Assisting the Interrogation

To be honest, Vivian wasn’t feeling very well right now.

There was a slight reaction in her abdomen…

It was likely a physical reaction to the scene before her, but regardless, Vivian was doing her best to suppress the surging abhorrence.

Her emotional state, it seemed, would also affect the fetus.

“Oh! I get it, I get it!”

Talan had a moment of realization, a hint of embarrassment and apology on his face.

“Anyone who comes near the frontline outposts for the first time is like this. After all, the corpses of the attacking monsters always have to be dealt with. This blasted place…”

He wrinkled his nose in disgust, kicking away a small, severed limb of some unknown monster that was blocking the path.

“The corpse disposal team, those lazy bones, their efficiency is too low!

They’ve been piled up for days and still no one comes to deal with them!

If we leave them here any longer, never mind the stench, they might actually breed a plague, or attract even more troublesome carrion-eaters!”

“Damn it, is the front line in dire straits while the support staff is taking it easy?”

Grumbling, he signaled for the team to pick up the pace, wanting to leave this extremely unpleasant area as quickly as possible.

After passing through the canyon pass and continuing for some distance, a human outpost came into Vivian’s view.

To be precise, it was a temporary war outpost for adventurers.

“Welcome back, 【Lion’s Shield】.”

There was another adventurer team guarding the entrance of the outpost.

After Talan greeted them, he led Vivian inside.

Adventurers had a mature system for mission rewards and settlements, so when faced with large-scale wars, the Adventurer’s Association and the adventurers themselves were more than happy to get involved, taking responsibility for areas on the peripheries of the battlefield.

“Miss Nanali, you can find a place to rest for now.

By the way, what’s your team’s name?

I can help you look for your teammates.”

“My team doesn’t have a formal name. We teamed up temporarily—I’m an independent shadowmancer, after all. As for the others’ names…”

Talan was still attending to Vivian with enthusiasm, and she, in turn, gave a seamless response.

“Alright, I understand. Then please rest well for now, Miss Nanali.”

“Mm… By the way, do you know where the other Heroes are?”

“The Lord Heroes?

I don’t know. Their missions are classified.

Adventurers like us have no right to ask.”

“Is that so? Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

After the brief exchange, Vivian was allowed to rest in a temporary tent.

At this moment, the little succubus, Lunai, finally reappeared by her side, immediately clinging to her.

“Lady Demon Lord! Th-those damned humans are slaughtering our people like this, shouldn’t you have wiped them all out?”

Lunai was puffing her cheeks, clearly angered by the scene she had just witnessed.

“Sooner or later.”

Vivian glanced at Lunai from the corner of her eye, reaching out to lift her chin, feeling her soft, delicate skin.

“My top priority right now is to avoid the other Heroes and get back to my Demon Lord’s Castle.

All other conflicts should be avoided if possible.

Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“Mmm… I understand, Lady Demon Lord.”

Lunai pondered for a moment, then nodded and said no more.

However, looking at Lunai, who was like a little pet beside her, Vivian couldn’t resist stroking her cheek a few more times.

“But you really do hold quite a grudge against humans, don’t you?”

“Nngh, if you were starved by humans for three days and three nights, Lady Demon Lord, you’d hate them to death too…”

Lunai was languid, even pushing her whole head into Vivian’s palm, letting her stroke her at will, just like a kitten.

“But Lady Demon Lord, do we really need to go through all this trouble…”

“Stability is paramount in all things.”

Vivian continued to scratch Lunai’s cheek.

“I have no desire to be cornered by several Heroes.

You know how Lucia died. Even I would have more losses than wins if I had to face several Heroes at once.”

To be honest, she didn’t really mind Lunai whispering these things in her ear; after all, all demons were like this.

But a little warning was still necessary.

She didn’t need to be told what to do.

However, just as Vivian and Lunai had been resting for a short while, a commotion suddenly erupted outside.

“Lady Demon Lord, someone’s coming this way!”

Lunai exclaimed, and then, just like before, she vanished with a “pop” without a trace.

The next second, Talan walked in.

“Has something happened?”

“We’ve captured a demon scout! Miss Nanali, we need your power to assist with the interrogation!”

“?”

Vivian was momentarily stunned, then she understood.

“Y-you need me for the interrogation?”

Although she understood what was going on, she still pretended to be ignorant in her response.

“Half right.”

Talan nodded.

“You’re the only shadowmancer here.

The captured demon scout is badly injured.

We need you to help keep it alive so we can finish the interrogation.”

“…I understand. No problem.”

After a slight hesitation, Vivian could only nod and agree.

At the same time, she began to regret her decision—perhaps listening to Lunai and crossing the front lines directly was the right choice?

Now things seemed to be getting a little troublesome.

“Take me there.”

“Please, follow me.”

Taking a deep breath, Vivian stood up and followed Talan out of the tent, heading toward another area.

From a distance, she could already see that a large number of adventurers had gathered together.

Vivian followed behind Talan into the room where the captured demon scout was being held.

In an instant, several scrutinizing gazes fell upon Vivian.

Besides a few stronger adventurers, the room also contained priests from the Rhine Holy Church—including the burly priests from Talan’s own team.

“This is the shadowmancer?”

“Is she reliable…”

“Whatever, this one’s about to die anyway. No harm in letting her try.”

The power of Holy Light could naturally heal living creatures, but for its opposite, the demons, it was a deadly weapon.

Conversely, shadow power could effectively sustain a demon’s life and injuries, which was why everyone had sought out Vivian for help.

Because the Miss Nanali she had presented herself as was an independent shadowmancer…

‘Did I just shoot myself in the foot?’

Looking at the scene before her, Vivian thought with some helplessness.

The people in the room exchanged a few quick words, then gestured for Vivian to step forward.

“Miss Nanali, we’ll have to trouble you to keep this demon alive.”

“I-I understand.”

Vivian took a deep breath, stepped forward, and saw a demon, most of its body burned black by Holy Light, tied to a chair with only a single breath left.

And hearing Vivian approach, the demon managed to lift its head with great effort.

“…Lady Demon Lord?”