The Young Demon Lord and her Maid-Knight

"Excuse me," the elf spoke out loudly to the group gathered in front of the gate.

Lilith glanced at the elf, curiosity flickering across her face. Was this someone Eliin knew?

The group turned toward the voice, and almost immediately, a beastkin rabbit sprinted toward them. He dropped to his knees in front of Eliin, his expression filled with overwhelming relief.

"Lady Eliin, you are safe! What a relief!" he exclaimed, his voice thick with emotion. Tears welled up in his eyes, betraying the depth of his concern.

"Sebas," Eliin said softly, her voice filled with a mixture of gratitude and sadness. "You made it here, even with your injuries."

Lilith's sharp gaze quickly assessed him. The beastkin, who Eliin called Sebas, bore severe injuries. His left arm was completely missing, a hastily tied bandage attempting to stem the damage. An arrow jutted from his hind leg, crusted with dried blood. Despite his state, he seemed resolute, his eyes fixed on Eliin with unwavering devotion.

"Ah, yes, my lady," Sebas replied, bowing his head slightly. "I arrived here with the others, but the gatekeepers refused to let us in. They said we had to wait until someone from the guild or the castle came to vouch for us." He looked over his shoulder at the others, frustration briefly flashing across his face before his features softened. "But none of that matters now that you are safe."

His voice faltered, and his eyes grew watery again. "How did you escape?"

Eliin turned toward Lilith and gestured to her with a small, grateful smile. "This strong mercenary saved us all from a massive group of goblins."

Sebas shifted his gaze to Lilith, his expression a mixture of awe and gratitude. "Thank you," he said, his voice cracking slightly. "I don't know how we could ever repay you for saving Lady Eliin."

Lilith crossed her arms, shrugging lightly. "I was just doing what needed to be done. Besides," she added with a small smirk, "those goblins were asking for it."

Sebas managed a faint smile despite his condition. The tension in the air eased slightly as the group began to process the turn of events, hope replacing their previous despair.

"Oh, that is a nasty wound you have there," Lilith said, her voice tinged with genuine concern as she studied the rabbitman's injuries.

"Ah, yes," Sebas replied with a faint smile, though pain flickered behind his eyes. "But it was a small price to pay. We lost many during the ambush. Those of us who managed to escape had no choice but to backtrack through dangerous territory to seek help. It took far too long to reach Haxorb."

He hesitated, glancing at his missing arm. "I do have my arm with me—it's in one of our packs—but now I'm just hoping to find a skilled healer. Maybe someone can reattach it."

Lilith observed him thoughtfully, nodding as an idea formed in her mind. I could fix it, she mused. But should I? Hmm...

After a brief pause, she made her decision. "Please bring me your arm," she said with calm confidence. "I can help."

Sebas stared at her in disbelief, his large, expressive eyes widening. "Wait, really? Can you truly help me?" He hesitated, concern clouding his hopeful expression. "But I don't have much gold, and magic healing of that level... it should be taxing on your body."

"Don't worry," Lilith reassured him, brushing off his concerns with a light wave of her hand. A small smile tugged at her lips. "I can handle it."

Internally, she considered her plan carefully. Feeding on this world's abundant mana has made my reserves nearly limitless. Reattaching his arm should be easy enough, even if the process requires fine control.

Sebas hesitated for a moment longer before nodding, his hope slowly overriding his doubt. He gestured to another beastkin, who quickly retrieved the severed arm from a pack. It was carefully wrapped, though blood still faintly stained the cloth.

Lilith took the arm gently, examining it with sharp eyes. She could sense the faint threads of residual life energy still clinging to it. With a deep breath, she knelt beside Sebas and closed her eyes. Let's see what I can do.

The air around her began to shimmer faintly as she tapped into the mana surrounding them, preparing to weave the intricate spell required to heal and restore.

"Now that's taken care of," Lilith said with a satisfied smile, brushing off her hands as if completing a simple chore. She glanced at Sebas and added with a teasing tone, "Hmm… you can pay me back with a hearty meal at the tavern when we get inside the castle town."

Sebas, still awestruck by the restoration of his arm, bowed deeply. "I will, I surely will! Thank you so much. And please, Lady Eliin, join us as well."

Eliin offered a gentle smile and nodded. "It would be my pleasure, Sebas."

Not long after the matter was settled, the castle town's lord, Xinder, arrived at the gates alongside a representative from the guild— was Bhal the receptionist who as send Lilith out to scout. Both men had come to address the situation.

As the lord approached, he carried himself with the air of a seasoned diplomat, his dark cape trailing behind him. After assessing the group of rescued captives, Xinder turned to Eliin and the other freed women. "Lady Eliin, and to all of you who have endured this ordeal, please allow me to escort you to my mansion. It is the least I can do to offer you comfort and safety after such a harrowing experience."

Eliin inclined her head gracefully. "Thank you, Lord Xinder. Your hospitality is most appreciated."

With that, Xinder personally guided Eliin, her travel companions, and the other rescued women toward the mansion. The solemnity of his tone as he spoke one final time carried a sense of guilt. "This was my responsibility. I was the one who invited you here to begin with. I owe you at least this much."

Meanwhile, Lilith found herself walking alongside Bhal, heading back to the guild. The two talked in low voices about what had transpired.

"So, let me get this straight," Bhal began, his sharp features betraying a mix of curiosity and concern. "You not only dealt with the goblin horde but also eliminated their war chief and the king?"

