Being a Demon Lord is Hard, Okay!

“Hah… go on. What news have you brought?”

Vivian let out a long, white breath, looking at the graceful yet frigid Frost Banshees before her as she asked.

Her voice was not loud, but it carried the authority befitting a Demon Lord.

“Well… it’s a bit difficult to say, Lady Demon Lord,” Lorlu’s voice was like the clinking of icicles, crisp yet cold.

“Would you prefer to hear the bad news first, or the good news?”

“…Let’s have the bad news first.”

The lead Frost Banshee, Lorlu, rolled her eyes, then began to be deliberately mysterious with a hint of a sly smile.

After considering for a moment, Vivian decided to hear the bad news first.

“According to our intelligence network, the Rhine Holy Church is currently amassing its forces.

An expeditionary army, led by the Radiant Hero Garen, has already been fully assembled.

They have already set out from their frontline base and are heading straight for your Territory of Evernight, Lady Demon Lord.”

“…Garen?”

Although for a moment upon hearing this news, Vivian had the urge to jump up from her spot, she suppressed her inner turmoil and fell silent, her thoughts drifting back to the night she prepared to flee from human territory.

That man’s bone-deep hostility and hatred for her were indeed real.

‘But is he really organizing an expedition against me with the Rhine Holy Church so soon?

Could it be that Morgos’s side failed?’

‘And why must he cause trouble for me!

What’s with this guy, he’s so annoying!

Doesn’t he know that I, Vivian, the Demon Lord of Evernight, am very busy?

Can’t he go find some other Demon Lord!

Picking on the weak, is that it!?’

‘Damn it, being a Demon Lord is hard, okay!’

Although Vivian’s expression remained unchanged on the surface, inwardly, she had almost fainted from anger.

The current Vivian was, one could say, completely cut off from information.

For ten days, she hadn’t been able to re-establish the intelligence network within her territory, let alone gather external news.

So if it weren’t for the Frost Banshee Lorlu bringing this news, Vivian probably wouldn’t have known about Garen and the Rhine Holy Church’s knights until they were right in her face.

Of course, it might not be that exaggerated, but in any case, if she only found out when they were right under her nose, the losses would certainly be catastrophic.

“You’ve told me the bad news. What about the good news?”

Vivian took a breath and continued to ask the Frost Banshee before her.

“The good news is… in consideration of your past friendship, Lady Catherine has already ordered a grand army to assemble and is preparing to come to your aid.”

‘Oh, that’s not too bad.’

“So, how long until they arrive?”

“At the earliest, it will probably take two months.”

“…”

The air in the tent seemed to be sucked out in an instant.

Vivian fell silent, her expression turning exceptionally cold, a look on her face that clearly said, “Are you kidding me?”

‘Two months?

It’ll be too little, too late!’

‘Calculating from Garen’s departure now, he’ll be at my doorstep in less than ten days!

Two months?

My grave will have weeds growing on it by then!’

“Ahem, of course, they might be able to arrive in a month at the earliest.”

Gazing at Vivian’s almost murderous stare, Lorlu couldn’t help but tremble.

For the sake of her own head, she cautiously added that clarification.

“Please forgive us, Lady Vivian.

Lady Catherine’s military forces are also extremely stretched at this moment, and it is truly impossible to quickly dispatch troops to assist.

But please rest assured, as long as you can hold on, Lady Vivian, there will be a way.

Our subsequent support army will also bring supplies to aid in your reconstruction.”

“At the same time, during this period, our 【Frost Abyss】 squad will be entirely at your disposal, Lady Vivian.”

“…”

Vivian’s expression was uncertain, but after some careful thought, it seemed acceptable.

The other party had no obligation to save her from this disaster in the first place.

Not to mention the promise of reconstruction supplies later, that was already a great kindness.

In fact, the appearance of this Frost Abyss squad was already the ultimate expression of their benevolence.

Without Lorlu’s warning, she would have only found out when the expeditionary army was at her doorstep, and that would have truly been too late.

“I’d like to ask, before I returned to my territory, I personally witnessed the Demon Lord of Rot, Morgos, engage in battle with the Hero Garen.

What was the outcome of their battle?

And how was the Hero Garen able to disengage so quickly to come and attack me?

Could it be that Morgos was defeated?”

“…Regarding that question, Lord Morgos, the Demon Lord of Rot, won a small victory.”

Lorlu was silent for a moment.

“Most of the human army was annihilated, but Lord Morgos was defeated in his confrontation with the Hero Garen—to be precise, the number of Heroes on the other side seems to have far exceeded Lord Morgos’s expectations.”

“I understand.”

Vivian nodded, her gaze fixed on the other party.

To be honest, the squad of Frost Banshees before her were no cannon fodder; they were a genuine elite unit.

And since the other party bore the title of 【Winter Messenger】, she was no ordinary person either—it meant that in terms of diplomatic standing, she was equivalent to the Winter Demon Lord herself, and in terms of strength, she was probably at the same level as Elia.

Within the Demon Clan, one’s position was determined by one’s strength.

To become a Demon Lord, one needed the power, means, and wisdom befitting a Demon Lord.

And to become a Demon Lord’s Head Maid, one also needed corresponding strength.

Similarly, a 【Messenger】 who represented the will of a Demon Lord also needed to possess equivalent strength.

So although their numbers were few, their combat power might very well be greater than all her current squad captains combined.

“…I understand.

You have all worked hard on this long journey.

Elia, take our guests to rest.”

“Yes, Lady Demon Lord.”

Vivian pondered for a moment, then took a breath and spoke.

And at that moment, a cool, unruffled voice sounded like a phantom at the entrance of the tent.

Elia, who had appeared silently outside the tent at some unknown time, spoke.

She stepped silently into the tent, her posture flawless.

After bowing to Vivian, she turned to Lorlu and the others, her face wearing a formulaic, impeccably polite smile.

“Allow me to introduce myself.

I am Elia, the Head Maid of the Lady Demon Lord.

Please follow me.

Temporary resting quarters have been prepared for you.”

“Very well.

Thank you for your consideration, Lady Demon Lord—then, we shall take our leave for now.”

Facing the suddenly appearing Elia, Lorlu showed no great surprise, but instead gave her a perfectly appropriate smile.

Then the squad before Vivian, a total of eight Frost Banshees, followed Elia’s silent steps and left the tent like a moving glacier.

And Vivian was left alone in the tent.

After thinking for a long while, she suddenly spoke out.

“Luna!”

“Aya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya!

Here!

Here!”

The little succubus, whose name was suddenly called, was clearly startled.

With a series of panicked shrieks and a dull “thud,” a petite figure tumbled out of the shadows in the corner of the tent, falling clumsily onto the cold, dirt floor.