293. The Demon Realm Archduke (2)
293. The Demon Realm Archduke (2)
- 1 -
"Will she listen to the terms?"
At Andras's question, Gaap shook his head with a sneer.
"No chance. No one with any common sense would ever accept that."
"True."
A cold smile spread across Andras's lips.
As Gaap had said, the terms they were demanding were something that anyone with a shred of sanity could never accept.
"And that's not the important part."
"Yes. We've already gathered enough information."
At Andras's words, Gaap looked at him with a dangerous gleam in her eyes.
She was thinking the same thing.
"That Libertas is someone who cares deeply for her subordinates."
"Then we... can use that."
The eyes of the two Demon Realm Grand Dukes glittered in the darkness.
They didn't trust each other, but they could cooperate, if only for a moment, against a common enemy.
Libertas wasn't an immediate threat, but there was no need to wait for her to grow larger.
Neither of them wanted a new Grand Duke.
- 2 -
"... As expected."
I nodded after hearing Mure's report.
A moment ago, I'd received the exchange conditions from the Western Demon Realm Grand Dukes relayed through her.
The details differed slightly, but both sides presented the same terms. Those terms were...
"Establish an embassy in my Demon Realm territory, marry a blood-clan male sent by them, and support the invasion of the Western Continent with troops..."
When I muttered this, Mure's expression hardened coldly.
"And that includes Your Excellency personally. This is practically..."
"Yes, it means they won't accept."
I rested my chin on the armrest and tilted my head.
These were the terms I'd expected. There was no need for anger or irritation...
But that didn't apply to my subordinates.
Cheolkeok.
I heard the sound of a sword sheath scraping.
The killing intent flowing from Evangeline's eyes at my side was as sharp as a blade.
If they'd been standing in front of her, she would have rushed in and cut their throats without a second thought for the enemy's strength.
Ppudeuk.
Kkeudeuk.
Shue clenched her fist as if she might crush her own hand, while Ran wore a nonchalant expression, but the sound of her grinding teeth was clearly audible.
"Calm down, you guys."
After saying that once, I approached Evangeline and patted her shoulder.
"Now that it's come to this, we need to buy some time."
"Master, there's no need to endure such an insult. Saya would agree too. However..."
The killing intent hidden in Evangeline's voice spread heavily through the air.
"We still have to endure. Right now, they're stronger than me."
"Master..."
When I cut her off and spoke, Evangeline's expression turned regretful.
She seemed to be blaming herself.
I continued with a smile.
"Don't make that face. Someone who's going to be a hero of the Demon King shouldn't be looking so sad so easily."
A faint smile spread across her face, and I could see the killing intent in her eyes slowly subsiding.
At any rate, she'd calmed down. So I turned and walked.
In the large room spread out before my eyes, a small Fate (fate) banquet hall had already been prepared.
That was because the other two Demon Realm Grand Dukes of the Eastern Continent, Eligos and Agares, had accepted my invitation more easily than expected.
A meeting of the three dungeon lords in the central and southern parts of the Eastern Continent.
The Grand Dukes were moving faster.
'How ridiculous.'
They'd already enjoyed the rights of a Demon Realm Grand Duke for at least decades, at most centuries.
I couldn't help but find it absurd that they were still trying to devour something more here.
"All preparations are complete, Master."
Sonia reported to me.
She was wearing a pitch-black dress like me, but the reason wasn't to attend this Fate (fate) banquet together.
"Yes. You go join the party too."
Because it was better for the humans of my dungeon to stay hidden while I met the Grand Dukes.
I had instructed them to gather among themselves and hold their own separate banquet.
"Yes."
But even after answering respectfully, Sonia didn't leave for a while.
I guessed what she was feeling and asked.
"You seem worried."
Sonia opened her eyes slightly wide, then admitted with a bitter smile.
"... Though you've always done well, Master... they say that people who are on a winning streak slip badly when they do slip."
"That saying is wrong, Sonia."
"Pardon?"
I gestured for her to come closer, then spoke.
"You know, the loss of Leonis, who cherished you."
