Chapter 128: Walking a Tightrope (2)
Chapter 128: Walking a Tightrope (2)
The voice was so light it seemed about to float away.
On the other hand, the other Legion Commanders tensed up, thinking the moment had arrived.
Given their positions, information reached their ears even if they stayed still. Could it be that information regarding the Empire was absent among it?
"It seems the Emperor is determined to go to war after all."
"In the end......."
Tsk, the sound of clicking tongues came from here and there.
Small-scale clashes at the boundary line had always occurred, so the 'war' being mentioned now surely meant 'all-out war.' In a situation where even the Legion Commanders who enjoyed battle could not be unreservedly pleased, those with a bit more sense narrowed their brows at the incomprehensible situation.
'He must have thought the other side would back down if he applied decent pressure while pretending to be proactive.'
'Does the Demon Realm's reputation only go that far for humans? Or is the Emperor truly that serious about continental conquest?'
Had so much time passed that the Demon Realm's warnings were seen as laughable?
There was no way he didn't know the reason the Demon King had shown movement, yet the Emperor disregarded the silent warning to stop there and instead publicly announced that he would wage war against the Demon Realm.
Since the Demon King had picked the fight first, it was an unavoidable situation.
"......We have always coveted the lands of the human world, and our own war preparations are in place, but from the Emperor's perspective, not waging war would be the beneficial choice."
Human lifespans were short, and demon-race lifespans were long.
A monarch of the human world had to worry about internal enemies as well as external ones, but the Demon King did not.
The current Demon King, mired in ennui, did not attack the human world first, but how about it? Stories of how he, fierce-blooded in the past, had driven the human world to the brink of annihilation were passed down orally among the demon-race.
As the past showed, the longer a war was waged and drawn out, the more disadvantageous it was for the human world.
Could he have some ulterior motive? The 4th Legion Commander Idelia frowned and spoke up.
"To truly wage such a disadvantageous war... I can't understand. The Emperor I know didn't seem like a fool."
From the perspective of the Emperor, who ruled over humans that divided and scattered with just a little incitement, it was a loss whether he won or lost.
If victorious, dealing with the aftermath of an intense war would be a problem, and he would lose the external enemy called the 'Demon Realm' — a means to control the Empire, and further, the human world. And if he lost... I need not explain further.
"It would help strengthen imperial authority if they just maintained a relationship of clashing moderately and then withdrawing, so why insist on......."
I heard that even now, the Empire was handling the boundary lines appearing in each kingdom. That likely meant the Empire's influence gained by using the Demon Realm was that significant.
The Demon King himself provided the answer to the contradiction of the not-foolish Emperor's foolish action.
"Isn't the answer obvious? He wants to die."
"......The Emperor... does?"
That tenacious human?
At the incomprehensible answer, Idelia furrowed her brow, and the Demon King, grinning as if he understood, called out to Dvelania.
"Dvelania, what does the Emperor value most?"
"Well... 'responsibility,' I suppose."
"What stands above that?"
Underneath her drowsily lowered eyelids, her half-exposed eyes rolled around before closing with irritation.
Dvelania was the 2nd Legion Commander in charge of intelligence gathering. For there to be something she didn't know, it was enough to wound her pride.
'Actually, it's only natural she wouldn't know.'
The Demon King smiled and gave the answer instead.
"Guilt."
"......Guilt, you say."
"Yes."
A voice as melodious as a song resonated through the space.
"Shall we go through it step by step again? Idelia, what was the reason the Emperor ascended the throne, even killing his own brothers?"
"Because he judged that the succession struggle among them was the cause of his closest brother's death."
"Right, but the truth is, the current Duke of the Empire, Stave Illustar, was the one who killed him."
Unlike the casual words, the content was not something to be taken lightly. A fact he could know because his half-contractor was Stave Illustar.
At the truth they had not known at all, the conference room stirred. Dvelania and Idelia outright had their eyes wide open.
Amidst the confusion, the Demon King leisurely continued.
