Chapter 27

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on January 27, 2025

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“Aldred felt a slight surprise, but soon let out a hollow laugh.”

“Did you say you’d resolve this in three days?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Are you planning to gather the residents in one place and take out the demon race?”

The Windsor Knight Order. Experts in hunting demons that should not be underestimated.

But Aldred knew too well that the underlying meaning was “by any means necessary.”

He had already experienced it painfully firsthand.

“Do you think my knights fought and sacrificed their lives for this?”

“I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“Are you really asking me whether I think people would accept the death of their families just because they’re labeled as demons?”

“If we get emotional about it, it becomes an endless problem. We need to cut it off now; otherwise, it will only spread.”

Aldred sighed as he looked at Cecilia, who genuinely didn’t seem to understand.

“You have no human heart.”

Frustrated, Aldred took another drag from his cigarette.

“You really think you’re suited for this mission? Well, let me tell you, you are the very last person who should take it on.”

“It’s crucial that you cooperate.”

“Cooperation? There’s none of that. Wait until the proper battle begins. Any other actions are strictly prohibited.”

“I object. This type of demon won’t reveal itself until the city is fully occupied. By the time that happens, it will be too late.”

“Just one question, Cecilia Windsor.”

Aldred spoke coldly.

“Do you think that if you kill the hidden demons, it will all be over?”

“……”

Cecilia tightly sealed her lips.

Aldred turned away and looked out the window, smoking his cigarette.

After a long pause, a response came.

“I understand.”

A sound of clothes rustling reached his ears. It was likely a salute. Without hesitation, Cecilia left the room.

‘Orders and all that.’

Her quiet exit only showed that she couldn’t grasp the situation properly.

If she had truly understood, she would have rushed to the village with a sword, ready to kill.

That was the Windsor way of prioritizing the mission above all else.

“Damn Windsors.”

Count Aldred roughly extinguished his cigarette.

**

“Lady Cecilia… Are you okay?”

Nom nom.

Cecilia was happily munching on a pork cutlet with her fork.

A delicious apple pie sat in front of Beatrice, but she was fidgeting.

Cecilia, having been swept away by Aldred’s summons, seemed completely unconcerned as she said, “Let’s eat first,” and found a nearby inn.

“The Count has given a waiting order.”

“That’s true, but…”

“The Count can’t become a duke without any capabilities. It’s the only title that can’t be inherited in this kingdom.”

Cecilia focused intently on her knife, struggling to cut through the meat.

This pseudo pork cutlet hadn’t even been properly thinned out, making it really tough to slice.

“The Count must have his own plans. It’s a shame he hasn’t shared them, but there’s nothing we can do.”

‘Eating isn’t your strong suit, huh?’

Beatrice swallowed nervously. She could slice through a demon’s neck cleanly, yet struggled with this pork cutlet.

“…So what, are we just supposed to wait?”

“Waiting for the enemy to act first is a poor strategy, but it’s fine. In this mission, that might actually be the better option.”

‘But for real, why’s it so hard to slice?’

Cecilia was at war with the pork cutlet. Was she just lacking strength? But if she strained harder, the plate might break.

Seeing this, Beatrice finally spoke up.

“Um… Let me have a go. I’ll cut it for you.”

Cecilia looked up with big, rabbit-like eyes.

After glancing around, she shyly pushed the plate towards Beatrice.

With great skill, Beatrice sliced the pork cutlet into bite-sized pieces. Cecilia’s eyes sparkled.

What a wonderful qualities of a subordinate.

“Thank you.”

Now enjoying her pork cutlet in comfort, Cecilia looked incredibly happy, snapping Beatrice out of her daze.

“But do you really think a fight will happen? At this rate…”

“It will happen.”

Even in a modern world where science had advanced, ultimately, it was the infantry that walked on two legs that conquered in the end.

The same went for demons. No matter how much they fly or crawl, ultimately, they had to lead their monstrous brethren to conquer this castle.

‘If the Duke isn’t a fool, he won’t let the demon numbers grow any larger.’

“If the demon numbers aren’t allowed to grow, then the only option left for them will be invasion.”

“Ah… I hadn’t thought of that. You’re right.”

But there was something disquieting.

‘What was the vice commander doing during all this? And… Was there something I wasn’t able to comprehend?’

She planned to ask about Edward after the mission was over. He likely wouldn’t share anything right now.

What bothered Cecilia was the latter point. However, she didn’t want to act rashly. If she planted any more negative impressions, it would only complicate matters.

Dealing with demon-related matters with ample time was always the best approach. Cecilia decided to observe for a while.

Train Beatrice, sleep in late—something not allowed in the royal city.

‘Hmm. Not bad.’

