Chapter 99: The Time Has Come (4)
Chapter 99: The Time Has Come (4)
Ed, having set down a bag of the style commonly used in the human world on the floor, quietly glared at Hien. His mind had grown considerably tangled.
It was certain that Demon-nim had sent him a look indicating what to do with this guy... but what was he supposed to do?
'Kill him?'
No, if it were to kill him, Demon-nim would have killed him long ago.
To fail to read a single glance properly—this was a disqualification as an adjutant. Ed's mood sank heavily.
In any case, he could not afford to waste time like this. He raised another hypothesis in his mind.
'From the looks of it, they seemed to have finished all the conversation they needed to share. In that case, might it not have meant to send him outside?'
It worked out, since he had more luggage to pack and needed to vacate the room again anyway. Demon-nim couldn't leave Hien alone in an empty room after all.
"Return now... What are you doing right now?"
"Ah."
A low, sunken voice growled. Overlapping with it, a pained groan rang out.
Hien was putting that bizarre flower into Demon Arut's bag.
It probably wouldn't work anyway, but was this perhaps an intent to harm Demon-nim? Instinctively, killing intent laced Ed's eyes.
"Explain. Is this action one permitted by Demon-nim right now?"
The wrist caught as if about to break trembled violently from the pain.
Hien closed his mouth briefly as if swallowing the pain, then slowly spoke.
"A guardian plant. Since it is a flower that bloomed from a seed given by Demon-nim, I thought it should be used for Demon-nim. I spoke of it to Demon-nim as well."
Though the answer had been a refusal.
But Demon-nim needed someone to weed out the small fry. It was simply that the mission itself was confidential, and the probability that 'someone' would become a burden rather than make Demon-nim's travel easier was high, so he did not take them along.
'A plant that is relatively small in size and easy to carry around would be fine.'
He knew it was presumptuous. He also knew that if Demon-nim learned of this and struck this neck, he would have nothing to say.
Yet whenever Demon-nim returned from the human world, he always came back with deep shadows beneath his eyes.
As Hien, who speculated that it was due to handling confidential missions alone and dealing with demonic beasts that threw themselves at him without knowing their place during travel, he wanted to gift something to alleviate his fatigue.
Ed, who had been scrutinizing the truth of the matter with narrowed eyes, soon released the strength from his grip.
As a sharp pain surged and Hien rubbed his wrist, Ed approached the bag and reached a hand toward the flowerpot. Contrary to worries that he might throw it away or break it, the flowerpot was loaded into the bag in a more secure state.
"......With the flowerpot, it's difficult to fit anything more. I'll have to put the food pouch in the front pocket."
He briefly considered whether to cast an illusion spell on it, but the magic prohibition decree had still not been lifted. Satisfied with meticulously closing the bag's opening, Ed turned his head.
"Are you done now? If you're done, get out."
Ed dragged Hien outright outside and shut the door with a thud.
In the quieted space, the bag left sitting alone on the table flinched and shook before soon growing still.
* * *
It was late spring again. Not only had it not snowed, but winter had passed by without me even getting to experience it.
And such peace would be difficult from now on. A dark future of clashing weapons, red colors and the stench of blood dotting every direction came to mind, and I let out a deep sigh. Strength entered the hand holding the bag.
'Ah, the bag.'
Fuck, it's horrific even thinking about it again.
It was long after I had crossed over into the human world that I opened the bag. The magic pouch containing essential items like the food pouch was in the front pocket of the bag, so there had been no occasion to open the bag separately. I never imagined it would come back to bite me this hard.
'I knew I had an uneasy feeling.'
Ed had occasionally packed this kind of bag with camouflage luggage in it, saying that if he returned each time making his load look lighter, there might be those who grew suspicious. So I had dismissed it, thinking it was the same this time.
Because for me, whose priority was escaping the demon realm crawling with demonic beasts and setting foot in the longed-for human world, checking the luggage was a waste of time.
But to think it would screw me over this badly.
'No. Is the culprit Hien?'
