Chapter 134: Tightrope Walking

The bet between the Duke and Cruel, which had been temporarily put on hold due to Deon Hart’s absence on a mission to the Demon Realm, resumed the moment he returned to the Empire.

The loser would grant the winner’s wish—a bet where the first to kill Deon Hart would be victorious.

“Survived another day.”

Cruel received a note detailing several attacks and attempted poisonings, along with how they were dealt with. He mentally calculated how many times Deon had stood at death’s door in a single day before closing his eyes.

“Thank goodness.”

But the Duke wouldn’t give up after just these minor failures.

That was why he had placed an open-ended request.

Knowing the Duke’s persistence despite the money draining from his coffers like water from a leaky pouch, Cruel didn’t withdraw the request to protect Deon Hart.

***

The Duke had placed a kill order, and Cruel had put in a protection request. Both targeting the same individual.

Upon receiving this report, the Emperor didn’t immediately respond. Instead, he sat back, lowered his eyelids, and touched the corner of his eye with his fingers.

His golden eyes wandered, focusing on the empty air for a moment, before retreating beneath his eyelids. With a practiced motion, the Emperor drew a dagger.

Thunk!

“…Haa.”

Nemesius, who had been standing silently, focused his gaze on the Emperor’s pierced left hand.

The Emperor, still holding the dagger’s hilt, slowly exhaled, then opened his eyes and pulled it out. With a sickening sound, blood gushed from the wound, and Nemesius smoothly moved forward to begin treatment.

With his left hand entrusted to Nemesius, the Emperor picked up the papers he had briefly set aside, a sneer forming on his lips.

“…Indeed. One seeks to kill, the other to protect.”

And these were two individuals who were outwardly on the same side.

Moreover, Deon Hart genuinely loathed the person trying to protect him. What should one make of this?

Calling it amusing would disregard the heavy history involved, but the Emperor wasn’t in a position to take it seriously either.

He forced his reluctant lips apart.

“Truly….”

“….”

“A pitiful fate.”

Not that he, a man who had contributed to that pitiful fate, was in any position to say so.

Since when did the Emperor consider his qualifications before speaking? He shamelessly offered his observation on this laughable farce and flipped to the next document.

“The treatment isn’t finished yet. Please remove your hand.”

“…It’s a habit.”

He withdrew the hand that had unconsciously moved towards the wound on his left hand.

Ignoring Nemesius’s gaze, he focused on the contents of the next document. This one also contained unpleasant news.

A sigh escaped his lips.

“Again?”

“….”

“They never tire of this, do they? They should be figuring out how to deal with the demons instead of spreading such baseless rumors.”

The rumor that the Demon King’s Commander of the 0th Legion and the Empire’s hero, Deon Hart, had similar fighting styles.

Both concealed their faces, used daggers, and adhered to brutal combat styles, making the suspicion understandable. Eradicating these suspicions early was the responsibility of the Emperor and the Demon King.

“As always, handle it quietly.”

“….”

The hand wrapping the bandage paused.

Receiving no response and noticing that the treatment showed no signs of finishing, the Emperor looked up at him. Nemesius, who didn’t avoid his gaze, stared into his golden eyes for a moment before slowly speaking.

“…Might I be so bold as to ask if the two are truly unrelated?”

“….”

This was the first time he had questioned this rumor, having previously carried out his orders without inquiry.

He must have given it considerable thought. Unable to easily utter a lie, the Emperor remained silent.

A strange tension hung in the air with the silence. The quiet born from a silent battle of wills, a battle that felt like eons, was broken when the Emperor shifted his gaze back to the documents.

“I… did not permit a question.”

The Emperor hadn’t given a false answer.

“…My apologies.”

The general understood the meaning behind those words.

As the Emperor was about to add something, he saw a signal on his communicator and raised an eyebrow.

This communicator was surely connected to Deon Hart.

‘What’s the matter? I haven’t given any significant missions yet because of the rumors.’

Could something have gone wrong?

Reaching for the communicator, he quietly commanded,

“Withdraw.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

***

Just one, I’ll take down just one of them properly.

If I kill one in front of them as an example, those damned big monsters will get scared and retreat.

Deon watched the creatures charging at him, his eyes bloodshot. He twirled his dagger before a grin stretched across his face.

‘They said the number of monsters is increasing exponentially. It seems they were right.’

With this mark, I thought I wouldn’t be attacked by monsters. How hungry must they be to even consider attacking me?

The hunger to overcome the Demon King’s aura emanating from the mark. Combined with being separated from the group, small size, and seemingly harmless appearance, it must have eliminated any hesitation they had.

“That won’t do.”

His crimson eyes gleamed with madness.

Other things are fine. Even if something else is added to this weak body, it won’t make much difference. I can cough up blood, get stabbed somewhere, lose an arm or a leg—as long as I don’t look weak.

But.

“That’s unacceptable.”

Looking weak is unacceptable.

After making a name for himself in the eight-year war and his somewhat dramatic entrance during his first meeting with the Demon King, no one in either the Human or Demon Realm looked down on him.

