Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Demon King's Army Legion Commander Hero Sage (4)
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Aslan Kingdom's King Liberal II continued his discussions with his ministers on how to recapture Mir City.
"We can't issue a mobilization order! It'll harm not just the lords, but the common folk too!"
"When assaulting the Demon King's Castle, quality of troops matters more than numbers!"
"Ask the Empire for reinforcements!"
Some of the nobles were still stubbornly opposing the conscription of troops.
Because of them, the gathering of soldiers was proceeding slowly.
Didn't they understand that they couldn't give the enemy time?
The king was frustrated.
With these foolish ministers.
"Your Majesty, a diplomatic envoy has arrived from the Demon King's Castle."
A knight's report came in during the meeting.
"A diplomatic envoy from the Demon King's Castle?"
"What diplomacy from some demon scum! Execute them and sever their heads at once!"
"Blasphemy! How dare they send such heretics!"
Liberal II gestured with his hand.
"Let them in."
"Your Majesty!"
"How can you...!"
It was proper etiquette to receive a diplomatic envoy.
Even if it was from the Demon King's army.
If the envoy turned out to be a demon, the kingdom's knights and priests were more than enough to handle it.
A young man in a robe walked into the conference hall.
Apart from the worn-out robe, he cut a remarkably neat figure.
The blond man, who appeared to be in his twenties, bowed to the king.
"I greet the king."
"Are you the king's envoy?"
"Yes. I am the village chief of Alcom, bearing a letter containing His Majesty's will."
"Village chief...? How curious. At such a young age? Did you borrow some demonic power?"
"I apologize, but this humble servant is an old man who has passed sixty this year."
Murmurs rippled through the room at his words.
Who could see that man as an old man?
It was an absurd lie.
"His Majesty the Demon King bestowed his grace upon me, allowing me to live in this youthful form."
"Speak the contents of that letter."
He was trying to bewitch them with useless prattle.
They couldn't give this sort of man any more chances to speak.
Chalak!
Surrender. Then you and your people will all live.
If not, everyone who resists will die.
Everyone heard it.
Alcom conveying the Demon King's message.
Some nobles fell silent.
Others glanced at the king.
A few nobles grew angry in the king's stead.
One knight reached for his sword.
"Th-this mad...!"
King Liberal II's eyes bulged at the insulting letter from the Demon King.
His eyes turned red from burst blood vessels.
How dare he.
How dare he threaten to kill all the kingdom's soldiers?
"Does the Demon King dare insult us?!"
"This is His Majesty the Demon King's decree. So surrender. It's the path to peacefully resolving everything."
"We tried to endure, but you remain rude to the end. Knights, hear me! Sever the head of that diplomat before you and send it as a gift to the Demon King!"
The king shouted through gritted teeth.
"I will avenge Sir Bergio."
Shring!
The knights drew their swords.
Seeing this, Alcom drew his sword as well.
He knew nothing of swordsmanship, but it didn't matter.
He had come prepared to die.
"To dare resist His Majesty the Demon King—you fools!"
Alcom's eyes gleamed with madness.
It was a visage steeped in insanity.
Even veteran knights recoiled momentarily at the glimpse of Alcom's frenzy.
"Come at me! I'll slay you all and ascend to paradise myself."
The knights' aura-wreathed blades clashed with Alcom's, sparking flames.
"What in the...?"
He was clearly just a commoner who couldn't even wield aura, yet his sword didn't break.
As if the blade had a will of its own, determined not to shatter while fulfilling its duty.
"Uwaaaah!"
Alcom's fight was desperate.
He had no proper technique, but his sword destroyed everything in its path.
It was a savage blade.
Slash!
"Kwaaak!"
One knight's arm was severed.
Alcom's arm flew off with it.
Another knight's armor was sliced away.
Alcom's leg went flying.
Even without an arm and a leg, he kept resisting.
There were no screams.
"Hahaha! I see it! I see it! The paradise His Majesty will guide us to. A world of eternal youth...!"
Alcom's face drained of life as he bled out profusely.
His face full of ecstasy was his final expression.
The knights felt a chill.
They had witnessed the absurd destructive power of attacks that disregarded one's own body.
As Alcom died, black smoke rose from his corpse.
"What is this?!"
Everyone covered their noses and mouths, shielding their bodies.
The knights surrounded the king.
In case it was dark magic, the priests extended their hands, emitting holy power.
Whoosh!
The smoke rising from his body vanished out the window.
"Wh-what in the world...?"
Everyone stared blankly, alternating between the direction the smoke had gone and the corpse.
"You Demon King bastard! Toying with the sacred capital of our kingdom!"
