I Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Villain - Chapter 57

Despite the fact that it was New Year, nobody in the kingdom celebrated in order to honor those who passed during the incident of the winter ball. Nobody expected it since it was already the twentieth year without any issues. But alas, they did say that all good things must come to an end. The nobles were still busy trying to make amendments to the peace treaty they have with the Angels who chose to surrender. But they can’t also dismiss the fact they are suspicious.

Even though they wanted to honor the dead, they can’t hold a funeral as well since it was too much of a risk. Especially when Damien, one of the strongest lines of defense they have, went to the north to deal with the invasion of these monsters because Kassandra wouldn’t be in the right state of mind if she went there instead.

Luciel had given those soldiers who passed away a right to be buried in the heroes’ burial grounds. Although pure blood Angels and Demons prefer to have their bodies cremated, the half-bloods wanted this sort of treatment.

Gideon and Theodora watched as Stephen was placed in a casket and later buried. They both said nothing during the duration of it but afterward, Theodora suddenly spoke.

“I plan on returning to the battlefield”

“What?” Gideon turned to her in surprise. Didn’t Lady Kassandra send her back in order for her to rest?

“I thought you were ordered to rest for now? Aren’t you overworking yourself?” Gideon tried to reason with her but it seems like she already made up her mind.

“I can’t stand around doing nothing when those bastards who killed Stephen are out there” She gritted her teeth and tightened the hold on her umbrella.

Gideon just listened to her declaration helplessly and could only support her. But is she really going to be ok?

Despite Gideon needing to stay in the Palace for some time, Kaiden and Kassandra managed to make arrangements to allow him to stay at home. With that being said, it now requires Kaiden to visit him from time to time to check up on his condition.

Theodora suggested the proposal to Kassandra that she should be allowed back in the frontlines but it was Kassandra who refused. They both made a compromise and now Theodora will spend most of her time training the new recruits in order for their division to get back on their feet.

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Days passed on like this and finally, most of the work is done. Now, all that’s left is to solve this godforsaken incident on how it happened in the first place. Though it’s nice to get the people who were held hostage back, they can no longer risk letting them return to work even if they beg for it. But they also cannot let them out since they might target the innocent people that live in the capital. And so, Arda and her team had to make arrangements of their settlement until proven that they are safe to assimilate with the public. That being said, they’re still imprisoned but in a far better condition than they were in originally.

“Lady Arda, King Luciel wishes to speak with you” one of her servants peeked their head into her office.

Despite being a full-fledged demon, Arda was now suffering from sleep deprivation resulting in heavy eyebags. And the fact that she was drinking coffee non-stop did not help with her health as well.

Arda rubbed her eyes and fixed up her hair, even with her sickly look she was beautiful. She made her way into Luciel’s office and there was the bastard who overworked her to death. He had been sorting out her work as well and choosing wisely to know the best course of action just based on the paperwork that she had provided him. This let them prosper for 20 years already.

“Am I the only one that works here and that’s why you keep calling for me?” Arda snaps at Luciel and the man looks up at her.

“No, but you’re the most efficient one since the rest are always lacking in this department” Luciel used his index finger to poke at the top of the mountain of paperwork that Arda had submitted to him.

“What is it this time? if it’s another full-scale project involving the prince, just pass that on to Amias instead. If it’s for monetary means such as Export and Import, pass it on to your Son. If it’s military, give it to Azazel or Kassandra. They all give it to me once they’re done with it to review anyways” She bluntly states that no matter who passes their work to, it always ends up in her hands first before she passes it to Luciel.

“I’ll have that in mind, what I actually want you to do is fieldwork”

“Isn’t that a job for either Azazel or Amias since it’s those two you always send out?”

“Yeah but I’ll have Azazel take over your job first since I want you to take a break while you’re out in this mission”

The king… was asking me to take a break?

“Pardon me? Did I hear you correctly?”

“I want you to investigate our old territories before we settled here in the capital. We did move a lot and left unnecessary items such as paperwork there. It’s not much value to us but I think to some like Matthew, it is. Just check if our things are still there and while you’re at it, do some sightseeing for yourself”

“Luciel, I can’t tell if you’re telling me to do extra more work or something since in the end I still work there”

“You don’t have to actually read the old paperwork. You just have to check if they’re still complete. You have a good memory, right? and with that being said, you can recall everything up to the last letter.”

For others, this gift was a blessing. But for Arda, it meant that she could remember every hardship she went through vividly.

“Yeah I do”

“Well, that’s good. Do that, you can bring a few of your soldiers with you to keep you safe. As much as possible I don’t want you using your powers unless it is a life or death situation”

“Don’t worry, I won’t” Arda smiled at Luciel, because to her it is funny to hear this in a concerned tone when he puts so much work.

“Before you leave, just hand over the workload to Azazel and rest for a day or two.”

Oh, so she can rest before she leaves for work again?

“As you wish Luciel”

When Arda left the office, Luciel sighed and remembered the time he recruited her to join his side.

Arda was a carefree soul who loved to interact with all living things. But what she disliked was the fact that she had to use their life forces as her fuel for her powers. She found this group of humans who planned on killing this child for them to eat due to starvation. But she stopped them and granted them food and knowledge in exchange for animal sacrifices. She never once revealed her appearance to them and would always wear a hood to cover half of her face.

The humans suddenly asked her why she needed these animals and why can they take back the corpse for them to eat?

She answered with a smile,

“Although in your eyes I am a god, I am merely their servant. I may have extraordinary powers but it comes with a price”

“What kind of price?” a human child asks her.

Arda lets out her hand and a flame suddenly flickered from it.

“For this flame to be as bright as the sun, it could only be fueled by the strength of my soul” she spoke.

Maybe the child misunderstood the sentence but it already got the idea. Their god needed to have souls in exchange for power.

“But why do you need one constantly?” Another chimed in and Arda answered honestly.

“Animals have a weak soul and I don’t mind it. If it means that the children here are well fed afterward, then I won’t complain”

The elders thought about her words for a while and decided that they should offer their lives to her since she does the same for them. When she saw the dying human that was brought in, she paled.

“W-why?”

“Our Sun, He was dying already and wished that his life would be sacrificed to you instead”

The human who was bleeding profusely from the attack of the other civilization bowed his head in respect towards Arda. She hesitated but did not want to put his death in vain. So she did what they wished for and absorbed his soul.

The human suddenly fell to the ground and when Arda used her powers once more, it was brighter than ever.

‘What kind of sick joke is this?’ she thought to herself and extinguished her flames.

“May his soul be guided to the afterlife” the humans cheered but only Arda was quiet.

Every soul that she consumes, they are lost forever.. Never to be reincarnated.