Chapter 305: translated
I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.
Chapter 305
January 10th, 234th year of the Imperial Calendar, 5 AM.
Caesar arrived at the imperial capital Vexilla.
Upon leaving Vexilla Station, the entire world looked colorful. Vexilla was one of the few major cities where the power infrastructure functioned properly, so the multicolored lights were drowning out the starlight.
Perhaps because it had snowed a few hours earlier, it was quite beautiful, like paint splashed across a white canvas.
"It feels like a complete festival atmosphere."
"Because it's the Imperial Province's greatest holiday."
After all, it was the monumental day when the first Emperor hunted the evil dragon and unified the chaotic continent.
Today was the day when even the Emperor and priests, who normally preached about being diligent and sincere, encouraged people to enjoy themselves, so it was certain that drunkards hiding from their wives' nagging would be gulping down alcohol from early morning.
Merchants were out from dawn, sweeping snow in front of their shops and preparing for business to welcome drunkards, those intoxicated by alcohol and the atmosphere, and children who would beg their fathers for toys.
Slap!
Just then, the sound of someone slapping a cheek came from somewhere. Caesar saw a green-haired maid fallen on the ground. It was Hiya, Pio's younger sister.
"Your brother has truly done something stupid."
"......"
Hiya merely wiped the blood from her lip with the back of her hand without giving any response.
"Take her away for interrogation immediately. There's no way Pio suddenly went mad and bit me. She must know something."
"Yes."
As soldiers dragged Hiya away, Gloria's fingers twitched.
"Stop it. It's not the right time to intervene yet."
"Weren't we supposed to help?"
"Yes. But not now."
What Caesar had ordered Pio before leaving was to safely release Aurora from the underground prison. It was only right to repay those who trusted and followed Caesar.
Of course, Pio's identity being exposed during Aurora's rescue was not part of the plan. If Pio's identity was exposed, it was natural that Hiya would be in danger.
'What exactly happened?'
Just then, Count Vex approached Caesar with a sharp look on his face.
"You, are you possibly involved in this incident?"
Caesar used psychometry on Count Vex.
-Did that Pio fellow collude with Caesar?
-Come to think of it, I had Pio investigate Caesar's background.
-They might have coordinated then.
Count Vex suspected Caesar, but had no clear evidence. Caesar feigned ignorance and said:
"I don't exactly understand what you're saying."
"My daughter has been kidnapped."
Huh? What nonsense is this? Why would Olivia, not Aurora, be kidnapped?
"You know nothing about this?"
"Who supposedly kidnapped her?"
-She was kidnapped by Aurora and that Pio fellow.
-Damn those sons.
-Not only did they lose Aurora, but they also just watched as their youngest sister was kidnapped from inside the mansion.
As Count Vex watched, Raven and Gloria also looked at Count Vex with expressions showing they knew nothing, causing Count Vex to click his tongue.
"Tsk, seems like you truly know nothing."
Count Vex got into his carriage and said:
"It seems we'll have to travel separately. Let's meet in front of the Imperial Palace a little later."
The carriage door closed forcefully and quickly disappeared.
"What on earth is going on?"
"I don't know either. I doubt Pio would do something as stupid as revealing his identity, let alone kidnapping Olivia."
"What happens to Lady Aurora then?"
"I don't know, I haven't received any communication."
"Don't you have some means to contact them?"
"Yes. If we go to the Knight Night Vexilla branch, we should be able to talk to Brother Eric. First, we need to find a carriage, but..."
Raven exhaled deeply and said:
"Finding a carriage at this dawn hour is going to be a challenge in itself."
Just then, a carriage stopped in front of Caesar.
"What's this now?"
The carriage door flung open, revealing a familiar man. It was Aldo, Caesar's oldest brother. Aldo spoke with a grumpy expression:
"What are you doing? Don't dawdle, get in."
"Brother, what brings you here?"
