DSB 126

“Hmm, I suppose I was lacking in consideration. Who would have thought you’d be afraid to face a demon? Then again, it’s absurd for a human to defeat a demon, so it makes sense to feel afraid.”

The quiet mutter spread through the conference hall like ripples though it was not meant to provoke the retainers. Several retainers who had been listening silently jumped to their feet. 

Lebel’s casual remark had effectively served as a brilliant provocation.

“Who’s scared?”

“You aren’t? You avoid war with the Empire because of demons, and you’re afraid to even use a demon you’ve captured.”

The retainers seated at the table during the meeting glanced sideways toward Jorsen intermittently. Their eyes were filled with fear.

Even though Bron and Theo stood beside him, restraining Jorsen.

“Even the young master defeated a demon without the holy sword. We can do it too. Are you underestimating us northern knights, for whom war against demonic beasts is our daily life?”

“It’s settled then. Even if the Empire has joined hands with demons, both already lost to us once. There’s no need to fear. It’s just the weak joining forces and scheming.”

As if he were waiting for those words, Lebel smiled and nodded.

Lebel had welcomed war from the start. He despised the Empire, arrogant despite its defeat, and hated its meddling even more.

Some were dumbfounded by Lebel’s calm declaration, while others were furious.

“How dare you casually speak of war, is it because you are not the one fighting, Your Highness?”

Anyone could talk about war.

But it was they and their knights who would actually take the field.

The retainers had not even considered Lebel joining the war, regardless of his words, and that was why they were angry. Yet, at his next statement, the enraged retainers could only stare wide-eyed.

“I’m going too. If my husband goes, I naturally must follow.”

It was absolutely impossible, but what if Yutis were to die?

“My wife, what do you mean by that?”

Yutis, who had been quiet until then, shouted in shock, though for a different reason.

“Do you not trust me?”

“Well, to be precise, you don’t trust me.”

If Yutis were to die… wouldn’t I kill them all?

Lebel felt his mind go blank for a moment.

Hmm, better not think too deeply about it.

“He is right. Unless the Empire admits defeat, the spark of war could ignite at any time. Demons are lending them strength, so it’s only a matter of time. It might be better for us to declare war first.”

Lebel didn’t know it, but as the Empire’s shameless attitude continued, the North had been preparing for war.

“Demons think differently from humans. They do things we couldn’t even imagine.”

Edmund’s gaze met Lebel’s briefly before shifting away.

“So wouldn’t demons be able to see through each other?”

“…Will a demon move according to our will?”

“As he said, we have the faith the holy sword, and a dragon with us. Don’t you agree, Luceris?”

Luceris slowly revealed the form he had been concealing.

[Are we… really doing this?]

Unlike the thunderous roar humans heard, a voice trembling with fear reached Lebel’s ears. As the guardian revealed himself and Yutis raised the holy sword, the room fell silent. The retainers held their breath, watching warily.

Then, someone knocked on the door.

“Enter.”

A knight with a frozen expression walked in. His footsteps were heavy and solemn, thudding loudly enough to pierce the ears.

The knight held a letter bearing the Empire’s seal. Swallowing dryly, he spoke.

“The empire has declared war and sent this.”

“What?!”

The retainers jumped to their feet in shock. Edmund read the letter calmly. Yutis asked cautiously.

“Father, what does it say?”

After reading the letter, Edmund’s gaze turned toward Lebel. Lebel tilted his head, confused.

“They declared war, what else is there to say?!”

Finding Edmund’s silence frustrating, Damian snatched the letter and read it quickly. He burst into a hollow laugh, seemingly exasperated.

“This wasn’t something for us to agonize over. They’re intent on war.”

“Your Excellency, what does the Empire say?”

“They claim the demonic beasts’ attack on the Empire was the northerners’ doing.”

“What utter nonsense!”

Having fought the demonic beasts in life-or-death struggles, they found this even more preposterous.

“Furthermore… they claim no one is unaware that the Hestro family is called a demon bloodline, insisting the North is a den of demons. They say the demon’s appearance was fabricated to tarnish the Empire’s image.”

“Don’t they even know about the divine revelation?”

At Damian and Edmund’s words, the retainers hurled curses at the Empire, their fury boiling over.

