Chapter 100: Hunting Tournament (1)

"There is something, but given that you're not volunteering it and instead asking about criteria, it can't be directly related to the Demon King."

-.......

"Is this report directly related to the Demon Realm?"

-What is the criteria for 'directly related'?

"Enough. The fact ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that you keep asking about the criteria for 'directly related' means it must be ambiguous."

Not directly related to the Demon King. Ambiguous at best whether it's directly related to the Demon Realm. And yet, it's a report important enough that the Emperor must know about it....

The fact that Deon Hart had carried it in his mind left no room for doubt about the information's importance.

The hand messing with the back of his hand grew rougher. At last, red blood showed through the bandages.

The Emperor spun his thoughts without pause and tossed out his words as though muttering to himself.

"A monster problem?"

Given that it wasn't 'directly' related to the Demon Realm or the Demon King yet was something the Emperor needed to know, it was clear this issue pertained to both the human world and the Demon Realm.

A problem common to the Demon Realm and the human world. Monsters (demonic beasts).

-No.

"Then it must be a Boundary Line issue."

-A Boundary Line connected to the Demon Realm has been discovered in the Taehon Kingdom.

Correct.

The Emperor tilted his head to one side.

"A Boundary Line isn't directly related to the Demon Realm?"

-In the current situation, the 'direct relation' I judged was 'information related to war' or 'information related to the demon-race.' My apologies.

"Never mind. I had a general grasp already."

That was why he had been able to produce the correct answer without difficulty.

The Taehon Kingdom was a kingdom in the south, so a Boundary Line in the south... Did they know about it, he wondered.

'Whether they knew or not, it doesn't matter.'

If they knew, the answer of why they hadn't informed the Empire was immediate. If they didn't, that was the end of it.

What mattered was the 'existence of the Boundary Line.' It had always been important, but in the current situation with war against the Demon Realm approaching, it was, without question, extremely precious information.

Moving the hand that had been messing with the back of his left hand to rest it on his sword hilt, the Emperor smiled.

"You've done well."

* * *

As always, the important report passed in the blink of an eye. Not a figure of speech—literally.

-It seems the next time I meet you in person will likely be at the hunting competition.

What? When did the report end? I blinked once and time had skipped forward like that.

That the report was over was certain. The Emperor's words had already transitioned into light, parting conversation before ending the call.

Before I, still dazed, could answer, a voice laced with suspicion came through the communicator.

-Surely you aren't thinking of not participating in the hunting competition.

Answering the Emperor's words came first. I calmly opened my mouth.

"No. I will participate. When is this competition held?"

-In one week. The invitation will have already arrived at the residence.

"Understood. I shall see you in one week."

-I look forward to it. Ah, I do hope you won't arrive with your white clothes dyed red again like last time. I don't particularly mind myself, but it apparently appeared quite fearsome to the eyes of tender-hearted nobles.

Ah, that time... I was scared too.

Right after returning to the Empire, I'd been on my way to the imperial palace for a report when I was attacked by the Revolutionary Army on the way. And as if that wasn't enough, I lost consciousness and came to standing before the Emperor covered head to toe in blood.

I wonder if they were more scared than I was back then.

-If you absolutely must coat yourself in blood, do wear clothes whose color doesn't show it well.

"Huh... sorry?"

-In that vein, I've sent you an outfit. I'd be pleased if you wore it on the day of the competition.

"Pardon?"

-It's red, so you may smear blood on it to your heart's content.

No, I think that's a bit....

-Do you dislike it?

"No. Thank you...."

Power was a thug.

One week passed in the blink of an eye. My attempt to punish Rememver—for having the gall to throw me in front of the communicator connected to the Emperor and then leave—crumbled before a mountain of documents.

I'd barged through the door in full force calling for Rememver, only to see documents strewn across the floor and turn right back around with just as much force....

"Are you... not going to let go of this?"

"At this rate I really will strike an old man. You must fulfill your duties."

"You keep saying old man, old man, but honestly Rememver, you're in good health. A person who flipped and subdued a Revolutionary Army member...."

"Your point has missed the mark. My lord Count, you must fulfill your duties."

"......Please spare me."

