Chapter 234: Meeting the Sixth Demon General—Reyna
In the meantime, in the Outer Palace Courtyard…
*Buzz!*
Through the large teleportation portal stepped a handsome man in a stunning white robe and a beautiful woman in a maid’s dress—Leon and Lyra. As they emerged, the portal slowly dimmed and vanished.
“Is this the outer palace?” Leon inquired, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings with a sense of awe.
The outer palace was where the entire governmental structure of the Demon Race was managed. Unlike the inner palace, reserved solely for the Demon Emperor and their family, this palace housed high-ranking demons who assisted in running the government, including the eight Demon Generals.
Moreover, the outer palace was vastly larger than the inner palace, ensuring that anyone seeing it for the first time would be awestruck.
‘I didn’t expect I’d finally see this palace in person,’ Leon murmured with a soft chuckle.
In the past, Leon had longed to visit this palace, as it held a deep historical connection to the First Demon Emperor, Amon Crimson.
As someone who was passionate about reading and driven by curiosity, the history of the outer palace was a treasure he yearned to explore.
Unfortunately, given his status as both a human and a hero, he had resigned himself to the fact that this dream was unattainable.
Yet now, seeing his dream come true, he feels a profound sense of joy and fulfillment!
Upon hearing Leon’s question, Lyra nodded slightly, her gaze remaining indifferent.
“Yes, Your Majesty Leon, this is the outer palace,” she replied calmly.
Leon responded with a small nod and a faint smile as he slowly retrieved a black mask from his robe pocket and put it on.
Lyra watched with a hint of puzzlement and curiosity as Leon donned the mask.
“Your Majesty Leon, what are you doing?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.
“Going undercover, of course,” Leon responded casually.
“Undercover?” Lyra’s eyes widened, clearly surprised.
Nodding slightly, Leon adjusted the black mask over his handsome face and explained calmly, “You’re aware of my status as a sword hero, right? Well, since we’re in the outer palace, I need to wear this mask to avoid being recognized by the demons.”
In the past, he had frequently led human troops against the demon forces in various wars, which made him realize the need to remain vigilant in the outer palace.
Even though he wore a half-face mask that concealed most of his features and felt confident that the demons wouldn’t recognize him, he couldn’t afford to let his guard down.
After all, despite his confidence, he couldn’t entirely rule out the possibility that a demon might have seen his true face without his knowledge.
So, rather than taking a risk, it was wiser to eliminate that possibility entirely.
Listening to Leon’s explanation, Lyra finally grasped his reasoning but still felt a twinge of hesitation and curiosity.
“Your Majesty Leon, may I ask you something?” she inquired.
“Of course,” Leon replied, giving a slight nod.
Lyra looked down as if contemplating, then raised her gaze to ask, “When Merlin came to the inner palace and fought with you, he didn’t recognize you, did he? So, do you still need this mask?”
Leon chuckled softly, crossing his arms as he replied, “In hindsight, only you and Liliana are likely to recognize me as a sword hero. However, it’s wise to stay cautious and be prepared for any unforeseen possibilities.”
Lyra, taken aback by Leon’s explanation, couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration as she responded, “You’re absolutely right, Your Majesty Leon.”
As an archdemon, she was the strongest after the Demon Emperor, which fueled both her pride and arrogance, leading her to look down on anyone she deemed weaker.
Yet Leon’s advice to remain vigilant and consider all possibilities had genuinely enlightened her, tempering her arrogance with a newfound sense of caution.
‘With this kind of mindset, it’s no wonder His Majesty Leon possesses such formidable strength, comparable to Her Majesty the Demon Emperor, at such a young age…’ Lyra praised him to herself, a slight smile gracing her lips.
Unfortunately, what Lyra didn’t realize was that Leon’s cautious mindset was the result of trauma from a magic potion Rain had given him—the devouring poison that had devastated his life in a single night.
If she were to notice, she might immediately retract her praise with a small sigh and remark, “Your Majesty Leon, you’re truly quite careless!”
The two then continued their conversation, strolling toward the site where the reconstruction of the teleportation gate connecting the outer palace to the Desert of Chaos was in progress.
“Lady Lyra? Is that really you? Good morning! It’s unusual to see you here in the outer palace at this hour!”
As the two were engrossed in their conversation, a woman’s voice suddenly called out from behind them, making them stop in their tracks.
