170 – Resurrection of the Great Devil (1)
Meanwhile, strange rumors were spreading in the empire.
It is the resurrection of the great devil.
Since Emeric, the hero who saved the empire from the great evil, went missing, the subjects of the empire had no choice but to be shaken.
Emeric is currently unofficially a target of the Empire, but ordinary subjects have no way of knowing the circumstances.
The new emperor, who was the 3rd prince, traced the source of the rumor, but was still clueless.
In the first place, the idea that an already dead archdemon would be resurrected seemed very absurd.
But on the other hand, it was not that strange for a devil that was completely incomprehensible to common sense to be resurrected.
Therefore, the new emperor had to continue to pay attention to state affairs even though he was preoccupied with it.
The new emperor, who was worried, summoned the imprisoned 4th princess and asked her about the matter.
However, she was the 4th princess and had no idea about that.
The 4th princess, like her 3rd prince her, intended to use her subjugation force to seize power, but she was not at all interested in the resurrection of the Great Demon or anything like that.
Meanwhile, the rumors continued to spread.
The empire is very unstable and has suffered from tyranny for a long time.
In addition, due to the gloomy gray sky and lack of sunlight, most of the subjects suffer from chronic depression.
In this situation, the news of the Great Devil’s resurrection spread quickly like a forest fire in a dry autumn.
In the end, after hearing the news that the crowds attending the strange ritual to pray for the resurrection of the Great Devil in some areas had been suppressed, the God Emperor made a decision.
“Bring me a demon hunter. I need to get his advice.”
The Espeons who received the emperor’s orders rode to the principality’s Schlesi.
However, even after waiting for a long time, the Espions did not return.
* * * * *
“Ahh, it’s dirty.”
Lucene clicked her tongue as she tried to wipe the blood from the Thundermite onto her corpse’s clothes.
Several dead bodies with their bodies were crushed all infiltrated into the backyard.
These are the unlucky ones who were captured by Lucene who came out to get firewood.
Lucene had no choice but to kill them all because they attacked first without answering even when asked about their identity.
Leonard and Emeric came running after hearing the news.
The two searched through the corpses, and after a long discussion, they agreed that they were Espionage of the Imperial Castle.
“But why did you come?”
“I don’t know. Maybe they knew I was here and sent an assassin.”
“They haven’t issued a wanted order for you yet, right? That might be why they were trying to kill you secretly like this.”
“You can’t kill me with Espeon.”
“I guess so.”
In the meantime, the border guards who received the report came and made a fuss, saying they would closely inspect the body.
* * * * *
A few days later.
Clemence, the city hall guild official, visited the guild.
No matter how you look at his pale face, it looks like something big has happened.
“Guild leader! Guild leader!”
“What’s going on?”
“Empire! Empire!”
“Yes?”
Clemence shouted while breathing lightly.
“The imperial delegation is coming!”
“A mission from the Empire? What about it? Is there anything we can do to help?”
“That’s not it! I’m coming to the guild!”
I looked at Leana, who had come to meet me, but Leana just shrugged her shoulders.
“Are you saying that an imperial delegation is coming to the guild?”
“That’s right!? An official letter just came down from the Great Siege!”
“Let’s take a look at that official document.”
I read the official letter handed over by Clemence together with Leana.
A delegation is visiting to gain know-how on proper control and improvement of the guilds that are mushrooming in the empire.
This is bullshit.
There is also a New Ronaldp guild, so why would a delegation come to a principality guild that is not on good terms with each other?
Perhaps this is just an excuse and there is some other intention.
I guess it has something to do with Espione coming not long ago.
“What does it say in the Great Siege?”
“They said they would provide support for the Grand Siege administrators who would disguise themselves as guild members. They said the city would take care of the rest.”
“I see. Then, when the administrators come, we’ll talk about it together. I don’t think it’s a normal thing.”
Just then, the administrators of the Grand Duchy arrived through the portal.
Among the administrators, I found a familiar face.
It was a smiling woman with her black hair neatly tied up.
“The Great Shell… ?”
The Grand Duke winked at her and put her finger to her lips.
No, some kind of grand duke himself came here and caused an uproar… ?
It seemed like no one knew the Archduke except me, and the Archduke did not seem to want to reveal his identity, so I just nodded quietly.
* * * * *
Meanwhile, the imperial castle.
The God Emperor was watching the ominous vortex of magic swirling in the underground archives of the imperial castle.
It was in the shape of a portal, but the color was not the usual blue light.
It was a very creepy red color, like dark blood.
A sign of the great devil’s resurrection.
What was dismissed as a rumor turned out to be true.
Looking at it with fearful eyes, the emperor gave an order.
“Tell the delegation: Bring that demon hunter back at any cost. Accept the conditions presented unconditionally and, if necessary, bring him back by licking the soles of his shoes!”
* * * * *
All guild members gathered together and carried out a general cleaning.
