Ch.165Echo – 5

“What on earth was that guy thinking when he pulled this stunt?”

“I don’t know. It’s not like I understand everything going on in Nika’s head.”

I was spending time in Laura’s room at the imperial palace with Laura, Rosaria, Elysier, and Priscilla.

The fact that demons had proposed negotiations first was an unprecedented event in human history, so the Emperor had ordered that everyone deemed trustworthy be gathered together.

From what I’d heard, the Erestica Chairman, the Sword Saint, the heads of each magic tower, and even the hero Leona would be attending.

‘That makes sense. The Succubus Queen herself requested the meeting, after all.’

Considering all the atrocities Astaroth had committed, this reaction was inevitable. It hadn’t even been three months since her plan to devour the entire empire had been exposed, causing a massive uproar.

Nika has the complete opposite personality from Astaroth, and the succubus clan itself has undergone almost a complete turnover after being massacred by Durahan, but nobody except me knows that fact.

And they shouldn’t know it either.

“…But do I really need to attend as well?”

Elysier, sitting there glumly, asked with an awkward expression he couldn’t hide. A slight smile appeared on Laura’s face.

“Of course. You, above all, must be present. Who else could take that seat if not a former Demon King?”

“You speak so freely when it’s not your problem. No need for pretense. Why not just admit outright that you’re doing this to mock me?”

“How did you know? That is indeed the reason. I commend you for pinpointing the truth so accurately, former Demon King.”

“…”

Laura’s one-sided teasing continued, and though Elysier kept growling in response, he couldn’t properly counter her.

As she said, Elysier rightfully shouldn’t be allowed in such a place. Siel, the transfer student at Bellium Academy, was merely an orphan whose status was barely guaranteed thanks to me, not the Demon King Elysier.

The other four all had legitimate reasons to attend. Laura needed no explanation, Rosaria was a saint chosen by the goddess, and Priscilla was the sole heir to House Agnes, which was reason enough.

The same applied to me. I had the full support of the Sword Saint, the Chairman, and the magic tower heads, and even the Emperor himself thought well of me.

Only Elysier lacked a legitimate reason, but Laura had insisted to the Emperor and secured permission for his attendance. As she admitted herself, the purpose was simply to tease Elysier.

“Laura, are you there? I’ve come to escort you.”

While the two were bickering, there was a knock at the door followed by the Sword Saint’s voice. Laura and Elysier abruptly fell silent.

After removing the soundproofing spell, I opened the door. The Sword Saint waved in greeting. Behind him, Karna was bowing his head.

He was wearing his usual loose yukata, but I noticed something different. He had a real sword at his right hip instead of a wooden one.

‘It doesn’t seem to be the Dragon Fang sword…’

It didn’t appear to be his personal sword made from a dragon’s fang, but the fact that he had overcome his trauma to this extent was impressive enough.

The Sword Saint, noticing my gaze, smiled awkwardly.

“Now’s not the time to focus on this. Let’s concentrate on the matter at hand. Are you all ready?”

“Yes. We’re ready to depart.”

We all stood up. Laura was the first to follow the Sword Saint, with Priscilla, Rosaria, and Elysier following in order. I was last.

“Have you heard anything about what the succubus is doing?”

I quietly asked Karna who had fallen in step beside me. He thought for a moment before clapping his hands as if remembering something.

“I heard she’s waiting in a specially prepared space. They say she’s being surprisingly quiet and well-behaved.”

“Any other reactions?”

“Some suggested killing her while she’s being so docile, but that idea was scrapped because if the attempt failed and she escaped alive, the consequences would be too severe.”

“…Who suggested that?”

I etched the names that flowed from Karna’s lips into a corner of my heart. Since the idea had been rejected, there would be no need for retaliation, but it didn’t hurt to remember.

It was fortunate in many ways. For me, and for the empire. If Nika were to die like that, I wouldn’t let it slide. At the very least, I would have ensured that everyone who had suggested killing her met the same fate.

“Here we are. We’ll have to part ways now.”

The Sword Saint led most of the Royal Guards along with Laura toward a larger door. We were directed to a relatively smaller one. It was a natural arrangement since we couldn’t receive the same treatment as the Crown Prince in an official setting.

The door to the central hall opened. All the magic tower heads and the Chairman of Bellium Academy, as well as anyone of any significance in the empire, had gathered there.

“…”

As I surveyed the attendees, my eyes met with those of the magic tower heads.

Fortunately, aware that they were in the Emperor’s presence, the magic tower heads only gave me a brief nod instead of making a fuss as they usually would. If they had behaved as they normally did, my situation would have been quite awkward.

—Don’t forget.

The Chairman, seated closest to the throne after the Crown Prince, saw me, blushed slightly, and mouthed something. Elysier, who wouldn’t miss such a thing, poked me repeatedly in the back.

