Chapter I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake. 233

I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.

Chapter 233

Deep in the forest, under the dark shade of trees where even moonlight couldn’t penetrate, rats gathered swiftly, their golden eyes gleaming.

The rats seemed to have designated spots as they gathered beneath the tree roots, laying out papers they had carried in their mouths.

Swoosh!

Eventually, a person hidden in the tree’s shadow reached out and picked up the documents.

Tap!

The man skillfully lit a match with his thumb to examine the documents.

“For the time being, Caesar’s schedule only shows meetings and internal patrols.”

In the matchlight, a long scar was visible near the man’s right eye.

He wore black armor indicating his status as a Steel Lion Knight, and a large greatsword was attached to his back.

“Tomorrow’s schedule for Raven hasn’t changed either, except for special maintenance of protective magic.”

The man set fire to the documents and threw them among the rats.

“Strange.”

One rat spoke up.

“What’s strange about it?”

“It’s about time they should be targeting Luxhope, but there’s no external reconnaissance. Just a few days ago, Jerry was racking his brains trying to draft an operation plan to occupy Luxhope, so why is it so quiet now?”

“Come to think of it, when Caesar started the meeting in earnest yesterday, they put up a sound block in the command tent.”

“A sound block spell?”

“Yes. So we couldn’t eavesdrop on any conversations inside.”

The man stroked his chin.

“Then what did Caesar do today?”

“He briefly visited Raven’s laboratory and then stayed quietly in his personal tent. He even had lunch there.”

“…Hmm.”

The man felt very uneasy.

Caesar was the one who had partially thwarted the plans of Elijah, whom the man served.

If such a person was staying quiet at this time, it must be because there was a reason he had to remain still.

‘Should I report to His Majesty?’

The man contemplated whether to report this situation to Elijah.

But remembering the Steel Fortress situation, he decided against it.

With the Steel Fortress issue already causing headaches, there was no point in reporting to Elijah based solely on slightly unusual circumstances without clear facts.

“Gather detailed information tomorrow. If they use a sound block, dig through the floor if you must, but you absolutely must hear what conversations take place. Do this even if it means taking some risks.”

“Understood.”

As he watched the rats disappear one by one into their holes, the man leaned back and closed his eyes.

***

Caesar found it quite amusing to see Brian saluting him in this setup.

Just 12 hours ago, this workplace superior who had been hitting him on the head was now saluting him.

He could understand why kings of the Joseon Dynasty went on secret inspections.

The kings must have constantly begged to go on secret inspections to savor this thrilling feeling.

After acknowledging Brian’s salute, Caesar wrote in a way that was difficult for Brian to read from his side.

[You said you’re Brian?]

Brian read the upside-down writing without comment and picked up the pen in front of him to write decisively.

[Yes, that’s correct.]

Ah, this is the feeling.

He never knew such a simple convenience could be this rewarding.

In military terms, it might be like the feeling of finally being able to put on socks while sitting as a Private First Class.

Caesar observed the young man’s handwriting carefully.

Despite writing upside down, his handwriting was both respectful and confident.

Perhaps it was the characteristic confidence of someone from special forces?

From Brian’s perspective, Caesar would be no different from a supreme commander, yet he appeared confident without showing any nervousness.

Caesar wrote upside down in a way that was easy for Brian to read.

[I heard about you from Leon. It was very impressive.]

For the first time, Brian couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

He must have remembered hitting Leon on the top of his head with a stick.

Right now, Brian must be thinking:

-I’m screwed.

Who would have known that Leon and Caesar were this close?

Caesar considered teasing Brian more but decided to let it go.

[I’m not trying to punish you, but I have a strong desire for talent. From what I can see, you seem to have quite good observational skills.]

Brian hesitated before picking up the pen.

[I would like to know in what way you think I have good observational skills.]

[I heard you tested whether Leon was deaf or not?]

[During work, I felt like he was listening to people badmouthing him, so I tested it.]

[Why did you test it?]

[Because if someone who isn’t deaf pretends to be deaf, they must have some ulterior motive.]

[What kind of ulterior motive did you think there might be?]

Brian’s hands and expression stiffened, and his breathing became rapid.

People experiencing self-doubt symptoms tend to experience something like a panic attack, just like Brian, when asked for clear answers.

Caesar was somewhat surprised that such a strong and confident person could become so vulnerable.

Caesar wrote to calm Brian down.

[Just tell me what you observed. I’ll judge and decide whether your thoughts are right or wrong. That’s my job.]

Upon reading Caesar’s writing, Brian’s breathing returned to normal and he became composed.

After taking deep but quiet breaths for a while, he began to write.

[Around the unit]

Brian hesitated whether to write more, but eventually pressed the pen down.

[Because dopplegangers have recently started increasing in numbers.]

Finally, the desired answer.

Now it begins.

[Good. Where have you seen many dopplegangers?]

[Did you already know?]

[About dopplegangers wandering around my unit? Of course I knew. That’s why I sent Leon to scout.]

Brian’s eyes showed a peculiar gleam.

[Was Leon also a member of the doppleganger specialist ranger team?]

[Something like that. Leon has a special ability.]

Brian felt reassured that his thoughts aligned with Caesar’s.

His heart rate returning to normal was evidence of this.

Caesar continued writing.

[So I’d like to hear your opinion. Where and how do the dopplegangers mainly appear?]

Brian started writing without hesitation.

[The dopplegangers mainly appear as rats. They’re mostly seen near the incinerator and command tent.]

[What makes you think they’re dopplegangers and not regular animals?]

[I noticed from behaviors like taking documents into rat holes or not running away when people are nearby. These aren’t typical animal behaviors.]

