DMHS 69

“…Hic.”

Lucien saw Kian holding back his laughter and narrowed his eyes.

“What is the problem? You have to tell me instead of laughing so I can fix it.”

Lucien bent his upper body and steadied his breathing. He finally said the words that had risen to his throat.

“Since earlier, are you trying to kill someone while dancing?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your expression looked like you wanted to kill someone. Just now when you spun, it looked like you were about to throw daggers, swish swish swish.”

“Do you think I am some assassin sneaking into the ballroom?”

“Yes! Exactly like that.”

Kian frowned.

“Shall I assassinate you then?”

Lucien, skilled at reading his partner’s mood, changed the subject.

“It was a joke. Let’s practice the dance again.”

By then the music from the music box had already changed. They reviewed the basic steps to the livelier accompaniment, then moved on to the turns.

Lucien spun once and raised his hand so Kian could turn. With his usual blank face, Kian spun gracefully. And then…

“Swish swish swish.”

He mimicked throwing daggers, adding an obvious sound effect.

“……?”

Kian repeated the act toward Lucien’s face as if he was performing.

“Swish swish swish?”

“……!”

Three seconds later Lucien collapsed in loud laughter, “Puhaha!” Even as he sat down, he bumped into the table beside him and made a mess.

Crash!

The sound of the table tipping over was noisy. Bashim threw the door open and came in.

“What happened?”

Lucien wiped the tears from his laughing eyes and looked up at Bashim.

“It is nothing. We were practicing the dance and the table fell over.”

“You say this happened while practicing dance…?”

Bashim looked at Lucien’s wet face and the messy table area. He clearly did not believe it.

“In any case, it is time now. Let us go together to the banquet hall.”

At that moment Lucien fell an ominous aura.

“…..!”

“…..!”

Lucien turned his gaze to the window where he felt the energy. Kian also turned his head at the same time, though Lucien did not notice it.

Bashim looked at both of them strangely and asked.

“Did something pass by outside the window?”

Kian, who was now standing by the window, leaned out slightly to look around outside. He inhaled and exhaled as if he was testing the air, then shook his head.

“There is nothing. It is better if we hurry to the banquet hall.”

‘Something will probably happen later in the banquet hall.’

Lucien understood Kian’s words and quickened his pace.

“Let’s go.”

The two walked quickly down the corridor following Bashim.

***

‘Someone summoned a demon just now.’

While moving to the banquet hall behind Bashim, Kian pressed his fingers to his temples.

To activate a summoning circle, a human sacrifice was needed. Since it was now 6 p.m., before midnight…

‘Someone will definitely die.’

The number of sacrifices required varied depending on the rank of the demon being summoned. A low-rank demon could be summoned with just one life, but higher-rank demons demanded many more.

Human negative emotions also influenced demon summoning. The more chaos and deaths in the process, the stronger the demons would rise onto the surface.

Because summoning demons itself was difficult, the opponent was surely a capable sorcerer.

‘There is a high chance today’s banquet is part of the plot.’

While walking lost in thought, Kian spotted the flowers decorating the corridor. His eyes widened.

“Are you growing this inside the building?”

Bashim turned his head and confirmed the red flower.

“Hmm, is this not a rose? If there is a problem, I will call a servant to remove it.”

“No. The culture here is different from the kingdom. If it is a commonly grown flower here, then I will not mind it.”

“Ah… I heard that in the kingdom each flower has a meaning. Is it that kind of matter?”

“Something similar.”

Just before entering the banquet hall, Kian lightly held Bashim’s arm and closed the distance. He took out a paper from his inner pocket and quietly offered it.

“Do you know what kind of magic circle this is?”

Kian focused on Bashim’s face. He did not intend to miss even a fleeting expression.

“It is a composite magic circle that overlaps several spells. But if you are asking exactly which spells are applied here, to be honest, I do not know.”

“Why do you ask?”

“A composite magic circle is a kind of code. If you only want to use magic, it is much easier and simpler to just draw each circle separately. No one bothers to do something this troublesome without a reason.”

“I see.”

