Chapter 189: Deals, Oaths, and Dire Decisions

But instead, he chose to make a deal with the Fairy King. When he weighed his options, he realized that breaking the deal would cost him far more than any potential gain. He couldn’t afford to discard a better hand just for the sake of the moment… Furrowing his brow, he fell back into deep thought.

“Magic use isn’t going to work, is it? Otherwise, I would have mentioned it long ago.”

“Yes, it appears we also have a magic suppression array.”

Damn it. Just when we were almost there, what the hell is this uprising?

Whether his blood pressure had shot up was unclear, but Ben was fanning him, urging him to calm down. At this point, a spike in blood pressure wasn’t likely to make him collapse.

“…….”

“……?”

Grumpily accepting Ben’s assistance, Deon merely rolled his eyes and glanced upward. The moment Ben’s gaze followed his, without missing a beat, Deon struck a tree beside him with his fist. With a loud crack, the tree fell, and someone clinging to it tumbled down.

“Damn it!”

It seemed they even had a device to distort perception, making it hard to gauge hidden spots… But if someone’s this close, the situation changes.

He tossed aside his bow and quickly drew a dagger, stomping on the man’s wrist as he nonchalantly snatched the blade away with a smirk.

“So the perception distortion affects you too? If not, why come this close when you’ve got a bow? Seems you were planning an ambush—how unfortunate.”

The stolen dagger twirled gracefully along Deon’s finger, followed by a light, teasing tone.

“Now that we’ve had our fun, how about you show me the way out?”

“Give me a break. You really want to wander here forever until you drop dead?”

“Hmmm.”

Thunk.

“Aaah!”

“Aren’t you going to tell me how to get out?”

“Ha… ha! You really think I’d do that?”

“What a pity. It’d be easier on both of us if you just cooperated.”

To make the questioning more comfortable, he removed his hood. Though he no longer needed it, he had grown so accustomed to wearing it…

“Crazy…”

“Hmm?”

Maybe he should have taken it off sooner.

Muttering a curse under his breath, he lowered his eyes. Suddenly, he met the gaze of the person who had been staring at him intently. Although the guy quickly averted his eyes by turning his head, that familiar look was impossible to ignore.

So… where have I seen him before…?

‘Ah, Lirinel.’

…This might be easier to wriggle out of than I thought.

With a sly grin, Deon seated himself in front of the guy and raised his chin. As their eyes met, the other’s pupils shimmered continuously, his gaze softening with evident agitation.

“Shall we have a chat?”

“……!”

In the end.

Thanks to an excellent guide, the Demon King’s army managed to slip away from the encirclement without harm.

***

Everyone’s buzzing about the Hero’s birth shaking the world. But what does that matter when the Demon King’s army is right on our heels? Besides, the Hero wouldn’t even make it here in the first place.

‘What kind of fragile lifeline is this, anyway?’

Even though explosions echoed beyond the communicator, Deon Hart was still pressing forward untouched.

At this point, the Duke had to admit it. The guy was like a cockroach.

‘I was somewhat prepared, but I never imagined he’d actually survive.’

In 30 minutes, the mercenary summoned to Esperance would arrive. At the Duke’s villa in the capital, the Duke calmly prepared to leave. Watching him anxiously from afar, Sareen cautiously spoke.

“Where… are you going?”

“I have somewhere to be, so I’ll be stepping out for a bit. More importantly, are you sure it’s safe not to evacuate?”

“But the Duke is still here—how could I go alone? Besides, can’t you stay? I have a bad feeling about this.”

The Duke, draped in his coat, paused. For a moment, a faint smile played on his lips.

“You’re acting so unlike yourself today.”

“I’m sorry, but…”

“Sareen.”

Sareen fell silent. In the quiet, the steady sound of the Duke’s footsteps approached until they halted right in front of her.

Normally, she would have apologized and stepped back. But this time was different.

‘Something just isn’t right.’

A deep anxiety gripped her, her heart pounding wildly.

Determined not to back down, Sareen lifted her head and stared at the Duke. Instead of exerting pressure, he met her gaze with a sweet, gentle smile.

“Thank you for your concern.”

“…….”

“But since I’m leaving now, I’d appreciate it if you’d let go.”

Before she knew it, Sareen gazed blankly at the outstretched hand, remembering how the Duke had once done the same. Slowly, he bowed his head and a small warmth settled on the back of her hand.

Smooch.

Accompanied by a soft scraping sound, he lifted his head, revealing a sweet, melting smile.

“I’ll be back.”

A move that thoroughly exploited her affection for him.

Taking advantage of her frozen moment of shock, the Duke left without a backward glance, leaving Sareen to smile ruefully at his retreating figure.

After everything he’d done, how could she possibly stop him now?

“My lord—even if he’s dragged along by his own emotions…”

He knew the Duke was headed for the Imperial Palace. He also knew that he treasured the Emperor more than anyone expected.

Though he would never admit it, the affection was unmistakable.

And that made it all the more painful.

“You wield other people’s emotions as if they meant nothing.”

Sareen began to pack her belongings.

***

Upon arriving in the capital, Deon immediately decided to change his clothes instead of storming the Imperial Palace. His current outfit was filthy with dirt and shabbiness, and he had no desire to keep wearing it.

More importantly, he wasn’t about to meet the Emperor looking like this.

