Chapter 564: The Hero Climaxes in Defeat Again Today[R-18] (51)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 564: The Hero Climaxes in Defeat Again Today[R-18] (51)
I had just finished preparing to leave the fortress. Just then, my two daughters appeared, right on cue.
“Papa!”
“Dad!”
Lucy and Sora ran to me at the same time, throwing their arms around me. As I stroked the heads of the two daughters in my arms, my gaze shifted to something being dragged along behind them. A half-dead demon, bound by blood-caked ropes, was being dragged across the floor.
“You're back. But... what's that you're dragging behind you?”
Lucy puffed out her chest proudly and jerked her chin.
“Eheh, it's a trophy! I brought it as a gift for you, Papa.”
Sora snuggled against my chest, her voice sweet and affectionate.
“Dad! Sora caught him. He says he's the 49th-ranked demon, Barqued. I thought he might be useful to you, so I brought him along~ Hehe.”
I chuckled and stroked her head. Unlike my daughter, who spoke as if it were half a game, the demon sprawled on the floor was a gruesome sight, all of its limbs severed. Yet, the light in its eyes hadn't died; it trembled with a mixture of rage and humiliation.
“The 49th-ranked demon, huh...”
I crouched down in front of the creature and met its gaze.
“Why are you demons helping Kaisern? Are you behind this?”
“Human... do you really think I'll answer you...”
“If you don't want to answer, then so be it.”
I took out a small vial and opened it. As a holy aura spread through the air, Barqued's expression twisted.
“This is top-grade holy water from the Holy Kingdom. To a demon, it's no different from poison.”
I let a single drop of holy water fall onto the crown of his head.
-Sizzle!
With the sound of sizzling flesh, Barqued let out a bloodcurdling scream.
“Gyaaaaaaah!!”
“Ready to talk now?”
“Just... kill me... you... human!!”
I smiled and nodded. Then I forced the demon's eyelids open and dripped another drop of holy water into its eye.
“Kuaaaaaaaaargh!!”
Barqued's eyes darted around frantically, and his entire body writhed in agony. The stench of burning flesh filled the air, and a howl erupted from his blood-soaked mouth.
After nearly thirty minutes of this torture, dripping the holy water on him little by little, the demon finally gasped for breath and began to speak.
“I... I am... a subordinate... of Lord Gullados of Gluttony... By Lord Gullados's... command... the dra— Gyaaaaaaah!!”
The moment he spoke, black flames erupted from his body.
“Girls, step back.”
I raised a hand, motioning for Sora and Lucy to move back. The energy radiating from the demon's body was no longer that of a mere demon.
Just then, a deep, heavy voice pressed down on the air.
[Barqued... How dare you run that insignificant mouth of yours and speak of your master's will...]
Barqued twisted in agony and shrieked.
“Lord Gullados...! I'm sorry...! Please, spare my life...!”
But the black flames showed no mercy. They gnawed at his flesh, consuming his body until nothing but an empty shell remained.
[Worthless scum. Your body is of no use now.]
The flames swelled into a massive, flickering shadow. Soon, two glowing red eyes flashed in the darkness.
[Oho... An interesting human, I see.]
Its gaze swept over me before landing on Lucy and Sora, who stood beside me.
[Those two children in particular... are even more interesting. Not human. A vampire and a beastfolk? Hehe... I can feel a very strong power from them. Sweet... and delicious.]
I drew my sword.
“Gullados of Gluttony, was it? You've got no manners for a demon lord. Crawling into someone else's home without permission and spouting such bullshit.”
[Kukuku... What an amusing human. To not even tremble before me.]
“I'm a little too strong to tremble before the likes of you. And if you don't want to die...”
I said coldly, gathering my internal energy.
“...get your filthy eyes off Sora.”
[Hehehe... Arrogant human. I'd love to devour you right here and now, but...]
The red eyes flashed, and the shadowy figure began to distort, as if scattering in a harsh wind.
[I'll be satisfied with this for now. But we will meet again soon. And when we do... I will have a taste of you and those women.]
