Chapter 112
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Failure Means Rebellion, Success Means Revolution, But Success Followed by Ruin... (4)
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"Finally, you've ascended to the throne you desired. Prince Sigrion... no, Your Majesty."
Bloody throne, and Sigrion sat upon it just as it was.
Someone approached him.
A young girl with golden hair and blue eyes.
It was Rebecca, the witch who had bestowed the power of demons upon the Immortals and Sigrion.
To be precise, it was her illusionary clone, but neither Sigrion nor the humans of the Immortals had any idea.
In any case, Sigrion scowled at Rebecca as she sauntered in leisurely.
"...We let the king slip away."
"Oh my, what a shame."
She shrugged as if she weren't the least bit sorry.
Seeing that, Sigrion slammed the armrest of the throne and shouted.
"You damn bitch! You knew, didn't you? That the king was a fake."
It was she who had suggested killing his brother, Mire Pacific, first as Sigrion headed for the throne.
Because the king might escape.
"Didn't I tell you not to worry, that I'd catch the bastard? But..."
The king had been a shadow warrior.
There was no way this witch, who had mastered illusion magic, wouldn't have known.
So thought Sigrion.
"It was pretty convincing, though?"
Sigrion wanted to slice off that smiling face with his sword.
But for now, she had granted them power.
And she was the bridge to the mysterious mastermind who shared the demons' strength. So he held back.
"Besides, you weren't all that interested anyway, right?"
"...Tch."
As Rebecca said, it didn't matter if he was the real king or not.
Sigrion had seized the throne and become the new king regardless.
He was just irritated that he hadn't killed his father—the one he'd despised for so long—with his own hands.
"Still, should we try looking for him? I'm worried he might stir up unnecessary trouble."
Rebecca spoke as if she were the concerned one.
He could drag neighboring countries into it by blabbing about demons and coups.
"Doesn't matter. I was planning to attack the neighboring countries soon anyway."
"Pardon? What do you...?"
As Rebecca tilted her head in confusion, Sigrion grinned twistedly.
"Did you think I'd be satisfied with a puny kingdom like this? Shut up and give power to the new recruits we brought in."
Sigrion's eyes gleamed with greed.
Eyes filled with lust for power, dreaming of devouring the neighbors and becoming king of a vast empire.
"...Mm, alright then."
Rebecca nodded without protest despite his overbearing attitude.
'This is getting interesting.'
The escaped Orlando had gone to the ice magic hero he'd met before to reclaim Pacific.
And Sigrion was rampaging, craving even greater power and authority.
Rebecca was immensely curious about how the Pacific Kingdom would end.
'The central councilors will be a pain later...'
The councilors had insisted on secretly turning Pacific into a vassal state of the Mera Federation.
But Rebecca thought differently.
'This way seems more fun, doesn't it?'
This could expose the councilors' identities.
She herself might even become the world's enemy, known as one who sold her soul to demons.
But she didn't care.
Her goals were entirely different from theirs.
"Heh heh, this'll be fun."
"...So, to sum up, a prince named Sigrion led a rebellion of those empowered by demons, and they've swallowed the kingdom whole. That's what you're saying."
And so, a man who was supposedly a king of a nation had come here in shabby clothes and battered armor, escorted by a knight.
"That's right. But... who are you?"
"Pardon?"
Oh, I ended up listening in and chatting without realizing it.
"Don't talk to Instructor Kane, you filthy cur."
"......"
Oof, Miss Lynn is unleashing her sharp tongue without mercy today.
Look at the veins bulging on that guy's forehead.
He's barely holding back his rage.
Well, he did abandon her outright, so it's understandable.
Honestly, I don't like the guy either.
In any case.
If everything that old man said is true...
The Pacific Kingdom is in unprecedented peril right now.
Half-human, half-demon rebels empowered by demons.
And the demons scheming behind them.
A force that only a hero could possibly defeat has occupied the kingdom.
And this isn't just Pacific's problem.
"The neighboring countries are in danger too."
Demons openly granting power to humans.
Honestly, I doubt they'll be satisfied with one small nation.
Pacific's citizens, probably.
And the lands north of Pacific and its neighbors.
Even the barbarians of the Eternal Frozen Wastes, the continent's northernmost reaches—they'll all be prey.
...Depending on the demons' hidden ranks.
