Chapter 296: translated
I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.
Chapter 296
"How very humble."
"I believe there is a reason why you called me. Is it because of the upcoming duel?"
Count Vex nodded.
"That's right. Let's have the duel at 9 AM on January 1st the day after tomorrow. We'll conduct it in the training ground inside my mansion."
"Are you planning to invite journalists?"
"It's already become so famous that I can't not invite them. If it's uncomfortable, I'll have them step back."
This was surely referring to the journalists that Count Vex had already bought. Regardless of the duel's outcome, it would definitely be written unfavorably for Gloria.
Of course, even if they didn't invite journalists, they would diligently take notes as Count Vex said.
"Let's do that."
"Good. And I'm thinking of hosting a modest year-end party tomorrow. Please don't feel uncomfortable and I hope everyone can come. Is that alright?"
Inviting him to a party right before a duel that involves the family's honor?
In one way, it might look extremely generous, but a small-minded person who wants to somehow capture Caesar's weakness through a recording device would not come up with such an idea. There must be another intention. Caesar had deeply inserted psychometry into Count Vex's mind.
-Tomorrow at dawn, definitely make contact between Aurora and Caesar.
-Then it'll be over.
Look, I knew there was some scheme! Caesar had deeply inserted psychometry to precisely find out what kind of scheme Count Vex had.
But could it be because Caesar doesn't know much about Count Vex? He couldn't understand exactly why Count Vex wanted to make Caesar meet Aurora.
'Well, there's another method, so it'll be fine.'
Caesar nodded.
"Understood. Let's do that."
"Good. I'll have Sebastian call tomorrow morning. I hope you enjoy it."
***
After parting with Count Vex, Caesar sipped wine in his room. The reason for drinking was simply because he was bored, and he was bored because he was waiting for someone.
Just then, a knock on the door was heard.
"Come in."
As the door opened, a man wearing a black hood carefully opened the door like a cat. The man removed his hood, revealing his face in the moonlight.
"How have you been? Sir Pio?"
He was Pio, the spy Caesar had hidden in the Vex family. Caesar waved the party invitation he had just received from Sebastian.
"Count Vex is suggesting we leisurely enjoy a party, what's his scheme?"
"Before that, I want to ask you something."
"What? Are you asking if I can definitely save your sister?"
Pio slightly nodded.
"Yes. Tell me your plan to rescue Hiya, and I'll tell you."
"Isn't the document I gave you enough?"
"As you can see, it's all flat land within 5 km of the mansion. From the mansion's top, you can see even a mouse moving. I want to hear how you'll help Hiya escape from a place like this."
"Well, as you said, it seems difficult to escape. But there is a way."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Caesar used psychometry on Pio.
"But you must do it properly. Where's the guarantee that you won't give me false information? What if you were persuaded by Count Vex while I wasn't looking?"
"I'm innocent."
-Is he doubting me now?
-Did I push too hard?
-But if I lose Caesar now, I don't know when I can help Hiya escape.
Like an assassin, Pio's expression and eyes didn't waver, but his emotions were turbulent like a ship encountering a storm.
He needed to gain Caesar's trust, but he couldn't let Caesar make a mistake that would kill or seriously injure Hiya. 'It seems he hasn't been persuaded by Count Vex.'
That doesn't mean he's not resentful. Caesar quickly approached Pio and pulled out the pen stuck in his chest.
"What's the reason for an 'innocent' guy to come in with this artifact?"
Caesar turned and opened the pen. An artifact with a magic stone was revealed. Pio broke out in a cold sweat.
"Oh, no, I...!"
Crack!
Caesar stomped and broke the artifact.
"What were you trying to do with this? Were you some kind of double agent?"
Pio slammed his forehead.
"No! No! No! Sir Caesar! I never intended to do such a thing! I'm truly sorry!"
"Then why did you come to my room with this? Were you trying to catch one of my weaknesses?"
