This had become a real headache.
That was all I could think about right now.
The Kingdom of Amhamra—one of the oldest kingdoms on the True Continent, with over a thousand years of history. My ancestors had protected this kingdom through all those long years. That fact alone was a source of pride for me.
However, the situation swirling around this kingdom had always been harsh, to put it mildly.
Located at the northern tip of the True Continent, with low productivity and no notable industries to speak of, maintaining national strength required the utmost care and vigilance.
Yet this country just had to be the only bridgehead from the True Continent to the Demon Continent—what a troublesome position to be in.
If the Demon Race attacked from the Demon Continent, our nation would stand as a bulwark, holding the line. And when humanity mounted an invasion into the Demon Continent, it was our nation that supported that effort.
In truth, the only reason this kingdom had managed to survive a thousand years was because not a single other country had ever wanted this land for themselves.
And yet, the greedy merchants in the heartland and the fanatics of the church kept preaching Demon Continent invasion at every opportunity—it was enough to make one thoroughly sick of it all.
For the nations located inland or to the south of the True Continent, a Demon Continent invasion represented justice itself—a lucrative event to profit from war demand. They remained blissfully unaware that it was soldiers' lives they were consuming.
And egging them on was the Avi Faith, whose influence stretched across the entire continent. The Avi Faith was a religion whose doctrine unflinchingly proclaimed that the extermination of the Demon Race was humanity's supreme imperative.
The Pope's voice carried weight surpassing even that of a king, and he held the final say on whether to launch a Demon Continent invasion. If the Pope once declared a Demon Continent invasion, every nation across the True Continent would have to unite and act in concert. Troops would gather in Amhamra from all across the True Continent, and when they took food supplies for those soldiers, famine would claim lives throughout the kingdom.
Though I myself, as a member of the True Continent's royal houses, maintained ties with the Avi Faith, I had no real faith in it.
That sentiment was plainly evident even among the people of Amhamra. After all, their husbands and fathers died at the Pope's word; their children and grandparents starved to death because of Demon Continent invasions.
Spitting on the idol of the Light God—the Avi Faith's symbol—was practically a tradition among Amhamra's citizens. I'd done it a few times myself.
But now was not the time for such complaints.
A Thirteenth Demon Lord had been born in the peninsula on the Demon Continent known as the "Blood Tears of the Demon Lord."
And of all places, it had to be the Blood Tears of the Demon Lord itself. If our bridgehead on the True Continent side was Amhamra, then the Demon Continent's bridgehead was the Blood Tears of the Demon Lord—a land that humanity had tried to seize countless times and failed every single time.
Nor was that all. It was possible the new Demon Lord would, like the First and Second Demon Lords, show no interest in the True Continent. But if they were as aggressive as the Eleventh Demon Lord, they'd launch an assault on us without delay.
I'd confirmed this several times with the shrine maiden who had come to announce the Thirteenth Demon Lord's birth.
If they did attack, we would have to meet them in battle. And what happened afterward went without saying. To defeat the Demon Lord residing in the Blood Tears of the Demon Lord, a decision for a Demon Continent invasion would inevitably be made.
No—if anything, the Demon Continent invasion might be decided even sooner.
That place was simply too close to the True Continent.
"……Really. What a headache this turned out to be……"
My sigh echoed through the empty private chamber.
If possible, I wanted to avoid a Demon Continent invasion. But we couldn't just leave the Thirteenth Demon Lord alone. If we did nothing and let them grow their power, only to be attacked by a massive army—that was unthinkable.
Knock, knock.
A quiet knock sounded at the door of my private chamber, where no one but royalty could enter—not even the prime minister except in emergencies.
"Enter."
"Pardon the intrusion."
The one who appeared was the commander of the kingdom's knight order—a woman of graceful age, striking in her beauty. Tall, not overshadowed by the silver armor she wore, with short-cropped hair unusual for a woman her age. Her golden locks swayed as she bowed—a sight as gallant as a knight from a fairy tale.
"You've come," I said simply.
"Yes, sir," she replied. "The Advance Scout Team is ready. We can depart at any time."
