Ch.270270. Imperial Palace
by fnovelpia
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A very awkward silence filled my private room.
Well.
It was probably the silence that follows after causing such an emotional torrent among tens of thousands of people on that plain, and then returning through the portal as if fleeing.
“Um… so.”
Even Victoria, who always maintained a cool demeanor, was opening her mouth with an expression of disbelief.
“Is it… really okay not to do anything more…?”
“No. That was enough.”
However, I cut off her words with a shrug.
Truly, what just happened was enough.
The definitive evidence was right before my eyes.
< System Message >
[ You have neutralized most of the ‘Council of Elders’ military forces! ]
[ Most of the affiliated nobles are in disarray. Confusion intensifies in the opposing camp! ]
[ Many have lost their will to fight! ]
In truth, what I did wasn’t much, as the reactions around me showed. I sang a song that deeply moved people.
But looking at the situation objectively.
Against personnel with clearly hostile intentions.
Three unarmed individuals neutralized everyone without engaging in any hostile actions.
Even if you asked those who were present why it happened, they’d probably give the bizarre answer that they simply couldn’t fight.
Therefore.
While the method remains obscured, I’ve made it clear to everyone that I possess the means to neutralize “large-scale forces.”
[-And even groping breasts.]
“…”
[Now the whole continent will know what a scumbag you are.]
“…”
[A-MA-ZING! DAR-WOOD CAMP-BELL!]
Let’s ignore the unnecessary parts.
Anyway, it’s obvious that all sorts of rumors and tales about me will be exaggerated and reproduced. It’s only natural that the Council of Elders’ movements would be restricted.
“Teacher. I understand you’re turning over some grand plan in your head.”
As I continued with these thoughts, Elia, who had been in charge of opening the portal between here and there, interrupted my contemplation.
“…Would you mind explaining what that is?”
Along with those words, Elia pointed to something.
It was the fragment of the Violet Demon that had emerged from Serath’s body and was still floating in the air.
It was clinging to my back as if piggybacking. It seemed to have used a lot of energy from singing that song earlier, as its color was noticeably paler than before.
It must be about to disappear.
“…It’s a demon.”
“…”
After my simple explanation, Elia glared at me as if I was joking.
Her eyes seemed to ask why such a thing had popped out and was playing around with me.
“…It’s fine, somehow.”
How could I explain it?
I’m also in the position of examining the “effects” of the Tacheon Seal one by one as I unlock them. I don’t fully understand the principles either.
“Wait, did you summon that thing, Teacher?”
“I… guess…?”
At least for that part, I could give a vaguely affirmative answer.
“…”
And as soon as she heard that answer.
Elia’s eyes narrowed sharply.
As if she had heard something unpleasant.
“What’s wrong?”
“…It’s nothing.”
While Elia was muttering dimly, Victoria, who was sitting to the side, opened her mouth curtly.
“…I’d prefer not to see it again in the future. It even looks like Serath—”
[Hey.]
And as soon as she heard those words.
The Violet Demon, who had been quietly perched on top of me with wide eyes, spoke up.
It was a sentence uttered without warning, enough to make even Victoria, who had just spoken, show a hint of surprise.
[Sometimes, wouldn’t it be better to be a little honest?]
“…What?”
When Victoria let out a bewildered voice, the Violet Demon continued in a calm voice.
Rarely, instead of its usual mischievous tone, it spoke with an almost adult-like seriousness.
[You’re not really disliking our Serath, you’re just unable to be honest, right?]
“…”
[This big sis can see right through you~]
With those words, the demon suddenly disappeared with a whoosh, seemingly having reached the end of its materialization time.
Victoria’s face filled with even more bewilderment as she watched the other party disappear before she could offer any rebuttal.
If earlier she had been caught off guard because she hadn’t imagined it would speak to her so casually, now she seemed dumbfounded by the actual content of what it said.
“…”
She seems to get pushed around by others quite often.
“…Well, anyway.”
I clear my throat to redirect attention.
“It’s good that we’ve blocked the Council of Elders from fully mobilizing their forces, but we still can’t let our guard down.”
Among the forces gathered on the plain, the most important figures weren’t visible.
Marquis Bogart or Count Nicholas.
The movements of these two biggest obstacles in this chapter are the problem.
“…Come to think of it.”
At this, Elia added with a look of sudden realization.
“There’s definitely something strange about Marquis Bogart recently.”
“…Something strange?”
“There’s been no news at all.”
Elia said with a slight frown.
“…”
What does that mean?
When I looked at her with such an expression, Elia shrugged and continued.
