Chapter 9: Corps Commander Deon Hart

To say you wouldn’t keep me waiting long, I’m almost moved to tears. You really don’t have to go that far. You can keep me waiting as long as you like. Preferably until I die.

But Asild is the type to keep his word. There’s no way he’ll forget this promise. In other words, sooner or later, the moment I face that terrifying guy with a sword will definitely come.

“Lord Demon?”

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, he said something at the end there… Right, he asked if I could come watch.

I swallowed the sigh that almost escaped.

There’s no reason to refuse this.

Still, it’s better than a sparring match, so I should find some comfort in that.

I reluctantly nodded, and a faint smile touched his rigid face.

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me…”

This is the guy who cuts down humans like crazy on the battlefield, yet he’s so polite, making me feel awkward and unsure of myself.

I’d rather he spoke informally. Or even just be a little bit brazen, that would make me feel more at ease.

“Oh, can I come too? I’m curious about the training methods of the 0th Legion.”

Idelia doesn’t get along with Asild, so why does she want to come? Ah, could it be, spying?

She probably wants to snoop around for useful information, but what should I do?

“Whether you come or not… it doesn’t matter to me.”

I feel bad for Idelia, who seems to have expectations, but my training method is ‘neglect’.

Literally leaving them alone and occasionally checking in to see them train. That’s all there is to it… She’ll probably be disappointed.

Still, my conscience wouldn’t let me say I just leave them to their own devices, so I quietly cleared the dishes.

After putting all the still-full dishes on the tray, I stood up. Then Jaykar and Asild, who had finished eating long ago and were just sitting there, also got up with their empty dishes.

Idelia, who had already cleared her dishes and come over here, tilted her head as she looked at my plate.

“Are you finished?”

“Yes.”

“Perhaps, you’re not feeling well…”

“Yes, a little.”

Because of you guys.

I swallowed the words that rose to my throat and answered calmly. Then Jaykar, looking worried, checked my complexion.

“Shouldn’t you see the physician first?”

“I’m fine.”

Even if Ben is nice, if I keep bothering him with trivial matters, who knows what might happen. In the end, he’s still a ‘demon’.

Recalling him, whose face was partly covered in snake scales, as if his appearance itself was proclaiming him a demon, I shook my head and handed the tray to a servant.

As I went outside, the other legion commanders followed behind me. This unexpected situation, coupled with a feeling that someone’s presence was overlapping with mine here, made me flinch and stop instinctively.

It’s like…

‘I look like the Demon King?’

Thanks to that, the gazes that were already on me intensified even more. I just wanted to have a quiet meal and leave, but how did things turn out like this?

Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like we had to head straight to the legion, so I stopped awkwardly, watching for cues when someone rushed over from a distance.

“Lord Jaykar!”

What’s this now? Having been betrayed before, my guard is up.

I quickly judged whether they were friend or foe.

“Lord Jaykar, your adjutant said the paperwork is piling up, so please come quickly…”

A friend, then.

“…Come to think of it, there was a stack of documents on my desk. Could that really be all of it?”

“Yes, probably…”

A heavy sigh could be heard.

Jaykar, who had run a hand over his face, openly displaying his annoyance and frustration, composed himself and turned to me.

“As you heard, it seems I won’t be able to make it today.”

“Yes, that’s a shame.”

Not at all.

Silently praising the demon who brought the good news, I reflected on my past decision to draw a line on paperwork from the start.

At the time, my voice trembled in fear of having my head chopped off, but looking back, it was a really good decision. Thanks to it, I don’t have to be bothered by an adjutant.

Incidentally, my adjutant, who also has nothing to do thanks to me, is currently in the human realm. I was too bored, so he went to get new puzzles and cubes. As expected of a demon, I need to be careful, but he’s a kind and helpful guy, almost as much as Ben.

“Now that you mention it… I’m also cutting it close.”

Asild, standing next to me, let out something between a groan and a sigh.