Leona, seated next to the Chairman, waved at me slightly. Since she was alone, it seemed Aria hadn’t been allowed to enter. That made sense, as Aria was now just an ordinary academy student.

After all, we had claimed the achievements and positions that should have originally gone to Aria.

Next, Laura entered, and the Sword Saint took the seat on the other side of the Chairman. Given the circumstances, it seemed they wanted to skip the complicated ceremonies.

“The Sun of the Empire—”

However, they couldn’t skip the ceremony for the Emperor, so a long speech of praise followed. Soon after, the Emperor appeared, looking truly imperial and solemn, completely different from when he had met with me alone.

“Has everyone arrived?”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Good. Send the Red Tower Head to bring in that demon.”

“I will—”

“That won’t be necessary. I have already arrived.”

A solemn and dignified voice, interrupting the Red Tower Head, echoed through the hall.

It was Nika’s voice, but not the usual dull and slightly dim-witted tone I was familiar with. It was closer to Elysier’s manner of speaking—dignified and formal.

Soon after, a figure appeared in the center of the hall as if emerging from a fog.

‘…Is that really Nika?’

Unlike her usual barely-there attire, she was completely covered from head to ankle, wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a veil, not showing an inch of skin. Even her tail was hidden under her clothes, leaving only her lips and the immediate area around them exposed. She was less revealing than in her Yustera maid uniform.

As soon as Nika appeared, a pink mist spread around her. People touched by the mist swayed with dreamy eyes.

Only the Sword Saint, the Chairman, Leona, Elysier, and I remained unaffected after inhaling it. Noticing the mist, the Sword Saint gripped his sword with a cold expression. I cast a spell.

A magic that dispelled status ailments covered the entire central hall. People who had been swaying with half-glazed eyes returned to their senses.

“…!!!!!!”

The magic tower heads, realizing what had just happened was magic, looked at me as if they were about to foam at the mouth, but given the situation, they could only stamp their feet in place without daring to approach.

“Should we take that as a declaration of war?”

The Sword Saint growled in a tone and voice completely different from his usual self. His left hand was gripping and releasing the handle of the sword at his waist. A terrible killing intent permeated the area.

“I apologize. It was not my intention. What just happened is equivalent to exhaling for humans, but I never imagined such a minor act would cause harm. It was my mistake. I will try harder to control my breathing in the future.”

It wasn’t 100% false, but it wasn’t 100% true either.

The mist that had just appeared was definitely intentional. The truth was that the power contained in it was only equivalent to exhaling. She seemed to have done it to establish dominance from the start.

“Very well. I will accept that. But remember, there will not be a second chance for patience. Sword Saint, please calm yourself.”

At the Emperor’s words, the Sword Saint released the handle he had been gripping. Both hands disappeared into his loose sleeves. It seemed he hadn’t completely overcome his trauma.

“So. You said you wanted a truce?”

“That’s right. Succubi will not attack humans, and in return, humans will not attack succubi. Of course, if both parties are willing, some ‘interaction’ would be possible. I don’t think such individual exchanges would be considered attacks, would they?”

Since it was obvious what the Succubus Queen meant by “interaction,” there were sounds of throat-clearing from various corners. Throat-clearing tinged with a hint of anticipation.

“I am an exception to interaction targets, so don’t harbor any foolish thoughts. If anyone does, I’ll pluck out their eyes.”

“I wouldn’t have done so from the beginning.”

The Emperor snorted.

“Why should I accept your proposal? I remember clearly what your kind has done. The empire was nearly overthrown. And now you come offering a truce?”

There seemed to be quite a few people who had lost family or relatives or suffered hardships due to succubi, as the nobles affirmed in unison. Nika, undeterred, countered again.

“The previous Queen, Astaroth, who plotted that incident, is dead. Almost all the succubi who helped her in that scheme are also dead. I have succeeded to the position of Queen, and I have no connection whatsoever to Astaroth’s plots. That’s why I’m extending this hand. Isn’t that explanation sufficient?”

“You are still of the same succubus clan. To say you have no connection at all is an exaggeration.”

“Then you too can bear the sins of previous emperors. Tell me, would you accept the sins of previous emperors as your own? If not, what difference is there between my succession to Astaroth’s position and your succession to the previous emperor’s that makes you refuse?”

“…”

The Emperor’s brow twitched slightly. He apparently hadn’t expected such a rebuttal. Nika, as if anticipating this, changed the subject.

“You must be curious about my purpose in making this proposal. Everyone here must be. I will now explain the reason. The reason I am proposing this truce to you is…”

All eyes in the central hall focused on Nika. The Emperor who had been furrowing his brow, the Sword Saint, the Chairman, the magic tower heads, various nobles, and even us transmigrators.

I couldn’t help but wonder why Nika had suddenly done this. In fact, knowing Nika’s usual personality made the situation even more puzzling.

“…because the Demon King is dead.”

In that moment, a chilling silence fell over the central hall.