The Monster Knight Wants Maternity Leave (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12
“Then, let us begin the division commanders’ council meeting.”
The son of an imperial powerholder and the legitimate heir of a marquisate.
Leon was a man whose position made him untouchable—even by Bengert, the fiery commander of the Red Division.
Thus, as the icy atmosphere lingered, the meeting finally commenced with the timely arrival of the counselor.
Yet even as the meeting progressed, Ashan and Bengert found it difficult to tear their eyes away from Leon.
He had squeezed himself beside Lucia, peering at her with sparkling eyes like a puppy waiting for its master.
Though it could clearly be seen as flirting, his pure and noble aura made it impossible to interpret it as anything improper.
But that lasted only briefly.
“…Well then, what are the commanders’ thoughts on this matter?”
The counselor, the only one oblivious to the tension, asked—and only then did those who had been staring at Leon and Lucia hurriedly begin reviewing their documents.
First, the Imperial Division commander cleared his throat and spoke.
“Hmm. Before that, this year’s military budget situation seems far more urgent. What do you think?”
“Yes, Commander Ashan. As previously mentioned, we are making firm preparations to secure the budget. Regarding the most significant news from this meeting, it concerns the supplies being sent to the Continental Peace Organization and our allied nations.”
At that moment, upon hearing the counselor’s reply and reviewing the documents, the Imperial Division commander’s expression hardened.
“What is this absurd scale? Even considering the mana crystals, consistently sending supplies of this magnitude to the Kingdom of Hasnas will collapse the imperial market within roughly ten years. Are you certain?”
The Kingdom of Hasnas was a land richly endowed with mana crystals.
Because of this, the powerful Kingdom of Titurshan had colonized it, until the Empire—then championing continental peace—annihilated Titurshan and forcibly liberated Hasnas.
However, in return, the Empire secured an exclusive contract over the mana crystals, effectively semi-colonizing the kingdom through ostensibly courteous means.
Thus, his concern was whether it was truly wise to give away essential daily supplies when even cheaply acquired mana crystals couldn’t offset the resource shortages caused by the Black Blight.
Flustered by the reprimand, the counselor hastily replied.
“Ah, those figures aren’t finalized yet. Some nobles have volunteered to cover that volume, so it’s currently under discussion…”
“Ha! Predictable. Clearly, those upstart nobles are throwing themselves into investments like moths to a flame, hoping to catch His Majesty’s eye.”
“Indeed. If they invest so foolishly, they’ll dry up and perish before they can even convert those mana crystals into wealth. Wouldn’t you agree? Heh heh.”
As the Imperial Division commander sneered, the Red Division commander added his own remark.
The upstart faction they mocked consisted of high-ranking nobles from minor states that had merged into the Eldarion Kingdom when it became an empire.
Having newly received imperial titles—unlike the conservative faction—they had sacrificed much to obtain them, leaving them with neither authority nor deep pockets.
Yet here they were, offering what little wealth they had, all in hopes of pleasing the emperor, who valued diplomacy above all…
“Yes, well… It seems the Temple’s prophecy played a part in this.”
The Temple?
At the mention of the Temple amid the stale bickering, Lucia’s closed ears suddenly opened.
“Oh? You mean that ridiculous claim—that even dead lands will be reborn? Hah!”
Though no one had yet mentioned the Sacred Tree that sealed the Saintess, the Temple had long spoken of harnessing her powers.
It had all begun with a priest’s claim to have heard the voice of the gods promising to restore the blighted lands—but of course, it was surely a lie.
After all, the stolen confidential documents contained no mention of the Sacred Tree or any prophecy about reviving the land.
Indeed, few truly believed it.
Even the esteemed Archpriest’s divine power had failed to cleanse the corruption.
Yet hearing this, Lucia grew increasingly grave—for a different reason.
Because in her past life, those upstart nobles’ investments had indeed succeeded spectacularly.
Their territories became the first lands where the blight receded, and their newfound prosperity allowed them to recoup their initial outlays instantly.
Not to mention how their exclusive focus on mana crystals multiplied their wealth dozens, even thousands of times over.
Though they had profited greatly from the Saintess’s sacrifice, Lucia hadn’t suspected them at the time—since most of the conservative faction had been so corrupt that their downfall seemed only natural.
But now, those who gained power and influence through that wealth… and ultimately rose to prominence when imperial authority shifted…
‘Was it really just coincidence?’
Faith originating from the Temple—and the blind devotion of those upstart factions.
Lucia began mentally listing the names of several suspect noble houses.
*
“…Then, thank you for your efforts.”
