77
I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.
Chapter 77
Andras patrolled the burned-down Sodom as soon as the sun rose.
The fire chief bowed to Andras.
"Have you come out, Mayor?"
Andras looked at the firefighters who were desperately trying to control the flames and rescuing victims, and said:
"Yes. How bad is the damage?"
"Due to the demons' rampage yesterday, the eastern, southern, and central parts of Sodom were severely damaged. It will take at least 3 months just to clear the debris."
Andras clenched his fist tightly.
Three months to clear the debris.
How many more years would it take to rebuild the buildings?
"I understand. Thank you for your hard work."
"Thank you for coming out."
"No. Your efforts are significant."
After patting the fire chief's shoulder, Andras got into his carriage.
Then, a huge snake sitting in the carriage raised its head and spoke to Andras.
-Did you lose quite a few demons?
Andras politely bowed his head.
"...Yes. That is correct, King of Niflheim."
-Whose doing is this?
"I cannot determine that yet. However, judging from the traces of succubi and incubi left behind, it appears the demon tribe was definitely involved."
-Succubus... I didn't know their magic could be so fatal to us.
Andras spoke carefully.
"Your Majesty, may I make one request?"
-Do you want revenge?
"Yes. The demon tribe will launch a surprise attack to rescue their captive comrades. So..."
-Impossible.
Andras's fist tightened.
"May I know the reason?"
-For the greater good. If we cause problems in the Dior Kingdom, the religious orders are likely to intervene. Now is not the time to act. And your true target of revenge might not be the demon tribe.
"Can you explain what you mean?"
-There are rumors that the old emperor has ordered some trustworthy knights to conduct an operation in the Dior Kingdom. This incident might be related to the imperial court.
The snake began to close its eyes.
-So clearly identify your enemy and act. Do not let your revenge blind you and splatter dirt on Niflheim's picture.
Andras bowed his head.
"Understood."
Andras's gaze subtly changed.
"An imperial operation..."
Andras doubted whether he could trust the king's words.
He felt like the king was trying to divert the target of revenge from the demon tribe to the imperial court.
However, there were definitely some truths in the king's words.
Identify the enemy clearly and act.
Andras said to the coachman:
"Tell the boys to capture all knights who entered the Dior Kingdom and interrogate them to gather all useful information."
The coachman's eyes turned pale purple.
"Understood. King of Sodom."
***
Caesar yawned widely and rose from the swaying wood pile.
Homigraph was visible in the distance.
Caesar said to the coachman:
"Thank you. I rested well thanks to you."
"Hoho. It's nothing."
Caesar handed the coachman a 100 del bill.
"This is a small token of my gratitude."
"Oh, I wasn't expecting anything. Thank you."
Thank you, indeed.
Rather, Caesar was grateful.
Thanks to the old coachman's poor eyesight, he thought Caesar was just a strong young man.
Thanks to this, he could come from the border to Homigraph very comfortably.
Caesar glanced at the coachman examining the bill, wondering if it was a 100 del or 10 del bill, and then walked leisurely towards Homigraph.
From a distance, Homigraph seemed to be in a somewhat excited atmosphere.
There were quite a few children and women among the carriage processions heading to Homigraph.
'What's going on?'
Although the end of the war was declared, outlaws were still roaming outside the city.
Yet women and children were traveling by carriage, not train.
Seems like something special is happening in Homigraph.
Naturally, Caesar pushed open a small side gate where only guards were allowed, instead of the long main gate.
"Chu, loyalty! No more being on guard!"
"Right. What happened while I was away? Why does Homigraph seem so excited?"
"Ah! The wizards are returning!"
Now I understand.
How often would one get a chance to see wizards who live their entire lives inside Sapientia or the Magic Tower?
Seeing wizards who participated in the war would be even rarer.
"Okay. Thank you."
"Yes! Please take care! Oh, would you like to borrow a carriage?"
"I'll just walk. To enjoy the city's atmosphere as well."
Caesar put on his hood and used wind reading.
-Seems the war really has ended. The wizards are returning.
