Chapter 63

“…So you got beaten up by Lady Camilla?”

Kyle started looking at me with eyes that seemed to see a fool.

“I told her it wasn’t even about her child, and she punched me in the solar plexus and the bridge of my nose.”

Even though it was a reunion after a long time, it felt like there was no part of me left unscathed, making the mood quite peculiar.

“Honestly, you deserved to get beaten.”

“It seems like you’re not on my side.”

“I’ve always been on the side of common sense.”

“…Putting my issues aside, there must be a reason you wanted to see me?”

It was quite rare for Kyle to want to see me, so I couldn’t help but be somewhat surprised. He was the type who, after doing his own work, would hole up somewhere and just sleep.

“I heard that marriage proposals are pouring in for Lord Raul.”

“The nobles must know that the demons are starting to run rampant again. They probably see me as a force to protect them.”

“Anyway, those motherf… no, annoying brats. They curse at you one moment and then flip their hands like this the next.”

“To survive, there’s nothing they wouldn’t do. They must be desperate too. To the point of wanting to marry off their precious daughters to me. Me… with my dirty blood.”

The truth my mother spat out still cruelly lingers in my heart. Just as I ravaged the giants, it burned my heart and ravaged the memories within.

Now, when I think of my mother, I can’t remember any of the things my father asked of me. I remember the words, but the meaning behind those requests has long been forgotten.

It would be a lie to say there’s no emotion. It’s just that I don’t know what to call that emotion. It’s disgustingly sticky, simultaneously cold and hot, an unpleasant feeling I don’t want to acknowledge. Foolish as I am, I don’t understand that emotion.

I just didn’t want to see my mother. That much was clear.

“I’m not here because of some noble blood. Is the blood of noblemen blue? It’s what’s inside the head that should be noble.”

“Sadly, it seems I’m not even noble in that regard.”

“…Anyway, the conversation has strayed a bit, but the atmosphere is that serious. There’s a prevailing opinion to bring Lord Raul back into the military. Is it right to do that to someone who’s already suffering? But… you know how it is. This country is dirty. It demands sacrifices, ignores them, and then demands more sacrifices when it feels the loss.”

“There are those who have given their lives for such a country, Kyle.”

“…Lady Layla certainly did. But most were just rich brats dragged into it, enjoying their parties, only to die like dogs.”

That must be the perspective of the common folk. Or, as the Demon King said, the Empire is a country of trash, so this could be the view of everyone except the Empire’s nobles.

“They are demanding sacrifices from Lord Raul again.”

“Then I must. If the enemies are starting to rise again, I have no choice but to drag this sick body to the battlefield.”

“But Her Majesty the Empress was furious. She said, ‘You dare say such things and think of pushing us back to the battlefield? Do you have no shame? Shameless trash.'”

“…That’s quite a softened version, isn’t it?”

“She said she’d skin your thick hides and shove them up your asses, and if you demand sacrifices, she’d dig up your parents’ graves and use them as firewood, and if you dare say such bullshit to Raul, she’d shove a donkey’s dick in your mouths…”

“Enough. I can imagine the atmosphere without hearing more.”

The nobles would want to send us back to the battlefield by any means necessary. It’s the most effective way to oppose the Demon King and his forces. The Demon King is injured, the King of Specters remains but rarely takes to the battlefield, and even if the Dragon Queen is alive, I could kill her.

“…Anyway, the nobles’ demands were so intense that His Majesty finally proposed a mediation. He said he would give Lord Raul a special mission.”

“A special mission?”

“He said he would dispatch Lord Raul to a village in a border region where demon movements have been detected. Sending him as a knight would raise suspicions, so he would send him as the lord of a small village for surveillance…”

“Wait. That means…”

“Yes. It’s not much different from what you used to do. It’s just a trick, but the nobles were satisfied and backed off. Anyway, His Majesty’s skill in talking nonsense has really improved.”

I never thought His Majesty would go as far as to deceive the nobles.

He was someone who despised the former Emperor, staying away from concubines and even lies. Of course, if you said he resembled the former Emperor in his skill at lying, he’d surely kill you.

But did the others really believe that lie?

“…But it’s the first I’ve heard of demons lurking in the area where I was.”

“That’s also a lie.”

“In that aspect, he’s very much like the former Emperor.”

