Chapter 73
Of course, Ariella had imagined this possibility too.
Delac’s land and Ludwig’s domain bordered each other along a mountain range.
And since Ludwig’s land had been poorly managed for so long, kidnapping residents would have been all too easy.
When she stayed silent, Ludwig spoke, his voice low and heavy.
“Until recently, my territory’s population just kept shrinking. I thought it was all my fault. I believed that because I wasn’t ruling properly, people were leaving of their own will. But…”
His hand clenched tightly into a fist, the one not holding a pencil.
“What if some of those people were actually kidnapped by Delac… and have been forced into slavery all this time?”
He looked straight into Ariella’s eyes.
In his gaze burned a deep emotion she rarely saw from him.
“I understand we need time to make a perfect plan, Ariella. But…”
His tone grew heavier.
“If there’s any way to save them even a little sooner, I want to do it.”
Ariella felt as if she’d been struck in the head with something solid.
She had always thought Ludwig was clumsy, reckless, and didn’t think things through.
She’d grumbled countless times about having to teach him everything from scratch.
But in moments like this, she was reminded of his true heart.
Though he had been forced onto the throne of a Demon Lord, his concern for his people was genuine.
We seem to have nothing in common, and yet…
Whenever Ludwig showed this rare seriousness, she couldn’t help but see the deep bond they shared.
Looking at him now, Ariella was reminded of her own days as a princess, worrying for her people.
She couldn’t speak for a moment, but finally, she nodded.
“…Yes. I’ll do everything I can too.”
The mountain range surrounding Ludwig’s Demon Lord domain.
Night had fallen. The magical white “sun” that lit the Demon Realm dimmed, painting the sky with an aurora-like glow.
Beneath the shadows of drifting clouds, orcs gathered, moving quickly down the mountainside.
They were used to these rugged paths, being a mountain-dwelling race.
Even with their large numbers, they made surprisingly little noise.
But their exhaustion showed on their faces.
Despite their fatigue, the orc army advanced in grim silence. Leading them was the chieftain.
“Tonight is the night. This is our chance to avenge that shameful defeat!” he growled.
A subordinate reassured him.
“We will succeed this time. We’ve prepared thoroughly.”
The chieftain snapped back sharply.
“Preparation doesn’t mean we can be careless. Check and double-check everything before we send in the troops.”
“Yes, sir!”
Finally, they reached the bottom of the steep mountain.
“What should have taken only a few hours ended up taking a whole day,” the chieftain muttered, clicking his tongue.
Last time, they had tried to raid Ludwig’s lands head-on—and failed miserably.
This time, they had chosen a new invasion route.
Instead of crossing the plains and attacking from above like before, they had looped around the mountains and were now approaching from below.
Ludwig’s territory lay at the southernmost end of the Demon Realm.
Since no one lived farther south, troop deployments there were light.
The orcs had always chosen the northern route because it was easier to move supplies and soldiers that way.
But after that humiliating defeat, the northern path was no longer an option.
Those cursed tree monsters make it impossible!
The chieftain winced at the memory.
His right shoulder and waist still throbbed at the thought of that day.
He had been struck by a massive branch swung by one of those towering tree creatures—the Ents.
He had barely escaped with his life, limping back to the orc village.
But many soldiers had died, their bodies left behind.
If I fail again, I’ll lose my position.
In the Demon Realm, strength ruled all.
Among the orcs, it was no different.
After his crushing defeat, the chieftain’s authority had been shaken.
If he suffered another loss, others would challenge him.
Yet he couldn’t abandon his plans.
Their tribe had been raiding Ludwig’s farmlands as if they were their own storehouse.
But now, with those supplies cut off, the orcs were starving and furious.
Backed into a corner, the chieftain had chosen to take a huge risk.
“I’m worried,” another subordinate spoke cautiously, unlike the previous one who’d only voiced optimism.
“After marching all night, our soldiers are exhausted.”
