Chapter 79: Back to the Demon Realm (7)
Chapter 79: Back to the Demon Realm (7)
I could state with certainty that the Demon Castle was vast. Even if you divided it into the Outer Castle and Inner Castle and looked at them separately, it was absurdly huge.
Would it help to say that the Demon Castle itself could practically be considered a city unto itself?
So, in other words, me getting lost here was unavoidable. Meaning it wasn't because I was stupid.
'Where was this...?'
It was definitely the Inner Castle.
Cursing my feet for wandering aimlessly with no destination, I looked around.
An empty lot. The dirt floor was quiet but clearly well-maintained. Weapons were strewn about the perimeter.
'......'
Before my brain could piece together what these things signified, my body reacted first. Reflexively taking a step back, I swallowed dryly.
......Why did I feel cold sweat running down my back?
'Somehow this is...'
"Demon Arut?"
I flinched.
"What business brings you here?"
"......"
I just froze up. In that moment, there was only one thought in my head.
F... fuck.
I'd realized it must be someone's training ground, but of all people, it had to be the 1st Legion Commander's. Out of all the many Legion Commanders, why did it have to be the 1st?
I cranked my stiff neck to locate the source of the voice. Outside the training ground, my eyes met Jeikar's. He was drinking water, a sword still in one hand.
"......It's been a while."
"Yes, it has. I heard you'd returned. So, what brings you here?"
"......"
"......"
My lips twitched a few times before I just clamped them shut. Jeikar's gaze followed me, demanding an answer, but I stubbornly ignored it.
I-I had no choice. I couldn't exactly say I'd come out because I was bored and got lost.
The awkward silence had barely set in when,
"Ah."
Jeikar nodded as if he understood.
"The 0th Legion Commander's personal training ground is that way. It seems you've gotten confused about its location from not using it much."
"Ah..."
"If you cut across the 5th Legion's training ground, you can get there quickly."
That wasn't it.
I didn't use it much, but I at least knew where my own personal training ground was. ...Probably.
But Jeikar was looking at me with a satisfied face, as if he were totally convinced.
"I was actually worried, since you didn't seem to be training at all. That's a relief. Of course, it's not that I don't know your skill, and you are the type who gets stronger through actual combat... but still, never practicing at all is a different story, isn't it?"
Where did he hear such bullshit? I get stronger through actual combat? If I went through actual combat, I'd die, you damn demon.
"If you weren't lost, then did you perhaps come to spar with m—"
"You said it was that way? Thank you."
"The 5th Legion's training ground will be easy to find. They already raised a huge ruckus over some kind of commemorative party. The party may be over, but the traces of it probably haven't been cleaned up yet."
"Yeah..."
If I loitered here any longer, I felt like I really would end up sparring with the 1st Legion Commander, so I hurriedly left.
Just as Jeikar had said, finding the 5th Legion's training ground wasn't hard. I walked straight in the direction he pointed, and a lot that had been turned into a complete mess appeared.
Chairs scattered in disarray, trash rolling around on the floor, empty plates and liquor bottles on the tables.
Seeing that no one was around, the 5th Legion members must have gone to rest. Thanks to that, I could comfortably examine all of this in detail.
For instance, the liquor bottles.
Ah, it wasn't that I specifically wanted to drink. Though that was also true... this was a type of alcohol commonly widespread in the human world.
It wasn't very expensive, and though it was a bit strong, that was actually touted as its selling point, making it rival beer among commoners. Even nobles enjoyed it occasionally, and since it was something I used to enjoy too, I could be certain.
Why was it here...?
'It's that 5th Legion Commander.'
I picked up a bottle with a little liquid still sloshing at the bottom.
If Oel had returned, then this alcohol, and the unidentifiable objects scattered everywhere—it all made perfect sense.
Her curiosity was so intense that not even the Demon King could handle it.
Why else would the Demon King have kicked her out? Officially, he'd sent her roaming across the demon realm for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering, but ultimately, it was to send that overflowing curiosity outside so she'd stop tormenting other demons.
The effect had been good. Except that every time she came back, she hauled in all sorts of bizarre, unidentifiable things and insisted on introducing them.