Ben, now acting as his aide instead of Dan or Ed, entered a decent clothing store nearby. As he rifled through the garments, he asked,

“What kind of outfit would you like to wear?”

“I’d prefer something in the style of a uniform, if possible.”

“A uniform, then… How about this?”

“It’s black.”

“If that doesn’t suit you, perhaps this one?”

“That too—it’s black.”

Even without a word, the fact that he was with the Demon King’s army was common knowledge.

Ben tilted his head in puzzlement, surprised that an affirmative answer hadn’t come, then suddenly perked up as if he’d remembered something.

“A white uniform is out of the question.”

“…Alright.”

It’d be better if I choose it myself.

He approached a rack lined with uniforms. With the store nearly empty, he could just grab whatever caught his eye without fretting about the price.

After a brief moment of thought, he selected a crimson uniform—reminiscent of the one he had once received from the Emperor.

“That’ll do.”

It seemed to pass Ben’s standards.

Hurrying to change, he entered the dressing room with his new clothes, and over his shoulder he added firmly,

“Wear only the shirt and pants; leave the coat behind. Absolutely!”

A puzzled demon soldier asked,

“Is there really a need to be so specific?”

“It makes it easier to tidy up your appearance.”

“…….”

Without a word, Deon removed his jacket.

***

Only when the main gate of the Imperial Palace came into view did Deon fully grasp that he had truly arrived.

But there was no time to savor the moment. He froze when he spotted a knight standing alone before the gate.

The knight hesitated briefly at the sight of Deon Hart, but it was only for an instant. As if nothing had happened, she called out to him.

“My lord.”

“…Sir Lien.”

He murmured her name in a weary tone.

“Why have you come here?”

“As a knight serving my lord, I came to prevent you from straying. I earnestly beg you to stop here.”

Ah. I had deliberately left something behind, just in case.

He washed his face repeatedly. Truly… I really don’t know what to do with her.

Not wanting to kill her and to avoid conflict, he left without a word. Perhaps the mad dogs acted the same way for similar reasons.

If only I had given up and let things drift, I wouldn’t have run into her. Yet he insisted on seeking her out.

“Everyone, fall back a bit.”

The demons, casting wary glances, slowly retreated.

Only after Ben’s voice was well out of earshot did Deon turn his gaze back to Sir Lien.

“Sir Lien.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Her steady reply came without wavering.

Even now, she still calls me ‘my lord.’ I closed my eyes tightly and then reopened them as a tangled mix of emotions flowed out like a language.

“Sir, don’t you resent me? And what about those Lofty guys?”

Both his superior and the knight order members had left for the Demon Realm without a word. All the resulting problems fell squarely on her shoulders. It wasn’t just responsibility for a simple matter.

Even feelings of grudge and hatred must have been directed at her, inflicting deep wounds beyond mere hardship. It would be odd if she didn’t harbor some resentment.

“The knights do not resent their lord.”

“…….”

“Even now, if you were to return, I promise the knights would never resent you.”

His firm gaze met her red eyes directly.

Deon briefly averted his gaze, troubled by how her clear eyes reflected the grim underbelly of their world.

A brief silence was shattered by a low, whisper-like voice.

“…I have become a Hero.”

“……!”

“Sir, you will never overcome me. If you continue to stand in my way, you’re sure to perish. So rather…”

“If you cross this line, you’re effectively targeting the Emperor’s life.”

Sir Lien Riner unsheathed her sword, her face contorted in sorrowful frustration.

“Do you remember the words I spoke when I swore my knighthood?”

[I, Sir Lien Riner, swear to serve Deon Hart as my lord. As long as his orders do not defy the Emperor’s will, I vow to follow him with my life.]

“A knight must never aim his sword at his lord. We cannot stand idly by while his life is threatened. Therefore, Commander of the 0th Legion, I will…”

“…….”

“I will sacrifice my life to stop you.”

He had called me Commander of the 0th Legion. That means the lord she mentioned was the Emperor.

I remember her oath clearly. It was a striking vow made in an impressive circumstance. Perhaps that’s why I recall my own response.

[I swear to do my utmost so that your loyalty is never in vain.]

The first to break the oath would be on my side.

So I have no right to say more. Any further attempt to coax Sir Lien Riner would be an insult to her, so I drew my dagger.

Briefly, he coldly ordered the murmuring demons ready to charge. “Do not interrupt.”

“Sir Lien, do you understand?”

Without a word, she shifted her gaze back to him, clearly listening. Deon offered a calm smile.

“I loved your unwavering chivalry.”

“…….”

“But now, I feel only resentment.”

There was a time when I admired and respected you.

It wasn’t like that from the start. It began with surprise and concern.

How can one live like that? Doesn’t it get exhausting? What will happen when they finally break down?

Yet her consistent nature was so admirable that, in the end, I found myself loving that foolish chivalry.

“If only you could be a bit more flexible, a bit softer. Others can simply close their eyes, yet you refuse to do that one simple thing.”

“…….”

“Enough. No matter what I say now, your attitude won’t change.”

Deon flicked his dagger toward the steadfast knight.

“What are you waiting for? Come at me already.”

Watching Sir Lien charge with all her might, Deon smirked bitterly.

Yes, if it meant buying even a little more time, I must do my utmost. I will fight for your honor with everything I have.

How long could a mere knight possibly endure against a Hero?

Daggers and long swords intertwined.