Chapter 57 — The Me Even I Didn't Know (3)
Chapter 57 — The Me Even I Didn't Know (3)
A low groan escaped Roan's lips.
Naore saw it and smirked.
"Don't waste your strength."
Roan finally realized where he had seen the pattern on the ornamental bead attached to Naore's belt.
It was impossible not to recognize it.
It was a pattern found everywhere in the castle.
Because it was the Demon King's crest.
Meanwhile, Naore rummaged through Roan's waist.
Realizing what he was trying to do, Roan thrashed, trying to move his body again.
Naore was pulling Fiora, sheath and all, free.
Seeing Roan squirming, Naore sat down heavily beside him and sighed.
"If I was going to kill you, I wouldn't need Fiora. The kitchen knife over there would be enough. So just stay still!"
And Naore slid Fiora's scabbard under one of Roan's limp hands.
Fiora's intensely agitated voice rang out.
[Roan!!! Oh my god, you're back! Wait, goodness, Roan?! You've collapsed?! What on earth is all this?!]
"Fiora, transfer some of your power first."
[Roan, where on earth have you been....]
Fiora abruptly fell silent.
And through the hand placed on the blade, the heat coursing up Fiora's scabbard was conveyed.
It seemed Fiora had begun concentrating on the 'power transfer' Naore had mentioned.
A warm energy gradually began to spread through Roan's body.
An energy seeping into him like a thin stream of water slowly wetting the earth.
Roan's mind gradually grew clearer.
Simultaneously, Roan found he could speak. He growled out the words.
"...Are you the Demon King."
But Naore kept his hand on Fiora's hilt as he answered.
"Shut up for a moment. You mustn't talk in the middle of this."
He didn't want to listen to this bastard, but unease made Roan shut his mouth again. The faint power that had been flowing into Roan soon ceased.
Only then did Naore, still holding Fiora, look at Roan. He probably intended for Fiora to hear this conversation as well.
He smirked again and said,
"The Demon King is you. I'm Naore right now."
"What are you?"
"This is my errand boy at the moment. You seem to have figured it out."
So the ornament on the belt is a magic tool.
That might be why it drew his eye.
A faint power emanating from the bead ornament was enveloping Naore's entire body.
"Don't go out of your way to find me. You can't find me anyway. All you have to do is live well as the Demon King."
Naore shrugged.
Though it was Naore's voice, Roan vaguely sensed the ferocity and power hidden behind it.
It was the aura of the real Demon King.
"Kgh...!"
Roan gritted his teeth at an oppressive pressure unlike any he'd ever felt. For Roan, who had never been intimidated by anyone since coming here, this experience came as a massive shock.
His sensitive Demon King's body was warning him about this power. Merely glimpsing the tip of the iceberg made him realize just how vast it was.
"Since you're in my body, well, you'd feel it whether you like it or not. That body's fairly decent."
Naore praised Roan's body as if proud, then continued seriously.
"Never collapse like this again. Especially not when other demons are around."
"Why?"
"Because they'll all go berserk trying to devour you."
"...."
Roan's eyes sharpened.
Naore, who had been scrutinizing the prone Roan, spoke.
"What's this, you're as strong as me. No, in some ways, you seem to have even better aspects."
[At least Roan practices every day, you know.]
"You shut up, you loose woman. Chasing after any man who just grabs your hilt, happy as can be."
Naore smirked and made a rough remark. Whether it was a joke or not, even at the harsh words, Fiora showed no sign of displeasure and answered right back.
[As if you ever gave me a chance to be loose? And you, a lazy genius. I told you so many times, a hardworking genius can't be beat. And here you've shown up, haven't you? So of course I'm going to follow him—did you expect me to just let my body gather cobwebs?]
"Well done."
At Naore's words, Fiora fell silent.
Having quieted Fiora, Naore continued in a low voice.
"My body is strong. It won't collapse under normal circumstances. But each of the Great Lords has a madman's streak. If you can tame them well, fine, but if they become enemies, they're a headache."