"I heard from that Eric fellow a few days ago that things had gotten complicated. He asked me to get a proper explanation from you. So don't draw attention and just get in."
"The world must have really changed. You coming to pick me up and all."
"Are you not getting in? Then I'll just leave."
Caesar quickly climbed into the carriage.
"Of course I am. Where else can I lean on in difficult times if not family?"
"I'd be thankful if you just didn't speak."
***
Aldo began his story with a wide yawn.
"That Pio fellow was secretly escaping with Lady Aurora when Lady Olivia caught them. Somehow he must have persuaded Lady Olivia, because she ended up eloping with them."
"This story feels extremely abbreviated, doesn't it, Brother?"
"That's all I heard. Eric said he couldn't explain it more accurately than that."
When Caesar probed Aldo's mind, it was as he had explained. Lady Olivia, for whatever reason, had fled from the Count's household and was traveling together with them.
"So at least she wasn't kidnapped, is what you're saying."
"From the Count's perspective, it is kidnapping. No, it must be kidnapping."
"What exactly does that mean?"
"When Lady Olivia was leaving the Count's residence, the eldest and second sons were"
"They were enjoying a party at the villa. Without their fearsome father around, they probably thought, 'If not now, when will we get to have fun?'"
With sons like that, Count Vex's nerves must be even more on edge. They were just drinking away without even knowing their sister had disappeared. Raven tilted her head as if she couldn't understand at all.
"Why exactly did Lady Olivia behave that way? There's no context."
"Lady Olivia is, what, 18 years old? Or was it 19? At that age, just seeing a wheat field swaying in the wind can make one's heart flutter and change."
"I wasn't like that though?"
Caesar said as if dumbfounded.
"If you had been a sensitive and emotional girl like Lady Olivia, would you have been able to become an archmage?"
Raven nodded as if instantly convinced.
"Well, that's true."
"More importantly, did Pio act that way even knowing his sister would be in danger if his identity was revealed?"
Aldo shrugged and said:
"Well, there must have been unavoidable circumstances. You can hear the details when you meet Pio."
This is quite troublesome. Rescuing Hiya was supposed to be for later... Count Vex, who was severely bitten by the dog he raised, won't just let this go.
"Currently, Lady Olivia is cooperating with Pio and heading to Shalibi with Aurora. Communication will be difficult for the time being. Recently, bandits have realized that power lines are worth money. They've been tearing down telephone lines connecting each city and selling them to junk shops."
"So there's absolutely no means to contact Vex province now?"
"Right now, mail is more reliable than telephones or telegrams. Of course, if train bandits steal it, that's useless too."
"The world is truly in decline. End times indeed."
With telephones and telegrams cut off, the conditions for warlords to divide territories are almost complete. Since the Emperor's influence can't reach through telephones or mail, those who think they're somewhat important in their regions will declare independence.
'Once Hilos reveals all the Emperor's weaknesses...'
Aldo pulled back the curtain to glance outside, then spoke:
"Anyway, we're almost there."
Caesar pulled back the curtain to look outside. No matter how he looked, there were no hotels in sight, only a gloomy alley without a single street lamp.
"This isn't where we're staying, is it?"
"Where you'll stay will be decided by someone else, not me."
"Who?"
As the carriage stopped, Aldo opened the door with his cane.
"You'll find out when you go to that tavern."
A shabby tavern entrance emitting murky light was visible in the gloomy alley.
"So it wasn't Brother Eric who sent you."
"It's true that Eric asked me to explain things, but there was someone else who asked me to guide you here."
"Who?"
"You'll know when you meet them."
You'll know when you meet them. Judging by how that ill-mannered Aldo is speaking respectfully, it must be someone extremely important... Caesar felt he could guess who had summoned him without even using psychometry.
As Caesar got out of the carriage, he focused on his hearing. There were many knights standing guard around the tavern, concealing their presence. Caesar detected as many as 20 of them. They were all knights strong enough that Gloria could easily steam them for dinner.
