Chapter 232 – True Feelings!?
The Demon King and Emperor quietly sat down on opposite sides of the round table.
After the Emperor glanced towards him, Solm, who had been their guide, bowed once and then left the room.
As for us, we were watching the scene from behind the false mirror in the other room.
The Emperor was the first to break the silence.
“While we have exchanged letters, this is the first time we are speaking face to face.”
“Indeed. I have been wanting to meet with you. However, you are not what I expected…”
There was something like fear in Sophis’s voice.
The Emperor tilted his head.
“What do you mean?”
“Have you met with Kyuby?”
“I have. And he told me about your plan.”
“You… And you would agree to it?”
Apparently, Sophis believed that the Emperor was not being controlled. Indeed, I could not sense Kyuby anywhere.
So the Emperor had come here of his own will…
He nodded without hesitation and then answered.
“I also have someone who I wish to meet.”
“Everyone does. But do you want to meet them so much that you would sacrifice numerous lives?”
“So, you think me a child. That is what you meant earlier. Well, perhaps to you. However, according to Kyuby, there will be no distinction between the dead and the living. Then surely there is no problem.”
“But there is no guarantee that the plan will succeed.”
“I understand that. And yet, I wish to meet someone.”
Sophis had felt the same. And so she could understand how he felt.
Sophis nodded.
“Very well then. I feel the same. However, I have decided against that course of action.”
“You have? Because you think it will fail?”
“No. I have decided to search for a different road. With the power of the Fendel Alliance, we will do it without killing anyone.”
“Fendel…that group of demihumans who brought peace to the Toria Kingdom. You are going to work with them?”
“And we want your help. You stand above all human rulers. With your aid, the chances of success will be increased.”
Sophis made her request.
The Emperor would know of Summoning Stones, and might have some as well.
He was a wise man. Surely he would agree to help Sophis…
That was what I thought, but the words that came from his mouth were surprising.
“That will not do.”
“It won’t?”
“In this battle, it is not only the lord of the empire, but the kings of other lands that will fight as well. Such a chance will never present itself again.”
“You don’t…mean… That you’re going to send them all to their graves?”
“I said I wanted to meet someone. And I meant it. However, I also have to fulfill a certain promise.”
The emperor stood up and walked over to the window so that he could gaze up at the sky.
“Demon King. Are you really the Demon King?”
“I swear that I am.”
“I see. However, I am not.”
“What?”
I could not understand why he would confess to being an imposter at this moment.
However, the Emperor nodded.
“I am an imposter. The real Nordos died nearly fifty years ago. Before he was even ten years old.”
“And who are you?”
“Ruther, an illegitimate child. I was raised as a doppelganger for Nordos, and was supposed to die in Nordos’s place. However, Nordos sacrificed himself and made me the real Nordos.”
The Emperor said with a far away look in his eyes.
“Nordos was kind hearted. He treated us all equally. Commoners, demihumans and monsters. Unfortunately, his crest was that of a commoner, and he had no talent for swords or magic.”
The Emperor paused for a moment and then continued.
“But he was wise. And he had the gift of foresight. And so he used the plot of those fools against them.”
“He allowed himself to be killed as the double, so you would become the true Nordos.”
“Yes. And so I became Nordos…and was left with the task of leading the country…no, the world, into a better direction.”
“If a large number of nobles and aristocrats disappear from this land, it will become easier for you to govern your own country and the surrounding nations. Even if the plan fails, there will be benefits.”
“Exactly. Of course, I do not intend for the plan to fail in the first place.”
While Sophis did not accuse the Emperor, she continued like this immediately,
“However, the plan has been canceled.”
“I don’t know about that. The humans and monsters are practically face to face now. And both are in a vicious whirlwind. Neither you nor I will be able to stop it.”
Both the human and Demon King armies wanted to destroy each other. They were on a course for sure collision. And even Sophis could not control everything.
“Still…the plan will not work without Kyuby.”
“And is this Kyuby somewhere within your eyesight?”
Asked the Emperor, and Sophis became silent.
No matter how I thought about it, Kyuby was not in this mansion.
…Did he feel bad? Or perhaps he was staying away from the Demon King, so that he could finish the plan without hesitation.
The Emperor continued.
“He will do it. He is different from you and I.”
