Chapter 86
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Translator: Xrecker
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Regular Report #2
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After receiving the Demon Lord’s approval for Vanessa and Dorothea to join my team, I immediately went to see them.
Dorothea, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, was delighted at the prospect of traveling with me, but Vanessa, surprisingly, refused.
“Who will look after Princess Ozma if I’m gone?!”
Just then, Ozma herself, who had been standing nearby, spoke up.
“Huh? I’ll be fine.”
“How can you say that?!”
Vanessa, taking off her helmet, looked at Ozma with a betrayed expression, and Ozma, who had been polishing her Hellfire Katana, tilted her head.
“I’ve been managing just fine on my own.”
“But… but I’ve been taking care of you since you were a little girl!”
“Wait, why are you bringing that up now?! People will get the wrong idea!”
Watching them bicker, I wondered if this was the right decision.
While Vanessa was a rare Sword Master and had earned her position as captain of the Demon Lord’s Guard, she also had a clumsy side. I wasn’t sure if she was the right person for a mission as delicate as assassinating King Oscar.
“Hmph! You’ll see! I’ll show you what I can do!”
Vanessa, now sulking, crossed her arms and turned away from Ozma.
While I had initially thought she was the best candidate for the job, I was starting to have second thoughts.
An incompetent ally was more dangerous than a competent enemy.
“I’ll give you some more time to think about it. I’ll see you later.”
I quickly excused myself and left before Vanessa could stop me.
***
While Kaldrash was recruiting his team, Camilla went to the Demon Lord’s office to report on the recent events.
Knock, knock
“Come in.”
She cautiously opened the door and saw Nero sitting on the sofa, playing chess with his right-hand man, Walter Leonhart.
“Oh, Camilla. It’s been a while.”
“Greetings, Lord Leonhart.”
Nero and Walter were old friends.
Walter, well aware of the relationship between Nero and Camilla, was like an uncle to her.
Nero, his eyes on the chessboard, moved his rook.
“So, what brings you here?”
Camilla bowed slightly.
“I’m here to report on the events of the tribal exchange.”
“Ah, go on.”
Having received the Demon Lord’s permission, Camilla took a deep breath to calm her nerves and began to recount everything she had seen and heard while accompanying Kaldrash.
His becoming Ozma’s magic teacher, his fight with Nick Iron, his participation in the martial arts tournament, his fierce battle with Gabriel in his true form…
The part of her report that elicited the strongest reaction from Nero was the news that Ozma seemed to have developed feelings for Kaldrash.
“What?! Ozma?!”
Nero jumped to his feet, knocking over the chessboard.
Any other father would have been furious.
But Nero’s reaction was different.
“That’s… wonderful. I thought she would be single for the rest of her life.”
He was genuinely happy about his daughter’s romantic prospects.
Ozma had been his only worry.
His only daughter, training relentlessly to become the next Demon Lord, had shown no interest in men. It was a cause for concern.
And now, she had finally found someone. It was a great relief.
And that someone was Kaldrash.
If Ozma marries Kaldrash, it will solidify our alliance.
It was a win-win situation for him.
His daughter’s marriage problem would be solved, Kaldrash’s loyalty would be secured, and even if he had to give Kaldrash half the world after conquering it, it would all be in the family.
“Heh heh… hehehehe…”
Nero chuckled to himself, like a villain plotting a scheme. Walter, watching him, muttered,
“He’s off in his own little world again.”
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
“No, Camilla, you don’t have to apologize. He’s always like this.”
Despite Walter’s cynical remarks, Nero was already daydreaming, planning the perfect wedding for the two.
***
A week had passed since the formation of the Demon Assassination Squad, tasked with assassinating King Oscar of the Oz Kingdom.
I had been busy with preparations, but since timing was crucial, we couldn’t launch the operation immediately.
In the meantime, winter had set in.
The weather had turned cold, and most creatures, including demons, were preparing for hibernation. The soldiers’ uniforms had become thicker.
The Hero was dead, but the world remained unchanged.
Unlike the death of a Demon Lord, the death of a single Hero had little impact on the world.
It would be the same in the future.
The names of the defeated were forgotten, while the names of the victors were recorded in history.
Anyway, a lot had happened in the past week.
Dorothea, overcome with lust, had ambushed me in my room, and Ozma had walked in on us, leading to a tense standoff. Vanessa, trying to mediate, had ended up getting caught in the crossfire.
My life was certainly more… dynamic than it had been in the Hero’s party.
While it was mostly for the better, it was also slightly exhausting.
I had always thought my life was a hard-boiled noir, but it had turned into a romantic comedy.
“Phew…”
I finished my morning meditation and wiped the sweat from my brow.
The mana I had absorbed during my breathing exercises had cleansed my body, expelling impurities through my skin.
It was a good habit to maintain, as the smell could be quite unpleasant if I skipped a day. And I always felt refreshed afterwards.
“Good work.”
Camilla, who had entered the room at some point, handed me a towel.
I wiped my face and asked, as I walked towards the wardrobe,
“What’s on the schedule today?”
“Nothing in the morning. You have a lesson with Princess Ozma in the afternoon.”
“Really? Nothing else?”
I buttoned my shirt and put the knuckles in my back pocket.
“Any news from Dorothea?”
“She snuck into your bed last night after drinking too much, but she fell asleep, so I carried her back to her room.”
“Good work.”
I praised Camilla and then checked my appearance in the mirror.
My hair, which had been a buzz cut when I first arrived, had grown quite a bit.
I had considered cutting it, but then decided against it, remembering the old days. They say hair makes the man, and I had been sporting a military haircut for too long.
I applied some gel, slicking my hair back, and then put on my robe. As I was about to leave the room, I remembered something.
“Is today the day?”
Camilla, who had been about to open the door, paused and nodded.
“Yes, it is.”
“Have you thought about it?”
Camilla nodded without hesitation.
“My mind was made up a long time ago.”
“That’s good to hear, but…”
I felt a little embarrassed and scratched my cheek.
“Don’t regret it later.”
Camilla smiled faintly.
“I won’t. I pride myself on being a good judge of character.”
She opened the door and whispered,
“So, look forward to tonight.”
I stared at Camilla, her alluring aura palpable even through her modest attire, and unconsciously bowed my head.
The power of a succubus.
She was truly captivating.