The voice was so light that it felt like it was flying.
On the other hand, the other Corps Commanders stiffened, thinking on what was coming was coming.
As status was status, there was a lot of information that could be heard even if one stayed still. Was there really no information about the Empire among them?
"It looks like the Emperor is determined to start a war."
"In the end..."
Tsk, clicks of tongues could be heard here and there.
There had always been minor conflicts along the border, so the 'war' he was talking about now probably meant 'all-out war.' Even the Corps Commanders who liked battle were not happy, and the Corps Commanders who were a little confused narrowed their eyes at the incomprehensible situation.
'I thought that if we put enough pressure on him by pretending to step forward, he would back down.'
'Is the name of the demon realm only worth that much to humans? Or is the Emperor that serious about conquering the continent?'
Had so much time passed that the warnings from the demon realm seemed ridiculous?
There was no way he could have known why the Demon King had made such a move, but the Emperor ignored the silent warning to stop at that point and instead openly announced that he would go to war with the demon realm.
This was a situation that could not be avoided since the Demon King was the first to argue.
"... We always covet the land of the human world and are prepared for war in our own way, but from the Emperor's point of view, it would be more advantageous not to go to war."
The lifespan of humans was short, and that of demons was long.
A monarch in the human world must care about not only external enemies but also internal enemies, but this was not the case with the Demon King.
The current Demon King was so tired that he did not attack the human world first, but the story that he used to be a fierce man and pushed the human world to the brink of destruction was passed down orally among the demons.
As the past showed, in the end, the longer the war took place the more disadvantaged it the human world was.
Was there some kind of ulterior motive? Idelia, the 4th Corps Commander, frowned and spoke. "If they really want to fight such an unfavorable war... I don't understand. I don't think the Emperor I knew was stupid."
From the Emperor's point of view, the people who divided and scattered at the slightest opportunity were a loss whether he won or lost.
If he won, it would be a problem to deal with the aftermath of a fierce war, and he would lose the external enemy called the 'demon realm', which was a means of controlling the Empire and the human world, and if he lost... no need to say more.
"If we just remain in a relationship of moderate conflicts and retreats, it will help strengthen the Imperial power, so why bother..."
The Empire was still in charge of the boundaries that appeared in each kingdom. This would mean that the influence of the Empire gained through the use of the demon realm was great.
The Demon King himself came up with a contradictory answer to the foolish actions of the not-so-stupid Emperor.
"Isn't there an obvious answer? He wants to die."
"... The Emperor... really?"
That toxic person?
When Idelia frowned at the incomprehensible answer, the Demon King smiled as if he understood and called out Dvelania.
"What does the Emperor value most, Dvelania?"
"That's right... it's 'responsibility.'"
"What's higher than that?"
The half-exposed pupils under drowsy lowered eyelids roll over and then close in annoyance.
Dvelania was the Commander of the 2nd Corps in charge of information collection. It was enough to hurt her pride that there was something she didn't know.
'Actually, it's natural that you don't know.'
The Demon King smiled and gave an answer instead.
"Guilt."
"... It's guilt?"
"Yes."
A voice as fluent as a song rang through the space.
"Shall we go over it step by step again? What was the reason why the Emperor killed his own brothers to ascend to the throne, Idelia?"
"Because he thought that the cause of the death of his closest brother was the succession battle between them."
"Yes, but in fact, he was killed by Stave Illuster, the current Duke of the Empire."
Contrary to the seemingly insignificant words, the content was something that could not be taken lightly. A fact he knew because his anti-contractor was Stave Illuster. The conference room was shaking with the truth that they had no idea about. Dvelania and Idelia had their eyes wide open.
Amidst the confusion, the Demon King spoke leisurely.
"He must have felt a lot of guilt because he had suddenly killed innocent brothers. How do humans usually behave in times like this?"
"In extreme measures... they commit suicide."
He ran away by dying under the pretext of atonement.
Information processing was the responsibility of the 4th Corps. Idelia, who had carefully put together the information given by the Demon King, trembled as if she remembered something.
The Demon King smiled cheerfully, as if he was amazed.
"That's right, but the Emperor has responsibilities. 'Enthronement' was the problem. Because he's responsible for countless people. In addition, he has to take care of his niece and nephew, the children left behind by his close brother. Even if he killed himself, he will be insulting the brothers he killed to ascend to the throne."
"... Oh, as expected..."
Idelia understood now.
Guilt above responsibility. This was the plan chosen by the Emperor who could not die on his own hand.
Only then was Idelia able to understand the Emperor's actions of continuing to fight unprofitable wars. For what reason did he choose an all-out war against the demon realm?
"It would be easier if he did my best to take responsibility and then died."
"To be exact, he's 'pretending' to do his best, but that's right."
If he can't die from guilt, wouldn't it be easier to die from being weighed down by responsibility? At least if he died while pretending to do his best to fulfill his responsibilities, he would have an excuse even after he died.
In that sense, he must have been happy that the demon realm, which he could not dare to attack first due to his responsibilities and status, started to fight. Thanks to this, the possibility of dying increased. Problems after death would be none of his concern.
"How selfish. Just for that reason, countless people were driven into the battlefield. Is that right?"
The Demon King rolled his eyes happily as he looked at Deon.
There was no reply, but the Demon King shrugged his shoulders regardless and spoke again.
"Well... what can I do? He says he wants to die, so I have tokill him."
"..."
"I'm jealous. There are enemies who will kill him."
He said he was selfish, but strangely enough, the Demon King was able to understand the Emperor. As beings who had lived for a long time and as the heads of a species, they were similar in that they were unable to kill themselves, if nothing else.
It was the hero's job to exterminate the Demon King.
"I think it would be fun to see how far a person who is not a hero and only has a fragment can go, so let's just skip it for now."
