Days had passed by from when I had reunited with Liz. 

I was in a convoy with Demon troops and Liz as we headed toward the Marquis's castle. Our convoy consisted of a platoon of fifty soldiers. We had supplied ourselves for a couple day's journey from the town to the castle. I was given a new sword as a replacement for my broken Mithril blade. The sword felt light but was sturdy enough to fight with.

I had heard that the south domain of the Demon Territory was under the control of the Marquis.

Liz had wanted me to meet with the Marquis and after some discussion we left the small town. Liz had told me that the Marquis was willing to support me in uniting the Demon Territory. I frankly hadn't made up my mind yet if I was going to follow Liz's plan. Still, I thought it might be okay to hear what the Marquis has to say. If I hadn't heard of what was happening in the world I wouldn't have followed Liz.

I had just found out that Demons weren't the monsters we made them out to be. I didn't want to be a hypocrite but did I really care about Demon lives being lost? When all I thought about before was stopping the Demons. Did I really want to save them? Or was I scared of being the actual Demon Lord in my mind?

War was cruel and it invoked terrible feelings that people keep deep down inside.

I wasn't a fool that I believed everything could be solved through peace. War happens and will continue to happen as long as there is conflict. I just didn't want innocent lives to suffer and be lost for no reason. Much like how the Hero Gabriel and the previous war had killed people indiscriminately. I just didn't want that to happen again with my hands playing the part.

I used to think that I could protect and change the world by myself but how naïve was I? Even when the Demon Lord had died, Demons had still continued to exist and thrive. I had killed the Demon Lord because I thought he would bring ruin to humanity and existence itself. Now, I was the successor to the Demon Lord and his legacy in that aftermath.

I had once thought that the Hero might change the world too but he was just another cog in the world.

My gaze moved towards Liz as she was talking to Petra.

"Demitri was always cocky," Liz said. "He used to instigate fights and once tried to take a group of Wargs by himself."

"The Lord was?" Petra replied.

"Yes, he's not the introvert and cold brooding man you see now."

I exhaled and shook my head at their conversation.

"What are you trying to tell her?" I said.

Liz chuckled a bit after I called her out.

"Petra just wanted to know how your great Lordship used to be."

My eyes moved from Liz to Petra who looked at me with admiration.

"Forgive my rudeness your Lord!" Petra said.

Petra had always asked for my forgiveness after our little altercation.

"The past is the past," I said with a wave of my hand.

"Then Lord if I may," Petra said. "Is it true that you were the one to land the killing blow on our former Lord?

I held my tongue for a moment but decided to speak on the matter truthfully.

"Yes," I said. "It was my blow that killed him."

My face turned serious at her mention of the previous Demon Lord. I knew how some of the Demons couldn't believe that their new Demon Lord was the killer of the previous one. I had felt that there were some that wouldn't take kindly to me because of that. Some whispers from the Demon townsfolk had said that the previous Demon Lord was well liked and kind. I hadn't known that the previous Demon Lord was revered as kind and just while we had called him a tyrant.

I had expected Petra to look at me with disgust but she didn't.

"Lord, you must be very strong," Petra said with a smile on her face.

I felt confused at Petra's smile and I looked at Liz for guidance.

"Don't worry about Petra," Liz said. "She's very similar to Martin as she's a battle maniac, she only notices strong people."

 I flashed a weak smile and then focused my attention on the road.

The air was cold with the drizzle of white snow and the road was covered in it. The horses and Demons didn't seem to mind it but I felt that it was bleak and dreary. Demon Territory was always in a state of never-ending winter. Demons had adapted to this lifestyle ever since the Great Demon Emperor was exiled here. Demons did not feast on the flesh and blood of humans as most had thought. Most of the food in Demon Territory came from hunting, fishing, and domestic animals. Wildlife that lived in the Demon Territory could reproduce quickly and survive on the smallest of portions.

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While there were some pockets of land that could be managed, the returns were meager at best.

The Demons had looked toward me to save them from the cycle of never ending winter. I didn't know if I could nor did I believe that I was their savior. I was a man who had lost his place in the world and only sought to find it. Only to lose it again and find another. I didn't know what my fate and destiny wanted from me.

My gaze moved to the black ring on my finger and I exhaled the warm air from my lungs.

I had thought that I had picked up this ring on a whim as a souvenir for defeating the Demon Lord. Then I had come to learn that it had chosen me as the future Demon Lord. It was no wonder that I could not be rid of it no matter how hard I tried. I also couldn't resist the power that the black ring gave me and I had used it a few times. I shudder to think of the Devil that rested inside the black ring as well.

"Look the city and the castle can be seen up ahead!" Liz said.

I looked up to see that the snow had subsided and a castle could be seen in the far distance.

It looked enormous almost as if it was a mountain itself. The top of the castle looked like the rest of the Demon architecture which was triangular in design. Much different from the square castles in the human domain. Liz had told me that the city which the castle was situated in was called Nagoya. She said that the previous Demon Lord had named it and that it meant peaceful. It was a sight to behold and I had felt in awe of the design with the meaning of the name.

"So that is where we will meet the Marquis?" I said.

I looked at Liz who nodded.

"The Marquis is a very intelligent and compassionate man," Liz said. "He's looking out for the interests of both Demons and the world."

Liz moved her hands when she talked about the Marquis which meant that she must have found him interesting.

"I see," I said. "But what about the other Demons?"

Liz parted her hair and gave me a reluctant look.

"There might be some complications," Liz said.

"Hold!"

A Demon soldier in the front of the convoy called out.

"A company of Riders coming fast!"

Everyone stopped in their tracks and we held our positions. The front of our convoy had scouts who were eagle-eyed and held telescopes. Petra moved to the front of the convoy to talk to the scouts and get a better look. I couldn't see what was ahead from my current position but I could make out a storm of movement. Liz looked to be contemplating something and I held onto the hilt of my sword.

"Something's wrong!" Petra shouted. "They aren't with the Marquis! I see no flags!"

The soldiers around started to get jittery and some had pulled out their weapons.

"Defensive formation!"

All the Demon Soldiers tightened a formation around myself and Liz. Their black armors rustled as they grouped closer. A line of Demon soldiers carrying heavy shields planted themselves in front. Spearman followed behind them and created a barrier in front of us. Archers began to spread out and created some wings to the defense. There were only a few archers in the platoon and they had stayed on horseback.

I could only guess that these Demons had combat experience.

I hadn't realized that even Demons fought with one another. I only surmised that humans were capable of such things. These Demons in front of me had prepared themselves to lay down their lives for me. I was the man with my companions who had brought them into this state of disarray. I didn't think there would be people who would sacrifice themselves for me. If I did go to war with these Demons would it be for their sake or mine?

Liz summoned her staff from above her head and I could tell that she was serious.

"If we don't have to fight, we shouldn't," Liz said. "But if they want to, we should show them no mercy."

"I understand," I said.

I knew that Liz had thought it would be better for me to unite the Demons without bloodshed. Though she knew that Demons much like Humans had to be shown force sometimes. The sky was dark and clouds started to gather near the horizon. I drew my blade and readied myself for what was to come next.

Was I going to become a savior or a warlord?