Episode 15. Defending the Underworld (2)
“Peremus.”
“…… What.”
After the convocation was over, a being wearing a tailcoat, wearing a silk hat and covering his face with a clown mask, called Peremus. Pheremus, who was striding forward, stopped his steps and looked back.
“Are you planning to leave right now?”
“The Demon King gave an order. I will cut off the head of the spirit king and bring it back without fail.”
As he clenched his fists, his muscles bulged abnormally.
“Your muscles are still admirable today.”
“Is that so? Thanks.”
Seeing Peremus move forward again, the man touched the silk hat with his white gloved hand.
“By the way, can I come with you?”
The pupils inside the clown mask glow red. He was Peroro, the vice-captain of the corps led by Peremus, and was ranked 7th in the Pandemonium’s official hierarchy.
“I go alone. This is my responsibility.”
Even Pero’s words, Peremus didn’t stop. Pero clapped at him. Then, an old door appears in front of Peremus.
Knocked up. Profit.
With a strange sound coming from an old hinge, Pero opened the door and appeared.
“As the deputy corps commander, I think I also have a responsibility. I was the one who instructed the Black Dragon to protect the Cartrot Mining Area from invading humans.”
As Perro takes his hand away from the door, the door crumbles into powder. Then, powders gather in his hands. Perro puts it in his hat and pretends to rummage. Then he removed his hand from the cap and a human head with missing eyeballs emerged.
“Whoops, I want to see a living human after a long time.”
At his words, Peremus let out a weak sigh.
“I didn’t mean to ask from the beginning.”
“Shouldn’t I always be by the side of the Corps Commander who controlled the 1st Corps? In preparation for the day when I will become the Demon King someday.”
Perro put the hat back on and smiled. He couldn’t see Pheremus because he was behind the mask, but the corners of his mouth were raised to his cheekbones.
‘Well, this is just pitiful flattery. In reality, he wanted to use magic against the hero. It must be a solid body, so it might be good to tear it apart. Whoops…….’
“A sneaky bastard.”
Hearing laughter leaking out from behind the mask, Peremus scolded. Pero slightly moved his hat as if he was used to it.
“That’s too much praise.”
* * *
“…… What?”
Two days after the Duke of Ausu returned, he was thinking of leaving for the area south of the border.
However, he had no choice but to go to Tori’s call to come to the drawing room, and as a result, he had to face the annoying person.
“Speaking inappropriately to someone of high status and age. Prause, you are very rude. Who did you learn from…….”
Economy Rexton raised her glasses and scolded me with a tired face. If you go one step further, it’s Pad Lip? You know that Pad Lip has to be right in the stomach, right?
“…… What did you come for?”
“You are the only one who can say that to the Grand Duke, Prause. Well, His Majesty the Emperor behaves the same way, but I, the Grand Duke, must be at the level of a passing dog. Yes yes.”
“So what brought you here? There’s no way someone like the Grand Duke would come out to drink in the Aus estate out of the blue.”
“It won’t take long, so I’d like you to sit down. I came to see you briefly before meeting His Majesty the Emperor.”
It’s a sinister gaze. The desire to take advantage of me seemed to be revealed.
I glanced at Tori. He was just keeping silent. Even Tori wouldn’t be in a position to say anything in front of the Grand Duke.
I put my butt on the sofa across from Rexton. Rexton immediately took a bundle of papers from his bag and set them down on the table.
Slightly put it in front of me.
Across the top were the words “Resolution to Abolish Slavery.”
Showing this to me means he’s in the mood to decide ‘neutral’. Fortunately, I was relieved that everything was going according to my plan.
“As Prause said, I decided to ‘hope’ for the abolition of slavery. Regarding this resolution, I plan to have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor in person to persuade him.”
“…… If you do that, you might misunderstand that you have joined my forces, right?”
He poked at the bundle of papers with the resolution written on them.
“I will only mention the part about revitalizing the economy through the abolition of slavery. If you misunderstand that I have joined your faction, I will deny it, so don’t worry.”
“Once people start doubting, they cannot easily shake it off. That’s why you have to be careful even if you say a word.”
I flipped through the paper and read the letters that were written like a thesis.
What about market infrastructure? What about manpower? What about the price Oh, the presentation is over. At what age did you read all of this?
“So you didn’t say that. To remain ‘neutral’. I know that those words are meant to protect myself, and at the same time, to induce me to continue to lead the empire’s economy.”
It was a little stingy to know.
“Even if the current princess tax collector puts all sorts of knowledge into her head, she won’t be able to keep up with me when it comes to economics even if she studies for the rest of her life. Even if he followed me, he must have wanted to use my position stably. In preparation for the instability that will arise immediately after the succession to the throne.”
Did you even read our thoughts? As expected, one head turn is awesome.
As he said, if Princess Se-ri becomes her emperor, the empire will be in a state of chaos for a while.
It is certain that it will lead to various problems, such as competition for status among nobles and changes in line due to the reaction of forced succession, and economic chaos due to the change in the system of the princess tax collector.
