Chapter Index

    9th Corps Commander Trober had a personality that chased after fun to the extreme. He was the type to burn through his own magic just for a laugh, so there’s really no need to dig any deeper into him. The guy was that simple. And for someone like him, the unique and interesting trinkets that the 5th Corps Commander collected would be right up his alley.

    There was no way a simple, clueless guy like that wouldn’t reach out for something eye-catching. He was bound to break the item with his clumsy hands.

    “I just don’t want to do anything good for those demons.”

    Deon chuckled.

    “It’d be a problem if another target of my revenge benefited from my revenge, wouldn’t it?”

    To be precise, it could be said as, ‘a race whose leader is another target of revenge,’ but at the point where he had pushed an entire Empire to the brink of annihilation and shaken the Human Realm to kill the Duke and the Emperor, such details hardly mattered.

    If the Human Realm crumbled, the demon race would benefit. Deon had no intention of letting that happen.

    “Being remembered as a ‘disaster’ might be better than being a ‘betrayer of humanity’ anyway.”

    “Once you take the first step, there’s no turning back. Are you confident you won’t regret it?”

    “…That’s not a question you should be asking while looking at me with those sparkling eyes.”

    “Ah, it’s just that Master’s words are too captivating.”

    Dan smirked, raising the corner of his lip.

    “Still, this is this, and that is that, isn’t it?”

    “Hmm… I suppose.”

    Deon picked up the flowerpot and approached the windowsill. He placed the carnivorous plant in its usual spot, gently stroked it once with his index finger, then turned back to Dan.

    His crimson eyes tilted, genuinely curious.

    “When have I ever walked a path that could be turned back?”

    “……”

    “Don’t look at me like that. It’s sickening. Do you think I’m the only one? Everyone’s like this. Life itself is a series of irreversible choices. Nothing new about it.”

    Dan flinched, then raised a hand to touch his eyes. Deon added, as if hammering in a nail,

    “And if I were going to regret it, I would have done it a long time ago. It’s too late to start now, don’t you think?”

    Suddenly, words he had spat out in anger at the Emperor, claiming he had no regrets, flashed through his mind.

    …Yeah, it was said in anger.

    [Could it be that you are unaware that life itself is regret?]

    Given the situation, he hadn’t shown it, but he had been inwardly taken aback by his own words. Those words weren’t just aimed at the Emperor.

    The atmosphere turned heavy. Dan, who had been listening quietly, confirmed Deon’s silence and cautiously spoke.

    “Master, you really do seem crazy.”

    “I’m telling you I’m not. Why is this conversation going in that direction?”

    Denial came back instantly.

    Without looking at the floor, Deon firmly shook his head. A bitter smile formed on his lips.

    “Not yet.”

    …‘Not yet’?

    Slightly bothered by the word, Dan paused for a moment, then calmly stepped back.

    “Well… I understand. Then I’ll go carry out your orders right away.”

    “Before that, call Develania for me.”

    “Yes.”

    ***

    In the beginning, shortly after learning the truth, he had definitely been out of his mind. Each passing day felt heavy, and he’d wished time would just stop.

    But before long, Deon came to a stark realization.

    Time for the living flowed relentlessly. No matter how much he cried and stopped, as long as he was alive, time would continue to flow. His time and Cruel’s time could never be the same.

    Even time wasted in sorrow only widened the gap between them further. Since he couldn’t die right away anyway, he had to move before it was too late.

    He had to live, he had to move—the world was tugging at his leash; what else could he do? Rather than being dragged along like a dog on a leash, it was better to quickly reach the end of the path and be freed.

    “I heard you called for me, Sir Deon.”

    Almost before he could give permission to knock, Develania appeared, her eyes crinkling into a gentle smile.

    Deon gazed into those eyes for a moment, then smiled back, his own eyes curving. Instantly, surprise flickered across her face.

    “I heard the Empire and Sanguo have re-established their alliance.”

    “Ah… yes, that’s right. I was planning to report to Lord Demon King and then to you right away, Sir Deon, but Lord Demon King called for you first. So, I postponed the report until tomorrow… but you’ve already heard.”

    “……”

    So it wasn’t intentionally omitted.