"He ended up killing his innocent brothers by mistake, so his guilt must have been immense. How do humans usually act in such cases?"
"In extreme ways... they commit suicide."
They die and run away under the pretense of atonement.
Information processing was the 4th Legion's responsibility. Idelia, who had methodically pieced together the information the Demon King provided, flinched as if something had occurred to her.
The Demon King laughed pleasantly, as if finding her praiseworthy.
"Right, but things came up that the Emperor had to take responsibility for. 'Ascension to the throne' was the problem. Because he became responsible for countless subjects. On top of that, he had to look after his nephews, the children left behind by his close brother. And if he took his own life, it would be an insult to the brothers he killed to rise to the throne."
"......Ah, I see......."
I think I understand now.
Guilt, which stood above responsibility. Yet the method chosen by an Emperor who could not kill himself.
Only then could Idelia understand the Emperor's actions of constantly trying to wage wars that held no benefit. And the reason he chose all-out war with the Demon Realm.
"Rather than that, if he died while doing his best to fulfill his responsibilities, it would be a relief."
"To be precise, it's while 'pretending' to do his best, but correct."
If he couldn't die from guilt, wouldn't it be a relief to die crushed by responsibility? At least, if he died while pretending to do his best with his responsibilities, he would have an excuse even in death.
In that sense, how delighted must he have been when the Demon Realm, which he hadn't dared to provoke first due to his position and responsibilities, picked a fight with him? Thanks to that, his chances of dying had increased. What came after death was none of his concern.
"Truly selfish. To drive countless people to the battlefield for just that reason. Isn't that right?"
He looked at Deon and curved his eyes pleasantly.
No answer came, but the Demon King paid it no mind, shrugged his shoulders, and spoke again.
"Well... what can you do. If he wants to die, we should kill him."
"......."
"I'm envious. He has someone to kill him."
He had called him selfish, yet strangely, the Demon King could understand the Emperor. As a being who had lived for a long time and a leader responsible for a race, if nothing else, the point of living because he couldn't take his own life was somewhat similar.
Ending the Demon King's life was the Hero's role.
"It might be entertaining to watch how far a mere human carrying that fragment, not even a Hero, can go — so shall we let it slide for now?"
Idelia's expression twisted strangely.
"......Are you truly... going to wage all-out war?"
The Demon King nodded lightly.
"Isn't it embarrassing to pick a fight and then back out? Besides, I hear the 7th and 9th Legion Commanders at the very front are already fighting excitedly?"
"If we end it after fighting moderately, as we've always done...."
"The Emperor will once again focus his fervor on continental conquest, and as long as he breathes and lives, no matter how long it takes, he'll eventually pour the national strength he's amassed through conquest right here. It'll be a tougher fight."
"Why are you so certain the Emperor will succeed in continental conquest...?"
"Then do you think he won't?"
The last question was thrown not just at Idelia, but at all the other Legion Commanders.
The Demon King cast his gaze at each Legion Commander seated and asked again.
"Really?"
"......."
There was no answer.
Knowing that their silence was offered instead of an answer because they couldn't bring themselves to openly acknowledge a human, the Demon King chuckled.
"It's been a really long time since we've had a proper war. Just think of it as loosening your stiff bodies and enjoy it."
"Right, Idelia. If Trover were here, he would have grabbed you by the collar and called you weak ages ago."
At the 3rd Legion Commander Asild's mockery, Idelia bit her lip and fell silent.
In the natural silence that briefly descended, the Demon King watched Deon, who had kept his gaze fixed on the desk from start to finish as if he heard nothing, and then spoke with a secret mischievousness.
"Probably, the all-out war will start after Demon leaves for his mission."
Deon's eyelids twitched.
"Do you mean they'll attack while Demon-nim is away?"
"To aim for a gap when the greatest force is absent... how sneaky."
"Well... let's say that's the case."
As long as Deon Hart was in the Demon Realm, the Emperor could not move recklessly. Because if he did, his actions might be perceived by Deon Hart as abandoning him.
