Chapter 6
Whooosh—
Each time the wind blew, dry weeds and dust swirled into little clumps that tumbled across the ground.
“Is this the most run-down edge of your territory?” Ariella asked.
Ludwig raised an eyebrow like she’d said something ridiculous.
“No? Why would I teleport to a far-off corner of my own land?”
He had a point.
‘Still… this place is really…’
Everywhere she looked, it was plain and pitiful.
The roads were overgrown with weeds. Rusted tools and broken carts were lying around.
There were a few houses, but they looked abandoned—more like old ruins than homes.
Windows were broken, and the roofs sagged dangerously.
As Ariella stared at one of the houses, Ludwig spoke.
Like he already knew what she was thinking.
“Don’t worry. I don’t live there.”
Not that she had been worried about that in the first place.
But honestly, no one should be living in a place like that. It didn’t seem safe or clean.
“Those are the homes of the kobolds who farm this land.”
Ariella gasped.
“You mean… people actually live in those?!”
She wasn’t shocked because she was a spoiled princess.
Back in her home kingdom, houses like that were torn down before they could become hideouts for criminals or squatters.
To think such buildings stood in the center of a Demon King’s domain—and people lived in them?
That was… a serious problem.
“Let’s go.”
Unlike earlier in the human realm where they flew everywhere, Ludwig began walking. Ariella followed behind.
They hadn’t walked long when—
Screams. Loud ones. Angry shouts. Frightened cries.
“What the—?”
Ludwig’s expression hardened.
Then Ariella saw what was happening.
A group of kobolds were running for their lives.
And behind them were—orcs?
The kobolds shouted:
“Orcs! Orcs are attacking!”
“Run for your lives!”
It looked like they had been working in the fields.
Now, they had dropped everything and were fleeing in a panic.
About twenty orcs were moving in formation.
Half of them waved axes and swords, causing chaos.
The other half carried sacks, scooping up crops and supplies.
Ariella asked urgently,
“They don’t live here? Why are they attacking?”
Ludwig replied calmly,
“Those orcs live separately. They don’t follow the Demon King’s rule. Every harvest season, they come here to raid my land—just like now.”
He scowled and raised his hand. A sword appeared out of thin air.
“Wait here. I’ll deal with those pests.”
And he charged toward the orcs.
He didn’t use fire this time—maybe because he didn’t want to burn the crops.
As soon as the kobolds saw him, they cheered.
“It’s the Demon King!”
“He’s here to save us! We’re safe!”
Meanwhile, the orcs froze in shock.
“The Demon King?! No way! He’s supposed to be on vacation!”
“Didn’t they say he was gone? How is he already—AAARGH!”
Ludwig’s sword slashed like lightning.
Each time it flashed, another orc fell.
While Ludwig fought, the fleeing kobolds spotted Ariella.
“A human?”
“Yep. Just a human. See?”
“But… why is a human here?”
“Hold on. I have a question first.”
Ariella’s head was full of questions.
She couldn’t help herself.
“Orcs eat meat, right? So why are they stealing crops? They can’t even eat them.”
Her tone was so confident, the kobolds automatically answered.
“…You’re right. They don’t eat the crops. They steal them to sell in other Demon King territories.”
Strangely, the kobold even used polite speech.
She was just a human, but something about her made them nervous—like she carried authority.
“Wait. Orcs are smart enough to make deals?”
“Of course! They’re very sneaky.”
“Then… why do they trade in other lands but attack this one?”
Ariella’s mind worked quickly.
“Is it because this place is too weak to defend itself? Or maybe there’s nothing here the orcs want to trade for?”
The answer was—both.
The orcs had been raiding Ludwig’s domain for years.
They knew it had little defense.
And they had no reason to trade here.
They wanted things like fine weapons, medicine, alchemy tools, and magical items—things this domain didn’t have.
There were barely enough resources for the locals.
No surplus to sell or trade.
‘So they’re basically surviving with nothing extra at all.’
The Demon King himself had to step in as a soldier, fighting off bandits.
As Ariella watched him swing his sword, she thought:
‘This is… not looking good.’
Ludwig finished off the last orc and returned.
It didn’t look like he’d used any magic at all.
‘So he’s really skilled with a sword, not just magic…’
His breathing didn’t even change.
Together, they headed toward the castle, while the kobolds bowed repeatedly behind them, shouting thanks.
As Ariella gathered her thoughts, they reached the castle.
‘Just as I feared.’
The castle was… tiny.
About the size of the smallest royal outpost back home.
At the gates, demon soldiers stood guard.
But something felt off.
They were chatting casually—until they spotted Ludwig and stood at attention.
“Oh! You’re back already, Lord Demon King!”
“Wait… do I smell… a human?”
“A new servant, maybe?”
“No way. The Demon King isn’t into slave hunting!”
Before they could say more, Ludwig cut in.
“She’s my contractor.”
“…?”
“…?”
Silence.
Then, suddenly:
“Pfft! Hahaha! What?! You? A contract?”
“With a human? Oh, come on!”
“That’s like saying vampires sunbathe!”
“Orcs going vegan!”
“Succubi staying single!”
The guards burst out laughing—right in front of Ludwig and Ariella.
They were mocking them both.
Ariella clenched her fists.
‘These idiots… I want to string them up.’
When word spread that the Demon King had returned, the drawbridge was lowered.
A kobold—clearly a butler—came out to greet them.
Unlike the farmers they’d seen earlier, this kobold was neat and dressed formally.
He even wore a monocle over one eye.
His fur was white in places—he must’ve been older.
“Show her to her room,” Ludwig said.
He then told Ariella they’d meet again the next day.
Tonight, he had business to handle.
Tomorrow, he would summon his officials and formally introduce her.
For now, they went their separate ways.
“You may call me Gruev,” the kobold said.
His tone was calm and polite.
He began leading her toward the guest rooms.
But Ariella stopped him.
“Wait, Gruev. Do you have a moment?”
“Yes? I do, but…”
“Instead of going straight to the room, I’d like to take a look around—inside the castle and nearby.”