So this feeling is something he hasn’t experienced in a long time. The previous monsters he encountered without the mark attacking him was natural, but with the mark present, their actions meant that he looked weak enough to ignore the Demon King’s aura.

“Come on, you bastards. You’ve touched my sore spot after a long time.”

I’ll kill you good and proper.

The dagger spun, his thumb brushing against the hilt a few times. Having completely discarded the thought of returning unscathed, Deon Hart spread his arms wide and welcomed his opponents with a bright smile.

***

The monsters fled in terror. Anyone from the Human Realm witnessing this would have been shocked beyond belief. For humans, ‘monsters’ stronger than a certain level might hesitate due to an opponent’s powerful presence, but they wouldn’t run away.

I stood firm, watching their retreating figures until they were completely out of sight, before collapsing to the ground.

‘It hurts….’

My wrist ached. My side too. My legs felt like all the muscles had snapped. My mouth tasted of metallic blood, like I’d coughed some up. Looking down, I saw most of my top stained red.

Realizing my condition only now that my mind had cleared was absurd. I don’t remember, but I think I know what I did. Only that could so meticulously destroy my body.

‘It must have been a really dangerous situation for me….’

The only option I have, usable only once in a normal state.

Drawing strength beyond my physical limits.

‘Or maybe I panicked and just used techniques haphazardly….’

It was natural that my body, unable to withstand it, would be wrecked.

…Whatever the situation, getting back is the priority. I’ve been away for too long.

I put strength into my legs to get up….

“…Huh?”

I stared blankly at my legs before trying again. I only felt sharp pain; no strength went into them.

Refusing to give up, I tried several times to stand, only to manage to stand up and take one wobbly step before falling heavily. I ended up catching myself with my throbbing wrist on the ground.

It hurt so badly I rolled on the ground silently.

“Haha, I’m screwed.”

I kind of expected it.

Guess I’ll have to crawl. How far is it from here to the military camp? What if more monsters come in the meantime….

I lay flat on the ground, staring blankly at the sky, before a thought flashed through my mind, making me jolt upright.

‘I should report to the Lord Demon King first…!’

And ask him to sort me out! Sending a single demon to pick up a light human like me is enough, you don’t need a large troop!

My hand trembled, whether from the pain or something else, as I reached into my pocket.

So… I’m a bit out of it from the aftereffects of the battle, but… the ‘communication stone’ was in my right pocket, right?

***

– Mission accomplished. I plan to return to the Empire immediately, but I sustained injuries and have difficulty moving. I request that you send a demon to assist me.

“….”

The communication ended.

The Emperor, leaning back loosely in his chair, stared at the ‘communicator’ before getting up.

He silently put on his cloak and picked up his sword. As he glanced over his condition and walked outside, Nemesius, who had been waiting a short distance away, approached. The Emperor stopped his habitually following general and gestured for another soldier.

“Bring first-aid supplies and a set of clean clothes.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Nemesius, who had been silently observing, spoke up.

“Where are you going?”

“For a walk.”

Even if it was just first-aid supplies, there was no reason to bring clean clothes for a simple walk. Moreover, he had prepared horses. How could this be just a walk?

…However, there must be a reason why he told me it was a walk.

Normally, he would have retreated as instructed, but for some reason, Nemesius, after a moment of silence, attempted a futile persuasion.

“I can….”

“Enough. Do not follow.”

As expected, he was cut off immediately.

The Emperor turned away without hesitation, carrying the prepared items. The hem of his cloak fluttered with his movement.

Watching his retreating figure, the general calculated which direction he was heading before realizing his insubordination and closing his eyes.

***

I was spotted by those monsters while lying down. It seems I didn’t completely chase them away after all.

Right… these bastards were simple-minded, their emotions didn’t last long. Sustained hunger would naturally have a stronger influence than a fleeting moment of fear.

‘Wait, isn’t this practically… a mission failure?’

I should have chased the monsters away and left the area. That way, the monsters that hadn’t gone far wouldn’t know where I was wandering and would be cautious, staying far away from my presumed territory.

The mission failed, my body is wrecked, and my life is hanging by a thread….

Haha. I laughed, watching the monsters charging towards me with confident momentum.

‘Great. Just great.’

That’s sarcasm, of course.

Drawing on my survival instinct, I ignored the pain in my legs and managed to stand up.

My vision blurred from the pain, but it would return to normal soon. The dripping cold sweat was unavoidable, but I could hide my expression. Gripping my dagger, I fixed my gaze on what I presumed was the front, trying my best to appear unaffected.

The once-unfaltering footsteps hesitated for a moment, the lingering effect of the earlier fear.

‘Just go… please. Please?’

Or else I’ll die.

Disappointingly, the footsteps quickened again as if nothing had happened. The vibrations from the ground conveyed their fierce momentum.

My blurred vision gradually cleared, and the world began to register in my sight. In my hazy vision, the first thing I saw was a monster right in front of me, and—

Thwack!

—a sword slicing through it like tofu.

‘…A demon sent by the Demon King?’

I blinked blankly for a moment before following the hand holding the sword to see its owner.

Radiant blonde hair and beast-like golden eyes. A very familiar presence.

“Uh….”

Why are you here…?!”