It wasn't as if there was no precedent of commanders moving troops after weighing the pros and cons regardless of whether a general captured in the enemy camp during war was in mortal danger or not, so being cautious was only natural.
Therefore, now that Deon Hart was in the Demon Realm and the possibility of him siding with the Demon King was not entirely zero, if an all-out war were to begin, it would probably be after Deon Hart returned safely to the Empire in the human world.
"In other words, it means the authority to open the gates of all-out war rests with us... no, with Demon."
Since he had already handed over that authority by saying he could return to the human world anytime.
The Legion Commanders' gazes focused on one spot. The Demon King also glanced at Deon. As if sensing their eyes, Deon raised his head, swept his gaze across the assembly once, and then slowly gave his answer.
"I intend to prepare and depart immediately after the meeting ends."
"You heard him?"
"That's too soon...."
Idelia muttered reflexively.
It was a murmur close to a soliloquy, but to someone, it seemed to feel like an argument, as Lirinel shot up from her seat on one side.
"Are you finding fault with Demon-nim's decision right now?!"
The red brooch pinned to her chest sparkled as it caught the light. Idelia stared at Lirinel with bewildered eyes.
"But it's true that it's too fast. We need time to prepare too."
"So you ARE finding fault with Demon-nim's decision right now!"
"......You cult leader...!"
Eventually, Idelia also shot up from her seat.
"Enough."
"......."
"......."
The air in the conference hall chilled cold.
Idelia, who flinched and gauged the Demon King's mood, slowly sat back down. Lirinel also nervously rolled her eyes before clamping her mouth shut and plopping down into her chair.
The Demon King, who had hardened his expression and observed their actions, glanced at Deon and then curved his eyes like a crescent moon, concealing his pupils. A drawn-on smile spread across his face.
"Preparation, how novel. Since when did we ever prepare separately and then wage war?"
"......."
Those who recalled the 7th and 9th Legion Commanders, already clashing with the Empire at the front lines, slowly shook their heads.
Preparation, what preparation. The Demon Realm had always waged wars without warning. Because of that, battle preparations had constantly been part of their daily lives, so what would change if they were given more time?
Perhaps for the 2nd and 4th Legion Commanders who dealt with information, but for the other Legion Commanders, the length of given time caused them no harm, so no complaints emerged.
The Demon King surveyed the silent assembly, propped his elbow up, and rested his chin on the back of his hand.
"Still, Idelia's words aren't entirely wrong. It would be much better to prepare than not to. Once the war starts, the 7th and 9th Legions alone won't be enough, so perhaps we could pull out some operable troops in advance... Let's see...."
A voice flowing out monotonously, as if reading a book. A sloppy plan tossed out as if to appease the dissatisfied 2nd and 4th Legion Commanders.
On top of all that, whether knowing or not that his crookedly tilted head displayed his attitude of living life half-heartedly, the Demon King kept his eyes half-closed and brought up the list of Legion Commanders in his mind.
There was only one thing he took an interest in and put effort into.
***
[In other words, it means the authority to open the gates of all-out war rests with us... no, with Demon.]
In that instant, all the Legion Commanders' gazes focused on me.
The stinging stares I felt even without raising my head made cold sweat run down my back. When I barely lifted my head and looked around, the gazes that met mine, true to expectations, made me so damn grateful I thought tears might come.
'......Anyway, this is the timing where I have to say something, right? He's telling me to say when I'll go.'
So I barely managed to give an answer, and then.
[......I intend to prepare and depart immediately after the meeting ends.]
[That's too soon....]
How terrifying was it that a complaint followed without a moment's hesitation? Just that alone felt like my heart dropped, and right after, when Lirinel picked a fight with the speaker like she was about to start a brawl, I really wanted to become a pill bug.
It was even worse because I'd heard things I didn't want to hear about the Emperor.
'If I let this slip in front of the Emperor, even by mistake, I'm dead.'
If I let on that I know, I die too.
Regardless of usefulness, I'll die without question.
'Thankfully, the memory gap is particularly large for this part alone, but... do I now have to consciously control even my unconscious mind?'