But I made a deal with the Fairy King not to do that. When weighed, the loss from breaking the deal was greater than the gain. I couldn't throw away a better card for the sake of the moment... I frowned and fell into thought again.
"You can't use magic, right? If it were possible, you would have told me earlier."
"Yes, it looks like there is a spell suppressing magic."
Shit. We're almost there. What kind of disaster was this?
As if my blood pressure was rising, Ben next to me fanned me and told me to calm down. Now, I won't vomit blood or faint because my blood pressure has risen.
"..."
"..?"
I grumpily accepted what Ben gave me and just rolled my eyes and glanced up. The moment Ben followed my gaze and inadvertently raised his head, I hit the tree next to me with my fist.
Crash! The tree fell with a sound and someone on top of it fell.
"Damn it!"
"It seemed like there was a device that distorted perception, so it was difficult to guess where it was hiding... but if it was this close, things would be different."
I threw away the bow he was holding and stepped on the wrist of the guy who quickly drew out a dagger. I kindly took the blade away and smiled.
"Do you think the cognitive distortion also applies to you?
Otherwise, there would be no need to come close when there was a bow.
"It looks like you were trying to launch a surprise attack, but it's too bad."
The stolen dagger spun gracefully through my fingers. A light voice continued, as if joking.
"Now that we've had enough fun, why don't you stop and tell me the way out?"
"Damn. Why don't you just wander around here forever and die?"
"Hmm."
Slice.
"Ahh!"
"Are you really not going to tell me?"
"Ha ha ha! Do you think I would tell you?"
"It's a shame. If things go well, it will be comfortable and good for both sides."
I took off my hood to make the interrogation more comfortable. I no longer needed to use it, but I kept using it because it had become a habit...
"Crazy..."
"Hmm?"
I guess I should have taken it off sooner.
When I glanced down at the swear for no reason, I made eye contact with the guy who was looking at me as if he was fascinated. The guy immediately turned his head to avoid my gaze, but it was a familiar look in his eyes, so I couldn't just ignore it.
Huh... Where did I see it...
'Ah, Lirinel.'
... This might be easier to get out of than I thought?
I grinned and sat in front of the guy and lifted his chin.
When our eyes meet, his pupils shook constantly. I closed my eyes in vivid agitation.
"Shall we have a conversation?"
"...!"
As a result.
Thanks to a great guide, the Demon King's Army was able to safely escape the camp.
***
The world is in an uproar with the birth of a hero.
But what did it matter when the Demon King's Army was just around the corner? Before then, the hero would not have been able to come here.
'What on earth happened?'
Even though he heard an explosion through the communicator, it was said that Deon Hardt was still alive and was advancing here.
At this point, the Duke admitted it. That guy was a cockroach.
'I was somewhat prepared, but I never thought he would come back alive.'
In 30 minutes, the mercenaries requested from Esperanes would arrive. At the villa owned by the Duke's family located in the Capitol, the Duke calmly prepared to leave. Saerin, who was looking at him with anxious eyes from one side, spoke cautiously.
"Where are you going?"
"I have somewhere to go, so I'm going to leave for a while. Rather, is it really okay for you to not evacuate?"
"The Duke is still here, so how can I go alone? I have a bad feeling."
The Duke, who was putting on his coat, paused. A faint smile appeared on his lips for a moment.
"You're acting strangely all of a sudden."
"Sorry. But..."
"Saerin."
Saerin closed her mouth. The sound of the peacock's footsteps echoed in the silence. The sound gradually got closer and stopped only when it reached in front of her.
Normally, she would have said sorry and backed off long ago.
But this time was different.
'I don't have a good feeling.'
She was so anxious that her heart was racing.
Therefore, Saerin raised her head and gazed at the Duke with the determination to never back down. Instead of putting pressure on the woman who was facing him directly, the Duke looked sweetly into her eyes.
"Thank you for your concern."
"..."
"But I have to leave now, so I want you to let me go."
Saerin stared blankly at her raised hand, wondering when he had grabbed it. As he did one day, the Duke slowly lowered his head and a small warmth settled on the back of her hand.
Mwah.
He raised his head with a small sound. It was accompanied by a sweet smile that seemed to melt.
"I'll be back."
A move that took full advantage of her liking for him.
Saerin, who took advantage of the unexpected action and watched the Duke leave without any regrets, laughed helplessly.
How could she stop him if he did this?
"My dear... even though he himself is being dragged along by his emotions."
She knew he was going to the Imperial Palace. She also knew that he cared for the Emperor more than he thought.
Although he will never admit it, it was a clear form of affection.
So it was even sadder.
"You manipulate other people's emotions without any thought."
Saerin started packing.
***
After arriving at the Capitol, I decided to change the clothes I had not changed since we had to run for several days to get here instead of going straight into the Imperial Palace. My clothes were dirty with dirt and tattered, so I felt uncomfortable and didn't want to wear them anymore.
Above all, I didn't want to go looking shabby when I go to see the Emperor.
Ben, who took on the role of aide instead of Dan or Ed, went into a nearby fancy clothing store and rummaged through clothes and asked.
"What clothes would you like to wear?"
