Chapter 67: Declaration of War

The touch was slow, like a caress to a wound.

Yet, for some reason, I felt as though it could seize my neck at any moment, leaving me no choice but to remain frozen.

Besides, this mark…

“It’s not some kind of curse.”

Of course, the Demon King was the one who placed it there. However, unlike what the Empire’s people believed, it wasn’t meant to weaken the body or serve any other cursed purpose.

As I’ve said countless times, my body isn’t weak due to external influence; it’s inherently frail.

So, this mark is a ‘location tracking’ spell.

Think about it. What reason would the Demon King have to trust me enough to send me to the Human Realm willingly?

No matter how well he treats me in the Demon Realm, I am, after all, human, with the ‘Human Realm’ as my home. Even if I willingly stay in the Demon Realm without complaint, seeing the Human Realm again could make me waver.

That’s why the Demon King always casts a location-tracking spell on me whenever I go to the Human Realm.

“He did the same when I first accepted the Demon King’s offer and went to the Empire.”

When I struggled to carry the Hero’s corpse and said I would go to the Empire, the Demon King placed a location-tracking spell on me.

He said it was for my safety, to prepare for any unforeseen accidents… but ultimately, it meant he would come looking for me if I didn’t return.

Completely under his thumb, I couldn’t say a word and could only trudge back to the Empire, dragging the Hero’s body, unaware of how disheveled my clothes were from carrying the corpse, as I arrived before the Emperor and the Empire’s key figures.

And then, due to overexertion, I vomited blood as soon as I put the Hero down.

At the time, I was so focused on recovering that I didn’t notice their gazes sliding past my face, lingering lower.

A black mark that hadn’t been there before, and hemoptysis. The Hero’s coldly still body, and his companions recovering it.

It was only natural that their thoughts would turn to the ‘Demon King’s curse’.

“Even when I said it wasn’t that, they wouldn’t listen, and I couldn’t openly say I was a commander in the Demon King’s army, so I kept my mouth shut…”

Now, I just hope I don’t get caught.

There was a good reason for deceiving even the Emperor. I needed an excuse to return to the Demon Realm.

If I, perfectly healthy, said I needed to go back to the Demon Realm, what would they think? Wouldn’t their first thought be, ‘Is this bastard openly declaring his betrayal?’

That’s why I implicitly acknowledged the curse and subtly added the detail that I needed to be by the Demon King’s side to break it.

Therefore, it’s too late to explain. The moment they learn the truth, the Emperor, having been played, would personally slice my neck. I guarantee it.

That’s why my answer was already decided.

“…I will try my best.”

To the person who hoped we would meet next time with the curse lifted, someone who was never cursed in the first place replied.

***

“Hart territory… that’s unexpected.”

This land isn’t particularly useful to me either. Although, if you consider the gains and losses, the gains are closer than the losses…

Duke Starbe Illuster glanced at Cruel, who remained as unresponsive as ever.

“…Now that I think about it, when I met the Honorary Count Hart in the Imperial Palace corridor a while ago, didn’t he say he came to return the territory?”

Cruel Hart was there at that time.

No, he was there first, and I arrived later. And he had a conversation with Deon Hart.

[I heard the Count came to see His Majesty. May I ask what your purpose is?]

[Ah, it’s about the territory I recently received… I have something to request.]

[Is it insufficient? Is it too small, or is the land barren?]

[No, I simply wish to return the territory.]

[That’s intriguing.]

He only said it was intriguing and didn’t bother to investigate what that territory was, but if Cruel had personally tried to investigate, there’s no way he wouldn’t have found out.

Could the ‘territory’ in that conversation have been this ‘Hart territory’?

Duke Starbe narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Cruel’s expression, then chuckled and shook his head.

That’s unlikely. He’s probably just on edge because of the meeting that’s about to happen.

It’s just that Hart territory being in the hands of the person who brought his family down is unpleasant.

‘Could it be for Deon Hart’s sake?’

Having thought that far, the Duke smiled brightly at Cruel.

As always, he curved his eyes kindly and spoke in a soothing voice, as if to appease him.

“I wasn’t trying to reprimand you. This matter was merely a light event to reward you.”

“…”

“Are there any other noteworthy details?”

[You bastard!]

Recalling the shout and Deon’s attitude at the time, Cruel slowly parted his tightly pressed lips. His green eyes faced the floor, and a steady voice flowed out.

“Nothing in particular.”

“Is that so?”

“…”

“Understood. I gratefully accept the gift. If you wish, I will transfer all management authority of Hart territory to you.”

“…Thank you.”

Cruel quietly closed his eyes. The seething anger compressed in the enormous shout of ‘You bastard!’ seemed to shake his eardrums, and he inadvertently recalled the situation when Deon had figured out the mastermind.

[Were you having fun playing with me? Weren’t you? You bastard!]

All sorts of curses poured out. Cruel had been frozen since the moment the word ‘Duke’ came out.

He figured it out.

Opening the window wasn’t for this. He just wanted him to achieve a reasonably satisfying result and leave, but who knew he would deduce the identity of the mastermind.

‘Now that I think about it, he was quite clever as a child.’

He wasn’t happy at all.

With a child still slung over one arm, he reached for the sword hilt at his waist with the other hand.

‘If it’s the Duke…’

He would want this child who knows the mastermind to be killed.

Clang! Sparks flew.

Managing to block Deon’s attack from an awkward position, Cruel glanced at the red heat filling the interior and then at his younger brother before quickly taking a step.

To escape this scorching space even a second faster, he increased his speed, and Cruel quietly whispered to Deon.

Deon was still struggling and cursing.