Cecilia ate her pork cutlet with a faint smile. It tasted even better than before.

But as always, incidents tend to break out at moments like this.

-Son…! Where have you been all this time?

“…A demon’s presence.”

“Ah.”

‘I’m not Conan.’

Cecilia sluggishly got to her feet, followed closely by Beatrice, whose expression was tense.

“I’m so glad you’re back, I’m so glad.”

A middle-aged man was sobbing as he held a boy of about 14 years old in his arms.

The boy appeared emotionless, but perhaps he sensed something, as he stared intently at Cecilia.

Cecilia’s pupils narrowed.

“Do you know how much I’ve missed you? How often I prayed just to meet you in a dream? The goddess has finally answered my prayers.”

The boy’s gaze shifted back to the man.

His previously emotionless face now showed a slight smile.

“I’m sorry for being late. Father.”

“Yes…! Now, don’t go anywhere.”

“I’m back.”

“Huhuhuh.”

The man wept, holding the boy’s head close to him.

People around watched the scene with teary eyes.

Some gripped the small hands of the child even more tightly, as if they would never let go again.

“W-what is this?”

“Now I get it. How this works.”

The demon race didn’t infiltrate the village by “killing people.”

They came in by “pretending to be the dead.”

‘It’s not your average doppelganger.’

The demonic presence was clear.

But it seemed to be decreasing slightly.

The demons were imitating. Moreover, they were quickly learning.

From the memories of the counterpart, the “precious person” of the moment they wished most for.

Eventually, even Cecilia would find it difficult to detect them.

They would truly morph into living humans.

That’s just…

‘Disgusting.’

Swoosh.

Cecilia drew her sword and pushed through the crowd.

“No, don’t!”

The crying man blocked Cecilia’s way.

“Get out of the way. That’s not your son.”

“I know that much!”

A determination was felt.

Even if it meant his own death, he was resolved to protect.

It was a conviction that someone who has lost something precious could show.

“Do you think you understand? The tears I shed every day in your son’s empty room, the emotion of a parent who has lost their child!”

“But it’s still a demon. If we don’t cut it off now, it will become even harder to deal with later.”

The man shuddered at Cecilia’s words.

He lowered his head. His lips trembled.

“I don’t care. You don’t understand. How I envied everyone whose dead loved ones came back.”

‘This is troublesome.’

Demons have tiers. This one was the most dangerous kind—“emotion-manipulating.”

The demon knew exactly what was the most vulnerable point of humans.

It could be harder to deal with than the demon king.

“It doesn’t matter if that happiness is a lie. The moment I lost my son, I was as good as dead myself. So please… please… just leave it be. I’m begging you.”

The man knelt down.

“If you must kill, then let it be me first.”

Cecilia quietly raised her sword.

To lose someone valuable is an unspeakable sorrow.

Even to understand it is arrogance, and offering comfort is a reckless act.

He would probably curse until the end of his days. That was fine. It was only natural.

But Cecilia must not fall into that pit.

She understood.

Once left alive in her emotional turmoil, countless individuals like this man would emerge.

To eliminate this sorrow, she must bear this sorrow herself.

“C-cecilia!”

Just as she was about to swing her sword, Beatrice stepped in front of her.

“I think it’d be better to stop.”

“If I don’t kill it now, I’ll regret it.”

“But…”

Beatrice hesitated, grasping Cecilia’s collar.

Cecilia sighed and tried to shake her off.

But she could not move after hearing Beatrice’s next words.

“You look so… tired, Lady Cecilia.”

**

“You came back faster than I expected.”

Count Aldred was sipping wine in his office under the dim moonlight.

“I thought it would take at least three days. So today was ‘the day,’ huh?”

“…You were aware then.”

“There’s a cycle. Once a week, the dead rise again.”

Cecilia emerged from the shadows.

She didn’t say a word. But Aldred responded.

“I figured it was quicker to see it for myself.”

“The original plan was to kill the summoner. If the main body gets threatened, it will recall the demons of the territory. But that was likely impossible.”

“If it can create minions, at the very least, it’s a high-ranking demon.”

“So you were obsessed with the Sword Emperor.”

“Right. If there was someone of Sword Emperor caliber, I believed I could somehow combine forces with my troops and make it work.”

“Do you know the enemy’s location and information?”

“The Deception demon, Priscilla. That’s what we call it.”

Before he knew it, Aldred had finished one glass and was pouring more wine.

“I’m cooperating.”

“……”

“I’ll apologize for the earlier insult. You’re definitely not the same Windsor from back then.”

He offered a bitter smile.

“I rarely misjudge, you know. It’s delightful… to be wrong this time.”

Cecilia directed her gaze to the floor.