So, in order to quickly regain stability in the midst of chaos, I thought it would be easiest for Rexton, who is trusted by the people of the empire in terms of economy, to hold the key.
“Therefore, I will follow your will and remain neutral. If His Majesty or Her Highness Chris asks about you, of course I will tell you anything I know. His Majesty the Emperor is obsessed with you, so if she sells you out, she will be able to earn your trust. Of course, I plan to give you information and support from time to time. Because we don’t know which one will become the emperor.”
It was really sarcastic, but logical. I had nothing to say as I was choosing the right words.
I definitely need to use these intelligent characters on my side, but right now I had to be content with just maintaining neutrality.
Anyway, if Se-ri becomes emperor, the story will change.
Since there is no certainty that Seri will become the emperor now, the risk inside is so great that he cannot step forward. However, from the moment Seri becomes emperor, Rexton will be completely on our side.
Rexton is quick to calculate.
From the moment I am certain, I will not act ambiguously. I will push Se-Ri’s back with full force. Even for yourself.
“…… That doesn’t sound nice.”
“Are you disappointed?”
I snorted lightly.
“No. Use whatever you can. I do not care.”
So this side will use you without any hesitation.
I skimmed the resolution, then pushed him back.
“You’re cooler than I thought, right?”
“This isn’t cool, it’s business. We just use them when we need each other.”
“…… He really doesn’t look like an early twenties mindset. Sometimes I think you’re worse than me.”
Rexton quietly exclaimed as he put the resolution into his bag. Is that a compliment, right?
As we were silent with our arms crossed, Rexton suddenly clapped.
“Oh, that’s right. And Countess Hostice, who was caught for corruption, is expected to be stripped of her noble title and subject to special detention. I intend to make a formal proposal to His Majesty the Emperor along with this resolution. I wanted to execute him right away, but he seems to have some connections with His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Hmm.”
Earl Hostis…….
He was an aristocrat who didn’t have a lot of weight in the game episode. However, it was not known what kind of variable it would work now, which has changed somewhat from the development of the episode.
In particular, the fallen nobles would be perfect for the emperor to use for cutting off the lizard’s tail.
He said he would punish him in front of Rexton, but he had a good chance of using it from behind.
“I would like you to tell Countess Hostice if there is any movement. People who have lost everything should be on their guard.”
“Don’t worry, I’m going to be thorough about that part. More than that, the county seat just came out. Where do you plan to try aristocrats? If you do, I can recommend it.”
Even if you recommend it, Puck or the Emperor will approve it.
“Me, Prause! I will commit treason!” Who is going to make a child called Nobility?
“With no sense of responsibility, my aristocratic status is only a hindrance. I have already received such offers several times, but I intend to decline them in the future.”
“I see. That’s a bit unfortunate.”
He smiles slyly and picks up a teacup. After taking a sip of hot tea, he pointed at me with his chin.
“Then what is your goal, Prause?”
“Goal?”
“It’s not like becoming an aristocrat, which is the dream of all commoners. Don’t you have a goal to achieve even by making Princess Se-ri the emperor?”
There is. A very fundamental goal.
That is, to start a family with someone you like, give birth to a child, live until you become a grandfather and father, and then die naturally. Very calmly.
Of course, I couldn’t say that this was my goal, so I had no choice but to express it broadly.
“Okay. I’ll have to think about it then.”
My life will end if I fail to stabilize the empire, or if I lose in the Man-Ma War.
I didn’t want to be excited already.
From noble mtl dot com
“I see. It’s too bad—”
“Prause!!”
The calm atmosphere is completely shattered by an urgent voice. The owner of the voice was Ariel.
She opened the door without knocking, and she was wearing fairy clothes, not normal human clothes. She flutters her blonde hair and wing clothes as she hurriedly approaches me.
“Come quickly! We have a problem!”
“What happened—”
“I’ll explain as I go! Hurry!”
Before I could hear an answer, Ariel grabbed my wrist and started running.
“I’ll just go. Talk to you later.”
“Yes, yes.”
I say hello to Rexton right before being dragged away and leave. I asked, following her sprinting bewilderedly, forgetting to close her door.
“What the hell is wrong?”
“A demon was found near the southernmost border.”
As Ariel looked back at me, her expression was on the verge of being consumed with fear. Now I see her hand twitching on my wrist.
She asked calmly, feeling intuitively that she was not feeling well.
“A demon?”
Is it scouting? Or a raid?
There are still 7 years left until the Great War. The corps will need time to reorganize, but they’re already scouting?
Could it be because of the black dragon? But it’s been unresponsive for months…….
“How is the trend of demons?”
“I don’t know the details. I just received a brief signal from Orient.”
“You said you got a signal from Orient?”
“Yes.”
“What signal did you get?”
She stopped her steps at my question. Biting her lower lip, she frowned and hesitated at her words. She hesitated whether to speak or not, she stared straight at me as if she had made up her mind.
“It must be near the southernmost border…… So it seems that Peremus has appeared where Orient is rooted.”
What?