Ch.14Hero Esmeralda (3)

# Hero Esmeralda (3)

[Note: Feeling good.]

Suspicious.

That was Esmeralda’s conclusion as she monitored Lug recently.

Her eyes could reveal the psychology of others, but not with perfect accuracy.

Therefore, unless Lug was actively thinking about why he was feeling good, she couldn’t know the exact reason.

In other words, she could only read surface-level thoughts. Still, it was convenient for seeing through those who approached her with ulterior motives, but that was the limit.

“Lug, is something going on? You seem to be in a good mood lately.”

“Huh? Oh, ahem! Of course! We’re all together and on the move, so I can’t help but feel good.”

Lug gave an exemplary answer.

[Note: Feeling good about the operation that will be carried out soon.]

That exemplary answer was even more so for Esmeralda.

Indeed, asking directly seemed to bring more surface thoughts to mind.

Esmeralda agreed with him and organized her thoughts.

‘Yes, it’s about time he started pulling something.’

Esmeralda shuddered.

Too many causalities were entangled around this one demon, Lug.

She couldn’t even guess when the situation had become so complicated. But one thing was certain: if they lost Lug now, the hero party would disintegrate.

In the worst case, people like Millia might go berserk.

Having confirmed that possibility again in the fortress city, Esmeralda had to be cautious.

“Ah! Sniff!”

“…?”

Esmeralda noticed that Lug, who had been grinning happily just moments ago, suddenly started squeezing out tears.

‘What is that crazy bastard doing now?’

It was a suspicious situation by anyone’s standards. He seemed to be planning something, and this was the perfect way to get caught.

“Lug, what’s wrong? Are you okay? Stop! Don’t cry.”

However, Eirene Saintess was already comforting him, patting his back as if that was her priority.

[Note: Happily anticipating whatever nonsense Lug is about to say.]

‘That bitch… Even at a time like this, she only thinks about herself.’

Anyway, they had no conscience.

Esmeralda was irritated seeing how Eirene was clearly trying to gain Lug’s favor rather than questioning the situation.

Was she the only one in the hero party who genuinely wanted to save the world?

“Lug, are you okay?”

And there was another person with a similar mindset to Eirene.

Esmeralda tensed at the strangely flowing atmosphere.

‘Is no one questioning this?’

A bizarre situation where everyone seemed to be helping Lug with his scheme.

“I miss my hometown.”

“…”

Now, of all times?

After not even glancing in that direction all this time?

Esmeralda almost blurted out such words, but she held back, playing the role of the righteous, kind-hearted, but foolish hero.

“I know. My hometown is already in ruins. But I want to see even just the traces with my own eyes. The more I realize death lately, the more I feel this way.”

“Oh my… We must have been too insensitive. Hero.”

“…”

Eirene grinned and subtly took Lug’s side, creating difficulties for Esmeralda. She was simply enjoying the situation.

She was just looking forward to seeing how Esmeralda would navigate this situation.

‘Ah, I should be careful. The hero seems to have the ability to read minds.’

[Brainwashing Lv. 32]

Eirene manipulated her surface thoughts.

And she portrayed herself as just an adolescent girl trying to score points with Lug.

“Could I please go see my hometown just once?”

“Hero…”

Esmeralda broke into a cold sweat as she listened to Lug’s scheme and Eirene’s fanning of the flames. The justification was too good.

She could somehow deflect his talk about retiring, but she couldn’t stop actions like this.

No, if she forced it, she might manage somehow, but she couldn’t prevent the retirement declaration that would follow.

The hero party often acted independently as it was.

In such a situation, it was impossible to control only Lug’s movements.

Until now, there had been no need to send him anywhere since his hometown (self-proclaimed) was already destroyed, but this reason was different.

‘I couldn’t stop the flow.’

Originally, she should have blocked such a flow before it started. But the problem was that Eirene had joined in.

Millia was also sympathizing with Lug, but Millia, who was basically poor at conversing with people, couldn’t be held responsible for this.

Esmeralda was disgusted as she looked at Eirene, who was now staring at her with teary eyes.

‘That crazy woman is good at squeezing out tears too.’

Of course, despite the situation, she didn’t forget to manage her expression as a hero.

“Of course. That’s fine. Lug, I’ll escort you to your hometown, and let’s try to shake off your regrets and look forward, okay?”

