Picnic

Even though the newly built council hall had taken on a massive share of daily governance, and Vivian had successfully filled the new administrative posts with the first batch of accelerated graduates from Evernight Academy’s night classes, she didn’t feel her workload had lightened at all.

If anything, she was still just as frantically busy as before.

Strategic direction, breakthroughs in technical bottlenecks, managing external powers, and the countless critical decisions only a Demon Lord could make—those invisible chains still bound her tightly to the runaway chariot that was Evernight City.

After days of relentless overwork, even Her Majesty the Demon Lord felt exhaustion seeping into the depths of her soul.

Finally, on a rare lazy afternoon when sunlight filtered softly through the clouds, Vivian stared at the mountain of documents awaiting approval and the magic slate on the wall crammed with schedules. She slammed her pen down on the desk and declared a strike.

“I’m done. Absolutely not working today!”

Rubbing her throbbing temples, she returned to the tent.

“Let’s go on a picnic.”

She looked straight at Lucia and Luna and announced it without preamble.

“Huh? A picnic? You’re sure?” Lucia blinked in surprise at the sudden proposal. “There’s so much territory business right now…”

“The sky isn’t going to fall!” Vivian shot back decisively, a hint of grievance in her voice. “There’ll always be more documents, always more problems, but we can always squeeze out time to rest!”

She stretched luxuriously and let out a long breath.

“If I keep going like this, I’ll be buried alive under paperwork long before any Hero or player gets me! I’m a Demon Lord, not a god—I need to recharge… I mean, I need rest! Besides, I can’t even remember the last time I spent a whole day just playing with Luna. She’s learned new words lately, and I haven’t had the chance to hear her say them.”

“Picnic! Picnic!”

Hearing the exciting new word—though not fully understanding it—little Luna instantly scrambled up from the floor, waving her tiny hands and copying Vivian’s tone in her milky voice.

“Luna wants picnic!”

“See? Even our daughter is excited.”

Laughing, Vivian scooped Luna up, lifted her high overhead, and spun her around. The little girl let out peals of bell-like laughter.

“Majority rules. It’s decided. We’ll go to the Evernight Forest nearby. The scenery’s nice, it’s safe, and Luna hasn’t left the city even once yet.”

Seeing the eager looks on both mother and daughter, Lucia finally nodded with a smile.

“Fine. If you’re both that excited, I’ll go prepare some food?”

“No need to go overboard,” Vivian waved a hand. “I’ll have the head chef throw together something simple. It’s a picnic—the atmosphere matters, not a gourmet tasting.”

“Works for me.”

Lucia agreed. Half an hour later, the three of them set off lightly packed, carrying a large basket of food.

As’s Shadowmoon wolf pack had wanted to shadow them for protection, but Vivian refused. With two of the continent’s strongest beings present, who could possibly cause trouble right under their noses?

She thought confidently.

The Evernight Forest lay southeast of the city—an ancient woodland steeped in centuries of Evernight mana.

It looked utterly different from the outside world: towering ancient trees bore leaves of deep violet rather than green, glinting like metal and stained glass under the sun.

Glowing ferns and flowers dotted the clearings, turning the dim forest floor into something out of a dream.

“So pretty!”

It was Luna’s first time leaving Evernight City. Riding on Vivian’s shoulders, she stared wide-eyed with those white-purple eyes so like her mother’s, pointing excitedly at the luminous leaves.

“Mommy, the trees are glowing!”

“Yes, because they absorb mana,” Vivian explained. “Just like you can control mana, these trees store it too.”

“Can Luna make trees glow too?” the little one asked, tilting her head.

“When you’re a bit bigger, maybe we’ll try,” Vivian chuckled, setting her down and ruffling her hair.

They stopped in a wide, sunny glade. A clear brook babbled nearby, surrounded by colorful magical plants that gave off soft, gentle light—like a scene from a fairy tale.

“This spot’s perfect.”

Vivian spread out the picnic blanket and arranged the food: demon beast sandwiches, local berries, delicate little pastries.

Lucia had also brought a pot of floral tea she’d recently learned to brew—it tasted wonderful.

“Mommy, Luna go play!”

After wolfing down a tiny sandwich, Luna pointed eagerly at a cluster of especially bright blue glowing mushrooms, eyes shining with curiosity.

Though not yet one year old, thanks to her demon bloodline she had grown astonishingly fast—already bigger than a two-year-old human child and able to walk and trot confidently.

“Don’t go too far. Stay where we can see you, and absolutely no eating anything strange.”

“Okay!”

With permission granted, Luna bounced off happily.