-When did they say they'd come? Was it a week later?
-Yes. That's why it's so busy right now.
-I'm worried the demon tribe might attack again, like last time.
-Back then, there were no wizards to protect the ships. Now security has become more thorough.
Even after having their main base raided by the demon tribe, they're still traveling by ship.
Should I say the emperor is bold, or is he politically threatened and thus forced to proceed?
My rebellious nature is starting to stir.
Should I have the black pigeon probe around as well?
'Forget it. As long as there are no demons on the ship.'
-Didn't the heroes' group go to see the emperor first?
-Yes. Everyone except the Barbarian Knight Barre went.
-Didn't the hero say something strange during the public speech? That the war with the demon tribe isn't completely over?
-It's just something said. He might mean that although we've pushed the demon tribe to the corner of their realm, they could invade again someday.
-No. Look at the Eileen River incident. Would such a thing happen if the war with the demon tribe was over?
-Well... That's true.
That guy Yan is still sharp.
This is why power holders dislike him.
What was printed in the newspapers was sanitized; the real story was probably different.
Maybe he said something about continuing the war with the demon tribe?
Various other stories began to fill Caesar's ears.
-Cleaning up outlaws around Homigraph has begun.
-Talk of temporarily hiring wandering knights is circulating.
-Some nobles went bankrupt. Apparently, they couldn't handle war expenses.
-Delays in compensation payments might be the reason. Now nobles are collectively protesting to the emperor.
-Rumors are circulating that Sir Caesar has disappeared again. Maybe he's gone to fight demons?
-Homigraph has been designated as the third-best city for public security after the imperial capital and Sapientia.
-All proposals by the Homi faction have been rejected. How amusing.
Times are changing.
Some made money from the war, while others lost money.
Those who profited are mostly privileged elites close to the emperor, while nobles who jumped in for honor and justice are beginning to go bankrupt, unable to handle expenses.
The knights led by these nobles are becoming wandering knights seeking new lords, but other families are already struggling with financial blockades.
Wandering knights who have lost their lords have two choices:
Either swallow their pride and become knights of wealthy non-nobles,
Or maintain their pride and live in poverty.
At the moment knights start harboring discontent and returning war veterans become outlaws due to war trauma and poverty,
The scenario of veteran soldier rebellion begins.
'Time flies.'
The scenario flow is indeed progressing rapidly.
Well, considering we're settling four years of karma, this seems reasonable.
Hasn't everything been prepared for such a moment?
During the Barre period, I didn't have the networks I've now built everywhere, and Caesar himself has grown.
I've prepared as much as possible, so now I just need to respond.
Lost in thought while walking, he suddenly arrived home.
Caesar knocked on the door while removing his hood.
"Come here!"
Finally, home.
***
Caesar sat smoking a cigar, watching children energetically running around Gloria's front yard.
"So these are all children who were sold?"
Gloria slightly nodded.
"Yes. After investigation, we found that in various parts of the imperial realm, there are people who either abandon children they can't raise or sell them to make money."
"Tch... Why are there so many bastards that make me want to grab an axe."
No matter how harsh the world is, how can parents sell their children?
People get criticized for abandoning puppies, yet they sell children to a freak show circus.
Is poverty a crime, or does poverty reveal one's true nature?
The more you ponder, the more your head hurts.
"So what will happen to these children?"
"For now, the Bellum Viscount family is promoting the establishment of an orphanage. Father is helping."
Caesar took a drag of his cigar and spoke:
"Will the Bellum Viscount family alone be enough? Once you establish an orphanage, requests to take in children will come from everywhere."
Caesar cut his cigar and put it in his pocket.
"Tell the Viscount I'm putting in shares too. I'll also pressure the Homigraph council to provide welfare project funds."
Gloria's eyes sparkled with genuine emotion.
"Thank you, Master."
"I can only help this much. Since you've decided to care for these children, you must take responsibility to the end. Which means..."
"We'll need a lot of money. I know. That's why I wanted to say..."
Gloria extended both hands to Caesar.
"Since we've finished this job well, please give me an incentive."