    The re-alliance between the Empire and Sanguo wasn’t such a critical matter. In any case, the Empire was still preoccupied with putting itself back together. Even with an alliance, they wouldn’t be able to offer much help. Sanguo’s decision to re-ally was puzzling, though…

    The most important thing right now was whether Develania had deliberately withheld information.

    Deon, who had been touching his lips, lowered his hand and spoke.

    “Any other information?”

    “Most of it is already in the documents, so not really… Ah, you probably know that the situation is stalled because we can’t breach Sanguo’s city walls.”

    “Right. Did they find another reason for that?”

    “Yes, it seems it’s not just Sanguo’s resistance, but also interference from the Revolutionary Army. I’ll be summarizing this in a document soon.”

    “Damn Revolutionary Army.”

    A sound of irritation, clear as day, echoed.

    Deon smoothed back his hair to compose himself, then asked again,

    “Have Sanguo and the Revolutionary Army formed an alliance or something?”

    “No, I checked, and there’s no sign of any contact. Judging by the mismatched movements, it seems the Revolutionary Army is helping independently.”

    “…Relentless, aren’t they?”

    He wondered how much more they would interfere before they were satisfied.

    He wanted to get rid of them quickly, but was there still no news of Sia’s whereabouts? It seemed to be taking Dan a bit long on his own. Surely two people searching would be faster than one.

    Deon glanced at Develania, recalling the order he had given Dan, but quickly averted his gaze.

    Come to think of it, she was already doing more than enough work. And Dan wasn’t incompetent; waiting a little longer wouldn’t hurt.

    “By the way, Sir Deon, you haven’t tied your hair up today?”

    “Ah, just a bit ago… I untied it because it bothered me when I lay down.”

    No wonder her gaze had been so busy; she’d been alternating glances between his hair and face. Now conscious of it, he awkwardly touched the nape of his neck, feeling stuffy.

    Develania quietly approached.

    “If you’re not going to lie down again, would you mind if I tied it back up for you?”

    …Come to think of it, it had been quite a while since she’d brought clothes, hadn’t it?

    She used to bring so many different outfits, enough to be sickening, and dress him in them, but the situation had changed, and she couldn’t do that anymore. It was understandable she felt stifled. Tying up hair wouldn’t take long, and he figured it was better to let her vent her desires this way, so Deon nodded without complaint.

    “But I left the cord behind.”

    “Ah, it’s alright. I tie my hair up often, so I always have spare cords.”

    Develania smiled brightly, playfully waving a blue cord that she seemed to have produced from nowhere.

    ***

    Ed left Deon’s room as if chased out, his feet carrying him aimlessly. Despite having paperwork to organize, he didn’t even consider going to his office, simply wandering through the hallway.

    He felt suffocated. This unfamiliar sense of oppression left him clueless about what to do. His feet roamed around Demon King’s castle as if lost.

    That’s when he bumped into the Demon King, who was returning from the library.

    “You don’t seem to have a particular destination. What are you doing?”

    “Ah, Lord Demon King. It’s nothing.”

    “……”

    The Demon King’s eyes narrowed.

    Only then did Ed realize his words might sound like he was saying it was none of the Demon King’s concern, and he quickly waved his hand.

    “That’s not it. When I say it’s nothing, it sounds like it’s not nothing, but really, it’s nothing…”

    “Stop.”

    “……”

    His rambling words abruptly ceased. Ed closed his mouth and lowered his head, hands clasped behind his back. The Demon King, looking at the top of Ed’s head with knowing eyes, rummaged in his robes and pulled out a piece of paper stamped with the Demon King’s seal.

    Ed, who had slightly raised his head at the sight of the paper—akin to a blank check in the Human Realm—widened his eyes. His blue pupils quivered, clear as their color.

    “Given the situation, I’m busy and can’t give you a long break, but I’ll grant you a day off using my authority as Demon King. You can use the whole day, or come back earlier if you want. This day is entirely yours.”

    “……”

    “Take this and get out of Demon King’s castle for a while. Magical beasts have made travel difficult, but that’s not a problem for you, is it? Visiting any of the four cities wouldn’t be bad.”

    “……”

    “Won’t you take it?”

    The paper fluttered. Only then did Ed politely reach out and take the paper. As if afraid of losing it, he immediately tucked it into his inner pocket, checked it was secure, and then bowed deeply to the Demon King.

