chapter_0168

“What is that girl thinking, starting all this?”

“Well, I don’t know everything that’s going on in Nika’s head.”

I was spending time with Laura, Rosalia, Elysier, and Priscilla in Laura’s room at the Imperial Palace.

Because it was an unprecedented event in human history for the demons to propose negotiations first, the Emperor had ordered that everyone deemed trustworthy be gathered.

According to what I’d heard, not only Erestika, the chairman, but also the Sword Saint, the heads of the magic towers, and even the Hero, Leona, were to attend.

‘Of course. The Succubus Queen herself has requested the meeting.’

Given the atrocities Astaroth had committed in the past, it was only natural. Just three months ago, her plan to devour the Empire whole had been exposed, causing an uproar.

Nika was the opposite of Astaroth in terms of personality, and the succubus tribe had undergone a near-complete overhaul after being massacred by the dhampir, but no one else knew that except me.

And it was best that they didn’t know.

“……Do I really need to attend as well?”

Elysier, sitting there with a sullen expression, asked awkwardly. Laura’s face lit up with a mischievous smile.

“Of course. You, of all people, are essential to this meeting. If the former Demon King herself isn’t present, who else could possibly take that seat?”

“You’re just saying that to tease me. Stop pretending and just admit that you’re here to make fun of me.”

“How did you know? Yes, it’s true that I’m here to tease you. You hit the nail on the head, so do you expect a compliment, former Demon King?”

“…”

Laura continued to tease Elysier, who grumbled in response but couldn’t come up with a proper retort.

As Laura had said, Elysier technically shouldn’t have been allowed to attend. Elysier, the former Demon King, was now just Ciel, an orphan who had barely secured her identity thanks to me.

The other four had legitimate reasons to be there. Laura, of course, Rosalia as the saint chosen by the goddess, and Priscilla as the only heir to the Agnes family.

I also had my reasons. Not only did I have the full support of the Sword Saint, the chairman, and the heads of the magic towers, but even the Emperor himself seemed to favor me.

Elysier was the only one without a clear reason, and Laura had pulled some strings with the Emperor to get her included. And the reason for that, as she had said herself, was to tease Elysier.

“Laura, I’m here to pick you up.”

In the middle of their bickering, a knock sounded on the door, followed by the Sword Saint’s voice. Laura and Elysier stopped their argument and quickly closed their mouths.

I released the soundproofing magic and opened the door. The Sword Saint waved and greeted us, with Karna bowing politely behind her.

There was something different about her usual loose yukata attire. Instead of a wooden sword, she now had a real sword at her right hip.

‘Not the Dragon Tooth Sword…’

The sword she had made from the dragon’s fang was not among her possessions, but the fact that she had overcome her trauma to this extent was astonishing in itself.

Noticing my gaze, the Sword Saint smiled awkwardly.

“Now is not the time to worry about that. Let’s focus on the task at hand. Are you ready?”

“Yes. We can leave whenever you are.”

We all stood up. Following the Sword Saint, Laura took the lead, with Priscilla, Rosalia, and Elysier falling in behind her. I brought up the rear.

“Have you heard anything about what the succubi are up to?”

I quietly asked Karna as she walked beside me. Karna thought for a moment before snapping her fingers.

“They’re waiting in a separate space, and apparently, they’ve been surprisingly quiet, which is surprising.”

“And no other reactions?”

“There was a suggestion to take the opportunity to kill them since they’re being so well-behaved, but it was dismissed because if they failed and came back, the consequences would be too difficult to handle.”

“……Who suggested that?”

I etched the names that came out of Karna’s mouth into my memory. Even though the suggestion had been dismissed, it wouldn’t hurt to remember them.

It was fortunate in many ways, for me and for the Empire. If Nika had been killed like that, I wouldn’t have just let it go. At the very least, I would have made sure that those who suggested it suffered the same fate.

“Alright, this is where we part ways. We’ll take the larger door, and you can use the smaller one.”

The Sword Saint led Laura and most of the Royal Guard toward the wider door, while we were directed to the smaller one. It was only natural that we wouldn’t receive the same treatment as the Crown Prince in an official setting.

The door to the central hall opened, revealing a gathering of all the important figures in the Empire—the heads of the magic towers, the chairman of Bellium Academy, and anyone else who held any influence.

“……”

As I scanned the room, my eyes met those of the heads of the magic towers. Fortunately, they only gave me a brief nod instead of the usual fuss, perhaps aware of the Emperor’s presence. If they had acted as they usually did, my situation would have been quite awkward.

-Don’t forget.

The chairman, sitting next to the Emperor, blushed slightly and pouted her lips as she caught my gaze. Elysier, sitting behind me, poked my back.