"That, that is..."
Caesar grabbed Pio's collar.
"Hey, isn't the certificate I wrote for you enough? Or did you perhaps get caught with that certificate like an idiot?"
"No! Absolutely not."
"So why did you bring something like this? Explain properly!"
Pio closed his eyes and spoke.
"I was... anxious. If something goes wrong, I need to have a way to survive somehow."
"Do you know why we could trust each other? Because our goals were clear and we had no escape routes. But you were thinking of cowardly escape in front of me. So how can I trust you?"
"That, that is..."
Having learned nothing but theft, having lived more years as an assassin than a knight, he was indeed acting cowardly.
Should this be called the life of the weak?
Or should he call it something else?
'Did this fool really kill Vex?'
It's very different from Pio's spirited appearance shown in the Valent Saga.
'Well, it can't be helped.'
Pio currently has his sister alive.
However, in the Valent Saga, Pio, who asked for help assassinating Count Vex, had no sister. A man filled only with revenge and venom is inevitably different from a man who has something to protect.
"Listen to me carefully now. Tell me everything about what scheme Count Vex is hiding. After hearing it, I'll decide whether to save your sister."
"That's impossible...!"
"If not, I'll go to Count Vex right now with this broken recorder and tell him everything about the nonsense you were trying to pull. Then you'll be in big trouble, won't you?"
Pio's expression hardened.
"This is your last chance. Will you trust and follow me to the end, or will you continue to live cowering before Count Vex? Choose."
Pio thought for a while before opening his mouth.
"I will tell you everything."
"You mean you'll trust me?"
"Yes. That's right. I'll entrust my entire life to Sir Caesar."
Caesar released his collar.
"Good. Then tell me. What is Count Vex thinking right now?"
Pio took a deep breath and then spoke.
"Count Vex has no intention of winning this duel."
***
Contrary to Count Vex's words, the year-end party was grand and luxurious.
"Wow, a champagne fountain..."
Gloria and Raven blankly sipped water in front of the champagne fountain.
Citizens living in the Vex province are dying of hunger, yet such a lavish party exists. It seemed unbelievable, but if described as the appearance of an end time, it was a desperately comprehensible era.
"Would you like a glass?"
When a servant offered Gloria champagne, she made a face like she had bitten something unpleasant and shook her head.
"No. I'm fine."
"Yes. Understood."
Gloria didn't understand why she was here right now. Shouldn't someone who has a duel at 9 AM tomorrow be resting well or training? A party before a duel...
"How long do we have to stay here, Lady Raven?"
Looking at Raven's expression, she also didn't seem to be in a good mood.
"Let's just pass the time and then leave."
Gloria thought it was fortunate to have someone next to her who felt uncomfortable about the party like herself.
Gloria drank water and looked around. All seemed to be knights or nobles. Or perhaps wives and children of those nobles.
They gathered, chatting while adorned in the most expensive clothes and accessories they could wear.
"Look. That seems to be Gloria."
"I heard she collected 11 swords on her way here?"
"Her skills seem quite good... But wait, who is that next to her?"
"Right. That's Lady Raven, the Green-Eyed wizard."
"I'd love to talk to her."
"Stay quiet and don't get marked."
Gloria felt like she was in a zoo, her eyebrows naturally furrowing.
Then, a woman in clean armor parted the crowd and walked towards them. A woman with clean silver hair and deep blue eyes like the ocean. She walked towards Gloria with a straight gaze, and even without armor, her knightly presence was immediately recognizable by her neat posture. Standing before Raven and Gloria, she placed her hand on her chest.
"It's an honor to meet you, Lady Raven. And..."
Her blue eyes turned to Gloria.
"I'm pleased to meet you too, Gloria. My name is Aurora."
Gloria suppressed the exclamation that was about to burst out.
The morning Star Aurora.
A knight who prioritizes justice and fairness, an idol-like figure that numerous female knights dream of.
