Chapter I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake. 198
I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.
Chapter 198
Caesar felt the negotiations would proceed more smoothly than expected as he watched Agatha’s tail swaying.
“We have 300 wizards, myself, 103 knights, and about 1,700 regular soldiers. We’ll only stay until we recapture Luxhope.”
“Fine. That’s acceptable. Just ensure there’s no unnecessary trouble.”
“Understood.”
Raven, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.
“While I’m fine with it, won’t other soldiers fear the demon race? They’ll think their life force or blood will be drained living right next to them.”
“We can’t stay in Luxhope though. Honestly, it’s terrible as a defensive position. It’s too exposed, with many high grounds nearby making surveillance too easy.”
“Still, the soldiers will be anxious.”
“They’ll face this issue anyway once we start trading magic stones with Agatha. We need to break their prejudice about the demon race being dangerous for successful trade.”
“If you can convince them, that’s fine. But I’m not sure if that’s possible.”
“Well, if it doesn’t work out, nothing we can do.”
Suddenly, Agatha jumped up and said:
“No! If that’s the problem, I’ll help!”
Caesar was taken aback by Agatha’s enthusiastic response.
“Huh? No need to go that far.”
“No, after all you’ve done for me. I can help with this much. Let me think…”
Raven’s face turned red, seeing her past self in Agatha.
-Why don’t you come to Gale Magic Tower with me? I’ll give you a place to stay and help find your family. What do you think?
-Then stay just for tonight. You love eating a lot, right? Tonight’s dinner will probably be delicious…
When she had tried to keep Barre from leaving.
Now she had no feelings left for Barre.
Or maybe a little?
No, really none, but that love-struck woman’s magic waves were driving her crazy.
‘Aaagh please stop.’
While Raven was hanging her head low, trying to endure as her embarrassing memories kept surfacing, Agatha snapped her fingers.
“Right! Your food storage burned down, right? I’ll share some food. We have extra from our recent harvest. Things like mushrooms.”
“No, that’s a bit…”
“It’s fine. We have plenty of food. We also receive tributes from the beast people.”
“Well… But this isn’t…”
Finally, Raven jumped up from her seat and said:
“Thank you! We’ll enjoy it!”
“Huh?”
“That’s enough, let’s go back. The troops will worry. If they can’t be convinced, I’ll personally guarantee it’s safe! So let’s stop here!”
“Raven, why are you so excited?”
“Just because!”
When Caesar was about to read Raven’s mind, her wand stopped right in front of his eyes.
“You were trying to read my mind, weren’t you? You really want to die?”
“…Understood.”
“Anyway, negotiations are over. Caesar, let’s go!”
Raven felt she would lose her mind if she had to watch any more of Agatha’s clinginess.
***
Caesar and Agatha returned to the main force riding Whitey.
As soon as Caesar returned, wizards rushed to scan Whitey, Caesar, and Raven’s bodies.
“There are no traces of hypnosis or mental magic.”
“No other magical traces either.”
Caesar headed to the main camp tent.
Inside the tent was quiet but the gazes were intense.
Caesar passed through the people and went to the head seat.
After receiving the golden dagger from Jerry, Caesar sat in the head seat.
Everyone focused on Caesar’s words.
“First, I listened well to what both sides want and plan to accept most of Queen Agatha’s conditions. However, please understand that I cannot share details as these are sensitive diplomatic matters.”
“So what should we do going forward?”
“This open field is honestly too vulnerable to attacks from Elijah or other raiders. So we’ll leave here and…”
Caesar pointed to the Eagle valley with his command staff.
“Head to Eagle valley.”
People responded to Caesar’s words with silence.
Caesar took this as a signal that Jerry and Timber had complicated feelings.
“If anyone wishes to stay behind, they may do so. If needed, I’ll guide you to join the allied forces led by Lord Mitchell. However, we cannot spare food or ammunition.”
The first person to stand up at Caesar’s words was Gideon.
“Viscount El Lindger. May I say something?”
“Go ahead.”
