingdom could stop you should the former Saintess implore you to rescue her?”

The silence that filled the chamber was deafening. It was a fact that not just the Council and noble families were aware of, but every citizen in the land. Though a shared cultural understanding, none had dared address it in front of Inessa herself, hoping that a new Saint or Saintess would be selected before she became aware of that herself.

“I know.” But that hope had been so naively juvenile as Inessa acknowledged her awareness of the truth without being told, yet she remained bowed with her head lowered. “I am fully aware of that, but I had hoped the Council would understand I mean this world no harm. I simply wish to speak with my friend one last time.”

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, the queen stood before the kneeling Champion. The most influential woman in the land stood before the most powerful one. “If you wish for Our trust, conceal nothing, Champion Inessa. Your wish is not merely to speak with the former Saintess. You wish to save her from death, do you not?”

Flinching at the accusation, Inessa took a deep breath to calm herself as the entire chamber waited with baited breath. “Yes, Your Majesty, but not through force.” She admitted, finally.

And though her statement caused all the nobles present to start to protest, the resonant thump of the king’s scepter against the floor silenced them all once more.

Glancing back and up at her husband, the queen smiled reassuringly at him, and he nodded back his tacit approval. “And how would you accomplish that, Champion Inessa?”

“With Your Majesties’ consent, I would ask for Lia to be released into my custody, and I would step down as Champion in return.” She said, calm and confident. “Or, rather, when you are prepared to perform the Champion-Summoning Ritual, I will relinquish my claim to my Divine Artifacts and take Lia somewhere where you will never hear from us again.”

“We would assume there are none present foolish enough to believe there would not be disastrous ramifications for refusing such an offer.” The older woman said, maintaining the air of authority in her voice, but sweat was dripping down the back of her neck. The fate of the kingdom hinged on keeping Inessa cooperative until they were ready to summon a new Champion. “Should the Champion’s requests continue to be refused, and the former Saintess’ execution commences as planned, that would, without doubt, sow seeds of bitter resentment that would flourish into a dark bloom of destruction that brings our mighty kingdom to its knees. As such, We propose accepting the Champion's request for leniency in the case of the former Saintess’ punishment. In light of her service to Facide, the former Saintess shall be banished to the western half of the Blighted Forest, forbidden from ever setting foot on Facide land on pain of death. Champion Inessa will continue to fulfill her duty to subjugate the Demon Monarch for another half week, when preparations to summon a new Champion are complete. Once both the Champion Inessa and former Saintess have relocated to the Blighted Forest, there is to be no assistance offered from Facide, nor are they to be pursued. Are there any who are opposed to this covenant?”

While there was a general sense of dissatisfaction among the gathered nobles, none would dare to oppose a deal struck by the queen herself. Though the plot concocted by the First Princess still sat heavily in the minds of everyone present, the queen had more practical trust earned through her years of diplomacy.

“That is, assuming the Champion is able to convince the desanctified criminal to name a new successor, I trust, yes?” The elderly leader of the church asked, clarifying an omission in the deal.

“Are you willing to compromise on this, Champion Inessa?” The lavender-haired woman asked, gravely serious. “Should the former Saintess refuse–”

“I’ll convince her, I swear it!” Inessa said, jumping up and clasping her hands over the queen’s excitedly, which did cause the regal woman’s composure to crack as she flinched from the sudden movement and having her personal space invaded. “Just five more days, right? I’ll do it!”

*****

“Absolutely not! I do not care how the Champion reacts, I will have that marked whore’s head on a platter and offered to Gloria’s grave!” Hearing about the deal struck by the queen, Victoria lashed out, despite the one informing her of this being the queen herself. “You expect me to just allow the killer of my daughter to walk away to appease a spoiled Otherworlder, Kathritrina? I shall not stand for it!”

“Calm yourself, Vicky. I have said no such thing.” The regal woman said, clutching the shawl of her dress tighter as the chill of the dungeon’s air sent a chill down her spine. While out of sight of the cell holding the nefarious criminal, the wet sounds of flesh slapping flesh and heavy grunting echo through the corridor. “Have your fun, but I will have to ask that you assemble a squad of the finest knights, soldiers, and adventurers you can muster to go subjugate the Demon Monarch for a few days until the new Champion summoned is ready to fulfill their duty. Also, whatever you do to the prisoner, she needs to be whole and alive for the public execution.”

“Huh? What are you planning, Trina? What about your little deal?” The muscular redhead asked, unbothered by the cold.

“The deal was that the Champion and the former Saintess were to be left alone once they reached the Blighted Forest. There is no need for the Champion to convince the prisoner to select a successor when her death will result in the same regardless.” Kathritrina said with a tight, thin, wicked grin. “And it would be too cruel to force the former Champion to live in those tainted woods alone, no? I already have my best assassins preparing to deal with her once she relinquishes the Divine Artifacts. It is a mercy, truly.”

Mirroring the queen’s malicious grin, Victoria nodded approvingly. “And here I thought you lost your edge after all these years. Understood, but on one condition.”

“And that would be?”

“Maxine and I are part of the subjugation force. If I am not allowed to kill that murderous bitch, I need something to hack to pieces. And I am sure Maxine is just as blood thirsty as I am.” She said, turning to enter the cell, slamming her fist into her palm, and licking her lips.

“Oh? Are you sure? Gerol and I were going to hold a banquet to welcome the new Champion after dealing with the old one.” The heartless queen said, saying nothing as a guard came out of Lylia’s cell with blood on his knuckles and adjusting the belt of his trousers.

“Have Alexander attend in my place.” The General said, looking at the horribly wounded blonde who glared death at her with a swollen, bruised face. Even after nearly a week of being beaten and violated to within an inch of her life, only to be healed back to health to start all over again, they still hadn’t broken her. “You hear that, you marked whore? Because of your little tantrum, your Otherworlder friend is going to die.” She said, knowing that the soundproofing magic of the dungeon didn’t allow those within the cell to hear what was said outside, but not vice versa. “Now, I have not much time to enjoy myself, so I shall make this quick.”