Chapter 9: The 0th Legion Commander, Deon Hart (7)
Chapter 9: The 0th Legion Commander, Deon Hart (7)
He said he wouldn't make me wait too long. I was so moved I could cry. He didn't have to go that far. He could make me wait a long time. Preferably until I died.
But Asild was the type who always kept his word. He would never forget this promise. In other words, the moment I crossed blades with that terrifying bastard was guaranteed to come eventually.
"Demon-nim?"
"Ah."
Come to think of it, he'd said something to me at the end... Right, he'd asked if he could come watch.
I forcefully suppressed the sigh that was about to escape.
I didn't even have a reason to refuse.
Still, it was better than sparring, so should I take comfort in that at least?
When I reluctantly nodded my head, a faint smile spread across his rigid face.
"Thank you."
"It's nothing to thank me for..."
A bastard who slaughtered humans like crazy on the battlefield was being so courteous that I felt more burdened than anything, not knowing what to do with myself.
I wished he'd just speak casually. Or at least act a little shameless, my heart would be much more at ease.
"Uh, then may I come too? I'm curious about the 0th Legion's training methods."
Why was Idelia trying to come along when she didn't even get along with Asild? Ah, was that it, spying?
It seemed like she was trying to spy, to see if there was any useful information. What to do about this.
"Coming is... I don't mind either way, but..."
I felt sorry for the expectant Idelia, but my training method was 'neglect.'
Literally just leaving them alone and dropping by occasionally to watch them train. That was it... she'd probably be disappointed, wouldn't she.
Still, my conscience couldn't bring myself to say it was just neglect, so I quietly organized the tableware.
I piled all the dishes still full of food onto a tray and stood up. Then Jeikar and Asild, who had finished eating long ago and were sitting around, also stood up holding their empty plates.
Idelia, who had come over here only after clearing her dishes in the first place, looked at my plate and tilted her head.
"You're finished eating?"
"Yes."
"Perhaps, you have an upset stomach...?"
"Yes, a little."
Because of you bastards.
I swallowed the words that had risen to my throat and answered calmly. Then Jeikar looked at my complexion with a worried expression and said,
"Then shouldn't you visit your personal physician first?"
"It's fine."
No matter how kind Ben was, if I kept bothering him with trivial things, there was no telling what would happen. In the end, wasn't he also a 'demon-race'?
Recalling him, whose face was partially covered in snake scales, his very appearance seeming to declare him a demon-race, I shook my head side to side and handed the tray to an attendant.
Once outside, the other Legion Commanders all filed out behind me. On top of the unexpected situation, it seemed someone's figure overlapped with this scene, making me flinch and reflexively stop.
'At this rate, it's like...'
'I'm the Demon King, isn't it?'
Thanks to that, the gazes, which had never stopped anyway, felt even more intense. I had just planned to eat quietly like I wasn't even there and leave, so how did it end up like this?
Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like I should head straight to my legion, so I stood there awkwardly, gauging the mood, when someone came running urgently from afar.
"Jeikar-nim!"
What now? Since I've been through things before, I immediately felt wariness.
The judgment of whether they were an enemy or an ally was made quickly.
"Jeikar-nim, your paperwork is backed up, and your adjutant says to please come quickly..."
So an ally it was.
"...Now that I think of it, there was a pile of documents on my desk. Don't tell me that was all of it?"
"Yes, probably... I believe so."
A heavy sigh was heard.
Unveiling his irritation and frustration without holding back by wiping his face with one hand, Jeikar soon composed his emotions and turned toward me.
"As you heard, I don't think I can go today."
"Yes, what a shame."
Not a shame at all.
I inwardly sang praises to the demon who had delivered this good news, and looked back once more on my past self who had drawn the line at paperwork from the very start.
At the time, I was trembling in fear, wondering if my head would fly off even as I spoke, but thinking about it now, it was truly a good call. Thanks to that, I didn't have my adjutant pestering me either.
For reference, my adjutant, who ended up having nothing to do alongside me, was currently out in the human world. Since I had been so bored, he'd gone out to get me new puzzles or cubes. Of course, I still had to be wary since he was a demon-race, but in his own way, he was just as kind and helpful as Ben.
"C-come to think of it, I'm cutting it close too."
Asild, who was standing beside me, let out something that was either a lament or a groan.
