Ch.125Victory Conditions (8)

Victory Condition (8)

Even in the outside world, people know what Legion Commander Six is.

The former Master of Cadaver Magic Tower.

The existence of Despair Undertaker is inevitably a hot potato even within the magic towers. It’s only natural—a Magic Tower Master who betrayed humanity and sided with the Demon Lord’s army.

However, the Seven Great Magic Towers brazenly drew a line regarding their relationship with Despair Undertaker.

They drew a line by referring to him strictly as the “former” Magic Tower Master.

But people didn’t know.

That the brazen face the Magic Tower put on…

“How are the other Tower Masters these days? I’ve been so busy with matters here that it’s been difficult to meet them.”

“Same as always.”

Was much thicker than they thought.

He wasn’t a former Magic Tower Master but still the de facto power behind Cadaver Magic Tower. The person currently sitting in the Tower Master’s seat was merely his puppet.

He simply wanted to pursue truth while avoiding the Empire’s eyes.

“If I see them later, I’ll send your regards. Millia.”

“Yes, Master.”

And the fact that Despair Undertaker was the actual master of Cadaver Magic Tower was known to the other Tower Masters as well. Didn’t they all gather for a meeting when he took Millia as his disciple?

“How have you been lately, Master?”

“Same as always. I’m still far from reaching the Secret Origin.”

Yes, the Seven Great Magic Towers were never on anyone’s side from the beginning.

They were simply located in Imperial territory because most of them happened to be human.

“Still, this side seems closer to the Secret Origin, I must say.”

For those who sought to transcend humanity, distinctions between good and evil were meaningless from the start.

Yes, they followed only truth.

“Though it seems distant now, someday we’ll be able to get our hands on the Demon Lord’s corpse as well. So keep up your strength.”

“…”

“The Hero’s corpse—I hope we can definitely secure it this time. I’m looking forward to future research.”

They love magic and love those whom magic loves.

But that’s all.

They saw the world differently from others.

“Then I’ll be counting on you, Millia.”

They lacked human hearts.

***

After her brief reunion with Despair Undertaker, Millia had returned inside the fortress city.

Normally it wasn’t a place one could freely enter and exit, but as a member of the Hero’s party, she could.

After all, it’s called a fortress because you can set who is allowed to pass through.

Typically, one would need to plant spies inside to conquer such a place, but few demons possessed such intelligence.

And only fortress city commanders or high-ranking Imperial nobles could set the entry criteria, making it virtually impossible for demons to take control of fortress cities by any means other than brute force.

That’s why Legion Commander Six, who hadn’t received permission, couldn’t enter.

That’s why Millia, as an authorized member of the Hero’s party, could freely come and go.

…And that’s why the Imperial soldiers, authorized by the upper echelons who were rushing to purge Fellheim Senova, had the right to freely enter the fortress city.

“Millia!!”

And Esmeralda, without the slightest thought about such matters, shouted with concern as she ran toward Millia, who was trudging back.

“Esmeralda.”

“Are you okay? Nothing happened, right? What were you thinking going outside the fortress city?!”

“I’m fine.”

Millia answered with her usual expressionless face in front of the fussing Esmeralda. However, she couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Esmeralda worrying so much about her.

‘Esmeralda is my friend.’

A warm feeling sprouting in her heart.

‘She’d make a good experimental subject if she died.’

The impure purpose that still remained.

Millia didn’t understand the distinction between good and evil between these two thoughts.

To her, Esmeralda was a good friend while alive and an experimental subject when dead.

That line was so clearly drawn that she didn’t know it was wrong.

A catastrophic lack of humanity and social skills born from being raised under those who understood human emotions only through books, like the Magic Tower Masters.

That’s why Millia didn’t know.

‘Yes, Esmeralda is definitely my friend.’

That in the current situation, those two purposes could never align.

***

“I’m going to trust my comrade.”

Esmeralda didn’t interrogate Millia. While she considered Millia’s impulsive personality troublesome, she didn’t think she would betray them.

As long as it didn’t involve Lug, Millia was a trustworthy friend.

That trust was precisely the justice that Esmeralda, who could freely read others’ memories, needed to maintain.

However, even she could tell something was off about Millia’s condition.

“Mr. Lug.”

“Yes, Hero?”

“Go find out what Millia is thinking.”

“Didn’t you just say you trust your comrades?”

“I do. That’s why I’m using you to investigate behind her back instead of doing it myself. I never suspected Millia, and it was you who coincidentally became suspicious and investigated her, then reported back to me.”

“Impressive, Hero. You’ve developed behavior patterns similar to Imperial nobles.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Of course not. It’s an insult. Honestly, I just felt a bit of contempt.”

