The Empire’s army was annihilated.
The units approaching to provide reinforcements and supplies were also scattered by Henry and the Demon King’s Army. They had likely been intended as the final force to wipe out the Elven Village, but they surely never expected to find their main host already destroyed. I couldn't help but feel a flicker of sympathy for them, meeting an legion of undead and monsters as their welcoming party.
I raised every fallen imperial soldier as an undead thrall. Those with missing limbs were fused together and fashioned into Deformed Ghouls. I designed them as four-legged beasts, specifically modified so that other monsters could ride them. While they weren't strictly necessary for this battle, I wanted to eventually establish a proper cavalry unit. The Demon King’s Army needed to be capable of responding to any tactical situation. Human armies would eventually devise countermeasures against us, so it was only prudent to diversify our own methods of warfare.
Once the fighting concluded, we gathered at the temporary base the Empire’s army had established. The Demon King’s Army stood in orderly ranks, now reinforced by tens of thousands of new undead. The ghouls, clad in stolen armor, maintained an eerie silence. It was a spectacular, imposing sight.
However, a military force of this scale could not be permitted to enter the Forest of the World Tree. Their mere presence would exert a corruptive influence on the environment, and the elves would undoubtedly suffer a physical rejection to the miasma. To avoid unnecessary conflict, the best course of action was to send them home immediately.
"That was a refreshingly one-sided victory. I think I'll have myself a damn good drink tonight," Henry said, laughing with satisfaction.
He was painted bright red, drenched from head to toe in the blood of his enemies. I didn't see a single scratch on him. Despite leading the vanguard, Henry had engaged the Empire’s army in a display of ferocious, raw martial prowess. He had fought like a war god, so terrifying in his slaughter that even the monsters under his command had been too afraid to get close to him. In truth, they likely would have been caught in his crossfire if they had been careless. The monsters had shown wise judgment.
"Clean the filth off yourself before you start drinking."
I generated water with magic and poured it over Henry to wash away the gore. Once the blood was gone, I summoned a breeze to dry him. He still had an important task ahead of him, and it would be problematic if he remained soaked in blood. I needed him to at least look the part of a human for what came next.
Afterward, I offered a few words of appreciation to the monsters and sent them back to the Royal Capital via Teleportation Magic. I sent the newly raised undead along with them. Grom or Luciana would find a place to store them—at the very least, having them patrol the capital's outskirts would be enough to deter most intruders.
Only Henry, Logan, and I remained. The three of us set out for the Elven Village to explain the situation to the inhabitants. While there, I would also bestow the Brand of Subservience upon those who had not yet received it. I brought Henry along to provide the elves with some small measure of peace of mind. The presence of a living human would leave a better impression than if I, an immortal, arrived alone. They would likely resent the subjugation regardless, but that was unavoidable.
Logan had already notified the village that the Demon King’s Army was coming. I had also appeared there once before to establish the barrier and defense magic, so I hoped there wouldn't be much chaos.
We teleported into the Forest of the World Tree and approached the village on foot. Once we crossed the barrier, we found a large crowd of elves waiting for us. I counted roughly six hundred. According to my detection magic, every single resident of the village had gathered. They had all been waiting for their chief's return, and their anxiety was palpable. It was no surprise; Logan had gone off with the Demon King’s Army to attack the Empire. The situation was fraught with uncertainty.
Logan stood before his people. In the heavy silence, he began to speak.
"The Empire’s army has been annihilated. It was done by the hands of the Demon King’s Army."
A stir went through the crowd. The elves knew the terrifying might of the Empire. Hearing that such a force had been effortlessly wiped out was likely difficult for them to process.
"Our clan has been saved from the brink of extinction. I believe we must repay that debt."
As soon as Logan said those words, several elves raised their voices in protest.
"And that 'repayment' is our slavery?! Being ruled is the same thing, whether it's the Empire or this monster!"
"Does the Chief expect us to become slaves to a lowly undead?!"
The protests felt orchestrated. It was clear that from the moment Logan had informed them of the Demon King’s existence, these individuals had planned to object. Henry, standing beside me, made a slight motion as if to draw his bow. I caught his eye with a subtle, sharp glare to keep him in check. He clearly found the protesters irritating, but if he started killing them here, the situation would become unsalvageable. For now, we had to remain silent observers.
Logan, however, did not waver. He simply nodded, his expression resolute.
"That is correct. To oppose the violence of the Empire, we have yielded to a violence that surpasses it."
The stir among the elves grew louder, now laced with harsh insults. It seemed the clan was not a monolith; there were clearly those who sought to use this crisis to oust Logan from power. I didn't know the specifics of their internal politics, but the air was thick with old grudges.
"You may call me a coward or a craven—it doesn't matter. I am the Chief. I made this choice based on the responsibility I carry for our survival, and I have no regrets."
Logan’s words struck the crowd with such weight that they fell into a sudden, stunned silence. Even those who had been shouting insults recoiled. Faced with his sheer force of will, they found themselves unable to speak.
"If you have complaints, you may leave the village. I will not stop you. But those who remain must accept the Brand of Subservience. Make your choice, here and now."
Logan stopped talking and stood there in stony silence, making it clear he had nothing more to say. The elves looked at one another, the weight of the decision pressing down on them. Those who had been shouting hesitated, looking as if they wanted to argue further, but seeing that Logan would not engage them, they eventually turned and walked away, muttering curses under their breath. A few others followed them in small groups. They were the ones who had chosen to abandon Logan’s path.
Logan didn't move to stop them. He simply waited for his people to choose their future. I was the only one close enough to see that his fists, clenched behind his back, were trembling.
I could understand the feeling of rejection, but Logan had made this proposal knowing he would be hated for it. There might have been softer ways to handle this, but he had forced the issue to ensure the clan's path was clear and immediate. He refused to let them linger in a dangerous ambiguity. It was a form of self-sacrifice; he was willing to bear the stigma of a traitor for the rest of his life—and beyond—if it meant his people lived. In his dignified, burdened silhouette, I saw a reflection of my own path as the Demon King.
Eventually, the choosing ended. The vast majority of the elves remained, including the Acting Chief, Logan’s sister. Fewer than ten percent had chosen to leave. The elves gathered here had decided to entrust their future to Logan.
"I have seen your resolve. Do any of you have lingering regrets?" Logan asked.
No one spoke. It was a silent, collective affirmation. Logan turned toward me.
"It is done. We submit ourselves to the Demon King."
"Very well. I accept your oath."
I invoked the magic, and the Brand of Subservience appeared on the back of every elf’s hand. I stepped forward to address the crowd.
"The branding is complete. Now, for your first command: the Elven Clan is to relocate to the Demon King's Domain immediately."
The announcement sent a shockwave of unrest through the crowd. Most looked bewildered; some looked furious.
"Wait... what does this mean?" Logan asked, his eyes narrowing as he stepped toward me. "We accepted subservience, but we cannot abandon this forest. Even if we must move, we need members to stay behind and tend to the World Tree."
To the elves, the Forest of the World Tree was more precious than life itself. They had traded their dignity for its protection, and now they felt as though their sacrifice was being mocked. But it was merely a misunderstanding.
I spoke clearly, my voice carrying over the forest.
"The Elven Clan and the Forest of the World Tree are already my property. I am taking the entire forest with me."