A5P1: Memories of the past

Her name was Istena Fia Helindill, a crimson elf from Mutasa kingdom. There she lead alchemy class in Royal magic academy. But few years ago her co-worker got jealous of her work and druged her.

When she woke up, she was already sold as slave to ork merchant.

Years and years of abuse, she survived it all and when she thought she will finally die, something unexpected happened.

A demon lord took over the northern part of the kingdom and requested that all slaves are handed to him.

The fear in her masters eyes told her everything, that demon lord was monster among monsters… that day for the first time since she was little girl, she peed herself.

But she was wrong.

That relevation came when she met the demon lord. He was man, not even thirty years old and he had two elvish women by his side, one even calling him darling. And after small talk he set her group free.

That moment she decided that she wants to give this new kingdom all she had. The demon lord before her was gentle and trustworthy person with strenght to protect people he cared about.

I’m gonna be one of them! She thought.

This was her first love. Anything was acceptable if it was for him. Thus she searched for people with gifts for alchemy and created First alchemy lab of Demonic kingdom of Zaruul.

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Day like any other.

Do it. Laugh.

Another problem was at my horizon and it was getting closer and closer.

This time a hero.

What will I do against a hero? That thing is mortal enemy of Demon lords! Even if I try to speak things out he will still try to kill me…

How long is it? Since I met the hero of Dawn in Mutasa kingdom? Ten years? Seems about right…

Memories fooded my mind… memory of my live before… of live in orpanage in southern district of capital city Moharenn… That day I turned fifteen and my training with Hestia was ending. That was the day when everything changed.

„Zaru? Big bro Zaru do you hear me?“

„Yeah, yeah… what is it Miira?“

„Hero is leaving the city, wanna take a look?“

„You know, we will get beaten by guards if we get too close.“

„But you were training to not to get caught right? Oniiiii-chan?“

„You are really… fine let’s go.“

Me and Miira, who was like my little sister since… like forever. I loved her as one and she loved me as her big brother. The two of us were inseparable.

We walked through the city and when we got to the wass separating southern block from eastern block I used my skill Hide presence to mask both of our presences and we silently went inside eastern block where the Heroes parade was held.

We were sitting on roof of one building and I couldn’t think that if I wanted to kill the hero I could snipe him from this place and no-one would find out.

And just as I though about it, the hero looked at me. Directly into my eyes, and smiled. He knew I was there. It was my first time being spotted by someone else than sensei.

Few days after the Heroes departure, wyvern attacked and I killed him. Later I found out that the wyvern was actually the hero who, after his defeat, was cursed by Demon lord of Pride, Akemi the Kitsune.

Later that week I was adopted by Count who was sponsor of the orpanage and he enrolled me in Royal magic academy.

No need to say that thanks to my training with Hestia-sensei I was too strong for my classmates and soon I skipped grades so instead of graduating in six years I graduated in four. I was nineteen at the time and year later demon apeared in the streets, which made me and Ari work hand in hand…

After I defeated the demon, third princess ordered me to marry her, which lead me to this day.

Memory started fading and I realised that I was daydreaming on my throne.

Who would have thought that I would get the throne in the end either way…

„Lord Zaru?“

„Ah… yes! What is it Istena?“

Woman before me was one-hundread-and-thirty-four years old Crimson elf, Istena Fia Helindill, of Helindill duke family, their fifth daughter which disapeared ten years ago. And yes, even in Astenna kingdom I got to hear rumors about me rejecting the princess to live with duke’s fifth daughter… honestly, I was glad that Istena did’t know about it.

Altought she was an elf, she looked like a dwarf. She had short, sturdy body with unique roundness. Only way to find out that she was Elf and not Dwarf was by looking at shape of her ears and eyes.

Or with Identify like I did.

She had eyepatch on her left eye and goggles on her forehead. The eyepatch was placed on her eye only to protect magic crystal which worked as artificial eye, that was made with alchemy, she specilizied in.

From what I heard she lost her eye while getting beaten down by her former owner.

