Chapter 96

“…It seems we’ve come far enough.”

Raul muttered under his breath as he watched Camilla drag him by the wrist. He wasn’t angry at her, but he wasn’t exactly in a good mood either.

“Have you calmed down now?”

“…Yeah. Thanks for stopping me. Even if I had done something to her, nothing would’ve changed. I’m still so foolish.”

“You’re always like this…!”

Raul quietly wiped the sweat from his forehead and brushed back his slightly annoying hair.

“You always…”

“Go ahead, finish your sentence.”

“You always… Ugh, seriously. I’m not usually like this. I’m normally a very dignified and noble person…”

“From what I see, you do have a dignified and noble charm.”

“That’s exactly it. That’s why you’re so annoying.”

Raul quietly accepted Camilla’s inexplicable irritation.

The cause wasn’t clear, but it was obvious he must’ve done something wrong.

If the other person was annoyed, it was his fault. That’s what he thought. There was nothing more pointless than arguing with a friend.

It was usually easier to just concede.

“By the way, Camilla. I have something to ask.”

Raul quietly leaned in closer to Camilla.

“What did you mean when you said you like me?”

Raul couldn’t understand it, so he had no choice but to ask.

He wasn’t so foolish as to not know what it meant for a man and woman to like each other.

He just couldn’t accept that Camilla liked him.

He was a problem child of the Empire with not many days left to live, and Camilla, even if she was called a mad noblewoman or a troublemaker, was still the Empire’s most eligible bachelorette.

“Sigh… I want to confess my feelings in a more proper place.”

“…I had my suspicions too. But I dismissed them as futile hopes. I thought the kiss before was just a means to snap me out of it.”

“Do you think my kiss was that shallow? What kind of woman kisses a man she doesn’t have feelings for? I’m not that kind of woman.”

“Of course not. You shouldn’t be that kind of woman.”

“Anyway, I like you. That’s the truth.”

Hearing that, Raul quietly thought of Layla.

The regrets of that day. The submerged pain, the curses he spat out that day—they all came flooding back.

Seeing those memories surface, Raul tried to respond with a bitter expression.

“I’m happy to hear that. I don’t know if I’m worthy of it, but you’re the Empire’s finest woman. But Camilla.”

Raul was about to bring out the bitter answer he had been holding back.

“I…”

“No, don’t say more. It’s not a confession yet.”

“Camilla, that’s a bit of a lame excuse.”

“Shut up. If I say it’s not, then it’s not. And I told you, I want to confess in a proper place with a proper atmosphere… This is neither.”

“Honestly, even if you change the location…”

Camilla immediately covered Raul’s mouth.

“The Empire’s hunting festival is coming up soon. I’ll win first place and confess to you proudly in front of everyone.”

“That Camilla…”

“Shut up. I’ve decided. You know my personality, right? And you know, right? You can’t go to the hunting festival alone. You’re my partner. I’ve decided it.”

Raul had countless things he wanted to say in rebuttal.

First, the Empire’s hunting festival was a gathering of many empires. A retired person showing up there would look quite ridiculous.

Second, his breakup with Rosie hadn’t been officially announced yet. It was surprising Rosie hadn’t announced it, but becoming Camilla’s partner in that state would cause a huge scandal.

Third, confessing after winning first place at the hunting festival was usually something a man did. If the genders were reversed, it would look quite ridiculous.

And if he and Camilla became partners, the balance of the hunting festival would be disrupted. Camilla alone could hunt more than an average army, and with him helping, it would be overkill.

Lastly, and most importantly, even if he confessed, he wouldn’t be able to stay with her for long. Due to the aftereffects of battles and injuries, his body could give out at any moment.

“This is bordering on madness…”

“Raul.”

Camilla smiled brightly and pressured Raul.

“Should I get really angry?”

“…Fine. I’ll cooperate. This can be a final memory.”

Raul didn’t enjoy hunting anything other than quail, but he enjoyed everything he did with his friends.

“So, you two come out too.”

“Right. Hiding behind the tree, how pathetic.”

Raul and Camilla called out Kyle and Rizel, who were hiding behind a large tree about 20 meters away.

Kyle was extremely nervous, and Rizel gave an awkward smile, but Raul showed no change in expression.

“Lord Raul, Lady Camilla, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but this idiot—no, this lady kept insisting we go, so I had no choice, hahahaha, you know I’m not the kind of guy to butt into your private conversations…!!!”

“Um, do you really like my brother?”

“Hey, you idiot…!”

“But I’m curious. Who would’ve thought the mad noblewoman would like our brother so much she hasn’t married yet.”

“If you say one more word, I’ll kill you before Lady Camilla gets the chance.”

Kyle swung his staff around threateningly, but Rizel wasn’t listening.

To Rizel, Kyle was just her brother’s errand boy. She had no idea Kyle was once called a head collector during the war.

