Chapter 64: Signs of War (Part 3)

A moment after frowning at the man who suddenly opened the door and entered, at the same time as noticing that

the man was the emperor’s messenger, we could only widen our eyes at the words that came out of the man’s mouth.

Leo asked back in disbelief.

“…Who came?”

“A demon who called himself an envoy sent from Mephistopheles suddenly came to the Imperial Palace.”

“A demon to the Imperial Palace? No, that’s not it. He said he was an envoy sent from Mephistopheles…”

Mephistopheles.

They were the perpetrators of this dungeon incident, known only to a very few, including the emperor, high-ranking

nobles related to the Imperial Family, and our Hero’s party.

A hot potato-like organization.

How long has it been since they caused dungeon terrorism all over the world, and they boldly sent an envoy to the Imperial Palace?

How did they even enter the Empire in the first place?

Did they break through the Empire’s barrier and enter through teleportation, like Ryuryeon did?

That doesn’t make sense.

The Empire’s barrier has been reinforced by Leticia and space magicians who are among the best in the Empire,

completely distorting the space so that it is impossible to enter from the outside with teleportation magic.

In short, it means that enemies invading from the outside cannot avoid the eyes of the Empire.

But if, if they really did sneak into the Empire….

“Ah! It wasn’t a sneak invasion. He wasn’t brought to the Imperial Palace because he came directly, but because he

was escorted by knights at the checkpoint, and he was originally in the underground prison, but by His Majesty’s

order, he was brought to the Imperial Palace.”

…Is it unnecessary worry?

Well, if he had sneaked in and been caught, it would have been a bigger deal than now.

By the way, he was escorted by knights at the checkpoint.

Is that right?

Isn’t it a bit anticlimactic?

Hearing those words, Leo also made a sullen expression and continued the man’s words.

“…His Majesty said he would meet that demon.”

“Yes. His Majesty said he would meet him immediately, so… I’m sorry, I should have reported to you right away,

Hero-nim… I have no excuse.”

“No. There’s no need to report His Majesty’s decision to me first. And I’m not a Hero anymore.”

“To be precise, he’s a former Hero.”

“……Yeah, yeah. He is only a former Hero. The title of Hero has already passed to his junior.”

Leo, who shrugged, his eyes chilled.

However, Leo added that it was a dangerous act for the emperor of a country to make such a decision so hastily.

If a demon who called himself an envoy suddenly turned around the moment he entered the Imperial Palace and

tried to assassinate the emperor, even if the attempt failed, it would inevitably damage the image of the Imperial

Family.

Even if there were several guards, it would have been nice if he had given us a heads-up.

“His Majesty was hasty. It’s true that this incident can’t be easily overlooked, but as the emperor of a country, he

should take more care of himself…”

“…I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. So what’s that demon doing now? Is he still staying in the Imperial Palace?”

“Yes. I heard that the demon told His Majesty what he wanted to say and proposed a deal, but I haven’t heard

anything since then… I think he’s probably still staying in the Imperial Palace.”

Because His Majesty officially announced that this dungeon terror is not something to be taken lightly.

At the man’s added words, I nodded inwardly.

Information related to Mephistopheles, which caused this incident, could be hidden, but the dungeons that had

already been seen by too many civilians, adventurers, and many people could not be hidden even if they tried to hide

them, so the emperor hid information related to Mephistopheles and spread only a little information related to the

dungeons to the public.

The organization called Mephistopheles was an unidentified organization, and the boss and its members were also

unknown.

If news that such an organization caused this incident and will soon cause a war is released all at once, it will be only

a matter of time before the Empire, as well as other kingdoms, are thrown into chaos.

Well, if it was a dangerous situation right away, it wasn’t information to be hidden, but Mephistopheles hasn’t

directly declared war yet.

So hiding it would have been right.

Although I didn’t expect them to contact us first so suddenly.

“Still, I think you heard something, what do they want?”

“Irina. He’s still His Majesty’s messenger. Be polite.”

“Tch. Chloe, don’t be so strict. Even if she’s a certain age, she can’t help it from the point of view of an elf.”

“Well, Irina is much older than us, so it can’t be helped.”

“…What?!”

“Ah, please. Both of you, stop.”

Seeing Leo, who had a tired expression, stopping the two from fighting, which was turning into a childish fight,

Leticia sighed.

Looking at the two, and looking at the man who was making an awkward expression and forcing a smile, I thought he

was pitiful inside.

Still, considering his age and position, he’s not in a position to be ignored anywhere.

