"Go, now go!" Delica whispered in a rush of words as she pushed a young child over the ravine. An unbecoming scene specially with the honest serenity of her expression and the brutal action of shoving a child to his death. The boy was not more than eight and has a face that promise a handsomeness that would be obvious to anyone who could see him.

But there was the tell-tale sign of greyish dull skin and gleamless stare that was the sign for any Undead. An Undead boy with grey hair, grey abysmal eyes. Except, if you look closer, there were two pairs of horns appearing on his forehead, one pair was upright pushing forwards and the remaining was placed closer to his ears and curled back away from his face. And some translucent scales seems to lighten under the moon from his neck and shoulders.

His expression as he fell was actually serious and could be considered tranquil even.

Delica also took a swift turn towards the shadows of the thick woods as two beings appeared. They walked over precariously up on the ravine's edge, .

One was a female and another was male, they were wearing enchanted cloaks with hoods that would not rise even with the abrupt movements or the lashing of the winds passing the cliff.

Just one look from Delica and the two soon jumped over the ravine following the boy.

Delica looked down from the edge with a 500 boulders drop, and waved her hands in farewell while smiling happily to give them luck.

Now that's one off from the checklist!

Delica thought chirpily and took out a piece of note with a bullet list of tasks for her to do.

A few seconds later there was a thunderous roar and a huge shadow appeared beyond the cliff, blotting the moon all together.

The huge dragon was swift, and on its back were the two hooded figures.

Delica's Dragon was a huge giveaway for their group. If one was last seen flying anywhere close to the Fellen Valley, the one who wants to hunt them could easily track their wheareabouts.

Draconics were half-dragons and half-whatever-it-was-that-they-mated-with. In Ilium's case, it was a lizardman, so his [Dragon Form] has the greatest similarity to the original dragons. Since he has exhausted his dragon form, he reverted back to being a young Undead Draconic-hybrid-lizardman.

But if they forcibly activated Ilium's [Dragon Form] which could only happen if he was dying, then their dragon could continue on a different path and act as a distraction and give more conflicting information to any witnesses.

Staging a near death experience was risky. Forcing the skill's activation would automatically make Ilium's health drop to one! Just one flimsy arrow would kill him instantly! But since it was a direct order from their mistress they all took the mission the very moment they heard it and didn't show any protests even if they'll be separated from their masters for a very long time,

The two on his back were also Delica's Familiars and has the closest features to Aiven and Delica.

Coccyx was the only one that has black hair in her retinue. He has an effeminate face so even with the age gap, he wouldn't seem that old compared to Aiven's age. Coccyx was deathly pale, paler than the Undead that his skin was white instead of grey. He specialized in magic combat and wields two set of katanas. A dual wielder.

When Aiven saw his supposedly doppelganger, there was a moment of pause and he did this thing with his eyebrow whenever he got something on his mind and simply replied that the Undead was 'irritatingly perfect' for the job, which Delica doesn't understand.

The other one was Ischium, a female Beastial Chameleon-inherent, she changed her appearance until it matched Delica when she was still human and has a Maged Archer for a class. She has the largest sight range among the familiars so they could easily spot anyone who would try to harm Ilium.

Delica was walking along the forest, when beside her came a beautiful woman with white silver hair. And they both walked on silence towards their camp.

"Ulna, have you heard of the Serpentine Arch?" Delica asked not showing any signs of surprise at the appearance of her Undead General.

"The Lost Dwarven Kingdom?"

"Oh, so you know it?"

"Of course Mistress. It was a great story to scare little children even among the Beastial Pride."

The Arch can be found in the Mountain of Silt which was said to vanish and appear from any points of Frear.

According to legend, the abandoned Arch was a dwelling place of a rich Dwarven Lord but due to greed they have closed off the entrance to their home. A stupid idea, but they were said to be self-sufficient and was able to amass wealth from mining ores and precious metals for hundreds of years until an epidemic happened and wiped out the Dwarvens living on it.

Treasure hunters and adventurers won't even touch it despite the possibility of wealth due to the cursed disease, not to mention locating the place was almost near impossible.

But hmmm, to raise her Master into the status that she deserves, a Queen to all Demons, resources were really needed. If they have the treasures of the Serpentine Arch which was rumored to equal the golds of all Dwarven Kingdoms, it would be possible for them to create once more the Demon Capital! Even a palace befitting her master would not be a dream anymore!

