In the human world, it was already the promised day of the State Council meeting. The nobles who were seated in their seats were in an uproar when they saw that Randall, who could be said to be the main character of this State Council meeting, was not there.
“I don’t see the Duke of Belfort.”
“Huh. When the conquest begins, who will be the one to lead the soldiers...”
“Doesn’t being this late mean he has no intention of attending?”
The nobles showed their discomfort without even trying to hide it when Randall did not show up even after 30 minutes of the State Council meeting. David had to suppress his laughter when he saw this.
'God must be helping me too.'
David glanced at the ceiling with a satisfied look. He covered his mouth with his hand, pretending to groan in sorrow, and laughed.
'I've confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Belfort's absence has made the Duke's servants anxious. Could it be that they really just fell down dead somewhere?'
The corners of his mouth dropped slightly as he imagined Sylvia lying bleeding. However, it was only a fleeting emotion. David collected his expression and lowered his hand. It was fortunate for him that Randall and Sylvia, who had been interfering with his plan to regain the Demon King’s throne, were gone. David had no intention of missing this opportunity while Randall was away. He added to the nobles’ murmur with a rather worried expression.
“It’s certainly strange. I never thought the person who requested the reunion would show up...”
“It’s not like he's ignoring us, huh?”
“If it were normal, I would have taken care of three items by now and still have time left over. Who knew there was so much time left over...”
As David spoke slyly, the nobles following him crumpled their expressions and continued to gossip. Over David’s shoulder, who pretended to stop them, the King sitting on the throne had a blank look on his face the whole time. The people seemed to be somewhat puzzled by the fact that the King, who was more wary of Randall than anyone else, did not say anything.
“Are you in your right mind, Duke of Belfort?”
“The knights, no, the royal wizards, what on earth are they doing...!”
The nobles were instantly struck with thought and jumped up from their chairs. They retreated from the demons like the ebb tide, shouting. David did not make as much noise as they did. He only pretended to be coldly angry.
“...What is this, Duke of Belfort? Not only are you late for the meeting, but you’re bringing the demons into the castle?”
Then, Randall and Sylvia turned their gazes toward David. Their gazes contained neither murderous intent nor hostility, but they gave David the creeps.
'What?'
From the moment they appeared, the heartbeat that had been beating anxiously became increasingly intense. Finally, when the beating reached its peak, Randall looked straight at David and spoke firmly.
“A request for peace talks has arrived from Kelvetia.”
"...What?"
To some, it was the sound of all plans being shaken to their core and a signal of a new era.
After hearing Sylvia's words, Evelyn narrowed her eyes for a moment and looked at her. It was obvious that she did not believe Sylvia's words at all, but Evelyn eventually nodded with a faint smile.
"...If you say so, then so be it. I will tell the demons so."
Fortunately, Evelyn seemed to be convinced that Sylvia was the reincarnation of Alyssa, but she coolly spread lies to the other demons. Thanks to that, the public opinion that 'Her Majesty Alyssa has returned' died down faster than expected.
“The reason I let the rumors die down so easily is probably because the return of the previous Demon King would be fatal to you.”
“...”
“Surely that’s not all.”
Evelyn looked at Sylvia with a strange gaze.
‘...Is it because I know that person is Alyssa?’
If it were normal, even if they were a noble of high status in the human world, it would have been rude to use condescension toward her, the Demon Lord. However, after realizing that the opponent in front of her was no different from her distant ancestor, such an attitude felt more natural.
“I don’t see the Duke of Belfort.”
“Huh. When the conquest begins, who will be the one to lead the soldiers...”
“Doesn’t being this late mean he has no intention of attending?”
The nobles showed their discomfort without even trying to hide it when Randall did not show up even after 30 minutes of the State Council meeting. David had to suppress his laughter when he saw this.
'God must be helping me too.'
David glanced at the ceiling with a satisfied look. He covered his mouth with his hand, pretending to groan in sorrow, and laughed.
'I've confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Belfort's absence has made the Duke's servants anxious. Could it be that they really just fell down dead somewhere?'
The corners of his mouth dropped slightly as he imagined Sylvia lying bleeding. However, it was only a fleeting emotion. David collected his expression and lowered his hand. It was fortunate for him that Randall and Sylvia, who had been interfering with his plan to regain the Demon King’s throne, were gone. David had no intention of missing this opportunity while Randall was away. He added to the nobles’ murmur with a rather worried expression.
“It’s certainly strange. I never thought the person who requested the reunion would show up...”
“It’s not like he's ignoring us, huh?”
“If it were normal, I would have taken care of three items by now and still have time left over. Who knew there was so much time left over...”
