So, have you been to cranze before? Xania asks, while watching him prepare a magic circle for teleporting due to the massive distance between the dwarves hideout and cranze.

Which kingdom do you hate the most?

Lucival.

Why?

Although they hate demons the most, they also hate any non-human lifeforms regardless of how human they look or act, which includes dragons, but they don't dare to go on an all out war with dragons because they are already dealing with demons.

Can you explain the religion they believe in since it's the holy kingdom so they should have one.

Sure, they all only believe in the god of creation believing that she was the one who created life with any non-human lifeforms being created by the god of despair who they believe opposes the god of creation, they also believe in every other god but not as strongly.

Oh great, I'll never understand why humanity has a religion honestly.

Neither do I, so far the only races with a religion or higher being they believe in are humans, or the rare exception of a higher being interfering with humans or other races, which causes it to look more like a cult.

What about me, what do they think of me as?

Most likely an apostle or descent of an evil god or something like that, there may even be some who would think you're an evil god yourself due to how strong you are.

What a creative imaginative, hey, when are you gonna be done with the music circle?

Wait a moment, I don't want to use all my mana on this magic circle since I do need a way to fight back if necessary.

Xania watches in annoyance as he slowly pours mana in despite having sufficient as she just pours her own mana in, nearing making the magic circle for wrong and sending them too far as the magic circle activates.

As the magic circle activates, they find themselves right In Front of the kingdom's gates luckily having no guards around.

Hey, if you had just poured in a bit more we would have gotten sent into the kingdom you know?

Yes I'm aware, I just didn't think your magic circle would be this good.

It's nothing compared to yours.

Exactly, which is why I was overestimating you so I put in more mana in case yours wasn't as efficient.

In other words you were looking down on me.

Anyways, I'm gonna make us invisible so guide me to the dungeon.

And yep you are looking down on me.

Let's go.

Stop ignoring what I'm saying.

Are you gonna go or not?

Not till you admit you were looking down on me.

I still am, start moving.

Apology.

Don't push your luck.

I'm not moving either.

Look I will remove your invisibility and bind you to the highest point in the city if you don't start moving.

Fine fine.

Dragrove reluctantly starts heading to the castle, avoiding any civilians or guards nearby as Xania follows behind, playing with her tail and nearing alerting some of the guards as she brushes her tail against them accidently, annoying Dragrove everytime.

We're here, could you stop doing that with your tail?

You have a tail too, you could do the same couldn't you?

First, my tail is scaly and a lot heavier than yours so it's not as fun, second, it is not about me having a tail, it's about you being annoying.

Fine fine, I'll stop it, now go find the dwarves.

They should be in the deeper parts, most probably in the torture section of here.

Why?

To spill their secrets or something.

But isn't it just having much better skill, what secret is there?

Exactly, that's why I don't get it on why Cranze even tortured or keeps them alive.

Screw it. As Xania wasn't though the dungeon past all the guards and cells with malnutritioned, sick or dead inmates she eventually ends up in the torture area immediately noticing the strong smell of blood along with shouting.

As she walks past the cells, still invisible, she notices that all the prisoners are alive despite some being sick or malnutritioned and that they are all chained up against the wall, not even being able to use the toilet, as she continues observing with a disgusted expression she notices Dragrove looking at her confused.

What?

I just would have thought you've seen worse especially during the wars and fights you've been in.

I haven't even been in this realm that long.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

What do you mean? You can easily fight me, I get that I'm still young for dragons and therefore much weaker, but your Anna capacity is also crazy.

What, Anise didn't fill you in? I swear I remember her asking me about if you could share what she calls “my life story” at night with me agreeing due to liking sleep.

So, could you elaborate?

No, just ask Anise to share with you some of her memories because I won't be surprised if every demon at our base already knows.

Fine.

Xania continues looking around with Dragrove as she notices the sounds of chains rattling along the stone cold floor as she turns back to see a guard holding a chain with a couple of people behind as she and Dragrove stand against the wall so as to not get in the way.

As they observe, they notice the prisoners being dragged being humans but a lot shorter looking.

Hey demon lord, those are the dwarves.

Seriously? They look like they are in such a bad condition I wouldn't be surprised if they died from me poking them.

First, I'm sure a poke form you could probably kill a normal person if you tried, second, don't you have healing magic?

Of course I do.

Then I do not see the problem, hurry and follow them, they might be going back to the other dwarves.

Oh right.

Xania follows closely behind with Dragrove as she notices the guard bringing them to a small room before unchaining them with multiple chairs as the guard pushes them on.

What are they doing?

Torture.

So this isn't where the dwarves are staying?

No, but you might want to save them because this is torture, but also an execution method.

Oh, that's a problem.

Xania watches as the guard locks the door and pulls a switch as the dwarves start shouting out in pain as Xania switches off the switch, confusing the guard and the dwarves.

As the guard goes to pull the switch back on, Xania uses water magic to choke him to death quietly before making herself visible and healing the dwarves back to normal in less than a minute, helping them off the chair.

Who are you? The tallest but yet still shorter than Xania dwarves asks, still seeming like in a bad state due to the condition of his clothes and body with both being stained with dry blood along with dirt.

That isn't important right now is it?

