Chapter 169: A Time When Many Are Weary (5)
"......."
"Did you call for Ben?"
In the distance, Ben could be seen rushing over like an arrow, shouting 'Demon-nim, again!' Deon readily sat down on a nearby rock where Dan had spread out a handkerchief, preparing to receive treatment.
Ben, who had arrived in moments and knelt on one knee before Deon, carefully examined the wound before raising his head and directing a sharp voice at Ed.
"Ed, what were you doing while Demon-nim was engaging in this kind of behavior instead of stopping him?!"
"......."
"Demon-nim, please refrain from such actions. The fabric melted and fused with your flesh!"
"......What melted and fused with what...?"
A gloomy voice rang out. At that moment, even Deon visibly flinched and stiffened.
The mad dogs who had been engaged in a standoff with the 0th Legion off to one side were now gathered right before his eyes.
Deon turned to look for a savior, but Dan turned away. Ben and Ed, knowing that Deon Hart was weaker against them than against themselves, had already retreated to one side.
The Murderer Knight Order members, having encircled Deon, drew out their words as if applying pressure.
"Captaaain... I feel like I just heard something absolutely terrifying...."
"It's your imagination."
"What do you mean, imagination!"
Milan reached out his hand. Deon tried to hastily pull away, but as if determined not to lose him, Milan threw his entire body to snatch his ankle and pulled.
Deon's body, losing balance and about to fall backward, was caught by Dan, who was standing right behind him and grabbed his shoulders. Ed, who had approached before anyone knew, stretched out his left arm to support his waist, allowing him to sit back down stably.
The knight Cleter, who had been ready to catch him from the side, only briefly admired that quick skill before Milan, who had been examining the wound with his face close, raised his head and shouted loudly.
"It's real! The fabric really melted and fused with the flesh! And I smell drugs!"
"What?!"
"Captain, did you use drugs again?!"
"It even looks like you cauterized your thigh! If you're going to do this, at least use a different type of drug!"
"No, you idiot! You shouldn't use drugs when it's not a battle!"
"Ah, right!"
It was an uproar that sharply awakened a mind that had been languid only moments before.
With a feeling of rapidly mounting fatigue, Deon raised a hand to cover his eyes, but the knights paid no attention.
"Surgeon! A surrrgeon!"
"Idiot, his personal physician is right there! ...No, why aren't you treating him and just standing there, you bastard!"
They even went so far as to grab Ben by the collar. Could he just sit by and watch this? For the sake of preserving these guys' lives, he had no choice but to get up.
"I'll receive treatment, so you lot stop this and return to your quarters."
"What? Can't we just watch?"
"Because you are too noisy. I intend to receive treatment in my room."
"That can't be!"
He ignored them and stood. Ed tried to support him from the side, but it wasn't like his bones or ligaments were damaged, so he waved him off with a rough hand gesture.
"Dan, make sure these bas... guys go back properly without wandering off somewhere else."
"I think you were about to say bastards just now...."
"Quickly."
"Captain? Captaaaain!"
Dan gestured like herding sheep, shooing the knights back toward their quarters.
Deon watched their retreating figures for a moment before starting to walk toward his room. Ben and Ed followed behind him.
In the quiet corridor, Ed, whose eyes had been tracking the dignified gait of Deon walking ahead with a lowered gaze, slowly opened his mouth.
"I have something I am curious about."
"Speak."
"Though you have received the position of Supreme Commander... up until now, you have hardly utilized the 'Legions.'"
He had always been curious.
Deon Hart sat in a position where he could utilize all Legions. Yet what he utilized were only regular troops and the generals under the Legions. Excluding his own 0th Legion, he clearly showed signs of refraining from using other Legions.
The steps walking ahead momentarily paused. The red eyes that had been dryly staring straight ahead glanced back at him.
"You are perceptive."
"......."
"The reason is nothing much."
Because he didn't want to increase his debt. Because he wished to refrain from depending on someone else's military power when he was already relying on the Demon King's mercy. Because he wanted to achieve revenge with his own hands as much as possible.
......Because, while wishing for the Empire's ruin, he also wished for the human world to survive.
It was the disgusting mercy of those with power, hypocrisy.
If one were to dig into Deon Hart's insides, a dark chaos would probably be teeming. Resuming his halted steps, Deon answered indifferently.
"The demonic beasts have increased, making it difficult to handle them with just two Legions. We don't know how the situation will turn out in the future, so it is problematic to rely on the Legions prematurely."
"Ah... As expected of Demon-nim."
"......."
Instead of answering, he opened the door and entered the room.
He took off his outer garment, pulled up a chair in front of the table, and sat. Immediately, Ben, who knelt on one knee before him, held up a pair of scissors.
"......Scissors?"
"Yes, I believe I must cut the clothing."
"Sure, whatever."
This silence was quite peaceful.
He sat with his back straight, watching the blade precariously cut the fabric near his thigh. Ed, who had finished tidying the outer garment, approached his side.
"You stated that dealing with the Empire has become easier."
"I did."
"Though Leuchette has pulled out of the alliance, that is all. The alliance between Sanguk and the Empire will surely remain. Do you truly think it has become easier to deal with?"
Tap, tap. White fingers began drumming on the table.
"This cannot be seen simply as 'Leuchette pulled out.' The King of Sanguk is intelligent. Not to mention the Emperor."
"......?"
What did the intelligence of the two monarchs have to do with it?
A question arose on Ed's face. Deon, who glanced at him, smiled faintly.