He shook his head irritably, sighed as if the ground would cave in, and then looked at me with an apologetic expression, as if he had no choice.

“It seems I’ll have to postpone the visit. I’m really sorry for bringing it up first.”

“No, it’s fine.”

I really wish he wouldn’t apologize since it’s fine.

I tried my best to convey that it was okay, sending a loving gaze to the demon who delivered the good news. He flinched like a thief facing the guards.

I didn’t think it was strange. It would be stranger to be nonchalant in front of the legion commanders. Besides, he’s delivering news that they need to hurry and deal with their paperwork, so it’s understandable that he’d be scared.

“And… where is Lady Idelia…? Huh? Lady Idelia?! Where did Lady Idelia go?”

The attendant, who had been cautiously observing, widened his eyes and looked around in a panic as he searched for Idelia.

‘Idelia? Idelia was just here… Huh? Where did she go?’

What, am I the only one who didn’t realize she disappeared?

No, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Asild and Jaykar were also looking around with expressions that were a mix of admiration and annoyance.

Where did she suddenly go? Surely she didn’t run away because she didn’t want to do paperwork… No way. She’s a legion commander, after all.

“She seems to have run away again.”

“Her skills are improving day by day.”

Really?!

I forgot. The legion commanders aren’t normal.

The attendant also seemed to realize she had fled, his face crumpled in a sob—or rather, he was almost at the point of wailing—as he reeled off a string of complaints, seemingly forgetting who he was talking to.

“Have you seen Lady Idelia’s adjutant’s face? He looks like a corpse. If that was all, I could just feel sorry for him and move on, but the problem is that the adjutant is now threatening to resign…”

“…That’s rough.”

“No, it’s… excuse me. Then I’ll be going. If you happen to find Lady Idelia…”

“I’ll be sure to grab her and throw her in front of her adjutant.”

“Yes, please do!”

Seeming like he was going to search a bit more, the attendant bowed deeply and left.

And as his figure disappeared from sight, Jaykar and Asild simultaneously turned to me.

“See you next time.”

“I look forward to seeing you again.”

“Yes, good luck with the paperwork…”

Oops, that wasn’t the right thing to say.

To my words of encouragement, they both sighed as if they had planned it.

I tensed up, wondering if they were going to get angry, but fortunately, they turned around without another word and slowly walked away with reluctant steps.

‘And me…’

It seems I should go visit the legion… .

There’s no set deadline, and I can postpone it as much as I want, but if I do that, the legion commanders who finish their paperwork might come bothering me.

Now, with everyone busy and gone, is the perfect timing that won’t come again.

Therefore, I forcibly stopped my feet from heading back to my room and turned towards the 0th Legion’s training grounds.

Ah, I don’t want to go.

***

It was right after lunch break, so the training grounds were empty.

Yeah, who would start running around right after eating? It’ll just hurt your side.

The thought of just turning back crossed my mind, but if I returned without even seeing a single legion member’s face, it wouldn’t count as checking on the legion.

So, intending to wait, I grabbed a wooden sword from the rack and trudged to a corner of the training grounds, sitting down cross-legged.

Touching the wooden sword whose handle was discolored, I felt it anew.

Is it because it’s from the Demon Realm, or am I just weak? It’s heavy. I could swing it, but it wouldn’t be me swinging the wooden sword, but the wooden sword swinging me.

My cursed strength can’t even control a wooden sword, let alone an iron one.

Because of that, when I was first dragged onto the battlefield, I couldn’t even hold a proper weapon and was just busy running and dodging. It was only later that I chose the small and light dagger as my weapon.

“Huck.”

A small sound broke me from my thoughts, and I looked up. A legion member, looking pale, was staring at me from the entrance of the training grounds.

This is the 0th Legion’s training grounds, so he’s probably one of ours. Did he come to train? He’s diligent.

…No sooner had I thought that than he quickly ran out of the training grounds.

