Not Dead!

The following time was rather hectic.

Vivian had to handle the new refugee arrangements, properly managing manpower and other plans. Only after Aria and Lucia efficiently registered the first batch from the Ashen Territory did Vivian’s work truly begin.

Assigning personnel, calculating costs, and reasonably estimating future returns.

For the rest of the day, Evernight City operated in busy yet orderly fashion.

The newly arrived Ashen Territory refugees, like streams merging into a river, needed proper guidance, settlement, and swift integration into this new home.

Vivian sat at her stone desk, buried in work. Beside her, the vibe was entirely different.

On the soft fur carpet, Lucia sat cross-legged, wings folded minimally to avoid bumping anything.

She cradled little Luna—who had just eaten her fill and was full of energy.

The little one seemed fascinated by this “shiny” new “nanny.”

Crystal eyes stared unblinkingly at Lucia, chubby hands grabbing at her flowing silver hair or trying to touch the gentle glow on her face.

She babbled meaningless “eee-ya” syllables, occasionally giggling.

Lucia was clearly in the excited yet nervous “new mom” phase. Her holding had improved since last night but remained cautious. She poured her heart into “interacting” with her daughter.

She condensed tiny harmless light particles at her fingertips, dancing them like fireflies before Luna—prompting excited hand-waving. She hummed ancient, beautiful Church lullabies for soothing infants, in a gentle, rhythmic tone like Vivian’s bedtime ones.

She even tried mimicking Vivian’s eerie demon lullaby from yesterday—singing so off-key she burst into laughter herself, amusing Luna even more.

“Looks like you’ve got real talent as a ‘nanny.’”

Vivian glanced up during a work break, catching Lucia with a face full of baby handprints yet grinning foolishly. She couldn’t resist teasing, tone playful. “Who knew the grand Hero of Light had such a… hm, domestic side?”

Lucia’s cheeks flushed. She lowered her head shyly, gently tapping Luna’s nose—eliciting more gurgles.

“I just… think she’s adorable. And caring for her… calms my heart.”

She said softly, gaze tender on Luna.

Vivian watched, heart stirring slightly.

Perhaps this unexpected child was a new beginning for Lucia too?

She shook her head, dismissing the thought, refocusing on duties.

Refugee settlement was priority. After registration and assignments, she precisely calculated resource consumption from the new population—food, water, housing, tools, medicine…

Every item demanded careful budgeting.

Evernight City’s reserves were better than before but far from lavish—she had to ensure refugees didn’t impact residents’ quality of life, while planning potential value from new labor to offset initial costs.

Vivian’s mind raced, pen scratching notes and clear directives.

Lucia watched quietly beside her.

Just as Vivian approved the final plan for new refugee temporary zones, ready for a breather, little succubus Luna entered.

“Demon Lord, message from the Demon Web. You’re to join the conference with other Demon Lords in one hour.”

Luna delivered the news. Vivian nodded lightly.

“Got it. You may go.”

“Yes.”

After the assassination, as captain of the three-Demon-Lord team, Vivian naturally had to report results. Timing was about right.

After a while, she glanced outside—dusk nearing, time almost up.

“I’m off to the meeting.”

Vivian stood, telling Lucia. “Stay here and watch Luna.”

Last night’s tests confirmed Lucia could be a few kilometers away—beyond that, no. The control tower wasn’t too far, so Vivian planned to go alone.

“Understood. Go ahead.”

Lucia nodded cheerfully, playing with Luna.

Vivian said no more, leaving for the control tower. As usual, she cleared others out, closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, then raised her hand—channeling pure mana into the Demon Web.

“Buzz—”

As mana entered, part of Vivian’s consciousness detached, pulled by invisible force along an energy conduit toward a designated coordinate deep in the Demon Web.

Brief vertigo and weightlessness later, her “consciousness body” reformed in the familiar vast space of immense demonic energy. Other Demon Lords’ projections had arrived first.

【Decaying Demon Lord】 Moggs shrouded in gray tattered cloak, green soulfire burning calmly under the hood, exuding oppressive silence.

【Winter Demon Lord】 Katherine stood tall, frost swirling, ice-blue eyes like eternal glaciers—nodding slightly at Vivian.

