Meanwhile, inside the Hawk family manor in the demon capital, a demon was delivering a respectful report.
"But you're telling me the suspension bridge plan failed?"
The speaker was Maro, Chancellor, and one of the three holders of the military magic order. They had it all figured out. Once Silvara was surrounded by the Blue Guild and cornered, young Lord Wynn would ride in with demon soldiers to rescue her, letting him show off his unmatched valor right in front of her and sweep her into his arms over the fallen humans, using the heat of the moment to make her fall for him.
But nobody expected the demons to trigger high spirit and wipe out the entire Blue Guild. Word was that Silvara had even awakened her sovereign power. Their plan was in ruins, and they had no idea what to do next.
Then the man sitting across the room spoke. "The military is in my hands."
It was Hawk, the demon general, also a holder of one of the three military magic orders. With the power he held, he could force Silvara to marry his son right there at court the next morning, and he dared anyone to object.
"Recall my son today. Tomorrow, I march to court and demand the marriage proposal. I always said that so-called suspension bridge trick was nonsense."
At the same time, Silvara was enjoying a luxurious petal bath, her mind still lingering on Gail's boldness. She summoned her handmaiden.
"Bring Gail to me later. I want to reward him properly."
The handmaiden's mind immediately wandered somewhere else. Your highness really knows how to have fun, she thought quietly. "Understood, your highness. I'll go at once."
Silvara had no idea why the girl was so excited.
Meanwhile, Gail sat on a staircase drinking alone. The System notified him that he still hadn't selected his skills or allocated his stat points. Gail snapped.
"Who the hell wants to allocate anything? The stronger I get, the harder it is to die."
He thought it over. He was D tier right now. Dying should be easy, but the humans were too far away. He needed to find someone who could finish the job.
Just then, the handmaiden arrived. "Gail. Gail, your highness is asking for you."
Gail's eyes lit up. "Oh, perfect timing. Quick, you're the only one who can help me. I need you to kill me."
The handmaiden turned red. She never expected the quiet type to be so bold. Guess a few drinks really brought out a different side of him. "But now is not the time. You belong to your highness."
"Gail. For your outstanding bravery during the retreat, I hereby award you the first class medal of valor. From this day forward, you may enter and leave the palace freely. Additionally, you are awarded the warlord's battle set. May it help you become a true hero."
The handmaiden's eyes went wide. That was the previous demon sovereign's sacred battle armor, something even her highness herself had never been willing to use.
Gail's face fell again. What good is any of this to me?
He took the items without a word and turned to leave. Both women found it strange. How could he be this calm about it? Silvara felt her heart flutter.
He's changed so much. That composure of his is something else.
When he stepped out, another holder of a military magic order was waiting for him. The man let out a cold snort at the sight of the armor in Gail's hands. So that was why he had been summoned in the dead of night — to give the previous king's divine armor to some common foot soldier.
All the man did was show a bit of spirit during a retreat. A reward like this should be presented before the entire court. This sneaking around had no dignity befitting a military sovereign. And here he was, having devoted his entire life to the realm, yet Silvara had never spared him so much as a glance. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Was she trying to push him into Hawk's camp?
But the next second, Gail simply held the armor out to him.
The old man was stunned. "What? You're giving it to me?"
Gail thought to himself, what was this old man's problem? He was dead set on dying. What use was this thing to him? Might as well hand it off to whoever was nearby.
"Your highness recognizes your tireless dedication over the years. She specifically asked me to present this armor to you. Please treasure it."
With that, he turned and walked away.
The old man immediately broke down in remorse. Your highness, forgive me. What I was thinking just now — I was no better than a beast. I deserve to be punished. From this day forward, I will give everything I have.
Gail concluded that getting killed here was hopeless. These demons were surprisingly tight-knit. He needed a different way to get himself killed. Then he noticed someone who stood out, and he heard that they were making a move tomorrow. He decided to stick around one more day. When he heard it was a forced marriage proposal at court, he couldn't help himself. There was no way he was sitting this one out.