Leona, sitting next to the chairman, waved at me. She was alone, so Aria must not have been allowed to attend. After all, Aria was just an ordinary Academy student now.

The achievements and status that should have gone to Aria had been taken by us.

Next, Laura entered, followed by the Sword Saint, who took the seat next to the chairman. It seemed they were skipping the usual formalities due to the situation.

“To the Empire’s sun—”

A long-winded eulogy followed, addressed to the Emperor. Soon after, the Emperor, looking every bit the part with his dignified and solemn demeanor, emerged.

“Has everyone arrived?”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Good. Send for the Red Tower Master to bring in the demon.”

“I shall com—”

“There’s no need. She’s already here.”

The Red Tower Master’s words were cut off by a voice that was unmistakably Nika’s, but it lacked the usual dull and slightly lacking quality. Instead, it was more similar to Elysier’s, with an air of elegance and stiffness.

In the center of the hall, a figure appeared as if emerging from the mist.

‘……Is that really Nika?’

Unlike her usual attire, which barely qualified as clothing, she was now covered from head to toe, with a wide-brimmed hat and a veil hiding her face, neck, and everything down to her ankles. Even her tail was tucked away, leaving only her lips and the area around them exposed. She was more covered up than when she wore the maid outfit as Yustera.

As soon as Nika appeared, a pink mist spread throughout the hall. Those who inhaled the mist swayed with dazed eyes.

Only the Sword Saint, the chairman, Leona, Elysier, and I were unaffected. Sensing the danger, the Sword Saint drew her sword, and a spell was cast to dispel the status effects throughout the hall.

The dazed people snapped back to reality.

“……!!!!!!”

The heads of the magic towers, realizing that the mist had been a magical attack, glared at her with murderous intent, but they could only stomp their feet in frustration, unable to approach me in the current situation.

“Should I take that as a declaration of war?”

The Sword Saint, her voice and demeanor completely unlike her usual self, growled. Her left hand gripped the hilt of his sword at her waist. A deadly aura filled the air around her.

“I apologize. It was not my intention. What just happened was akin to breathing for humans, and I never imagined that it would cause harm. I admit my mistake, and I will try to improve so that it doesn’t happen again.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie, but it wasn’t entirely true either.

The mist that had enveloped the hall was definitely intentional, and the power within it was indeed comparable to breathing for her. It seemed she had used it as a way to assert her dominance.

“Very well. I shall accept it as such. However, be warned that there will be no second chance. Sword Saint, calm yourself.”

At the Emperor’s words, the Sword Saint released her grip on the sword hilt. Her hands disappeared back into the loose sleeves of her yukata, indicating that she hadn’t completely overcome her trauma.

“Good. Do you wish to discuss a truce?”

“Yes. The succubi will not attack humans, and in return, humans will not attack the succubi. Of course, individuals may choose to ‘interact’ if they so desire. Such personal interactions should not be considered an attack, wouldn’t you agree?”

There were coughs and stifled laughter throughout the hall as people imagined what the Succubus Queen meant by ‘interaction.’

“I am exempt from such interactions. Do not entertain any foolish thoughts.”

“I never intended to include you.”

The Emperor scoffed.

“Why should I accept your proposal? I still vividly remember the atrocities your kind committed. The Empire nearly fell because of your schemes. And now you come offering a truce?”

The nobles unanimously agreed, many of them having lost family or loved ones to the succubi. Nika, unfazed, retorted.

“The former Queen, Astaroth, is dead. Astaroth and the succubi who aided her in her plot are also mostly dead. I have taken her place as Queen, and I had no part in Astaroth’s schemes. Isn’t that explanation enough?”

“You are still of the same succubus tribe. To say you have no connection to their actions is an exaggeration.”

“Then would you take on the sins of your predecessor Emperors? Would you accept their crimes as your own? If not, then what is the difference between you taking Astaroth’s place and me taking the place of my predecessor Emperors? Why should I accept your proposal and not hold you accountable for their sins?”

“……”

The Emperor’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. He hadn’t expected such a rebuttal. Nika, seemingly unfazed, changed the subject.

“I have a reason for proposing this truce. Everyone here, including the Emperor, must be curious. I shall explain why I have come to offer a truce….”

Silence fell upon the central hall as everyone’s attention turned to Nika. The Emperor, the Sword Saint, the chairman, the heads of the magic towers, the nobles, and even the possessed girls, including me, were all focused on her.

I, more than anyone else, was curious as to why Nika, of all people, had taken such an unexpected action. In fact, because I knew her usual personality, I was even more perplexed by the situation.

“……Because the Demon King is dead.”