"As I'm sure you understand," I continued, "the purpose of this mission is reconnaissance—to investigate the Thirteenth Demon Lord's movements. On no account are you to provoke the Demon Lord or initiate an attack."
"Understood, Your Majesty," she said, nodding seriously at my words. "We are fully aware that our every action could ignite a conflict that engulfs the entire True Continent."
"Good."
At her words, I let out a brief sigh of relief.
"……"
"……"
After a moment of silence, I spoke one final time.
"……I'm sorry," I said softly. "For making you take on such a dangerous mission."
"Not at all, Father," she replied. "You raised me, a bastard child, to this very position. I have nothing but gratitude—no room for resentment or complaint."
"Trisha……"
"Father," she continued, her voice steady, "I am a Knight Order Commander of this kingdom. If there is danger, it is my duty—and my pride—to become a shield that protects the people from it. That is what I learned from you. I cannot live in comfort while driving others into peril."
"……Yes," I said. "You are my pride. Please—come back alive."
"I will. Without fail……!" she vowed.
And so I, Albel Popo Amhamra, King of Amhamra, parted ways with my bastard daughter, Trisha Riri Amhamra, the princess.
At that moment, I had no way of knowing what she would bring back with her.
Summary:
The chapter opens with King Albel reflecting on the political burdens of his ancient kingdom, positioned precariously as the True Continent's gateway to Demon Continent. Following the birth of the Thirteenth Demon Lord at the strategic "Blood Tears of the Demon Lord" peninsula, the King dispatches his daughter Trisha, commander of the knight order, on a reconnaissance mission. After a deeply personal farewell in his private chamber where both acknowledge the weight of duty and their filial bond, Trisha departs with the advance scout team, leaving her father alone with his anxieties about what she might discover.
Trivia:
Amhamra's thousand-year survival is paradoxically due to no other nation ever wanting its territory.
The Avi Faith's Pope holds greater political influence than any single king across the True Continent.
Spitting on the Light God's idol is a common tradition among Amhamra citizens, including the King himself.
Previous Demon Lords have shown varying attitudes toward the True Continent—First and Second were indifferent, Eleventh was belligerent.
The "Blood Tears of the Demon Lord" peninsula has been humanity's most consistent failure point for invasion attempts.
Trisha was raised from bastard status to become Knight Order Commander, demonstrating the King's trust in her despite her birth.
No one but royalty may enter the King's private chamber except in emergencies—even the prime minister requires special permission.
The advance scout team's mission is strictly reconnaissance; provoking the Demon Lord could trigger a full-scale war.
Amhamra suffers actual famines whenever a Demon Continent invasion is declared due to requisitioning demands.
Trisha wears short-cropped hair rather than the long styles typical for young women her age.
The silver armor Trisha wears does not overshadow her tall stature, suggesting she is notably tall even by a knight's standard.
The King's use of "……" in his internal monologue establishes a pattern of weighing his words carefully.
Trisha addresses her father formally as "Father" and "Your Majesty" even in private, maintaining protocol.
The King's confession of pride in Trisha represents one of the few open expressions of paternal affection in the text.
The final line establishes dramatic irony: the reader knows Trisha's mission will have consequences the King cannot foresee.
Notes:
• God - An ancient, divine benefactor and guide to the protagonist, this deity oversees departed souls with a paternalistic yet playfully childish personality. Speaking with casual, modern exasperation, they act as a protector who grants power while maintaining a rational, persuasive demeanor. Though appearing only as a voice, they frequently apologize for their intimidating presence while seeking favors in return.
• Trisha - Knight Order Commander of Amhamra and bastard daughter of King Albel. A tall, strikingly beautiful woman with short-cropped golden hair and a gallant bearing reminiscent of fairy-tale knights. Deeply loyal to her father and kingdom, viewing her role as protector of the people as both duty and pride. Raised from obscurity to command the nation's military forces.
• Albel - King of Amhamra and patriarch of the royal bloodline. A weary ruler burdened by the political realities of his ancient kingdom, positioned as the bridgehead between the True Continent and the Demon Continent. Pragmatic and cynical regarding the Avi Faith despite his formal affiliation. Father to Trisha, whose safety and mission weigh heavily on him.