The World Is Mine For The Taking

Chapter 216: Epilogue 4 - The Prelude-ish Epilogue (2)

The house of the demon servants. It was the birthplace of all those creatures who served the high and mighty. These demons usually served someone of high status, sometimes even acting as sex slaves. This was the place where these beings were bred. Known for their obedience, loyalty, and stunning looks, they were the epitome of beauty. Everyone around here, regardless of gender, was a sight to behold.

But unlike many demon breeds, they lacked power. Without a specific skill, they were only good for one thing—being useful. They couldn't even muster the strength to fight, let alone wage war.

Mammon, the current head of the demon servants, was a bit of an anomaly among her kind. Unlike the others, she was a half-blood, being one of the demon lord's daughters. This lineage gifted her with horns atop her head, a feature rare among demon servants who typically resembled humans without horns or tails.

"What do you want to talk about, Eclair?" Mammon asked, settling into a chair at the round table.

"You've already got a hunch as to why I've graced your doorstep, don't you?" I remarked.

She sighed, a weighty exhale that hinted at the gravity of our impending discussion. "Well, why don't we indulge in a glass of wine to lubricate this conversation? It's bound to be bitter, so perhaps a touch of sweetness will soften the blow. What say you?"

"Sure thing," I replied, shrugging.

Mammon snapped her fingers, and two demon servants swiftly entered, bowing before us. She ordered them to fetch wine, and with practiced efficiency, they poured us each a glass before discreetly exiting the room. Their professionalism was commendable.

"Alright, let's get down to business," she said, settling into her seat.

"I'll cut to the chase," I replied. "The demon king is gathering troops for a war against the humans, isn't he?"

"That's cutting right to the heart of the matter, even for someone as prepared as myself," she remarked, her tone tinged with a hint of surprise. "But you're absolutely right. His Highness is marshaling troops, and he's managed to rally the demon lords to his cause. They've been restless for a while now, discontent with the centuries-long stalemate we've faced against the humans.

It's been a constant struggle, a tug-of-war between our kind and theirs. If it weren't for a woman named Jeanne, who held back the tide of human conquest in the past, demons might have overrun this world by now. The current demon king is fed up with the deadlock and is determined to change the status quo by going to war against the humans."

"I suppose you're hitting the nail on the head there. It's been an eternity since the demon race found themselves at a standstill. With that woman out of commission for centuries now, the demon king isn't about to twiddle his thumbs. No one dares to challenge the raw power of the demon race anymore. Sure, if the humans stumbled upon another hero like Jeanne, they might have a fighting chance.

But someone like Jeanne only comes around once every million years. The odds are stacked against them now."

"The current demon king seems determined to see it through, even if it means disrupting the natural order of things," Mammon remarked solemnly. "He fails to realize that extinguishing the humans would disrupt the delicate balance of this world."

That was right. Each race in this world plays a crucial role, and if one were to vanish, the delicate balance holding everything together would crumble. I'm baffled as to why the demon lords are suddenly on board with this idea. Some of them used to show compassion toward humans, even advocating against plunging into another war with them. So, what's triggered this change of heart?

"Do the seven princesses support this plan?" I probed.

Mammon shook her head. "Nope. They seem indifferent to the notion of expanding Hell. Their sole focus is on locating the one who brought you and your siblings into existence. It's like they're on a relentless quest to find her, no matter the cost. They won't intervene in this matter, nor are they inclined to offer their support. That seems to be their stance, through and through."

The seven Princesses of hell. They're on a relentless pursuit to track down Leon, me, and the others. All because their sister, one of the former princesses, our creator, had done something against them, which I still had no idea about. Essentially, that creator was our parent. Their only lead to her was us, that's why they are hunting us.

"You've gotta watch your back too, Eclair. Those Princesses mean business. They're thirsty for the blood of anyone tied to Lilith. And I mean everyone, even your innocent siblings."

That's the reality. With the demon king fully immersed in his war against the humans, he's too preoccupied to reign in the Princesses. The only thing keeping them in check was the demon king's hesitancy to provoke the humans. But now that he's gearing up for war, the Princesses will be unleashed to wreak havoc as they please. And that's what terrifies me the most.

Why do the Princesses want to find our creator, Lilith? Even after all this time, it's still a mystery to me.

As I pondered that, I noticed Mammon's hands trembling as she clenched them into fists. It seemed like she had something on her mind, but was struggling to voice it.

"What's on your mind, Mammon?" I inquired.

She looked at me hesitantly. "Y-You've been venturing into human territories for a while now, right?" she asked.

I won't boast, but I've actually journeyed across the entire world, exploring every nook and cranny. I can honestly say that the only place I haven't been is the Labyrinth City, rumored to be underground. So when Mammon asked, I nodded.

"Then, have you ever come across a child... Specifically, a demon servant child. One with brown hair?"

Despite my years of travel, I've never encountered anyone fitting that description, so I shook my head.

"Why do you ask?"

"M-My daughter. She's been kidnapped for 2 years now," Mammon said, her voice quivering with a mix of desperation and sorrow. "Humans took her two years ago. I tried to follow, but I don't know the human territories well enough. Would you help me find her? She had a short, bobbed brown haircut when she was taken, but it might be longer now.

Unlike me, she doesn't have horns. She looks like a typical demon servant. I'm not sure what her skill is, since she was taken when she was just 18, but I believe it's similar to mine. I'm not asking you to make her your top priority, but if you come across someone who fits that description, please tell her to come back home. Her mother misses her dearly."

I closed my eyes, feeling a pang of empathy. I knew all too well the agony of being separated from loved ones, unable to find them. Leon, Veronica, Leonora, and Estelle—all were missing pieces of my heart. I had lost my three younger sisters after using teleportation magic to send them away, without knowing their exact destinations, to keep them safe from the Princesses.

I had to send them to unknown locations as a precaution against the Princesses. If I had used specific coordinates, they would have detected the magic and found them instantly. Sending them to random places was the only way to keep them safe. I found Leon when he was three, but I didn't reveal myself because the time wasn't right.

I was shocked when I discovered he left the orphanage where he grew up, and I lost track of him for a long time after that.

I had found Leon again now, but Veronica, Leonora, and Estelle were still lost to me. The triplets—Leon, Veronica, and Leonora—were born on the same day, and Estelle was the youngest among us. The sudden loss of close relatives was a pain I understood deeply, making it easy to sympathize with Mammon.

That's why it was only natural for me to accept her request. I opened my eyes and said, "Alright. I'll look for your daughter. I can't prioritize her, though. I still need to find my other siblings."

"T-Thank you, Eclair," she sighed, relief washing over her.

"What is her name?" I asked.

"Amon. Her name is Amon."

***

An insignificant female villager's POV

We were just minding our own business, going about our normal day of farming on the outskirts of the Bethlan Kingdom, when suddenly, the sky lit up in a brilliant, unnatural way.

It wasn't the kind of light you see when lightning flashes through dark clouds. No, the sky was clear, and this light was different—an eerie, glowing circle, like some kind of portal. Something came out of it, hurtling down fast, crashing into our crops.

Panic spread through the village like wildfire. We grabbed whatever we could use as weapons—staves, pitchforks, anything to defend ourselves. There was no telling what might come from the sky, and we were ready for the worst.

But what landed wasn't a monster. As the dust settled, we saw her—lying there amidst the ruined crops—a woman. She looked otherworldly, out of place, yet undeniably human.