Leana and Clemence were in charge of arranging the reception hall, and both looked like their heads were about to explode.
Because Daegonggakha came as an administrative officer, he did not particularly intervene in event preparations and just wandered around like a madman.
“There you are, Your Excellency.”
When no one was around, I sneaked up and started talking.
“Mr. Leonard.”
“Why are you here?”
“The empire is sending a delegation. I need to hear what they have to say.”
“Does that mean you can leave the Great Siege empty for a few days like this?”
“I don’t think guarding the Grand Duchy is more important than spying on the first Imperial delegation to visit since the Duchy’s independence.”
“I guess that’s true too. But do you know why you’re coming?”
“I don’t know that either. But I have one guess.”
The Grand Duke smiled.
“Rumors about the resurrection of the Great Evil were spreading in the Empire. I guess that’s why.”
“You think the same thing as me. I also heard that rumor. Maybe they are visiting with the purpose of taking me away.”
“Is that so? There is no other solution in the empire now other than Mr. Leonard. That is why I bow my head and come into the principality that has been hostile to us so far.”
The Grand Duke continued to speak.
“The delegation will be ready to accept any conditions to take you. I will give you the conditions.”
Then, he talked about a few things that were greatly overlooked.
These were all absurd diplomatic conditions that were eye-opening to the empire.
Transfer of mining rights to a certain mine, cession of an area, redeployment of troops stationed on the border to the rear, provision of exclusive rights to the principality on a certain trade route, etc.
Provocative content that would normally sound like a declaration of war.
These are all things that cause the empire a huge loss.
“Is it okay?”
“It’s okay. This is nothing compared to the Great Evil resurrecting, trampling the castle and reducing the empire to ashes. And even if we refuse, our principality will have nothing to lose.”
“Well, I guess that’s true.”
“The key to this meeting is Mr. Leonard. Depending on what Mr. Leonard does, the principality can become more prosperous than it is now.”
“This feels quite heavy on my shoulders.”
“I’ll free you.”
The Grand Duke smiled and massaged my shoulders.
* * * * *
The imperial delegation has arrived.
Through the portal, envoys with stern faces landed in front of the guild.
The envoys who saw the guild building whispered.
It was because of the trophies of fierce-looking monsters attached to the door.
“Welcome. I’m Leonard, the guild leader.”
As I lined up with the guild members and greeted them, the envoys bowed their heads to me.
It is truly rare for an imperial delegation to appear like that.
This is because it is a world where there is no country stronger than the empire.
Those envoys are bowing their heads like that.
His Majesty the Duke and I were right in our predictions.
I came because of the Great Devil.
“Now, this way.”
As they entered the guild, the envoys’ eyes widened.
Because I saw the devil trophy hanging above the fireplace.
As they were introduced one by one, the envoys could not help but be amazed.
“Oh, just like the rumors say, this is a really great guild.”
“This is my first time seeing something like this.”
The envoys, who were completely enthralled with the trophy, were guided to their seats.
On one side of the long table, which was arranged so that they could face each other, sat the delegation, and on the other side, the administrators of the guild, city hall, and grand dukedom sat.
The representative of the delegation gave a long line of greetings full of pretentiousness and pretentiousness.
It’s also not normal.
Envoys from the empire do not show such courtesy.
At the end of the greeting, the envoys presented some complicated figures, including the current status of the empire’s guilds and unregistered mercenaries operating illegally.
Meanwhile, we want to learn about the operation method of our Lucas Guild and apply it to the entire empire to create new laws regarding guild management.
“We ask that the guild leader visit the empire with us and give us advice.”
It’s finally out.
Their original purpose was to take me to the empire.
I smiled and said thank you.
First of all, thank you for viewing our guild so favorably, blah blah blah.
However, since the guild has a lot of work and crosses borders, there are some parts that are reluctant to do it considering the relationship between the existing principality and the empire.
At this point, the delegation representative’s face hardened.
I don’t know if you know, but I’m actually from an empire and want to help the empire, but I’m deeply concerned about the situation.
“Then how can we serve the guild leader?”
The head of the delegation spoke urgently.
By speaking so bluntly and omitting all diplomatic rhetoric, this game is already over.
I smiled and said the magic phrase, ‘There is no way.’
Although from the Empire, now a citizen of the Principality.
The principality is my second home, to which I am grateful as it allowed me to run a guild and pursue my dreams.
Just as I was wishing to contribute even a little to my second country, an imperial delegation came. If you will accept the conditions I propose, I am willing to accept the delegation’s offer.
“What are those conditions? Please tell me.”
I told you what the Archduke had said.
The faces of the delegates listening to me turned earthy in real time.
These conditions were completely unacceptable under normal circumstances, and were so shameless and one-sided that it was okay to get angry.
However, instead of leaving in anger, the delegation asked for a short break.
That’s it.
The Grand Duke sitting over there smiled at me.