Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: 17. Other People's Stories (2)
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# 162
#2 Their Circumstances: The Maou Candidate's Circumstances.
Anyone stepping into this room for the first time wouldn't know who its owner was.
At a glance, it looked like the messy room of an utterly lazy person.
Most of the room was filled with books and bookshelves, so no one would question calling it a scholar's study.
But at the center of such a room.
The moment you saw the being seated at the desk piled high with documents, the story would change.
An extraordinary massive physique.
At first glance, it could pass for human, but the huge horns protruding from his head signified that the body's owner was no human.
Among all demonkind, the demon tribe most resembling humans: the Human-Demon Tribe.
And among them, one of those closest to becoming the Demon King.
The leader of the war-mongering radicals and the Great General of the Demon Realm, Agreat, was the owner of this room!
"Repeat that once more."
Agreat was always evaluated as one who never lost his composure.
But right now, the air in his room was as frigid as a blizzard sweeping through.
"The Four Heavenly Kings have lost contact."
"I didn't mishear that."
"My apologies."
The demon in the form of a bird bowed his head in apology, but Agreat merely shook his head.
"You're just the one relaying messages. You've done nothing wrong. It's merely overdue regular contact, so let's wait a bit."
"Yes, understood."
Watching his subordinate bow and exit, Agreat thought.
'Something's happened.'
Not just anyone, but the chieftain leading an entire tribe had mobilized.
Even if it was the continent of weak humans, this was a chieftain-level move.
Unless information had leaked to the human side, there was no reason for communications to suddenly cut off.
That's why they'd deployed a small elite unit, wasn't it?
So the answer was clear.
'The moderates.'
There's no way humans could uncover the last succubus descendant.
Even demons believed the succubus clan had gone extinct after the final succubus remaining on the Demon Continent died.
After the previous Demon King passed, during the vote to select the new Demon King, an absurd 50-50 tie occurred.
Through the oracle of the Demon God, demonkind learned of a surviving succubus clan member.
How could humans know something even demons didn't?
Thus, the Four Heavenly Kings' silence must mean the moderates had intervened.
There was a chance of incidental friction with humans, but with chieftain-level prowess, they could escape.
If they had, a report of complications would have come in, Agreat concluded.
"With their skills, they won't die, but they're likely struggling."
Agreat thought they'd been too overconfident.
The moderates moved on weak convictions of peace for all lifeforms, not demon supremacy.
He'd predicted they wouldn't strike first with force, and to conserve demon forces, Agreat himself refrained from violence.
They were currently in a standoff, but Agreat's goal was demon domination of the world.
The enemy to fight was humans, not fellow demons, he'd thought.
But they'd moved first.
Through this, Agreat realized.
The moderate leader was the previous Demon King's daughter.
The previous Demon King, before advocating peace with humans, was a man who unified 101 tribes with overwhelming power and intellect.
"The reason I served the previous Demon King was acknowledging that immense power and charisma. Yes, after so long watching him preach peace, I forgot."
That the previous Demon King was closer to a tyrant than anyone.
And that she, the moderate leader, had inherited his blood.
"This won't be easy."
Agreat's hands began moving busily.
He didn't want civil war.
But if the opponent struck first and he just took it, his faction wouldn't bear the radical name.
"War it is."
The demon civil war had begun.
#3 Their Circumstances: (Old Maid) The Unmarried One's Circumstances I
"Hmm... What could this mean?"
Your Highness shook the small letter in her hand as she spoke.
"Th-that..."
I could feel cold sweat pouring down my back like a waterfall.
But who am I!
The knight who's served Your Highness the longest, tempered by Sir Ast and Your Highness's endless scoldings.
I've learned to maintain a smile even in situations like this.
Though I never wanted to.
"What is it?"
What else? It's a wedding invitation.
...But I absolutely couldn't say that out loud.
The Your Highness who used to tease me about my marriage woes is gone.
The current Your Highness is older than I was back then.
Of course, it's not her issue.
Or is it?
Your Highness meets every criterion as the empire's—no, the continent's—finest.
The true power of the continent's strongest nation, undeniable by anyone.
Power even the crown prince and emperor can't treat lightly.
Commander of forces rivaling a nation, never underestimated.
An appearance that looks early twenties, beauty hailed as the continent's top—no counterarguments.
Marriage proposals flood in as standard, rumors say the paper used rivals a mountain range.
But Your Highness wants only one man.
