Chapter 8: Commander of the 0th Corps, Deon Hart (6)

“Is there anything about living here that makes you uncomfortable?”

Not particularly.

Even if there were, this was hardly the place to mention it.

Recalling the Demon King’s words about how all the corps commanders were a bit off-kilter, I gave a concise answer. Jaykar scrutinized my expression with a subtly stiff face.

“If you say ‘not particularly,’ does that mean… there is something?”

Pardon?

“You are human, after all, so there must be some inconveniences. Don’t hesitate to speak up. I will accommodate you as much as possible.”

What is this? Is this… consideration? Since I’m someone the Demon King personally brought, is he taking special care of me?

Even as I told myself it was impossible, a part of me couldn’t help but entertain the thought. Just then, Jaykar’s voice continued.

His voice was even more cautious, as if testing the waters.

“Just don’t go turning the castle upside down…”

I appreciate the sentiment, but it’s unnecessary.

Yeah, as if. Ugh, I want to die.

He’s definitely bringing up the garden incident indirectly. He’s clearly reprimanding me for pointlessly setting the garden on fire.

At the same time, this is a warning. A warning that if I pull another pointless stunt like that, he won’t let it slide.

Forcing words past my fear-constricted throat, I managed a reply. Only then did he return his attention to his food. As if waiting for the conversation to end, Asild, who had been silently observing, quietly chimed in.

Or rather, was about to.

“Oh my, Demon-nim. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

If only the Commander of the 4th Corps hadn’t suddenly interrupted.

Asild’s brow furrowed. Mine almost did too, but thankfully I managed to compose myself just in time.

‘I really shouldn’t have come here.’

From the Commander of the 1st Corps to the Commanders of the 3rd and 4th Corps, these unexpected encounters were chipping away at my already fragile sanity.

As I bitterly regretted not holding my ground when Ben spoke, a low voice resonated in my ear.

“Idelia, you know what you’re doing, don’t you?”

Even though I knew it wasn’t directed at me, the voice sounded as though he was gritting his teeth, making me flinch involuntarily. However, the Commander of the 4th Corps, Idelia, simply chuckled and covered her mouth with her fan.

“What are you talking about? I have no idea why you’re angry.”

“Nonsense.”

Asild growled.

Right, those two never got along. I continued to poke at my mangled salad with my fork, desperately trying to ignore the situation unfolding before me.

Of course, inside I was a mess. I felt like throwing the food—oh wait, I already did that once.

I haven’t eaten anything, but I already feel like I have indigestion.

Feeling like I might actually get sick, I quietly put down my fork. Jaykar, observing the situation, turned his head and quietly addressed them both.

“That’s enough, you two. You seem to have forgotten who is present.”

Ah.

My apologies.

As if on cue, both of their gazes landed on me.

Flustered, I quickly shook my head to indicate it was alright. Idelia then sat in the empty seat next to me and casually spoke.

“I heard you set the garden on fire?”

“Idelia.”

“Oh, please forgive my rudeness. I was simply curious about what would make Demon-nim so furious…”

If Jaykar hadn’t intervened, I might have choked even without eating anything.

Please, I wish they’d stop talking about the garden. She wasn’t even involved, nor did she witness it firsthand, so why is she so interested?

…Come to think of it, I heard the 4th Corps deals with information.

‘It makes sense she’d be interested in this sort of thing.’

Given the nature of their work, it’s understandable.

The 4th Corps, including Idelia, is in charge of information processing. Of course, the 2nd Corps mainly gathers the information, and the 4th Corps refines it, filtering out what’s unnecessary and extracting the core details. However, it’s not as if they don’t gather any information themselves.

So….

‘Right now, she’s the most dangerous commander to me.’

It was a random conclusion that popped into my head, but it wasn’t wrong.

I’m the only human in the Demon King’s castle. Naturally, most of them would dislike me.

Idelia could find out my weaknesses at any moment and sell them off.

The stark reality jolted me awake. I quickly composed myself, steeled my resolve, and met her gaze.

As if she had been watching me the whole time, Idelia’s eyes met mine, and she said with a smile.

“Rumor has it, it was because of the gardener…”

…

“If you’re hesitant to deal with him yourself, I’d be happy to eliminate him for you.”

…I’ll pass.

As expected of demons, the first thing they think of when a problem arises is to kill the cause. Do they even have such a thing as compassion?

Thinking that far, I paused.

Doesn’t that mean, conversely, that I shouldn’t expect compassion from them either?

‘No, this is dangerous.’

My future self is in danger.

I’m already walking on thin ice, and knowing this makes cold sweat run down my spine.

The hand holding the fork tightened. I was gripping it so hard that the veins on the back of my hand protruded.

I thought I felt a slight flinch from beside me, but that’s not important right now. For the sake of my future self, I need to instill the concept of ‘compassion’ in these demons of the Demon King’s castle.

With that resolve, I lifted my head, which had been lowered, and looked at Idelia. Unlike a moment ago, her eyes were shaking violently, as if she were in pain.

Did she bite her tongue? Looking closer, her hands seemed to be trembling too. Seeing her like this made me feel a little bad, but I still had to say what needed to be said for my future.

