Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Negotiation (2)
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After deciding to step out into the negotiation arena on his own.
[Can you hear me?]
The voice of Chief Adjutant Akkamond transmitted through the necklace I was wearing.
[All your conversations and actions will be visible to us through that necklace.]
"Yes."
The bomb necklace didn't just serve as a bomb.
[We won't say a word, but every sound you make will be transmitted directly to us. Even the scenes visible through the necklace.]
A miniature camera equipped with recording capabilities.
And even a bomb attached.
[How does it feel?]
"It makes me think magic is truly amazing."
[......Good grief.]
Chief Adjutant Akkamond let out a hollow chuckle.
[There are other executives here. Some are eager to watch your actions, while others haven't even shown up.]
The voices of the other executives weren't audible.
[And even the Vampire Princess is watching directly.]
But considering that this negotiation was essentially being broadcast to the entire Vampire Legion, there was all the more reason to give it my all.
[Just cross that dimensional gate, and you'll be in Baron Gilbert's territory.]
I glanced left and right.
In case adventurers might burst out from the other side, the succubi stood ready to protect me, and Lilith was on standby to cast spells.
[Preparations?]
"I've made every possible preparation."
Especially creampieing.
Before coming here, before even putting on my suit, I'd quickly creampied Eris.
"I'll show you the rest with my actions."
[Good. ...Hm?]
Chief Adjutant Akkamond was speaking with someone.
[Indeed... The captain of the 3rd Legion says. Whether you'll step forward with just the name 'Azazel.']
I didn't know who the captain of the 3rd Legion was.
But it was encouraging that they knew my name.
"Is there a problem with my name?"
[It's just a name, isn't it?]
"Can't a demon make their existence crystal clear to others with just their name alone?"
[That's true enough, but the opponent is human. We all have surnames too. We prioritize our egos over family names, so we go by our given names.]
"......I didn't know that."
Who would've thought demons had their own surnames.
Well, surnames are inherited from previous generations, after all.
"I see. If we leverage a family name, it might pressure even a noble like the baron."
[Exactly. So, about that... what was it. Ahem.]
Suddenly, Chief Adjutant Akkamond cleared his throat awkwardly.
[How about using your... old family name?]
"......?"
I wondered what that was about, but I wasn't clueless.
"Your Excellency, Chief Adjutant. I discarded my family name the moment I knelt before the Vampire Princess. I am no longer who I used to be."
My modern-era surname was still a surname, so it wasn't a lie.
'To go this far for me.'
Chief Adjutant Akkamond had been trying to package me as nobility.
If it later came out that I was a commoner, it would deal a political blow to him too, yet he defended me in front of the other executives.
"But if a family name is truly needed, might I humbly request one surname that I could claim before humans?"
[......Hmph. Suddenly asking the most important question.]
There was a long silence, as if this answer hadn't been anticipated.
[That's... Ah, the Vampire Princess has spoken.]
"The Vampire Princess...?"
[She says you should decide your own surname.]
"......."
Something enormous—politically complex—seemed to flash through my mind.
A surname.
If I took the name given by a certain executive, it would tie me to them.
But letting me choose my own meant the Vampire Princess was granting me the autonomy to create one.
"Understood. Thank you."
I nodded lightly and stepped forward.
[At that moment, in a certain room of the dungeon in the outer forest of Baron Gilbert's territory.]
"......."
Baron Gilbert scanned the fairly spacious cavern of the dungeon alongside more than a dozen knights, eyes fixed on the gray mist.
There were no monsters.
They had already been cleared out by the knights.
All that remained was a single table in the center and two chairs.
A makeshift wooden table and chairs, hardly befitting nobility.
Baron Gilbert found the mere idea of sitting in such a chair distasteful, but he wasn't the type to splurge on something that would 'break' anyway.
Consideration for the opponent?
If there was any, the opponent would sit in it.
From the start, the opponent was a demon.
There was no way a demon would sit properly in such a chair; if they did, they'd probably smash it with a thud.
They might even use the table as a stool.
Setting up this table was mere formality for show.
If that legion truly wanted to talk, they'd at least send a demonkin.
He couldn't pinpoint which legion, but he hoped it was the Vampire Legion or the Demonkin Legion.
Negotiating with beasts or undead would be awkward in many ways.