“They’ve made their move first. Since the North and the Empire worship different gods, they can simply say they don’t believe in another god’s oracle. Or they could insist it’s fake.”

Lebel calmly summarized the current situation. The retainers, baffled by Lebel’s detached demeanor, laughed hollowly.

Damian nodded in understanding. He even looked a little satisfied.

At that moment, Yutis, standing beside Lebel, took his hand. As if to say he would always be by his side. Yutis understood better than anyone what the Empire sought to gain from this war.

“I will protect you. No matter what happens.”

Lebel burst into laughter and clasped his hand.

“You took the words right out of my mouth.”

Norman’s collaborator is Biakin. It wouldn’t be strange for him to start a war. He even made a demon his collaborator, knowing the demon’s power would aid him.

Moreover, if he received Norman’s words directly, he’d likely think it better for the North to cease to exist.

More precisely, if Yutis disappeared.

Doing something like that wouldn’t make me want to contract with him. Unless he wants to provoke my wrath.

He thought he wouldn’t be as simple-minded as Norman, but he’s just as stubborn.

Lebel looked at Edmund. He was the one deciding all this.

“We can’t just stand by. Since they’re talking about demons, let’s give them what they want. Since they’ve already decided the North is a demon’s lair, let’s use a real demon so they don’t feel wronged. It shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Drawing that demon to the North’s side and winning the war.

The demon Edmund sought to use wasn’t the one contracted by Jorsen, but Lebel.

Only Lebel could command that demon.

Therefore, Lebel didn’t avoid Edmund’s gaze. It meant he was willing to lend his power if asked.

“Can you do it?”

“It’s easy.”

The retainers exchanged confused glances as the cryptic words passed between Edmund and Lebel. Lebel rose from his seat.

“You all know my daughter-in-law is a mage, right? He’ll summon the demon contracted to Jorsen.”

“Huh? Can a mage do that?”

“He is special.”

Jorsen looked up at Lebel, who was now right in front of him, his eyes trembling.

“Who… exactly are you?”

Jorsen knew Lebel was the one who had recognized him as a demon’s contract holder. The low, warning voice still sent a chill down his spine.

“Don’t be nervous. It’ll be over soon.”

Yutis stayed glued to Lebel’s side, ready to draw the holy sword at any moment, just in case something went wrong.

“When the demon appears, you must hide behind me immediately.”

He worries about everything.

Lebel slowly approached, looking at the demon’s mark etched into Jorsen’s chest, then placed a hand on his head. Jorsen had been sincere when he shouted he’d never harmed the North.

And Lebel remembered the demon hidden within Jorsen’s body not particularly favoring slaughter.

“Did you almost die after going to war?”

That’s why the mark is engraved somewhere vital like the chest.

Lebel ignored Jorsen, who looked flustered, and grabbed the demon hiding inside, pulling him out. Then, using telepathy so no one else could hear, he greeted him.

[Long time no see, Merick.]

The demon, with his large, black wings, slumped to the floor. Dragged out in physical form rather than as a spirit, Merick seemed flustered as he examined his body.

The retainers, seeing the demon being dragged out so helplessly, were stunned beyond belief, their breath catching in their throats.

“Th-that’s a de-demon…!”

“Try any tricks, and I’ll cut your throat.”

Yutis pulled Lebel back by the hand and thrust the holy sword at the demon’s neck. Merick was slammed to the ground, just like his own contract partner.

He slowly raised his head.

[Lord Lebel….]

[Shh. My true nature is a secret from humans. Revealing it carelessly would be problematic.]

It was a sinister smile, visible only to him, unseen by the others behind him.

Merick swallowed dryly and bowed his head, seeing the blood-red pupils flash. Though clearly weaker than when in the Demon Realm, facing Lebel still filled him with dread.

He quickly gathered his thoughts. He’d heard through Jorsen that the holy sword had appeared.

He also knew it was because a demon had emerged. But he had no intention of targeting the north.

Dying, he craved life. Merick happened to want to see the human world, and his soul was tempting, so he made a contract.

Living in the Demon Realm had grown tedious; watching the life of the human who contracted with him and finding joy in it was simply his pleasure.