"The monarch who mediated between them has left, and only the two intelligent monarchs remain. So what's left?"
Minimizing damage to one's own country and claiming a share was natural for a leader. Conflicts of interest would surely intensify.
"Especially, the Emperor is not a man who bends and backs down, so division is practically a foregone conclusion."
* * *
[I apologize. Because of me, the alliance....]
[I did send support with the possibility in mind that the alliance might break, however.]
[But, because I needlessly stepped forward and saved them....]
[Rien Rainer.]
[.......]
[I only told you to go and come back. I never ordered you to stand by and watch their deaths. No, rather, I referred to them as 'discarded tiles.' Meaning, you saved those whom even the Emperor had given up on. That is an action worthy of praise.]
[.......]
[It means there is nothing for you to apologize for.]
-Isn't there something you are hiding?
The voice beyond the communicator rang out sharply. The Emperor, who had been lost in thought, furrowed his brow for a moment.
"I don't know what you mean."
-There is no way the Empire could have been unaware that Taehonkuk had a Boundary Line. Why did you not give notice to Leuchette?
Ah. That.
He slowly crossed his legs. With a crooked and bored expression, he stared at the communication stone.
"I was aware, but I judged that informing them was not my responsibility."
-What do you mean by that? Matters related to the Demon Realm are the Empire's responsibility. Naturally....
"Because Taehonkuk did not inform the Empire of the Boundary Line's existence. We cannot arbitrarily go and inform them of something the other side kept quiet about. Is that not so?"
-.......
This was clearly Taehonkuk's fault.
The moment the King of Sanguk fell silent, the Emperor's golden eyes flashed. As if applying pressure, a low voice flowed out.
"We formed an alliance to confront the Demon Realm. Your opponent is not me."
-.......
"Do not try to gain the upper hand against me."
Did he think he wouldn't know the ulterior motive of trying to strengthen his voice by using this opportunity? It seemed he wanted to see the Empire struggling under Sanguk's thumb.
Leaving the silent opponent be, the Emperor briefly retraced the preceding conversation.
'......Other things aside.'
The fact that Taehonkuk didn't inform the Empire about the existence of the Boundary Line. If this fact became known to Leuchette, Taehonkuk would no longer be able to be promised Leuchette's protection.
Probably, the King of Leuchette believed that Taehonkuk had informed the Empire about the Boundary Line, but the Empire had not informed Leuchette. That must be why Taehonkuk has not yet been cast out.
After stroking his chin for a moment, the Emperor abruptly threw out a question.
"Are you someone who would create a situation where a powerless, weak nation is cast out?"
-......How could I? Why would I take an action that brings no benefit?
Since the King of Taehonkuk would have no reason to step forward and reveal it, the truth was thus buried beneath the surface.
Though it was questionable why she didn't speak up despite being promised protection.
'Did she think so complacently that she forgot?'
Whatever the reason, it wasn't his concern.
Having prevented a weak nation's history from being severed with a brief question, the Emperor calmly looked down at the communicator conveying the next words.
-It seems we are incompatible.
"Indeed."
He readily agreed.
Through the alliance, he had come to converse with her frequently, and being close confirmed that only useless clashes would become more frequent.
So, even to safeguard the alliance from breaking, it would be wise to keep a suitable distance.
* * *
Finally, Dvelania brought information about the Duke.
There was still no information on 'why' the Duke did what he did, but the sufficient amount of information allowed him to adequately infer what the Duke held most precious.
Setting aside his regret, Deon Hart, who had scanned and synthesized all the information, raised a hand to cover his mouth. Ed called 'Demon-nim?' from the side, but he couldn't answer.
One hand still covering his mouth, he waved the other hand in a gesture to leave. Everyone except Dan left, and when finally only the two of them remained, he laughed.
"Huh-hup, ahahahaha! Hahaha!!"
"......."
He was aware he looked like a madman. But he couldn't contain the overflowing euphoria.
And no wonder, that Duke. Stave Illustar.
"To think he had someone precious!"
And not even an object, but a person!
The Duke, Stave Illustar, who seemed too arrogant to treat anyone besides himself as a person, had someone he cherished. Perhaps, no, definitely, he must cherish that person more than the imperial throne.
So that was why. Now he understood.
"Absolutely perfect!"
Now that he had inferred what was precious, this pile of papers was no longer needed.
Fwish. The documents shot up to the ceiling and separated, falling down piece by piece. Dan let out a sigh as the room turned into a mess, but Deon paid no attention and called out to him.
"Dan. Inform the Legion Commanders. Haha, no. It would be better if I said it myself. Convene a meeting!"
He would alter the route.
Not the inefficient route of advancing to the capital through Illustar Territory, but the shortest route toward the capital. Conveniently, the occupied Paras Territory was among the best routes for the shortest distance to both the imperial palace and Illustar Territory, so it was absolutely perfect.
Still wearing a laughing face, Deon lay down on the bed. Papers scattered throughout the room had fallen onto the bed, making his back sting, but the laughter wouldn't subside.
'To think the Duke cherished the Emperor!'
From his attitude of trying to hand over the position peacefully even in situations where he could sufficiently pull the Emperor down, to even helping the Emperor at decisive moments.
Why hadn't he realized? The Duke's actions aiming for the imperial throne were only pressure, never moving beyond that.
So, he decided. Kill the Emperor first, and kill the Duke after.
Go ahead and feel the despair of losing someone precious.
Deon Hart smiled more brightly than ever.