Turning around, they saw a strikingly beautiful woman in a loose red gown with a black pattern, her long black hair adorned with a black ribbon, approaching them with a wave and a smile.
Leon’s expression behind the mask shifted subtly, revealing deep astonishment as he took in her appearance.
“Reyna? Damn it! How could I be so unlucky as to run into this bitch?” Leon exclaimed inwardly, his face showing a rare and unmistakable sign of nervousness.
The beautiful woman approaching them was named Reyna, the sixth Demon General among the eight, notorious for her infamous nickname, the Deadly Rose.
She earned her nickname not for extraordinary strength like Merlin, the first Demon General, or for terrifying magical power like Lilith, the second Demon General, but for her exceptionally potent “Captive and Charming Magics.”
Anyone exposed to her enchanting magic would fall into a deep and nearly inescapable illusion.
In the past, he had been ensnared by her magic, nearly trapping him forever in the illusion crafted by her charming enchantment magic.
Fortunately, he was able to use the power of his hero destiny to escape and survive.
As a result, among all the Demon Generals, he was most wary of her, without a doubt.
Meanwhile, Lyra, standing beside Leon, was completely unaware of his agitation; her attention was fixed on Reyna, who had stopped right in front of them.
“Good morning, Reyna. I came to check on the teleportation gate issue, as usual,” Lyra replied with her characteristic flat expression. “By the way, what brings you here? You’re not usually around, are you?”
Reyna smiled at the question, giving a small nod while twirling her hair with a shy and endearing expression.
“Well, I just wanted to come take a look,” she replied with a light tone.
Lyra raised an eyebrow suspiciously but decided not to press the matter.
The two exchanged brief pleasantries until Reyna’s gaze inadvertently shifted to Leon, who had been silently standing beside Lyra.
“Hmm? Lady Lyra, who is this man?”
Hearing this, Lyra hesitated for a moment, glancing at Leon with a hidden look of uncertainty.
‘How should I handle this?’ she wondered inwardly.
Given Leon’s special status, she couldn’t simply introduce him truthfully, could she?
As Lyra grappled with the dilemma, Leon quickly cleared his throat and spoke up.
“Ahem! Hello, beautiful lady. My name is Jack Lawson, and I’m a friend of Lyra’s. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Leon introduced himself, placing his right hand on his chest and giving a slight bow toward Reyna.
Upon hearing his introduction, both Lyra and Reyna were taken aback, with Reyna blinking in astonishment.
“Jack Lawson? A friend of Lady Lyra?” Reyna frowned, casting a puzzled glance at Lyra.
Though she and Lyra were not particularly close, Reyna felt she knew enough about her personality to find this introduction unusual.
Lyra, an archdemon and the personal maid of the current Demon Emperor, was renowned for her indifferent nature and expressionless demeanor.
As a result, many demons in the outer palace viewed her as an emotionless figure because of her consistently flat and unchanging expression.
Now that this unknown man has introduced himself as her friend, it’s no wonder she’s surprised.
After all, she was certain that someone as aloof as Lyra would find it nearly impossible to have friends.
Leon slowly lifted his head and gave a slight nod, replying in a calm voice, “Yes, I am indeed a friend of Lyra. Is there a problem?”
Reyna seemed taken aback by the question but quickly replaced her expression with a thin, seductive smile.
“Well, there’s no real problem,” Reyna said with a calm tone, as though she felt no remorse. “I was just surprised that Lady Lyra could have a friend.”
Upon hearing her blunt words, Leon felt a strong urge to slap her.
“Huh, patience,” he muttered, taking a deep breath to calm his frustration. “I can’t lose control in front of her; otherwise, I’ll give myself away.”
As a charming and refined gentleman, he was committed to the principle of never striking a woman without cause.
However, he felt that this principle did not apply to Reyna, whose sly nature and venomous remarks made him want to hit her every time they met.
Meanwhile, Lyra, upon hearing Reyna’s words, remained entirely unaffected. In this life, she had no need for friends; her sole focus was to assist Her Majesty the Demon Emperor, Liliana.
“Reyna, in that case, I’ll head to the teleportation gate reconstruction site,” Lyra said indifferently, then turned to Leon and added, “Let’s go.”
Leon nodded slightly and was about to leave with Lyra when Reyna suddenly stopped them.
“Lady Lyra, could you please hold on for a moment? I need to discuss something about the teleportation gate.”
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