This could be a worldwide crisis.
And perhaps.
Just maybe.
It might be connected to the Mera Federation.
"Anyway. So you've come to our adventurer guild branch to make a request?"
That said.
I'm not about to help them blindly.
This is an adventurer guild, after all.
Requests come with commensurate rewards.
But here's the thing.
Does a king who fled his fallen nation even have the means to pay for taking down demons and their minions to save a whole country?
No, he must have some ace up his sleeve to come all this way.
Honestly, if it's about slaying demons and saving a nation, we're the only guild branch with that level of adventurers.
Obviously, he's prepared fitting compensation.
"If you save Pacific, I—I will specially lift Lynn's exile and restore her status as princess of Pacific!"
...?
"How's that? That's quite the reward, isn't it? And specially, to those who help, honorary nobility of Pacific..."
"Hey."
The absurdity made me wonder if I'd misheard.
Then Miss Lynn spoke to King Orlando in a dangerously low voice.
"Get out of my sight right now. Unless you want to die."
"......"
"Sorry about that. Some crazy old geezer spouting nonsense..."
"N-no, it's fine."
Miss Lynn doesn't need to apologize.
The lunatic who thought that was acceptable compensation is the problem.
A king of a nation, and he still talks like that?
Acting like he and his country are something special...
In any case.
Let's pretend this never happened.
Honestly, it's a stretch to say everything demon-related ties to the Mera Federation.
Risking battle with an army of half-breeds just to check? Not worth it.
Orlando threw a fit, yelling about why we wouldn't accept and if we were mocking him.
But one spell from Lynn and he cowered and fled.
...Feels like he'll come crawling back even after we chase him off.
A few rejections and he'll get the hint.
More realistically, he should beg neighboring countries for aid.
Yet he came all the way to distant Hasler.
Because empty titles like honorary nobility won't fly elsewhere.
Simply put, he saw us as free labor.
"Anyway, let's get back to what we were doing."
Since we're not helping, erase it from my mind and return to routine.
I'm swamped as it is, and now this hassle.
I need to contact His Majesty about the Mera Federation and Principal Parus too.
I immediately pull out the dedicated communicator given by the emperor's steward.
—Zzzt—
A bit of static, then...
It connects right away.
[Yes, what is it, Instructor Kane?]
Hm, as expected.
Not His Majesty, but the steward.
"Ah, I have urgent business for His Majesty..."
[Understood.]
Huh? That quick?
No need to ask what it's about?
More importantly.
Isn't His Majesty busy?
[His Majesty ordered to connect you directly whenever possible.]
The steward spoke as if answering my doubts.
Hm... I see.
Feels like favoritism—glad, but burdensome... mixed feelings.
[Hm, you have something to say.]
His Majesty's voice.
I promptly report everything that's happened.
My hypothesis on the Mera Federation.
My hypothesis on Principal Parus.
And just in case, the current situation in Pacific Kingdom and the king's visit to request aid.
What if His Majesty is colluding with them? Why spill everything?
If so, spilling or not, we're in danger either way.
Our nation's emperor allied with demons.
Pretending to be on our side while plotting our deaths?
Spill or not, we're targets regardless.
So no downside to full disclosure.
In any case.
After hearing me out, His Majesty pondered.
[I see. So that's happening in the Mera Federation.]
[As for Principal Parus, I have my suspicions too. I'll look into it with Sir Mercen.]
He said.
Seems he already found Parus suspicious.
Not for nothing is he emperor, despite not being hero or saint.
Truly capable.
[Ah, and about Pacific Kingdom.]
Hm? Does he know something there too?
This emperor is too competent.
[I've already obtained reliable intel on the coup. But demons... who would've thought.]
Apparently unaware of the demon involvement.
Well, as emperor of the continent's largest empire.
He keeps ears on continental affairs.
[This... if used well, we could turn Pacific into an imperial vassal.]
...Hm?
[So, how about you and Miss Lynn testify to Pacific's king?]
Eh?
[That demons have occupied the kingdom. That he requested aid. That gives our empire justification to intervene. Making Pacific a vassal extends our influence north, to the Eternal Frozen Wastes' barbarians and...]
...This emperor.
Never misses a chance, always turns it to national gain.
Truly... too capable.
[I'm counting on you.]
"...Y-yes, sire."