Chapter 334: Deculein (2)

In the Imperial Palace’s guest room, Knight Gawain, speaking in an extremely stern tone, announced that the mission objective of Demonicide was the assassination of Deculein.

“... The assassination of Deculein?” Ganesha asked.

Ria leaned back in the chair.

“Yes,” Gawain replied, nodding with an air of composure.

At that moment, the guest room’s mana lamp went out, plunging the room into darkness as if there had been a power outage, and Ria lit a fire immediately.

Why did the lights suddenly go out so creepily?

Ria thought.

“Her Majesty, the Empress, herself gave the command?” Ria asked, swallowing hard.

“That is correct,” Gawain replied, pointing to the official letter.

Ria looked at the official letter again.

The establishment of the new Imperial direct task force Demonicide is hereby confirmed.

The short sentence alongside the wide stamp’s inscription was the Empress’s own handwriting, and the stamp was the Imperial Palace’s imperial seal, and suddenly a thought like a thread arose in Ria’s mind, bringing contemplations of Deculein’s past words telling her to chase him as if he sought death, along with memories of him.

“Her Majesty is already aware that the Altar’s existence has been formalized,” Gawain said.

Ria looked up at Gawain, her shoulders trembling.

"That they are now attempting to exert influence even in the grand hall, and that Deculein is their leader."

A leader? Sophien, who loved Deculein that much—the same Sophien who came to me for advice in a loving state. If she is trying to kill Deculein... then is this really Sophien’s wish?

Ria thought.

“It was Her Majesty who spoke to me directly.”

Though Gawain affirmed, Ria found herself inexplicably confused. Of course, considering Sophien’s character, Deculein’s actions could have easily led to her disappointment—even to the point of desiring his death—for he was betraying the Empress and cooperating with the Altar.

However...

“But why did you specifically come looking for us~?” Ganesha asked.

“I did not come looking for you. Her Majesty personally selected the Red Garnet Adventure Team,” Gawain replied.

Meaning, they had been directly selected by the Empress herself.

“Is it just us, then?” Ria asked immediately.

“No,” Gawain replied, shaking his head and pulling out another official letter from his inner pocket. “Though it remains confidential, there are two more cooperators, and above all, Her Majesty specifically requests that you, Ria, make a selection.”

Ria remained silent.

“As an adventurer who has journeyed across the nation, would you not have encountered many trustworthy individuals? You must have met many who completely loathe Deculein.”

It was true that many people loathed Deculein, and on this continent, especially in the desert, people who hated him were everywhere, as for some reason, Deculein’s evil deeds always spread with alarming ease and speed.

“Is it acceptable, even if they are Scarletborn?” Ganesha asked suddenly.

“C-Captain!” Ria said, startled, looking up at Ganesha and grabbing her arm.

Even so, the Empire’s people will still find it hard to accept the Scarletborn,

Ria thought.

“It does not matter,” Gawain replied.

“

... Eh?

”

Gawain said in a calm tone that it didn't matter even if it was a Scarletborn, as if he were not surprised—no, rather, as if he had been waiting for the Scarletborn, which made Ria’s eyes go wide.

“There is a famous proverb even on the battlefield that an enemy’s enemy is a friend,” Gawain continued with composure.

Looking at Gawain muttering that way, Ria silently bit her lips.

"Furthermore, we are well aware which enemy poses the greater danger and evil, and compared to that enemy, the Scarletborn will prove themselves a friend."

Along with the highly radical and dangerous claim that the Scarletborn are friends, Gawain placed a treasure sword on the table.

Click—

The treasure sword was an object granted by Her Majesty, the Empress, and it was embroidered with all sorts of jewels.

“Therefore, please save the people. We, along with Her Majesty, the Empress, will bring judgment on the great villain and save the continent—”

“The grand hall is dismissed.”

At that moment, the majestic, settling voice of the Empress sounded, serving as a signal for the conclusion of the inconclusive grand hall meeting.

“Follow me, keeping yourselves concealed for the time being. Now we will go to meet Deculein,” Gawain concluded, rising to his feet.

***

Immediately after Her Majesty, the Empress, concluded the grand hall meeting, its key figures began to gather at the garden lake as if by prior agreement. This expansive lake was the optimal place for an unofficial meeting, and the first faction to arrive was the Pro-Empress faction, including Romelock and Gawain.