“It wasn’t a big deal in the first place. Not something worth killing over.”

“Y-Yes…”

“Do you understand? Not worth killing over.”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

“Idelia, why are you apologizing? Just… before you talk about killing someone, think about it for a moment. Did they really do something deserving of death?”

Oh, I almost forgot the most important part.

“And sometimes, showing mercy isn’t a bad thing.”

“Yes, I will remember that. I’m truly sorry.”

I don’t know why she keeps apologizing, but this is good enough for now.

If I slowly influence them like this, maybe they’ll give me a pass if I make a mistake someday.

The problem is that silence descended after Idelia closed her mouth. Her sullen expression, and the stiff faces of the other commanders, made it seem like I had scolded her. Now that I think about it, Idelia, who hadn’t even done anything wrong, had been apologizing repeatedly.

Only then did I realize I had become the villain in this scenario.

…

…

The silence stretched on. The longer it went, the more my expression stiffened, unable to withstand the pressure.

Unsurprisingly, the commanders’ expressions worsened. How could they remain indifferent when a human dared to scowl in their presence?

As I worried about how to resolve this deteriorating situation, Idelia, as if she too found the silence unbearable, exchanged glances with the other commanders before cautiously opening her mouth, looking at me.

…Demon-nim.

Oh, right!

The awkward atmosphere eased. Relieved, I met Idelia’s gaze with a generous heart, ready to agree to anything.

Alright, go ahead and say it. I’ll agree to anything this time….

“You mentioned you were going to inspect the corps.”

agree to….

“Ah, I also have something to say regarding that.”

Damn it.

Ready to make a run for it if necessary, I quietly pushed my chair back.

It’s true that I said I would inspect the corps.

When was that… probably when I wanted to drink alcohol, and the Demon King came looking for me. It was then.

[No alcohol, absolutely not. Are you trying to turn the Demon King’s castle upside down? If you’re that bored, go check on your corps or the garden. Hien was delighted to have gotten some new flowers this time.]

[I will inspect the corps.]

I chose to deal with the legion members rather than that dreadful gardener.

This is unfair. I chose the corps to avoid the gardener, but now I have to meet with Hien and inspect the corps.

Moreover, I said it in front of the Demon King, so I can’t take it back now.

Demon-nim…? Are you alright?

I’m fine.

Was my expression strange? Thankfully, they don’t seem to have noticed me pushing back my chair. If I can just find the right moment to escape….

…This won’t work.

Thinking about it, I’m completely surrounded.

Idelia on the left, Asild on the right. And Jaykar directly in front of me. What’s more, they’re all corps commanders. The moment I try to run, they’ll grab me by the collar.

I quickly resigned myself to my fate.

Asild, unaware that I had just tried to escape, looked at me and slowly began to speak as I relaxed my tense muscles.

“I understand you carry a sword when you inspect the legion members.”

I did. Although I didn’t swing it. And it’s a wooden sword, not a real one.

That wooden sword is so heavy, it makes my arms tremble. It’s embarrassing, but honestly, with my strength, I can barely lift a wooden sword, let alone a regular iron sword.

But why is that relevant?

“After instructing all the legion members, would it be alright to request a spar then?”

…

I barely stopped my hand from reaching for my ear.

It seems I’ve been feeling quite faint lately. I must be hearing things.

My attempts to deny reality were mercilessly shattered by Jaykar’s curt remark.

“That’s a good idea. May I observe?”

You told me to mention if anything was uncomfortable, but you don’t seem to see the ‘help me’ look on my face.

This is an absurd request for a spar. Just looking at the difference in our physiques, it’s ridiculous. Look at Asild’s hands. Even if I wasn’t hit by his sword, just one blow from those hands would probably snap my neck.

…Uh…

I couldn’t delay my response any longer, so I squeezed out a voice.

As if they had been waiting, all eyes immediately focused on me.

Surrounded by those burdensome gazes, I desperately wracked my brain for a suitable excuse.

—Tried to find one.

…That would be difficult.

I failed in the end.

I slowly lowered my head.

Is this the end for me? Since I don’t have a valid reason, they’ll proceed with this. Then my lack of skill will be exposed, and I’ll pay dearly for deceiving them.

No, I don’t even need to worry about what happens after my skills are exposed. My utter defeat in a single blow will reveal everything.

The food, barely touched, and now cold, came into view. I should have at least eaten a proper meal before dying.

As I waited for my death sentence like a condemned prisoner, Asild’s reaction was surprisingly calm.

He paused for a moment before slowly nodding his head and saying.

Indeed, you are right.

…?

Demon-nim excels more in practical combat than in sparring. It would be troubling if you were to accidentally kill me during a spar.

?

My apologies. I was impudent.

No, well…

Did… did I get away with it?

I feel like I heard some ominous things, but at any rate, I avoided the spar, so let’s consider it a win.

Later, when I have honed my skills to the point where I won’t die so easily, I will ask you again.

On second thought, this doesn’t seem like a win at all.

This is a disaster.

I won’t keep you waiting long.

…

But would it be alright if I simply followed along to watch today?

I have received a declaration of war from the Commander of the 3rd Corps.