“Running away?”
[Running? Kukuku... I simply have more important matters to attend to.]
With those words, the black flames and the shadow slowly vanished.
Sora clung to my arm, rubbing her face against it.
“Hehe, Dad, you're the best. I was really scared before... but I'm not scared at all now.”
Lucy kicked at the spot where the shadow had disappeared and scoffed.
“What was that? All talk, then he tucked his tail and ran.”
I stroked each of my daughters' heads in turn. Sora pretended to be scared, snuggling deeper into my embrace to act cute.
My gaze returned to the spot in the darkness where the shadow had vanished.
A laugh escaped me.
'Gullados... He ran away because he was scared.'
One of the Seven Deadly Sins, whose seal isn't even fully broken yet. With that level of power, he's no match for me.
'Should I just steal all their power?'
It was possible now. I felt like I could wipe them all out, whether it was the Demon King or the Seven Deadly Sins.
'Now, while they can't yet wield their full power, is the perfect time...'
But I soon shook my head. The problem wasn't that simple. They were hidden all across the continent, and hunting them down one by one would be too much of a hassle.
'Running around myself would be inefficient. I have my daughters and the heroes, after all... It would be better to make use of them.'
Just as I was organizing my thoughts, I heard the sound of footsteps running this way.
I looked at my two daughters beside me and gestured.
“You two, hide.”
“Okay~”
“Got it.”
In an instant, Lucy and Sora's presences vanished.
“Marquis!”
The Knight Commander's voice rang out. He knelt, panting for breath.
“All preparations for departure are complete!”
I nodded, my hand resting on the hilt of my sword.
“Good. We march immediately.”
It was time to swallow the lands of Kairosen.
*
Just as we crossed the border into Kairosen, a group of soldiers and a ridiculously handsome, blonde pretty boy in noble attire blocked our path.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Excellency, Marquis Alcladion. I am Cedric Label, the second son of the House of Label of the Kaisern Kingdom. It is a great honor to meet you like this.”
“A pleasure.”
I rested my hand nonchalantly on my sword's hilt.
“But what is your reason for daring to block my path? If you don't have a good one, your head will be rolling on the ground right here and now.”
Cedric's face stiffened for a moment. But he forced a smile and bowed his head.
“Your Excellency... I'd like to propose a business deal—”
I scoffed and drew my sword.
“So you came here to spout nonsense.”
Cedric immediately waved his hands in a panic.
“W-Wait! Please hear me out! This isn't just a simple business proposal!!!”
I stopped my sword and looked down at Cedric.
A 'business proposal' was all a noble from an enemy nation had to say? Besides, as the second son of the family, he was nothing more than an errand boy with no authority, as long as the eldest son was alive and well.
Just then, Marienne stepped forward from behind me, leading her horse, and whispered quietly.
“Master. The Label family is one of the most prominent merchant families in Kaisern. Rumor has it that the eldest and second sons are fiercely competing for succession. And the second son, Cedric Label, is said to be quite skilled in business.”
My eyes widened at Marienne's words, and I looked at her.
'Marienne knew about this?'
I thought all she knew was martial arts training, but she's well-versed in politics and common knowledge like this. As I stared at her blankly, she lowered her head slightly.
“...Well, Eira told me. She said that to be a knight worthy of you, Master, I needed to learn about the ways of the world... so I studied a little.”
Her face was hidden by her helmet, but her tone and posture betrayed a subtle embarrassment. I chuckled and sheathed my sword.
“Fine. Cedric Label. Let's hear what this 'business proposal' of yours is.”
Relief and tension crossed Cedric's face. He immediately bowed deeply and wet his lips.
A short while later, only Marienne entered the tent as my guard. I looked at Cedric, who was sitting across from me, and spoke first.
“Now, talk. What is this business proposal you were so eager to discuss?”
Cedric licked his dry lips and leaned forward.
“Your Excellency. It's about war supplies. If you and I join forces, we can make a lot of money. No, I guarantee it. We will make an enormous amount of money.”
