I Beg You

“!”

To be honest, for a brief moment, Vivian was truly startled; it felt as if her heart had skipped a beat.

But in the next second, she realized he was speaking the demon language—specifically, the ancient demon language known only to high-ranking and intelligent demons.

Following that, Vivian stealthily observed the reactions of the others.

Coldness, impatience, disgust… nothing had changed from before.

The others present didn’t seem to react at all, apparently mistaking it for a mere groan of pain.

They couldn’t understand!

Vivian’s nerves instantly relaxed.

She immediately calmed herself and, while casting dark magic disguised as a shadowmancy spell, established a connection with the demon before her.

‘You know me.’

Vivian communicated with him on a mental level.

Her voice was cold, direct, and held an unquestionable authority as she questioned her subordinate.

‘…I am the captain of your vanguard scouts. My name is… Gulan.’

Gulan’s mental response was as faint as a candle in the wind, yet it was filled with an indescribable excitement and… sorrow.

‘Gulan. I remember now. Captain of the Third Vanguard Scout Team.’

She remembered him.

He was a taciturn but swift Shadow Demon.

Though not exceptionally talented, he was loyal and diligent, an inconspicuous node in her vast demon army.

‘You still remember me…’ Gulan’s spirit trembled violently, conveying an almost humble gratitude and honor, even in his final moments. ‘This is the greatest honor…’

Vivian’s mana was like a soothing rain.

As she channeled it into him, the demon scout named Gulan’s condition improved slightly, and Vivian quickly found information about this subordinate in her memories.

Like Lunai, he had been an unremarkable member of her demon army, but thanks to her abilities as a Demon Lord, she had some recollection of all the squad captains under her command.

He swallowed with difficulty, then switched to the common tongue that all humans could understand, roaring with a voice hoarse and filled with bone-deep hatred.

“You… you damned apes… you followers of a false god… I curse you! My brethren will tear you to pieces!”

Vivian listened to him, her brow furrowing slightly. ‘Don’t talk. Your condition is terrible. I’ll find a way to get you out.’

Gulan was cursing everyone before him, but in his mental link with Vivian, his voice was completely different.

‘D-Don’t waste your effort, My Lord… I know my own condition very well. The Holy Light has already corroded my internal organs. I won’t live another day… It hurts. It hurts so much.’

‘…’

Even in the mental space, Gulan’s response was so feeble, carrying an almost tearful plea, and Vivian couldn’t help but fall silent.

Because she knew Gulan was right.

Never mind his body, half of which was scorched by Holy Light; his spiritual fluctuations were as weak and flickering as a nearly burnt-out wick.

If Vivian weren’t sustaining his life with her mana, he could die within half an hour, or even at any minute.

And Vivian could do nothing about it, because she was not skilled at healing others.

This made her feel incredibly conflicted.

‘What happened after my defeat? Why are you here?’

After a second’s thought, Vivian decided not to waste any more time.

She suppressed the inappropriate emotions, and her voice in the mental link became colder, harder, carrying an undeniable command as she seized the opportunity to question Gulan for information.

‘After you were defeated, My Lord, the territories and remaining forces, lacking the power of a Demon Lord to command them, were quickly carved up by the other Demon Lords. Everyone had no choice but to find their own way… But those other Demon Lords just treat us as cannon fodder.’

At this point, Vivian could feel Gulan’s emotions flaring up, filled with humiliation and anger.

‘My Lord… My Lord! Please listen to me… Th-Though I know betrayal cannot be forgiven, that abandoning your domain is… an unpardonable sin! But everyone had no choice! Right now, at this very moment, many of your former subordinates are being driven onto this very front line! It’s a suicide mission! P-Please, go back, bring them back… bring them back… I beg you!’

Gulan spoke to Vivian with a pleading tone, while in reality, he began to struggle more violently, spewing even more piercing curses!

“Humans! I curse you… I curse you! May you fall into the eternal demon realm! Damned for all eternity!!!”

‘And… My Lord, I have one more humble request. I have younger siblings at home… I hope… I hope you can look after them a little…’

‘Gulan! What are you doing?!’

Vivian sensed something was wrong and shouted a sharp halt on the mental level—she had keenly detected the resolute, self-destructive tendency in his spiritual fluctuations, but it was too late.

“Ah—!”

With a final, blood-curdling scream, Gulan spat out a mouthful of black blood.

The last faint glimmer of light in his eyes extinguished completely, and his head slumped limply to one side, utterly devoid of life.

Only the twisted, agonized expression remained frozen on his face.

“What happened!?”

“Miss Nannali! What’s going on?!”

“What’s wrong with him?!”

Startled by this sudden turn of events, the human guards jumped up and instantly surrounded her, drawing their blades.

Their gazes, filled with alarm and accusation, were fixed squarely on Vivian.

“Miss Nannali, please explain yourself!”

“…He killed himself. He shattered his own demon core.”

Vivian stood stunned for a moment, then took a step back.

Destroying one’s own demon core.

It was a demon’s method of suicide, but it was an extremely painful one, almost equivalent to a human personally tearing out their own heart with their bare hands.

Gulan hadn’t even been willing to risk exposing Vivian in any way, so he had resolutely chosen to take his own life.

From his perspective, this must have also been a form of self-judgment, a way to atone—a punishment for having switched allegiance after his original Demon Lord was defeated.

‘…Gulan, you fool.’

She gazed at Gulan’s lifeless body, her lips moving silently, letting out a whisper that was almost a sigh.

She was the Demon Lord.

She had ways to get him out of there.

…But what would happen after she saved him?

With injuries like these, unless she used precious medicines or extremely costly high-tier regeneration magic, not even a Demon Lord could save him.

The Holy Light that had seeped into his very bones and corroded his organs was like a potent poison; if it were to be purged, the afflicted organs and marrow would turn to ash along with it.