"...I know."
"If word gets out that you collapsed, all hell will break loose."
Roan furrowed his brow.
He could well imagine it.
They might even abandon all troops on the front lines just to come up and kill me.
Because it was a chance to become Emperor.
Naore let out a light sigh.
"No, you become the Demon King, and what do you do? Live so damn diligently. At first, I was dumbfounded."
"I'm cleaning up the shit you left behind, aren't I?"
"What nonsense. It's precisely because I was a tyrant that you're now hearing 'Your Respected Imperial Majesty.'"
A blue, murderous glint flashed in Roan's eyes.
Shameless bastard!
Even the matters concerning the Great Lords now—if that bastard Demon King had just done things properly in the first place!
Would I have all this to worry about?!
Roan forcibly suppressed the shout that was about to burst out, thinking of Grünent and Baron Grabe in the next room.
Fuck, this guy was really blaming the victim!
"Are you saying it was great that you fucked around like a son of a bitch whenever you felt like it? Because of the shit you pulled, I'm in danger of getting wrecked by the Hero!"
"Still not dead yet, so that's why your mouth's still running, huh? Seems like a better outcome than you, lying here collapsed from holding back on fucking, you moron."
Ah, damn.
He wouldn't even give up a single word.
Moreover, Naore had said something strange.
"...What do you mean, 'holding back from fucking'?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. So go on, fuck diligently, enjoy yourself in all sorts of ways. Since you've gone to the trouble of ending up in my magnificent body."
"I asked what you mean, collapsed from holding back on fucking?"
"Yeah. If you don't do it, you die."
Roan's body stiffened rigidly from shock.
He staggered, trying to get up.
But Naore pressed down on his shoulder.
"Move a little later."
"...Die? What bullshit is that."
"Semen is poison to my body."
Roan's mouth dropped open involuntarily.
"If you let it build up too long, it's dangerous. I never figured out why, but that's how my body is. So it must absolutely not be stored up inside; it has to be released."
"Then you could just do it yourself...."
"Hey, I'm the Emperor. It makes no sense for me to jerk off alone in the corner of my bedroom, does it?"
"...."
Well... he had a point.
"And if possible, do it with multiple partners."
"Why's that?"
"Because it's better."
"...."
Roan glared at Naore. Then Naore grinned boyishly and shrugged his shoulders.
"It's poison to my body, so you think it'd be good for others?"
"...Hm."
"It seems to be fine for women, but if one woman receives the poison for too long, that's also not good."
In an instant, a dark shadow flickered across Roan's face. Seeing that, Naore spoke reassuringly.
"If it's Grünent, she'll be fine. It was okay dealing with just one person for about a year."
"How did you find that out?"
"...I tried it."
For a moment, Naore's voice also seemed to sink, and Roan couldn't bring himself to ask what had happened to that woman.
"Anyway, even if she keeps receiving semen for a while, if she has a rest period afterward without copulating, the woman seemed to purify the poison quickly.
Don't just cling to one person; spread yourself around a bit. Isn't it the glorious seed of the Emperor, after all."
"Haah."
Roan finally felt strength returning to his hands and feet. As he shakily pressed against the floor, Naore supported him and sat him up against the wall.
"To think a day would come when I'd be propping up my own body. Insane."
"...Ah, fuck. I'm like an old man. This is the first time I've sworn since coming here, too."
"Heh heh heh.... Well, I didn't know myself before I collapsed once, either."
Chuckling, Naore crouched down opposite Roan and patted his shoulder.
The gesture was like something done between close friends.
It was an atmosphere suggesting they should share a cigarette together.
Just in case, Roan asked.
"Hey, got a smoke?"
"How would a trading company guard just carry around something that expensive? I've got some enshrined at home. You're the Emperor and you don't even have cigarettes?"
"...Damn."
Naore laughed at Roan's grumbling, then spoke as if making a request.
