I Reincarnated As The Lazy Demon King's Butler

The war hadn't started yet, but Elias moved as if it had.

While the Demon Kingdom's nobles and generals sat in their keeps, debating, scheming, and waiting, Elias was already in motion—shaping the battlefield before the first sword was drawn.

The Hero's army was coming in two months.

But before then, Elias had another war to win.

Not against humans.

Against monsters.

The Beastkin Lands: The Wild South

The Beastkin Tribes ruled the untamed lands south of the Demon Kingdom, beyond the volcanic range of Ashenfang Pass.

Unlike the disciplined legions of humans or the arcane aristocracy of demons, the Beastkin lived by strength alone. Their warriors fought in clan-based warbands, their leaders were chosen by combat, not blood, and their only true law was power.

For centuries, they had been both allies and enemies of the Demon Kingdom.

And now, Elias needed them to be something else entirely.

He needed them to fight for Nocturne.

But the Beastkin would never join a war out of loyalty.

No, they needed a better reason.

So Elias would give them one.

A Journey Into the Unknown

Elias rode south, his black cloak billowing as he passed through the mountain range that separated civilization from savagery.

At his side rode Vardok, the minotaur general, whose ties to the Beastkin made him the most valuable escort for this mission.

Behind them, a small elite unit of demon soldiers followed—just enough to show strength, but not enough to provoke war.

Seraphine, however, had declined to join.

"You want to walk into a land where people solve political disputes with ritual combat and death matches?" she'd said. "I think I'll sit this one out and handle the nobles instead."

Elias didn't blame her.

If anything, he was grateful.

She would be far more useful back in Nocturne, ensuring the kingdom didn't burn while he was gone.

The Beastkin Tribes: A Divided Nation

By the time Elias's party arrived at the first Beastkin settlement, it was clear something was very wrong.

Smoke rose from the horizon, not from war, but from burning villages.

Corpses lay discarded on the roads, not from battle, but from executions.

And as Elias and Vardok approached the capital city of Ironfang Hold, they were met not with warriors, but with refugees.

The Beastkin were already at war.

With themselves.

The Three Warlords: A Kingdom at War

Ironfang Hold, once a fortress of undisputed power, was now divided between three warring factions.

Warlord Kael of the Thunderfang Clan – A massive lion Beastkin, known for his unmatched brute strength and hatred of demons.Warlord Xyra of the Moonshadow Pack – A wolf Beastkin, cunning and ambitious, whose warriors fought more like assassins than soldiers.Warlord Gorvak of the Stonehide Kin – A hulking bear Beastkin, slow to act but dangerously powerful, preferring tradition over change.

These three once ruled as a single force under the former High Chieftain.

But now?

That chieftain was dead.

And the Beastkin had turned against each other, each faction trying to claim dominance.

An Opportunity in Chaos

Elias observed the divided battlefield with careful, calculating eyes.

Vardok growled beside him. "This is worse than I thought."

Elias folded his arms. "It's better than I hoped."

Vardok's eyes narrowed. "You wanted them at war?"

Elias smirked. "I wanted leverage."

If the Beastkin had been unified, convincing them to fight for Nocturne would have been impossible.

But divided?

They could be manipulated.

"Let them fight," Elias murmured. "Let them weaken each other. When the time is right, we'll offer the only thing that matters to them."

Vardok grunted. "Which is?"

Elias turned his golden eyes toward the great stone citadel of Ironfang Hold.

"A king."

The Plan: One Ruler, One War

Elias had no intention of choosing sides.

He had no interest in negotiating peace.

He would do what he did best.

Turn them against each other.Eliminate the weakest.Control the strongest.

The Beastkin didn't need three rulers.

They needed one.

And Elias would decide who that was.

A War Before the War

By nightfall, Elias's spies had infiltrated all three factions.

 In Kael's camp, rumors spread that Xyra was planning to assassinate him. In Xyra's camp, whispers warned that Kael was gathering forces to wipe her out.Gorvak? He was waiting, but Elias made sure he'd be dragged into the conflict soon enough.

The Beastkin believed they were at war with each other.

What they didn't know…

Was that they were at war with Elias.

A Challenge Issued

Three days later, an official summons was sent to all three warlords.

A trial of dominance.

A battle to decide the rightful ruler of the Beastkin.

A war that had already been rigged from the start.