Chapter 46: Aftermath of Victory, Esme’s Lesson

With the Gladius knights defeated, the Serathen knights began combing the area to make sure there were no survivors hiding.

One big advantage of the Red Desert was that it stretched for miles with nothing but blood-stained, empty land. This made it easy for them to scan for any enemy forces or potential ambushes... though both were unlikely now that the Black Divine General had arrived.

"General Astrid, are you alright?"

"What a stupid question. Of course I am."

The general's reply to her subordinate was as usual──plain, blunt, and to the point.

She didn't like wasting time with people who'd likely ask pointless questions, so she always gave the harshest responses. That way, the next time they thought about chatting with her, they'd think twice and avoid it.

The knight who had asked the question had gone silent.

『D-, Do I just move... or...』

He glanced around, unsure if leaving right away would come off as disrespectful and get him punished—or worse, killed.

Luckily for him, the young knight spotted a bespectacled man who dismissed him with a casual wave. Without hesitation, the knight hurried off, and the Black Divine General turned her attention to the man with glasses.

This was Lieutenant Marcus Stonewall.

He had short black hair, almost neatly combed to the side, wore oval glasses, and had a tall, lean build that fit well with his slightly bulky armor.

"Your report?" the general asked.

Lieutenant Marcus cleared his throat and spoke.

"General, the battle is over. Our forces have secured the field, and the enemy has been completely wiped out. As expected, the Gladius knights couldn't stand against your assault. Their captain, Sir Lutbar's heart has been carved out and and will be sent to Fort Bridge Dersat as a warning.

"We suffered minimal casualties, thanks to your timely arrival. About 20 of our soldiers were lost, mostly from the flanking unit before you joined the fight. However, morale remains high. The Gladius forces suffered far greater losses than we anticipated. Our scouts estimate around 200 knights are dead on the battlefield.

"There are no prisoners or survivors. As per your orders, we eliminated every last one without hesitation.

"The Gladius banners, once proudly raised, now lie crushed underfoot. We're collecting and cataloging their weapons and armor as usual, and we expect their tealstone to be valuable for fortifying our armory.

"As for the battlefield itself, the Red Desert remains as harsh as ever. The heat is rising, and the stench of the dead is spreading quickly. I suggest we move our troops to a camp in the nearby foothills or to Whiterune Tower City to avoid the decaying bodies affecting the men.

"This victory will send a clear message to the Sword City of Gladius. With their elite knights crushed here in the Red Desert, their momentum in this war is broken. While they may try to retaliate, they'll struggle to recover after such a devastating defeat.

"Lastly, rumors of your identity are spreading through the ranks. Some of the men have started calling you the Demon Queen of the Red Desert. Fear and respect for your name are growing with every battle. The enemy trembles at the mere mention of the Black Divine General.

"The battlefield is ours, General. Shall we march back to the Serathen capital for further orders, or should we fortify our position and prepare for a possible counterattack?"

Lieutenant Marcus had talked so much that he was used to it, so giving such a lengthy report didn't tire him out.

"I see..." the general replied.

As soon as she took off her black devil-like helmet, her stunning beauty was revealed.

Her face was truly goddess-like.

In fact, she was so beautiful that the moment her helmet came off, most of the knights' cheeks flushed redder than the blood-stained ground. After all, she was considered the most beautiful woman in Serathen and many other parts of the Central Continent.

Her face was finely sculpted, with smooth, pale skin. She had a delicate nose and cherry-colored lips that made her look a bit stern and thoughtful.

Her eyes were a striking violet, full of intensity and intelligence. A slight furrow in her brows gave her a touch of sexiness.

Inside the chambers, both Ghislaine and Princess Luciana watched the scene with pale faces and trembling bodies.

『Wh-, What sort of punishment is this...?』

The princess thought in shock.

Ghislaine didn't seem too shocked, but she was clearly unsettled by what she was witnessing. It felt like the scene was bringing up a frightening memory for her, one intense enough to make her grip her perky ass cheeks and shiver.

What were those screams about?

What were they watching?

It was God Vritra and Esmeralda.

He had her lying face down on his lap. He had one hand firmly gripping one of her big, squishy ass cheeks.

Esmeralda's erotic face showed both pain and pleasure as she bit her lower lip in excitement.

"Esme, will you do it again?"

"N-, No, my lord! I won't do it again!"

"You know you've been a bad girl..."

"I-, I know, my lord! Please, punish me more~ ♡!"

Vritra raised his hand and spanked her left ass cheek, causing her to bite her lip even harder as her body shuddered with pleasure.

Hauuunnn~ ♡♡♡!

She wiggled her hips, clearly wanting more.

Without hesitation, Vritra spanked her other ass cheek, making her body jerk with pleasure and causing her to lift her big butt slightly.

『Who knew doing something so degrading could feel so good when it's with the right person~ ♡♡』

... SMACK!

Hawwn~ ♡!

... SMACK!

Eyaahhnnnnn~ ♡♡!

... SMACK!

GONEEEEEHHHHHHHHH~ ♡♡♡!

When he finished spanking her, Esmeralda looked extremely satisfied. She had tired eyes, a relaxed smile, and her slobbering tongue was hanging out of her mouth.

This was her punishment for suggesting to Princess Luciana that she use an aphrodisiac to get him into bed.

Still, Luciana thought it was too severe, so she cleared her throat loudly and spoke up.

"God Vritra, isn't this a bit too harsh?"

"Maybe you'll reconsider this question after I turn your ass red with my hand alone."

"I-, I'm fine..."