"Ah..."
Old sorrow washed over her face.
The sadness that surfaces with old memories. That feeling when you find a lost person in an old album.
It wasn't that she had truly forgotten about it.
It was just that her 'image' of me had become fixed, and she had unconsciously assumed I'd never failed.
I calmly patted Sonia's back until that sorrow receded.
"And you just don't know, but I'm someone who has experienced plenty of failures. So..."
Caressing Sonia's cheek, I brought my face close to hers.
She didn't flinch.
"Now I know how to avoid failing."
"... Yes, Master. ... I, I'll take my leave."
Sonia, her face slightly flushed, nodded and then withdrew, disappearing through the back door.
I stared at her retreating figure, her steps quickened by embarrassment, for a while before turning around.
"Master, the Duke of Corruption Agares and the Duke of Violence Eligos have arrived."
Because I'd heard Evangeline's report.
Deolkeong!
The main door finally opened.
"Welcome, both of you."
I greeted the guests.
- 3 -
The door opened, and the two Demon Realm Grand Dukes entered the banquet hall.
"So you are Count Libertas. Pleased to meet you."
Agares resembled a bipedal crocodile.
From the turquoise scales covering his entire body, muscular upper body, long and sturdy tail, to the long, thick snout typical of a crocodile.
He was wearing a red ceremonial robe appropriate for the occasion, but honestly, it didn't suit him.
"I came to personally express my thanks for your impressive performance last time."
On top of that, he was politely observing etiquette with that ferocious appearance, which made it even more incongruous.
"Your purpose in calling me here had better be entertaining, Count Libertas."
Beside him stood Eligos.
Outwardly, he looked like a fully armed black knight, and his armor gleamed with a hard color that seemed to repel any weapon.
He held a black staff in his hand that nearly reached above his head, and the red light glowing through the slit of his helmet shone sharply.
"My hobby time is getting cut short, which is a pity."
This one seemed difficult to deal with.
A personality that charges in regardless of station or anything else was actually harder to handle in a political setting.
"Welcome, both of you."
The two of them reacted at the same time to my greeting.
"More arrogant... than I thought."
Agares stiffened his body momentarily and put force into his yellow eyes.
A sticky power emanated from his body.
It wasn't an illusion that the air in the room grew heavy and he seemed to grow larger.
"That tone of yours... you don't actually think we're equals, do you, Count?"
Agares's tail, his snout twisted, scraped against the floor with a threatening sound.
But I remained at ease. Rather, I raised the corners of my lips higher and whispered in a low voice.
"I don't see what that matters. We are all masters of the Demon Realm. We are equal, aren't we?"
Agares's eyes grew even sharper, and I could see his jaw muscles tensing.
The composure he had shown at first had vanished somewhere.
"Yes... bold. Very bold."
Eligos's reaction, on the other hand, was more favorable than I'd expected.
"... ... Hoh."
His eyes glinted, and then he began to remove his helmet.
It was an unexpected move.
It was only natural since he had to open his mouth to attend the banquet, but from his words, he seemed like a figure who rarely removed his helmet even before other Grand Dukes.
"I hope that action of yours... is not simply because you are the child of a Grand Duke."
The hair flowing down from beyond the helmet was silver-white.
"I hope it is true boldness."
Eligos's face was revealed.
Red eyes like congealed blood, sharp features, and silver hair as if sculpted from ice came together in a form close to human.
His solid jawline and thin lips seemed to reveal his personality.
"That's something we'll see over time. Please sit, both of you."
As we took our seats, the door opened and maids composed entirely of monsters began carrying in the food.
Agares's eyes flashed when he saw the maids.
"Beautiful attendants you have."
"Thank you. They are children I treasure."
The maids were all children carefully selected by my dungeon and the four monster queens.
Not only were they extraordinary in loyalty, to the point of refusing and committing suicide if any scheme approached, they were also children strong enough to immediately switch to armed force should something happen.
As if he'd discerned that, Agares merely clicked his tongue and said no more.
Because he hadn't come here to ruin this occasion.
"Hmm... not bad."