Idelia's expression became strangely distorted.
"... Are you really... going to fight an all-out war?"
The Demon King nodded lightly.
"Isn't it embarrassing to start an argument first and then back out? I heard that the 7th and 9th Corps Commanders on the front lines are already having fun fighting?"
"If we finish fighting moderately like we have done so far..."
"The Emperor will once again turn his attention to conquering the continent, and as long as he lives and breathes, he will eventually pour the national power he gained during the conquest into this side, no matter how long it takes. It will be a tougher fight."
"Why are you so confident that the Emperor will succeed in conquering the continent...?"
"Then, you don't think so?"
The last words were a question posed not only to Idelia but also to all other Corps Commanders.
The Demon King asked again, casting his gaze at each of the corps commanders sitting in their seats.
"Really?"
"..."
There was no answer.
The Demon King, who knew that they couldn't openly acknowledge humans and chose to remain silent instead of answering, chuckled.
"It's been a long time since we last had a proper war. Think of it as loosening up your stiff body and just enjoy it."
"Yes, Idelia. If Trover were here, he would have grabbed you by the collar right away, calling you weak."
Idelia pursed her lips and remained silent at the sarcasm of the 3rd Corps Commander Asild.
In the natural silence that came for a moment, the Demon King looked at Deon, who had his eyes fixed on the table from beginning to end, as if he could not hear anything, and then spoke with secret mischief.
"Perhaps an all-out war will begin when Demon leaves."
Deon's eyelids fluttered.
"Do you mean to attack while Demon is away?"
"Trying to take advantage of an opportunity when you don't have the best power... That seems like a cowardly thing."
"Well... let's say so."
As long as Deon Hardt was in the demon realm, the Emperor could not make any moves. If he was not careful, his movements could be seen by Deon Hardt as an act of abandoning him.
It was natural to be cautious, as there was no record of moving troops after considering profit or loss, regardless of whether the life of a general captured in the enemy camp during the war was in danger.
So, if an all-out war started now that Deon Hardt was in the demon realm and there was a very real possibility that he would be on the Demon King's side, it would probably be safer to start after Deon Hardt returns safely to the human realm Empire.
"In other words, it means that the authority to open the gates to an all-out war is up to us... or rather, Demon."
The Demon King had already handed over his authority by saying that he could return to the human world at any time.
The eyes of the Corps Commanders were focused on one place. The Demon King also glanced at Deon. Deon, who seemed to feel the gazes, raised his head, glanced at the crowd, and then slowly came up with an answer.
"I plan to start preparing right after the meeting."
"Did you hear?"
"It's too fast..."
Idelia muttered reflexively.
It was a muttering, almost like talking to herself, but to some it seemed like it was an argument, and Lirinel stood up on one side.
"Are you now criticizing Demon's choice?!"
The red brooch on her chest caught the light and sparkled.
Idelia looked at Lirinel with bewildered eyes.
"But it's true that it's too fast. We should have time to prepare too."
"So now you're criticizing Demon's choice!"
"... This cult leader...!"
Suddenly, Idelia also got up from her seat.
"Stop."
"..."
"..."
The air in the conference room became cold.
Idelia, trembling and looking at the Demon King's eyes, slowly sat down. Lirinel also rolled her eyes nervously, closed her mouth, and slumped back down in her chair.
The Demon King, who had been watching the two's actions with his expression hardened, glanced at Deon and then bent his eyes like a crescent moon, hiding his pupils. A smile appeared on his face.
"It reminds me of preparation. When have we ever prepared and fought a war separately?"
"..."
Those who thought of the 7th and 9th Corps Commanders, who were already in conflict with the Empire on the front lines, slowly shook their heads. What were the preparations? The demon world had always waged unexpected wars. Because of this, preparations for battle had been taking place in daily life, so what would be different even if more time was given?
Although it may be the 2nd and 4th Corps Commanders who dealt with information, other Corps Commanders did not have any complaints because they did not suffer damage due to the short or long time given.
After scanning the silent audience, the Demon King raised his elbow and supported his chin with the back of his hand.
"Still, what Idelia said is not entirely wrong. It would be much better to prepare than not to prepare at all. When the war begins, the 7th and 9th Corps alone will not be enough, so I wonder if it would be okay to withdraw operational troops in advance... Let's see..."
The voice flowed out dryly, as if reading a book. A poor plan thrown together to appease the dissatisfied 2nd and 4th Corps Commanders.
In addition to all this, the Demon King may or may not have been aware that his crooked head was showing his haphazard attitude toward living life, but with his eyes half closed, a list of Corps Commanders appeared in his head.
There was only one thing he cared about and put effort into.
***
"In other words, it means that the authority to open the gates to an all-out war rests with us... no, with Demon."
At that moment, all the Corps Commanders' eyes were focused on me. Cold sweat ran down my back from the stinging gaze that I could feel even without raising my head. When I barely raised my head and looked around, I felt like I was going to burst into tears because of the gazes that met my expectations and did not disappoint.
'...Anyway, now is the time for me to tell you, right? I'm telling you when I'm going to go.'
So I barely came up with an answer.
"... I plan to prepare immediately after the meeting."
"It's too fast..."
How scary it must have been to have complaints follow that without even thinking about it. That alone made me feel like my heart was pounding, but when Lirinel started a fight with the speaker immediately after, I really wanted to be a bean bug.
It was even more so because I heard stories about the Emperor that I didn't want to hear.
'If I accidentally spill this in front of the emperor, I will be destroyed.'
Even if I show that you know, I die.
Regardless of whether I was useful or not, I will die unconditionally.
'It's fortunate that my gap in memory is particularly large in this part... But now, do I have to consciously control my unconscious mind?'