Delica was giddy with the thought and so she started making grand plans for their group.

But there were still a number of things to be done, even right now she was not finish with her list Aiven gave her.

1. Unsummon your familiars. (scratch, impossible)

1. Fully summon five familiars; Ilium, one black-haired, one blonde, and another two as your pets. (check)

They are not pets!

But she still ended up fully summoning Ulna and the triplets since summoning the triplets was counted as one. What a bargain! So her Master would have lots of playmates!

2. Send dragon out as decoy. Add impersonators and give mission to seek out the Serpentine Arch. (check)

3. List of the most human looking of your familiars. (check)

4. Maou's lesson plan.

[Uwaaaahhh, the lesson plan is the most exciting one!]

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She was already planning on what lessons and lectures she would have to teach the Demon Lord! Etiquette, dining manners, there's also arts, poetry, history, geography, literature...a-h, to have the grace of a royal blood! She won't let her Master be insulted as barbarian as with most demons! Her Master would rule and conquer with style!

Thinking about her assignments, she wondered how Simos was doing with his. If she remembers correctly, Aiven also gave him one.

"Ulna, how is my brother doing?"

"The Suzerain is now delegating a rotational schedule for the Familiars. It seems there was an on-going debate on who should have the sixth and seventh dawn of the week."

A schedule?

Oh-oh, that sounded just like a task given by Aiven. Ah she hopes her brother hasn't finished his list before her!

Her steps suddenly hastened.

"You know you don't need to call Simos 'Suzerain'?"

"But Mistress, it was a position you have officially designated, we could not possibly betray your words."

"I-I see." Delica said with a forced smile.

It just that...it felt a much higher position than 'High Mistress'...and much more cool-sounding!

She lamented while trying not to sulk. It's just an empty title though.

When they were discussing their plans, Simos made it plain that he wanted to use her familiars for his own training. A collection of combatants with various backgrounds and styles from different races made Simos excited to train (more like spar) with them.

Since Delica has a General-Class Undead as familiars, it'll be bad if the one leading her summons to have a lower position in hierarchy the familiars made for themselves. And since she was busy with her full reins on Mieu's education, she readily consented.

Knowing Simos, Delica was sure her babies would also grow with this set up.

"Nee, Ulna, what do you think of Simos?"

"His Suzerein is young and loyal," Ulna started and there was small hint of respect in her voice, remembering how the young boy who without flinching, received her most powerful attack skill. "He is a worthy person to share your noble quest, High Mistress. He must be truly honored and should have genuflected for days to show his sincere intentions when you have bestowed the title, it must be during those times when we were reverted by Her Great Highness Maou-chan, maybe that is why I, your humble servant, have not witnessed it, truly--"

"That's nice to hear." And her smile broadened, with her chest swelling with pride. Ulna continued with her speech not realizing Delica has not paid much attention to her.

It didn't surprised Delica that her Undead Generals were starting to warm up to Simos.

Either because they have seen his loyalty towards their High Mistress time and again, or because they were all simply just battle-maniacs and they would not want lose the opportunity to beat him to a pulp without incurring their Mistress' wrath. Even so, the Familiars and Simos' relationship was getting better.

"Pardon High Mistress, it seems the dispute has been resolved." Ulna said later, halting in her

Delica tilted her head towards Ulna curiously and the Beastial quickly proceeded with the report. The Undead Generals happens to give report on a daily basis. But the littlest of details--courtesy of the Skull Unit's intelligence-gathering were given directly to Ulna through Vomer's [Mind-Grafting]. It would be her duty to analyze and submit everything to Delica. And if it was urgent, to report it immediately.

"First and Second Dawn would be for the Right Arm unit. The Third for the Left Arm, Fourth Dawn is assigned to the Skull Unit, Fifth for the Torso Unit and the Sixth and Seventh were the Foot Unit." Her report was concise.

"So what do you think?" Delica asked.

Ulna took a few seconds to process the question.

Unlike most [Liches] , Delica have not once thought of her familiars as tools only to be used when necessary, but as her new companions that she needed to guide and nurture. Their living memories were limited only to their [Death] and [Summoning], making them socially inept and incapable of relating to others. Well, they were emotionless dead so that could also be a factor.

But each of their unique personalities were endearing for Delica. So she respects their opinions and would like to hear more from them.