Watching her daughter’s joyful back, Vivian and Lucia exchanged warm smiles and sat side by side on the blanket.

“You haven’t looked this relaxed in ages,” Lucia said softly, pouring two cups of pale golden herbal tea and handing one to Vivian.

“You’ve been working yourself to the bone lately. You’ve even lost weight.”

Vivian accepted the cup and took a sip.

The tea was sweet and calming, easing her frayed nerves a little.

“I’m fine. At least I haven’t dropped dead from overwork… I mean, collapsed from exhaustion.”

“You have too,” Lucia said seriously. “You handle paperwork until deep into the night, then you’re up again before dawn reviewing reports and inspecting projects.

I know a Demon Lord’s body is extraordinary, but mental fatigue is real. Look—your dark circles are almost darker than your eyeshadow.”

Vivian unconsciously touched beneath her eyes, took another sip, and gave a wry smile.

“No choice. There’s just too much to do, and we’re at a critical stage. One misstep and everything could collapse.”

“I understand,” Lucia said gently, then softened her voice further. “I just want to say… you don’t have to carry every burden alone.”

Vivian turned to her, saw the concern and tenderness in those eyes, and paused.

“Thank you,” she said sincerely, exhaling slowly. “But honestly, having you here makes everything feel so much lighter.”

For a while they sat in comfortable silence, simply enjoying the rare undisturbed peace.

Birds and forest creatures called softly called. The brook murmured. A breeze rustled the treetops with a gentle shhh—everything was serene and soothing.

“Vivian,” Lucia said suddenly, “have you ever thought about what you’d do… if one day everything finally settles down?”

“Settles down?” Vivian considered, thinking of her ideals, the world’s secrets, the transmigrators and players lurking behind the scenes.

She smiled bitterly.

“That’s probably still far away. But if that day ever comes…”

She gazed at Luna playing in the distance, a tender smile curving her lips.

“I want to spend proper time with Luna. Watch her grow up, teach her all sorts of things, and then… live an ordinary life.”

“An ordinary life…” Lucia repeated softly. “What would that be like?”

“Hmm…” Vivian thought seriously. “Waking up in the morning, making Luna breakfast, taking her to the academy.

Then the two of us wandering around the city, shopping a little. Picking her up after classes, going home to cook dinner together.

After eating, the three of us sitting together, chatting, telling stories.”

She laughed self-deprecatingly.

“Sounds pretty mundane, right? But that’s the simple happiness I crave.”

“It’s not mundane at all mundane,” Lucia whispered. “That kind of life… I once thought I’d never have it.”

“Before I became the Hero of Light, every day was fighting, praying, carrying out the Church’s missions. I never imagined I could have a home of my own.”

She turned to Vivian with a grin.

“Though it took all sorts of coincidences… I think the life we have now is pretty wonderful.”

“Same here. If only you hadn’t come to decapitate me back then.”

“Hey… you’re still bringing that up.”

The two looked at each other and burst out laughing.

“Mommy! Mommy! Look!”

Luna’s excited shout rang out.

They turned to see her chasing a glowing little creature—something like a firefly, but larger and far more radiant.

She chased enthusiastically while the light-bug playfully darted high and low, as if playing along.

“Careful, don’t fall!” Vivian called, smiling.

“I won’t!”

Luna laughed back and kept chasing.

Both mothers’ expressions softened.

“She really loves it here,” Lucia said.

Vivian nodded. “Yeah. When we have time, we’ll bring her out more often. Kids should be close to nature.”

“Mhm.”

They continued watching Luna play, occasionally exchanging quiet words.

That afternoon held no paperwork, no enemies, only warmth and peace—one of the most relaxing moments Vivian had known since arriving in this world.

Several hours slipped by unnoticed. The sun began to set, bathing the forest in gentle, hazy light.

“Time to head back,” Vivian said first, standing and brushing off her skirt.

“If we stay longer, the more aggressive nocturnal beasts will start prowling. Not that we’re scared, but it’d ruin the mood.”

“Luna, time to go home!” Lucia called.

“Okaaaay—”

Though clearly reluctant, Luna obediently stopped chasing and trotted back, looking over her shoulder every few steps, her little face full of longing.

“Mommy, can we come again?”

“Of course,” Vivian said, rubbing her head with overflowing affection. “As long as you’re good, we’ll come often.”

“Yay!”

Luna jumped for joy.

The three packed up, the basket now much lighter, and headed home.

The setting sun stretched their shadows long across the path as the three walked back toward Evernight City, laughing and chatting the whole way.