【Molten Stone Heart】 Gurem’s projection radiated heat and fury, growling impatiently: “Everyone here? Moggs, start! I’ve got a mess to clean!”

【Shadow Demon Lord】 Sylvester remained silent, a condensed deep shadow nearly blending with the background.

【Azure Sky Demon Lord】 Molly was present but distracted, six wings fluttering faintly, golden eyes wandering. She blinked at Vivian in greeting.

With Vivian, the six Demon Lords from the joint assassination gathered again.

“Good, all present.”

Moggs’ dry, raspy voice echoed, breaking silence. No pleasantries—he cut straight in, green soulfire sweeping the group, lingering on Vivian.

“This summons concerns follow-up to the last joint operation.”

His tone unusually grave. “Regarding Saint Charles’s life or death…”

At the name, all Demon Lords sharpened.

Especially Vivian—heart tightening. She was certain her final strike was lethal, but Moggs’ seriousness stirred faint unease.

Moggs paused, organizing words or observing reactions, then said slowly—

“Per latest intel from our deep infiltrators in the Court of Radiance… Saint Charles did not fully die.”

“What?!”

“Impossible! Gu gu ga ga!”

Azure Sky Demon Lord Molly spoke first. “Evernight Demon Lord Vivian’s final blow—I and Sylvester saw it! Bisected, darkness erosion! Even we Demon Lords couldn’t survive that! How does a human saint?!”

Winter Demon Lord Katherine’s frost intensified, voice icy: “Moggs, intel reliability? Human smokescreen to disrupt us?”

“Damn it! Our frontal feint was wasted?”

Molten Stone Heart Gurem roared—everyone reacted. Even silent Sylvester’s shadow rippled violently.

Vivian frowned deeply.

Not dead?! Charles lives?!

Impossible! She trusted her attack utterly!

Evernight mana enough to annihilate life! How could Charles survive?!

“Quiet!”

Moggs’ low voice carried undeniable authority, quelling unrest.

His green soulfire swept Gurem, Katherine, Molly, Sylvester—finally fixing on slightly pale Vivian.

“Intel cross-verified multiple times—highly reliable.”

Moggs stated firmly. “Charles indeed suffered fatal wounds. Still in the Court of Radiance’s core secret chamber, Rhine Holy Church exhausting resources to save him—in a… liminal, near-death state.”

He emphasized “near-death,” but it offered no comfort.

As long as this 【Player】 lived, massive variables and threats loomed.

“Why?”

Vivian forced calm, voice faintly trembling. “My attack couldn’t fail—unless… unknown life-saving means or external intervention.”

She thought of Charles’s eerie 【Player】 status and system abilities—perhaps enough to save his life.

Damn, should’ve struck more—but they had no time. Lingering risked all three Demon Lords.

Moggs’ hood shadow shifted slightly, soulfire flickering: “Cause under investigation. But confirmed: Rhine Holy Church, especially radicals, sparing no cost to revive him. And…”

Tone deepening: “Shortly after the attempt, a 【Thunder Archbishop】 from the Thunder Church uninvitedly entered the Court of Radiance core, contacting Rhine leadership.”

“Thunder Church?! Humans’ other major sect?”

The news plunged Demon Lords into thought.

Thunder Church and Rhine Holy Church’s subtle relations—what intent in intervening?

“Situation grows complex.”

Moggs summarized, voice heavy with pressure. “Assassination crippled the target but failed ultimate goal—may have alerted them, prompting human factions to consolidate or… deal.”

“Charles remains our clan’s mortal threat—especially his blasphemous ‘angel’ summoning power.”

His gaze swept again, especially Vivian, Sylvester, Molly—the direct assassins: “All, do not relax from temporary success. Monitor humans closely, especially Court of Radiance and Thunder Church reactions. Strengthen domain defenses against reprisals—though Charles lives regrettably, preserving our forces is paramount.”

Moggs spoke slowly, somewhat affirming the trio’s results and Vivian’s judgment.

Losing three Demon Lords would be disastrous. Yet the atmosphere instantly grew gravely heavy—the presumed removed threat persisted, seemingly escalated.

Vivian’s consciousness projection stood still in the space, but inwardly, turmoil raged.

Charles lives… This news impacted her far beyond the others.