“Since you invaded Count Rebel’s territory, there’s been a continuous series of incidents, so he should be making statements or taking action. But really… that person, the head of the Council of Elders, isn’t doing anything at all.”
“…”
That’s… certainly strange.
I had various expectations about how he might move, but I never thought he would do absolutely nothing like this.
As I was stroking my chin thinking about this, someone flung open the door and entered.
It was Elnore, expressionless as always.
“…Oh, Elnore?”
Before I could ask what was happening, Elnore’s urgent statement cut in.
“Darwood. You need to go out right now. It’s a summons from Chancellor Sullivan.”
“What?”
That person? Now?
What’s suddenly happening?
“There’s information that Marquis Bogart is heading to the imperial palace.”
As soon as I heard those words.
A bitter smile of understanding spread across Elia’s face, and my eyes narrowed.
“He says he has something important to discuss with you about it.”
Ah, I see.
No wonder it’s been so quiet.
●
“…Holy Knight.”
After leaving Darwood’s private room, Elia opened her mouth in a low voice while looking at the holy sword.
“You saw it too, didn’t you?”
Although the angel usually doesn’t appear no matter how much she calls, she was confident of getting an answer now.
After all.
Hadn’t they both just seen ‘that’?
[Ah, you mean him freely controlling another demon?]
“…”
At the voice of the Holy Knight clearly articulating the “uneasiness” she had been vaguely feeling, Elia paused her movement.
“…I’d like to hear your opinion.”
[Opinion or not, you already know, don’t you? It was visible at that school festival or whatever before, and it’s even more certain now.]
A voice flowed out with a yawn, sounding stretched. It seemed deliberately designed to grate on Elia’s nerves.
[He’s already beyond human. And he can’t come back.]
To Elia, who was gritting her teeth, the sentences continued to fall.
[Related to demons… maybe even in the process of becoming a demon itself. And what’s certain is that compared to other demons, he’s definitely of a ‘higher rank.’]
“…”
It should be nonsense.
It’s already known that demons occupy the highest position across all dimensions.
But.
The fact that he materialized a fragment of the Violet Demon means he can ‘interfere’ with demonic power through some channel.
[It might not be to that extent yet, but seeing him exert influence like that, he’ll definitely become something when he’s fully grown. Maybe even a king of demons?]
“…”
[And by then, you know.]
To Elia, who remained silent, the Holy Knight continued in a still languid voice.
However, the emotion hidden beneath the sentences was sharpened more than ever.
[The angels of the Otherworld will try to kill him?]
“…”
[The existence of heroes is originally meant to suppress demons. You know that too, right?]
“…Teacher hasn’t completely turned into a demon yet.”
[I told you. He’s already beyond human? He can’t come back—]
“Holy Knight.”
Elia replied with a smirk.
Clearly.
Regardless of what the other thought, she had no intention of backing down an inch.
“Still, he hasn’t completely become a demon yet, right?”
[…]
“Until it’s certain, leave it at that.”
While maintaining politeness, she was essentially warning the other not to cross the line.
The Holy Knight sighed deeply and opened his mouth again.
[…Sigh. I’ve seen it all now. A human hero daring to talk back to me over some man.]
That’s the truth.
How infatuated must she be to speak this way to one of the highest beings among angels?
“…Well, anyway.”
But to that grumbling, Elia smiled again and replied.
“If that’s a confirmed fact, I have my own thoughts too.”
[Hm?]
“I need to find a way to protect him.”
No matter what ‘form’ he takes.
What she must do is already decided.
She will simply protect him.
With this determination, Elia silently stroked the hilt of the holy sword.
[…All the angels of the Otherworld will rush to kill him. You’re saying you’ll protect him?]
“Yes.”
[You’re saying you’ll fight all of them? Are you serious?]
Though the Holy Knight spoke in a voice of disbelief.
An answer without a moment’s hesitation followed.
“He’s the person I love. What else can I do?”
[…]
Let’s correct that.
This level cannot possibly be covered by merely saying she’s infatuated.
The Holy Knight spoke in a dumbfounded voice.
[…Hero. You’re truly completely insane?]
“They say people in love grow similar to each other, right? Since Teacher is extraordinarily crazy, I must have been influenced.”
She even utters such words without any hesitation.
As if it were truly so.
But this time, there was clearly a point to dig into. Just looking at the sentence the Holy Knight snorted out showed that.
[There are plenty of women around him. It’s not yet confirmed that he loves you—]
“Shut your mouth.”
[…]
It was a statement mixed with enough killing intent to make even the Holy Knight momentarily close his mouth.
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