As the meeting concluded, the counselor opened the chamber door to leave with the organized documents.
Following him out, the Imperial Division commander departed—only for someone to rush in urgently.
It was Deputy Commander Berel.
“…Commander!”
He looked haggard, as if he’d knelt for days awaiting judgment like a condemned criminal.
“What’s the matter?”
“I, I just…”
He’d sprinted here thinking only of his commander, but seeing the meeting already over left Berel utterly dazed.
Just then, someone awoke with a boisterous laugh and began mocking him.
“What’s this? Deputy Commander Berel, who stood in for you during the meeting? Hah! Look at you—did you lose your mother or something?”
The speaker was Bengert, commander of the Red Division.
He appeared to have just woken up toward the meeting’s end, a dried drool stain still pressed into the corner of his mouth.
“I—I’m sorry. I acted rashly.”
Berel’s face grew even paler at those words.
He felt he’d disgraced his commander by barging in so recklessly.
“What a pity. The fearsome Black Knights’ Division must now take orders from someone who only knows how to soothe crying children. Oh wait—wasn’t that lot just a bunch of cowardly criminals anyway?”
Standing before Lucia, he arrogantly looked down his nose at her, flaunting his massive frame.
Indeed, most members of the Black Knights’ Division had unusual origins.
They were former members of the Dark Guild—a coalition of criminal syndicate leaders.
When no one volunteered to join after the division’s formation, she’d personally recruited them, prioritizing skill over background—which explained their composition.
Naturally, bringing in criminals stirred much opposition, but wartime left no room for such scruples.
Now, after five years of special training, they were finally poised to shed that stigma.
Seeing Lucia remain silent under such insult, Bengert—already furious at her poker face—grew even angrier.
But deep down, he knew the truth.
For all her reputation as a monster, she only revealed her terrifying strength on the battlefield; otherwise, she was merely an emotionless doll who wouldn’t even flare up at such provocations.
That knowledge emboldened his petty cruelty.
“Commander Bengert! Our knights are a source of pride wherever they go! Please retract those words.”
Finally, Berel snapped—and Leon, unable to bear the scene any longer, opened his mouth to speak.
At that moment—
“Ugh… nghh!”
He suddenly groaned, clutching his chest.
Berel’s face flickered with confusion at this inexplicable behavior, while Leon’s eyes widened in shock as he sensed the crimson aura flowing through her body.
“Gah… ngh… What… what is this…?!”
Bengert glared at Lucia with suspicion, struggling to draw breath through his collapsing lungs.
Grand Sword Master Lucia.
At the pinnacle of her infinite mastery, her very being fused seamlessly with crimson sword aura.
Meaning Lucia herself had become the crimson aura—and when angered, merely releasing that aura could crush and overwhelm anyone who looked upon her.
Much like the ‘battle spirit’ depicted in certain comics.
Right now, she simply wasn’t hiding her anger.
-Thud.
Turning deathly pale, he finally dropped to his knees—and this time, Lucia looked down at him and spoke.
“Precisely half a year, as you said. I look forward to what comes after. Until then, I leave our deputy commander in your capable hands.”
Her tone alone carried such terrifying might that it wouldn’t have been an exaggeration to say she could have severed his head on the spot.
Certainly, the Lucia of the past might have treated such insults as irrelevant—after all, she’d only recently become a female commander leading the Empire’s weakest, most discarded soldiers.
But this Lucia, returned from the future, knew exactly what her division members—who would stand by her through twenty years of trials—meant to her.
Red Division Commander Bengert felt icy dread crawl up his spine as goosebumps erupted across his skin.
Though the suffocating pressure from her killing intent eased after her warning, a new terror surged within him—the dread of the day he’d return to duty, crashing over him like an angry tide.
So this was the true might of a Sword Master.
To Lucia, it had been but a minuscule exertion—but the foolish man, who’d never glimpsed such a realm, could only stare up at her with trembling, terrified eyes.
Yet…
Despite the razor-sharp tension in the air, someone here now had tears welling in their eyes.
‘Our… our…!!’
In his mind, regardless of internal divisions or politics, Lucia’s single sentence echoed like a grand symphony.
Tiny droplets fell like maple sap onto Berel’s parched, withered face—so unlike his burly frame.
The emotionally sensitive Berel wiped away his tears, then followed her out through the open door, watching her back as she always strode ahead of him.
Human nature doesn’t change so easily. It was a bit disappointing that the chairman would soon return to his senses… but oh well.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
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they’re so cute i’m gonna cry 😭😭 i adore them sm