"Still, it's a precious body. Take good care of it for me."
"If it's that precious."
Roan's eyes flashed.
"Why don't you manage it yourself? Just where are you and what are you doing, anyway?"
Naore suddenly fell silent.
[Roan...?]
The silent Naore's expression revealed no emotion at all.
"Difficult to say. I'm made unable to speak of it."
"What?"
And at that moment, from beyond the far room, Grünent's small cry was heard.
— Your Majesty?
Roan and Naore looked at each other.
Naore shouted toward the door.
"Just a moment, it's nearly finished!"
He turned back to Roan.
"If you're not going to win the Great Lords over, killing them might be the better option. Especially, be wary of the Lord of the South Black Territory and his daughter."
"The Lord of the South Black Territory? You mean the Dark Archduke and Erenier?"
"Yes."
And Naore ground his teeth.
"That crazy bitch."
His expression as he spat those vicious words was completely different from when he had jokingly called Fiora a 'loose woman.'
A menacing air radiated from him, causing Roan to deeply furrow his brow again.
"What...."
Just as Roan was about to demand a more detailed explanation, many things happened at once.
"Your Majesty!"
Grünent carefully opened the door, and upon seeing Roan's state, called out to him.
Naore's bead ornament shattered.
The power flowing from the bead was cut off instantly as well.
And Naore's body collapsed with a thud, like a puppet with its strings cut.
Baron Grabe, following behind, was startled to see Naore slump down and hurried over.
"Good heavens."
But Grünent was calm.
"It seems Naore transferred power to His Majesty, and is exhausted. He did say he might collapse from fatigue."
In a voice much more composed than before, Grünent spoke to the baron, then checked on Roan's well-being with a regretful expression.
"How are you feeling, Your Majesty?"
"I'm fine."
"Let's return right now, Your Majesty."
"...Hm."
"I also think that would be best, Your Majesty."
Baron Grabe checked on the fallen Naore.
He was breathing well.
"That's a relief. I'll look after Naore, so you two please go home first."
"Mm."
As the baron saw Roan stand up, supported by Grünent, he only then called for someone.
Roan and Grünent, having entered the castle, headed straight for the bedroom.
The two of them being together and heading directly to the bedroom was no longer a rare occurrence.
Though it was slightly early, the attendants and maids began withdrawing from Roan's bedroom.
Grünent only left the room briefly after making sure Roan was lying down on the bed, saying she would be right back.
The sun had just set.
Roan was sitting propped up against the headboard, talking with Fiora.
"So that's why you asked when the last time I had sex was?"
[Roan never stated it that specifically, but I had my guesses. So, I was just wondering.]
Fiora's voice was subdued, as if her own heart was complicated. A calm voice, different from her usual bubbly demeanor.
[Originally, I'm happy just to know that Roan is safe. And I'm also relieved that the current Roan is alright.]
"Thank you."
[As I've said before, I've experienced my master changing many times.]
Fiora spoke in a mournful voice.
[But there are plenty of things that remain sad and never become familiar, no matter how many times you go through them. Loss is painful.]
"Mm."
At times like this, it would have been good to wordlessly hold someone or stroke their hair, but Fiora had no body.
Roan stroked the scabbard instead.
Fiora, who had been silent for a moment, laughed.
[Hehe, is this consolation?]
"Mm."
[You're a kind swordsman, aren't you?]
Fiora said.
[Thank you. Roan.]
"Mm."
[...Right, I suppose it would be good to ask this while I have the chance. What is your real name?]
But Roan didn't answer.
He only quietly whispered different words.
"Later."
Roan stood the sword up near the bed.
However, the presence that entered the room didn't come straight into the bedchamber; it headed toward the dressing room connected to the waiting room.
Only after a bit more time had passed did Grünent knock on the bedroom door and call for Roan.
"Your Majesty."
"Come in."
The presence was not alone.
As the door opened, Roan could see who the owner of that presence was.
Roan's eyes went wide.