"That's right," Lilith replied nonchalantly, her tone almost casual. "They deserved it. No creature like that should be allowed to roam free, especially after what they were doing to their prisoners."

Bhal nodded thoughtfully, his expression darkening. "You've done the guild a great service, and this will definitely earn you some recognition. But more than that, you've saved a lot of lives. Don't downplay it, we have to report it to the guild leader."

Lilith shrugged, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "We'll see. Recognition doesn't mean much to me. But a good fight? That I won't turn down."

The two continued their conversation as they neared the guild, the evening air thick with the buzz of the castle town. Despite the weight of the events, a sense of calm began to settle over the group. For now, the danger had passed, and the rescued captives were finally safe.

"Hmm, Lilith," Bhal said with a grin. "I have to contact the guild leader. He should still be in his office. Would you mind following me? I have to tell him everything, and with you next to me, it should go rather smoothly."

Lilith nodded in agreement.

"Oh, by the way, Lilith," he teased, "this might be the fastest Iron-to-Gold promotion in this town."

As Bhal led Lilith through the bustling halls of the guild, his boots clinking against the stone floor, he chuckled to himself—a deep, hearty sound. "You've caused quite a stir, Lilith. It's not every day an Iron-ranked mercenary wipes out an entire goblin nest and rescues a group of captives, including a noble. If this doesn't impress the guild leader, nothing will."

Lilith raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You're setting high expectations, Bhal. I'm just doing my job."

Bhal grinned, stroking his beard. "Aye, but not everyone does their job with such… flair. And between you and me," he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone, "the guild leader has a soft spot for results. Doesn't matter how flashy or raw they are, as long as you get the job done."

As they approached the large double doors leading to the guild leader's office, Bhal paused, turning to Lilith. "One more thing—our guild leader's a bit… eccentric. Don't let his demeanor throw you off."

Lilith tilted her head, curious. "Eccentric how?"

Bhal chuckled, pushing open the heavy doors. "You'll see."

The office was grand yet cluttered, with maps, books, and odd trinkets strewn across every surface. Behind a desk piled high with papers sat a middle-aged man with sharp eyes, a long scar running from his temple to his jawline. He was scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment, muttering under his breath. When the door creaked open, he looked up, his piercing gaze locking onto Lilith.

"So, you're the one who's got everyone talking," he said, his voice smooth but laced with authority. "Bhal here claims you've done the work of a Gold rank. Care to tell me your side of the story?"

Lilith stepped forward, her posture calm but commanding. "It's true I dealt with the goblin nest, including a war chief and what seemed to be a king. I also rescued Lady Eliin and a group of captives, escorting them back safely. I have the proof of the war chief and king if you need it."

The guild leader's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Straight to the point. I like that." He glanced at Bhal. "And you've confirmed all of this?"

Bhal nodded, his grin widening. "Every word of it. Saw the heads myself, and the stories match up. This lass here might just be the fastest Iron to Gold promotion we've ever had."

The guild leader leaned back in his chair, studying Lilith. "Impressive. But let's see how you handle the responsibilities that come with a higher rank. For now, consider yourself promoted to Bronze. If you keep this up, Gold won't be far off."

Bhal clapped Lilith on the back, his laughter booming through the room. "Told you! Gold rank! Fastest in history!"

"Wait... Bronze?" Bhal suddenly shouted, his face turning red with indignation.

The guild leader held up a hand, his expression calm but firm. "We need to confirm everything. The goblin hideout, the captives' testimonies, and the overall impact of her actions. It's protocol."

Lilith allowed herself a small smile, nodding at the guild leader. "Thank you. I'll continue to prove myself."

The guild leader waved dismissively, already turning his attention back to the stack of papers on his desk. "I have no doubt. Now, if there's nothing else, I have work to finish."

"Wait a minute!" Bhal snapped, stepping forward. "Lilith should be at least Silver! What's this nonsense about Bronze? Show him the heads, Lilith."

Lilith tilted her head slightly, her expression amused. "I can do that. Do you want just the king and war chief's heads, or would you like the rest of them as well?"

Bhal, still fuming, growled, "Let it all out!"

"There's a lot of them," Lilith warned, her tone neutral.

"Just do it!" Bhal barked, his temper overriding his better judgment.

With a flick of her wrist, Lilith conjured the contents of her magical storage box. The office was instantly filled with the grisly sight of 112 goblin heads, neatly stacked and spilling over onto the floor. The pungent stench of blood and decay hit everyone in the room like a wave.

Bhal gasped, his eyes wide in shock. Until now, he had only seen the heads of the goblin king and the war chief. "By the gods…"

The guild leader leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable at first. Then, a slow smile spread across his face. "Well done, Lilith. With this evidence, I suppose I can bypass protocol. I hereby promote you to Platinum rank, and for saving the elf and the others. I'm allowed to go and give you this platinum coin. it is worth 1000gold."

"Platinum, and a platinum coin?" Bhal murmured, his jaw dropping. "From Iron to Platinum in just a week's work, and rich as an lord…"

As they exited the office, the reality of the promotion still sinking in, Bhal turned to Lilith, his grin wider than ever. "You're on the rise, lass. The entire guild will be talking about this for years to come!"

Lilith chuckled softly, her tone steady and calm. "Let's focus on the next task. There's always more work to be done."