As David spoke slyly, the nobles following him crumpled their expressions and continued to gossip. Over David’s shoulder, who pretended to stop them, the King sitting on the throne had a blank look on his face the whole time. The people seemed to be somewhat puzzled by the fact that the King, who was more wary of Randall than anyone else, did not say anything.
However, they felt burdened to come forward and gossip about the Duke of Belfort, so they soon withdrew their attention from the King. Their attention was focused on Randall, who had not shown up even though the meeting was already well past its scheduled time. However, Count Florette was the only one who stared blankly at the King. David couldn’t help but be bothered by that.
‘...You seem like a quick-witted man.’
Count Florette was neither a wizard nor a demon, so he would not have noticed the brainwashing David had put on the King. However, he was worried that his gaze would attract the attention of other nobles, as he kept his gaze on the King with such a meaningful gaze. That was why he had intentionally inflamed the nobles’ discontent.
‘...You seem like a quick-witted man.’
Count Florette was neither a wizard nor a demon, so he would not have noticed the brainwashing David had put on the King. However, he was worried that his gaze would attract the attention of other nobles, as he kept his gaze on the King with such a meaningful gaze. That was why he had intentionally inflamed the nobles’ discontent.
After David had somewhat steered the atmosphere of the nobles in the direction he wanted, he began to speak.
“I can’t do anything about it now that it’s come to this.”
At his pleasant voice, the nobles who had been chattering among themselves stopped talking and looked at him. David smiled with pity.
“There is a limit to waiting for the Duke of Belfort to be absent. There may be people losing their lives at the hands of the Demons at this very moment.”
“Yes.”
“You are right.”
There was nothing wrong with David's words. When he mentioned the people falling into the hands of the demons, the nobles nodded their heads in agreement with somber faces.
'I'm getting all the benefits from those stupid hypocrites.'
David smiled inwardly at the sight.
“Then let’s start the meeting...”
At that moment.
“I can’t do anything about it now that it’s come to this.”
At his pleasant voice, the nobles who had been chattering among themselves stopped talking and looked at him. David smiled with pity.
“There is a limit to waiting for the Duke of Belfort to be absent. There may be people losing their lives at the hands of the Demons at this very moment.”
“Yes.”
“You are right.”
There was nothing wrong with David's words. When he mentioned the people falling into the hands of the demons, the nobles nodded their heads in agreement with somber faces.
'I'm getting all the benefits from those stupid hypocrites.'
David smiled inwardly at the sight.
“Then let’s start the meeting...”
At that moment.
Bam!
The conference room door opened wide with a somewhat rough sound. The nobles reflexively distorted their faces at the absurd behavior.
“What kind of guy is he!”
“Who dares enter the sacred council chamber...!”
However, the nobles who saw the shadows revealed beyond the open door stopped talking without exception. More precisely, they were unable to continue speaking because they were dumbfounded by the sight they had seen. David, who had his eyes wide open, also got up from his seat without realizing it.
“...It’s late.”
A low, hushed voice rang through the conference room like a trumpet signaling the start of a battle. Randall came into the conference room, panting slightly. Sylvia followed him quietly. However, the nobles were not looking at Randall or Sylvia.
“That’s...”
Behind Randall and Sylvia. A person calmly followed Sylvia into the conference room with restraints on both hands. No, he wasn't a person. Purple hair and skin. Bright red eyes with no visible whites. Anyone could tell that he was a 'demon'.
“How, how is the Demon Tribe here...!”
“What kind of guy is he!”
“Who dares enter the sacred council chamber...!”
However, the nobles who saw the shadows revealed beyond the open door stopped talking without exception. More precisely, they were unable to continue speaking because they were dumbfounded by the sight they had seen. David, who had his eyes wide open, also got up from his seat without realizing it.
“...It’s late.”
A low, hushed voice rang through the conference room like a trumpet signaling the start of a battle. Randall came into the conference room, panting slightly. Sylvia followed him quietly. However, the nobles were not looking at Randall or Sylvia.
“That’s...”
Behind Randall and Sylvia. A person calmly followed Sylvia into the conference room with restraints on both hands. No, he wasn't a person. Purple hair and skin. Bright red eyes with no visible whites. Anyone could tell that he was a 'demon'.
“How, how is the Demon Tribe here...!”
“Are you in your right mind, Duke of Belfort?”
“The knights, no, the royal wizards, what on earth are they doing...!”
The nobles were instantly struck with thought and jumped up from their chairs. They retreated from the demons like the ebb tide, shouting. David did not make as much noise as they did. He only pretended to be coldly angry.
“...What is this, Duke of Belfort? Not only are you late for the meeting, but you’re bringing the demons into the castle?”