He shook his head irritably, let out a sigh heavy enough to sink the ground, and then, as if left with no choice, looked at me with an apologetic expression.
"It seems watching you will have to be postponed to next time. I'm truly sorry, especially since I asked first."
"No, it's fine."
It really was fine, so I wished he wouldn't apologize.
I did my best to project that it was okay, sending a gaze full of affection to the demon who had delivered the good news. At that, the guy flinched like a petty thief facing the guards.
I didn't find it particularly strange. Because being unfazed in front of the Legion Commanders was what would actually be strange. On top of that, he was delivering news that their paperwork was backed up and they needed to hurry — it was understandable he'd be afraid.
"A-and Idelia-nim is... ...huh? Idelia-nim?! Where did Idelia-nim go?"
The servant who was nervously looking around for Idelia, with awkward hesitancy, his eyes went wide as he scanned the surroundings.
'Idelia? Idelia was just here... ...huh? Where did she go?'
What, was I the only one who didn't know she'd disappeared?
No, that didn't seem to be the case. Both Asild and Jeikar were also looking around with expressions of subtle admiration mixed with irritation.
Where did she suddenly go off to? Don't tell me she ran away because she didn't want to do paperwork... No way. No matter what, she held the title of Legion Commander.
"She seems to have run off again."
"Her skills seem to be improving by the day."
Seriously?!
I'd forgotten. I was told the Legion Commanders weren't normal.
The servant also seemed to have figured out she'd fled, making a very sorrowful face. It wasn't just a sorrowful face, but to the point of nearly crying, as if he'd forgotten who he was speaking to, rattling off a string of complaints.
"Did you see Idelia-nim's adjutant's face? He's practically a corpse. If it were just pitiful, we could let it slide, but the problem is the adjutant is currently kicking up a fuss, saying he's going to submit a resignation letter..."
"...You're working hard."
"No, it's nothing... I've been rude. Then I'll be going now. If by any chance you spot Idelia-nim..."
"I'll be sure to catch her and throw her in front of her adjutant."
"Yes, please, I beg of you."
As if planning to search a little more, the servant bowed deeply and withdrew.
And around the time his figure blurred from sight, Jeikar and Asild simultaneously turned back to look at me.
"Then, see you next time."
"I will see you again next time."
"Yeees, good luck with your paperwork..."
Ah, that must have been the wrong thing to say.
At my words, which I'd meant as encouragement, the two of them let out sighs in perfect unison, as if they'd practiced it.
I tensed, wondering if they might get angry, but fortunately, the two turned around without another word and slowly moved their reluctant feet forward.
'And as for me...'
I guess I should head to the legion... probably.
It wasn't like there was a set deadline, and I could put it off as long as I wanted, but if I did that, the Legion Commanders might latch onto me after they finished their paperwork.
Now, when everyone had disappeared in a rush of business, was the optimal timing that would never come again.
Therefore, I forcibly restrained my steps that kept trying to head to my room and turned them toward the 0th Legion's exclusive training ground.
Ah, I really didn't want to go.
* * *
Maybe because lunchtime had just ended, the training ground was completely empty.
Well, who would eat and then immediately go running around? It'd just give you a side stitch.
The thought of just going back subtly raised its head, but leaving without even seeing the face of a single legion member would mean I hadn't really inspected the legion.
Because of that, I planned to wait. I pulled a wooden sword from the rack, trudged over to a corner of the training ground, and sat down with my legs crossed.
As I fidgeted with the wooden sword, its handle discolored, it hit me anew.
Maybe because it was from the Demon Realm, or maybe because I was just weak, but it was heavy regardless. I could try to swing it if I wanted, but that would be the wooden sword swinging me, not me swinging the wooden sword.
This cursed muscle strength that couldn't even control a wooden sword, let alone a steel one.
Because of that, I remembered being dragged out onto the battlefield for the first time, so frantic to dodge and run away that I couldn't even properly hold a weapon. It was only later that the weapon I chose was the small, light dagger.
"Hurk."
My thoughts were cut short by a small sound, and I lifted my head. A guy who appeared to be a legion member came into view at the training ground entrance, staring at me with a face drained pale.
Since this was the 0th Legion's exclusive training ground, he was probably one of our legion members. Was he here to train? Diligent fellow.
