Chapter 107: In Truth, They Knew (1)
Chapter 107: In Truth, They Knew (1)
"The Demon King has declared war. War is unavoidable."
There was no such thing as a peaceful resolution. The open space turned clamorous in an instant.
He understood. A war with the Demon Realm on top of already clashing with other kingdoms. How were they supposed to replenish lost troops, and where would the funds come from? And what of the soldiers' morale, already worn ragged by consecutive wars?
'Besides, even if the Empire miraculously won the war with the Demon Realm, the other kingdoms would never sit idly by while the Empire had no strength left to wage another war.'
With relations with the other kingdoms already driven to the worst possible state, the Empire's downfall was practically a foregone conclusion.
In a situation where he had no choice but to walk the path of ruin, the Emperor continued calmly.
"We must focus on the Demon Realm, so all wars within the human world are to be halted entirely."
"Forgive my impertinence, Your Majesty, but will the kingdoms we are currently at war with readily accept this?"
"They'll have no choice. Because in the human world, this Empire is the only nation capable of facing the Demon Realm."
And the Emperor closed his mouth for a moment.
His words stopped there, but I could tell what he had been about to add.
'They'll have no choice but to support the Empire, rather.'
Even if the Empire fell, would the Demon Realm truly stop there?
Not a chance. If the Empire fell, the human world would soon follow.
In such a situation, the maximum expression of discontent the other kingdoms could manage would probably be something like withholding support from the Empire. And even that would turn into active support if the situation grew dire.
'Still, there's no need to deliberately wage war from the outset with insufficient support. That's why he swallowed those words.'
In the current situation, there was no need to needlessly offend the other kingdoms.
The Emperor must have judged it so.
'But...'
His opinion was premised on one assumption.
The assumption that no kingdom would side with the Demon Realm.
My head tilted involuntarily. I had seen plenty of human greed and selfishness through the wars. Was there truly no chance that a ruler with much to lose would side with the Demon Realm for their own safety?
'The Demon King accepted even me, a human.'
It meant he harbored no particular animosity nor prejudice toward humans. So he would surely choose to accept them willingly, rather than refuse.
The first time was easy. After that, it became a battle of nerves. The powerful would scramble to betray the Empire and offer their nations to the Demon King. What did race matter? What mattered was their own safety.
'Well, there's no need to state something that isn't certain yet.'
That was still a distant future. And I had no desire to incur hatred by speaking of things no one had asked about.
Forget it. I never had such thoughts. I pretended I hadn't thought of any of it, buried the thoughts, and looked at the Emperor with a composed expression. He was driving the point home once more.
"So bear this in mind. From now on..."
"!"
A rank scent of blood brushed my nose.
A vivid, bloody stench on a completely different level from the blood-scent wafting off a monster that had been caught some time ago.
Damn it. What in the world is this now? Before I, who had frozen for an instant, could even turn around, a neat voice spoke from directly behind me.
"It seems I've mistimed my entrance."
Would you excuse me for a moment?
Uh, uhh? The owner of a voice that could serve as a model for aristocratic speech gently nudged me aside and passed by. The thick, cloying stench of blood trailed in his wake, leaving its mark.
Holding a wooden box soaked with blood in one hand, he advanced with restrained steps, neither fast nor slow, and stopped before the Emperor. His head, held high without the slightest bow, met the Emperor's gaze.
"......"
"......"
After a silence that felt like an eternity, he slowly bent one knee. He set the red-stained wooden box down beside him and bowed his head.
Green hair slipped smoothly down with his movement, and that characteristically neat voice flowed out again.
"Glory to the Empire. I, Stigma Primiro, behold the present Empire."
Stigma Primiro. The Empire's second Hero.
Hero or not, walking in reeking of blood that strongly was just too much. Couldn't he see the nobles around him were frozen stiff?
...Though his attire was bizarrely immaculate.
'More than that, I feel like I'm getting a strange sense of déjà vu... but it must be my imagination.'
