Chapter 63 - The Unprecedented Chill in the Demon King's Conference Room
The atmosphere in the conference room was chillingly cold, unprecedented in the Demon King's army.
"...Then, let's begin the meeting."
In that tense air, I declared the start of the Demon King's army conference in a low voice.
"Of course, since I just joined the Demon King's army, I don't know the agenda or the proceedings. So, I'll leave the overall conduct of today's meeting to Drimirkan."
As my words came to an end, Drimirkan, who had been glancing at me cautiously, quietly opened his mouth.
"Yes, leave it to me."
Unlike earlier, his attitude was exceedingly polite.
"..........."
Not only that, but most of the executives were fidgeting, stealing glances at me. Thanks to them, even as I tried to maintain a composed expression, my face control was slipping.
Well, at least the effect I wanted has taken hold.
Earlier, when Drimirkan asked if I was the Demon King, I had dodged the question. In other words, neither affirming nor denying it.
Because of that, the executives now couldn't tell if the person before them was the Demon King or just an extraordinarily powerful second-in-command. They must be dying inside.
If they served me as the Demon King when I wasn't, it would be blasphemy against the true Demon King. But if I was the Demon King and they didn't serve me as such, that too would be blasphemy.
Of course, this was exactly the situation I wanted.
In truth, since they'd already mistaken me for the Demon King, I wanted to play the part fully and dismantle the army from within. But Drimirkan was in contact with the Demon King through some means. If I openly acted the role, it wouldn't take long for the truth to come out.
But by not making a clear statement while subtly pressuring them, their minds would fill in the blanks on their own. Sure, they couldn't be certain, so the executives were withering away in doubt—but that wasn't my problem.
"Then, the first agenda item..."
As I was thinking that, Drimirkan cleared his throat and announced the first item.
"The whereabouts of the Hero who has recently reappeared in the world remain unknown. Does any executive here have information on the Hero's location?"
The executives began exchanging uneasy glances.
"It seems no one does. In that case... I'll ask those infiltrated in the Church and the Imperial Family. How is the investigation into the Hero's whereabouts progressing?"
Drimirkan watched them with a calm expression, then furrowed his brow slightly as he asked. A woman wearing the badge of the intelligence executive stood and began her report.
"The Church of the Sun God is as incompetent as ever. The holy knights and priests are wandering the capital and provinces daily, sniffing around... but instead of finding the Hero we're supposed to hunt, they're just extorting donations."
"Well, with the Pope on our side, they have no choice but to be useless."
From Drimirkan's quiet mutter, it seemed the Pope was already the Demon King's puppet at this point. The head of the largest religious organization, with influence not just in the Sunrise Empire but across the continent, serving the Demon King—truly a bright future for the Empire.
"However, the Church now has the variable of the Saintess. What stance is she taking toward the Hero?"
Drimirkan, smirking as if sharing my thoughts, soon asked in a grave tone. It made sense; the existence of the 'Saintess' must be a massive trauma for the Demon King's army, thanks to the legendary First Saintess from a thousand years ago.
"The Saintess announced she's embarking on a pilgrimage to find the Hero herself. Of course, whether that 'Pure White Saintess' pilgrimage will yield results is highly doubtful... but we're interfering to eliminate even the slightest possibility."
With that, the woman sat back down. Next, the man beside her stood.
"The Imperial Family is putting up quite the fight. They're deploying a third of the Imperial Knights for the search, offering a massive bounty for information on the Hero, even contacting underworld guilds—doing everything possible."
Drimirkan, wearing a scoffing expression, asked, "Has fire broken out on their feet or something?"
"If the Demon King appears and the Empire falls, all the absolute power they've enjoyed vanishes. The Imperial Family spares no effort when it concerns their power."
His words resonated so deeply that I unwittingly nodded and muttered in agreement. Drimirkan shot a sharp question my way.
"So, what's the risk level?"
"Not that high. More proactive than the Church, but equally incompetent. However, we need to watch the 'Imperial Knights' and the 'Third Imperial Princess' closely."
As the man finished his report and sat, Drimirkan glanced at me again before cautiously asking, "Um... does Frey have any advice to offer?"
"My advice?"
I furrowed my brow at Drimirkan suddenly seeking counsel. He bowed his head and elaborated.
"Well, Frey is the descendant of the 'Hero's family', right? So... I thought you might know some information or prophecy about the 'Hero'..."
Drimirkan looked at me expectantly, as did the other executives.
"Well... I'm not sure..."
I couldn't out myself as the Hero here, so I tried to brush it off vaguely. But then a good idea struck me. No guarantee it'd work, but worth a shot—I paused dramatically, then put on a serious face and began.
"...Oh, come to think of it, there's a phrase handed down through generations to the head of the Hero family."
"A phrase handed down to the family head?"
Drimirkan's eyes lit up. This might hook a big one, I thought, fleshing out the story.
"Yes, I only learned of it a few months ago, shortly after becoming acting head."
"So, what is this phrase?"
Urged by Drimirkan, I put on a solemn expression and ordered the man at the end of the table.
