Why are you leaving again?

A joint operation!

Led personally by the Decaying Demon Lord Moggs!

The Demon Lords exchanged glances,

their eyes swiftly reaching a tacit understanding.

Faced with a threat of this magnitude, unity was the most rational—

and the only—choice.

“Winter Territory agrees.”

“Lava Territory agrees.”

“Shadow Territory agrees.”

“Vault Territory agrees.”

Catherine’s voice cut like an ice blade.

The Demon Lord wreathed in dark crimson arcs spoke with a rumble like subterranean lava surging.

The third, shrouded in twisting shadows, was concise.

The last, whose aura sliced like a storm, followed suit.

In an instant, all eyes refocused on Vivian,

who had yet to declare her stance.

She knew she had no room to refuse—

the Evernight Territory was also a frontline domain.

She had provided the critical intelligence.

If she backed out now,

she would thoroughly offend the other Demon Lords,

and when crisis struck Evernight in the future,

she could forget any aid.

‘…But she really doesn’t want to join!

To be honest, Evernight Territory simply doesn’t have the capacity right now!’

“…The Evernight Territory currently lacks the ability

to participate in joint military operations.”

Vivian spoke slowly, her voice calm.

“My domain has just suffered a catastrophe—

troops are scarce, resources strained.

All strength must go to reconstruction and self-defense.

Diverting forces for an expedition would be tantamount to tearing down our own walls.”

She continued steadily.

The other Demon Lords listened in silence,

neither interrupting nor objecting—

clearly understanding her reasoning.

But they awaited her final position.

“However, I myself, in my personal capacity and name

as the Demon Lord of Evernight,

can join this operation.”

She drew a deep breath,

suppressing her boundless reluctance to part with her daughter Luna

and her worries for herself.

A flash of resolve crossed her crimson demonic pupils

as she responded.

“I will obey Lord Moggs’s unified command—

but only myself.”

“Very good.”

The Decaying Demon Lord Moggs seemed to have anticipated this outcome.

The soulfire beneath his hood flickered faintly, betraying no emotion.

“The Evernight Territory is only beginning to stabilize—

manpower and resources are stretched thin.

I am naturally aware of this.

Your personal participation is already sufficient.”

“Detailed action plans and assembly orders

will be conveyed separately to each of you

via encrypted demon network channels shortly.”

“With that, begin preparations immediately.

Meeting adjourned.”

As his words fell, Moggs’s projection blurred first,

like smoke scattered by wind,

ultimately dissolving completely into the vast energy flow.

The projections of the other Demon Lords nodded slightly in acknowledgment,

then one by one transformed into streams of light and vanished.

—In the end, only Vivian and the Winter Demon Lord’s projections

remained in this empty energy node.

The two female Demon Lords’ gazes met briefly in the air.

Catherine’s ice-blue pupils held their bone-piercing indifference,

yet she seemed to nod—

ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly—

at Vivian,

as if granting cold approval for her choice to join personally.

Then her figure shattered into a flurry of ice crystals

and disappeared without a trace.

Vivian exhaled a turbid breath,

her consciousness swiftly withdrawing

and returning to her body.

—Immediately after, Vivian slowly opened her eyes.

She was still standing in the cold demon network control tower of Evernight.

Outside the tower, the setting sun’s afterglow

filtered through a narrow window,

casting a long, solitary shadow on the floor.

“…Not a moment’s peace.”

She muttered to herself,

rubbing her brow,

her face etched with exhaustion and reluctance.

Aria and Luna, waiting outside with Luna in arms,

hurried forward, concern on their faces.

“Lord Demon Lord, the meeting…”

“Prepare for war.”

Vivian cut her off,

her voice regaining its usual calm and authority,

yet laced with an undeniable gravity.

“I secured the Evernight Territory’s exemption.

But as a Demon Lord, I must join this plan myself.

For the foreseeable future, I cannot remain in Evernight City.”

She spoke slowly.

“Though I don’t know when I’ll depart,

in the coming period,

Aria and Luna—you two must work closely with Lucia

and safeguard Evernight City in my absence.”

“Yes, Lord Demon Lord.”

The two nodded in unison.

“Eee-yah-yah—”

Luna, cradled in Aria’s arms,

clearly understood nothing of what was happening.

Upon seeing her mother Vivian,

she reached out with her little hands as always,

babbling eagerly, her face full of anticipation.

“Can’t help it with you.”

Vivian gave a wry smile,

reaching to take her daughter from Aria’s arms

and holding her close.

The little one immediately let out satisfied giggles,

rubbing her soft cheek against her mother’s.

In the days that followed, Evernight City seemed to return

to its prior rhythm—

calm on the surface.

Vivian handled governance as usual,

reviewing documents,

awaiting Moggs’s orders and plans.

But everyone could sense

the Demon Lord was spending noticeably more time

with the “little princess.”

She carried Luna on walks by the fields,

pointing to distant scenery and murmuring softly.

When Luna napped, she sat quietly by the cradle,

gazing at her daughter’s sleeping face

for long stretches.

She was seizing every moment

before the impending separation of unknown duration.

Of course, during this time,

Vivian also met privately with Lucia

for a one-on-one talk.

“I’ll be away for a while.

While I’m gone, Evernight City will trouble you to look after.”

“…You’re leaving again?”

When Lucia heard Vivian’s words,

surprise flickered in her ice-blue eyes.

She eyed Vivian suspiciously,

arms crossed, looking her up and down.

“…My Demon Lord, what play are you putting on this time?

Don’t tell me you’re pulling another disappearing act—

gone for a month or two, then suddenly back

with another kid in your arms?

Or is the paperwork too much, stress too high,

and you’re looking for an excuse to sneak off

for a long vacation?”

She pouted, piling on the disclaimers.

“Let me say upfront—

though us Frost Banshees have a bit more stamina than ordinary demons,

my energy isn’t infinite!

You’re the carefree shopkeeper here.

Don’t come back in a year or two

to find Evernight City a mess, citizens rioting,

then get mad and kick my head around like a ball!

This job’s too risky—

needs hazard pay… er, extra budget!”

“…You sure talk a lot.”

Watching the Frost Banshee frantically armoring herself with excuses,

Vivian rolled her eyes in exasperation.

“I’ll be straight with you.

This is a joint operation of all Demon Lords.

Evernight Territory lacks the strength to contribute forces,

but as a Demon Lord, I can’t escape—

I must serve the Demon Clan.”