“Just give us orders. If you tell us to follow, we’ll follow. If you tell us to die, we’ll die. That’s why I came here.”
The next person to stand was Jerry.
“That’s right. Viscount El Lindger is this unit’s commander. Just give us orders. We’ll follow you even into death.”
Then everyone in the tent stood up.
Timber did the same.
“Viscount El Lindger has never made a wrong decision. Honestly, this decision is hard to understand but I know there must be a reason.”
Caesar felt both moved and heavy-hearted.
He was happy to have so many who trusted and followed him, but his heart was heavy with the responsibility of protecting the lives of those who came looking only to him.
Caesar stood up.
“Alright. Seems I underestimated you all. Feel free to curse this foolish commander all you want.”
Caesar drew the golden dagger and stuck it in the map.
“Follow me. I’ll keep you alive and send you back home.”
***
Caesar and the soldiers packed up and headed to Eagle valley with white flags raised.
The road to Eagle valley had been thoroughly cleared while Caesar was away, making it easy even for wagons to pass.
‘But the problem is food.’
Although they agreed to receive some food from Agatha, they can’t rely on that forever.
This matter needs to be discussed with other staff members.
Lost in various thoughts, they soon arrived at Eagle valley.
The broken bridge had been solidly repaired by the mountain tigers who reportedly took on the restoration recently.
Agatha and other demon race were waiting on that repaired bridge.
The soldiers all swallowed hard as they watched the demon race standing on the bridge.
Although Caesar was leading from the front, seeing demon race up close was surely frightening.
Caesar stopped Whitey at a reasonable distance.
“Everyone stop and wait here. I’ll go talk with them and return.”
“Is it alright to go alone?”
“Raven will come with me.”
Raven got up from the wagon and naturally tried to mount behind Caesar.
At that moment, Gloria extended her hand to Raven.
“I will escort Lady Raven.”
Raven read the fear flowing from Gloria’s body.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“I need to do at least this much to be called Sir Caesar’s aide.”
Although Gloria trusted Caesar, it wasn’t that she wasn’t afraid of demon race.
But she judged this was a fear she would have to endure eventually, and if she had to face it, now was the right time.
Gloria couldn’t live just staring at Caesar’s back forever.
Gloria wanted to stand beside Caesar.
“Alright. Gloria will come with me and Jerry will be temporary commander. We plan to set up camp here, so conduct perimeter reconnaissance.”
“Yes, understood.”
Caesar, Gloria, and Raven headed to the bridge.
Gloria led her horse as proudly as possible.
Perhaps it was her mafia experience?
Her act of pretending not to be scared despite being scared was perfect.
When Caesar stood before Agatha, he dismounted from Whitey.
Caesar greeted Agatha with courtesy.
“Thank you for allowing us this good land, Queen Agatha.”
Looking at Gloria who was swallowing hard behind them and the wizards and knights who would be eavesdropping behind her, Agatha spoke.
“I have no problem giving away empty space. More importantly, what do you plan to do about the conditions I gave?”
“I plan to send them to Arch Duke as soon as possible. Of course, we’ll need a ship for that, but… I’ll have to think about that issue.”
“As it happens, I think there might be a way to solve that problem. I’d like to discuss that matter in detail if that’s alright?”
Caesar looked at Gloria and spoke.
“Tell the soldiers not to act rashly while I’m gone, Gloria.”
“Yes, understood.”
“And Raven comes with me. That way you can trust me, right?”
Raven nodded.
“Of course.”
Raven dismounted and stood beside Caesar.
Although Agatha didn’t seem to like that much, there was nothing she could do.
They had agreed to generally include Raven when meeting with Agatha.
Then Agatha spoke while looking at Gloria.
“Was it Gloria?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
“While you’re going, take the gifts I gave as well. There’s some food. I’ll just leave the cart, so tell them to take it with the horse as they see fit.”
Gloria nodded slightly.
“Understood.”
Gloria blushed, seemingly excited about having exchanged words with the queen.
-I can’t believe I’m talking with the Demon Queen…!
-My heart is racing from nervousness.