"Caesar."
"Raven, I know."
There aren't many people in Vexilla who could secretly command that many knights. Among them, if it's someone who wants to meet Caesar secretly, the range narrows to one.
Caesar opened the tavern door and entered. Immediately, he saw an old man sitting at the bar table, drinking. The old man spoke without even turning around.
"You're later than I expected."
"The schedule got quite tangled."
"I'm concerned my plans might be getting tangled as well."
Caesar sat down beside the old man and said:
"There won't be any problems, Your Excellency Hilos."
Hilos glared at Caesar with sharp eyes.
"Since when did you become so soft? The you I knew wasn't someone who would speak such flattering words."
Hilos' eyes had become sharper than before. Dark circles had settled under his eyes as if he hadn't slept properly, and his skin was rough. It meant he was under a lot of stress.
"I see you came with Count Vex. What were you thinking, bringing him here?"
"I made a deal with the Count. I told him if he helps with this matter, I'll give him justification for independence."
Hilos' eyes narrowed.
"Don't tell me you sold my name?"
"No. I haven't even explained the plan yet."
"You invited Count Vex here without explaining the plan? How did you persuade that strict man?"
"Count Vex has been looking for justification to declare independence from the Empire. If Your Excellency provides Count Vex with justification for independence, he will buy time until Your Excellency Hilos can evacuate."
"That's just speculation, not certainty, isn't it? Count Vex doesn't seem like the type to simply go along with your plans."
"That's why Your Excellency needs to help a little."
"Now you want to use my power?"
"In any case, you'll need Count Vex's help to achieve what you want. You must participate as well."
"What exactly do you think I want?"
Caesar poured liquor into the empty glass in front of him and said:
"To destroy Michael Goldmile."
Behind him, Gloria and Raven, who had been listening quietly, could be felt flinching in surprise. In contrast, Hilos looked into Caesar's eyes without showing any sign of surprise.
"How did you know that my target was the Emperor?"
"I wasn't certain. I just made an educated guess."
"Didn't you think I might be a dreamer consumed by ambition like Count Vex trying to establish a new country, or that I might be trying to ascend to the Emperor's throne by pushing aside the Emperor and Crown Prince?"
"If that were the case, you wouldn't have requested asylum from the Arch Duke. Revealing the Emperor's weaknesses would gain Your Excellency Hilos nothing."
Of course, Caesar could infer this through Hilos' actions revealed in the Valent saga; if Hilos had applied for asylum without any prior information, it would have been quite troublesome. Because Hilos had no reason to betray the Emperor.
"Of course, I don't know the details. Why are you targeting the Emperor?"
"That's something you don't need to know."
Hilos drank his liquor in one gulp and poured another.
"You just need to know that my target is Michael himself."
Is he telling me not to dig deeper? But that only makes me more curious. As Caesar was about to use psychometry, Hilos glared at him with sharp eyes.
"Don't even think about reading my thoughts, Caesar."
Caesar's expression froze.
"What did you say?"
"You're a doppelganger who can use psychometry, aren't you? I'm telling you not to try to read my past."
Caesar glanced at the mirror attached to the front of the bar. Raven showed no change in expression, but Gloria was trying her best to hide her bewilderment.
"Who told you that rumor?"
"Elijah told me so. He said you are a doppelganger who can use psychometry, so I should be careful."
That bastard Elijah is spreading rumors everywhere. Well, if it reached Count Vex's ears, it's no wonder Hilos would know too.
"Do you believe that?"
"The more I investigated you, the more unresolved questions I had. A wandering knight who didn't show much achievement during the Demon Realm War suddenly became one of the five most powerful knights in the Empire. No matter how rationally I thought about it, it was a mystery that couldn't be solved, but if you're a doppelganger, it makes sense."
Hilos glanced at Gloria sitting behind and smiled.
"Ah, perhaps this was something Lady Gloria didn't know?"