"What ridiculous thoughts I'm having."
Tick-tock.
The time had come.
While lost in thought, the appointed time had arrived.
Vrrr.
The dimensional gate shimmered.
Something was clearly crossing over from the dungeon's far side, and the knights drew their swords from behind, aiming at the gate.
Step.
Shoes emerged.
Baron Gilbert immediately recognized they were no ordinary shoes.
Swish.
A black suit, but the fabric's weave was far finer and more labor-intensive than his own at a glance.
And the face.
Wearing a mask, but holding his head high, scanning left and right—an unidentified—
"Demonkin."
Baron Gilbert calmly pointed ahead.
"Do you seek negotiation?"
"......."
The demonkin walked leisurely toward the chair.
Ignoring the knights aiming swords at him, he sat facing the baron with utmost composure.
"Who are you?"
"Before introductions."
What emanated from the mask sounded somewhat like a human voice.
"Are you Baron Gilbert?"
Such natural condescension.
Utterly rude, but Baron Gilbert quickly sized up the demonkin from head to toe.
"I am."
An antique suit.
Classic feel, but probably worth a fortune.
At the very least, not some low-rank.
The blood-red magic stone embedded in the necklace around his neck alone looked like a masterfully crafted top-grade stone.
"I see. As rumored, you look the part of a man. Heh."
But he wouldn't be fooled.
Demons were the type to say whatever pleased human ears.
"Are the subordinates around you trustworthy?"
"What?"
"The kind who can hear our conversation here without issue?"
The masked demonkin gestured around.
The knights flinched with frowns, and Baron Gilbert felt the same.
"Trying to drive a wedge between me and my knights?"
"Drive a wedge? Is that how it sounded? Odd. Humans from 'before' were different."
"...'Before'?"
Baron Gilbert felt a chill run down his spine.
Had this demonkin negotiated with humans like this in the past?
"Well, ancient history. No need to dwell. So, are you open to negotiation?"
"......Jake Gilbert. My half-brother."
Baron Gilbert asked.
"What happened to him?"
"He's alive."
"......."
"But if you wish, he can become a 'dead man.'"
"......."
For a moment, Baron Gilbert recalled the letters he kept safely in his lord's office.
"...Knights."
"Yes, my lord."
"Sir Phillip stays. Everyone else, withdraw."
"Yes?!"
"We cannot allow that!"
The knights other than the one called Phillip all raised their voices.
"We don't know what tricks that one might—!"
"Oh dear. I thought knights swore loyalty to their lord. Are knights disobeying their lord's command?"
Baron Gilbert almost wanted to applaud the demonkin's words.
Of course, deep down, it was because these knights cared for Jake Gilbert, with whom he'd been close.
Thus, they couldn't delve into negotiation specifics.
Only knights who could be trusted to hear would stay, not blab carelessly—
Or even lie to their comrades.
Fortunately, Sir Phillip could handle both, as 'his man.'
Step, step.
The knights departed.
They all eyed the masked demonkin curiously, heads tilted, but kept swords unsheathed.
Step.
After the last knight left the room, the masked demonkin delicately placed both hands on the table.
"Then, shall we have a more intimate conversation."
"Hold on."
Baron Gilbert raised a hand to silence the demonkin.
"Who are you?"
"Me?"
"Yes. I am Blake Gilbert. Head of House Gilbert, Baron Gilbert, and half-brother to Jake Gilbert, whom you hold hostage. ...Who are you?"
"As for me...."
In that instant.
"Dandelion."
Baron Gilbert felt the eyes behind the mask curve like crescent moons.
"Azazel Dandelion. 37th head of the great Dandelion family, and servant to the lord of our great legion."
"......."
"And at the same time, the one granted full authority for negotiations with you by my lord."
The masked demonkin, Azazel Dandelion, fiddled with his red necklace as he continued.
"Depending on what you desire, I can let Jake Gilbert live, kill him, or lock him away forever in our legion's underground prison."
"......!"
"What do you want?"
Even knowing demon whispers were sweetened to seduce.
"A benevolent lord who wants to kill his half-brother but can't do it himself, abandon him but can't bear to, strives desperately to save him despite unavoidable circumstances?"
"......."
"If you wish, I can make it so."
The demonkin.
The devil whispered sweet temptation.
"I, Azazel Dandelion."