The next morning, court was in session. Gail hadn't expected demon court sessions to drag on this long. Just get to the point already.
"Your highness, you have honored the demon sovereign's memory with three years of mourning. Your return to the great hall today is truly cause for celebration. The human army a hundred miles away has been stirring constantly. It is only thanks to the general that we have not lost a single city."
Silvara agreed. General Hawk truly was remarkable. A veteran of three reigns, he had led the military in defense of the Dusk Realm all this time. He deserved a generous reward.
Hawk had been waiting for exactly that.
"Since your highness is so gracious, there is indeed one thing this old servant desires. Wynn, come forward. Please, your highness, grant my son a marriage. After all, the two of you did grow up together."
Silvara perked up with curiosity. It's been three years. Has Wynn found someone he likes?
But the general's next words hit her like a bolt of lightning.
"Please, your highness, marry my son, Wynn."
She hadn't expected to suddenly become the subject of her own gossip. "General, please don't joke about such things. Wynn and I are not—"
"Whether you like each other or not is beside the point. When it comes to the greater good, everything else takes a backseat. In a thousand years, no woman has ever sat on the demon throne. The people are talking. Faith in the Dusk Realm is crumbling."
The way he spoke, a stranger might have thought he was the one wearing the crown.
"Once you take the throne, unrest will follow. Marrying Wynn would silence the doubters."
A number of courtiers nodded along, finding the general's argument compelling, and young Lord Wynn was undeniably impressive. Weston thought this was complete nonsense. That excuse was paper thin.
Silvara was at a loss for words.
Gail sensed his opening and flashed a grin. He stepped forward and grabbed Silvara's hand. "Don't let this old man bully you into anything. Everyone has the right to choose their own happiness."
Silvara felt her face flush under his gaze.
"Who gave you the nerve to speak out of turn in front of your superiors?"
Weston recognized him immediately. It was the young man who had delivered the armor to him the night before.
"I'm sorry, General. I just—"
"I have devoted my entire life to the Dusk Realm. As the only general to have been personally granted a military magic order by two successive demon sovereigns, honored before the entire court, I strongly advise your highness to think very carefully before answering."
That was a naked threat. Hawk's expression had turned murderous. A guard drew his bow.
"How dare you? Is this a coup?"
Weston stepped forward. "Hawk, watch yourself."
Hawk laughed coldly. "The entire military answers to me. I'd like to see who dares make a move."
"Everyone stand down. The general makes a fair point. I accept."
Gail wasn't having it. Nobody was going to get in the way of his death. He burst out laughing.
"Just like that, you're just going to roll over? You didn't inherit a single drop of your father's imperial spine. What's so scary about this guy?"
Hawk exploded with rage. "You insolent little— when did anyone ask for your—"
He never got to finish. Gail spat right in his face.
A public insult like that. Hawk's fury ignited completely.
"Three reigns of loyalty, you say? Think carefully. Who gave you that military authority in the first place? Think no one can touch you now? You're nothing but a dog with a badge, throwing your weight around. Even setting everything else aside — she is the demon sovereign above all others, with looks that could stop an army. What exactly does your son bring to the table? Is he even worthy?"
"What garbage? Who in this world is more worthy than me?"
Just like that, Gail had redirected the man's entire rage onto himself. Gail struck a pose and said with a smug grin, "Why, that would be me, of course. Between you and me, the two of us already made a private vow to each other a couple of days ago, in the caves."
He figured at this point there was no way Hawk wouldn't try to kill him.
Two people in the room had particularly priceless expressions. The crowd broke into whispers. None of them had ever heard of Gail before. Silvara was deeply moved. For her sake, he had gone this far.
Hawk trembled from head to toe, forcing the words through clenched teeth. "You have a death wish."
"Then do it right here. Come on, kill me if you've got the guts."
"Insulting a general in open court and disgracing your highness. Those are capital offenses. I'll give you exactly what you're asking for."
Nobody expected Hawk to open with his ultimate, Nuclear Arrival. There was no time for anyone to intervene. The blow landed squarely in Gail's gut, but it wasn't what anyone expected.
He was smiling.