The Demon Lord’s Four-Step Strategy

The plan to reincarnate and kill the Hero was a four-step strategy.

The first step involved sensing the Hero’s reincarnation location, then ascertaining his current identity and strength.

Next, she would transform into the person the Hero trusted most in his memories, thereby gaining close proximity to him.

The third step required obtaining the Holy Sword through the Hero, then stealing it away.

Finally, when he least expected it… she would kill the Hero!

Freya believed her meticulously crafted plan was flawless. As she watched the Hero embrace his mother outside the door, she felt confident that, so far, everything was unfolding exactly as she intended.

In her previous life, though she had long resided in the Demonic Fairy Castle, she possessed a comprehensive understanding of Hero White’s information.

After all, he was known as the Continent’s Strongest, the Light God’s earthly representative, ‘as on earth as it is in heaven,’ the Executor of Divine Punishment, an Honorary Duke of the Holy Roman Empire, and the Imperial Princess’s fiancé…

The sheer number of titles sent shivers down her spine.

In essence, besides the three cannon fodder who perished in the Demonic Fairy Castle, the Hero of the previous life had a Werewolf s*ave, a Black-winged attendant, an Imperial female Sword Saint disciple, and finally, the Grand Archmage Freya Elgrandie, who was his fiancée.

That woman, too, was absurdly powerful.

The mere thought of her made Freya tremble involuntarily.

Once, to launch a sneak attack behind human lines and delay their assault on the demon race, she had exerted immense effort.

She dispatched a strike force of 10,000 elite demons and three Level 60 High-ranking Demon Sorcerers, teleporting them to the rear of Vienna, the capital of the Holy Roman Empire.

To her astonishment, that woman had defended against them with merely 3,000 guards.

Her three High-ranking Demon Sorcerers were instantly obliterated by the woman’s Seventh-tier Advanced Magic, [Purgatory], leaving not even ash behind.

The remaining demons were massacred in a one-sided slaughter.

That horrifying scene had been broadcast via a crystal ball to the Demonic Fairy Castle.

The woman’s expression, more malevolent than any demon’s, was something she would never forget.

Yet, for reasons unknown, that absurdly powerful individual had suddenly vanished one day.

The King had dispatched search parties across the entire Imperial Capital, yet not a single trace of her was found.

For a full fifty years, no one had uncovered any clues regarding Freya Elgrandie. Some rumored she had secretly participated in a mysterious, evil ritual and fled after being discovered.

But who could confirm such a tale?

Although fifty years had passed, those who knew the previous generation’s Hero had not all perished, as magic users typically enjoyed much longer lifespans than ordinary people.

All things considered, to approach the Hero, she had no choice but to assume Freya’s identity.

The thought of sacrificing his handsome, true Demon Lord form to become a woman, merely to impersonate that fool’s fiancée, weighed heavily on him.

Freya slammed her fist against the door panel with a fierce scowl.

‘After reincarnation, as the Demon Lord, I possess the ability to reshape my body. However, for the greater good of the demon race, I must make this temporary sacrifice…’

‘Hmph, how detestable. I’ll humor you for a while, you imbecile. Once I have the Holy Sword, I’ll hack you to pieces!’

“What’s wrong?” Roland asked, hearing the noise from behind. Fearing something had happened to Freya, and after reassuring his mother, who was too emotional to speak, he slowly turned around. “Huh? How did the door get broken?”

‘Ah, I accidentally used too much force.’

“Ah…” Freya, guiltily placing her hands behind her back, murmured, “It might be… due to old age and disrepair, you know. Oh dear, this door is so flimsy. What if it accidentally hurts you?”

Old Jenny cast a complicated glance at Freya, opened her mouth, then, noticing Freya’s gaze, quickly said, “I’ll go finish the remaining chores. You two… talk for a while.”

‘Hmph, that old woman knows her place.’

Freya stepped forward, taking Roland’s arm and gazing at him tenderly. “I’ll take you out for a walk first. I can tell you about your past along the way.”

****

A gentle breeze, soft as lamb’s wool, drifted across the small hills around Green Village. Each whisper of wind felt as comforting as a lamb’s lick.

Roland, still weak, lay on a small hillock not far from his home, gazing at the flock of pure white sheep in the distance, his mind awash with thoughts.

“Are you saying… I was a very powerful person before?”

“Not just ‘very powerful,’ you were the strongest person on the entire continent!”

“Hahaha… alright. So, I discovered the kingdom’s corruption and couldn’t bear to help my king oppress his people any longer. After causing a huge commotion in the kingdom, I took you on an adventure, trying every means to overthrow that irredeemable nation.”