Sir Ast.
Honestly, I can't fathom what she sees in him, nor do I want to, but she wants Sir Ast.
All I know is that Sir Ast changed Your Highness's fated death.
That's enough to fall in love, sure.
The man who saved her from inescapable fate!
A romance novel cliché, near-impossible in reality.
But the saved one was Your Highness.
Would she fall for someone just for saving her?
Does Your Highness have such girlish sentiments?
No.
Absolutely not.
If she did, she wouldn't choose Sir Ast.
Frankly, Sir Ast's abilities are exceptional.
Even excluding other feats, Your Highness moves tirelessly yet remains uncaptured—proof enough.
I'd have been caught in under a year.
But ability and love are different matters.
Indeed.
If not, a capable me wouldn't still be...
"Urk..."
"Lea?"
"N-no, it's nothing."
I barely held back tears.
Your Highness's age is one thing, but mine is far worse.
Even my eldest brother, the current family head who always set up matches, sighs, "I don't know anymore..." and given up.
Your Highness shreds the invitation from her cousin, muttering, "Kill them or not?"
Me? Even my youngest sister and same-age cousins are all married—no invitations to shred.
No. In a few years, my nieces will send...
"Sob..."
Sudden sorrow surges.
What's wrong with me! This is fine! More than fine!
These specs qualify for a normal love marriage!
Must I give up on love marriage now?
Force a political one with power?!
"Lea... Why the sudden tears?"
"I'm deeply pondering life's profundities. No need to worry, Your Highness."
I sniffle quietly, avoiding her gaze.
Rumors already link me with the Sword Saint: to become a top female knight, forgo marriage.
Once imperial gossip, now empire-wide, I hear.
Lady Retia's spotless romance record fuels its spread.
It's true.
I swung swords instead of dating.
Naturally stronger than those wasting time on love!
This rumor will spread continent-wide in 2 years, maybe 1.
Countless aspiring female knights admiring us will swear off love for strength.
Resulting birth rate drop, lost family arts.
Rising unmarried men causing social issues!
Unthinkable! This threatens world peace.
Dating me could save the world.
So appear, prince on white horse!
"M-my marriage woes resolve only with a hero's arrival..."
Self-loathing crashes in.
Your Highness eyes me oddly.
Like when I watch her giggle with Sir Ast.
Yes, that.
The "crazy person" look.
"Your Highness, what shall we do?"
I turn, wipe tears, revert to normal.
I've endured such gazes on her and Sir Ast often.
I decline receiving that indescribable look.
"What? Lea's marriage issue? Or this invitation?"
"The invitation."
She seems teasing, but I'm numb now.
She clicks her tongue briefly, disappointed—no follow-up like before.
We're at that age now.
"Of course we'll attend."
Your Highness nods impassively.
But I read something in that calm face.
"Your Highness, it's still an imperial event. Maintain decorum."
"Lea, that implies I'll rampage at my cousin's wedding?"
"Precisely, Your Highness."
She frowns at my nod.
"You think I'd do that?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Blasphemy warranting arrest.
But I know.
"Right! This is a challenge to me! Don't you think?"
Your Highness wouldn't spare the cousin who sent this!
"What? Royalty still has much to learn. Marrying at 20?"
"Your Highness, I understand, but it's an imperial event."
"Yeah. But they shouldn't have sent me an invite. Just marry quietly among yourselves!"
I know her gritted teeth well.
I was the same 10 years ago.
Especially when my family's sole hope—our rare superior-chested youngest sister, family's pride—sent hers. I genuinely wished world destruction.
But that's 20 years ago now.
Her son's nearly academy age.
Time to be numb.
Send him to Yuglasia...
"Lea, why keep crying?"
"Realizing the world's cruelty? Your Highness, how about bombing the wedding!"
Thought I was numb, but impossible.
Conscience means no invites to the marriage-delayed.
"That sounds good."
Who knows what she'll do.
So, Sir Ast.
Count it as saving many—get caught soon.
Please.
#4 Their Circumstances: (Old Maid) The Unmarried One's Circumstances II
"Masteeeeeeer!"
The silver-haired beauty clutched her head and collapsed to the floor.
"Why's she like that?"
The black-clad man sighed at the sight.
"She saw the calendar."
"Ah..."
The other men shook their heads upon hearing.
Just one month left this year.
Next year, she'd age another year.
And their master... was older than the empire's First Imperial Princess, who'd passed 30.