"At most, we would have about 15-20 familiars at each dawn cycle. A workable number, though I would wish to have our full manpower at any given time. But if it is the wish of the Suzerain, then he must be working under the Great Demon Lord's will."

"Twenty familiars? Uh, isn't it too many?"

Ulna stared at the distance. Her expression seems to be calculating the right response. Delica became suddenly aware of her familiar. A pulling strand of longing came to her as she thought how much this Undead General was calling to her. A sensation that comes and goes everytime any of her babies would think of her.

It was a jolting sensation that fills her with euphoria that she can't help but want to snatch that life away. A life that was freely offered to her and was now calling to her every second. And Ulna was not the only one, right now, there were fifty three materialized Summons who were tugging at her being. These little callings that were so dependent on her she could easily drown on them.

And for all their callings, they only have one mind at hand...protect, kill the humans. conquer

It was so easy, so tempting to give on this frenzy and be swept away in the imminent course of nature. Natural, since from the start she was an Undead and their nature has always that one of destruction of life.

Delica steadied herself. This was the problem when she summoned when she became a fifth tier [Undying Lich] and have herself reverted back to her normal [Vassal Lich] level. Right now, the hold of her familiars to her was too much for her restraints on her [Phylacteral's] hunger for power.

Her babies, ahhh, and they were so pretty and precious. If she doesn’t check herself, she could pretty much consume them, and it would be so easy. Just a touch from her and they would be a part of her...forever. Together with their delicious cultivated miasma.

Delica! Snapped out of it! Delica wrapped her [Phylateral] more with her condensed miasma. She'll have to constantly activate the [Miasma Cloak] skill, draining her more. But the normalcy that it gave to her psyche was all worth it.

"The Right Arm and the Foot Units were one of the largest of the groups," Ulna started, "so to be split up for two dawns would be...fair. But it is a size of no more than a squadron." Ulna finally answered, oblivious to the internal conflict her Summoner was dealing with. "Even a lieutenant-class Undead could easily manage them. For a general-class to be appointed of a measly number is an insult. But it was ahhhh, it was the wishes of the Suzerain, and Her Highness didn't show any dislike of the set up."

Then Ulna continued in a low murmur, "D-does she find our presence...repulsive? Does she hates us? Auu, she must hate us after our unsightly behavior at the Higher Keep..."

Delica, now much calmer, was already expecting this outcome.

"The vanguard and defense Unit. No wonder." she said in her high pitch voice.

With Simos' notion for equality, she wasn't surprised at his decision. Also, the Right Arm was known to specialize in Vanguard--aggressive with wide area attacks and high in strength and offense. Something anyone who specialize in tanking has to be weary about, someone like Simos. While the Foot Unit complements Simos with their specialty in defensive measures.

Simos' own style would very much improve if he trained with these two units more.

Being practical while having a great advantage for his training regimen, it really does sound like her brother.

As she ventured on the darkness, she saw a dim light and found a small firecamp at the side of a river. Simos was actively having a discussion with a group of Undead, eyes shining and laughing loudly every now and then.

Beside him was another boy who looked younger but have an expressionless face and eyes that seems old and deep. Aiven's ears were open to the on-going debate but his attention was on the girl sitting on his lap and who has been copying a small illustration of a little flower. Three identical girls were waiting just a few feet away from Master Mieu with their face full of adoration. Their animated conversation was nothing but praises.

For awhile, Delica just stood there and watched the lively scene, feeling a sense of belongingness even of how much changes had happened in their lives.

You would think that with everything that happened, their world would have changed, that a hint of what has transpired would have carved something on the world or on their very skin like a tattoo marked for everyone who has eyes to see. But as with all painful and devastating events, with just the passing of time, Delica and her group find themselves in the all too familiar lull of routine.

The additional numbers of their party needed only a few commands and silent admissions from Delica before they too became incorporated in their roles that were assigned to them from dawn to dusk. Two days, and already the five units of familiars made themselves useful. But there were still some hiccups now and then. Though thankfully she has Aiven and Simos to rely on.

“Delica! Come here, dinner's ready!"

Simos shouted when he noticed his sister, his eyes lighting with recognition.

Muuu. I don't need to eat, you know?!

But still, she can't help feeling happy as she skipped towards their camp. The little group of Undead she had sent off was already on the least of her worries.

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