76 – Report, Good News, Bad News

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,Damn it, that’s too cheap.”

“Are you writing it now?”

Ellie’s request to prevent harm to innocent civilians was, in fact, perfectly reasonable and natural.

Rather, the fact that I was rejecting that request because I didn’t want my actions to be restricted, and because I didn’t want to make promises I couldn’t keep, clearly made me a son of a bitch.

But to think that after all that deliberation, what she came up with was just a playful wish-granting bet.

I looked at Ellie’s face and said.

“You said you had a separate mission to entrust to me, but you’re just going to use it for something like this?”

“I originally had other plans for it too, but I’ll give them up.”

“Just that playful wish-granting bet. What are you going to do if I don’t keep it?”

“As I said before, I’m looking for a trustworthy ally. Even a playful bet is a bet. If you don’t keep it, I’ll become your enemy. A difficult enemy with the status of an Imperial Princess who knows your secrets.”

“Ha,”

Honestly, it was a little funny.

Ellie was threatening to become my enemy and all that, but seeing her trying to put a leash on me by mentioning childish wishes, it was clear that I was the one holding the knife in this negotiation.

Even in a cooperative relationship, from Ellie’s perspective, I, an undead being harboring the Demon King, might seem like an uncontrollable beast that could jump anywhere, just sitting quietly for a moment.

Ellie would want to put a leash on me while I’m still quiet.

Because if I started acting like a madman, it would be like holding the lives of the entire Empire’s population hostage.

Of course, I have no intention of openly screwing over Ellie, my benefactor and the Empire’s princess, in front of Master-nim, but she, who cares for her people, can’t just leave a dangerous element like me alone.

Especially now that actual damage has occurred.

No, wait a minute.

I didn’t kill them, Lara did?

No, it’s probably the same to Ellie.

I glanced at Lara.

Lara was still holding her head stiffly.

The reason Lara gave for killing the guard sounds plausible at first, but it doesn’t change the fact that it was an unnecessarily excessive action.

Perhaps Ellie thought that I was the only one who could control Lara.

The bet may have been playful, but the current situation is not playful at all, so I had to choose.

Whether to reject the request, taking the risk of antagonizing Ellie.

Or to accept it, even if it hinders my revenge.

Ironically, what came to mind amidst that 고민 (gomin, worry) was Lily, who wasn’t here right now, probably still sleeping without a care in the world.

‘Please don’t get used to cruelty. Please don’t become insensitive to taking innocent lives.’

For some reason, that earnest request Lily made to me the day I left Dena to get hurt remained in my mind for a long time.

Lara and Lily, who had been unknowingly trying to soothe my burning desire for revenge since meeting me after I woke up in the Demon King’s castle.

Honestly, spending everyday life with those two, my anger did gradually subside a little without me even realizing it.

Of course, every time something happened involving Robin, the anger that flared up again like crazy would freeze my heart, and every time, I would swear that I would move forward with my revenge no matter what,

But Lara and Lily, and now even Mena and Master-nim, the people who are trying to give me a normal life, might have changed me a little.

Looking at it from that perspective, Ellie was in a slightly unique position among the people who knew my identity.

My companions all had slightly different attitudes towards me.

Lara wants to be by my side no matter what choice I make, and Lily wants to give me a peaceful life.

Mena hates Robin terribly but only wants to help me and has no particular opinion on revenge, and Banata is probably too busy dealing with Rose inside her body, so let’s skip her.

Master-nim is someone who respects my choices and gives me the image of myself from 20 years ago in this world where everything has changed after 20 years.

Ellie is the only one who is the most active sympathizer and collaborator in my revenge.

She was someone who encouraged my revenge while also adjusting me so that she and the Empire wouldn’t be harmed.

I nodded slightly.

There’s no reason to stubbornly oppose innocent victims, even if everyone else, including the person who most actively agrees with my revenge, is against it.

I answered.

“Okay. I lost.”

＊

After the answer I gave after a long thought, the atmosphere at the table rapidly eased, and a peaceful and friendly atmosphere returned.

Ellie took out her staff from her sleeve and cast magic on the door that was broken by Deborah’s kick, fixing it with an awkward smile.

Just at that timing, Lily, who had been sleeping until now, yawned and opened the bedroom door.

Lily, with her hair disheveled, sleep in her eyes, and generally unkempt appearance, saw the room full of people and, as if struck by static electricity, raised her hair and ran back into the bedroom in surprise.

Thanks to that, we all chuckled and continued to enjoy the excellent tea that Mena had made.

Ellie put down her teacup and opened her mouth, looking at me.

“Ah, Ed. I have a few things to tell you.”

“News?”

“Of course, I was angry, but the Empire’s princess can’t just come and go from the room of a foreign tycoon staying at a hotel without any justification. What kind of rumors would spread?”

“Yeah, justification.”

