Chapter 296

Chapter 296

Otherworld Demon King Survival Guide.

Episode 296: What Is Politics? (5)

“If you come to the Count’s territory, you can have everything in your hands. Right now, we are in a very equal state with the angels. If the converted angels join us, we can win.”

Kelson was enthusiastically trying to persuade Lilriel with all kinds of sweet talk to draw her to his side.

Meanwhile, I had already summoned my subordinates and completed preparations for an assault.

“Please become our war hero, Lady Lilriel.”

Kelson’s lust surged. Whatever else may be uncertain, his persuasion seemed genuine. What kind of method did he intend to use? Kelson believed that if Lilriel came over to his side, he could immediately have his way with her.

He was already fantasizing about such a scene.

Whatever the case, I couldn’t forgive him for eyeing a woman that belonged to me. Not only was he disrespectful, but he lacked any manners. On top of that, he looked down on us.

The Count must be warned.

— Bang!

I kicked the door to the room where he was, barging in.

“Huh? Wh-what! What is this!”

“Shut up, Kelson! You dare try to incite betrayal among our angels!”

“Betrayal? I was merely negotiating to see if they could come as envoys!”

“Silence! Guys! Seize him!”

“Kerrk!”

“Ugh?! G-goblin!”

My goblin soldiers charged forward, gripping their clubs. They were already heavily armed, and Kelson had no weapons. It would be easy to subdue him.

“L-Lady Lilriel! Please help me!”

“Hmm… is that so.”

“Lady Lilriel?”

“So, I just need to help?”

“That’s right!”

“I see.”

Lilriel, as per my instructions, was merely pretending to agree with Kelson’s words, feigning interest. Though she was replying, she wasn’t making any moves. This created a rather comical situation.

“Gasp!”

Kelson’s face turned pale. His weak point was wide open, and Buril, who was the first to charge, swung his club with all his might.

— Thwack!

A crisp sound echoed as Kelson rolled onto the floor.

“Hyaaah!”

But, thwack?

Was it because he was so fat that his body absorbed the shock?

“Guys! Beat him up! All of you!”

“Kerrryaaaah!”

“This, this wicked man is controlling monsters!”

“Shut up!”

“Kerrk! Beat him to a pulp!”

The goblins rushed forward, clubbing him madly.

— Thwack! — Thwack! — Thwack!

The sound was so satisfying, it reminded me of village women washing clothes by the stream. The blows were so effective that they produced those familiar sounds.

“Ooohhhhhhh!”

Kelson screamed in pain, curling his body. His lust had long dissipated. There was no way he could be thinking about that while getting the beating of his life.

“Stop! Stop it! I am the Count’s envoy! Do you think you’ll get away with this! Khhh…! If you kill me, the Count’s army will overrun this frontier!”

“Hahaha! Kelson! Do you really believe that?”

I burst into laughter.

“In this situation, do you think the Count would pull out his troops to occupy this barony? If he’s sane, he wouldn’t do that! The moment he pulls troops, the angels will invade!”

“Nonsense! There’s enough strength to attack here!”

They wouldn’t have the resources.

— Thwack!

“Gah! Arghhh!”

The goblins kept clubbing Kelson relentlessly until he was nothing but a bruised heap.

“Aaaahhhh!”

Maybe it was because of his body fat or his size, but Kelson, who had some resistance to blows, screamed for a full 30 minutes as he was beaten.

“Kerrk…! We’re tired!”

“It’s only just beginning, Buril. Move this idiot to the underground interrogation chamber.”

“Please, spare me! Master!”

“Alright, alright. Go get Gyuil. Let’s give the kobolds some exercise after a long while.”

“Kerrk! Understood!”

Buril immediately fetched Gyuil.

“Gyusaaaaat! Leave it to me! You lot! Lift this fat pig right now! Gyusat!”

Of course, Gyuil was grinning from ear to ear.

“Gyusasasat!”

“Gyusat…!”

As the captain, he could just order his underlings to do the work. So, we moved Kelson to the underground interrogation room.

In that chamber, we’d uncover the Count’s intentions and the central nobles’ plans.

They might have thought they could easily skim off the best parts by threatening us, but they underestimated us too much. In the world of nobility, it’s common to suffer losses due to poor judgment.

Let’s ensure the Count paid the price instead.

“Please! Please!”

The once arrogant man was now begging for his life after being beaten senseless.

“I was too rude! I will pay a ransom, so please spare me!”

“Ransom?”

“Yes! I have plenty of gold coins!”

Naturally, I couldn’t just let him go. It wouldn’t be a good idea for many reasons. Actually, just locking him up might be better. Perhaps I could use him as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Count.

I’d extract the information from him, then use him for negotiations with the Count, and at a critical moment, I could eliminate him.

“I’ll take your ransom in a different form. Now, tell me. What is the Count’s true purpose?”

— Srrng.

I drew the cursed sword and pointed its tip at his fat chin.

“Gasp…!”

“Explain in detail why the Count sent you.”