“I am aware of that. But I would still like to persuade him. Do you know anything about his whereabouts?”
“Even if I did, I have no reason to tell you.”
“…Kyuby, he may be thinking of something even more terrible.”
“More terrible?”
“He does not even come to see me… I think that Kyuby’s wish is not merely a reunion.”
“He…seems to have a great hatred towards humans and demihumans.”
“Yes. He would surely want revenge.”
“To completely eradicate both humans and demi-humans through some means…”
Yomotsu had been like that. But Kyuby was even more obsessed.
Sophis nodded her head.
“If that were to happen, there would be no chance of unity.”
“But on the other hand, such a thing would benefit you. Without humans, it will be easier to unify the monsters.”
“That is… I do not wish for the extinction of your kind. And as I said before, I am cooperating with the Fendel Alliance. And we will continue to strengthen that bond. In Fendel, demihumans, monsters and humans live together.”
Sophis walked next to the Emperor and said,
“Perhaps this is presumptuous of me…but this Nordos, who you want to meet. Isn’t Fendel the country that he wished for? The country that you are…”
“I am aiming for that. However, my plan will take hundreds of years. And unless I bury these royals and nobles, it will take twice as long.”
“Perhaps Fendel will speed things up. I too have my reservations in regards to allying with humans. However, I have high expectations for them.”
“Hmm…”
“I will not ask for anything difficult. Just tell me where Kyuby is and delay the human invasion. Also, if possible, give us your Summoning Stones.”
The Emperor stared at the sky and was silent for some time.
“We will…continue with the other plan, and complete the gate to another world. Once Kyuby sees that, he will change his way of thinking.”
The Emperor shut his eyes tightly and then muttered.
“While I have no idea if your new plan will succeed…I suppose I can delay the clash until then…”
“So, you will wait?”
“I have heard about what happened in Toria, as well as stories from the remnants of the Knights Order. And this palace, which is in such a strange location. It was built by the Fendel people, was it not?”
“So you realized.”
Sophis answered, and then the Emperor turned towards us.
He knew of our presence then.
The Emperor turned back to Sophis and continued.
“…If it is just waiting a little, I can do that. This palace is perfect for holding some royals and nobles. And if I have any Summoning Stones, then they are yours. However, even I do not know the whereabouts of Kyuby.”
He paused for a moment.
“However, I am sure that he will appear in this area. And he may gain information about this meeting somehow.”
“Indeed. However, I shall do what I can to persuade him.”
“Well, I hope you succeed with that, and the construction of this gate. And here, I shall wait and witness the results.”
“Thank you…”
Sophis bowed.
“It is nothing. There is little for me to do… Still, Demon King. As I said before, his will is strong. You must be prepared.”
Sophis nodded at his words.
“Well then. We should dine with the others. I can smell something most appetizing…”
“I as well… It so happens that the ingredients were brought by the Fendel people.”
“Is that so? And I saw from a distance that there was a hot spring. Perhaps as a sign of friendship, you might join me in conversation there?”
“I-I do not think…”
The Emperor laughed.
“It is just a joke. Still, I did not expect the great Demon King to be easily embarrassed. Or could it be… Well, I apologize for giving offense. I know little of the ways of demons.”
He said a little frantically, and the Demon King shook her head.
“It-it is nothing. After all, we were deliberate in ensuring that humans feared Demon Kings.”
“There is so much one does not know, until they actually speak to others. Indeed…I now wish to speak to the lord of Fendel.”
“I do not know about the present, but once the gate is complete, Fendel will surely receive you.”
“Indeed? I would very much like to go there.”
Said the Emperor, as he shot another glance towards us. And with that, he and Sophis headed towards the dining hall.
Iria and Mette let ouf a deep sigh.
“…Well, it seems like things went well.”
Iria said happily.
“I’m glad that they were both cool headed.”
If the gate was built, both of them would work to avoid conflict.
“However, we must hurry then.”
Mette nodded at my words.
“We shall show them.”
“Ymir said that the plans are complete. And so construction can begin.”
Melk said.
“Aye. We shall build it together.”
And like that, we were able to delay the invasion of the human armies.
And while the Emperor’s Summoning Stones were only enough to fill a single barrel, we used them as well. And on the following day, work on the construction of the gate began.
Thanks for the treat.