Well, from the point of view of an elf, he’s young… That’s not what’s important now.

I shook my head from side to side and asked instead of Irina.

“So, as Irina said, did they have anything they wanted?”

“…Yes? Ah, yes. I came in a hurry, so I didn’t hear it in detail, but it was a rather absurd proposal from the Empire’s

point of view. They want a temporary alliance with our Empire…”

“Huh? Alliance? What kind of bullsh*t is that.”

Irina, who shot Chloe with a look that said she didn’t like it, looked at the messenger’s words with an expression that

asked what that meant, along with harsh words.

The man who received that gaze head-on flinched for a moment, and Leo, who barely mediated the two, asked back

with a tired face.

“An alliance, that’s an absurd proposal.”

“They even invaded the academy arbitrarily and caused a disturbance, and even after they left, they spread dungeons

all over the world, and now they suddenly want an alliance? Tell them to stop talking bullsh*t.”

“Leticia, please…”

I cautioned Leticia, who couldn’t stand it and spat out harsh words, and I met Leo’s eyes and smiled awkwardly.

Why is everyone in the Hero’s party so rough?

Indeed, is there even one person who can be said to be normal in our party?

“Both of you, don’t be like that. As Leticia-nim said, I, and His Majesty, also think it’s nonsense.”

He said that how can we join hands with those who arbitrarily spread dungeons and even invaded the Empire’s

academy without trust, and the man frowned.

“So they want a temporary alliance. It’s not a permanent alliance. In other words, the alliance can be broken at any

time, so what kind of alliance is that?”

It’s treating us like disposable pawns.

They may propose a deal now, saying they want an alliance or whatever, but if they eliminate all the enemies that are

annoying to them, the alliance will be broken in an instant.

An obvious intention.

I don’t know what their intention is, but the emperor must have been furious at the proposal that didn’t hide their

desire.

If they killed their envoy….

At the thought that suddenly came to mind, I asked the man.

“Hey. His Majesty didn’t kill that demon, did he?”

“…No. We don’t gain anything by arbitrarily killing the enemy’s envoy whose intentions are unknown, and His

Majesty knows that, so he is currently imprisoned in the underground prison.”

“Underground prison? This is crazy. Contact His Majesty right now, right now!”

“Yes…? Ah, so… Charlotte-nim?”

“Charlotte?”

Leaving behind the two who expressed their doubts, Leo, Leticia, and Chloe, who had expressions that realized

something.

The man and Irina, who were making questionable expressions, looked at them, who soon hardened their faces.

“That demon will die.”

“……Yes?”

“Don’t you get it? This is a trap.”

Whether we kill that demon or not, it’s not important to them.

He must be a disposable pawn.

“They call this war a war of the ancient gods, and they’re crazy people who think of it as a holy war. In other words,

no matter where he is, if that demon dies in the Empire, the Mephistopheles guys can forcefully say that the Empire

killed their member first and have a justification to declare war.”

Of course, they don’t seem to think about that, but justification was important in any war.

So if he said he committed suicide in prison, it would be troublesome.

However, a faint smile spreads on the man’s face, which hardened at my words.

…Smile?

“Hmm. I said this method wouldn’t work, but it seems I was right. As expected of Rose-nim’s daughter.”

“What?”

Incongruity.

The incongruity I felt when I met Rose Cyclamen.

I reacted involuntarily to the name Rose that came out of the man’s mouth, and I opened my eyes wide.

It’s true that the name Rose is common, but the man accurately called me Rose’s daughter.

How does the emperor’s messenger know that?

In the first place, is this man really the emperor’s messenger?

At that moment, my Demonic Eye finds a trace of some magic that wraps around the man’s body.

What dwells in my pupils is murderous intent.

I threatened the man, showing my sharp fangs, and asked.

“Who are you?”

“A messenger.”

“Bullsh*t.”

“I am a messenger. Well, not the ‘Emperor’s’ messenger.”

Then, at the sound of someone running urgently outside the door, my gaze naturally turned to it.

“Leo-nim! Urgent news. A demon who claims to be an envoy of Mephistopheles suddenly committed suicide in front

of the Imperial Palace…! Uh, uh…?”

And what I saw was a man with the same face as the man who had just been talking to us and introduced himself as

the emperor’s messenger.

Leo’s communicator, as if to match the timing, rings.

That communicator was the communicator that Leo used to communicate with the emperor.

Seeing that, the man who had been talking to us until just now distorted his expression and smiled wryly, muttering.

“Ah. I’ve been found out.”

As if this situation itself is enjoyable.