“Th-that is!”

The viscount stammered.

“Don’t try to be clever! If you don’t speak properly, you’ll suffer for it!”

“Khak…! N-negotiation!”

“Negotiation?”

Did he really think that excuse would work?

“At first, the plan was to come in strong and intimidate you, then negotiate from a more favorable position!”

“How far were you willing to go? State the goal you were supposed to achieve.”

“That’s…!”

Clenching my fist,

— Boom!

I struck his stomach hard.

“Khak!”

“Speak!”

“The-the Saintess’ marriage! And sending the angels as envoys! No matter what, those two objectives had to be achieved!”

“So, the Count wants to take the Saintess and control the angels?”

“Yes! That’s what the Count ordered! If all else failed, he planned to summon the Saintess and force her into marriage!”

How audacious.

“Truly outrageous demands. Ah, what’s this?”

I searched the viscount’s body, which had fainted earlier, and found a transparent glass bottle hidden against his chest. Considering it was concealed, it must be something very valuable.

As I held it up, the viscount’s eyes widened.

“It’s, it’s poison. I was going to use it to eliminate anyone who got in the way.”

“Poison?”

Was he telling the truth?

“Then drink it, Viscount.”

“W-what?!”

“Tell me where the antidote is.”

— Pop.

I opened the lid and pried open his mouth.

“Wait! Th-that’s not ordinary poison!”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s an aphrodisiac! It relaxes women’s muscles and heightens their senses… that kind of drug.”

“Why are you carrying this around?”

“It’s… a personal hobby…”

Pathetic.

“Were you planning to use it on the angels?”

“N-no! Absolutely not!”

“Don’t lie to me, you bastard!”

He might be able to deceive others, but not me! Yeah, this scum intended to use it to seduce and violate an angel!

— Thwack!

I reversed my sword and,

— Boom!

Struck him in the stomach with the pommel!

“Aaaagh! Please! Spare me! Please! Aaagh, aaaaah!”

Getting hit on bare skin like this must be excruciatingly painful. A deep bruise began to form on his belly.

“Viscount. Did you not foresee this? Didn’t you think that you might get removed after all that reckless behavior?”

“Th-that’s…!”

“Answer!”

“I thought the chances of that happening were very low!”

Low, he said?

“I thought logically that we could renegotiate! It didn’t make sense to completely break things off like this…! Are you really willing to defy the most powerful force, the Count, and face his army? That’s insanity! Do you not value your life? Do you really think you can withstand the Count’s army in this backwater land?”

He quickly added.

“You may say the Count lacks the resources, but he can still afford to attack this frontier! He can order the closest lords to invade! While moving the main forces is impossible, they can still be sent!”

I couldn’t tell if he’s lying or not.

At any rate, he was suggesting there was that possibility.

“Hmm… is that so?”

In other words.

He’s saying the Count wouldn’t come himself but would have the local lords do the attacking. If that was the case, we had a chance. Even if I couldn’t defeat the Count, I could defeat the local lords.

“If I die, that’s what will happen! The Saintess, being a new power, won’t be able to handle it! While it may inconvenience the Count, he’ll still achieve his goals!”

“Shut up!”

“Ugh!”

Good.

Now I had a rough idea of the situation.

What I needed to deal with wasn’t the Count’s main army but his subordinates. Probably the local lords. The barons and such will invade this area.

There was a chance for victory.

“It’s manageable if it’s not the Count.”

“W-what?! Are you seriously going to fight?! Stop! If you do, humanity could be overrun by the angels!”

“You should’ve said that to the Count, Viscount. By the way, you seem a bit overweight.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ll put you on a diet. Guards! Lock up the viscount! Feed him only water, a small amount of vegetables, and beans!”

“Kerrk!”

“Whaaaat?!”

How long could a person survive on a small amount of water, vegetables, and beans? Calorically speaking, it was not even 200 calories a day.

Let’s see how long the viscount’s fat reserves lasted.

“I’ll come back for further interrogation later. Until then, enjoy your diet.”

“Nooooooo!”

The viscount screamed in despair.

Tomorrow, I’d ask about the central situation.

“Ahahahahaha!”

Lilriel burst into loud laughter.

“Did you hear that? My worth!”

She was practically dying of joy.

“Even the enemies recognize my value! Yes, of course! I, Lilriel, am worth so much! I’m a very competent fallen angel!”

“Is that so? Are you planning to go to the Count then?”

“Of course not! I would never fall for their persuasion! Just talking to that disgusting male was torture.”

Lilriel, with her arms crossed, nodded confidently.

“I won’t betray you! But since I am a valuable being, I will demand greater treatment!”

It seemed Kelson’s words had inflated her ego a bit.

But since it was cute, I’d let it slide.

“Dark Lord! I will continue to serve you loyally! So, give me the treatment I deserve!”

“Alright. What kind of treatment do you want?”

“Your ear.”

Lilriel leaned in close and whispered into my ear.

“I demand the issuance of special currency!”

Special currency?