„I was asking if you could spare some people in order to open alchemy lab… I would like to repay my debt to you my Lord.“

„Ah, it’s okay. If someone would want to join you, then they can. If you need rooms, then I think that my private lab would be small, so what would you say to your own hallway?“

„R-really? Really, really, really, my Lord?“ she said with sparkling eyes.

„Yes, I promise. Also, drop that ‚My lord‘ thing. You can call me Zaru you know?“

„That would be disrespectful to you my Lord, you are our King after all… so… could I call you that when… it’s only the two of us?“ She said blushing.

The heck?

„I… think that is okay?“

Later that day she give me a list with names of alchemist who were between the slaves we freed.

„So, fifteen elves, ten rabbitfolk and ten catfolk, lastly twenty humans… so fifty five alchemists under your lead… Good. I like it. Go take a look at the rooms I prepared for you guys. Also, I prepared bedrooms so if they have family with them then they can take them with them.“

„Wow, so fast.“

„Not really. The bedrooms are in same place as for the rest of the inhabitans here on the last floor.“

„Still, thank you very much. We will get accostumed as soon as possible and we’ll start making potions and other stuff. I will make a lot of experiments that will help us in the future!“

„I will look forward to it.“

„Please do,“ Istena said with little blush.

When Istena left a middle aged men, from human’s side, came inside my office with Yuki. His name was Loa Nuta and he was one of city development project leaders and with him also came Greg Yu, who lead the Tigerfolk he belonged to. I also wanted him to become captain of Knight order. Their duty would be protecting the cities, altough they would be part of military, they would be separated unit.

If we talk about military, First Army is called Undead Legion and General is Renzir. Under this army I also placed vampires, those are under Hestias leadership as always.

Then Second Army is mix of magic beasts so it’s called MB (magic beast) Army. This one is lead by Gurako who’s specilized in guerilla warfare (I taught her that). Kesugi is one of the Captains and she leads spy unit (mostly her off-springs and nagas, who are mostly called demi-dragons, interestingly they are looking like lamias, but only difference between them is that they look more serpent-like).

Tomi the Shadow elf asked me to allow her to train assassin maids. Altough I didn’t wanted something like that, I must say getting information about other countries and movement of important people is good to have. So I give it a green.

„Loa Nuta and Greg Yu, what brings you here?“

„Yes Sir! We brought you our plans for city.“

„And I tag along to stretch my legs gu-ha-ha-ha-ha-hah!“

Is it okay to put this guy in charge of public order?

„So Yuki what did you bring me?“

„Ah, yes I brought reports. Ruzu and the hunter boys left for Dwarven city directly to the south from us. They have storage slimes with them so they can bring a lot of materials with them. Also they will show people our items. Their itinerary have silk cloth from Kesugi’s children, bronze, Iron and Green steel items from Gandar’s and Kaen’s workshop. Ropes made by magic beast at third floor and also honey from mountain bees we were able to tame while you were gone. Also Filona wants a job.“

„Oh… great. So what job she wants?“

„Well…“ Yuki send me a piece of paper with single word: Torturer

„Oh… this is… Could we call it an ‚inteligence collector‘?“

„Yes, understood. I will inform her.“

„Right. Now this map… the main street seems big enought to hold festivals at…“

„Sir… you want to hold festivals in middle of Snowy mountains?“

„Take group of slightly better druids and you can have summer in mountains 24/7, have the greatest druid just to walk around and summer will never ends, is what people in Mutasa kingdom usually say. Well dungeon core can do something simmilar, so I let this area here slowly melt away ever since I started the war. If I‘m correct when summer comes, the snow will be gone for two months at least and during that time we can place barrier on top of the city so it will be no problem I think.“

„Wow… the plan will be then reworked a little, but it’s workable… Thank you Your Majesty! Now we can create even more beutiful city, worthy of beeing called Capital of Demonic kingdom!“

The two men left and Lizzie run inside.

„Zaru, the Ambasador!“

„Huh? What ambasador?“

„The ambasador from Demon Spider Queendom is here!“

„Already?“