Then, Randall and Sylvia turned their gazes toward David. Their gazes contained neither murderous intent nor hostility, but they gave David the creeps.
'What?'
From the moment they appeared, the heartbeat that had been beating anxiously became increasingly intense. Finally, when the beating reached its peak, Randall looked straight at David and spoke firmly.
“A request for peace talks has arrived from Kelvetia.”
"...What?"
To some, it was the sound of all plans being shaken to their core and a signal of a new era.
***
A few days ago, after the uproar in Kelvetia had subsided, the first thing Sylvia did was to tell her that she was not the reincarnation of Alyssa.
"I am not the reincarnation of Alyssa. I am just a human with the same talents as her."
"I am not the reincarnation of Alyssa. I am just a human with the same talents as her."
"..."
After hearing Sylvia's words, Evelyn narrowed her eyes for a moment and looked at her. It was obvious that she did not believe Sylvia's words at all, but Evelyn eventually nodded with a faint smile.
"...If you say so, then so be it. I will tell the demons so."
Fortunately, Evelyn seemed to be convinced that Sylvia was the reincarnation of Alyssa, but she coolly spread lies to the other demons. Thanks to that, the public opinion that 'Her Majesty Alyssa has returned' died down faster than expected.
Sylvia, who almost used magic to erase the memories of all the demons, was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
Click.
A small noise echoed in the living room as Sylvia put down her teacup. Evelyn, who was sitting across from her, just looked up and stared at Sylvia. Sylvia parted her lips, meeting her gaze that seemed strangely calm, despite being the strongest, perhaps the most 'demon-like' demon.
“The reason I let the rumors die down so easily is probably because the return of the previous Demon King would be fatal to you.”
“...”
“Surely that’s not all.”
Evelyn looked at Sylvia with a strange gaze.
‘...Is it because I know that person is Alyssa?’
If it were normal, even if they were a noble of high status in the human world, it would have been rude to use condescension toward her, the Demon Lord. However, after realizing that the opponent in front of her was no different from her distant ancestor, such an attitude felt more natural.
If Sylvia had used condescension, Evelyn would have been embarrassed and couldn't stand it. Evelyn gathered her thoughts and smiled inwardly.
“You are saying the obvious.”
“What do you want?”
“You already know that, but you’re being mean. By the way, before I tell you that.”
Evelyn suddenly stood up in the middle of her speech. Sylvia reflexively tensed her shoulders.
"Thank you."
Evelyn stood up and bowed her head politely. Sylvia opened her eyes wide in surprise. Evelyn continued to speak with her head bowed deeply, in a calm tone that sounded even more sincere.
“Whether you are Alyssa or not, you saved my life and even subdued the traitors. If you had been just a little bit later, countless innocent blood would have been shed by the demons.”
“...”
“Thank you very much.”
Sylvia could tell instinctively that there was not a single lie in what Evelyn said.
“...”
Sylvia stared at Evelyn for a while, her emotions mixed, before finally moving her lips.
“...I heard from Duke Shert that you wanted to have a peace conference with humans. Do you still think that way? Even though the one who made you do that was the human Crown Prince?”
Sylvia deliberately brought up an uncomfortable topic as if testing Evelyn. What she was talking about was the contents of the letters she had found on the body of Baynas, which had been swallowed by darkness, after the commotion had been cleared up.
"...This is."
As the Duke of Shert had said, Baynas had kept important evidence deep in his bosom. Because of that, the letter that Sylvia had found had an unintentionally familiar scent on her nose. It was David’s scent.
“You are saying the obvious.”
“What do you want?”
“You already know that, but you’re being mean. By the way, before I tell you that.”
Evelyn suddenly stood up in the middle of her speech. Sylvia reflexively tensed her shoulders.
"Thank you."
Evelyn stood up and bowed her head politely. Sylvia opened her eyes wide in surprise. Evelyn continued to speak with her head bowed deeply, in a calm tone that sounded even more sincere.
“Whether you are Alyssa or not, you saved my life and even subdued the traitors. If you had been just a little bit later, countless innocent blood would have been shed by the demons.”
“...”
“Thank you very much.”
Sylvia could tell instinctively that there was not a single lie in what Evelyn said.
“...”
Sylvia stared at Evelyn for a while, her emotions mixed, before finally moving her lips.
“...I heard from Duke Shert that you wanted to have a peace conference with humans. Do you still think that way? Even though the one who made you do that was the human Crown Prince?”
Sylvia deliberately brought up an uncomfortable topic as if testing Evelyn. What she was talking about was the contents of the letters she had found on the body of Baynas, which had been swallowed by darkness, after the commotion had been cleared up.
"...This is."