"How could I dare try to harm my lord the Count? It frightens me lest someone overhear. Come, come, this way."

And so I was held captive for a full week.

And now, fingering the dark shadows fully stacked beneath my eyes, I let out a deep sigh.

"I don't want to go...."

"You're speaking words that could spell disaster. The host of this hunting competition is His Highness the Crown Prince. If you value your life, I beg you to hold your tongue."

This hunting competition was meant both to deal with the increased monsters and to show off that the Empire had such abundant leisure that it could hold such an event even while fighting a war.

The one conducting it in place of the Emperor, who was rushing back and forth between battlefields, was none other than the Crown Prince.

I had heard that the Emperor would arrive around the mid-to-late part of the competition.

'If the Emperor comes, he'll naturally chat with me too.'

I hate to admit it, but I am one of the Emperor's favorite swords.

So what would the conversation topic be? Wouldn't it naturally be about things related to the Demon Realm? Since this report was done by communicator instead of face-to-face, he might have something more to add or want to hear something else.

"Even more I don't want to g— mph."

"I apologize for laying hands on you without permission. But at this rate I truly fear my lord the Count's head will fall."

Belatedly, I noticed that the hands of the maidservants dressing me were trembling.

Realizing my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mistake, I clamped my mouth shut and gauged the atmosphere. Rememver, having ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dismissed the maidservants with a gesture, approached me. He adjusted the attire given by the Emperor and spoke words bordering on lament.

"Lately, you cause this old man's heart to lurch quite often."

"......."

Without replying, I stared into the mirror and feigned distraction.

A red outfit, the design bordering on a uniform.

A flash of anxiety passed that at this rate, something bloody might really happen on the way, but soon my stream of consciousness drifted elsewhere.

Red, blood, and... war.

Right, war.

"As expected, I must resign."

The war between the human world and the Demon Realm. It was obvious without even looking that I, stuck between the two, was going to suffer.

So far it had been just both sides prodding at each other and testing the waters, so I could endure it, but from here on....

"You would indeed. Now, here is the last piece. Please don this cloak."

"Ah, yes. But before that, my resignation letter...."

"As for the Count's resignation letter, there is probably none written up in advance. This old man has disposed of them all. Shall I match the face mask to red as well?"

"I think that would look strange. Let's just use the white mask as usual. But what did you mean you disposed of them all? Why... no, never mind. I'll write a new one, so bring me paper and pen at once...."

"The shirt is white, so the white mask isn't strange after all. There, preparations are complete. Please hurry and go."

"Yes... no, not that. Rememver!"

Why do you keep interfering!

"My apologies. But in order to protect the Count's neck, there is no helping it."

"......."

I know too. That if I resigned, I'd die instead.

It's not that I just say I'll quit whenever I have a spare moment and then give up the instant it's refused for no reason. It's because I know that if I genuinely insisted on resigning, the other party would kill me.

The Emperor and the Demon King were rulers apart from any fondness they held for me, and I knew my own danger well.

In short, the talk of resigning was just words to voice a hopeful wish. Closer to a complaint... well, something like that.

'If they actually accepted it, that's when I'd be on guard.'

A sigh escaped me. In any case, I had to depart, so I picked up my bag and stepped toward the door. As if trying to lighten the heavy mood, Rememver opened the door for me and said,

"You have plenty of time, so would you not stop by Dan's trading company on the way?"

"Dan ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠has... set up a trading company?"

The man who had visited a little while ago with Deusa tea leaves and then left came to mind.

I'd wondered where he got Deusa tea leaves; was that one of the items his trading company handled? He was quite capable.

"Yes, it's called the Den Trading Company."

"No, clearly... I think it started with teaching swordsmanship, so how on earth did it end up...."

"Talent is originally discovered by trying out this and that. Thanks to it, the Count's residence finances are very abundant."

There had never been a shortage to begin with, though.

It felt strange that someone I'd ended up bringing along had become successful and was helping me. There wasn't any particular bond between him and me.

He had followed me, and I had let him stay at the Count's residence. That was all.

'Ah, I did end up investing in him a bit.'

I climbed into the carriage. Rememver, who came along to guide, told the driver the destination and then sat across from me, and a vibration was felt as if we were departing.