It is, although you killed the guard, we can assume you're not with them, but that doesn't mean we are on your side. The dwarves say with an oddly rough voice, confusing Xania for a moment.

Well, I'm not here to hurt you, and I'll save you guys on the condition you work for me, of course not for free.

First prove to us you can save us before talking so much.

Sure.

Xania makes them all invisible, leading them out of the cell, trying to not be found as she hears a loud thud along with shouting, causing her to turn back to find the dwarves beating up the guards with Dragrove blocking the guards from fighting back, causing the invisibility to be interrupted.

What is going on?

Since you want us to work for you, let me add a condition.

What is it?

Free everybody here and kill the guards, you do not need to take them with you, just free them.

Xania thinks for a moment before answering.

Then your skills better be worth it.

Ofcourse, I was once one of the best dwarven blacksmiths ever.

Fine.

Xania immediately makes all the cell doors disappear by converting them into air as she bends the guards up with magic, leaving the dwarves and prisoners to attack them while healing the prisoner.

There, take your time.

Xania continues going through, room by room as she finally reaches the entrance to the dungeon under the castle before teleporting everybody out.

As she reports everybody, they get confused as to the sudden life changing events as some run away immediately with some staying.

Right dwarves, what is your name?

Hepast, I was named like this by my parents after the god of smithing in hopes that I'll be talented as a blacksmith, clearly the name was not wasted on me.

Alright, it seems like I also saved some of your other friends.

Hepast looks around and notices other dwarves who got imprisoned, totaling up to around 6000, most of them not noticeable in the cells due to the darkness and terrible conditions.

Excuse me, but may I know your name?

My name is Xania.

Very well, Xania, although I agreed to work for you, I hope that you can let the others leave if they want to do so.

That's simple enough.

Xania looks around as she notices other prisoners that she also saved, with 2 more humanoid looking women with long ears, with Xania recognising them as elves due to Anise constantly trying to teach her in her free time.

Xania reconfirms that their elves, surprised that they stayed behind due to remembering how much they hate demons, and therefore dark magic.

As Xania keeps looking around, she notices the two elves approaching her as she prepares to fight but not too on guard due to how weak they look.

Hello there, thank you for saving us, my name is Elvia and my sister's name is Ella.

Right, what do you two want? I know elves are more sensitive to magic so you should already know the type of magic I was easily using.

Of course we are aware. Elvia says with her sister Ella hiding behind her.

Which is why I would like to request that you do not attack the world tree.

Why would I?

What do you mean? All the past demon lords have made it their goal.

Won't the world get destroyed?

Yea, but don't you guys have the underworld?

Doesn't mean I want the destruction of this. Xania says, making both sisters look confused, wondering if this is a trick or if there's something wrong with Xania's head.

Stop looking at me like I'm crazy, I only intend to make a shield around the world tree to stop more heroes from being made, which would also benefit you, would it not?

But how can we trust you?

I don't need you two to trust me, I need the other elves to do so, and if they don't then I could always kill them.

V-violent! Ella says while still hiding behind Elvia.

Let me translate, she means to say not to be violent because it won't benefit you either.

How so?

We elves live for very long, so we have some warriors stronger than humans by a lot.

I suppose that could be a problem, but the hero is still the main problem here.

Anyways, I have no intentions to continue this conversation so I suggest running so as to not get caught by the humans who must have noticed everybodies escaping due to the smell of blood left there and the shouting.

Wait!!!

What else do you want?

Bring us with you and keep us safe.

Why should I do so?

Because we can help put in a good word for you? Elvia says, clearly desperate to find a reason as she starts hearing loud shouting coming from Cranze, which are constantly getting closer.

Will they believe you?

Maybe, we live for very long as we also interact with each other a lot!

Fine, wait here.

Xania goes over to Hepast, making him notice her presence immediately.

Xania, they all want to follow you to repay you for saving them and to follow me, but they and I have a condition.

What is it?

We want to know what magic you were using when binding the guards, we may not be experts in magic but we know that that isn't normal either.

Xania hesitates for a moment as the dwarves watch her intently, waiting for her answer.

Dark magic. Xania says as she hears some dwarves start to reconsider before Hepast interrupts, silencing the crowd.

Doesn't that magic require sacrifices?

Not for me.

Then doesn't that mean you're an evil being?

The humans may consider me so, but I have no reason to attack the dwarves.

So you're a demon?

Oh, did I forget to make my features visible too? Xania makes her demonic features visible again.

Then what about your demon lord? Will they attack us?

What do you mean?

Well, every demon lord has–

Why is everybody so biased to the current demon lord because of the past ones?

Experience.

That's still biased.

Just answer the question.

I'm the demon lord, and I haven't harmed you yet right?

As Xania admits it, Hepast reconsiders for a moment before agreeing to still join her, with all the dwarves following behind, trusting in Hepast.

Hey, why do they trust you so much?

I'm one of the best blacksmiths, we trust and respect other blacksmiths more based on their skills first, personality second, appearance last.

Are there more of you guys, like hiding?

Most likely but I do not know their locations.

Very well.

Dragrove, come here and protect them. I'm going back for now.

Sure.

Xania teleports back to her castle, with the first thing she sees being a bunch of demons and the second is them holding pictures of her, and the third surprising with Anise jumping down from above, using magic to alert everybody of her return, causing everybody to turn to look at her.