“We have no choice. Once we’re inside the Demon Lord’s land, victory is easy. No matter how tired they are, these kobold farmers won’t put up a fight. With their small numbers, this will be nothing.”
The reason this route had been avoided was precisely because it wore the troops down so much.
It had its advantages, but its disadvantages were equally great.
Until now, they hadn’t needed to take that risk.
But now it’s do or die.
As they descended, the forest spread out before them.
But something was off. The trees here were unusually tall—much taller than the ones they’d passed earlier.
Some soldiers froze instinctively at the sight.
Cold sweat dripped down their backs. Even the chieftain felt it.
Damn it. I got beaten so badly that now even the sight of a tall tree makes my knees shake…!
He struggled to calm his racing heart. He needed to restore order. Raising his voice, he barked at his soldiers:
“Relax! According to our scouts, this forest has always been here!”
“Then… those trees…?”
“Yes! Those cursed tree monsters aren’t here. These are just ordinary trees! They don’t move!”
“If they can’t move, then they won’t attack us, right?”
“Of course not. Have you ever been hit by a normal tree in a normal forest?”
The soldiers began to relax.
Carefully, they examined the forest ahead.
“Hey… you’re right. That other forest looked unnatural, like a wall, remember? As if it had been planted deliberately.”
“But this one looks normal. Just a natural forest.”
There was nothing artificial about this forest.
That reassurance lifted their spirits.
To make doubly sure, the chieftain ordered:
“Release the wolves.”
The wolf riders stepped forward.
But this time, instead of riding their wolves, they sent the animals ahead alone.
Fweeee!
At the sound of a strange whistle, the wolves charged into the forest.
“Awooooo!”
They darted between the massive trees.
Everyone held their breath.
And nothing happened.
The trees didn’t move, even with wolves running right past them.
The chieftain smirked proudly.
“See? If these were those tree monsters, they’d be attacking us already for invading their territory!”
He raised his voice confidently.
“But it’s quiet, isn’t it? These are just normal trees!”
Now that they were certain, fear melted away from the soldiers’ faces.
With renewed confidence, the chieftain roared:
“There is nothing to stop us now! Advance!”
“Charge!”
“Forward!”
Weapons raised, the orc army surged forward.
The fastest soldier was the first to step into the forest.
Even as he ran across soft soil, the trees didn’t react.
“Ha! The chieftain was right! Just trees!”
That was all it took.
Fear vanished, and the orcs poured into the forest.
But since this was a wild, untamed forest, not a well-cleared road, their formation broke apart as they forced their way through.
The neat lines of soldiers scattered, splitting like streams of water dividing into rivulets.
Still, the chieftain wasn’t worried.
Once we’re through this forest, there’ll be no obstacles. We can regroup then.
That’s what he thought—until…
Whoooosh!
A chilling sound of something massive cutting through the air reached his ears.
The chieftain’s mind went blank.
The sound of something long and heavy swinging with force.
No. No!
His silent scream was drowned out by a sickening thud.
THWACK!
And then came the screams—the same ones that haunted his nightmares.
“GYAAAAAH!”
The chieftain’s knees trembled.
He saw one of his soldiers flung high into the air, his body tracing an arc before disappearing from view.
Whiiiish!
A moment later, a loud crash signaled his fall outside the forest.
“That’s… the same as before!”
“AAAAH! What’s going on?! You said it was just a forest!”
The ground shook violently as screams erupted all around.
The nightmare was happening again.
“Orcs… this time they dare come HERE?”
“Once again, they dare set their filthy feet on this land…”
A deep, rumbling voice echoed through the forest.
Just like that cursed day.
Towering trees, over three or four meters tall, ripped their roots from the ground and stood upright.
They rose like ancient giants, stretching after a long slumber.
The chieftain stumbled backward, dizzy with fear.
“This isn’t fair!” he screamed in rage and terror.
“YOU LET THE WOLVES PASS, YOU DAMNED MONSTERS!!!”
