Parallel Memory

Chapter 738: The Devil Queen Arrives

The seventh day finally arrived.

Before dawn had even broken over the capital, the city was already awake.

Normally, at such an hour, the streets would still be quiet, occupied only by merchants preparing their stalls and adventurers returning from late-night commissions. Today, however, the atmosphere was completely different.

Thousands of people had poured into the main streets long before sunrise.

Rumors had spread throughout the Human Domain for an entire week.

The successor of the Devil King was coming.

Not as a prisoner.

Not as an enemy.

But as an honored guest.

No matter how many times people repeated those words, they still sounded absurd.

Children sat on rooftops, leaning over the edges to catch a glimpse of history. Merchants abandoned their shops to join the crowds gathering along the royal avenue. Noble families occupied balconies overlooking the main road, while adventurers filled taverns near the assembly hall.

And among the sea of voices, countless opinions clashed.

"A devil entering the capital? This has to be madness."

"What if she’s planning something?"

"Would the War Council allow such a thing if it were dangerous?"

"Of course they would. Politicians only care about politics."

An old veteran leaning against a wall spat onto the ground.

"Peace with devils? I’ll believe it when I see it."

Beside him, his grandson looked up curiously.

"Grandfather, what do devils even look like?"

The old man remained silent for a moment.

Then he sighed.

"Just like us, perhaps."

The boy frowned.

"Then why did we fight?"

The veteran couldn’t answer.

Not because he didn’t know.

But because he had spent his entire life asking himself the same question.

Far above the bustling streets, the bells of the Holy Church rang across the city.

The sound echoed through the capital like a warning.

Or perhaps a prayer.

No one knew which.

***********************************************

Inside the grand cathedral, the leaders of the Church stood in silence beneath the towering statue of the Goddess.

Rows of priests and knights filled the hall, their faces tense.

An elderly bishop slowly stepped forward.

"Today, the bloodline of the Devil King enters the heart of humanity."

The entire cathedral remained silent.

"We do not know whether this meeting will lead to peace or disaster. Therefore, I ask all of you to remember one thing."

His voice echoed throughout the chamber.

"No matter the outcome, the unity of humanity must not be broken."

Several priests lowered their heads in agreement.

Others remained unconvinced.

One of the younger priests stepped forward.

"Your Eminence, do you truly believe peace with devils is possible?"

The old bishop closed his eyes.

"I do not know."

The honest answer shocked many of those present.

For generations, the Church had taught humanity that devils were creatures that could never coexist with mankind.

And yet, after months of endless meetings, even the Church itself no longer possessed absolute certainty.

The bishop looked toward the sunlight pouring through the stained-glass windows.

"That is why we are gathered here."

"To seek an answer."

****************************************************************

Meanwhile, in the headquarters of the Authority, a very different discussion was taking place.

Nobles and officials sat around an enormous table covered in documents.

"The Church is losing influence among the people."

"The guilds are siding with us."

"The merchants support the treaty."

"Then today’s meeting may determine the future balance of power."

A middle-aged noble smiled.

"Perhaps the greatest battle is no longer against devils."

Across the table, another official immediately frowned.

"Watch your words."

The room fell silent.

Everyone understood what the man truly meant.

For centuries, the Church’s authority had originated from humanity’s war against devils.

If peace were to come, that balance would inevitably change.

The Authority saw opportunity.

The Church saw danger.

And caught between them was the War Council.

******************************************

Inside the military headquarters, Commander Rurik stared out the window overlooking the city.

Generals, knights, and commanders stood around him.

One of them stepped forward.

"The eastern district is secure."

"The western district reports no disturbances."

"The adventurer guilds have deployed additional personnel."

Rurik nodded quietly.

Yet his expression remained grim.

A younger commander spoke.

"Sir, are you worried about the devils?"

Rurik slowly shook his head.

"No."

The room fell silent.

"The enemy I fear today wears the same face as us."

