“Deek…” Eliana breathed.

“I’m tired of being bullied. I’m tired of being ordered. I’m tired of your political maneuvering.” I continued. “Most of all, I’m tired of that damned Demon Lord Aberis! Your supposed king was possessed by the Demon Lord a long time ago. His mind was warped and his personality destroyed. General Nova here knows it’s true.”

My words caused the murmuring of the crowds to explode. A few people turned to General Nova, who had managed to finally return to his knees, but under the look of so many, he turned his head shamefully. It was all the proof they needed. The councilman in front was just as shocked as all of them. While this news was known among many Osterians, the humans would never allow themselves to submit under the demon lord again.

General Nova, who was loved by humans had even known. Well, he denied it because it was convenient, but I had told him the truth and deep down he likely had his suspicions. He had never told any of the humans this though because they wouldn’t react like the Osterians who favored strength over even species. So, what if he was the demon lord? If he had the power to lead them to victory, then it didn’t matter. It was a complete betrayal of the human’s trust. A few of the girls from his harem looked at him with shocked disbelief, like their loved one had just revealed he was a monster.

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“W-we can’t be certain this is true.” The councilman said.

“It’s true.” A female voice sounded out through the crowd, causing even more shifting.

“Ah… L-lady… Alysia?”

The sword in my hand shimmered, and I put it down, causing it to turn into Alysia once more. “The day I died, it was to thwart him from regaining his prior power. My mother is nothing but a puppet now, and my brother is the demon lord. This is something I’ve had to come to accept. It was Deek here who conquered the ancient sword and freed my soul.”

Each word was like a thunderstrike to the people listening, but those last words caused gasps and cries of alarm. Conquered… the ancient sword? The councilman looked around in confusion. At that moment, a man standing in the back shouted.

“The ancient sword in the courtyard is gone!”

Several people looked back at him to see a beaten-up guard. He was an Osterian man, so he stood above most of the other guards and was easy to identify. He was one of those I had taken care of in the plaza after they had greeted me outside the seamstress. His words were like a wildfire, causing even more murmurs. The councilman raised his hand, eventually getting quiet.

“Even if this is all true, there is little we can do about it at this point. We will need to discuss…”

“I don’t care about your discussions.” I broke in, causing the man to stiffen. “What you choose to do is your problem. This is not my country, and you are not my people. The only thing that matters to me is what is mine. This woman is mine, and Aberis is mine. Right now, your country is threatening what is mine. Do you know what that makes you?”

“A, ah… an enemy…” He shook.

“Exactly.”