"You there, bring paper and a pen."
Suddenly, a chill swept the room.
"B-Big brother, don't get mad."
"Yeah, if you piss him off here, you're dead meat."
His colleagues urgently tried to restrain him. Feeling something off, I asked Drimirkan beside me.
"...Who is that guy?"
"He's the captain of the combat executives. One of the highest executives in the Demon King's army—and until just now, the third-in-command."
"Ah..."
I'd thought he was a low-rank because he was at the far end, but he was the combat captain. For a moment, I considered apologizing, but groveling to someone who'd dropped from second to fourth under me wouldn't look good. I decided to push forward.
"Are my words not reaching you? I said bring paper and pen right now."
With an appropriately arrogant tone on the line between Demon King and second-in-command, I pressed him. The scar-faced man clenched his fists tightly.
"Understood... sir."
With a trembling voice, he slowly stood, gathered paper and pen, and approached me.
"Cheap quill. Prepare better ones next time."
I took them without a glance, then gestured for him to return while ordering Drimirkan.
"...Grk."
The combat captain ground his teeth briefly, then returned to his seat radiating murderous intent.
"You've seen this script before, right?"
"Th-This is...!"
Ignoring him, I wrote on the paper and handed it to Drimirkan. Seeing it, his eyes widened as he muttered.
"Isn't this the script used by the Hero from a thousand years ago...?"
"Yes, the phrase written in that script has been passed down in our family for generations."
"Then, do you know what it means?"
As I spoke gravely, Drimirkan asked eagerly.
"Of course. Though it's very short."
With my hook set, I cleared my throat and began.
"The one the world must seek a thousand years hence is a woman, an orphan. And..."
"And?"
I trailed off, and Drimirkan pressed, sweating coldly. Shaking my head, I replied.
"Unfortunately, the phrase cuts off there."
"Ah..."
Drimirkan sighed in disappointment.
"My ancestors insured against the unforeseen. But I know a way to uncover what follows."
"Really!?"
His eyes sparkled again at my hopeful words. Sensing my plan's success, I smiled and continued.
"Gather all the inscriptions from the 'Hero's Ruins' in the Western Continent. That's the key to revealing the rest."
"Understood."
Drimirkan bowed, then declared to the still-dazed executives.
"It seems we'll outpace everyone in the Hero hunt. Of course, that requires your cooperation."
He paused for breath, unrolled a map on the table, and continued.
"From now on, in the Western Continent..."
"Hold on."
A woman with classic demon features suddenly stood, cutting him off.
"Remerno, now's not the time..."
"Who are you?"
Drimirkan tried to stop her, but I interrupted coldly.
"I am Remerno, pure demon handling strategy and tactics for the Demon King's army."
"...Hoo."
Hearing her introduction, I activated my Information Search Skill.
Peering into her info, I recalled she was the schemer who'd clashed heads with Serena in previous loops.
More like Serena's plaything than a real rival.
It was called a battle of wits, but really, she'd been intellectually pummeled by Serena. According to the ancestor's words in the 'Prophecy Book', it was akin to the relationship between Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi. And like that, the side that perished was Serena's Sunrise Empire—a perfect parallel? Seems Serena-like figures existed in the ancestor's world too.
"It might sound irreverent, but I can't trust the information Frey provided."
Of course, Remerno wasn't incompetent. She was the only one daring to challenge me now.
Her crushing defeats were just because Serena was a 'cheat character'.
"Why can't you trust my information?"
Feeling slightly troubled, I asked in a low voice.
"Then let me ask: Can Frey share the decryption method for that script with us?"
She stared straight at me and continued.
"That's difficult. The script left by the previous Hero can only be read by direct descendants."
"Why?"
"It's ancient magic bound to the family. Similar to the Moonlight family's 'Subjugation Curse' or the Sunrise family's 'Oath'."
Though it was unexpected grilling, my calm excuse made Remerno frown slightly.
"Then, explain in detail why gathering all the script from the Western Continent ruins is the 'key'."
"That's... something you don't need to know. Just follow orders as per the army's basic rule of 'obeying superiors'."
As I prepared another excuse, I saw her sharp gaze and switched to brazen defiance. That was her aim.
She'd ask difficult questions repeatedly to draw out lies and excuses, creating inconsistencies. Then she'd pounce on the flaw and dismantle my logic.
To avoid her scheme, I needed a perfect alibi or overwhelming pressure. In this improvisational spot, leveraging my position's authority to crush her was best.
"That's precisely why we can't trust Frey's information."
Refusing to yield, she continued coldly.
"The Demon King's army has relied too long on uncertain information."
"Uncertain information?"
"Yes. We've followed vague, ambiguous orders presumed from the unidentified Demon King, whose identity remains hidden. Morale has plummeted as a result."
The executives nodded quietly at Remerno's words. Seems they harbored plenty of grudges against the Demon King.
"But if even Frey acts this way, an 'information imbalance' is inevitable. And that will rot the army from within. So..."
"In the end, you don't trust Frey."
As she pressed on, Drimirkan interjected into our exchange.
