Why?
I stared at their faces. Unlike most imperial citizens, their skin color was slightly darker. And wearing an unfamiliar form of armor.
When had I seen it? Yes, I saw it during the Eight Year War when there was a conflict with a kingdom in the South.
'After all, this is the South.'
Although I'm not sure exactly where yet.
As soon as I realized that this was the South, the rest naturally came to mind.
Of course, there was something to check before putting confidence in the hypothesis that had emerged.
Anyway, the people in front of me wouldn't be able to react right away no matter what they heard, so I called Dvelania without hesitation.
"Dvelania."
"Yes."
"Was this boundary discovered before or after the quarter change?"
I know that the demons refer to the periods of my coming and going as 'quarters'.
Was the boundary discovered before or after I came to the cemon realm?
Even though she paused for a moment, the answer came back with an inexplicable smile, as if she had never done it before.
"It was before the quarters changed."
You hid it for a really long time. When on earth were you planning on reporting this?
Anyway, thanks to you, I found the answer.
The Empire did not know that a border with the demon realm has been created in the south. On the other hand, seeing as the knight was here, the kingdom here was definitely aware of the existence of a border line.
In other words, this kingdom deliberately hid the existence of the border.
The reason is...
'The situation in the Empire has been quite unusual these days, hasn't it?'
He must have been afraid to let people know because the situation was so bad. So, in order to hide our existence, they were giving us money and robes in hoping that we wouldn't get into trouble.
Anyway, I don't have a plan to cause an accident and I'm just going to quietly watch and then go back, so there's no problem.
I watched Dvelania and Ben putting on their robes, then looked at the money bag in their hands.
'I have benefited.'
"Oh, and I'm telling you in case you don't know."
"...?"
"Things... are not stolen, but bought... with money."
"..."
"...I'm a mercenary, so in case you don't know... I'm also a being who wanders around the continent a lot...I was really, really just in case..."
The voice was shaky, as if it wasn't true even though he was saying it, and got smaller and smaller.
After silently listening to his desperate words, I quietly turned my head and looked at Dvelania.
You bastards...
What on earth happened and how much did you steal?
...Let's go back.
This was a conclusion that came shortly after arriving at the market. Where should I start explaining? So, just as I arrived at the market, I was wondering what to do with this newly acquired information.
Important information that the Empire did not yet know.
Should I immediately contact the Empire and report this, or should I just pretend not to know?
Regardless of the deepening concerns, the conclusion had already been decided.
'...I belong to the demon realm right now.'
There was no need to think about the Empire now.
In the demon realm, I only have to think about the demon realm and in the Empire, I only have to think about the Empire.
The moment I raised my head after concluding once again the conclusion that had already been made, something happened.
What kind of place was the market? Wasn't it a crowded place?
It's a place where people bump into each other while walking.
The only thing I didn't expect was that this body was annoyingly weak and that there were time bombs around me.
Pow!
"Ugh–"
My body stumbled greatly. Unlike a gentle bump, the body hit really well and fell backwards.
Thanks to Ben's support, the body was able to avoid an unsightly appearance, but the impact it received was unable to be hidden and blood vomited out of the mouth.
Blood spilled on the market floor.
"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk."
"Oh my god! Are you okay?"
"You bastard!!"
The roles of the two changed for a moment. Why was Dvelania watching me and Ben was holding someone by the collar?
The two must have realized that fact too late and quickly changed places.
Ben hurriedly adjusted his position to prevent the blood from spilling, and Dvelania grabbed the guy's collar as if nothing had happened and looked like he was pondering what to do with this.
Just when I thought that this was really going to lead to a chase for murder, the knights appeared.
"How dare you start a fight in the middle of the market?"
Even though no one in particular came forward to explain, there was no hesitation in their actions as if they knew everything.
Two knights grabbed both arms of the guy.
"What... what is this..."
"Take it with you."
"No, why, this– Ow!"
"You talk a lot."
"Why are the Royal Knights here!!"
I looked at them with vain eyes as they disappeared from sight in an instant, and then turned my head.
It was ominous from the start, but I guess it's just my mood.
It was just a coincidence...
Yeah... This was the beginning.
"Where are the guards going and why...!"
"Let's go."
"Help me! I won't do that again..."
Even when I almost got pickpocketed.
"Oh my, Nari! I did it to make a living!"
"Let's go."
"Nariiii!!"
Even when I almost got the fruit I picked at the market exchanged for bad quality fruit.
"Kolokkolok-!"
"What is this! Is it poison?"
"Poison. Drag him..."
"No!"
You're crazy, you crazy bastards!
What should I do in this situation? I have to go back before I cause more trouble.
It looks like the knights will keep chasing people away from us until w return. From their point of view, they may be trying to end things on their own before the demons cause trouble, but for me, it feels like it's making things worse.
In the meantime, I hugged the picked tea leaves tightly in my arms and quietly called out to the two.
"Let's go back now."
"Oh, already?"
"Yes, I got all the information I needed."
The tea leaves I was holding right now were Deusa tea leaves, a tea circulated among nobles at a very high price as it was difficult to obtain not only in the Empire but also in other kingdoms.
This was on the market at a relatively cheap price. What did that mean?
'Among the Southern kingdoms, this kingdom is big enough to sell this precious tea on the market for so cheap.'
There was only one such kingdom that I knew of.
Although it was small, it was a tea kingdom that survived by exporting tea leaves. Taehon Kingdom.
"I... the new merchant guild contacted me again regarding the distribution of Deusa tea leaves..."
"Ah! I told them I wouldn't! Why are those bastards so persistent?!"
"It seems like there is a lot of passion because it is a relatively new guild. They really want to open a distribution network."
"Okay, let's take a look and see what these bastards are offering. Tell him to come."
