The Bird That Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (10)

[Traitor! How could you betray us!]

It was the kind of line you’d only hear in a play. In a play he had seen during his sensitive years, the protagonist had shouted such lines at a traitor. Staufen, who was still immature then, used to pray for the protagonist’s victory in the play.

Not knowing that the play’s ending was predetermined, he cheered for the protagonist with sweaty palms and would scream like a child when the protagonist faced a crisis.

And when he realized that plays were fake, moving according to a scripted plot, Staufen thought that love games or heroes fighting for justice were just trivial love games.

[Do you think you’ll live comfortably after betraying the country! Staufen! How could you think of siding with the demons?]

And when he faced words that seemed to belong only in plays, Staufen could finally realize the truth. That plays were indeed just plays. That traitors living miserably and heroes living wonderful, happy lives were things only seen in old stories.

“Lord Staufen. We’ve received a report that the Black Society assassin has failed.”

Information quickly, bad news slowly. Even the way information moves becomes information. Urgent information makes soldiers anxious, slow information is quickly forgotten in soldiers’ memories. The assassination operation, not even shared with the soldiers, passed through one of Commander Staufen’s ears and disappeared into thin air.

He was stroking his mustache while looking at a chessboard. On one side lay a book titled [Chess Problem Solving], and the chess pieces were arranged as shown in the book’s illustrations. A huge horn as if transplanted from a bull’s, and a languid face that didn’t match it.

A long mustache that stirred an urge to play with it

His face was bright red, and his body was more optimized for enjoying comfortable pleasures than for combat. He moved his hand holding a chess piece back and forth in the air. The movement seeking the correct answer soon staggered and ended with throwing the piece into a basket.

Staufen said:

“I see. Good work. It would have been nice if they had killed, but they couldn’t.”

“There are rumors circulating that the hero was injured…”

“I don’t believe such rumors.”

When Staufen spoke firmly, the soldier shuddered and stood at attention. He scanned the soldier, twitching his thick eyebrows. The soldier was of demon origin. Born in the dark demon realm, he had lived dedicating his loyalty only to the Demon King, believing that demons were the strongest.

Staufen was not originally of demon origin. He was a nobleman from another world that the demons had invaded. Because the enemies were strong and his allies were ridiculously weak, Staufen chose to betray. The demons favored Staufen, who defected with all sorts of information, and he was recognized for his excellence even among powerful demon officers, finally becoming one of the six commanders.

He too believed that demons were the strongest.

And he believed it was natural to follow the strong. He thought there was no error in his choice to betray his homeland and follow the demons.

“Soldier.”

“Yes! Lord Staufen!”

“What do you think about Kerberos?”

A female warrior who attacked Daemon and fled to the human kingdom, then saw through the demon army’s feint operation and drowned one commander in a naval battle. But her brilliant achievements were not properly evaluated, overshadowed by the two words of betrayal.

The demons were reluctant to openly mention Kerberos’ name, and Kerberos’ family was branded as a family of traitors, their prestige diminished. Rumors said that the head of the Lucifer family was grinding his teeth, saying he would kill Kerberos himself, but this was completely irrelevant to Staufen.

“Uh, well…”

And the soldier, who had nothing to do with Kerberos’ betrayal, froze at the sudden question. After pondering for a moment, the soldier uttered the orthodox view.

“A traitor is just a traitor.”

“That’s right. A traitor is just a traitor. History will probably attach the four characters meaning ‘foolish’ before Kerberos’ name. Isn’t it really foolish? To jump into the human kingdom in the face of this powerful demon army, to throw away the chance to live comfortably for a lifetime as the Demon King’s daughter-in-law and point a sword at her own family.”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“It must be so.”

Staufen said. His assertion confused the soldier and made the adjutant tilt his head. Staufen gripped the armrest of his chair and said:

“Kerberos must be stupid, and the kingdom’s army must be miserable. But too many soldiers have died for that. Even among you, there’s talk that you might lose to the kingdom’s army, isn’t there?”

The soldier shouted in panic:

“Th-there’s no such thing!”

“Is that so? Well, let’s say that’s the case then.”

Staufen, who had been maintaining a serious demeanor, cut off the flow of conversation with a deflated tone. He waved his hand as if shooing away a bug, releasing the tension. The soldier, not even realizing he was sweating, turned and fled the tent like he was escaping.

Before the tent flap had even stopped moving, the adjutant asked:

“What are you going to do?”

Staufen stretched his neck and said:

“The assassination operation was fine even if it failed. Military operations are like climbing stairs. Only those with patience can climb step by step and safely achieve victory. If you try to imitate those who look cool jumping up three steps at a time, you’ll end up tumbling to the ground and breaking bones.”

“The hero’s party will soon return to the front lines.”

“I know. What we need now is not victory. What we need is to show that we weren’t wrong. We can’t stop them from coming, but we can decide where they go.”

“When you say decide…”

Staufen’s desk was piled with reports. He pulled out the reports one by one and read them as he spoke:

“The assassination operation itself is bait. I’ve already sent several demon assassins to various military camps besides that place. Some of them achieved results, and some were caught by mistake and killed. An assassination attempt in the middle of the capital, and assassins harassing military camps. The higher-ups will realize that this war won’t end comfortably unless the assassins are eliminated.”

Staufen’s finger pointed to the map. It was a point that was once used as the Black Society’s stronghold and hideout. But now, a different entity was waiting there, not the Black Society.

“We’ll release information to them. Information that Black Society assassins gather here regularly. Information that one of them was seen leaving this place. They’ll have no choice but to send the hero’s party here.”

“Then, will we send troops there to attack them decisively?”

“No. Sending troops for a surprise attack has too high a chance of failure. Greta is also a brute who killed Bear. We should assume they can’t be dealt with by just a few soldiers.”

Staufen shook his head at the adjutant’s question. The adjutant seemed more curious the longer Staufen delayed his answer. Staufen said:

“Since this war started, what I’ve been doing is gathering information. Farmers persuaded near the border and cowards who voluntarily surrendered. I spread them in cities to scrape together information. What do you think I obtained from the gaps in this information?”

“I don’t know.”

Staufen’s eyes sparkled as he said:

“The precursor to betrayal. The moment they arrive at this cave, the hero’s party will crumble. A small crack. Just a tiny crack can eventually make even a huge dam collapse.”

The adjutant nodded. He couldn’t understand Staufen’s plan, but he decided to trust him. Staufen had always been right. Even when he was disregarded for not being a pure-blooded demon, he was a commander who had proven himself with his abilities.

“Hahahahaha!”

Staufen smiled pleasantly and then started laughing out loud. Staufen’s laughter spread high into the sky. Soldiers outside the tent heard the sound and poked their heads out before returning to their duties. The adjutant, after gauging the situation, started laughing along with Staufen.

“Hahahahaha!”

After laughing for a while, Staufen abruptly stopped and looked at the adjutant.

“…Why are you laughing along?”

“…I thought I should laugh, so I did.”

Staufen snorted at the adjutant’s words and started laughing again, like an engine starting up. The sight of his nostrils flaring and even his mustache twitching was so un-demon-like that it naturally induced laughter.

The adjutant started laughing along with Staufen again. Seeing the adjutant laugh again, Staufen shouted:

“You really are a funny guy! Hahahahaha!”

“Hahahahaha!”

The gradually increasing laughter became one, and stars were shining in the sky.

Staufen thought while laughing.

That he wasn’t wrong.

That the hero’s party would also have no choice but to betray, just like him.