... As expected, I'd better go back. I know that disobeying the words of either of the two monarchs in the current situation was a dangerous action that could put my life at risk, but wouldn't it be right to avoid the death at hand? If I left the death that came after that to my future self, things would work out somehow.
'My life has always been like a candle in the wind.'
It's been like this ever since the day I went to war, so there's nothing new about it.
I felt a sudden surge of stress and closed my eyes tightly. My complicated mind became clear and my mental fatigue went away a little.
'Oh, I'm craving the drugs. Even alcohol...'
I've always been like that, so even though I quit taking drugs a long time ago, I wonder why I crave it so much these days.
Anyway, let's go back first. As I made that decision and turned around, a vibration came from the communication stone I had in my arms.
'What? Did I take a wrong turn?'
I think I got the direction right...
With a brief question, I took out the communication stone.
As soon as I connected the communication stone, what I heard was a short groan that sounded like pain.
"What... did I take a wrong turn?"
"No. Deon, get ready. The work may end sooner than we thought. The monsters are moving your way now."
"... Yes!?"
I was trying to run away now.
The ground shook slightly, as if to let me know that it was already too late to run away. ... Yes, he said it was at a level that I could handle on my own. Let me see them.
I turned my head to find the source of the vibration. I could see a tree on one side crashing down, revealing five or six large monsters.
... Haha.
'Is this something I can handle on my own? He's serious?'
How high did he rate my level?
He said there were't that many of them, and this number is definitely smaller than other groups of monsters I've encountered so far.
It's small, but...
'It's no joke! The trees are broken!'
After silence, I barely opened my mouth. Even so, my voice did not tremble and I calmly called out to the other person.
"Demon King?"
"Oh yeah. If you leave the communication stone on, it will be a distraction, right? I'll hang up first. Please contact me when you're finished cleaning up."
Pop.
...
"Hah... Shit..."
The hand holding the communication stone suddenly gained strength. I wanted to just throw it away and vent all my anger, but...
I quietly lowered my gaze. The communication stones is fine, but only the hand that used strength had turned white and was trembling, a pitiful sight.
After taking a quick look at it, I relaxed my hands and put the communication stone in my arms.
Yes, living comes first. Since my body was already weak, I can't relax my strength in unnecessary places.
"Okay, let's see who dies, you bastards."
I took out my familiar dagger and glared at the guys running towards me. And I remembered my head gradually rising as the distance got closer...
'Did I go crazy when I realized how ridiculously large they were?'
I don't remember anything after that.
***
They also failed to kill Deon Hardt. Some of them were even eliminated by an unknown person before they could reach Deon Hardt.
The Duke quietly crumpled the note he was reading in his hand and raised the corners of his mouth. His gaze rose and he made eye contact with the other nobles standing in front of him.
... It's annoying, but dealing with them should be a priority right now.
"So... why did you come to me without any message?"
That's how many people did it.
He moved his eyes from left to right and slowly looked at the people in front of him. Familiar faces. If they weren't from the Aristocratic faction, they would have been kicked out right away.
While he was swallowing his subtle regret with his tea, one of the people who had been sitting on the sofa watching him mustered up the courage to boldly open their mouth.
"I think the Emperor is crazy."
"Oh."
That's too bold.
It's not completely wrong, but it's not something to say out loud like this.
He slowly put down the glass he was holding. Once he took on the attitude of listening, others seemed to gain courage and began to raise their claims loudly.
"From the beginning, it was a war at a disadvantage for the Empire. Even if we win or lose, it's still a loss."
"We have to stop it now."
"It is still early in the war, so it is not too late."
It was true that it was a war at a disadvantage for the Empire, and it was true that it was a loss whether it won or lost. If they can stop it, it's right to stop it, but...
The Duke lifted his delicate hand and placed it on his chin, tilting his head. His purple hair flowed to the side as he moved.
"What is the reason you come to me and make your claim? All I can do is give advice to His Majesty. The Emperor... don't you know?"
If you rebuke him, you'd be lucky if your head didn't fly off.
Because the Emperor was especially merciless towards the Aristocratic faction.
"You insisted that we should stop it, but is there any way to do it?"
"... That."
"For your information, this war has already been declared. Even if you want to stop here, there is a possibility that the Demon King will not accept it. It will have to be a plan that takes all of this into account."
Even so, he was on edge after hearing some unsatisfactory news. If the plan they come up with was clumsy, it would be a good idea to be prepared.
The Duke smiled brightly as he put the crumpled note in his clenched hand into the remaining teacup. The nobles, who sensed something ominous, trembled as if they were not completely oblivious.
Still, one opened their mouth.
"I'm going to hit the Emperor's... neck."
Unfortunately, it wasn't a very good method.
The Duke stopped and couldn't believe his ears at the sudden suggestion of treason.
"... I beg your pardon?"
"The Demon King said that he would retreat if the Empire made no further moves. But the Emperor is a warmonger. Rather, he welcomes the war against the demon realm and has no intention of stopping it. So..."
"You will stop the war by beheading the Emperor?"
"If we hand over the Emperor's head to the Demo King, won't the Demon King know what we mean and retreat?"