-She didn’t cast any charm magic on me, did she?
-But how can someone be that beautiful?
-Is she naturally beautiful because she’s a succubus?
“Gloria, you may go now.”
“Ah, yes.”
Caesar, Raven, and Agatha crossed the bridge with other vampires and succubi.
While crossing, Agatha whispered quietly to Caesar.
“Why did you make her your adjutant?”
“She’s my apprentice.”
“What? Apprentice? Does she use an axe too?”
“No, she uses a sword.”
“Then did you teach her swordsmanship?”
“No, Gideon taught her that.”
“Then what’s the deal? She’s not really your apprentice. There’s no reason to make her your adjutant, is there? Couldn’t you just make Gideon your adjutant?”
“What? Give her to Gideon? That’s nonsense. Why would I give such a promising person to someone else? With experience and support, she has the potential to become an excellent knight.”
“…You didn’t just take her in because of her looks?”
“Will you stop saying such nonsense? More importantly, didn’t you say there was a way to deliver a letter to Arch Duke in the Empire? What is it?”
Agatha pointed to the sea with her chin.
“I thought we could ask the mermaids. If we leave on sea dragons, we could reach Empire territory in less than ten days.”
Raven’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.
“You can summon mermaids?”
“Of course. We’re allies.”
“Come to think of it, there were mermaids when we attacked the ships on the Eileen River. Since when have you been allies?”
“Not long. They helped us escape from the demon realm.”
When Agatha reached back, Borden handed her a conch shell.
“If you blow this underwater, mermaids will appear. They’ll probably help deliver the letter if we ask.”
“Let’s say the letter gets delivered. But how do we get it to Arch Duke? It could be problematic if mermaids directly hand it to humans.”
Caesar thought about Raven’s question for a moment before speaking.
“That method probably won’t work. Humans still have a strong aversion to the demon race and mermaids; they’d probably shoot first if they saw a mermaid.”
“…They’re complete cowards.”
“It’s natural to be wary of unfamiliar things. But there must be another way. Let’s think about it more. Thanks for considering it.”
“No problem. Shall we get to the main point now?”
“Main point?”
When Agatha gestured, the succubi brought a small box.
“What’s this?”
“Potions.”
“…Potions?”
Caesar wasn’t particularly pleased about the potions.
However, they would be essential for bedridden patients.
Due to the civil war, there were quite a few patients with serious injuries, and potions would be necessary for proper treatment.
“How did you get these?”
“They’re spoils from raiding ships that were transporting the demon race. I brought them for urgent patients.”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t seem very pleased. Don’t humans usually love potions? Are you different?”
It was awkward to explain.
To explain about potions, he’d have to bring up the Saint, and explaining how he knew about that would require lying.
Caesar didn’t want to lie to convince Agatha.
“No, we really needed these. Shall we see how many are in there?”
Caesar lifted the cloth covering the box to check how many potions were inside.
He tilted his head.
“…These are potions?”
“Yes. Why?”
Agatha looked in the box.
“Huh? What’s this? Why are they like this?”
Potions are normally red.
The higher the holy water concentration, the redder they become.
But these potions were clear like water.
“What is this? They were fine just this morning. Why are they like this?”
When Agatha questioned the succubus, she panicked.
“I-I don’t know either, Your Majesty.”
“Did someone switch them? Who was managing…”
“No. These are the real potions.”
Caesar picked up a potion bottle.
The cork was perfectly sealed with wax, showing no signs of tampering.
There was no evidence of substitution.
“They’ve just ceased to be potions.”
“…What do you mean? How can they cease to be potions?”
“The holy water’s power has completely disappeared.”
“What? Can that happen?”
Caesar threw the potion bottle down into the Eagle valley.
“This happens occasionally, about once every 10 years. This time it’s just been longer.”
“Then until when can’t we use potions?”
“Until the Holy Grail Knights find the next Saint.”
Caesar watched Gloria approaching at the front with the knights.
Soon the Holy Grail Knights and White Tower priests would flood into the demon realm.
To make Gloria the Saint.
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