The Kingdom of Falmuth.
In a dim alley, Mjurran was wrapped in a pitch-black cloak that hid her entire body.
At the moment she was quietly observing the battle around her.
The city where Mjurran now stood had erupted into war; the reason, of course, was that—on Clayman's orders—she had fanned the flames from the shadows.
Fires raged across the city; fighting and slaughter could be seen everywhere.
Heart-rending screams… feeble groans… excited battle-cries… the clamor never ceased, turning this city already steeped in terror and gore even more chaotic—and far more dangerous.
A boy barely in his teens was crouched in the shadow of a street-side wall, clutching a short blade in fear while his eyes darted about.
Suddenly a cold glint flashed; an arrow pierced straight through his chest, and crimson liquid instantly soaked his clothes.
The boy was stunned, but before he could react another shaft skewered his throat.
He struggled, reaching out with his right hand yet grasping at nothing; the breath of death closed in as his eyelids slowly drooped.
His eyes shut little by little, his lips trembling as if to speak, but his throat was already filled with thick blood—he could say nothing more.
Soon a squad of fully-armored soldiers arrived at the boy's corpse.
"Captain, he's a civilian," one soldier reported after examining the body.
"Get this straight: right now there are no civilians in this city. Anyone could be an insurgent, everyone is a suspect. This fellow skulking about is clearly a rebel." The sergeant's tone was ice-cold.
"Understood, Captain."
The soldiers pressed on, searching; anyone even slightly suspicious was their target.
A fresh life had withered, yet no one took notice.
Such scenes played out across the city, while even more butchers ran wild.
What the ignorant humans did not know was this:
Whenever someone died, an indigo soul invisible to ordinary eyes would drift from the corpse and float toward a certain place in the city.
In the end every one of those souls would arrive in the hands of a certain clown… Standing in the gloom, Mjurran watched it all without the slightest ripple in her heart.
After all, her heart had been swindled away three hundred years ago.
Demon Mjurran—"Ring Finger" among Clayman's Five Commanders.
Centuries earlier Mjurran had still been human. She unearthed a talent for sorcery within herself and, alone, secluded herself deep in the mountains to study magic, yearning to reach the pinnacle of sorcery.
Yet the human body has its limits.
Before her dream could be realized, her lifespan reached its end first.
It was then that Clayman, one of the ten demon lords, found her.
"Do you want eternal life…"
"Do you want everlasting youth…"
Under Clayman's coaxing, Mjurran was implanted with the "Heart of Domination."
It is a curse that fuses a rare magical artifact with the subject's mana, transforming the victim into a demon.
Thus Mjurran changed from human into a high-ranking demon who would not age; the price was her freedom.
From that day on she became Clayman's marionette.
Just as she confirmed the mission complete and prepared to leave, a magical message stopped her in her tracks.
(Hmph-hmph-hmph, Mjurran, is the mission going smoothly?)
Mjurran's expression flickered, then returned to normal.
(Lord Clayman, everything is proceeding smoothly.)
(Mm… you've worked hard. Perhaps when you return this time, your heart can be given back to you.)
(Does that mean I'm no longer of use…)
(Haha… how could that be? I hope you can still be of some use.)
(…)
(Keep working hard… surely you won't refuse.)
(I understand…)
(…)
When the call ended, Mjurran's expression was grim.
Though she had long grown used to being controlled, she had never stopped searching for a way to break free of Clayman.
This field operation let her escape Clayman's gaze—something good—but even after so many days she still had not found a way to dispel the Heart of Domination.
Perhaps this was her last chance?
Mjurran murmured something, then turned and left…
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city.
A little loli with seven fluffy tails and a petite blonde fairy looked down at a map with solemn expressions, slowly walking into the chaotic city.
"This should be the Magic Dynasty Sarion, right?"
Kurumi asked Ramiris, who was perched on her shoulder.
"Huh? You're asking me?"
Ramiris looked up, a blank expression on her face.
"Didn't you say you knew how to read a map?"
"O-Of course! I followed the map exactly. This is definitely the Magic Dynasty. We'll be at your house in a few more days!"
Kurumi guaranteed confidently, "The way I'm leading is definitely correct!"
"But it doesn't look like it to me... Isn't the Magic Dynasty supposed to be inside a giant tree of life?"
Ramiris looked at the city engulfed in flames with a suspicious look.
"This... maybe you remembered it wrong?"
Kurumi blinked, feeling a bit guilty.
"Whatever, we'll know once we find someone to ask."
The two of them headed deeper into the city, wanting to find someone to ask where they were.
Strangely, the city gates were deserted, and the streets were in a state of mess.
"Where did all the people in this city go?"
Ramiris looked around.
Just then, a troop of knights suddenly came galloping from ahead.
"Halt! You two..."
A group of guards raised their weapons and closed in on Ramiris and Kurumi.
Kurumi was startled and immediately blocked the way in front of Ramiris, looking at the guards warily.
"What do you want?"
Kurumi shouted, "I'm telling you, don't think I'm an easy target. I'm very strong!"
The captain of the knights looked at the tails behind Kurumi and froze for a moment. "A monster?"
During a rebellion, a monster actually appeared in the city. Looking at the suspicious pair, the captain immediately ordered, "Seize them and take them back for interrogation!"
Kurumi and Ramiris glanced at each other. Then, Kurumi suddenly leaped up and swept her tail, instantly sending the surrounding circle of soldiers flying.
"Hmph! Baffling humans."
What is this?
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