This is information Caesar already roughly knew.

He needs different information.

[Good. Is there any other information?]

[I saw those dopplegangers mainly appearing in the forest near the ravine cliff where I went with Leon.]

[Near the ravine?]

[Yes. They seem to have dug tunnels up to there. That’s why I thought these dopplegangers were the Demon King’s spies.]

From Brian’s perspective, this is an understandable misunderstanding.

Caesar decided to make sure this kind of talk wouldn’t spread within the unit.

[It’s definitely not the Demon King.]

[Are you sure?]

[Yes. I can’t tell you everything due to security reasons, but it’s not the Demon King. So don’t spread unnecessary rumors to others.]

[Yes. Understood.]

Caesar quite liked Brian.

People with good observational skills are not that common.

If he could overcome his self-doubt symptoms, Caesar would really want to keep using him.

[I’m planning to eliminate all the dopplegangers in the unit this time. Would you be okay with me assigning you a mission?]

Brian answered immediately without any hesitation.

[No. I cannot.]

Caesar used psychometry because of the unexpected answer.

[Why is that?]

[I am deaf and haven’t handled a gun for a long time. I would be more of a hindrance to the operation.]

-It’s hard to trust my judgment.

-And I haven’t fully paid for my sins yet.

‘Sins?’

What sin is he talking about?

I thought this word ‘sin’ might be deeply connected to his symptoms of self-doubt.

It felt like I needed to make physical contact to read his thoughts deeply.

[Do you really think so?]

[Yes, that’s right. I am insufficient]

Caesar grabbed Brian’s wrist as he was writing and wrote.

[We need many trustworthy people for this operation. And I think you’re one of them. Would that still not work?]

Brian’s eyes wavered.

Caesar used psychometry deeply to find the cause of that wavering.

Then Brian’s past unfolded before Caesar’s eyes.

***

Brian led his platoon members through the bushes.

-Lieutenant, is it really a doppelganger?

-I’m certain. I clearly saw it.

Brian saw a rat enter and exit the division command post.

At the end of instinctively following that rat, what he saw was the sight of the rat transforming into human form.

That person changed clothes, took a sword, and was heading toward the Orc settlement after leaving the protected zone.

It seems the creature was going to pass military information to the Demon King.

Brian continued following the footprint traces of the creature.

The creature was hurriedly going somewhere, seemingly unaware it was being pursued.

Once they catch the creature making contact with demon race forces, they would have justification for immediate execution.

Clang! Clang!

At that moment, the sound of clashing metal was heard from the front.

Brian sensed something had gone wrong and moved his feet quickly.

Upon reaching the source of the sound, he saw the ‘spy’ he had seen earlier engaged in combat alone against Orcs.

The person was struggling alone wielding a sword.

-Lieutenant, shouldn’t we help?

Brian was confused.

This person definitely transformed from a rat into a human.

They were clearly a doppelganger… But why were they fighting against Orcs?

Weren’t they on the same side?

In the moment of hesitation, the person’s right eye was deeply cut, and taking advantage of that opening, another orc thrust a club into their abdomen.

-Ugh!

The person was dying, spitting blood right in front of Brian.

Brian’s pupils shook ceaselessly.

He definitely saw it.

He definitely saw that it was a doppelganger.

Could he have been mistaken?

-Grrrr! Humans…!

The orcs discovered Brian’s platoon.

The platoon members instinctively looked at Brian.

-Lieutenant!

Brian gritted his teeth.

-Begin return fire! Secure the subject!

Brian returned fire while carrying the unidentified human who was bleeding to death.

Brian’s platoon members were all capable.

Even in the chaotic situation, they maintained composure and retreated in formation.

However, orcs were hunters and warriors from birth.

Each one was like a trained tank-type knight, making it impossible to inflict effective damage with regular bullets.

The platoon members didn’t have anti-orc weapons now, so it was impossible to prevent the orcs’ approach.

Brian’s platoon members began dying one by one from the orcs’ axes from the outside.

Brian let out an anguished cry.

-Aaaaaargh!

And he prayed.

Please let this person be a doppelganger.

Please don’t let his platoon members’ deaths be in vain.

As he was fleeing while praying again and again…

Thud!

A grenade with its pin pulled dropped right in front of him.

-…Huh?

BOOM!

There was a ringing in his ears that felt like his eardrums would burst, and he was too confused to judge his surroundings.

—-!

When Brian collapsed, his platoon members began dragging him to escape.

Brian mumbled.

No…

Just leave me…

But Brian’s platoon members didn’t abandon him.

The countless orcs chasing after Brian and the platoon members dragging him away.

That was the last sight Brian remembered, and when he opened his eyes, he was lying among countless orc corpses and his subordinates’ corpses.

***

[While I appreciate your trust, I am not as great as you think, Sir Caesar.]

Brian’s past rushed in through his wrist.

-The person brought in with him was not a doppelganger.

-I heard he was a knight on a secret reconnaissance mission.

No.

Brian definitely saw it.

He clearly saw that creature transform from a rat into a human.

But when everyone said it wasn’t true, Brian found it difficult to judge whether his judgment was right or wrong.

In this unreasonable situation where what he saw became an illusion and not a single person believed his words, Brian became weak.

Ah, I must have seen wrong.

I must have judged wrongly.

I’m an idiot who led my platoon members to meaningless deaths.

[I am not qualified, so please exclude me from this operation.]

Because Caesar had seen Brian’s hell, he couldn’t carelessly move his hand.

Caesar released Brian’s hand and wrote.

[The operation begins right after sunset tomorrow. Come find me before then. I will tell you what to do.]

Brian stepped back, saluted, and left.