It was only after Raimira promised in Draonic not to tell anyone about the intruder and the plan of escape from the Dragon Demon Castle that she was finally allowed to return to the castle.

“You’re here.”

All of the Four Divine Generals had gathered to greet her at the wide-open gates. They, who had been vassals of the Black Dragon since three hundred years ago, were among the most loyal of the Black Dragon’s vassals. Two hundred years had already passed since the disappearance of the Black Dragon from the castle, and the Four Divine Generals had led the Dragon Demon Castle together by acting as the deputy lord of the Dragon Demon Castle.

Raimira's brows furrowed with confusion as she surveyed the crowd of subjects lined up inside the gate.

"What is going on?" she asked.

Though she recognized the Four Divine Generals among the throngs of people, the rest were strangers to her. It was clear that all the retainers of the Dragon Demon Castle had gathered on the road leading to there, but for what purpose, she could not fathom it. As she took in the scene before her, Raimira's expression remained inscrutable, betraying nothing of her inner thoughts.

"The arrival of a new lord must be announced to all the vassals of the castle," replied one of the Four Divine Generals, a hulking demonfolk with a thick layer of fat around his abdomen. Despite his size, he spoke with a polite, measured tone. "Now that you have taken your rightful place as lord of the castle, it is only proper that all know of your noble existence."

Raimira regarded the demon thoughtfully, weighing his words with caution. This demon’s role as one of the Four Divine Generals marked him as a formidable warrior and leader. In fact, he was considered the strongest of the four. Nevertheless, two hundred years of peace had clearly taken a toll on his physique.

The...