I felt like I'd experienced a similar situation, just with a different lead and location, but it had to be my imagination. Let's ignore it.
"Rise. What is that box beside you?"
"Due to circumstances, I was unable to participate in the Hunting Competition, and so I prepared this with a regretful heart... but given the poor timing, I fear I cannot present it after all."
"State its contents."
"It is the head of an enemy commander."
Oh... bringing in an enemy commander's head the very moment a halt to all human-world wars was declared.
But it wasn't Stigma's fault. What could he do if he didn't know? The Emperor's words would become known from today onward, so as of right now, he had simply carried out his duty faithfully.
The Emperor was silent for a moment, then beckoned to a nearby attendant. Stigma readily handed the box to the approaching attendant, and the Emperor, having received the box from the attendant, opened the lid.
The blood-scent carried on the wind grew thicker.
"......You have worked hard."
The Emperor's reply, sparing of his Hero, was just as expected.
Stigma, having likely expected it as well, lightly bowed his head in thanks. The Emperor, having handed the box back to the attendant, stepped forward.
"Orders will be issued shortly. Wars within the human world will cease, and preparations for war with the Demon Realm will begin, so prepare in advance."
Stigma quietly withdrew and asked a nearby noble who had taken first place in the Hunting Competition. Separate from the noble's trembling, they must have answered diligently, because Stigma's eyes widened slightly, then he smiled elegantly.
And so, the official winner of the monster hunt was Deon Hart, the unofficial winner of the human hunt was Stigma Primiro, and the Hunting Competition drew to a close.
...If only that had been the case.
The Hunting Competition was over, but it wasn't over. What do I mean? I mean, fuck, I couldn't go home.
Normally, after the imperial palace's Hunting Competition ended, a social gathering doubling as an after-party would be held. It would have been better if I were stuck attending that banquet.
"I heard there was an incident. Are you well?"
"I'm fine."
I'm fine, so I'd really appreciate it if you'd let me go now.
The moment the Emperor declared the end of the Hunting Competition, he seized me and dragged me into a quiet patch of forest.
Well, he didn't literally drag me, but as far as I was concerned, it was the same thing.
[Would you care to take a walk with me?]
Who would dare refuse when the Emperor himself made such a suggestion?
I followed him out with a wretched heart, and after a long while, when his mouth, which had stubbornly refused to open, finally parted, the words that came out were inquiries about the commotion during the Hunting Competition and my health.
"I am relieved to hear you are fine, but as an issue arose at a competition hosted by the imperial family, I must take responsibility. I will increase the prize money being sent to your manor accordingly."
I could feel him subtly trying to smooth things over with money, but I let it go.
Even if he told me to name what I wished for, he would never grant what I truly wished for anyway, and aside from that, there was nothing else I particularly wanted.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"And... that plant-type monster you captured."
I flinched slightly here.
Surely, the Emperor hadn't heard that absurd rumor too, had he? I wanted to hold onto a little hope that since it hadn't been long since it started spreading, and the Emperor had only just arrived, he might not have heard it yet.
But as if that could be the case. Knowing the Emperor's information network all too well, I tossed the feeble hope aside immediately.
'Will he be suspicious?'
The Emperor might be suspicious.
But I really didn't control it. ...Though, somehow, I did end up bringing it along.
"I'll send someone soon, so it would be good if you could assist in recording its attack patterns and corresponding countermeasures."
"Understood."
He let out a languid sigh, seemingly satisfied, and fiddled with the back of my left hand. My gaze fell on his gloved hand.
Come to think of it, that was strange. I remembered the Emperor usually didn't wear gloves. Didn't he dislike how they dulled the sensation in his fingertips when gripping and moving a sword?
I was inwardly tilting my head at that moment when the Emperor called my name in a low voice.
"Deon Hart."
His demeanor shifted, as if sensing the conversation was about to turn to an important matter.
