Chapter 80
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Translator: Xrecker
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Turning Point
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“You two seem to have had fun last night.”
The next morning, Gav teased us at the breakfast table.
I had anticipated that news of my… encounter with Ozma would reach his ears. As the owner of the mansion, he had his ways of knowing things.
Anyway, acting flustered would be amateurish.
I casually took a bite of my brioche and nodded.
“Yes, thanks to your… absence.”
“So, will you play with me next time?”
“I’ll consider it.”
For a professional, “I’ll consider it” was a polite way of saying “no.”
But Gav either didn’t get the hint or chose to ignore it. He didn’t press the matter.
While Gav and I chatted casually, Ozma remained silent, looking dazed.
Well, I had kept her up late last night. She was probably sleep-deprived. It wasn’t surprising, considering how long we had gone at it.
Unlike her, I had trained with Camilla, so a few rounds weren't enough to faze me.
A succubus’s bodily fluids had a… restorative effect on a man’s stamina.
After breakfast, Gav, who was enjoying a sweet dessert, spoke up.
“Ozma, if you’re tired, you should go and rest. There’s still some time before the chieftain meeting.”
“Huh? Oh…”
Ozma, who had been zoned out, snapped to attention and nodded.
“What’s the chieftain meeting?”
I asked, unfamiliar with the term.
Gav rested his chin on his hand.
“It’s exactly what it sounds like. A meeting of all the tribal chieftains to discuss important matters like next year’s policies and the distribution of merits. You didn’t think the tribal exchange was just for fun and games, did you?”
“I knew that. I was just asking for clarification.”
…I had thought it was an annual sports festival. It had the feel of an amusement park.
But my poker face was impeccable, and Gav continued his explanation without any further comment.
“The tribal exchange is a five-day event, according to tradition. And today is the last day.”
Gav gestured towards Ozma.
“The Demon Lord can’t leave his throne, so his daughter, Ozma, is here as his representative. It’s an important meeting, so she can’t afford to make any mistakes.”
So, that’s why he had told Ozma to rest. A tired person was more likely to make mistakes.
I finally understood.
“I’m finished.”
Ozma, who had been mechanically eating her dessert, yawned and stood up.
“I’m going to take a nap. Wake me up later.”
With that, she left.
“I’ll go with you.”
I was about to get up as well, but Gav’s nonchalant voice stopped me.
“Wait, don’t we have something to talk about, Archmage Kaldrash?”
“…”
I had revealed too much.
Gav now knew that I was human and that Ozma called me Kaldrash when we were alone.
I decided to stay and do some damage control.
“What do you want to talk about?”
A crescent moon-shaped smile appeared on Gav’s face.
***
Surprisingly, Gav didn't try to use his newfound knowledge against me.
He just rambled on about how he had figured out the source of my strength and then asked about my master and how strong she was.
Ozma’s description of him as a battle maniac had been accurate.
Anyway, I managed to get through the conversation by dropping my master’s name. I then returned to my room to pack.
Gav would have gladly let me stay, but I didn’t want to get too comfortable.
“Where should I put this?”
“Ah, in the side pocket of my backpack.”
Camilla, who had been silently following me, helped me pack.
Her meticulousness reminded me of a mother packing for her child’s field trip.
With her help, we finished packing quickly, and we decided to chat until Ozma woke up.
“By the way, what’s your relationship with Ozma?”
I had known there was something between them but had been hesitant to ask.
Camilla fidgeted with her lips, then finally spoke.
“It’s complicated.”
“In what way?”
“…Officially, we have no relationship. But we grew up together in the Demon Lord’s castle.”
“Grew up together?”
“Yes. I was taken in by the Demon Lord after my parents died when I was young. He had initially intended to adopt me, but I refused. So, he made me Princess Ozma’s personal maid. We had a good relationship at first, but she started to avoid me as we got older. I think it was because the Demon Lord paid a lot of attention to me. But I don’t know for sure.”
Her theory was plausible.
I knew from our previous conversation that Ozma greatly admired her father.
During her sensitive teenage years, it must have been difficult to have another person vying for her father’s affection, especially a girl who could have been her sister.
While it was just speculation, I now understood why Ozma was uncomfortable around Camilla.
I asked, just in case,
“If you had the chance to have a heart-to-heart with her, what would you do?”
Camilla replied without hesitation.
“I would apologize.”
“Really?”
I decided to create an opportunity for them to talk. It would make things less awkward in bed.
We then chatted about mundane things over refreshments.
We hadn't had much time to ourselves lately, so we had a lot to talk about.
We continued our conversation until Ozma woke up.
***
The chieftain meeting that afternoon was a gathering of powerful figures.
Even I, a former human of the kingdom, recognized some of the names.
There was Gav, the host of the meeting, Medea, the Succubus Queen, Nick Iron, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Gordolf of the Phantoms, Stone King, the giant golem, and many other notable figures.
The main topic of the meeting was the invasion of the human kingdom next spring. My recent achievements were mentioned, which was slightly embarrassing.
With the Hamburg fortress, which had blocked the path to the capital of Oz, now in our hands, the invasion route was clear.
It was only natural that they were discussing a full-scale offensive.
After some debate, the chieftains agreed to provide troops, having settled the matter of who would bear the cost of supplies.
It was a long-held dream of the demons: to end the endless war with the humans.
They were all willing to make concessions for that goal.
The meeting proceeded smoothly and ended on a positive note.
The five-day tribal exchange was finally over.
While there was still a closing ceremony, we didn’t need to attend.
I was about to ask Ozma if we should return to the Demon Lord’s castle immediately or stay a little longer when a Wyvern descended from the sky.
“A message from the Demon Lord!”
A soldier dismounted from the Wyvern and rushed towards me, handing me a scroll.
…To me, not Ozma?
I felt a sense of unease, but I opened the scroll without much thought.
And I froze as I read the contents.
It was a message I had never expected.
“The Hero, who was imprisoned in the dungeon, is dead. Return to the Demon Lord’s castle at once, Kaldrash.”