Chapter 88: A Vacation That’s Not Quite a Vacation
by xennovel“You’re not the Demon-nim I was hoping for…!”
……
“You were definitely the ‘real’ Demon-nim just a moment ago…! Why? How come?”
…… Honestly, I’m the one who doesn’t understand why you’re reacting like this.
Sillua, seemingly oblivious to my ‘are you crazy?’ stare, continued her frantic behavior for a while before suddenly snatching a nearby monster. What followed left me speechless.
The monster was shoved right in my face. Her eyes were bloodshot, filled with something that might have been anticipation or hope, bordering on madness.
“Come on, Demon-nim! Here’s a monster! Please grant it the sweet release of death with that dagger of yours!”
……
Silence, followed by a hasty retreat.
This time, I didn’t hesitate to comply.
Even Ben was backing away with a disgusted look, and Develania had long since retreated to deal with monsters elsewhere, her face contorted in distaste.
“Demon-nim? Why are you running? Please, show us ‘that’ side of you again!”
I don’t know, you psycho. I don’t know what you want, and even if I did, I wouldn’t want to show it to you.
Of course, I couldn’t say that outright.
Desperately avoiding Sillua’s gaze, which was glazed over with anticipation, I cautiously opened my mouth, searching for words that would help me escape this insane situation.
“Well…”
“Well?”
“This isn’t really the time for…”
“Ah! The noise is bothering you!”
So that’s why you were upset!
Sillua’s face brightened as if she’d found the perfect answer.
The two daggers spun in her hand before clicking back into their sheaths, and her empty hands clapped together lightly.
Clap.
—People wielding daggers just like hers sprang out from all directions.
……
“…You’re insane, utterly insane. Even if you came to provide support, how could you abandon the border?”
“I didn’t abandon it! I told you, my adjutant is there!”
“You think leaving your adjutant is enough? You brought your entire legion! I pity the 7th Corps Commander’s adjutant. I can only imagine the hardship they’re enduring right now.”
“Thanks to us, the support is solid. Shouldn’t a healer be more concerned about their patients? Can’t you see Demon-nim doesn’t look well?”
…… I wasn’t sure whether to be grateful that they were concerned about my expression amidst all this chaos.
I was momentarily startled by an arrow that flew towards me, but I managed to mask my awkward expression.
It seemed the presence of an entire legion made a huge difference. The seemingly endless horde of monsters was quickly dealt with after Sillua’s 7th Corps joined the fray.
Of course, I was grateful.
‘Grateful, so please just get lost already.’
Throughout the monster cleanup, Sillua was desperate to put a weapon in my hand. Every chance she got, she’d drag over one monster after another, begging me to kill them…
If it weren’t for Ben, who worried about my health and insisted that Demon-nim needed to rest, I might have actually been forced to stand before those hideous monsters.
After watching the last few monsters get dispatched, I sluggishly walked towards the carriage and opened the door.
Sillua, who had been observing me throughout the cleanup, tilted her head in confusion.
“Oh? Are you going inside? Aren’t you going to deal with those monsters? I deliberately left them for you, Demon-nim…”
She did that on purpose.
I hesitated for a moment, then pretended not to hear her and climbed into the carriage. Develania approached Sillua with a bright smile.
“Since things are mostly taken care of, why don’t you head back now, 7th Corps Commander?”
“Are you going to use us and then just discard us? I didn’t think you were so heartless, Develania.”
“Don’t be like that. We’re heading to the Second City. You know who’s guarding the Second City right now, don’t you, 7th Corps Commander?”
Sillua’s face instantly contorted with displeasure as if she’d recalled someone unpleasant.
“…The 10th Corps Commander.”
Pure contempt and disgust.
As if the mere fact that he was a Corps Commander like her was offensive, Sillua spat, “Ptooey!” and gestured to her legion members.
“You’re right, it’s better to leave than to meet that excuse for a Corps Commander. I’ll see you later.”
“Alright.”
“…Now that the work seems to be done, would you mind removing this thread?”
“Oh, sorry. You slipped in so easily, I just assumed you could slip out just as easily.”
“Coming and going isn’t difficult, but I question the need to leave in such an uncomfortable manner.”
Grinding teeth could be heard.
Develania, forcing a smile that strained her jaw, waved her hand. As if they had been waiting for the signal, the threads that bound them instantly unraveled and returned to their respective owners’ hands.
I had worried they might get tangled, but it was a clean finish.
“Thank you. Farewell, then.”
……
I expected her to linger a bit longer, but she turned away without another word.
The 10th Corps Commander must be Gaisitel. Why such a reaction?
My question was answered when we entered the Second City, where he resided.
‘Wow… this is insane.’
It seemed that most of the monsters had surged towards us earlier, as we hadn’t encountered a horde of that size since.
Thanks to that, Develania and the 2nd Corps, along with a hyper Ben, were more than capable of handling things. We were also arriving at the Second City, so I’d been able to relax—
‘…To think they’d attack like this.’
They must have taken advantage of my moment of carelessness. Excellent psychological warfare, 10th Corps Commander.
After arriving at the Second City, Ben, standing in for the absent adjutant Ed, handed me a robe. As I stepped out of the carriage, I was greeted by—
Flutter, flutter.
—Colored, shimmering paper confetti falling against the night sky.
“Going this far… really.”
As I stared blankly at the sky, Develania clicked her tongue beside me, looking unimpressed.
I was about to turn to her when the sound of drums made me fix my gaze forward again.
Demons lined the streets, forming a path. In the center, a demon with large bat wings walked, escorting a palanquin.
He approached me, still not quite used to this situation, and bowed respectfully.
“It’s been a while, Demon-nim.”