As the Duke of Shert had said, Baynas had kept important evidence deep in his bosom. Because of that, the letter that Sylvia had found had an unintentionally familiar scent on her nose. It was David’s scent.
“You must know what kind of energy remained on the shoulder of the subordinate I sent in there. I believe that you are not a demon who would think that two people can control darkness even though you are human.”
Sylvia frowned involuntarily at the sight of that phrase.
'You're really cunning.'
If he looks at David's words, 'A human who can control darkness', doesn't it seem like he's silently revealing that he's the reincarnation of Alyssa?
'You're really cunning.'
If he looks at David's words, 'A human who can control darkness', doesn't it seem like he's silently revealing that he's the reincarnation of Alyssa?
It seemed like that was the reason why Baynas joined hands with David, who was only human at best. Because of the possibility that David might be the reincarnation of Alyssa.
"My intention is simple. If you let me use the dark bugs, I'll help you ascend to the throne of the Demon King. The human I want to control by using the dark bugs is the Duke of Belfort, so in a way, it's a deal that benefits you, a demon, right?"
David was saying that if Baynas moved the dark bugs, he'd provide a magic stone that could put the Demon King to sleep forever in return. The magic stone was currently wrapped in all kinds of cloth and chains and under the strict surveillance of Duke Shert. With this, Sylvia got her hands on evidence that David had colluded with Kelvetia to disrupt the human world. Evelyn, who had come to know all this by being with Sylvia, answered quietly.
“...Just as the will of Baynas Perun is not the same as the will of all the demons.”
Her tone was calm, but her eyes were firm. Evelyn looked straight at Sylvia and spoke.
“Because the title of Crown Prince doesn’t necessarily represent all humans.”
“...”
“There are actually people who have taken such risks and come all the way to Kelvetia.”
She smiled faintly as if trying to lighten the mood. But then she cleared her throat and spoke in a serious voice.
“You said you already heard the general story from the Duke of Shert, so there’s no need to drag it out any further.”
Red and gold eyes met each other. Evelyn finally declared.
“I want a Kelvetia that doesn’t need to shed any more blood.”
“...”
“For him, a meeting with humans is essential.”
Evelyn got up and returned to her seat with a piece of paper, a quill, and a small knife about the length of her finger. She wrote in neat handwriting on the paper a request for peace talks with humans, then put the quill down. She picked up the knife, lightly cut her thumb, and pressed her thumb hard on the lower right corner of the paper. Then, a black crown-like pattern appeared in the middle of the red seal. It was a pattern that proved that she was the Demon Lord. Evelyn folded the paper neatly, put it in an envelope, and handed it to Sylvia.
“I will send you this request along with Billy Bort. I will also provide you with the restraints used in Kelvetia in case you need them.”
Sylvia, who was looking at the envelope, slowly reached out and took it. Evelyn spoke as if making a promise.
“I hope this will be the key to opening a new era.”
The envelope fell completely into Sylvia's hands. Sylvia, who had been staring at the envelope with a thoughtful expression, finally raised her head. A smile appeared on her face.
“...It has to be done like that.”
“...Just as the will of Baynas Perun is not the same as the will of all the demons.”
Her tone was calm, but her eyes were firm. Evelyn looked straight at Sylvia and spoke.
“Because the title of Crown Prince doesn’t necessarily represent all humans.”
“...”
“There are actually people who have taken such risks and come all the way to Kelvetia.”
She smiled faintly as if trying to lighten the mood. But then she cleared her throat and spoke in a serious voice.
“You said you already heard the general story from the Duke of Shert, so there’s no need to drag it out any further.”
Red and gold eyes met each other. Evelyn finally declared.
“I want a Kelvetia that doesn’t need to shed any more blood.”
“...”
“For him, a meeting with humans is essential.”
Evelyn got up and returned to her seat with a piece of paper, a quill, and a small knife about the length of her finger. She wrote in neat handwriting on the paper a request for peace talks with humans, then put the quill down. She picked up the knife, lightly cut her thumb, and pressed her thumb hard on the lower right corner of the paper. Then, a black crown-like pattern appeared in the middle of the red seal. It was a pattern that proved that she was the Demon Lord. Evelyn folded the paper neatly, put it in an envelope, and handed it to Sylvia.
“I will send you this request along with Billy Bort. I will also provide you with the restraints used in Kelvetia in case you need them.”
Sylvia, who was looking at the envelope, slowly reached out and took it. Evelyn spoke as if making a promise.
“I hope this will be the key to opening a new era.”
The envelope fell completely into Sylvia's hands. Sylvia, who had been staring at the envelope with a thoughtful expression, finally raised her head. A smile appeared on her face.
“...It has to be done like that.”
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