Chapter 95:

The 100 Days War - Chapter 3

The Children of Eris


The city of Themis was quiet.

It was still home to hundreds of thousands of people, but it was eerily quiet.

People still travelled its streets, doing their jobs, trading, talking to their friends and families, but few dared speak too loudly for fear of upsetting their new rulers.

Themis, which was allowed to keep its name under the Demon Emperor’s rule, was, in a way, much the same as it had always been, but it had been scarred, both physically and below the surface, and it would never truly heal.

Many still had vivid memories of the day the city fell, when demons burst out from beneath the streets, when skeletons slaughtered their soldiers, when they could hear nothing but screams and carnage.

The most obvious changes were to the soldiers protecting them - skeletons, Machai and Hysminai.

They were ruthless in dealing with lawlessness and even drunken disorder would result in death should one disgrace the Demon Emperor’s name.

Crime was at an all-time low, but the people didn’t rejoice, much to Jessica’s dismay.

“Why can’t they see the truth like we can?” The priest grumbled on her balcony.

Her teammates, Cain and Lucy, shared her sentiments.

“Give them time, Jessica - they’ll awaken to the truth like we did.”

“But doesn’t it frustrate you?! Seeing them dragging their feet, looking miserable, acting like we’re making things worse for them!”

“It does, but you know what the Dark Lord said we have to do.”

“Carrot and stick, I know, but they should be praising him for what he’s done, not lamenting what they’ve lost. Be grateful for what you have and what you’ll receive.”

Cain roared with laughter. “I never thought I’d hear you say that before we’d awoken.”

“Well, what did the ‘Great Goddess’ ever do in the end? Nothing. Nothing other than sit back and watch as her legacy was torn to pieces.” Jessica spat to the side as her eyes turned a deep shade of purple. “There’s only one true God in our world and it’s the Dark Lord.”

“If only we could make everyone undergo the Awakening.”

“Don’t even joke about that,” Lucy chided the priest. “Lady Mania has been strictly forbidden from using the process again without the Dark Lord’s consent.”

“Not to mention, most of this lot wouldn’t survive, Jessy.”

“I know, but-”

“No buts!”

Lucy sighed. “Honestly, out of us three, you really did change the most after awakening.”

Without warning, a figure emerged from the corner of their room - a feather-cloaked man with a raven’s head hood.

“The Satyr Knight requests your presence.”

The three adventurers looked to one another, nodded and the Raven disappeared back into the corner, seemingly vanishing into thin air.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to that,” Cain confessed.

“The watchful eyes of the Dark Lord are everywhere, Cain, something that his subjects will soon learn themselves.” Jessica cackled. “Ah, I wish I could be hunting those rebels with Lord Mimir.”

“We have our orders, Jessica, so let’s not waste time.”

“Of course!”

***

For hundreds of years, the ruling family of the Holy Empire had lived inside the grand Azurite Palace, but now it was home to many loyal subjects of the Demon Empire, Jessica’s group included.

Among the people staying at the palace were servants from the Dread Keep, freed slaves from Stonefell and several members of the Vampire Court and high-ranking members of the Gørviligr Elves.

It was also the home granted to the Demon Emperor’s chosen blade, the Satyr Knight, Lady Hilda.

She had tried to refuse the Azurite Palace at first, but the Demon Emperor told her to make it a symbol of his strength, generosity and the potential rewards those loyal to him could expect to receive.

Hilda left the finer matters of managing the palace to a member of the Vampire Court in order to make herself ready for whatever sudden orders the Demon Emperor might issue.

Jessica, Cain and Lucy entered the grand throne room and found the Satyr Knight standing beside the throne, not sitting on it.

Behind her were two Hysminai, tall female demons in wood-like armour armed with spears and shields, and a maid from the Dread Keep. There were skeleton soldiers standing at attention by the walls and a handful of terrified servants near the throne, all of whom had survived the sack of the Azurite Palace.

The three adventurers stood at the bottom of the stairs, bowed and greeted the Satyr Knight respectfully.

“Raise…your heads…” Hilda’s croaking voice commanded. “…I have called…you three…here to…issue…you new…orders…from…the Demon Emperor. “

“It’s an honour!”

Hilda nodded and beckoned the maid to hand them a sealed scroll.

After seeing that the seal bore the personal mark of the Demon Emperor, Jessica elatedly tore it open and read the contents aloud.

“To the Awoken, I issue these orders - tonight, Mania will arrive to bring you to our western border where you will help in the defence of my empire. For today however, you will assist Hilda with her tasks in Themis.”

“Oh? So, we’re going into battle soon then?” Cain smirked. “I haven’t heard news this since good we took down the Holy Empire.”

“Agreed,” Lucy said with a vicious smile. “It’s been too long since we got some good exercise in.”

“What about those thugs that jumped us the other day?”

She laughed. “A handful of upset peasants armed with sticks and knives hardly counts.”

Jessica, shaking with joy, yelled, “We obey you, oh great Dark Lord!” Giddily, she spun around and few times, then brought her teammates into a crushing bearhug. “Yes! The time has come for us to again prove our worth to the Demon Emperor!”

“It is…good…to see you this…excited.” Hilda slowly descended the stairs with her guards. “Mania…has been busy…lately…on her…new…project, so…she needs some…extra hands…to help defend the…fort.”