“... There, he comes.”

Then came Deculein and his faction, moving with unhurried grace, and he was accompanied by a single knight clad in armor.

“The numbers are few,” Gawain said.

“That’s because that man can only trust himself!” Romelock yelled, his face contorted in a paroxysm of rage.

Deculein approached with a knight stationed three steps behind him, and he looked at Romelock with an utterly displeasing expression, his eyes holding pity beyond a sneer, as if he were looking at a starving stray dog on the roadside.

“T-That...” Romelock said, clutching the back of his neck.

“You might meet your end that way, Romelock,” Deculein said, a sneer playing on his lips as he shook his head.

“Silence, Deculein!” Romelock shouted, pointing his finger at him. “You have revealed yourself as a monstrous traitor! Never in history has a servant dared to tread the Empress’s road!”

The Empress’s road was a red carpet, laid across the center of the grand hall, and this symbolic path—which historically and traditionally only the Empress could walk—was trampled today by Deculein, with his shoes.

“However, that servant who perpetrated such an abominable offense! No, the one who claims to be a loyal servant—”

“It was a mistake,” Deculein interrupted.

However, Romelock exploded in anger at Deculein's brazen indifference, while Deculein merely shrugged his shoulders, as if utterly unconcerned by the consequences, like someone who had just wet their pants by mistake.

“You wretch—! You finally show your true colors! I knew it from the moment you pretended to be a loyal servant! You feigned devotion to Her Majesty while cultivating your own influence, and now you prey on this moment, when the Empire shakes, like a hungry wolf!” Romelock yelled, spittle flying from his mouth wide open.

Deculein frowned and adjusted his clothes.

“Deculein! After all this, how dare you call yourself a noble who received the Empire’s grace?! Do you believe you can even overthrow Her Majesty’s throne—"

“The Empress doubted me first.”

Romelock’s voice, soaring as if to touch the sky, was cut short by those words. Deculein’s expression hardened, and in the fierce, predatory atmosphere, Romelock unconsciously took a step back and Gawain too instinctively warmed up his mana.

“Romelock, the Empress suffers from a malady known as envy, jealousy, suspicion, and distrust.”

“... H-How dare you!” Romelock shouted.

“Does it not seem so? I ask then, who assigned the Intelligence Agency to conduct surveillance on me, and who invaded Hadecaine to assassinate me?”

Romelock was struck speechless.

With a nervous swallow, Romelock forced open his mouth and said, “T-That is because you have continually chosen to do deeds that invite suspicion—”

“I am merely responding, Romelock,” Deculein interrupted.

Thud.

Deculein moved one step forward and Romelock and his subordinates retreated two steps backward.

“In order to survive... No."

The moment he stopped speaking briefly, Deculein’s eyes narrowed like a bird of prey, and anger and contempt blazed like embers in his pupils.

"In order not to die by the Empress.”

Romelock remained silent while Gawain gritted his teeth, emitting a suppressed sound.

“Therefore, from now on, heed my warning,” Deculein concluded—his tone transforming in an instant, a ghost of a smile touching his mouth, and his voice deepening with a strange warmth. “For my very life and its end hold infinitely more worth than the collective existence of you all.”

Romelock found his mouth falling open at Deculein’s narcissism.

***

... Late at night, in a corner so hidden that no one would know about it, the Red Garnet Adventure Team and Gawain stood in front of a secluded building on the outskirts of the Capital.

Was there really a place like this in the Capital?

Ria thought.

“This is Demonicide’s headquarters,” Gawain said.

Ria turned to look at Gawain.

Is he messing with us right now? No, I mean.

“This?”

“Yes, the size of the headquarters itself is not important. The facilities and security are of importance.”

With a blank expression, Ria nodded her head.

Well, if facilities and security are important, there must be plenty of valuable things within,

Ria thought.

“Moreover, as you may have heard today in the Imperial Palace, Deculein has now gone beyond our control,” Gawain continued as he opened the door of the headquarters, and fortunately, the interior was clean. “There are offices and meeting rooms. You can eavesdrop on all wireless communications through the radio.”

Gawain introduced each place one by one, while Ria, barely paying attention, thought of the scene she had just witnessed in the Imperial Palace garden.

“

For my very life and its end hold infinitely more worth than the collective existence of you all.

