episode_0039
by fnovelpiaWhen the formal meeting ended after 30 minutes, the nobles dispersed.
Some tried to talk to Durin, but they did not dare to speak out to him, who still had strong authority even though he had stepped down from his position as regent.
Durin was able to leisurely leave Daejeon and arrive at the office. As soon as he sat down, he immediately received the report from the guard captain.
“The warlords centered around Killahal are largely located in the west. Their number reaches forty thousand, and although their level of armament is lower than that of the Dullahan, they are considered to be a considerable force when viewed as a noble private soldier.”
It was clear just by looking at the volunteers who immediately gathered in front of the castle.
That was the number of troops they sent up instead of protecting their hometown. There’s definitely more to hide. There was no way that those who once controlled and shook the Demon King could barely remain at that level.
“Was there any clue about the special type of military unit?”
“Most of them were infantry, but traces of farms were found in some territories.”
“Realistically, it would be impossible to raise a horse, so it would be a place to raise warhorses.”
“Yes. Considering the scale, it would be possible to train about 1,000 cavalry. It’s a small number, so don’t worry.”
“ Rather than worry, I feel embarrassed about disloyalty. This means that a demon other than the castle is raising a large army.”
“I think the Sentai Demon Lord escaped well. Otherwise, it would have given the Senate time to grow stronger.”
The guard captain could not hide his discomfort. It was an outrageous act for someone who was always loyal to the castle.
If it had been his original personality, he would have pulled out his sword right away and tried to cut off his head, but Durin was barely able to stop him from doing so.
“What do you want to do? If you raise an army right away, our entire Royal Guard will participate.”
“The coronation ceremony is just around the corner. We have to wait a little longer.”
“Your Excellency. So it is even more necessary. Shouldn’t we at least take action for the young king first?”
“You have to fool the old tiger. It would be better to bring it in a little more.”
Heat rose in Durin’s red eyes.
He, too, was feeling boiling anger, just like the guard captain. However, I was patient for a while for the greater good.
The time for revenge will come soon.
“Guard Captain. From now on, meet with the electors of each continent and spread the word about the banquet.”
First, make a board.
When the Senate and other high-ranking devils were distracted by the coronation, they had to make things up.
“It will be effective if you also say that you will be there in person. The current power of the Demon King is mine, so I cannot refuse it.”
“Are you targeting that time to capture me? Those traitors!”
The excited captain of the guard clenched his fists and shouted. The patience I had barely been able to endure was slightly loosened.
That’s why Durin held the reins tightly.
“Avoid emotional behavior.”
“… … .”
“I will not stand by and watch anything that gets ruined due to rash actions.”
Because he was loyal and had a strong sense of action, the possibility of leaks was high. The guard captain, who was well aware of this, hastily bowed his head.
“Sorry. Your Excellency.”
“I wish I knew. Just leave now.”
“I will act a little more carefully.”
It didn’t end well. The captain of the guard went out, blaming himself.
“You can use me for this kind of work… .”
Verdia, who was quietly carrying out his guard duty in a corner, muttered. A voice filled with jealousy was sent to the position of the disappeared guard captain.
“I will go to the southern nobles. Aurela and I are close friends, so it will work even better.”
“It’s useless. There is no need to talk nonsense to those who already support me.”
It was a single knife. When Durin came out decisively, Verdia was left speechless.
-This is not it.
The embarrassment that he couldn’t bear to express was evident on his face. Durin answered as he organized the report on the table.
“The southern part is under the direct jurisdiction of the province. They are not people to participate in the banquet, but comrades who must work together with us.”
“Do you distinguish between enemies and allies?”
“There is no friend or enemy. Those who obey and those who do not obey. It is necessary to educate foolish people who cannot accept the rule of sex.”
Durin put the reports aside. He stood up.
“Verdia. Preliminary work is needed for that, and you will be put to great use in that work.”
The jealousy was short-lived. Verdia immediately smiled brightly at Durin’s words and knelt before him.
“I will take you there. Your Excellency!”
“Don’t talk nonsense, just follow me. I will lead.”
“I will do as you ask!”
… …
A garden where you can see the clear sky.
The place Durin was heading to was a shelter.
“What’s going on?”
Serpin, who had fled from the nobles, was there.
The flower garden that bloomed near the drawing room used to be a refuge for the children of nobles. It seemed that the young devil had also come to rest.
If someone were to see this scene, they might just see it as an immature escape… .
“Is this related to the coronation schedule?”
The voice is more mature than before.
I had only experienced the battlefield once, which I had to experience as a demon, but that seemed to be enough.
The agony that a king must reflect on every time was in the eyes of the young devil. The frustration that only those who have looked into themselves can have was subtly revealed.
Still, he didn’t show it. Is he putting up with it because he was the heir to the throne?
Hoping for that, Durin walked to the center of the garden.
“It came about because I wanted to say something rather than a coronation ceremony.”
“What do you want to say?”