"You're saying you can't trust Frey, the highest executive and second-in-command of the Demon King's army."
"...The Starlight family is the Hero family that illuminates darkness."
She countered without backing down. As the mood spiraled uncontrollably...
"Then, what do I need to do?"
"Pardon?"
I raised a hand to silence them both and spoke lowly to Remerno.
"Show 'proof' I can be trusted?"
"Yes, with suitable proof... everyone would be satisfied."
As she glanced around, the executives all stared at me. Clear suspicion filled their eyes.
She's sharp with the mind games.
Her final ploy: plant a tiny seed of doubt while toeing the line. Left unchecked, it would sprout and grow, eventually threatening me. Suspicion is a relentless, potent emotion.
Thus, I'd uproot that seed now—with something far stronger than doubt.
"I've already shown you that proof."
"What do you mean?"
Remerno frowned at my words. She'd sensed her plan unraveling instinctively. Not that it mattered.
"Drimirkan, explain the reason in my stead."
I ordered the bowed Drimirkan beside me. Shrewd opportunist though he was, his blind loyalty to the 'Demon King' meant he'd grasp my 'proof' perfectly.
"...The fact that we're all alive is the proof."
At his words' end, everyone froze.
Grinning triumphantly, I turned to the man who'd brought the paper and pen.
"You there, what's your position?"
"...One of the highest executives, captain of the Demon King's army combat division."
"Right. If you fought me... how long do you think you'd last?"
He rolled his eyes, then muttered lowly.
"I estimated three to five minutes at first... but after that battle, not even one exchange."
The executives' shocked faces amused me as I tossed out casually.
"I could cut all your throats with one sword swing right now."
A lie, of course. My life force would bottom out before I finished them.
"Is that what you all want?"
".........."
But they didn't think so; terror filled their eyes one by one. My drawing my sword and caressing it with Star Mana helped, no doubt.
"I know you suspect me. A Hero family descendant suddenly becoming second-in-command overnight... it's understandable."
Thus, in a low voice, I began.
"You probably suspect I might be the 'Hero'."
They suspected me as a spy, not the Hero. But terror-clouded judgment would etch my words as truth.
"But if I were truly the Hero, I could slaughter you all with one swing... so why play second-in-command instead?"
Scanning them, they averted their gazes.
"So, drop the pointless suspicions. If there's any more noise after this, I'll take it as a challenge."
Finishing coldly, they all bowed their heads.
".....Ugh."
Amid them, Remerno alone wore a frosty expression. I'd suppressed most with fear, but she still harbored resentment.
Well, she's useful, so I'll exploit her... and kill her if things go south.
Satisfied with my judgment and smug smile, a stray thought bubbled up.
...Demon King role suits me weirdly well?
As I mused idly, Drimirkan beside me coughed and spoke.
"Then, next agenda."
Seeing the photo he distributed, I quietly smiled.
"At the upcoming slave market, we'll secure slaves for the Demon King's army."
Fat chance.
I didn't know the Demon King's scheme in making me top executive yet, but I had no intention of being their puppet forever—system, variables, and Demon King be damned.
From now on, I'd strip the Demon King's army bare, thwarting her plans as much as possible. And vent some stress to boot.
The long meeting finally ended, and as most executives left...
"...Drimirkan. Let's talk."
Remerno, who'd stayed till the end, addressed the likewise lingering Drimirkan.
"I know what you want to say."
He replied coldly, staring piercingly at the table.
"Frey can't be trusted. He hides too much..."
"What if—just what if—he's our Demon King?"
She tried urgently persuading him, but Drimirkan cut her off.
"The Demon King I've met always hid their identity. Appearance, status—even voice."
No one but Drimirkan had met the Demon King directly, so Remerno fell silent, listening intently.
"What I know is they have Frey's height and build... and use the same arrogant, haughty tone as Frey."
Frowning deeply, she scoffed.
"You're basing your certainty on such flimsy evidence? Anyone could..."
"Frey is the first 'Magic Swordsman' in history."
She quietly shut her mouth.
"Moreover, their swordsmanship and magic have both reached the pinnacle simultaneously. Only the 'Demon King' could achieve that."
"But last time, you said the Demon King erased your attack with a single flick of a finger."
She shook her head, countering.
"Frey's display today was mythical, but not to the level of nullifying all attacks with one finger flick. So..."
"That's exactly what I wanted to discuss."
Drimirkan cut her off again, serious-faced.
"The Demon King is under 'restrictions'."
"Restrictions?"
"I don't know the details... but from hiding their identity, not sharing the Hero's, and other behaviors, some unknown force imposes 'restrictions'."
With convinced tone, he concluded.
"And... Frey is the same."
"What?"
"Didn't you feel it? When Frey spoke of the Hero's identity earlier, they evaded and dodged some questions."
"...Hmm."
Remerno pondered, recalling.
"Well, too early for certainty... but if my guess is right..."
Drimirkan smiled lowly at her.
"...The Demon King has finally revealed themselves to the world."
Thus, the moment of unprecedented misunderstanding was born.