When the food was set, the two Demon Realm Grand Dukes' interest shifted to the table.
What I'd prepared were the finest surface cuisine and delicacies made with special ingredients imported from the Demon Realm.
Here, however, the two Grand Dukes' expressions diverged.
"There's nothing to my taste."
Eligos looked over the table and remarked. Disappointment was evident in his voice.
"I added as many human dishes as possible, but I can prepare more if needed."
"That's not the problem..."
I simply concealed the disgust that rose naturally.
Of course, I knew. That Eligos enjoyed eating humans 'themselves.'
And that he liked eating human flesh raw, not finely dressed like the 'crimes' of human nobles.
But there was no way I would prepare such 'special raw meat.'
"Kekeke. This is a banquet, Eligos. It's not a private occasion to cater to your tastes."
Laughing like that, Agares was cutting his steak by moving his knife and fork with more delicacy than expected.
However, the words coming from his mouth carried an implication that was not so pleasant.
"I also have a hobby of chewing one or two live monsters, but I'm refraining today."
"... I see. It's about etiquette to enjoy the prepared food, I suppose."
I didn't lose my smile.
"Everyone has their own tastes. I just hope you'll enjoy the flavors I've prepared today."
Contrary to his ferocious appearance, Agares kept up a conciliatory conversation, while Eligos stayed silent and put food in his mouth.
As food and drink passed back and forth, the mood gradually softened.
"Well."
Agares, having laid his fork and knife neatly side by side on the plate, leaned back in his chair.
His eyes were also settled, like those of a languid lion.
"Now let's get to the point. What is the reason you invited us, Count?"
His massive snout curved languidly.
He seemed to have forgotten that I was speaking informally to him.
But I could still feel his gaze scrutinizing my words and actions.
"It's not strange for us to exchange greetings."
I answered, raising my wine glass. The red liquid glittered in the light, revealing a blood-red hue.
"The reason we haven't interacted so far is because I was in a somewhat remote place. The intention was always there."
"Don't beat around the bush."
Eligos, having wiped his lips, carelessly tossed the napkin onto the table as he spoke.
His voice was like a sharp knife, as if it could cleave a rock in two.
And looking me straight in the eye, he spoke bluntly.
"What you want to give. And what you want to get from us."
I slowly nodded.
It wasn't a style of speech I liked, but there was no need to be displeased.
"As you know, there are human great powers between us. Between Agares and myself is Zenota, and between Eligos and myself is Norn."
After holding a sip of wine in my mouth, I continued.
"If you help me with one thing, I can create an opportunity for you to seize a vast territory reaching the Empire's domain."
"How? I'd guessed you were influencing human territory, but I don't think a mere count possesses that much power."
"Just saying it doesn't make it so, Libertas."
Eligos laughed coldly, and Agares took a cautious attitude, but his disbelief was the same.
"I don't understand you."
I put down my glass and spoke.
"You've already seen a glimpse of my power."
The two Grand Dukes' faces hardened.
Because, as I'd said, they had already expanded their territories little by little based on the intelligence I'd sent.
"You're saying such an opportunity will come again? No, multiple times?"
"Yes, it will."
At my words filled with certainty, the Grand Dukes looked at each other.
"... Unbelievable. I'm leaving."
Teop!
Agares grabbed Eligos's arm as he tried to rise from his seat.
"Why so hasty, Duke of Violence? Let's hear him out. Right, why not do a test?"
"A test."
I pretended to ponder for a moment, then nodded in agreement with a tilt of my chin.
It was something I'd expected.
"Fine. I'll accept your condition."
"Dantalion."
Agares raised one finger and spoke.
"Overcome Dantalion's threat on your own. If you do, we'll consider your proposal."
I tilted my head.
I understood the implication of his proposal.
If one listened to the rumors of the Demon Realm, they would know that the Baritra Marquis Household and Stella were behind me.
He was telling me to overcome it by cutting off the support I'd received from them.
"Alright."
I smiled and raised my glass once more.
"Then, let's meet again after that."
After all, it was a condition that wouldn't change anything.