51 – A belated apology (6)
“Have you still not found him?”
“I… I apologize, Your Highness. We released the soldiers in all directions, but we can’t see a single trace of him!”
Duke Ochlean, who began frantically searching for the “devil” immediately upon returning to the mansion.
However, no matter where he searched, the place where it had originally been staying, and even in this area, he couldn’t find any presence of the devil.
The devil itself had literally evaporated.
Feeling both astonishment and anger at this fact, the duke collapsed his heavy body onto the chair.
“Damn it… Although for now, I was lucky enough to escape, but if this continues, it will be a big problem. The political damage I suffered this time because of that devil is immense!”
In the center of the conference room, he…
The duke who planned to annihilate everyone present by summoning the devil, Raplus.
However, despite sacrificing even his subordinates for this purpose, the devil did not show a single trace.
Due to the significant political influence he still possessed, the only solace was that he wouldn’t have his throat cut in one fell swoop.
“No… Actually, that’s not true. That sly Ellie won’t finish the job like this. This is clearly waiting for the right moment. If she had finished me off there, it would have been a clever move to minimize the potential losses and seize power completely.”
The Duke had a profound influence throughout noble society.
If his throat were to be swiftly cut, there was a risk that the nobles, already discontented, would rise up collectively in rebellion.
Thanks to the Duke’s moderation, who did not desire to have the throne he would eventually ascend become an empty seat, such a situation was not occurring at the moment.
However, if this safety measure were to disappear, the Franz Kingdom was at risk of falling apart completely.
Knowing this, Ellie had postponed cutting his throat, at least for now.
“For now, at least. But soon, that woman will overcome the losses incurred this time. Through the Tripartite Conference, she will restore the nobles’ power, gather public support, and… to be precise, she will hold the king as a puppet and strengthen her own power.”
Like a snake preparing to devour its prey, Ellie was waiting for the perfect moment without rushing.
Yet, even in this situation that could be considered the worst, Duke Oclair’s mind was constantly working.
From the royal court to the actual leader position of the nobles in this country, he had risen.
As he had overcome risks even greater than this, he searched for a solution that would allow him to survive,
No, a solution that would reverse this situation.
“It won’t end like this. Ellie Hélerat and King Louis. I will definitely bring both of you down and take that position in my hands!”
*
In the dark Versha Palace.
As people left and only heavy silence remained,
She was walking down the corridor.
Gabriel…
No,
The queen of this country, also known as Louis XVI, walked silently late at night.
Despite the presence of accompanying courtiers and guards,
she felt a deep loneliness in an instant.
She continued to ponder about one particular fact in her heart.
“What should I do?… No matter how, I can’t continue like this forever…”
She unexpectedly ended up being treated as a fake queen by Geralt.
However, as long as she remains in this place as the queen, she will continue to raise suspicions in Geralt’s mind, just like the incident with his former disciples.
If luck is on her side, she may be able to keep the secret until the end of the Tripartite Council meeting and return to Devilhunter. But honestly, Gabriel didn’t think she could deceive Geralt that well.
“In the end… Should I confess?… With my own words…”
As her thoughts reached that point, a strong feeling of anxiety began to wriggle in Gabriel’s heart.
Of course, it was much better than misunderstandings piling up by hearing the truth from someone else’s mouth.
However,
Even though she knew that fact.
Gabriel still felt hesitation in telling the truth.
It was not because of grand reasons.
If he knew the truth, he might end up disliking her because of it.
As an inept ruler, she was well aware that she was already being criticized in unseen places by many people.
However,
Even she, to that man…
Only to the person who took her heart away, she didn’t want to receive any hatred.
And so, without being able to do anything, Gabriel continues this inexplicable “night stroll” while only enduring worries.
At that moment…
-Rumble…
“….Huh?”
Suddenly, a heavy vibration.
Those who were by her side became engulfed in deep confusion.
“What… What is it?”
“An… An earthquake? Could it be the same as earlier during the meeting…?”
Feeling uneasy about the incomprehensible situation,
On one hand, people began to think that it might not be a big deal like back then.
However,
Their thoughts were rendered meaningless.
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Gabriel spoke to those around her in a cold voice.
“You’ve finally arrived… Everyone, be on guard.”
“What?”
“W-What are you talking about?!”
Before the question that was about to be spoken could even finish.
The royal bodyguards standing beside drew their swords immediately.
“Your Majesty, be careful. There is something.”
Something began to enter their magical detection devices.
As they sensed the beings running towards them with suspicious movements, the warriors of the bodyguard raised their magic power all over their bodies.
And then…
“Keee…”
“Kiiii…”
“!!”
“Klak!…”
Flashes of blue light in the darkness.
Through the dimly lit moonlight, they could vaguely make out what it was.
It was clad in torn and old black robes,
And held a giant scythe in one hand.
It had the appearance of an actual manifestation of what was called a reaper.
There were dozens of them caught within the detection devices alone.
“Goodness, where did these monsters suddenly come from…”
“We must protect Your Majesty! We must hurry!”
They had no idea what these creatures exactly were or how they managed to infiltrate the heavily guarded Bersha Palace.
Nevertheless, as their duty dictated, the royal bodyguards were determined to protect their king.
And then,
Towards those people. Gabriel spoke with a quiet voice.
“Stay calm, everyone. The preparations are already done.”
“Yes?”
“What is…”
The queen spoke incomprehensible words.
However, they had not even asked a question about it.
“I…really came out.”
“To bring up the topic of demons at this timing. It seems that LaPlaz is indeed different.”
With those words, the maids and the queen immediately threw away the clothes they were wearing, and soon after, the eyes of the royal guards were met with the sight of three women dressed in Devil Hunter attire…
The sight of those three women belonging to Section 3 began to enter.
“Well then…since the bait has been taken. Let’s get attached once.”
*
In the deepest part of the Versha Palace’s basement.
A Devil Hunter named Geralt Myura…
As I, who is known by the name, quietly passed through the empty iron bars with a weapon in hand.
The unusual chill that had already started to be felt.
Knowing what is at the end,
I began to be captivated by the strange feeling of excitement.
‘Finally, I am seeing that guy in person…’
I already knew so much about the person in front of me.
La Place.
The source of the devilish incident,
Not just a poorly made being, but a being believed to have come crawling out of hell.
Although also the final boss, I couldn’t help but feel a significant sense of anticipation rather than nervousness about meeting this being, whom I was personally a fan of to the extent of owning a figurine.
‘I didn’t expect the boss from the first part to still be a threat. But this isn’t so bad either.’
With these feelings of excitement separate from the weight of the situation,
I passed through a dimly lit pathway to the location where that person was waiting.
I moved my steps to the deepest part of this area.
*
The center of the abyss as dark as ink.
There, ‘it’ was emitting its magical power quietly.
To eliminate the beings that have become targets.
To exterminate all the humans present in this area.
Now, it was far from the originally agreed-upon time,
And the other party to the contract was probably halfway giving up on this task already.
However, it seemed that it didn’t matter.
What mattered was whether the contract was fulfilled or not.
Since there were no set rules for that time,
Now, at this moment, it could also be said that they were fulfilling the contract by carrying out the mission.
While smoothly executing their attacks as demons,
they proceeded with their work ‘faithfully’.
For the extermination of all humans on this land…