"Well. It would be better to have a familiar uniform."
"If it's a uniform... how about this?"
"It's black."
"If you don't like it, how about this?"
"It's black too."
Even if I don't show it off like that, the whole world will know that I was in the Demon King's Army.
Ben, who was tilting his head as if he was puzzled that he didn't get a positive answer easily, was shocked as if something occurred to him.
"No white uniforms."
"... Okay."
It would be better for me to just choose.
I approached the hanger where a uniform was hanging.
Since it was an empty store anyway, I could just pick it up, so I looked at everything I saw without thinking about the price.
After a short period of thought, I chose the red uniform. The color and design remind me of the uniform that was once given to me by the Emperor.
"It's okay."
It looks like it passed Ben's own standards.
As I quickly went into the locker room with my clothes to change, he spoke to the back of my head as if to emphasize it.
"Please wear only a shirt and pants and take your outerwear with you. Absolutely!"
A demon soldier who seemed to have doubts asked.
"Is there any reason to say that?"
"It's easier if you want to style your clothes."
"..."
I took off my shirt without saying a word.
***
It wasn't until the front gate of the Imperial Palace was visible that I realized it. We really came this far.
However, no time was given to appreciate it. I froze when I spotted a knight standing alone in front of the front door.
The knight paused for a moment when she saw my appearance, but it was literally just a moment. She called me as if it had been a while.
"My lord."
"... Sir Lien."
I groaned and spat out the other person's name.
"Why did you come here?"
"As a knight serving my lord, I have come to prevent him from going astray. I sincerely ask you to stop here."
Ah. I left her behind on purpose because I thought it would be like this. I wiped my face dry again and again. I really... really...
Don't know what to do with her.
I don't want to kill her, so I went without saying a word to avoid a collision. Maybe the crazy dogs acted like that for the same reason.
If she had just given up, let go, and lived with the flow, she wouldn't have encountered anything, but why did she come to me like this?
"Everyone stay back appropriately."
The demons noticed and slowly retreated.
Only after increasing the distance to the point where even Ben could not hear any sound, I turned my eyes to Lien again.
"Sir Lien."
"Yes, my lord."
The unwavering voice returned.
... You still call me "my lord". I closed my eyes tightly and then opened them. The complex emotions melted and leaked out as one language.
"You... don't you feel resentful of me? What about the Lofty Knights?"
All of the knights under her command also left for the demon realm without saying a word. She would have had to bear all the problems that arose as a result. It may not have been a simple matter of responsibility. Emotions such as resentment and hatred would have been poured out towards her, so she would have probably suffered a lot of pain beyond simple hardship. It would be strange not to feel resentment.
"A knight does not blame her lord."
"..."
"If you come back now, I won't blame you in the future."
Strong eyes looked straight into red eyes.
I looked down for a moment, feeling uncomfortable with the clear eyes that made me see the dirty, damp, and bloody bottom of this place.
The momentary silence was broken by a low voice that sounded like a whisper.
"... I became a hero."
"...!"
"You can never defeat me. If you stop me like this, you will definitely die. So, it would be better..."
"If you go beyond this door, you will be aiming for His Majesty's life, right?"
Lien Reiner drew her sword with a distorted face, as if she was suppressing despair.
"Do you remember what I said when I took the Knight's Oath?"
'I, Lien Reiner, acknowledge and serve Deon Hardt as my lord and swear to follow him and his orders at the risk of my life as long as they do not go against the will of His Majesty the Emperor.'
"A knight must not aim her sword at her lord. I can't just stand by and see my master's life being threatened. So, Commander 0, you..."
"..."
"I will sacrifice my life to stop you."
She called me Commander 0. In that case, the lord she mentioned must be the Emperor.
... I remember her oath. It was an impressive oath under impressive circumstances. Maybe that's why I remember the answer I gave at the time.
'I pledge to do my best to ensure that your loyalty is not in vain.'
I was the one who broke the oath first.
So I had no right to say anything more. Any further attempts to placate Lien Reiner would be an insult to her, so I drew my dagger.
I gave a cold command to the demons who were whispering as if they were about to leave at any moment.
Don't intervene.
"Lord Lien, do you know something?"
There was no answer, but her eyes immediately moved as if she was listening. I smiled calmly.
"I loved your upright chivalry."
"..."
"But now I feel resentful."
I think I once admired and respected her.
It wasn't like that from the beginning. It started with surprise and concern.
How can a person live like that? Wouldn't it be tiring? What are you going to do if it breaks like that?
Nevertheless, her consistent appearance was so cool that I ended up falling in love with her foolish chivalry.
"Be a little more flexible. Let me be a little gentler. Because I can't do something that other people take for granted that I just need to close my eyes to."
"..."
"... It's done. No matter what I say, Sir Lien's attitude won't change."
I flicked my dagger at the knight who was in a defensive posture.
"What are you doing standing there? Go ahead and attack me."
I licked the bitter inside of my mouth with my tongue as I watched Lien do her best to rush at me.
Yes, it would be best to do her best to buy a little more time. I will do my best to deal with you for your honor.
How long could a mere knight, who was not even a hero, endure against a hero?
The dagger and the long sword clashed.