...The moment I thought that, the guy darted right out of the training ground.
"..."
What? If he was going to leave, why did he come in the first place?
Or maybe, was it because he didn't like me? Was he going to conspire for no one to come until I left because he didn't like me?
"Haa."
Yeah, how dare a mere human act as a Legion Commander.
Let's go back. I've done enough.
Honestly, I couldn't really say I'd done enough, but my conscience was shouting that this was sufficient, so it was probably fine.
I stood up to return the wooden sword. Just as I was about to take a step, I felt vibrations from the ground.
At first, I thought it was just my imagination...
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud.
In the distance, seeing a cloud of dust rushing towards me, I could be certain.
'Crazy, what's that? A demonic beast? Were there demonic beasts in the Demon Castle?'
Ah, human-like shapes were revealed through the dust cloud.
Only then could I tell. Those bastards, they were legion members. And ours at that.
"..."
Let's run away.
I didn't know what it was, but I had a bad feeling. Inspecting the legion could be postponed until later. Actually, at this level, it was practically a message from the heavens declaring it absolutely must be postponed.
While I flinched and stepped back, the guys who had already rushed right up to my nose formed up in perfect rows and columns. It was an action that was surprisingly fast and sharply angled.
"..."
"..."
A quiet silence descended upon the spacious training ground.
Unlike the quiet space, my head was growing increasingly complicated.
What was this? Did it mean that since they'd given me the Legion Commander's treatment, I should get the hell out? When should I go back? Should I go back now? Judging by those eyes... I think I really need to go now.
I nodded my head once to signal my intention to leave, and was just about to turn around when the one who seemed to be their representative carefully called out to me.
"Um, Demon-nim."
"Yes?"
"What business brings you here..."
Why did that sound to me like 'Why did you come when you have no business here?'
But even if my interpretation was correct, he wasn't exactly wrong, so I couldn't say anything.
My hand, unable to overcome the anxiety, tried to move on its own. It wanted to grab my collar, but if that was the case, it was probably much better to look like I was touching the wooden sword.
I put strength into the hand gripping the wooden sword and spoke.
"I was curious."
About our legion members' skills.
They were almost always training whenever I came, so I believed they were at least above average, but separate from that, I wanted to see it with my own eyes at least once.
Well, judging by that attitude, unless some incident occurred, the day I'd actually see it was a long way off.
Unable to withstand the unspoken pressure telling me to hurry up and leave, I headed for the wooden sword rack to return it to its place.
I tried my best to move naturally without any sign of trembling, but I must have been too nervous.
My feet got tangled together!
Today too, my weak lower body was fully doing its part!
'I-I'm falling!'
If I fell like this, it would be a total disgrace. It would be fortunate if it simply ended at being a disgrace.
The gazes on me were already unfavorable, seeing me as just a human, so imagine if rumors spread that I tripped over my own feet. What would happen then was obvious without even looking.
With the thought that falling meant death, I took a large desperate step forward to regain my balance.
I subsequently lowered my upper body to get into a stable... —the moment I did, before I knew it, something passed over my head!
"Demon-nim!!"
Wondering what it was, I lifted my head slightly to see something floating down softly in front of my eyes.
Like a white down feather... Wait, wasn't this my hair?
Horrified, I straightened my upper body while simultaneously twisting around to look behind me. Just then, something blunt struck my elbow.
And a groan that followed.
"Kurgh!"
"...?"
By the time my vision was belatedly fully secured, my opponent was already clutching his solar plexus, doubled over, and trembling.
My eyes widened at the familiar appearance.
"Human?"
No tail, no horns, no scales. Unlike the demon-race who all had at least one part different from humans, this bastard looked human no matter how I looked at him.
The question of how a human was in the Demon Castle was brief, as the sword he was holding caught my eye.
An intruder, it was. Did what hit my elbow hit this bastard's solar plexus?
I was lucky. If I'd been a little careless, I would have been the one getting hurt instead.
After soothing my startled heart, I gripped the wooden sword with both hands and raised it.
Human or not, the fact that he was an intruder and had attacked me didn't change. So there was no hesitation in my actions.
Rather, thinking that leaving him like this might put me in danger, I put my entire body weight into it and slammed the wooden sword down with all my might.
Smack!