“Ah… yes.”
“I hastily prepared this upon hearing the news of your arrival. I’ve done some quick research on the culture of the Human Realm, so it might be a bit lacking…”
That explains it. For a moment, I wondered if the Demon Realm had things like this.
He seemed to have put in a lot of effort, but to be honest, my impression was…
‘This is embarrassing.’
All the surrounding demons were staring at us. My face was burning, and I couldn’t bring myself to look up. It was a good thing I was wearing the robe; if my face were visible, I might have died of shame.
It was clumsy and excessive…
Only then did I recall the personality of the demon before me, the 10th Corps Commander.
‘Isn’t he… kind of pathetic?’
The way he was cautiously trying to read my expression… he really was an unlikeable Corps Commander, just as Sillua had said.
Unable to react, I remained silent. Develania spoke up instead.
“What’s that thing in the back…?”
“Ah, this is called a palanquin. I heard that people of high status in the Human Realm use it to travel. Since you are human, Demon-nim, I thought you might miss it.”
No, I’ve never even ridden one. Besides, why are you so sure I was of high status?
Palanquins are used in the ‘South’. Moreover, they’re almost obsolete now, only used by royalty for specific events, I’ve heard.
‘Wouldn’t a Corps Commander occasionally sneak off to the Human Realm…? If so, they should know the difference between the North and the South.’
Develania seemed to know, as she was looking away, shrugging her shoulders. If you know, why not say something?
I quietly pressed my fingers to my forehead.
‘…How am I going to get out of this?’
“Demon-nim!”
“…?”
Just then, Ben, who had been standing still, pushed through the demons and rushed forward.
Develania, inadvertently caught in the push, stared in bewilderment, but he paid her no mind, anxiously fiddling with his mana stone necklace in front of me.
“Demon-nim! Are you having a headache?! Please bear with it for a moment, I’ll quickly heal you… Damn it, there’s no reaction? Does that mean…?!”
Whatever he’s thinking, that’s not it.
I subtly lowered my hand from my forehead.
Seeing that things were escalating, I was about to explain that I was fine when—
“Oh! Are you having a headache? Luckily, there’s a palanquin here, please get in quickly!”
Gaisitel, the 10th Corps Commander, seized the opportunity and presented the palanquin. Facing the excessively ornate palanquin, I couldn’t bear to face reality and quietly averted my gaze.
‘…Riding that might actually make my head hurt more.’
Ultimately, I managed to attract the attention of every demon in this city.
Yes, I got in.
‘It’s a good thing I’m wearing this robe.’
……A really good thing.
***
The man sitting in the ornate palanquin, clad in a black robe, was undeniably out of place.
Not in a way that seemed awkward. The palanquin, which could have appeared ridiculous, instead highlighted his presence.
The casual way he leaned back against the cushion. His arm resting on the armrest, his fingers pressed to his forehead as if something were bothering him.
The hood of his robe was pulled low, obscuring his face, further fueling the imaginations of the city’s demons who had gathered upon hearing the news of the 0th Legion Commander’s arrival.
‘I can’t sense any magic. He’s definitely human…’
‘A human with that kind of aura?’
‘So he really is the 0th Legion Commander.’
The number 0 held great significance among the demons.
Not just adding a number to the end, but creating a slot where none existed, for a human they’d recruited. Even placing him above the proud 1st Corps Commander Jaykar—
The prideful Corps Commanders might assign significance to their numbers, but in reality, those numbers held little meaning. Up to 3, there was a sense of respect, but the only truly meaningful number belonged to the 1st Corps Commander, who was qualified to act as the Demon King’s proxy.
Therefore, the even higher number ‘0’ had captured the attention of every demon in the Demon Realm.
What was the Demon King thinking when he gave him that position?
Why did the other Corps Commanders accept him?
What was his role, and— how powerful was he?
——What value did he even possess?
The achievements he made during his recruitment were enough to become a Corps Commander, but giving him the position of the 0th Legion Commander seemed questionable.
Stopping the Hero’s self-destruction and killing the 7th Corps Commander before that weren’t enough. They could have just given him the 13th Corps Commander position.
That’s why they gathered. To get a glimpse of the famous 0th Legion Commander’s face and to resolve their doubts.
‘Now I understand.’
‘I think I know why, even without needing to dig for reasons.’
They hadn’t seen his face, but their doubts were resolved.
Now they understood why the other Corps Commanders had accepted him without much complaint.
His presence alone was different.
Comparing him to Gaisitel, the 10th Corps Commander who was there to protect the city, the difference was even more pronounced.
If Gaisitel was a thug, Demon Hart was a gang leader, or perhaps his right-hand man. Even compared to the much more imposing 2nd Corps Commander Develania, the difference was still evident.
Even now, look, Develania was acting as a guard and attendant, while Gaisitel was just showering him with flattery. They were supposedly ‘Corps Commanders’ of equal rank. And the 0th Legion Commander didn’t even react to Gaisitel’s sycophancy.
Just as the demons were marveling at him, sitting silently in the palanquin with his gaze fixed straight ahead,
the 0th Legion Commander, looking tired, as if he had a headache, or was just annoyed, opened his mouth.
……
“Huh? Demon-nim, what did you say?”
As expected, Gaisitel, who was waiting nearby, seized the opportunity and quickly leaned in to listen.
The unseen gaze within the robe seemed to glance at him before a soft voice emerged.
Everyone strained their ears, and Gaisitel, who was closest, helpfully relayed his words.
His voice echoed through the silent space.
“…—.”
“Go?”
“…—.”
“Away. Go away. Yes, he said, ‘go away.'”
……
……
A brief silence followed.