The king was truly enraged.
His fury spread contagiously, and many nobles echoed his voice.
Even those who had advocated for imperial support or opposed sending troops—all united with the king in this moment.
The priests and mages checked for curses or spells, but found no toxins.
"It seems fine for now. It might be poisonous gas, so we need ventilation."
Only after purification did the knights approach Alcom's corpse and sever his head.
"Duke Volpar, mobilize as soon as the troops are assembled."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
"Package that scum's head and send it to Mir Castle as a gift at once!"
No nobles opposed here.
And a few days later.
"All forces, march on Mir!"
The entire army of the Aslan Kingdom moved toward Mir.
I received a report from Ariana that the kingdom's army was on the move.
I had worried it might fail.
'It succeeded. Alcom.'
I confirmed the box delivered to the castle gates, containing Alcom's head.
It was regrettable.
His devotion was that of a perfect subordinate.
"I'll bury you in a good place. We'll remember you. I'll make those who killed you die as miserably as possible."
It was an opportunity forged by his noble sacrifice.
The kingdom's troops, who had been hunkered down in the city on the defensive, were now aggressively marching toward Mir.
Now was the time to send Sage to the kingdom's capital.
She would surely succeed.
"Sage."
"Y-yes, Demon King... sir."
Sage was still awkward calling me that.
"You want Bergio back to normal, right?"
"Yes..."
"Then, how about heading to the kingdom's capital while we're at it."
Sage blinked at me.
"The capital?"
"Where the head rests."
"Ah..."
"I've made preparations, so go. Take Bergio and Vivian with you."
"Okay."
"And if you meet the lying king there..."
"I'll kill him. Liars must die."
"You understand well."
I stroked Sage's head.
She gave a puzzled smile.
As if unsure whether it felt good or not.
"And if you're going, take this route."
I pointed to a mountain path instead of the main road.
The main road was where the kingdom's main force would come.
If the hero encountered them en route, it would ruin our carefully laid plans.
So, I guided her away from the enemy main force's path.
"Got it."
The king wouldn't march out himself.
He'd hope a commander more capable than him would seize the city from the castle.
If the king did march out, I'd handle it.
Otherwise?
The hero would kill Aslan Kingdom's king.
Aslan's crown prince was still too young. Without a proper successor, if the king died, what would become of the kingdom?
It would fracture and collapse in an instant.
The inevitable limit of a medieval kingdom.
King and ministers bound by contractual ties.
The strong would fight over the throne.
The strongest would claim the kingdom anew.
"Go carefully. Don't get hurt."
"Yes, Demon King... sir."
"Bergio would look suspicious as is, so cover him with a hood over his face."
Sage set off with Vivian and Bergio.
I watched Sage's back as she left the castle.
The kingdom's pride, the hero who protected it, fated to bring its downfall.
What irony.
Stabbed in the heart by the sword they trusted.
While Sage diligently carried out her mission, I couldn't just sit idle.
"Villat."
"Yes, Demon King."
Villat, brainwashed by Vivian, bowed his head awaiting orders.
"If we conscript human soldiers, how many can we muster?"
"Currently, we can conscript 500 from Mir City. Many fell in battle against you, Demon King, so it's unavoidable. But including the slums, we could go up to 1,500."
"We've excluded the slums until now?"
"Yes. They were beings without even the right to protection."
"I see. How long to arm them?"
"We're running the forges at full capacity, but it will take considerable time. They won't be ready before the kingdom's army arrives."
"Understood. For now, conscript with the weapons we have and prepare for battle."
"Yes, sir."
Humans and monsters standing together as allies on the battlefield.
The kingdom's army would be horrified.
I smiled, envisioning the upcoming battle.
Strategic simulation.
What could I be better at?
Then, Railey opened the conference room door.
"Demon King, we have guests."
"Guests?"
Who?
At this hour.
As I waved my hand dismissively, Railey nodded, and a group of people entered past her.
"Who are you?"
"W-we are the envoy delegation from Olbets Castle, near Mir."
"Olbets?"
A tiny fiefdom near Mir.
"What is it?"
"O-our lord of Olbets has sent a document surrendering to you, Demon King."
Surrender.
"Lady Vivian, Sage wants to rest."
"We're almost there. See? The Aslan capital."
"Can we rest in the capital?"
"We rest after finishing the job."
"Don't wanna..."
"Don't worry. I'll give you something nice as a reward."
"Sage likes nice things."
Vivian saw it.
Black smoke rising from the Aslan Kingdom's capital.
That must be where Bergio's head was buried.
"Now, let's go meet the real Sir Bergio."
"Okay."