The only kingdom that created such a situation with Deusa tea leaves was the Taehon Kingdom.
I looked around the noisy space and looked at Dvelania.
She seemed to have read my desire to go back and nodded lightly.
"If you are satisfied... then I will guide you."
"Yes."
Let's go back quickly.
I pulled on my hood again and quickened my pace.
***
"...After observing, it was determined that the black-robed demon was not the Commander of Corps 0."
"Huh..."
The King quietly touched both temples. It was nice to hear that the black-robed demon was not the next most dangerous person after the Demon King – the Commander of the 0th Corps – but even so, he couldn't help but laugh.
He vomited blood over something that was nothing, so he definitely wasn't the Commander of the 0 Corps.
"Then who on Earth is he?"
"Well..."
A weak demon served by the Commander of the 2nd Corps.
Where on Earth could there be such a demon? To begin with, the demon realm was a place that ran on the logic of power, so the situation made no sense.
If you were weak, there was no way the 2nd Corps Commander would serve you. However, the report clearly said that the 2nd Corps Commander was 'serving' him.
No matter how much he thought about it, there was no way he could come up with an answer. In the end, the King's nerves were so tense that he pressed his bloodshot eyes and muttered in a relieved voice.
"...Should I be satisfied that they returned without causing an accident?"
He hoped they don't come over again.
He just sighed as he realized that the amount of hair falling out had been increasing recently.
"I want to do a ritual or something..."
***
After returning to the city, I couldn't resist Ben's careful urging and immediately contacted the Demon King.
Contrary to concerns, the Demon King did not impose any punishment on Dvelania and Guysitel for hiding the existence of the boundary line. He just said, "Really?" and ignored it.
I was momentarily taken aback by the very carefree response, but I soon came to terms with it.
Because the Demon King pursues thorough 'consequentialism'.
No matter what you do, as long as the results are good, it's fine.
Although the existence of the boundary line was hidden, as a result, no problems have yet arisen, so there was no reason to punish.
So, even if the Commander of the 9th Corps, who was supposed to be guarding the border, returned to the Demon King Castle and sat down just because he was bored, there would be nothing to say.
'As soon as a problem arises, the 9th Corps Commander's head will be blown off.'
"Oh, and Demon. When I come back, I want to go back to the outskirts..."
"... Yes. ...Yes?"
"Don't worry. I'm not asking you to force yourself to come back. I still remember that scene too. There were more of them than expected. I'll send the 5th Corps to meet you, so we can meet in the middle and return together."
The moment I was about to reply that I understood, I suddenly felt a sense of discomfort, so I stopped and closed my mouth.
'5th Corps...?'
If it's the 5th Corps... Um...
I guess I know why he's sending the 5th Corps out of the many legions residing in the Demon King's Castle.
I opened my mouth again, which I had hastily closed.
I tried to ask if another Corps Commander could be sent, but unfortunately the Demon King was one step faster.
"Okay then."
"..."
"I guess we can be quiet now."
Pop. Communication was cut off.
I stood there dumbfounded, unable to accept the situation, and quietly covered my mouth.
Blood poured out suddenly.
"Demon!!"
***
The Empire was in the midst of a war, and new news was pouring in every day.
For example, several kingdoms formed an alliance to fight against the Empire. While advancing South from the Eastern part of the Empire, the imperial army was pinned down by an infectious disease that spread and a kingdom army engaged in guerrilla warfare in such an environment, which was thoroughly defeated by the second hero, Stigma Primero, and his troops.
Or that Cruel Hardt, the fourth hero in the Western part of the Empire, sentenced his enemies to checkmate.
News of Nemeseus, the first hero who oversaw and promoted the Southward advance from the center of the Empire, etc....
Yes, as you may have felt at this point, the Empire was currently at war with several kingdoms at the same time.
Each hero took charge of each region and fought against each kingdom. This may be truly crazy, but unfortunately, it was reality.
The Emperor had already completed almost all transfers with the crown prince, went to the battlefield with his sword in hand, and released the hero candidates who had the hero fragments he had collected.
Surprisingly, the Empire was steadily expanding its territory despite the absurd situation of being at war with several kingdoms at the same time, wondering if all the efforts to gather talent had been in vain.
'I think he'll eat half of the continent in just two months, or even just one month.'
The Duke put aside the report he had been reading silently, placed his hands on the desk with his hands clasped together, and lost himself in thought... Anyway, when that happens, the game itself changes.
This game, too, will change into something other than a land grab.
What should he do then?
'The cards I currently have...'
Public opinion worsened toward the Salvation Church, the Emperor, and the Revolutionary Army.
Purple eyes turned to the paper on the desk with information about the Revolutionary Army. The Duke reached out and picked it up.
His indifferent eyes seemed to be reading the text, but soon became distorted with irritation.
Daniel, the leader of the Revolutionary Army who went to Ireon, returned. Even with new manpower.
'I wish you would just quietly follow my wishes.'
The Revolutionary Army did not need to gain any more strength. It should not be obtained.
The Revolutionary Army's goal was to kill the Emperor, but the only thing the Duke wanted from them was to reduce support for the Emperor.
He was in a position where he wanted to prevent anything more than that.
'Now that they have gained power, the Revolutionary Army will move. If they all decide and follow Daniel's command, they might really kill the Emperor.'
The Duke's expression hardened as he remembered their unusual leader.
The Emperor must not die at the hands of the Revolutionary Army. The power of the Revolutionary Army must be reduced.
In order to do that...
The endless thoughts stopped.
As he lowered his eyes and considered the possibilities, he unclasped his hands and called out to the woman who had been waiting to one side.
"Saerin."
"Yes, Duke."
"Reduce the number of Revolutionary troops. It would be better to separate people. You could also use the Emperor."