Eyes of the deepest red revealed a weighty presence, quietly staring at me. It was something I felt every time, but his ability to discern which 'side' ought to hear the story was truly top-notch.
'No, in this case, I suppose it's more about distinguishing what to listen to and what to remember.'
But he couldn't go on like that forever, surely.
Though that didn't matter right now, so it was irrelevant. The Emperor, meeting Deon Hart's eyes, unhurriedly and leisurely parted his lips.
"You will also be participating in this war."
During the wars within the human world, he had sent him to the Demon King's side, but this time was different.
Deon Hart must take up the sword and deal with the Demon King's army. Perhaps he might even stand in the Demon King's camp and cut down imperial soldiers.
"So, I think it's about time to decide with certainty."
One step. He closed the already scant distance and placed a hand on Deon's shoulder. The moment had come to face what everyone, under tacit agreement, had pretended not to see.
The Emperor knew.
He knew that Deon Hart was neutral.
The Demon King would know this as well. That was surely why Deon Hart had been able to survive in one piece until now.
A war of nerves between the Demon King and the Emperor, with Deon Hart at the center. The rules that had been tacitly formed there were truly bizarre.
[Do not suppress Deon Hart.]
Do not force him to remain in a position below his abilities out of concern that information might leak.
For the same reason, do not detain Deon Hart if he attempts to cross over to the opposing camp.
Seating Deon Hart in a position worthy of his ability while not exposing state secrets to him was also the capacity of a ruler. Furthermore, since he answered what was asked without falsehood, there was no need for torture.
The game played under these rules was quite intriguing.
[Who makes Deon Hart more useful?]
[Who draws Deon Hart to their side first?]
[If Deon Hart has chosen a side, how quickly does the opponent notice and act?]
In the third case, Deon Hart would also be an active participant in the game. The stakes, presumably, would be his own life.
So, while the Emperor understood why he desperately tried to maintain neutrality,
"You are human."
Now that things had escalated this far, he could wait no longer.
"You were born and raised here, and all your foundations are here as well. If you were born beneath the sun, there must surely be a reason; you cannot live your whole life in a place where the sun does not exist simply because you are weak to its light."
"......"
"Remain here."
The curse would surely vanish once the Demon King was slain.
The voice that spoke these words was unexpectedly gentle.
The very person who had brought about this entire situation simply stared silently up at the Emperor with those inscrutable red eyes.
Deon Hart knew.
He knew that the Emperor and the Demon King did not kill him because he was neutral.
He had intended it deliberately. It was for survival.
If he refused the Demon King's command to join the demon army, he would die. Yet neither could he betray the Emperor and side with the Demon King. Because there was something he had to return and do.
So he had become thoroughly neutral.
If someone picks up a sword and hurts a person, they resent the 'someone' who held the sword, not the 'sword'. In the same vein, no fool flies into a rage saying 'the sword betrayed me' when an opponent snatches their sword and cuts them with it.
Deon had become a 'sword'.
'Does a sword have a separate owner? The one who holds it in their hand is the master.'
At first, the two rulers had no way of knowing this ulterior motive, but when Deon went back and forth between the two camps one more time, they astutely caught on.
There was no clear physical evidence, but he was certain. Because at that time, the Demon King had looked at him with intrigued eyes and smiled, eyes crinkling, and the Emperor had looked at him with peculiar eyes and smiled as if finding it absurd.
They must have found it insolent. Yet he was too valuable to kill.
He was not on their side, but neither was he on the opponent's side. He did not volunteer what was not asked, but he readily answered the information he was questioned about. He never took the initiative, but when ordered, he followed faithfully. And although there was a slight misunderstanding, his skill was also excellent.
If only they could draw him in, he would become a useful piece.
Thus, under the tacit agreement of the two rulers, Deon Hart was able to preside over a game with himself as the prize.
'Participants: the Demon King and the Emperor.'
'Host: Deon Hart.'
'Prize: also Deon Hart.'
'Prospective participant: also Deon Hart.'