“What’s there to hide? Kyle, you’ve known for a while, and Rizel, you’re not the type to interfere. Not that it would matter if you did.”

Rizel didn’t understand, but Kyle knew exactly what she meant.

It was a warning that if they interfered, they’d be skewered on the spot.

Kyle trembled and glared at Rizel with resentful eyes.

His eyes were filled with a strong determination that if he messed up now, he’d kill her and then himself.

“…I don’t plan to interfere. But I do want to participate in the hunting festival.”

“Well, that’s not my business. Whether you catch rabbits or whatever at the festival has nothing to do with me.”

But Raul thought differently.

The hunting festival was a dangerous event where nobles competed in hunting in the forest, with all sorts of magical beasts and wild animals released.

And Raul wasn’t the kind of brother to send his younger sister into such a place without any safety measures.

“Kyle. You’ll be Rizel’s partner.”

“Huh? Why should I babysit this brat…?”

“It’s an order.”

“…..Yes.”

Kyle made a face like someone who had just tasted a lemon for the first time.

Raul felt a bit sorry seeing Kyle’s face contort like that, but he didn’t retract the order.

Instead, he calmly added a secret order behind Camilla’s back.

“And no matter what, you’ll take first place.”

“With that baggage… I mean, the young lady?”

“Yes. Is there something unclear about my order?”

“No, but why are you doing this?”

“…I just don’t want Camilla to taste the same loss I did.”

“Sigh…”

Kyle watched Raul’s retreating figure and then turned to Rizel, staring at her pretty face.

Kyle’s face, already twisted to its limit, contorted even more grotesquely, beyond human limits.

“Damn it, this is some bullsh*t…”

—

That night.

The Demon King gazed at the same moon as the Empire and took a sip of clear liquor.

“Queen of Dragons. Even if the world curses you, I understand you. Love is something so hard to understand, something that doesn’t seek understanding, something that shouldn’t be understood.”

The Demon King buried her and the old dragon’s bone fragments in a modest grave and poured a cup of his cherished liquor over it.

“Rest in peace. Pitiful dragons who knew love. I will remember your love.”

Then the Demon King turned his gaze to the King of Specters.

The King of Specters was staring in the direction of the Empire with eyes burning with hatred.

“Is it your turn next, or rather, your turns?”

There was no one else there but the Demon King and the King of Specters, but the Demon King deliberately referred to him in the plural.

“…Yes.”

“Your appearance will be a tragedy for the Empire. There’s no more dragon love. Only pure hatred will sweep the Empire.”

“…..”

“If I were to find someone who hates the Empire as much as I do, it would probably be you.”

The King of Specters gripped his bow tightly, suppressing his rage.

“Unfortunate king who lost his country to the Empire.”

“…….”

“What do you plan to hunt with that bow?”

“…I plan to hunt the hateful Empire.”

Then the King of Specters turned to the Demon King, who was sipping his liquor, and asked a question.

“Demon King. I have something to ask.”

“If it’s something I can answer, I’ll gladly do so.”

“The hatred I feel from you is greater than mine. Why did you yield your turn to me and the Queen?”

The Queen of Dragons and the King of Specters. Both had the power to destroy a country.

If they succeeded first, the Demon King would lose his target of vengeance.

Why did he yield his turn? The King of Specters wanted to know the reason.

“…It’s a bit difficult to explain in the language of this continent. A realm… or perhaps a stage, would be more accurate.”

“Huh…?”

“You are at a stage where everything is evenly balanced and interlocked. I am standing at a stage just one step away from the realm of gods and providence.”

The King of Specters couldn’t understand what the Demon King was saying.

But at least it didn’t seem like he was boasting.

“There are many ways to surpass that stage. A change in mindset, endless effort, or enlightenment. All are meaningful, but none are the most effective.”

“Then what is the most effective method?”

“…Hmm. I can’t answer that. That’s something you must discover for yourself to be effective.”

The Demon King drew his sword and pointed it toward the Empire.

“But I’ll give you one piece of advice. You can never surpass that stage by staying in a comfortable situation. There’s no weaker enemy than one who’s only fought easy battles. I, too, am part of that providence.”

The King of Specters quietly watched the Demon King’s back.

“I will surpass this stage. And with that overwhelming power… to inflict even more pain… with that sword that touches the realm of gods, I will cut down that detestable Empire.”

Finally, the King of Specters understood what he was trying to say.

“…Indeed. I understand what you’re trying to achieve through me.”

The King of Specters began to move toward the forest where the hunting festival would be held.

“However, I have no intention of walking only the path you’ve laid out. Please keep that in mind.”

“Of course. I’ll cheer you on.”

“Now…”

As the King of Specters released the bowstring he had drawn to its limit, a clear, pure sound echoed.

“Let the hunt begin, Empire.”

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