Pai-Relix, one of the most experienced Demigods in the Wildlands, the Demon Sovereign’s right hand in the administrating of his nation, was busy eating home-made omelettes and smiling.

It was proof that even the mightiest of cultivators, a Demigod, could enjoy even simple homemade treats. They weren’t all that different from normal people, other than their overwhelming strength.

Gemini considered that bit for a moment, and then shook his head. If he wasn’t the Demon Sovereign, if he didn’t have such prodigious powers, would the Demigods of the Wildlands be as harmonious and united now? Would they still have banded together against the Five Lands with such unity?

“Probably not,” Pai-Relix replied.

“Wait, did I say that out loud?” Gemini asked.

“You are very troubled,” she replied, waving a small sandwich at an enthralled Aria. “It is natural that you would speak your thoughts out loud.”

“Is that so?” Gemini shrugged. “Anyway, why would you answer that way? Are you not confident in the unity of demonkind?”

“From what I understand about the enemy culture, they’re split up into five nations,” Pai-Relix replied. “Even for such a simple composition, they were many things needed to ensure cooperation and coordination. But the Wildlands are made of many, many demon tribes. We also have far more Demigods. Who’s going to lead? Would people be happy with how certain arrangements are done? We’ll be more fractured than the enemy is right now.”

“You have a point,” Gemini mused.

“Well, no point talking about this for now,” she replied. “This omelette is delicious, by the way.”

“Anything Lila makes is always delicious,” the Demon Sovereign replied. “That’s just a tenet of this world.”

“I think you’re just being very biased, but your baby is currently holding me hostage,” Pai-Relix replied.

“Auh!”

“She has a very strong sense of family.” Gemini rubbed Aria, who was clutching onto Pai-Relix and clapping her hands. “Can’t blame her for that, can we?”

“Point. But yes, family is one big reason why the Wildlands wouldn’t have united without you. Wars between tribes aren’t all that rare, and many people have animosities with other tribes. Without someone as overwhelming as you, we wouldn’t have been able to put up a response as unified as this. We would have been divided in opinion, at the very least.”

“Power…”

Gemini shook his head. “That’s a division too, isn’t it? There are so many things that divide people.”

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“While you remain, it is unlikely that these divisions will transform into any substantial conflict,” Pai-Relix replied. “You might not notice it, but you are the sole pillar holding our defence together. The unity of the Wildlands is as fragile — no, more fragile than that of the Five Lands. Your choice to confront any opponent alone was a worrying one, so I hope that you’ll refrain from putting yourself at risk anymore.”

“A ruler is obligated to himself first and foremost,” Gemini muttered.

“That is a perennial truth,” Pai-Relix replied. “Your life does not belong to yourself any longer. It belongs to the people you’ve sworn to protect. To die now is to kill whatever hopes we have left. My instincts tell me that your death would lead to the end of all demons.”

“I’m glad you’re here to talk some sense into him,” Lila replied, having just left the kitchen. “That’s an argument I probably can’t fathom…although I do tell him to think about me and Aria.”

Gemini shifted in his seat. “Well, nothing big happened, right?”

“Those muscle pains apparently popped up spontaneously, eh?” Lila asked. Her finger glinted dangerously, the tip burning with a promise of intense muscle pain. Instinctively, Gemini knew that he would be in for a world of hurt if it ever came close to his torso.

“N-no, of course. I mean, that Gaius fellow was a real oddball. Other than Demigod Eliza, there shouldn’t be any more oddballs floating around the Wildlands to screw us over,” Gemini replied.

“Auh.”

“See? Aria—” Gemini glanced at his bright-eyed daughter and rolled his eyes. “Never mind.”

Lila raised an eyebrow. “You were about to say that she agreed, right?”

“What? No, of course not.” Gemini looked at the spread of food laid out on the table. Lila had helped to lug him over earlier, since his entire body was burning up, but doing so might have been his biggest mistake.

It was torture to be able to see but not eat. Rather than to deal with his complaining belly, Gemini forced his eyes skywards, to the ceiling of the cottage. “Anyway, how goes the initial preparations for the blockade?”

“They’re nearly done, Lord.” Pai-Relix stiffened up and replied. “Strike teams have been drawn up. Our preparations for a protracted holdout are nearly complete. Key points have been scouted out and readied for an ambush.”

“All within a few hours of discussion,” Gemini murmured. “Well done. Do we have visual on the new Ark City?”

“None. It would seem that they are not interested in attacking yet,” said the Demigod. “The Locomotives are still surrounding the area, but they haven’t tried bombarding the Wildlands yet.”

Gemini grunted. “Even if they want to now, we’ve evacuated all demons within a hundred kilometres of the black dome. The only issue is them firing if we take the invasion force hostage.”

“If we act according to your instructions, all should be well.”

“I’m just worried that we might not be able to handle their counterresponse,” Gemini murmured. “The Wildlands are huge and immense. There’s a lack of policing throughout most of the borders, and the enemies continue to put up a staunch fight.”

“Yes, Lord. But every last Demigod is already ready to move at any exigency.”

Gemini grunted. “Good.”

Aria tried to repeat his utterance in the same manner, but the babble that popped out was enough for him to break character. Coughing twice, Gemini rubbed her tiny head and tried to think about the persona he should adopt. It would not do if they realised that Constellation Gemini was the Demon Sovereign.

“Alright. We will begin Enduring Peace in three days.” Gemini closed his eyes. “Let us bring an end to this war of a hundred thousand years.”