I narrowed my eyes and asked curtly.
“And?”
Cedric immediately nodded and continued.
“The war is still in its early stages. The longer this fight drags on, the more weapons, food, and supplies... all of it will turn to gold. So, if we deliberately drag out the war—”
“That's enough.”
I raised a hand, cutting him off.
“You're mistaken about something.”
Cedric's eyes wavered.
“Money?”
I chuckled, placing my hand on the hilt of my sword.
“That kind of thing? I can just cut down all you Kaisern nobles and take your fortunes for myself. I have the skill and the power to do so.”
At my words, the color drained from Cedric's face.
“And...”
I drew my sword slightly, showing him the gleaming blade.
“Why should I trust the word of a noble from an enemy nation? So think again, Cedric Label. If you can't give me a proposal that will move me, right here and now...”
The tip of my sword stopped at the nape of his neck.
“...as of today, the House of Label will disappear from history.”
“G-Gulp...”
Cedric's Adam's apple bobbed violently. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead. He closed his eyes for a moment, then clenched his jaw and raised his head.
“Very well, Your Excellency.”
His voice was trembling, but the look in his eyes had changed.
“The proposal I offer is not simply about trading supplies. I want the power to crush my family... no, my brother.”
I raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Crush your brother?”
Cedric nodded, gritting his teeth.
“The position of heir to the House of Label is not my brother's. It must be mine. For that... I need your power, Your Excellency.”
He dropped to his knees and bowed his head low.
“In return... I will offer you Kaisern's top-secret military map.”
I chuckled, tapping the hilt of my sword.
“Hah, how absurd. You have a top-secret military map?”
In an era like this, a top-secret military map wasn't just some simple map. It was a top-secret document containing the locations of fortresses, troop movement routes, supply lines, and strategic points. And yet... the second son of a mere county holds such a thing? It sounded like nothing but nonsense.
“Besides...”
I looked down at Cedric and said coldly.
“Why would you make such an offer to me, a noble from an enemy nation?”
Cedric's lips moved, but he couldn't give an answer. Just then, Marienne, who was beside me, stepped forward and bowed her head.
“Master. Although the Label family holds the high rank of a county... they are not well-regarded within Kaisern. Because they come from a merchant background, they are often ridiculed in high society as merchant nobles who bought their titles with money.”
I narrowed my eyes and looked at Cedric again.
“Merchant nobles...”
Marienne quietly added.
“And I understand that the second son of the Label family is looked down upon even more for being an illegitimate son. That is why Cedric Label needs to rely on an external power like you, Master, rather than the nobles of Kaisern, to solidify his position within the family.”
I looked down at Cedric for a moment. He was kneeling with his forehead pressed to the floor, cold sweat dripping from the nape of his neck. But in his eyes, there was a tenacity that wouldn't be easily extinguished.
'If he's competing for succession despite being an illegitimate son... he must be capable. An ordinary person would have been packed up and kicked out of the family long ago.'
But my intuition whispered to me. He was still hiding something.
“Cedric Label. You're hiding something, aren't you? You'd better tell me now. If you keep hiding it...”
I placed my hand on my sword's hilt and chuckled lowly.
“I won't help you.”
Cedric's shoulders trembled violently. He bit his lip for a moment before finally lowering his head.
“...Something precious... was taken from me. By my brother. I want revenge for that.”
I stared at him for a moment before letting out a chuckle.
'So it was revenge after all. How dull.'
His pathetic face reflected on my blade looked ridiculous. Ambition, succession, a military map... it was all just plausible packaging. At its core lay the anger and inferiority of a man who'd had a woman stolen from him.
I slowly sheathed my sword and spoke.
“Fine. So you want to sell your vengeance to me. But remember this, Cedric. Revenge is worthless to me. You will only get what you want if you prove yourself a useful tool.”
Cedric pressed his forehead to the floor and muttered desperately.
“I will give you my all... I will become your sword, Your Excellency. Just give me the power to crush my brother... my family.”
“Fine. I'll assign two Swordmaster-level knights to you.”