She would only indulge such schemes once. Esmeralda subtly conveyed this meaning to Lug.

“Thank you! Thank you so much, Hero! Sniff!”

“…”

And so, Hero Esmeralda walked into the trap.

***

Night, during the watch hours with a simple camp set up.

Esmeralda thought while leaving Tina, who was dozing off beside her, alone.

‘The information I’ve extracted while pretending to worry about Lug for days is threefold.’

First, Lug’s goal is to temporarily split the hero party.

Indeed, their companions’ time wasn’t cheap enough to accompany him to check on his hometown.

Therefore, Lug’s goal would likely be achieved. Even if they didn’t want to separate from Lug, the opinions of the groups behind them would differ.

And second.

After reducing the number of hero party members as much as possible, he would implement an escape plan similar to before.

This wasn’t a problem.

They had been able to dramatically get Lug back in a similar situation before.

Back then, they were lucky enough to take down a colonel-level officer with minimal effort.

And third.

All these plans were orchestrated by a major general from the Demon King’s Army Operations Staff Department, a woman named Lilith.

Esmeralda didn’t know exactly who Lilith was, but given her position and her name, which seemed more thoughtful than other demons, she had to be wary.

Most demon names were carelessly given. That was a characteristic of demons who lacked parental affection.

But having such a thoughtful name meant they were of noble origin among demons.

In reality, demons didn’t have a nobility system, but due to the diversity of their species, such classifications arose.

After all, one couldn’t lump together mere goblins or kobolds with high-ranking demons like vampires.

‘If a noble-class demon has directly established a plan, there’s a high probability that troops of matching quality will be deployed.’

A plan similar to before.

But if the quality of the deployed troops is different, Esmeralda would also be in danger.

“Huh?! Oh, no!”

“…Tina, did you have a dream?”

Esmeralda looked at Tina, who had woken up with sleep talk, with drowsy eyes.

She seemed to have had a nightmare, given the cold sweat she was dripping.

“Ah, sorry for dozing off…”

“It’s okay. It happens when you’re tired. After all, you took care of finding the campsite and exploring the surroundings. I understand. …But what did you dream about?”

“Umm, I’m anxious to even say this. In my dream, you and Lug were stabbed to death by a terrible demon… Will it be okay? You’re going alone to take Lug to his hometown this time.”

“…I didn’t say I’d go alone. Everyone just said they were busy.”

Esmeralda felt ominous.

Tina had good intuition. It was even more unsettling because her dreams often came true.

“Be careful, Esmeralda.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Esmeralda smiled brightly.

Of course, she was burning inside. The only thing she could hope for was that the enemy’s goal was to recapture Lug.

‘There’s also a chance it’s just a bad dream.’

Esmeralda hoped that was the case.

***

The commander of the Demon King’s Army 11th Corps.

Eleven was meeting with Lilith, who had been parachuted in.

Since his slip of the tongue, Demon King Belphegor had pettily excluded Eleven from meetings.

“You’re telling me to go rescue a mere junior officer?”

“Then will you give up? The Demon King’s will is firm.”

Lilith had offered Eleven an opportunity.

“Ha! You’re taking me too lightly.”

“Are you saying you can’t do it?”

“Can’t do it? Are you seriously asking? Do I look like I fear a mere human hero?”

“Then go on a vacation. By the time you return, the Demon King will be calling for you again.”

“…”

In reality, Lilith was confident.

Belphegor had probably already erased Eleven from his mind.

But if Lilith suggested that forgiving him would be helpful for work, he would eventually call him back.

Of course, that would only be possible after he corrected his mistake.

‘The justification is sufficient.’

Lilith looked at Eleven with the image of a cold and ruthless commander that other demons looked up to.

Although she was confident she could make him burst into tears with a single punch, her acting was flawless.

‘Indeed, is this what it means to be of the Demon King’s bloodline? He doesn’t even blink in front of me.’

‘Please! Please! Please! Please!’

If she couldn’t resolve this matter, Lilith would lose everything she had built up. That desperation raised her acting to another level.

“Hmph! Then I’ll see for myself and decide. If that person is just trash not worth saving, I’ll personally dispose of him!”

“Do as you wish. But surely… you will like him.”

Lilith uttered baseless nonsense, dropping Lug into hell.