Chapter 13

When I returned to Ivalice, Jiron, the strategist, came over, wringing his hands, saying, "We have been waiting for your return," while Lillith, the deputy, protested angrily.

"Sir Ike, is it true that you went to the enemy's base without me?"

"It is true."

Since I didn't feel the need to hide it, I spoke honestly. Lillith, however, raised her perfectly arched eyebrows in anger.

"Why did you take such a dangerous risk? What would we do if something happened to you?"

"It was just a reconnaissance mission; don't overthink it."

"Even so, Sir Ike, you are the leader of this Undead Brigade, and more than that, the right-hand man of the Demon King's army. If anything were to happen to you, the loss to the Demon King's army would be immeasurable."

Furthermore, she emphasized,

"Sir Ike, you are the one I have decided to dedicate my virginity to. If you were to die, I, Lillith, would end my life as a virgin succubus and become a laughingstock to the world."

I let out a bitter smile. She, Lillith, the deputy of the Undead Brigade, was a succubus, a demon. She had served me since the formation of the brigade and was one of the most skilled members.

However, the problem was that she seemed to be in love with me.

Usually, succubi, upon reaching adulthood, would take the essence from males, be they human, demon, or animal, to enhance their magic. Despite being an adult, she stubbornly refused to do so and continued to draw sustenance from the essence of flowers.

She would often say,

"What's wrong with a succubus not being a slut?"

She was determined to dedicate her virginity to me.

Incidentally, she believed I was an undead, and her catchphrase was,

"At this rate, my wish will never come true. Is there any way to restore Sir Ike's life?"

She was the top candidate to keep my true identity a secret.

Succubi are exceptionally beautiful and passionate. Especially one who suppresses her instincts and refuses to take essence from other men.

If my true identity were to be revealed, I would instantly turn into a mummy.

Thinking about this, I tried to avoid acting together with her and excluded her from the group of companions for this mission, but she seemed angry about it.

To calm her down, I tried to come up with a plausible reason.

"Lillith, if I had taken you, even with magic to disguise you, your true identity might have been revealed to the humans. It's difficult to hide your beauty with magic. That's why I took Sati this time."

Yes, I thought it was a good excuse. My grandfather used to say, "Praise women first."

The idea that no woman dislikes being called beautiful is a universal truth.

However, Lillith's mood did not improve. In fact, it worsened. It seemed the word "Sati" had irritated her.

"Sir Ike, is it fine for you to take that woman?"

"She is human, but?"

"But, she is beautiful, isn't she? Of course, she is far inferior to me, but she will still stand out."

I looked at Sati. She had a troubled expression.

Of course, she would. If a demon girl were to say such provocative words, this gentle girl would not even be able to argue back.

However, unexpectedly, Sati gripped the sleeve of my robe and, mustering her courage, said,

"Sir, while Lillith-sama excels in battle and can be of great help to you, I believe I am much better at daily tasks, especially shopping and housework."

The moment she said this, Lillith's face turned to one of shock,

"What did you say?"

And Sati's face showed determination,

"I won't lose."

It was a classic battle of the sexes. Being caught in the middle was, in a sense, more painful than standing on a battlefield.

I turned to Jiron, seeking help, but he whispered,

"Don't look to me, sir."

Jiron apparently believed that even the world's greatest sage could not resolve women's disputes, whether they were demons or humans.

He was indeed hitting the nail on the head.

Usually, he wasn't much help, but occasionally, he would hit the core of the issue and surprise me. And very rarely, he would offer unexpected assistance.

"By the way, what's in that bag you're carrying?"

His comment reminded me of my original purpose. I remembered the face of the merchant who sold me the contents of the bag and the information he provided.

Recalling my duty as the leader of the Undead Brigade, I composed a stern expression and voice and said,

"Sati, Lillith, stop this pointless quarrel."

My authoritative voice seemed to work. They immediately stopped arguing—at least on the surface.

After confirming this, I turned to Jiron, the strategist, and said,

"It seems the Rosaria army will be attacking soon."

Jiron's mouth dropped open in surprise, Lillith regained her composed face, and Sati looked shocked.

Their varied and characteristic reactions were amusing, but regardless, we needed to prepare for the human invasion.