“…”

What. If he was going to leave, why did he come?

Or perhaps, does he dislike me? Is he going to conspire to keep everyone away until I leave?

“Haa.”

Yeah, how dare a mere human act as a legion commander.

Let’s go back. I’ve done enough.

Actually, I can’t really say I’ve done enough, but my conscience is telling me this is sufficient, so that’s that.

I stood up to return the wooden sword. Just as I took a step, I felt a vibration in the ground.

At first, I thought it was my imagination, but…

Thump thump thump thump thump.

In the distance, I could see a cloud of dust approaching, and I was certain.

‘Crazy, what is that? A monster? Are there monsters in the Demon King’s castle?’

Ah, a human-like figure appears from the dust cloud.

Only then did I realize. Those guys are legion members. And they’re ours.

“…”

Let’s run away.

I don’t know what it is, but I have a bad feeling. Checking on the legion can be postponed. No, at this level, it’s practically heaven’s decree that I must postpone it.

While I was hesitantly backing away, the guys, who had already come close, lined up in formation. Their movements were surprisingly fast and precise.

“…”

“…”

A quiet silence fell over the spacious training grounds.

Unlike the quiet space, my head was in turmoil.

What’s this? Did they give me the legion commander treatment so I’d leave quickly? When should I go back? Should I go now? Looking at their eyes… it seems I should go now.

I nodded once to indicate that I would leave and was about to turn around when the one who seemed to be the representative carefully called out to me.

“Lord Demon.”

“Yes?”

“What brings you here…?”

Why do those words sound like ‘why are you here when you have nothing to do’ to me?

But even if my interpretation is correct, it’s not exactly wrong, so I can’t say anything.

My hand, unable to overcome the anxiety, was about to move on its own. I was about to grab my collar, but touching the wooden sword would look much better.

I put strength into the hand holding the wooden sword and said,

“I was curious.”

About our legion members’ skills.

Every time I come, they’re almost always just training, so I believe they’re above average, but apart from that, I want to see it with my own eyes at least once.

Well, judging by their attitude, unless there’s some kind of incident, the chances of me seeing it directly are slim.

Unable to withstand the unspoken pressure to leave quickly, I headed towards the wooden sword rack to return the sword.

I tried to move naturally without showing any signs of trembling, but it seems I was too nervous.

My feet got tangled!

My weak lower body is doing its job perfectly today!

‘I’m going to fall!’

If I fall like this, I’ll be a laughingstock. It would be fortunate if it just ended with being a laughingstock.

The gazes of those who see me as just a human aren’t good, and if the rumor spreads that I tripped over my own feet, who knows what will happen.

With the thought that falling meant death, I desperately took a large step to regain my balance.

Following that, I lowered my upper body to assume a stable posture… but then, something passed over my head!

“Lord Demon!!”

Wondering what it was, I slightly raised my head, and something fluttered down in front of me.

Like white fur… Isn’t this my hair?

Horrified, I straightened my upper body and twisted around to look behind me. Then, something blunt hit my elbow.

And then a groan.

“Ugh!”

“…?”

When my vision was fully clear, the other person was already clutching their solar plexus, their back hunched over, trembling.

My eyes widened at the familiar face.

“Human?”

No tail, no horns, no scales. Unlike the demons who have some part of them different from humans, this guy looks completely human.

The question of how a human is in the Demon King’s castle was fleeting, as the sword he was holding caught my eye.

An intruder. Could it be that what hit my elbow was this guy’s solar plexus?

I was lucky. If I hadn’t stumbled, I might have been the one who got hurt.

After calming his startled heart, he raised the wooden sword with both hands.

Whether he’s human or not, the fact remains that he’s an intruder and he attacked me. Therefore, I didn’t hesitate in my actions.

Rather, the thought that I might be in danger if I left him like this made me put my weight into it, swinging the wooden sword down with all my might.

Thwack!