”

When she thought about it, Deculein’s statements—characterized by unsettling narcissism that sent shivers down her spine—might have been true, for the life and death of Deculein, the villain, might be able to heal all the wounds of the continent.

“Furthermore."

In the meantime, they arrived at the top floor—though it was only the third floor—and Gawain adjusted his clothes.

"Her Majesty awaits you in this very place,” Gawain added.

“... Her Majesty in

here

?” Ria asked.

“Of course, Her Majesty is in the Imperial Palace. However, she is merely communicating with us remotely through magic,” Gawain replied, giving a bitter smile.

“

Oh.

”

“Are you prepared? Should this door be opened, there will be no turning back. It is decreed that we must kill Deculein together.”

Ria nodded her head without a word. After all, it was Deculein himself who had told her to continue to track him.

“Okay.”

Then, Gawain opened the door.

Creeeeeak—

Beyond the revealed door, the first thing visible was a red-furred munchkin sitting like a loaf of bread on a wooden table, and judging by its very short legs, its breed was a Munchkin.

“You have come.”

Borrowing the form of a cat, Empress Sophien yawned and then looked at Gawain and Ria before gesturing to her front seat with her tail.

“Take a seat.”

“... Yes, Your Majesty.”

Gawain and Ria took their seats.

“Is this the full complement of individuals? Merely the two of you?” asked the red-furred munchkin with a meow.

Gawain turned to Ria, his eyes silently prompting her to answer.

“No, Your Majesty. Captain Ganesha and her subordinates have also promised to participate.”

The Red Garnet Adventure Team, including Gawain, Leo, Carlos, Reylie, and Dozmu, had completed their participation and already written their blood oaths.

“

Hmm.

And?”

“And...” Ria said, hesitating for a moment, but then took a deep breath. “They are the Scarletborn clan. We have sent them an official letter of cooperation.”

Sophien remained silent.

“Of course, I sent the official letter without ever revealing the fact that it was Your Majesty’s command.”

The red-furred munchkin remained silent and looked at Ria with cunning red eyes for a long time.

“The Scarletborn clan,” repeated the red-furred munchkin.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The silence weighed heavily on Ria, but fortunately, Sophien seemed to accept the logic that the enemy of their enemy was their friend, and did not ask harshly.

“Anything further?”

“Also, if there is an internal spy, it will be convenient,” Ria continued, her tone composed.

“The internal spy already exists,” the cat replied, wagging its tail.

“... Pardon me?”

The statement that an internal spy already existed was something Gawain had not heard, and he, too, became surprised.

“Indeed, the internal spy has already been arranged by me—someone we may rely upon.”

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

In other words, it meant they were an insider from the Yukline family who would help them kill Deculein.

“Is it...”

“It is Yeriel.”

Yeriel was Yukline’s daughter and Deculein’s younger sibling, and as the Empress spoke Yeriel’s name, Ria’s and Gawain’s faces hardened.

“Your Majesty. However, Yeriel is Deculein’s—”

Though Gawain attempted to intervene, the red-furred munchkin merely snorted and struck Gawain’s philtrum with its tail.

“Theirs is a most contentious relationship.”

“It is possible that even that is a strategy, Your Majesty.”

“No,” Ria replied, shaking her head. “The relationship between Yeriel and Deculein is really the worst.”

Ria said that, clenching her fists, and somehow, in the process, she felt as if a light had turned on in her mind, seeming to understand some clue as to why Deculein had directly told her to track him.

“... Miss Yeriel will help us,” Ria continued, looking at Gawain. “She will become the new head of the family of Yukline.”

Gawain looked alternately at Ria and the red-furred munchkin.

“Indeed, that is correct. Yeriel has already reported Deculein’s schedule to us, as well as the fact that he is going back and forth across the Land of Destruction,” replied the red-furred munchkin, nodding its head.

Hearing the red-furred munchkin’s words, Ria thought that if the assassination of Deculein, achieved in cooperation with Yeriel and the Scarletborn, were to succeed in making Deculein a great villain and Demonicide punished him, only then would a justification be provided.

“You are only to target his schedule and carry out the assassination and attack on Deculein,” concluded the red-furred munchkin.

A timely justification for the Empress to forgive the Scarletborn and for Yeriel to safely inherit Yukline’s position as head of the family...