    “Thank you.”

    “Yeah.”

    The Demon King turned away without a second glance.

    Ed watched the Demon King’s receding figure until he disappeared from sight, then turned and headed for the stairs. His mind was a mess, overwhelmed by the sudden day off.

    Descending the stairs to the first floor, he thought,

    ‘…I don’t really have anywhere I want to go.’

    But he had received an order, so he couldn’t stay in Demon King’s castle.

    The decision came quickly.

    ‘He said to visit any of the four cities, so the closest First City would be best.’

    Once he decided on a destination, his steps quickened. But his pace faltered again shortly after.

    “Ed?”

    At the familiar voice, his head, which had instinctively lifted, recognized the speaker and lowered again. Of all people. A short sigh escaped his lips.

    He’d run into the person he least wanted to see today, but he couldn’t exactly ignore her greeting. His voice, lower than usual, emerged slowly.

    “…Greetings, 4th Corps Commander.”

    “Well, hello. It feels like ages since I’ve seen your face.”

    4th Corps Commander Idelia smiled softly, fluttering her fan.

    “Always in your office or Sir Deon’s room. What brings you here?”

    “……”

    “Come to think of it, ever since Sir Deon brought in that human as his aide, he’s kept only that one by his side, hasn’t he…?”

    She was feigning ignorance, even though she knew everything. And she was the 4th Corps Commander, who handled information, of all people.

    Ed clamped his mouth shut. The folded fan touched his lowered chin.

    As the fan moved, his lifted head met Idelia’s gaze. Reflected in her blue eyes, she arched an eyebrow, looking sympathetic.

    “Abandoned, are we? Sir Deon can be so heartless.”

    “…Don’t speak so carelessly.”

    “Oh my, listen to you. Anyone would think I was insulting Sir Deon. I respect and admire Sir Deon, you know?”

    It was genuine sincerity, without a hint of falsehood. It was just that she coveted Ed a little more.

    Idelia unfolded her fan again and covered her mouth.

    “I was just expressing sympathy for your situation.”

    “…I appreciate your concern, but your sympathy is misplaced.”

    Ed wore a weary expression.

    Ever since Sir Deon had brought Dan and Ed’s position had been sidelined, the 4th Corps Commander had been subtly testing the waters.

    She subtly showed goodwill, emphasizing how well she treated her adjutants. It was obvious she was trying to recruit him as her adjutant, and he’d been hiding in his office under the guise of paperwork to avoid her. But he couldn’t avoid her forever, and eventually, they had crossed paths like this.

    Just avoiding her until now had been quite an achievement.

    ‘Treats her adjutants well, she says… I’ve seen her adjutants practically dying from being overloaded with paperwork.’

    Still, it was a relief she hadn’t made an explicit offer…

    “How about becoming my adjutant?”

    …Never mind.

    This moment had finally arrived. And of all times, it had to be now.

    Ed swallowed a sigh. Idelia’s voice continued.

    “Our abilities are perfectly compatible, after all.”

    “……”

    “I held back because you belonged to Sir Deon, but now it seems Sir Deon isn’t interested in you anymore. He’d probably let you go without a fuss if you wanted to move. He wouldn’t think twice even if he knew I suggested it.”

    He would have been furious in the past, though.

    Her voice was cruelly light.

    …Strange. Ed clenched his hands behind his back.

    Words were formless, yet he felt a wound forming inside his chest… near his heart.

    Ignoring the incomprehensible pain, he spoke.

    “…I appreciate the offer, but—”

    His voice came out slightly hoarse.

    “I decline.”

    “Well, I expected as much.”

    Contrary to his heavy refusal, her response was light. Idelia folded her fan and smiled brightly.

    “If you change your mind later, just let me know. You’re always welcome.”

    “……”

    Chapter Summary

    Deon contemplates the irreversible nature of his choices and dismisses Dan's concerns about his mental state. He discusses the re-alliance of the Empire and Sanguo, along with the Revolutionary Army's interference, with Develania. Deon allows Develania to style his hair. Ed, feeling lost and adrift, receives a day off from the Demon King. During his aimless wandering, he encounters Idelia, who offers him a position as her adjutant, insinuating that Deon has abandoned him. Ed declines, experiencing an inexplicable pain in his chest.

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