"You…"
As Damien pondered, Frey said, "You don't seem eager to meet her?"
"Hm?"
Damien raised an eyebrow, catching her implication. "You have a plan?"
"Yes."
Frey said confidently, "If you trust me, I can keep Milim occupied for a while."
To elevate her standing with Damien and make up for past tensions, Frey seized this opportunity.
"That's enough!"
Damien grew fonder of Frey. 'Worthy of the Sky Queen, she switches sides fast.'
"Five days at most, and I'll find a suitable world."
In five days, the Void Ark's cooldown would end, and Damien would embark on a new world journey.
This time, his goal was clear: a world with abundant unclaimed souls.
"When the time comes…"
Damien was fair with rewards and punishments.
Frey had offended him, so he forcibly captured her.
Now, with her contribution, he wouldn't forget her efforts. "I'll make you a true Demon Lord!"
"!!!"
Damien's words struck a chord with Frey.
Indeed, following the right leader was far better than slaving away alone.
After six hundred years without progress, joining Damien brought hope in just days.
"Leave it to me."
Ending their telepathic exchange, Frey turned to Milim. "I do know where the person you're looking for is."
"Really?!"
Milim's eyes sparkled. 'As expected of Frey, so amazing!!'
"But, sorry, I can't tell you yet, Milim-chan."
"Why?!"
Milim pouted, expressing her displeasure.
"Don't get mad. Hear me out."
Frey continued, "If you think I'm wrong, I'll tell you their location."
Seeing Milim willing to listen, Frey said, "Your goal is to fight them, right?"
"But…"
Before Milim could nod, Frey cut in. "Is now really the right time to go?"
"What?"
Milim tilted her head, confused.
"They just fought me and haven't recovered."
Frey knew Milim well, playing her perfectly. "If you go now, you won't get the thrilling fight you want, and people will say you took advantage of their weakness."
"Then… what do I do?"
Milim was the cardinal world's darling, a pinnacle of power.
But her weakness was obvious.
Childish tactics worked well against her.
Like now.
Proud Milim would never stoop to exploiting someone's weakness.
"They need time to rest, at least."
"This…"
Milim found Frey's logic irrefutable.
"How about this?"
Frey shifted tone, smiling. "I'll negotiate with them and set a time for you to meet."
"In the meantime, stay here and wait for their response."
"Yeah, yeah!"
"I'll listen to you, Frey!"
Milim was oblivious to being manipulated, thinking Frey was brilliant.
'As expected of the woman I approve of!'
Milim beamed with confidence. 'With my strategist Frey, I'm unstoppable!'
"Hehe…"
Frey had food brought to entertain Milim.
The Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia's leaders were both shocked and overjoyed at Frey's safe return.
Shocked that their queen had returned.
Overjoyed that she was safe.
They had braced for her fall.
Yet, against all odds, she returned.
Truly worthy of their Sky Queen.
Even facing such power (the golden tree), she emerged unscathed.
Some suggested rallying the army again to seek revenge on Damien and the Tengu.
Of course, Frey rejected it outright, stating they'd signed a peace agreement, ending hostilities.
"Luchia, are the supplies ready?"
The next day, Frey summoned Luchia to discuss war reparations.
Damien didn't care about reparations.
But Frey brought it up proactively.
"They're ready."
"But…"
Luchia hesitated. "Isn't it a bit much?"
The supplies, while not crippling the Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia, pained Luchia, who managed internal affairs, to see their resources given away.
"Luchia, you're my most trusted aide, so I'll tell only you."
Frey wouldn't reveal her familliar bond with Damien to Luchia.
A secret known by a third party was no secret.
Damien and his familliars wouldn't leak Frey's status.
But others couldn't be trusted.
"You…"
Luchia worried. "Did they do something to you?"
"Don't overthink. I'm fine."
Frey suppressed her bitterness, feigning ease. "This war was our aggression."
"Their strength was overwhelming. I was no match."
After learning of the Sword of Promised Victory and the golden tree, Frey accepted her defeat more easily.
No one who'd seen the golden tree would mock her.
Not just Frey... even a True Demon Lord hit directly by such an attack would be dead or gravely injured.
For a non-True Demon Lord like Frey to return alive was impressive, worthy of her title.
Some even speculated she'd awakened, reaching that realm.
Who they meant (Clayman) need not be said.
"They spared me."
Frey continued, "If I just accept that, wouldn't it be too shameless?"
A shameless person might say, "You spared me? What a fool."
But Frey wasn't that low.
"I understand."
Luchia said, "By offering reparations, you're refusing their favor."
The Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia repaid the debt of Frey's release.
Next time, they'd be enemies again.
Likewise, if Frey defeated Damien, she could kill him without obligation.
"Exactly!"
Frey raised an eyebrow, pleased with Luchia's interpretation.
***
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