It was an unexpected statement. Serfin looked at Durin in surprise. At the same time, I tried to guess its meaning.
While Serfin shook his head furiously, Durin passed the young demon and advanced deeper into the space. It was a place I didn’t usually wander around because it was lined with a forest of poles.
It felt like so many heads were watching me, but what could I do as Durin continued to advance? Serpin forced his numb legs to move and followed him.
The place we arrived at was a landscape we had never seen before.
“This place….”
“It’s a quiet place where war-mad demons don’t visit.”
There was a tombstone standing firmly among the corpses. Because he wasn’t tall, he felt small, so it was difficult to see him from the outside. It was clearly in a good state of preservation as it was away from the outside world. The letters that Durin touched with his fingertips were clearly visible.
[Caldrago del Istria]
[The great green-horned conqueror and the last demon king who fought against the angels.]
At that moment, Serpin opened his eyes wide.
I couldn’t help but be surprised to see with my own eyes traces of the Istrian dynasty, which had only been recorded in history.
“Wasn’t the Green Horn Dynasty ousted? They must have gone into erasing traces…”
“This is the place to kill traitors. It is an honorable place for those who see it, but a shameful place for those who lose their lives.”
“……..”
“The Senate deliberately saved it. It’s like recording the history of victory in your own way.”
The moment Serpin heard those words, he clenched his teeth. The anger that could not be hidden was expressed through the twisted corners of the mouth.
“Why. Did they do this? It makes no sense to treat a demon lord who fought an angel as a traitor and abandon him.”
“The horn colors are different. It means that they were rivals who fought for power. To the Senate, anyone who touches their territory is an enemy worse than an angel.”
Durin took his hand off the tombstone. At the same time, history flows out of his mouth.
“The powerful Demon King wanted absolute authority, and nobility was an obstacle. Serpin. What is the role of the Senate?”
“It is an institution that assists the king in decision-making and ensures that the castle’s control spreads over a large area.”
“Istria wanted the king to control even that. If the Senate, the head of the nobles, wanted to maintain its previous power, it had to pay a correspondingly large tax.”
“… The backlash was bound to be severe.”
“The problem was that the only way to suppress the dissatisfaction from generation to generation was through my own power. The Demon King’s army, organized according to tradition, was still divided according to horn color and faction, so it was not the Demon King’s limbs.”
“This is something I also know. So, I learned that the Demon King created a black army and used it as a new means to keep the nobles in check.”
Durin shook his head at Serpin’s answer.
“It was known that way in the world, but the Black Army was warriors to fight angels. The Demon King was as arrogant as he was powerful, so he thought he could defeat the high-ranking nobles on his own.
“The result is the current Demon King Castle.”
Serpin smiled bitterly.
Because he had great power, he led the Demon World to its heyday, but since that power did not extend to the successor, he became a monster that ate the future.
The young devil took a step forward and faced the tombstone.
“The king with tremendous achievements ultimately fell in his later years due to misjudgment. That’s what I think when I see things like this. Will I, who is weaker than him, be able to lead the Demon World well?”
I asked Durin, who was standing side by side.
“Just before the birth of a foolish king who has no power and is swayed by nobles. Is there still a reason to believe in me?”
“Possibility.”
“I’m not sure what you saw, but all I can see is a dark road ahead. I feel like I’m blind because I can’t even find a trace.”
Complaints continued. Serpin’s eyes were filled with earnestness.
“So please let me know. What do you really want?”
“… … .”
“Duty to protect? It doesn’t matter who the Demon King is, so it’s a secondary issue. Why I must become king. I want to know the price of your efforts to build up your cause by seeking the consent of other continents.”
The days when we were rivals for the throne and enemies have faded. The long-desired throne was getting closer, but as he sat down and the discomfort only increased, the young devil wanted to hear an answer. I tried to make that unclear certainty clear.
“Symbolism. A being that allows the devil to accept death. If I become a king like that, will I have fulfilled my duty?”
“If that were the reason, they would have created a religion, not a throne.”
Was that feeling conveyed?
Durin faced Serpin properly.
“You have not yet realized your power. Even those around me don’t know yet. Only I could find you.”
“I don’t understand. It’s a power I don’t know about.”
“You will find out soon. If you come to this place at the same time tomorrow, I will make sure you are aware of it.”
Red magic energy wavered. The words that came out of the regent’s mouth became like a whisper in Serpin’s ear.
“Don’t you want to become a true king?”
Serpin instinctively frowned.
It was a feeling similar to ecstasy. But it was different. This could be confirmed because Durin was not cast with any kind of spell.
Instead, it brought out the essential concerns that the young devil had in his heart.
I felt like all my frustrations had been exposed.
But I wasn’t ashamed. It was rather refreshing.
If a strong demon leads her, then surely… .
“Can you really do it?”
“I will lead you.”
Serpin nodded as if fascinated.
Lessons to become a king. There was no reason to reject it.
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