Whoever put it in there, the fact that it presented me with a massive screw-over doesn't change.
The moment I opened the bag, that horrific flower turned toward me and went 'Gyeek,' and the chills I felt then....
Even though I wanted to snatch it up and throw it away immediately, given the inherent tenacity of demon realm lifeforms, it was questionable whether this flower would even die. And if it didn't die, it would become considerably troublesome. I couldn't release such a bizarre creature into the human world, could I?
Fortunately, Hien's words seemed correct, and the flower did not attack me.
'So what can I do? I'll have to carry it around until we return to the demon realm.'
I gave up on killing it.
Just in case, I poked it with my dagger, and would you believe it, the little bastard firmly grabbed my dagger with the leaves on its stem and twisted it! What the hell!
It was an incredibly resilient plant.
Without giving up, I also attempted to burn it. But the tinderbox I took out nearby was sent flying far away by the creature's stem, which was swung like a whip. And my method of lighting a fire from a distance and then throwing it in was thwarted when the creature smacked away my hand reaching toward the flowerpot.
'This is why perceptive plants are... .'
It reads the intent to kill with uncanny accuracy. It stays still when I pick up the flowerpot without much thought, and only reacts when I reach out to dispose of it.
So, after attempting to drop it off a cliff, I gave up cleanly.
'Since I'm going to carry it around, please just stay quiet.'
'Gyeek.'
'......'
Rubbing my throbbing wrist, I raised my head. The entrance to the Count's residence filled my vision.
I could feel the guards scrutinizing me with suspicious eyes. I laughed softly, walked before them, and flipped back the hood I had been wearing.
Whether the guys who recognized my identity scrambled or not, I looked up at the mansion and put strength into my stomach. A booming shout shook the Count's residence.
"Rememver!!"
Why on earth did you put a seed in my bag?! Of course, I'm the one who gave it to Hien! But still!
"Whaaat."
"C-Count-nim!"
"Pull yourself together!"
My vocal cords could not handle the booming shout.
Bowing my head just like that and coughing up blood, I ground my teeth in frustration.
Ah, this fucking sucks.
Fortunately, I didn't faint. Watching Rememver silently set up the tea, I quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Maybe at other times, but not at that moment. I absolutely couldn't afford to faint then.
I still had the bag containing the bizarre creature. What would happen if someone opened the bag to tidy up my luggage while I was unconscious?
Just imagining it was horrific.
"......Ah, Rememver. Let's use this tea leaf, not that one."
"That is... is it not Deusa tea leaves?"
"Yes, please set out two cups. One is for you, Rememver."
"......Understood."
I thought he would refuse, citing a butler's duty or whatever, but he surprisingly followed obediently.
The tea was completed without any particular issue. Though someone did briefly enter during the preparation process....
[Count-nim, it's Dan.]
[Come in.]
[I heard the news that you had returned and came to greet you. Turns out you were in the middle of preparing tea. I'll...! Ah....]
He spotted the Deusa tea leaves placed on one side of the table, grew rapidly dejected, and left.
Why on earth did he come?
Come to think of it, the instant he discovered the tea leaves, the guy had hidden something behind his back. I sneakily checked when he left....
'Deusa tea leaves?'
How on earth did he get that here?
"I am relieved that you have returned safely."
"Ah."
I quickly raised my head. Rememver, seated across from me and quietly drinking tea, was looking at me.
The silvery-blue eyes that had been watching me dropped to my feet and narrowed. A questioning voice followed.
"But why do you not entrust that bag to a servant?"
"Rememver."
Thanks to him, I remembered.
Pushing the bag aside with my foot, I met his eyes.
"Among the luggage you packed for me, there were many things that made me question why on earth you put them in."
"I packed them just in case."
"Flower seeds?"
"Yes."
"What kind of flower seeds were they?"
"Roses."
It seemed he hadn't deliberately given me bizarre flower seeds. As expected, was Hien injecting mana the cause?
But my questions about his inclusion of useless things, including the flower seeds, still remained unresolved. I scrutinized Rememver with suspicious eyes.