A ridiculous laugh escapes him.
"My disciple has now even acquired shamelessness?"
"It's not like money is going to come from just one place. I need money to feed and clothe those children, and I also need money to upgrade my equipment. Now I really feel like the fire is at my feet."
"You have the talent to live life in hard mode. From living as a mafia boss to now being an orphanage director."
"If I had known it would turn out like this, I should have held onto that mafia boss role. Back then, I earned a lot of money."
"If you had, you might have had your head split by my blind axe."
"Oh, is that so?"
Gloria and Caesar looked at each other and chuckled.
"Let me talk to Hudson once. I'll try to squeeze out a lot of money."
Knock knock!
At that moment, Harrison entered Gloria's house.
"Sir Hudson has arrived."
"They say even a tiger comes when you speak of it."
Caesar waved his hand at Gloria and said,
"Then I'll see you at evening training later."
Gloria's eyes sparkled like gold.
"Yes. Earn a lot of money!"
An involuntary laugh escaped.
***
Caesar sat across from Hudson and drank tea.
"You've worked hard. Lord Caesar."
"Well, it was quite tough."
Caesar deliberately placed a newspaper from a few days ago on the table.
The front page was titled [Sodom Receives Judgment of Sin] with a photo engulfed in flames.
Hudson glanced at the newspaper and opened his mouth.
"What happened in Sodom?"
"Let's start by telling me everything you know. I'll correct you."
Hudson's expression became slightly subtle.
"You seem quite different from when I first saw you."
How politely he rephrased what could have been said as ‘you've become insolent’.
Is it Hudson's great patience?
Or is the situation so bad that he needs to be accommodating?
I'm a bit curious.
Caesar used psychometry.
"That's especially true when I have many cards in my hand."
Hudson began organizing his thoughts while drinking tea.
-Just as others said, this won't be easy.
-They say when a journalist holds a teacup and cigar instead of an axe, he becomes a politician and businessman.
-Was it right for me to come?
-I must thoroughly investigate what happened in Sodom this time.
-Let me push forward in my own way.
"Lord Caesar. This is for the imperial nation. I would appreciate it if you could be as diligent as possible."
Oh, this is a threat.
When Hudson held a sword, he was good at protecting the vanguard reliably.
He also shows infinite loyalty to his lord.
But it seems he has no talent for verbal sparring.
"When you say imperial nation, do you mean His Majesty the Emperor? Or are you referring to the subjects?"
"The path for the Emperor is the path for the subjects. Just as the dragon's head must observe its surroundings carefully so that the tail and body are not harmed."
"So, can I say that everything I convey will go directly to His Majesty?"
"Of course."
"Then I'll go directly to His Majesty and speak to him. There's no need for Lord Hudson to go through this twice."
Hudson's fist clenched.
"Don't you think that's a bit rude?"
"That's because it's such an important matter."
Caesar pulled out a photo from his inside pocket and showed it.
There was a photo of Baron Brahe with monster tribes imprisoned in iron cages.
"...What is this?"
"This is Baron Brahe, a nobleman from the Dior Kingdom. He operates a Freak Show and was planning to display monster tribes as spectacles at the Sodom Grand Theater on the day Sodom burned."
Caesar then pulled out Freak Show flyers and various promotional materials.
[Come and watch the miserable end of monster tribes that tormented humanity at the frontlines of the demon realm!]
[From succubi who drain male vitality, incubi who seduce virgins, to vampires who drink fresh blood! You can see them all!]
Caesar observed Hudson's expression.
Hudson was making a face as if it was nothing.
-I know about the information of hosting a Freak Show for monster tribes.
-But this photo... Is too perfect.
-This is perfect evidence.
"I was already aware of this much."
"But you didn't have clear evidence, right?"
Caesar took back the photo.
"...Do you have the original film?"
"Yes, here."
Caesar shook the film canister.
"This much is free. If you want to hear more interesting stories, please explain exactly what you can give me."
"I'll judge after you give me the film."
This is why journalists don't work.
While Hudson might be a loyal journalist, he's clearly not someone who communicates well.