The Demon Saint is Missing, so I Ran to Another World

The Condition of the Ghouls (Part 1)

***Castle Darkmoor***

The Lord Haya might seem to spend most of his time with his sister, but he would still show that he was in control, occasionally. In the aftermath of the castle explosion and subsequent escape of two of Castle Darkmoor's servants, he had the rest of the household maids be put to death to serve as an example to those who were thinking the same. Then, he replaced them with new servants, pressed into service even though it was against their will—as well as Princess Noir's protests. Once he was satisfied with his arrangements, the Lord Haya returned to his impassive, casual self.

With the four other clans of Cherflammen fighting each other, he was in no hurry to intervene. His strategy was to wait and see who wins, and bear the entire strength of his army and supporters on the exhausted winner.

"..."

But, for that to happen, he needed to gather his supporters once again. Ever since his 'Knights' unexpected defeat at the hands of Princess Noir, the Lord Haya had always prepared for his eventual return. He was their father's original 'heir', anyway, and his sister only usurped the throne from him after she returned from her 'trip' in Chersea. Their servants would always say—especially that Shevaun Ilkes—that his beloved Noir, who always clung to him when she was young, fell in-love with a human.

The Lord Haya didn't believe it, at first. When her mother died, Noir looked to him as her beloved big brother, and she meant his whole life for him.

"..."

Yet, as he only realized now, that human...that Lord Greg Santos...he took Noir away! Dirtied her mind. Destroyed her innocence! Claimed her heart!

Unforgivable!

So, just as he watched and waited at the sidelines while the conflict between the orcs, goblins, Tambaras and Biornos raged, the Lord Haya had to prepare as well. His vision of a stronger demon people through the blood of humans remained the same, and he would make sure that his dream for this land would be fulfilled...all for the sake of his sister, a halfling herself.

"Milord," an elf soldier came to the Lord Haya and handed a letter. It was from one of his allies, among those hiding and scattered all over Cherflammen and waiting for his return. In the letter, a supporter informed him of their army's arrival, marching from the Blighted Lands region.

"Open the gates for them once they arrive," was his order to the elf, meant for the city militias of Darkmoor. As he never trusted a fellow Usarved after his defeat, elves now dominated the higher positions of the demon city. Of course, he was aware that his own people never liked bowing to someone else, much more from those of another race. But, they had no choice other than to obey.

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**Greg**

We set out for our next destination after spending one more day with the Tambaras.

"..."

I wanted to rescue the Princess Noir, and put an end to this senseless conflict, once and for all. However, with our current strength, the only thing I would accomplish would be our deaths.

Of course, I couldn't possibly let that happen. A dead soldier was useless in battle, no matter how much sacrifice he has made. So, in order to fulfill what I promised, I had to take control of my emotions, and use reason...even if it may seemed to be 'heartless' at the moment.

Having determined that our journey could have 'unnecessary' but 'dangerous' risks, we divided our forces. One group would stay in Fangborough to await our reinforcements from Goblinhom, while the rest of us ventured into the desert. The effect of this strategy was two-fold; this would not only preserve half of our initial strength, their presence there was a symbolic gesture to the Tambara clan that the allied Goblin, Orc and Usarved (the ones loyal to Princess Noir) forces were willing to fight and protect them, even as they had their own military.