“If you want to live, don’t utter what you learned here.”

You’re clever, so you can tell what shouldn’t be said.

And the moment Deon’s dagger tried to stab his side again, Cruel opened the door, spotted his younger brother’s knight Lien, and immediately threw Deon.

‘…….’

Duke Starbe, who had been quietly observing the silent Cruel, wore a natural smile and turned his gaze. His voice, as gentle as ever, filled the room.

“…And Sareen.”

“Yes, Duke.”

The woman who had been waiting in the corner for their conversation to end, as she always did, raised her head.

The woman who willingly took on the troublesome task of overseeing the Salvation Church. The Duke sweetly curved his eyes at her.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“…I was merely doing what I had to do.”

A delayed reply came back. The Duke didn’t mind and continued.

“From now on, move very discreetly beneath the surface. You must not let the Emperor find out.”

Among the truly devout members filtered out and remaining in the Salvation Church, there is a saying they are taught as if being brainwashed.

The Emperor is sin, the Duke is salvation.

The Duke is salvation.

‘Starbe Illuster is salvation.’

This is the very purpose of the Salvation Church.

To create people blindly devoted to Duke Starbe Illuster.

And coincidentally, to worsen public sentiment towards the Emperor.

“Leave it to me.”

“Reassuring.”

He smiled once and turned his body.

He erased the woman’s existence from his mind and spoke to Cruel, who was waiting behind him.

“Then, let’s go. We’ll be late for the meeting.”

He began to move. He could hear the sound of someone following at a fixed distance behind him.

The eyes of the Duke walking ahead were as cold and沉静 as could be, making his previous demeanor seem like a lie.

***

When the Duke entered the meeting room, everyone except the Emperor was already gathered.

The noble faction and the imperial faction. A sight that was perfectly divided into two groups.

The scene was quite amusing, but the Duke naturally composed his expression and offered a seemingly gentle greeting.

“It seems I’m late.”

These were the words of the head of the noble faction, the second most powerful person after the Emperor. The nobles eagerly waved their hands.

“Not at all. Since His Majesty hasn’t entered, the meeting hasn’t started yet.”

“You’ve arrived at the perfect time.”

“The agenda hasn’t even been announced yet. Please, have a seat here.”

Following the guidance, the Duke sat in the seat of honor among the nobles, closest to the Emperor.

The faces of the imperial faction members were scrunched up at his confident and natural demeanor, but they didn’t say anything in particular.

According to the rules, it was correct for him to sit in that seat. It was just that the man himself was inherently annoying, so no matter what he did, it looked displeasing.

“…A sudden meeting. I’m worried about what it could be.”

“Whatever it is, it must be important. His Majesty wouldn’t have called such a large meeting without a reason.”

“What in the world could it be…”

Why, it’s war.

Having seen the Emperor until now, to still not grasp the situation. The Duke forcefully suppressed the laughter trying to escape his lips.

He had fully anticipated this situation since he had slyly prepared the separate budget.

Even if he hadn’t known about the budget preparation, having convened the meeting like this, it was easy enough to predict that the topic would be related to ‘war’.

Isn’t that who ‘that’ Emperor is?

For someone who slaughtered all his own bloodline to ascend the throne, the easiest way to prove his worth as a ruler is to turn the sword he wields outwards.

To prove his value through conquest.

“That’s the thing he’s best at, and also—”

—it’s much better to be remembered as a conquering emperor than a parricidal emperor.

‘A conquering emperor at least has the merit of expanding the territory…’

“Duke, what are your thoughts?”

“My thoughts, you say?”

At the sudden question, he raised his head and looked around.

Not only the noble faction but even the imperial faction were fixing their gazes on him, as if curious about his answer.

“Yes, what His Majesty might say…”

“How would I know His Majesty’s deep thoughts?”

“Ah…”

They seemed to have inwardly expected something. Unlike his ambiguous gestures, a sigh escaped from here and there at his reply that he didn’t know.

These aren’t people who would believe words at face value. In their eyes, subtle conviction and doubt lingered.

I should respond appropriately at this point.

Still wearing an enigmatic smile, the Duke casually added as if letting it slip.

“However, I’ve heard that the Ireon Kingdom has been constantly provoking us recently. Perhaps it’s related to that.”

A chilling silence descended upon the meeting room.

Enjoying the silence, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a moment, but at a cautious call, the Duke slowly lifted his eyelids.

“Does that mean… we might go to war?”

“It’s merely speculation.”

He didn’t explicitly affirm it, but it was by no means a denial.

The moment the people in the meeting room closed their mouths at the answer full of affirmation, a voice announcing the Emperor’s arrival came from outside the door.

As soon as everyone rose from their seats, the door opened, and the Emperor, accompanied by Nemesius, entered.

For a moment, they flinched at his stride moving straight ahead as if there was nothing to obstruct him and his fierce aura, but then a unified greeting flowed from everyone’s lips.

“Glory to the Empire.”

“Be seated.”

A low voice fell.

At the voice that was clearly displeased, those who had sat down reflexively scanned the Emperor’s expression.

Expressionless. But a somehow chilling expressionlessness.

Everyone here had survived in the Imperial Palace, where heads could fly off if things went wrong. They sized up the Emperor’s mood and braced themselves inwardly.

If you say the wrong thing, you die. Better to keep your mouth shut.

“First, I extend my gratitude to all of you for participating in this sudden meeting despite your busy schedules.”

Well, a few years ago, someone lost their title for not attending because they were busy…

“You all must have come here in a hurry from your respective duties. Considering that, I will get straight to the point.”

……

“Three days from now, I intend to declare war.”

……!”