“I appreciate your honesty.”

“You’re welcome.”

Unusually, Esmeralda neither hit nor yelled at Lug.

She knew well that what she was trying to do stemmed from suspicion.

“Actually, I don’t really care for justice.”

“But you’re the Hero of Justice.”

“Who cares? People make different choices at different times. How can you live making the same choice all the time?”

“That’s surprisingly philosophical. I’m seeing you in a new light.”

“Don’t see me in a new light.”

“Understood.”

Esmeralda neither wanted to receive nor give affection to Lug.

A strictly business relationship.

That was the optimal distance to keep her from getting a headache.

“Then go comfort Millia and cheer her up. If you can’t do it alone, let me know.”

“You should have said that from the beginning.”

“Hmph.”

Esmeralda kicked Lug’s backside to chase him away as he sneered.

Then she briefly recalled Millia’s surface thoughts when she had entered the castle.

[Note: She considers you a precious friend.]

“Geez. This is why people can’t help but be cowardly.”

She wanted to boldly ask who Millia had met and what was wrong with her recent strange behavior.

But seeing thoughts like that made it difficult to bring it up.

Hearing words of suspicion from someone you consider a friend…

‘I wouldn’t like it either.’

***

Lug came to comfort Millia as Esmeralda had instructed.

Esmeralda was an insincere person. Lug privately reached this conclusion with a shrug.

‘She’s just shy.’

What a cute person.

Lug was thinking this but quickly shook his head to clear the thought.

Not now.

If he was going to comfort Millia, he should be thinking only of her during this time.

Well, the thoughts of desire stirring inside him might differ.

For example…

“Oh, oh my. Lug. It’s been a while. Meeting in a place like this. Hmm, hmm.”

“Lady Tina. Indeed. What a coincidence. How fateful.”

“F-fateful? That’s not quite… Ah, I mean, ahem!”

Like wanting to tease the girl who was awkwardly pretending their meeting was coincidental.

Tina was stammering so suspiciously that anyone could tell. And Lug knew why.

‘Lady Tina must be embarrassed since it was so sudden for her.’

Tanha, who dwelled in Tina’s body, had stolen Lug’s lips.

It was an impulsive action, and Tina was caught completely off guard.

But…

‘Ah, damn. I still can’t look her in the face!’

While it was true that Tanha had moved Tina’s body instead of her, the situation changed after she stood on her tiptoes.

Yes, that meant control of the body had returned to Tina.

And Tina had taken one step further even after regaining control. In other words, it was Tina’s will, not Tanha’s, that had kissed Lug.

‘This is how these things usually start. Tina still has a long way to go. Why doesn’t she just do as I say? It would be straightforward.’

‘H-how could I do that!’

Tina yelled at her internal roommate who was sighing as if finding her frustrating.

Her advice was consistently too lewd and suggestive to even look at.

‘Sigh, how frustrating. You did well enough on your own back then.’

Tanha, who only borrowed Tina’s body, still had a conscience.

Stealing someone’s first kiss was too cruel.

So she had only given a push, leaving the decision to Tina.

“Um… well… it’s been a while, right? Lug.”

“Indeed. It’s been 15 minutes.”

“Ah, hahaha…”

Lug accepted Tina’s awkwardness with a natural attitude.

He even wore a warm smile as if finding her cute.

Under Lug’s gaze, Tina covered her face with both hands and stammered as she continued.

“W-well, you know. That kiss from before… it was my first kiss.”

“Ah! I see. Come to think of it, that would be natural, but I was too inconsiderate.”

“What do you mean by ‘natural’?”

“Haha!”

Tina became serious.

She was speechless at Lug’s declaration that it was obviously her first kiss.

Is that how she appeared?

“A-anyway! Because of that Tanha person, my first kiss wasn’t in the form I wanted!”

A clear fraud.

Tina, who had kissed Lug of her own will, was so unconscionable that she was throwing her roommate under the bus, who was probably still watching from within her.

“So you want me to take responsibility. Would it be alright to do it here?”

“Uh, um… w-well…”

That was correct.

But she never expected him to respond so boldly. Tina, who had planned to use Tanha as an excuse, felt dizzy and cautiously backed away.

“N-not here… somewhere more romantic would be better.”

“I see. That’s unfortunate. Then just this for now.”

Instead, Lug knelt down and kissed the back of her hand.

“Ah, um… I-I have an urgent matter! Esmeralda asked me to do something! Sorry! I’ll go ahead!”

Tina fled the scene, feeling dizzy.

Lug watched her with a smirk.

He had long forgotten his pledge to think only of Millia right now.