To Fight, to Defend, or to Flee?

The little succubus Luna rubbed her sore bottom, her face bright red as she scrambled to her feet.

“L-Lady Demon Lord! What are your orders?”

“Go. Tell the squad captains to gather here in half an hour. There’s an important matter to discuss.”

Vivian took a breath and gave the order. The little succubus vanished from her sight in a flash.

“Hah.”

Vivian let out a turbid breath and fell into thought.

Although she was a Demon Lord and could make decisions and issue absolute commands directly, blind action was not always the best choice. She wanted to hear the opinions and views of her subordinates, in case her own thinking had overlooked something.

For a decision-maker, decisiveness and authoritarianism were often separated by a fine line. Perhaps others had more perspectives to offer.

But regardless, in that half-hour, Vivian had already begun to formulate a plan.

Half an hour later, dozens of demons had assembled outside the tent. They were all considered the grassroots leaders of the current force, each a relatively strong squad captain.

“Lady Demon Lord, everyone is here.”

Elia came to her side and said softly. Vivian took a breath and nodded.

“Let them all in.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

With the command given, the demons filed in. The heavy footsteps, the scraping of armor, and the low panting instantly filled the space. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and the unique scent of various demonic creatures. The originally spacious tent suddenly seemed crowded, filled to the brim in an instant.

“Lady Demon Lord.”

They all saluted in unison, their voices filled with awe, but also an undeniable unease.

They all knew that such an urgent summons, with almost everyone present, meant that what was about to be announced would be no small matter.

Vivian nodded slightly in acknowledgment and then got straight to the point, her voice clear in every demon’s ear. “Everyone, I have just received definite intelligence from the Winter Messenger, Lorlu. The Radiant Hero Garen, has formed an expeditionary army with the Rhine Holy Church. They will be setting out soon to subjugate a Demon Lord. Their target is the Territory of Evernight, our newly rebuilt Evernight City.”

With that, she paused, letting the bombshell of news explode in their hearts.

As expected, the next moment, a wave of suppressed gasps and roars filled the tent.

The Radiant Blade, the name of the Hero Garen, symbolized death and purification for any demon—and at the same time, they had just managed to withdraw from a front line filled with death, return to their homeland, and begin the work of reconstruction, only for death to follow them like a shadow.

“They are moving fast.” Vivian’s voice was devoid of any ripple. “If there are no surprises, they will arrive at our Demon Lord’s Castle within ten days—and the Winter Demon Lord Catherine’s reinforcements will take at least a month to arrive.”

“Ten days?!”

“How can they be so fast!”

“Damn humans!”

“Isn’t that right when the mushrooms are about to mature?”

Panic spread among the demons like a plague.

Ten days! For the Territory of Evernight, which had just experienced a catastrophe and was in dire need of rebuilding, this was a despairingly short amount of time.

They had just built their shelters, just cleared the land, just assembled a force of some scale… and the enemy was already at their gates?

“I want to hear your opinions.”

Vivian’s gaze swept over the many uneasy demons before her as she spoke faintly. “The Demon Lord’s Castle is in ruins, our forces are insufficient, our supplies are scarce, and the enemy is powerful, led by Garen himself—I have summoned you all to discuss whether we fight, we defend, or… we flee?”

The moment the word “flee” was uttered, it was as if cold oil had been thrown into a hot pan. The tent instantly erupted!

“Flee?! Lady Demon Lord, where else can we go?”

A cave troll nearly three meters tall, with skin like black rock, was the first to let out a low roar, his voice as coarse as grinding stones.

“The Territory of Evernight is our last home! If we abandon it and become exiles in the wilderness, where else can we remnants go?” He waved his huge arm, almost knocking over another demon captain. “My Black-Obsidian Troll clan mined for a lifetime to build this Demon Lord’s Castle! Even though it’s destroyed, I won’t allow it to be destroyed a second time! I’d rather die in the city!”

“Old Stonehammer is right!”

A veteran Shadow Demon captain, Gangrel, stepped forward, his eyes burning with a bloodthirsty battle lust and bone-deep hatred.

“Run? That’s a coward’s choice! Let those damn humans and the running dogs of the false god trample our homes again? Never! My, Gangrel’s, shadow blade has not yet drunk enough of the Holy Knights’ blood! Evernight City is our fortress. Even if there’s only one stone left, we’ll use it to smash the heads of those damn humans! Lady Demon Lord, please give the order to defend to the death! Let those humans pay the price in blood!”

He beat his chest excitedly, his fighting spirit soaring.

“A fortress? With this pile of rubble?”

A questioning and mocking voice sounded. Asi, who was lying to the side, silently glanced at the troll named Stonehammer and the Shadow Demon captain Gangrel, and then spoke.

“Without walls, without defensive formations, what will we defend with? Are we going to use everyone’s bones to plug the gaps? Gangrel, can your shadow blade block Garen’s radiance? Or can you forge a wall on the spot?”

Asi sharply pointed out the reality. “Staying here means total annihilation! A senseless death!”

“Asi! You’re shaking the morale of the army!” Gangrel glared in the direction of the shadow wolf, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, a murderous aura spreading from him.

“I’m speaking the truth!” Asi didn’t back down. “Lady Demon Lord! Preserving our strength is the best course of action! We can temporarily withdraw from Evernight City and disperse throughout the Territory of Evernight! We have other towns where we can rest for the time being. We can recuperate in the villages and towns and continue to contact other Demon Lord remnants, waiting for Lady Catherine’s reinforcements! As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood!”

“Coward! Can those villages and towns support so many of us? Without a city to rely on, without supplies, we’ll just be worn down and starved to death like homeless dogs! And we’ve spent so much effort building these shelters and clearing this wasteland… and the mushrooms are about to mature! Everyone is looking forward to having a taste!”

Stonehammer said resentfully, “But… but Asi has a point. The current Evernight City… sigh!”

His huge head shook in frustration, clearly struggling with an internal conflict.

“Lady Catherine’s reinforcements will take at least a month! Can we last a month? Even ten days will be difficult!” another Shadow Goblin shrieked. “Why don’t we… why don’t we break up into smaller groups and break out! Everyone for themselves, it’s better than all dying here!”

“Bullshit! Whoever dares to desert, I’ll be the first to cut him down!” Gangrel’s roar almost blew the roof off the tent.

“Do you want everyone to die with you, Gangrel!” Asi retorted sharply.

“Enough! Both of you, shut up! What kind of decorum is this, all this bickering!”

“…”

Facing the demons who had begun to argue incessantly, Elia shouted angrily. Then, they all calmed down and fell silent, their gazes focusing on Vivian, waiting for their Demon Lord to make a decision.