"But are you going to keep carrying that bag yourself?"

"Yes."

Because there's a lifeform in it that anyone could tell isn't from the human world.

I desperately averted my gaze from Rememver's stare.

The trading company we arrived at shortly thereafter was quite a sight.

Put nicely, it was informal. Put badly....

"Customer, our trading company always handles only the finest quality herbs. It's troublesome if you keep insisting like this."

"What's with this? I'm an academy graduate. You think I can't tell herbs apart?"

"Customer, can you guarantee that this herb is truly from our trading company? With your wrist on the line?"

Is this a gambling den...?

Dan was at the center of this chaos.

"Company owner! They say Jukunt Bridge has collapsed! What do we do? Reweche's goods come through that route...."

"Did Bergenne Bridge collapse? Reroute through there."

"Company owner, this troublemaker— no, this customer, please do something about them! They refuse to see reason!"

"It's a pay cut later. Get them inside for now."

I could feel Rememver laughing "Ho ho" beside me.

Having lost words and observed the situation for a moment, I quietly, slowly moved, chasing after Dan. Perhaps thanks to Rememver, or because everyone recognized me, movement was easy.

'Is this the place?'

I leaned my ear slightly against the door and concentrated.

"Look here. I bought these from this trading company, and they're all in terrible condition. Either exchange them, or refund my money."

"Turmeric, Goji berry, dandelion, black nightshade... all herbs from the south. However, there is no record of these being sold together."

"Because I bought them separately!"

There was no problem hearing the contents, at least.

"Well now... even so, there's something rather suspicious here."

"Ha, got proof? Got proof I didn't buy them here?"

"I'm not a crippled dimwit. Come to think of it, there have been quite a few people wary of our rapidly growing trading company lately. Isn't this an attempt to bury us from the start before we get any bigger?"

"Ha, hahahaha. You're writing fiction now."

"Fine. I'll wager my wrist that you didn't purchase herbs here. If you're scared, you can leave."

His voice was relaxed. Dan's words continued.

"If you leave now, I won't ask any questions. But if you keep persisting and it's confirmed your words are false, at that point the place you'll be returning to won't be your house, but the sky."

Was he always that good with words? No, more than that....

I focused on something else. The fact that he no longer called the other person 'customer'.

Dan had already reached certainty.

"You bastard, are you peddling drugs somewhere right now?"

"Where did all that bluster go, leaving only that long tongue? Getting desperate, are we?"

"Desperate? Hahahahahahah! Fine, I'll...."

"Now, wait, wait!"

At this rate, someone was really going to be in big trouble. I hurriedly opened the door and barged inside.

Dan, seeing me, brightened and rose from his seat. The customer, who had looked back at me thinking something was up, also went white as a sheet and shot up.

"My lord Count!"

"Honorary Count Deon Hart...."

"I'm sorry, but I was listening from outside. Was this something that couldn't be resolved with words?"

"We were in the middle of resolving it with words."

"That?"

If that's resolving it with words, then actions...?

I was standing there dazed, at a loss for words, when Rememver's voice was heard from the door.

"Dan, it seems your customer is trying to leave. Is it alright to send them off?"

At some point the customer had reached the door and was fumbling around helplessly in front of Rememver, who was blocking it.

Given their attitude, I'd thought they'd just shove one old man aside with force and leave. That was unexpected.

The moment I thought that, I saw the customer's shoulders. To be precise, I saw Rememver's hand pressing down on the customer's shoulder.

"......."

"The butler was here too. Just send them off. These days, there are many people like that. But more importantly, my lord Count, judging by your attire, this place wasn't your destination. Where are you headed?"

"To participate in the hunting competition."

"The hunting competition...."

Dan's face, which had been thinking deeply about something, brightened as if he had found an answer.

"I heard that you can also bring an aide to the hunting competition."

"Yes, that is true, but...."

I had no intention of bringing anyone. Because I have a bag containing plants from the Demon Realm.

I planned to keep it on my person throughout the competition so no accident occurred the moment I took my eyes off it. Can I really have people nearby?

"Would it not be possible to take me as your aide?"

But when he asked me a favor with eyes so full of anticipation like this, what was I supposed to do.