"Rememver, what exactly is your identity?"
"I am the butler of the hero Deon Hart."
"Other than that."
"If it's not that... are you referring to my being from Esperanes?"
"Ah, Esperanes... Esperanes?!"
[The kingdom currently attempting conquest is Esperanes. It is the smallest kingdom on this map. Considering the Empire's scale, I suspect its gates will open before long.]
The Demon King's voice brushed through my head like an auditory hallucination.
There was no way Rememver didn't know this. Toward him calmly raising his teacup and moistening his lips, I hesitantly opened my mouth.
"......Are you... alright?"
"What are you referring to?"
"Isn't the Empire attacking your homeland?"
"Ah, I am fine."
The returned answer was as composed as his attitude.
"Esperanes loses more in the process of conquest than it gains by being conquered. As there are many more kingdoms to swallow in the future, there is no way His Majesty would stand by and watch this. He will likely divert the army's direction before long."
"......."
"And should it truly come to conquest, the Empire would have to cross swords with other forces on the outside while dealing with Esperanes on the inside. It would become quite bothersome."
A strong faith in his own country could be felt in his words.
What did I even know about Esperanes? A small kingdom located in the center of the continent. A natural fortress ringed by mountain ranges on all sides. That was about it.
Rememver, sensing my curiosity, narrowed his eyes and whispered secretly.
"Shall this old man tell you about that place?"
"......."
As if entranced, I fell into the topic of the mysterious small kingdom.
It was when the conversation ended and I returned to my room that I thought, 'This wasn't it.'
This sly old fox of a butler...!
I stomped and thudded my way to find Rememver, but what greeted me was the communicator bestowed by the Emperor. And one connected to the Emperor at that!
"Remem...!"
-Count Hart.
"Your Majesty?!"
-I contacted you upon hearing the news of your return. Was the timing bad?
"How could that be? Glory to the Empire. I, Deon Hart, your servant...."
As I hurriedly offered my respects, a low chuckle sounded.
-'Glory,' is it... Yes, that's one fitting greeting.
"P-perhaps, have I committed some rudeness...."
-No, did I not say? That it was one fitting greeting.
So that wasn't sarcasm?
I thought my heart was going to drop.
-I am not currently at the Imperial Palace.
"Ah...."
-Yes, unfortunately, face-to-face conversation seems difficult. Instead, I shall receive reports like this.
The Emperor's voice, mentioning the 'report,' sank low.
The time to be tense had come. I straightened my back.
* * *
The Emperor, who had placed the communicator atop the desk, quietly rubbed the back of his left hand. It was a habit developed recently, born from the frustration of the bandages.
Those around him dissuaded him, saying the wound would worsen, but when had the Emperor ever paid heed to such things? Whether blood seeped out over the bandages or not, he did not stop his hand and listened closely to the voice beyond the communicator.
Upon hearing the brief report that the Demon King had moved, the words that emerged carried a faint smile.
"......So it comes to this after all."
-.......
The board had been flipped.
To confront the demon realm, the human world must unite. At the very least, no one must interfere with the Empire, which grapples with the demon realm at the front lines.
Other kingdoms could no longer attack the Empire, and the Emperor, who knew what was more important, now had to turn his gaze from them and face the demon realm.
The land grab was now over.
"Is there more to report?"
-What is the criteria for 'something to report'?
"So there is something."
-.......
Deon Hart does not answer what is not asked.
Originally, his standards had been loose enough to readily answer if a few conditions were thrown out, but with the war against the demon realm imminent, it was only natural for them to tighten.
Their mutual feeling-out process had ended.
'Now you will properly face me on this side as well.'
Psychological warfare, and a battle of pride.
The Emperor, Eduardo, had no intention of backing down. Because the 'Emperor' he conceived of was one who did not retreat in the face of something he had to confront and push forward.
So it would not be him, but the Demon King, who would become the coward.
Tapping the back of his left hand to shake off idle thoughts, he slowly opened his mouth.