“Is that so, Lady Hilda?”

“Hilda…is fine.”

“…H-Hilda.”

“Yes, Jessica?”

Jessica took a step back and bowed. “I’m sorry! I shouldn’t say your name so disrespectfully without a title!”

“Jess, she said it’s fine.”

“Yeah, Jessica. That’d make Hilda more comfortable, wouldn’t it?”

Hilda nodded. “I…have few…who I…can…speak to…as comrades…in…arms. It’d make me…happy to…talk to you…that way.”

“I-If that’s what you want, Lady Hilda-ah, I mean, Hilda.”

The Satyr Knight nodded again. “Now, let’s…be off.”

“Where to?”

“The alchemists’ guild. I…need some…potions.”

***

The people of Themis went silent as Hilda and the others walked past.

Few knew of Jessica and her party, but most knew of the Satyr Knight.

The Demon Emperor had personally seen to it that stories of her victory against Dante spread, and many feared her for she defeated someone considered a living legend.

As they walked, Jessica mused that very little looked or felt different from before the Holy Empire fell, though she didn’t vocalise those thoughts.

The most notable difference to Jessica though was the presence of slaves in chains being dragged by human and demon masters alike.

Slavery had been outlawed in the Holy Empire, even though it was common in the underworld, but never before had it been so common in everyday life.

Unlike the slaves the Sons of Tartarus sold, the Demon Empire’s slaves were made up of rebels, upstarts and the surviving soldiers of the Holy Empire.

Most would remain in chains for the rest of their lives for daring to stand against the Demon Emperor.

However, unlike the slavery in old Themis, the Demon Empire’s slavery was a legitimate business and it was closely monitored and regulated.

Lady Rebecca, with the Demon Emperor’s blessings, created the Slavery Pact, an agreement that stated that all slaves would be treated fairly, not abused and allowed to work off their debts to society and eventually become free.

While she had wished to see its end, the Demon Emperor would not allow it and thus the compromise, the Slavery Pact, was created.

If anyone was found in violation of the Pact, then they would be punished severely or executed.

The human masters had been those who had bent the knee to the Demon Emperor or those who had sold out others to curry his favour, allowing them to gain houses, titles, riches and slaves. They were widely hated by their fellow countrymen, but no one spoke ill of them either.

“Doesn’t it bother you, Hilda?” Cain asked.

“What?”

“Seeing slaves.”

The Hysminai growled beneath their helms whereas Cain’s teammates could only sigh in annoyance.

What in the world are you asking Lady Hilda?!

“No…it doesn’t.”

“Really?” Hilda nodded. “Why?”

The Satyr Knight stopped in her tracks and glanced over at a line of slaves being dragged through the streets by skeletons.

“…When I was bound…did they…care? So…why should…I…care about them?”

Noticing the number of outside listeners in the market street, Jessica awkwardly smiled and bounced around excitedly, looking for something she could buy to divert the conversation away from its current course.

“Oh! Doesn’t everything look wonderful, Lucy?! I don’t know about you guys, but I’m feeling quite hungry. Should we have lunch before attending to our business for today?”

“…I’m…fine. You can…if you want…but I’ll-”

“Are you okay over there?!” Jessica yelled as she rushed to help a fruit stall vendor.

The man, who had a hunchback and a cane, and his son were struggling to push up their stall’s canopy ready to sell for today. Noticing this, Jessica loudly ran towards them and offered to help.

The two men, however, looked at her sceptically and fearfully.

“I-it’s fine, milady. Don’t worry-!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Jessica pushed through their complaints and helped them prop up the canopy correctly. Then, when that was done, she smiled brightly and offered them a handful of coins. “How much for two baskets?”

“U-u-um, it’s free of charge for someone like-”

“No!” Jessica forcefully put the coins in the man’s hands. “I’m not having any of that. Now, how much for two baskets?”

The man, flustered, stuttered and said, “F-fourteen Rhams.”

“Ah.” Jessica’s cheeks turned slightly red. “I only gave you ten, hang on.” She fumbled around in her purse and pulled out four more coins. “There.” She held out her hands. “Thank you!”

The man’s son handed her the baskets, bowed to their party and then both men retreated behind their stall, making Cain laugh.

“Jess, you’re awful for scaring the poor sod like that.”

Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of red as she glared at him. “Lady Hilda, can I assign Cain a new strict training regiment?”

“Huh?”

“…Granted.”

“Hey! Jess, you-!”

As the adventurers laughed and bantered together, the bystanders around them were left bewildered.

What had they just seen?

Were those truly the servants of the Demon Emperor?

The terrifying, cruel, heartless invaders who sacked their city?

Doubt.

That was what Jessica had hoped to implant in their minds.

Doubt that the Demon Emperor was as terrifying as they thought.

Doubt that they’d live their lives in suffering under his rule.

Doubt that they’d be tortured for even talking to their rulers.

The carrot and the stick. Jessica smiled and licked her lips. They won’t forget Hilda’s comments, but they won’t forget what they saw Cain and I do either. As long as they start to think that maybe things won’t be so bad under the Demon Emperor’s rule, then I’ve done enough.

As long as I can get the ball rolling, we can bring this country completely under his majesty’s control.

Jessica bit her lip to hold back her laughter.

Bit by bit, they’ll awaken.