Still, compared to being subjected to endless questions, it was better, so he kept diverting her outward.
"Alright, alright, let's hurry up and finish cleaning."
At the sudden voice, I jerked my head up. Two servants, whether they were here to clean, were entering the area carrying tongs and bins for trash.
I watched their reactions; they didn't seem to have spotted me yet. If they had seen me, they definitely would've freaked out in some way.
I should slip away quietly before I get caught.
It was as I was turning my body to do just that.
"Hasn't it been quite a while since the 5th Legion Commander returned? Why are they suddenly having a party now?"
"You don't know her personality? She was so absorbed in introducing and utilizing those weird things all over the place that she postponed the party. And this isn't just a simple return celebration."
"Then...?"
"You know Sir Derneban, right? The 5th Legion Commander's adjutant, Derneban."
"Well, of course I know him."
"Well, the 5th Legion Commander is said to be dating him. So she threw a celebration party to commemorate that as well."
"Cough."
Ah, damn. I was so flustered that I coughed... did any blood come out? Hm, thankfully I'm fine.
I knew Derneban, too. He was the polar opposite of Oel, a bundle of curiosity. As I recalled, he was a demon so emotionless you'd think an undead had more feelings.
And that Derneban was dating Oel?
I stood there blankly for a moment at the unimaginable scene, until a voice pulled my consciousness back to the surface.
"Um... 0th Legion Commander...?"
A voice trembling pitifully. I raised my head in a daze and met eyes with the servants I'd momentarily forgotten about.
What, why were they like that?
They were far too terrified for this to just be them deferring to my status. Their complexions, which had been perfectly fine just moments ago, were now deathly pale upon seeing me.
The servants' gazes went to the liquor bottle in my hand, then trailed over the empty bottles strewn across the table in front of me.
One, two, three... as the count increased, their trembling pupils grew until they looked ready to faint after passing five, and then, as if they'd given up counting altogether, their conversation continued in whispers.
"Among the liquor bottles that were on the table... how many unopened ones were there originally?"
"How would I know that."
"So that means...?"
"......"
"......"
As if by agreement, the two shut their mouths and exchanged glances.
Just as I was running out of patience, wondering what on earth they were doing, and was about to cautiously speak up,
"Emergency, emergeeeency!!"
"The 0th Legion Commander has consumed alcohol!!"
......?
At their actions—shrieking and dashing away in a panic—I could only stare at their retreating backs in sheer confusion.
"What the...?"
* * *
-Special alert, special alert. The 0th Legion Commander Demon Arut is consuming alcohol. All personnel assume defensive posture.
-We repeat. The 0th Legion Commander Demon Arut is consuming alcohol...
Alerts began blaring from the communication stones installed throughout the Demon Castle, enchanted with amplification magic.
At the alert that echoed across the entire Demon Castle, Inner Castle and Outer Castle alike, everyone present in the castle drew their weapons without hesitation.
This held true even for a mere stablehand.
A rookie, watching his senior fumble for his weapons mid-feeding the horses, cocked his head.
Wasn't the 0th Legion Commander an ally? He was just drinking alcohol, an ally at that, so why were they this tense?
This was at a level you could believe a war had broken out.
"Senior, why are you taking your weapons...?"
"What? Hey, you didn't read the duty manual?"
"Huh? No, not yet..."
"Are you crazy?! Did you decide you wanted to die?!"
The duty manual wasn't just one or two things; when was he supposed to read all of it? They'd put him to work the moment he arrived.
He'd been planning to finish reading it tonight.
Watching his senior go berserk, an unwarranted anxiety crept in, and to hide it, he deliberately pursed his lips.
"I said I was planning to read it all today."
"Ha... Fine, given the situation... I'll just explain the most important parts. Listen carefully."
The senior glanced at the rookie's waist and back, then pressed his forehead.
This little punk, he hadn't even grabbed a weapon. The duty manual clearly stated, 'You must carry a weapon for self-defense at all times.'
In a hurry, he thrust out a dagger.
