Since we use [Teleportation], it only took us one second to arrive at Antares. When our vision returns after being temporarily blinded by the light of the [Teleportation], we find ourselves inside my office in the former palace of the late King of Antares.

Eliseus was already inside the room before our arrival. She doesn't look surprised when we appear in the room, which means she is expecting our return. This turn of events is rather surprising for me. Eliseus has no part in the administration of Antares. Even though she can meet me anytime she wants, she shouldn't meet me in the office.

Only one person has the right to enter my office to meet me whenever she needs to and that is Maxine, my secretary. That doesn't mean she can meet me on a whim, though. She can only visit my office whenever she has something related to Antares' administration to talk about. She can meet me as a fellow Warrior but we have to meet outside the office.

Cursed Creations are naturally unruly creatures. This is my way to introduce them to professionalism. Everything needs to change when I sit on the throne. By doing this, I hope everyone who is helping me now can teach their fellows the way of professionalism in the future, which will quicken the rate of change.

I have gone off on a tangent, so it is time to get back to the main issue—why Eliseus is in my office. She looks like she has something to say that is related to the territory's issue, which is another surprise since it should be Maxine's job.

"Maxine is busy helping Celia treat the soldiers and Warriors that Lemius took to Creatain County," Eliseus explains herself before I say anything.

"The Heroes?"

"Yes."

"Are the girls all right?"

"Lunea did a great job in supporting the army, so she is currently unconscious in the infirmary. The Healers and the Succubi said that she would get back on her feet tomorrow. Winerva, Abigail, and Gabriela suffered some light injuries but they have already recovered."

historical

"What about Lemius?"

"He is fine," Eliseus answers instantly. "He is not very pleased, though. A Hero managed to cut his hand off."

The interesting information makes me quirk an eyebrow. Lemius is a prideful Demon, so I can tell it happened because he looked down on the Heroes. With the unimpressive number of resources that Cresundia has to cultivate its Heroes, their impressive power likely comes from the Holy Relics the Temple provides them with. Still, for a Hero from a weaker Kingdom such as Cresundia to be able to do that is mind-boggling.

After all, an impressive weapon will not do its job in the hands of the incompetent. For them to be able to utilize the Holy Relics loaned to them, they must have trained diligently.

"What about you?"

"Me?" Eliseus blushes before scoffing lightly. "I am fine. I don't mess around with my prey. Though, I still failed to kill any of the Heroes." Noticing the faint smile on my face, she adds, "It seems to be good news to someone, so I don't mind."

Nodding my head in agreement, I address the main issue, "Is that the only thing you want to tell me?"

"The Heroes are planning to gang up on you. They have a special Relic that they are going to use against you. We don't know for certain but it must have the ability to isolate the space. One of them is not a problem but seven of them are. Be careful."

"Let me guess. Are they coming here?"

Eliseus doesn't say anything as she nods her head in confirmation. With this, I can surely say Lemius immediately returned to Antares because he thought he needed to protect me at all costs. He must be worried that if he were to engage the Heroes in combat, he would let some unforeseen threat reach me.

It is an achievement for the prideful Lemius. For once, he could put his pride aside and put his duty forward.

Turning to Arieda, I ask, "Are you ready to be sent on your mission?"

"That is rhetorical!" she heatedly responds.

Aside from improving the newly formed army's performance, I sent them to Creatain County to also carve some hidden Teleportation Magic Circles there. Although they spent less time than they should have there, the fact that they could return a few moments after their encounter with the Heroes means the Magic Circles have been carved.

Dark Elves are known for their stealth. The Magic Circles will be a huge advantage to Arieda. Using them, she will be able to infiltrate the heart of the Kingdom easier and faster. I hope I can do more but that is the best help I can provide her with due to the time. Whether she can capture the puppet master is up to her.

Wasting no more time, I take her to the Teleportation Magic Circle that is connected to Cresundia. I send her right after she says her farewell.

"Are you aware that you are putting the Dark Elf Princess' life in danger?" Eliseus asks as the light of the Magic Circle dies down.

"The puppet master's only power is [Mind Control]. He has spent the majority of his Skill Points on his Intelligence and Endurance, so he is not that threatening in a physical fight. It won't be easy for Arieda but I am confident she will succeed," I explain.

"He is still a Hero. You should take the Relic in his possession into consideration."

"Oh, I have, Eliseus. Don't you know that the Dark Elf has more advanced Relics than most humans have? Arieda is a princess. She must have some jaw-dropping Relics with her."

Eliseus hums briefly before stating, "Sometimes, I can't tell if you are being optimistic about your assumption or you know extremely well how the other side will behave. It is as fascinating as it is terrifying."

Shrugging lightly, I take her and Millonia to the infirmary. I need to greet the girls and see how far Lemius has recovered. Upon reaching there, the surprised Maxine hastily runs to me. she apologizes for not being able to greet me and I wave her apology off. Knowing what I came for, she immediately takes me to where Lunea is.

Lunea is in a separate room—one of the rooms that only the selected few can use. There, I find Abigail, Gabriela, Winerva, and Lemius standing on the side of Lunea's bed. They widen their eyes when they see me. The girls immediately run at me to hug me, meanwhile, Lemius gives me a light nod with a hint of embarrassment.

"This shouldn't have happened had I acted quickly," he says as I stand beside the bed.

"Did they use the Relic on you?" I ask.

"I believe so.. I didn't know I was isolated until I realized the Heroes I was fighting were playing around. By that time, a lot of us were already killed. I used my Demonic Essence to get out of the isolated space and it worked; however, when I was outside, a Hero already got one of my hands."

Lemius was frowning as he recounted what happened. He is genuinely confused, so I can tell he has been thinking about it ever since.

"I don't know what happened but I can say for sure the space shifted right before I lost my hand. You should be careful, Commander Layland."

Nodding my head at Lemius, I turn to the girls and ask how their experience was. They say all of the Heroes are at least as strong as Mark was after he replaced his heart. They emphasize that had it not been for the soldiers and the Warriors sacrificing themselves, they would have died. It is great to see that none of them is traumatized.

"Well, Lemius, you probably already know why I came here." I turn to the said Demon, earning a nod of confirmation from him. "I want you to take three hundred able bodies from your troop and join Velucan and his troop."

I raise my hand before Lemius can protest. "I know what I am doing—I don't need your escort. The Temple is playing a game and we should, too, but not with its rules. The Heroes are nothing more than decoys. I am going to let myself be fooled by the decoys but you can't."

Eliminating the distance between me and Lemius, I solemnly say, "Protect our territory at all costs. Look at those smiling people on the street. They are the result of our hard work—the prize of how far we have gone as a society. Don't let our effort go to waste."

My words seem to have struck a chord or two in Lemius. Saying nothing, he nods his head in determination. The reason why he wanted to go with me is that he wants to pay the Heroes for what they did to him. This time, I can see that he willingly puts aside his pride and it is refreshing to see.

When everything is settled, I tell the girls that they don't have to participate in the next operation. They still decided to participate regardless and I don't stop them. Wishing them luck, I leave with Eliseus and Millonia. I don't bother to tell them to join the others because I am going to need them to take care of the mobs that the Heroes may bring with them.

After telling Velucan what to do through my Rank Necklace, I receive the call that I have been waiting for. Picking it up, I listen to Hadrian telling me where the Heroes are spotted—Ducolles Abyss.