“That’s the kind of statement that could get your head chopped off if he heard it.”

I was just telling the truth.

“Anyway, Lord Raul is being dispatched under His Majesty’s orders, albeit nominally. It seems you’ll have to wear the military uniform again.”

“It’s quite amusing to wear a uniform I didn’t even wear on the battlefield.”

“Well, since it’s nominal, wouldn’t a little show suffice?”

Kyle said this and pulled out the military uniform I used to wear.

The two stars on the shoulder and the eagle emblem unique to the military command. It was a uniform that resembled the very formalities I despised.

“It’s always been a burdensome outfit.”

“Putting this on and parading through the Imperial Army units would be as fun as it gets.”

“…You have a bad taste too.”

Who would have thought the little kid who cried when he lost his parents would grow up like this.

Same age as Rizel, but because of his position, he’s been through all sorts of social injustices and has become this rotten. There seemed to be some room for sympathy.

“Let me tell you, I became corrupt because I was rolling around as your adjutant.”

“I don’t recall giving you particularly hard tasks.”

“Cooking for 400 people, finding the classified documents you lost, taking care of your messes, and handling all the military chores?”

I had nothing to say.

Kyle’s cooking was delicious, so I always left that task to him. If others helped, the taste would drop exponentially, so cooking was always Kyle’s job.

Moreover, it was true that I had Kyle handle chores to focus on battles, that I had him look for documents I used to wrap jerky, and that I had him do laundry.

“…I’m starting to worry about my territory. I should return tomorrow.”

“Looking at your skill in changing the subject, your usual communication disorder seems like an act. What’s so important about that rural village?”

“Even if it’s close to leisure for the remaining time, it’s still my duty, Kyle. And in that rural village, there must be dozens of past Kyles. Isn’t it absurd for you, who has received our grace, to say such things?”

“Well, I’m grateful for the grace you’ve shown me… but that’s why I’m saying this. Use the little time you have left wisely.”

That’s enough. That doesn’t matter anymore.

Now, I just wanted to sort out this complicated mind. I wanted to be far away from the things that give me headaches, like the nobles, and breathe in some clean air.

“Well, I have to follow you, so I’m not in a position to say much.”

“You’re coming?”

“…Didn’t I tell you? Lord Raul is being dispatched nominally under orders. I’m going as your adjutant. We have to keep up appearances.”

I wanted to refuse. Bringing Kyle to that village, which dislikes outsiders, would definitely cause conflicts.

Kyle, who always pays back any slight, is completely incompatible with that village.

But the taste of the breakfast my maid Betty makes and the meals Kyle prepares are also incompatible. Conflicts were bound to happen, but I could handle that much on my own.

It’s not like I’m bringing Kyle along just for his cooking skills. It’s the duty of a subject to follow His Majesty’s orders.

“By the way, about His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress…”

“Lord Raul, over there…”

Kyle pointed, and there stood the Former Count’s Wife.

I wonder when she arrived. That doesn’t matter, but the conversation being cut off didn’t feel good.

No, maybe it’s just seeing her face that makes me feel bad.

The Former Count’s Wife quietly approached me and spoke.

“Raul.”

“…Kyle. Let’s move.”

Kyle seemed a bit flustered and started stammering.

“Ah, no, I…”

“I said let’s move.”

As I got up to move, the Former Count’s Wife grabbed my arm.

“What is the meaning of this behavior?”

“…I have something to tell you.”

“That’s a first. You wanting to talk to me.”

“I’m not trying to joke.”

“I know. When have you ever joked with me?”

I knew this was wrong.

I knew better than anyone that acting or speaking based on emotions is the most foolish thing.

Those who act on emotions are no different from the Demon King. No different from me, who slaughtered the giants.

Yet, my mouth didn’t follow that belief.

“I tried to talk to you many times. I knocked on your door many times. I made time many times. But have you ever responded to my courage?”

“That’s because I…”

“Did you ever show concern when I returned from war? Did you ever ask me why I couldn’t be by my father’s deathbed? And now you want to talk… Don’t you find it ridiculous yourself?”

Like the Demon King swinging his sword in anger, I spat out words driven by an unknown emotion.

“You used to tell me sometimes. That you regretted giving birth to me.”

“…Yes.”

“I also didn’t want to be born from you.”