Roland paused. “But the wicked Archbishop was too cunning. We fell for his poisonous scheme, lured into an unfamiliar magical ruin, where the Archbishop’s men surrounded us. Our trusted companions—Sword Saint Reid, Archery Master Bright, and Healing Master Willette—were killed.”

“Just as we were about to fight our way out, my s*ave, Setsuna; my attendant, Eve; and my disciple, Clay, betrayed us. We both fell within the magical ruin…”

“Fortunately, for some unknown reason, this ancient ruin, dormant for years, activated itself,” Freya recounted, suppressing her disgust as she lay in Roland’s arms, looking up at him. “Then we were reincarnated here.”

“Because of our reincarnation, our current appearances are different from our past lives… but I still remember you. I could never forget you.”

‘Of course I remember you! You foolish Hero who caused my death!’

“I see… so my name is Roland now, is that right?” Roland gently caressed Freya’s smooth, soft cheek, instinctively wanting to pinch it, but his hand was swatted away.

“Yes, don’t pinch this old man’s… er, my face.” Freya felt herself nearing her breaking point, forcing a smile. “…It’ll cause wrinkles, you know.”

“Alright, hahaha.” Roland stretched, yawning. “Hmm, but I remember the Church saying that the Hero, to prevent the Demon Lord’s escape, personally led the vanguard into the Demonic Fairy Castle and perished with the Demon Lord. That’s different, isn’t it?”

“Hmph, that dog-bastard Church…” Freya’s eyes glinted with unconcealed killing intent. “They merely fabricated that excuse to conceal the fact that *they* killed the Hero. In truth, the Demon Lord had already escaped; the Church found nothing when they went to the Demonic Fairy Castle.”

“I see…” Roland mused, lowering his head. “The Church is indeed despicable. So, what should we do now?”

“Increase our strength, and retrieve the Holy Sword!”

“And then?”

“Then…” Freya faltered, a flush of awkwardness creeping up.

‘And then what? I haven’t thought that far ahead! Good heavens, why are you asking so many questions? Once I get the Holy Sword, you’re supposed to just let me chop you to death! Do you know how hard it was to invent this story? How many brain cells did I sacrifice? Just stop asking so much, you idiot!’

Freya’s mind raced, and she blurted out, “Destroy the evil Church! That’s it.”

“Can’t you be a little more specific?” Roland asked with a wry smile.

“Oh, you foolish… ahem, innocent little Hero.” Freya could no longer bear to be nestled in the idiotic Hero’s embrace, seizing the opportunity to wriggle free. “Let’s not overthink things for now. It’s rare to see you again, and I haven’t truly focused on a plan to deal with the Church.”

Roland pondered for a moment, then suddenly suggested, “So, what if we just… don’t bother with the Church?”

“Huh?” Freya’s mind went blank. “What did you say?”

Roland chuckled naturally. “Anyway, we’re reincarnated now, and the grievances of our past lives are fifty years gone. The Church doesn’t even know we exist. Why don’t we just live a simple life? Plant some crops, herd some sheep, have some children…”

‘Have children…’

‘Have children my ass! I’ve already sacrificed my appearance for this! And now you want me to bear your children?!’

Freya was suddenly assailed by a horrifying vision: herself, unwilling to bear Roland’s child, yet powerless. The idiotic Hero roughly pinning her to the bed, her limbs bound by Divine Punishment chains, watching in terror as the scoundrel slowly pressed down, her desperate struggles utterly useless…

‘Too terrifying!!!’

“That’s horrifying!” Freya shrieked, utterly distraught.

“Huh?” Roland was utterly baffled.

Freya turned, glaring fiercely. “If you dare make me bear children—ahem, no, if you keep indulging yourself like this, not striving to improve your strength, one day the Church will come for us. When that happens, both you and I will die!”

“Is the Church really that powerful?” Roland found it a bit exaggerated. “Surely not…”

“The Church’s eyes are everywhere,” Freya stated with utmost seriousness. “In any case, if you insist on living an ordinary life like this, then there’s no point in me staying here. Let’s part ways amicably.”

With that, she gave him a chilling look and stood up to leave.

‘Hmph, I refuse to believe you’d let your wife walk away.’

One step, two steps, three steps…

Four steps… five steps… six steps…

‘Why isn’t he calling me? No, I can’t look back. If I do, I’ll fail.’

‘Foolish Hero, call out to me now!’

“Freya!”

‘He finally called out to me!’

Freya felt a surge of gratification.

“I’ve thought about it,” Roland said, his gaze fixed intently on Freya’s chest, “I still can’t bear to lose you. Let’s work together, improve our strength, and eliminate the Church!”

‘You idiotic Hero! I truly am defeated by you!’