"First, take a weapon. When the 0th Legion Commander drinks more than a certain amount, he slashes indiscriminately at anyone who enters his sight. So if you don't want to die, you'd better hold onto that."
"Huh? Yes..."
"There are three things you need to remember. First, if the 0th Legion Commander asks if you're an enemy, immediately answer no. Second, if he doesn't stop there and asks for a reason, explain as clearly as possible. Third, if he doubts your answer, immediately enter a defensive stance."
"Yes... but why a defensive stance specifically? To survive, wouldn't offense be better than defense..."
"If you inflict injury on the 0th Legion Commander, you die by the Demon King's hand."
"Eek."
That meant literally doing nothing more than the bare minimum of defense. If they overreacted unnecessarily and the 0th Legion Commander got even a scratch...
Reflexively, he clutched his neck and shivered.
But then we would die if we didn't? The opponent was none other than the 0th Legion Commander. They'd be lacking even if they gave it their all, and if they hesitated needlessly, their heads would go flying before they even realized it.
So didn't this essentially mean they were just supposed to die...?
The senior saw the mix of fear, resentment, and the will to live in the rookie's eyes and snorted a short laugh, adjusting his grip on his own weapon.
"The Demon King himself handles the suppression. We just need to aim for staying alive as long as possible."
Because as long as they stalled for time, His Majesty the Demon King would arrive and subdue him.
The nape of his neck, as he spoke, was drenched in cold sweat.
* * *
How would it feel to not only have a 'special alert' go off all over the Demon Castle, but to then hear that the reason was 'me'?
How else could it feel? Needless to say, it felt like shit.
And on top of that, the reason itself was so far removed from the truth that I was so frustrated I could go crazy and jump to my death.
I drank alcohol? No, it was absurd that the alert went off because I drank, but even more absurd was the fact that I hadn't even touched the stuff. I didn't drink a drop, and I couldn't even smell it!
'Should I just chug it now?'
I thought that and glared intently at the bottle with the relatively larger amount remaining, when from far away, people carrying shields began swarming in.
With grim expressions, as if a war had broken out somewhere, they ran up and formed a circle around me at a set distance, then all at once slammed the massive shields they carried into the ground.
Boom—!
The ground shuddered once.
"......"
Before panic, what came to mind was sheer absurdity.
What had I even done, honestly... It was set up perfectly, without a single gap. Completely surrounded, ha ha ha.
A familiar scene was surfacing in my mind, but was that just my imagination?
Yeah, just like when they hunted wild boars that came down into a village in the countryside, tightening the encirclement like this...
Fucking hell, are you kidding me?!
'Am I a wild boar?!'
I furrowed my brow sharply for a moment, then quickly relaxed my expression.
Getting annoyed in this situation wouldn't get me anywhere. On the contrary, it would only increase the probability of me dying at their hands. I could see it right now. They flinched just because I frowned slightly. I could see their wariness increasing.
To break out of this shitty situation, I had to ease their wariness first. Only then could I try to persuade them or anything.
So I suppressed my irritation and forced a smile, but,
"Eek."
"H-he definitely smiled just now, right? We're dead now, aren't we?"
"Do-don't step back. If even one person backs down, we all die. Hold your shields firm and stay sharp."
It backfired.
......Weren't you guys the 8th Legion? Seeing those ridiculously huge shields, they had to be the 8th Legion.
Why were these guys, who weren't even ordinary shield soldiers, so skittish? Was it because of their Legion Commander? Were they influenced by their Legion Commander?
Tense if I did this, tense if I did that... what was I supposed to do?
'Should I just kick it over?'
Looking at the iron wall of shields, I shook my head.
No, then the only thing that would break would be my ankle.
I was pissed off, but I couldn't even express it freely. Instead of physically expressing my rage at this godforsaken situation, I stared dead serious at the shields.
It got a little noisy again because of that, but it was only for a moment.
"Demon is beyond those shields?"
A familiar voice came from beyond the shields.
'Ah, shit...'
Unlike the situation, the voice was overflowing with leisure, but instead, my heart plummeted straight to the floor.
It was the Demon King. The person I'd met in the library a little while ago was here.