"Ha..."
That's stupid.
As he was looking at them, the Duke felt like his head was pounding for no reason, so he quietly closed his eyes.
Negative emotions such as anger and irritation boiled over, but then subsided under the pressure of cold reason.
Perhaps due to the aftermath of the rapid emotions that soared to the point of explosion, a voice close to lament came out weakly.
"Why don't you know that that's what the Demon King wants?"
"... Yes?"
"Have you ever thought about why the Demon King said that when he declared war?"
"Yes? That's right..."
He trailed off. The Duke tried waiting for a while just in case, but there was no answer.
That really was a noble of the empire.
"Of course it led to internal strife, didn't it? Aiming for division within the human world and division within the Empire! The Demon King is trying to create strife against humanity!"
Voices rose unexpectedly.
The Duke wiped his face and lifted the teacup in front of him, then found the note he had put in a moment ago and calmly put it down. He couldn't call the employee because of the topic they were talking about right now, so he had no choice but to endure it.
The brief silence that had fallen for a moment was broken by a calmer voice again.
"You must have learned history with the basic knowledge of an aristocrat."
"Yes, yes... of course..."
"Then you understand. What was the cause of the majority of countries failing?"
"..."
There was no answer again.
This country was bad. Even if it wasn't because of the monarch, it was because of his subjects. Even the Emperor knew the importance of history, so where did such stupid nobles come from?
As he once again saw the shortcomings of the hereditary system before his eyes, he felt the urge to wholeheartedly support those calling for revolution. Of course, it was just a fleeting impulse.
The Duke sighed and calmly answered.
"It's internal dispute."
"Ah..."
What is 'Ah...'?
Of course, the proportion of countries that collapsed due to foreign powers has increased due to the current Emperor, but ultimately, throughout history, the cause of the fall of almost all countries was internal strife.
"On the outside, it may seem like it collapsed due to foreign forces, but if you look into the details, there were many cases where it was already in a precarious state due to internal strife."
When a country is in trouble due to internal strife, another country suddenly touches it and it collapses.
"But... dividing the nobles into various factions and fighting against each other has been the practice since before this country became an empire. According to what the Duke said, this country will soon..."
"Oh my god."
They couldn't even tell the difference between political confrontation.
A sigh came out of nowhere. The Duke looked at them in bewilderment, not even thinking about removing the hair that had flowed down like a curtain.
"... Who said confrontation was bad? Political confrontation is a natural phenomenon that inevitably happens in order to achieve better results."
"Then, just now..."
"However, the confrontation and the replacement of the Emperor must be done depending on the situation. Even if such a thing were to be done while the country was still intact, wouldn't it be dangerous to engage in a confrontation in a situation where there is a threat from foreign powers?"
How many times did his blood pressure rise today? There were limits to suppressing emotions with reason.
The Duke raised his hand, pressed his forehead, and spoke quietly.
"All nobles have a basic obligation to protect their country, whether politically or militarily. No matter how divided our factions are, if a foreign force attempts to invade, we must join forces to drive them out. The fight is what comes after."
Why do you think you are eating well and living well right now?
Protecting the people of the Empire was the number one duty of nobles and monarchs. Out of frustration, sharp words welled up in his throat.
He swallowed them hard, placed his clasped hands on his crossed knees, and smiled brightly at those who were just looking at him.
"The words went to a slightly different place, but you understand now. This means that you cannot be influenced by the words of the Demon King. How can you believe the Demon King's words in the first place? There are rumors throughout the continent that demons are prone to lies. Even if you hand over the emperor's head and receive a promise of peace, will they protect us?"
"..."
"So, in the current situation, beheading the Emperor is consistent with destroying this country and handing over the human world to the Demon King. Do you want to wear the crown alone in a collapsed country and play the role of a master with no one to cater to you?"
Of course, before you can even play such a meaningless game of house, you will already be dead and only corpses will be lying around.
Anyway, he thought they understood it correctly as intended. The nobles, whose faces turned pale, hurriedly waved their hands.
"Oh, no."
"We were foolish."
"... His Majesty has said this over and over again. It is a sin for the person standing on top to be foolish. I think you need to know why history is one of the basic studies of nobles."
He thought they would leave him alone if they came with a clumsy plan... but when they came up with a plan that was stupider than he could imagine, he lost my strength.
The Duke, who was suddenly tired, raised his hand and gave the order to dismiss the guests.
"I also need to find out the truth about the rumor about the Honorary Marquis Deon Hardt vampire theory..."
"... Please leave."
"Yes, yes!"
In the space left behind after the people who were watching hurriedly left, he remembered the note he had been looking at before those stupid nobles arrived.
'Attacks always fail, and poisonings fail because he either throws the poisoned food by pretending it was a mistake or detecting it before eating it...'
In addition, there was the protection of someone whose name was unknown.
In addition to formidable skill, unbelievable luck. To be honest, he was a little disappointed, but...
'... Whether it's luck or skill, if I keep pushing until I succeed, it will happen someday.'
Because his thoughts had not yet changed, the Duke did not withdraw his initial request for murder, telling them to try until they succeeded, saying he would give them as much money as they wanted.