If considering pure martial prowess, Gloria's idol was the Blue Wolf Bell, but she had always wanted to emulate Aurora's character. Aurora used more than half of her income for the poor and destitute, even operating a charity organization in her own name, truly an angel for the poorest.
That's why Gloria had always thought of becoming a knight like Aurora someday - just and capable of giving to others.
'She's much more impressive than the rumors.'
Every gesture and gaze of Aurora radiated the noble bearing of a knight. Raven slightly bowed her head.
"I'm Raven."
Gloria quickly collected herself and showed respect.
"Oh, I'm Gloria Bellum. Knight of Sir Caesar."
"Yes, I've heard much about you. You've collected as many as 11 swords?"
Gloria gave an awkward smile and scratched the back of her head.
"Ah, well... that happened. Lady Aurora, how many have you collected...?"
"I've never had my sword taken, so I don't know."
"Oh, ah... yes. Of course Lady Aurora wouldn't have such a thing happen."
Gloria wanted to die of embarrassment, burying her face in the champagne fountain.
"More importantly, I heard you operate a foundation for orphans. Is that correct?"
Gloria's eyes sparkled.
"To be precise, I'm more like lending a hand. It's called the Caesar Welfare Foundation, which promotes various welfare projects not just for orphans, but also for homeless and disabled people."
Aurora's gaze resonated with Gloria's.
"Really? How is it operated?"
"We provide dormitories for orphans until they're 15, and afterward provide job opportunities. We also offer various job opportunities and meal services for homeless and disabled people."
"I see. I also have a foundation in my name that provides meals for orphans in the Vex province. However..."
Aurora's expression darkened slightly.
"Recently, sponsorships have been cut off, making it quite difficult."
"What? Really?"
"Still, I'm somehow managing to operate it. I recently sold my house."
"Goodness, to that extent?"
Aurora gave an awkward smile.
"I have a place to rely on, but the children don't."
At that moment, Raven's emotionless voice cut between them.
"Is that why you accepted Count Vex's request this time?"
"Oh, that..."
Aurora tried to say something but then closed her mouth.
"It's difficult to explain all the circumstances."
Aurora immediately shifted the conversation to the welfare foundation, as if she didn't want to discuss this topic further.
"The Caesar Welfare Foundation isn't struggling too much, right? I heard there are many sponsorships from places like Caesar Pharmaceutical Company and Parker Bank."
"Haha... I recently attended a foundation meeting, and I heard that refugees are flooding into Homigraph, making financial management tight. There aren't enough jobs either."
"Is Homigraph also struggling now?"
"Well, it's somewhat better off than Dre. Though... It might be inappropriate to say this..."
Gloria looked around cautiously and spoke softly.
"Martial law has been declared in the Vex province, and men are being forcibly conscripted. In such a situation, operating a welfare foundation is inevitably quite difficult."
Aurora briefly made eye contact with someone beyond Raven. Raven turned around, feeling that distinct gaze, but with so many people around, she couldn't tell who Aurora had looked at.
"I seem to have spoken too much with someone who has a duel tomorrow."
"...May I ask you something?"
Aurora shook her head.
"I know what question you want to ask. But it seems like an answer would be inconvenient."
"...I see."
Aurora extended her hand to Gloria.
"I hope you have a good match tomorrow. May the goddess grant a wise outcome."
"Yes... you too."
Aurora left with those words. Gloria sighed, watching Aurora's retreating back.
"It seems there are some circumstances."
Raven looked at Aurora with a mysterious gaze.
"Yes. It doesn't seem like she wants to be in this duel."
"What reason would make such a good person be under Count Vex?"
"Who knows."
The Ascension Knights surrounded Aurora, blocking her exit from the party venue. Aurora exchanged a few words with the Ascension Knights and then began heading somewhere.
"One thing is certain: the Aurora known to the public might be quite different from the real Aurora."