The Adventures of an Overpowered Knight in Another World

Chapter 721- Battle of Blacktide (5)

They truly believed demons granted gifts without a price. None of them knew how dreadful immortality could be.

Living a long life without fear of death? Of course, she could grant it. However, the moment they dared to accept these gifts, their souls would cease to belong to themselves, and they would become nothing more than obedient puppets.

Living forever as her slaves. Duvessa had no intention of correcting their fantasies. After all, hope was always the sweetest bait.

The chamber gradually fell silent once more. Just as the Council members thought the meeting had concluded, Duvessa, sitting cross legged, idly dangling a high heel from her toes, remembered Mammon’s instructions.

She placed her attention on her loyal slaves again.

"There is one more matter. During your years within human society... have any of you come across women possessing... peculiar abilities?"

The question caught them completely off guard. The Council members exchanged confused glances. Peculiar abilities? What kind of abilities? Healing? Magic? Miracles?

That said, even though they were confused, they did not dare ask. Well, even if they wanted to ask, Duvessa herself did not know. She just relayed Mammon’s instruction without having much hope about actually finding the woman he was looking for.

After several moments of contemplation, one elderly noble cautiously spoke.

"There is... one woman."

Duvessa looked toward him. "Oh?"

"A herbalist. She resides in the mountain settlement of Windy Town and is in her twenties. The people of the town claim that wild beasts never attack her. Some even claimed that they became strangely docile in front of her presence. We originally assumed the stories were exaggerated by isolated villagers and did not give it much thought."

Duvessa silently memorized the information, mulling over it. Could she be the woman Mammon was looking for?

However, this strange power did not seem to be outstanding enough to catch the Seventh Heavenly King’s eye.

"Is she the only one?"

Another council member answered.

"There is also a nun serving at a monastery near Silverlake. Bandits once attacked pilgrims near the area, and the nun caused the attackers to suddenly become unable to move. Of course, it is all just a rumor, but they also described it as though invisible chains restrained them. People of Silverlake and the monastery attribute it to divine intervention, and we never bothered to investigate further."

Duvessa remained expressionless. Could she be the one?

At this moment, as if remembering something, a council member spoke. "Your Majesty, there is another woman who might fit the description. She lives in Blueberry Town, approximately seven days east of the capital. She should be around twenty three years of age"...

"The villagers claim that she can calm any illness with just her presence alone. Children with high fevers have actually recovered after she spent time caring for them. Of course, it could also just be a coincidence and the children’s own natural immunity. But there are also other exaggerated rumors that say she possesses healing skills and has healed all the warriors of the town."

This council member had a lot of interest tied up in Blueberry Town. He owned a large number of hotels, taverns, and transportation businesses. This also included other underworld businesses like drugs and alcohol refining.

He wanted the large field of Blueberry Town, which had excellent conditions for raising these crucial ingredients.

For that reason, he sent many gangs, mercenaries dressed as knights or bandits, and even tried forgery to seize the lands. But in the end, he failed due to the existence of Drystan.

Now that wretched fellow had become the Vice Commander of the Temple of Light, making it impossible for him to make a move.

Silence filled the chamber.

Duvessa thoughtfully tapped a finger against her arm. Three names. There was a possibility that none of the women was the one Mammon was looking for, or perhaps one of them was the one.

She did not care. She just had to show the Seventh Heavenly King her efforts; that was enough. Whether they really captured the woman he was looking for was none of her business.

"Very well, investigate these women carefully." Then, after thinking for a while, she added. "You can put other things aside when investigating these women."

The words caused several council members to look up in surprise. Put aside other things when investigating these women.

Did that mean that this mission had higher priority? Higher than the war. Higher than their current operation.

One of them couldn’t help but ask again. "My Lady... we are already allocating considerable manpower toward..."

Before he could finish, Duvessa’s emerald eyes shifted toward him, causing him to instantly freeze. An indescribable chill ran down his spine.

"I did not ask for your opinion. This is an order. See to it."

Although her voice was soft, every word carried terrifying pressure. They once again realized that the person in front of them, although she looked human, was in fact one of the rulers of demonkind and one of the most powerful demons.

The person immediately lowered himself until his forehead touched the ground. "My deepest apologies. It shall be done immediately."

Duvessa withdrew her gaze and continued with her orders.

"Assign trustworthy investigators and observe each of these women quietly. Don’t let others find you, and especially do not alarm them. I want every detail. Their daily routines, the people they meet, their families, their origins. Even the slightest anomaly about them needs to be reported. If necessary, eliminate anyone who interferes with the investigation."

The chamber became deathly silent. From Duvessa’s orders and actions, they all understood one thing. Whoever these women were, to the demons, they were extremely important.

No one dared question why. Nor did they possess the courage to ask. They simply bowed together.

"As you command."

Duvessa gave a satisfied nod. Excellent.

What Duvessa didn’t know at this time yet was that the woman she was searching for was actually the reincarnation of the fragment of the Goddess of Healing and Love. And the anchor that would decide the outcome of this war.

Even Reinhardt, Aurelia herself, and Mammon couldn’t have predicted that without capturing this woman, he might have actually lost his life in this war.

The power of the Divine Paladin was something that he severely underestimated and paid dearly for. In a way, it could be said that Duvessa had actually saved his life.

The humans continued kneeling before her, their minds remaining occupied by something entirely different. Immortality. That single promise blinded them to everything else. They neither questioned her priorities nor the significance of these unknown women.

Their greed had already chained them far more tightly than any demonic curse ever could.

.

.

Northern Fortress... near the extreme borders of Solaris and the Tainted Lands.

At this moment, inside the fortress, laughter echoed. Large bonfires blazed across the courtyards. Entire oxen and mountain boars were slowly roasted over open flames, their rich aroma drifting through the cold northern wind.

Knights who had survived countless battles finally allowed themselves to relax. Some sat around the fires with mugs raised high; others sang old marching songs that had long since disappeared from the battlefield.

What were they doing? Needless to say, they were celebrating their victory.

And why would they not? All Eight Demon Generals, the nightmares that had plagued the Northern Front for almost a year, had finally all been slain.

Commander Reinhardt himself had personally hunted down two of the remaining four. Their deaths had completely shattered the momentum of the demonic army.

Although the price paid had been immense, this victory gave them hope to endure longer.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the command tent was heavy, a stark contrast.

Mikita looked outside the camp and spoke. "We’ve managed to sustain ourselves by hunting somehow. The hunting parties need to be praised. That said, although our immediate consumption needs have been met, it is not a long-term solution. The mountains only contain a limited number of beasts. More importantly, the spreading demonic energy has frightened most wildlife away."

Bob nodded grimly. "The remaining game is becoming increasingly difficult to locate. At this rate, we’ll soon be forced to reduce everyone’s rations again."

Maynard asked. "Has headquarters responded?"

Everyone looked toward Bob.

"Nothing. The latest request received no reply." The latter answered grimly.

"What about the supply caravans that were supposed to arrive a week ago but were delayed due to bad weather?"

Bob shook his head. "None have arrived. The last confirmed convoy disappeared over a few days ago."

Whether they had been destroyed, delayed, or never dispatched at all. No one knew. But all of them were more inclined towards the last. They were suspecting that someone within the headquarters was deliberately targeting them.

They had even sent a team to keep the supply route clear, thinking that the demons might be at play. However, the team reported that the supply route was safe.

In the end, the only possible answer was the last one.