“Of course, this isn’t something that can be resolved with simple justification.”

“Hmm?”

Ellie held out her index, middle, and ring fingers to me, opening her mouth.

“One report, one good news, one bad news. Which do you want to hear first?”

“The report first.”

Ellie nodded.

“It seems your and Lara-nim’s plan worked properly. After Jennifer’s death, rumors are spreading quickly that the Hero family is related to the Demon King.”

“Even though it was last night?”

“Of course, it’s just rumors within the Imperial Palace, but politicians are always quick to hear gossip.”

“Robin must be quite troubled.”

“Yeah, Robin is currently explaining that everything was Jennifer’s sole decision, but he’s being criticized for whether that makes sense. He’ll be too busy to handle his duties as the Knight Commander for a while.”

“It’s a ridiculous story, but Robin really didn’t know anything.”

“Don’t tell me, do you feel sorry for him?”

“Are you crazy?”

Ellie chuckled.

To think that a member of the Imperial Family would react so casually even after hearing profanity.

Is Ellie a strange person, or is my relationship with her strange?

I asked Ellie.

“Then what about the other two?”

“Do you want to hear the good one first?”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

“I found a mansion for Baron Salvier to live in.”

“Oh, now that you mention it.”

“Mena-ssi selected three candidates, and I recommended two. Out of the five in total, I’ve preemptively secured the one that could be purchased with my personal assets. It’s a secret account, so no one will know that the Princess bought it. You’re going in there.”

“What is it? A gift?”

“Oh, I didn’t intend to… Yeah. Let’s do that. Let’s say it’s a gift for Ed.”

“Oh, what’s this? What’s the occasion?”

“What do you mean what’s the occasion? You’re going to have a lot of expenses from now on.”

“Ah,”

I nodded.

Baron Salvier, the mysterious tycoon who has built a reputation in the Empire’s two largest cities, Flavis and Sioland, finally has a mansion.

I intend to unleash a terrifying spending spree to put pressure on Robin’s household.

The finest furniture, rare foods at insane prices.

Social gatherings and balls of insane scale.

Compared to the money I’ll be spending, the mansion price is a trivial level.

If I spend money according to my plan, the Baron’s wealth, which never seems to decrease, will be depleted in three years, but I don’t really care.

My revenge will be over within this year, so I don’t care what happens to the remaining money.

I said with a smile.

“Thanks, Ellie. I’ll put it to good use.”

“It’s too early to thank me, there’s still the last news left. And this is bad news.”

“What is it?”

“His Majesty the Emperor wants to see you.”

Heok

Jjaenggeurang.

Banata’s sound of swallowing in surprise.

And the sound of Mena dropping her teacup.

Turning back to the table, not only those two but also Lara and even Deborah, who rarely showed emotion, were looking at Ellie and me with surprised expressions.

“The Emperor… the 아저씨 (ajeossi, middle-aged man) who used to be the King of Sioland, right? The one who couldn’t do anything in front of his wife but acted all high and mighty,”

“Wow- you’re not going to talk like that in front of His Majesty, are you?”

“But why does that 양반 (yangban, nobleman) want to see me? Don’t tell me you told him about my identity?”

“There’s no way I would,”

“It’s better this way.”

“Ed?”

I recalled what Jennifer had said before she died.

The fact that the Hero party’s adventure was stained with their politics.

The fact that I was put in the party as a pawn to interfere with Villard’s plan from the beginning.

That my life was being played in that person’s palm and ruined by the schemes of that person’s enemy.

So, he wants to see me?

I also had something to ask him.

Lily this, that

Once again, my heart froze coldly, and a bitter smile appeared on my face.

Really, even I think it’s an absurd level of emotional fluctuation.

But what can I do?

The switch for my revenge has already been pulled.

Ellie saw my expression and said in a flustered tone.

“Ed, don’t misunderstand. His Majesty doesn’t know you’re Ed, he wants to see Baron Salvier, who is rescuing the poor.”

“The people must be very happy that that 양반 (yangban, nobleman) is interested in welfare,”

“Ed, please. He’s my father-nim. He’s definitely not Ed’s enemy.”

“I have a responsibility to ask him.”

“What?”

“Did you know? About the reason that 양반 (yangban, nobleman) planted me in the Hero party.”

“…Ah, Ed.”

Ellie’s face turned pale.

It seems she knew too.

“You knew.”

“To be exact, I found out. The day I learned about Ed’s identity, I investigated separately.”

“Then you know well. That I have a responsibility to ask him.”

“Ed, don’t do that. Huh? For my sake, or even for the sake of the cool mansion I’m giving you.”

Ellie tried to get through this situation with jokes and humor, wearing an uneasy smile.

I faced such Ellie and said with a kind smile.

“Don’t worry, there won’t be any civilian casualties as promised.”

“Ed!”

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