No one dared respond.

Because everyone understood exactly what he meant.

If violence broke out today, it would not come from the Devil Kingdom.

It would come from humanity itself.

Rurik exhaled deeply.

"Double the guards around the assembly hall."

"Yes, sir."

"And make sure our men remember one thing."

The commanders straightened.

"Today, their duty is not to win."

"It is to keep peace."

********************************************

As the sun climbed higher into the sky, the tension within the capital only grew.

The royal avenue had become completely packed.

Thousands of citizens stood behind rows of soldiers.

The elite guards of the War Council formed defensive lines along the streets.

Mages stood atop nearby buildings.

Archers occupied rooftops.

For a visitor arriving under the banner of peace, the welcome resembled preparations for war.

At the entrance of the city stood Mia Frostine.

Dressed in the ceremonial uniform of the War Council, the silver-haired heroine looked out toward the distant horizon.

It had been her proposal.

Months ago, when everyone still desired revenge, she had been among the first to speak of peace.

And now, history had placed the responsibility of receiving the Devil King’s successor upon her shoulders.

Behind her stood dozens of elite soldiers.

And standing at the very front of them—

Zero.

Unlike the ornate uniforms worn by the commanders, Zero’s clothing was simple, almost indistinguishable from that of the guards around him.

Yet no one questioned his presence.

Following the special request of the War Council, Zero had accepted the role of temporary commander of the escort unit.

He stood silently, scanning the distant road.

Mia glanced at him.

"You’re surprisingly calm."

Zero shrugged.

"I could say the same about you."

Mia smiled faintly.

"I’m not calm."

"Then you’re good at pretending."

She laughed softly.

"Maybe."

For a few moments, neither spoke.

The noise of the crowd echoed behind them.

Thousands of eyes stared beyond the city gates.

Waiting.

Hoping.

Fearing.

Then—

One soldier shouted from atop the wall.

"They’re here!"

Instantly, the crowd erupted into chaos.

People rushed forward.

Children climbed onto their parents’ shoulders.

Merchants abandoned their carts.

Even the soldiers instinctively tightened their grips on their weapons.

Slowly, a small group emerged from the distant road.

There were no armies.

No banners of conquest.

No terrifying monsters.

Only a handful of escorts surrounding a single young woman.

Whispers spread through the crowd.

"That’s her?"

"She’s so young."

"Is that truly the Devil King’s successor?"

"She looks human."

Lilith walked forward calmly, though her heart pounded within her chest.

For the first time in her life, she stood within sight of the capital that generations of devils had considered their greatest enemy.

And for the first time in history—

Humanity watched the bloodline of the Devil King approach not with swords drawn, but with uncertainty.

The silence became unbearable.

Finally, Mia stepped forward.

Under the eyes of thousands, the Hero of Humanity stood before the Queen of Devils.

For several seconds, neither moved.

Then Mia extended her hand.

"Welcome to the Human Domain."

The crowd held its breath.

Lilith stared at the offered hand.

Slowly, she reached forward and accepted it.

"I thank you for your hospitality."

At that moment, the noise of the crowd completely disappeared.

Some stared in disbelief.

Others frowned.

Many remained silent.

No one knew whether they had just witnessed the beginning of peace—

Or the beginning of another tragedy.

Lilith’s eyes briefly met Zero’s.

Standing among the guards, he gave her a small nod.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Yet somehow, that small gesture calmed her racing heart.

Mia turned toward the city.

"The assembly awaits."

Lilith nodded.

Together, they began walking down the royal avenue.

Thousands of eyes followed them.

The Hero of Humanity.

The Queen of Devils.

And the countless hopes and fears carried on their shoulders.

Above them, the banners of the Human Domain fluttered in the wind.

Ahead of them stood the towering assembly hall.

The great doors slowly began to open.

And for the first time in history, the Devil King’s bloodline stepped into the heart of the Human Domain not as a conqueror—

but as a guest.