From the start Kian only took it out to see Bashim’s reaction. Having achieved his purpose, Kian put the paper back in his inner pocket.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Guards stood in front of the banquet hall. They searched Kian and Lucien thoroughly, and even checked Bashim carefully.

Kian asked Bashim.

“Is the security for the banquet hall always this strict?”

“Embarrassing to say, only this time it is so. Because there are entangled interests around the next chieftain selection. Please understand it as a safety measure.”

Once the guards confirmed they had no weapons, they opened the door to the banquet hall. Kian and Lucien were guided to the seats of honor.

As they sat, a well-built man approached. The escorts following behind showed he was someone of high status. Kian’s guess was correct.

“It is an honor to greet you. I am Asaad, son of Jemarr.”

“Glad to meet you. I am Kian Semes. This is Lord Lucien, Guardian of the Kingdom.”

After the greeting, Kian probed him quietly.

“I have heard the name of Jemarr even in the kingdom. You are the next chieftain, correct?”

Asaad’s eyebrow twitched slightly. Soon he fixed his expression and gave a friendly smile.

“I appreciate your words, but I have not been chosen as successor. There is another candidate…”

At that moment, in contrast to Asaad, a gaunt man stood beside him. With sharp eyes, the man clicked his tongue openly at Asaad.

“Tch, spineless bastard. Did you run here wagging your tail to make connections no matter what?”

“Tsk, watch your tongue. Lord Lucien, Sir Semes, excuse me for a moment.”

Asaad grabbed the man’s arm and stepped aside. The two exchanged snarls and a few words, then the man left without another word.

Asaad returned with an awkward smile.

“That one just now was Pearl, son of Asif. Because our views differ on the tribe’s future, he showed that crooked side. I apologize.”

“That can happen. Not everyone can think the same. May I ask in what areas your opinions differ?”

“I was going to tell you about that anyway.”

Asaad glanced around and looked back and forth at Lucien and Kian.

“In recent years this region has been plagued by drought. The grasslands keep shrinking, while the desert grows quickly. At this rate our tribal society will collapse.”

“The situation must be bad.”

“Saying bad is not enough. At the current pace, the Delia tribe will disappear within ten years. This is not just my personal opinion. It is the shared recognition of the Harkin clan, the Jemarr clan, and the Asif clan.”

Asaad’s face was serious. His smile was gone without a trace.

“I will speak frankly.”

“……”

“If I become chieftain, I will merge the Delia tribe into the kingdom.”

Kian was quite surprised at those words.

‘Not just innovative, it is revolutionary.’

Few knew it now, but the Delia tribe’s origin was the “Duke Delia family.” In the past, in the second kingdom Kian had founded, they were a prestigious house ruling the western region.

But when the Demon King returned, the ducal family perished. The one who revived the ruined house was Fulvius Delia, the last survivor of the family. He led the people once ruled by dukes across the border and created a new tribe. The reason they left the kingdom was one thing.

‘To create a new religion.’

The Delia tribe opposed the Goddess Celestia Temple that worshipped a single god. They claimed the true gods of this world were Celestia and Yahdreir, the twin siblings. In contrast, the Goddess Temple branded the Delia tribe as heretics.

Because of this unresolved religious problem, the kingdom and the Delia tribe had long kept strained relations. Kian pointed out that part.

“Do you mean you will abandon your religious beliefs?”

Asaad’s eyes trembled faintly.

“Do you think this decision was easy for me? But there is no other way. For me, saving the tribe comes before faith. That is why I want to ask in advance. If I am chosen as successor, please arrange for me to have a private audience with His Majesty the King.”

Asaad bowed his head. Kian reached out his hand to stop him.

“That is not something I can decide. But with His Majesty as he is now, he will listen to your opinion.”

“You think so?”

“Yes. So focus on the present situation more than on the kingdom. In my view, even within the Delia tribe, your opinion will not easily gain support.”

“Sadly that is true. Pearl Asif is dying to kill me. Bashim is doubtful about this matter as well.”

He naturally mentioned a familiar name. Kian pointed at the sorcerer who had guided them all day.

“Is Bashim’s opinion important?”

“Of course. He too is one of the candidates for the next chieftain.”