Even though he knew that he was trying to sneak up on an important attack to catch him off guard, he would have no choice but to skip it. This statement was also appetizing because it showed a loophole that could be exploited.
"... How can we believe what the demons say...!"
"As a human being, I promise in my name as the representative of the demon realm."
Deon raised his eyebrows at the sight of his opponent being easily captured.
A single voice rang out in a world that remained silent due to the heavy statement.
"In the first place, the rumor that demons are not a trustworthy race was unfounded. Wasn't that rumor the reason you didn't even think about negotiating with the demons? It's really not funny to be swayed by rumors like that."
"..."
"The Demon King accepted me, a human. They treat me very generously, without backstabbing or backtracking."
After the news of Deon Hardt's betrayal spread, rumors about him continued to circulate.
It was mostly a rumor about his treatment in the demon realm. It was said that he was clearly on the side of the demon realm, but it was really strange that the name of the man who was a hero of the Empire was not heard at all.
The prevailing rumor was that he was stabbed in the back by a demon and was trapped or died, but this too would be overturned as of today.
Stigma Primero, who was sitting upright with his sword resting on the floor like a cane and his hands folded on the handle, smiled lowly as he looked at the screen. In contrast to his smiling face, his head was shaking.
"You're wrong, junior. A promise made in someone's name is not a basis for trust."
As expected, an unwavering voice began to refute step by step.
"First of all."
"..."
"The value of someone's name is determined by society's perception of that person and the value of the person making the promise."
As if he understood the meaning of the words, Deon Hardt's face on the screen cracked for a moment. Although his expression returned to its original state in an instant, Stigma, who was concentrating on his junior, did not miss it.
"You are a traitor to humanity. Society's awareness is at its lowest. And you yourself..."
Paul, the man who stopped talking, stared straight at the screen for a moment as if examining Deon Hardt's expression.
"... I don't think you think of yourself very highly, do you?"
"..."
"How can we trust the promises made by such a person?"
He took a hit.
Deon Hardt fell silent. Without missing the opportunity, Paul continued his momentum and began to push forward.
"Did you say that the Demon King accepted you as a human? You said you were being treated generously, right? Well, it makes sense. Because you are closer to a demon than a human."
It was a fabrication.
"Red eyes, white hair, pale skin. In addition to your appearance not suitable for a human being, you also have cruel hands! Even as a demon, there would have been less resistance."
It must be refuted. Deon opened his mouth, but Paul was one step faster.
"Above all, aren't you a traitor to heaven who not only killed the members of your family but also killed your last remaining brother? Who would think of someone like this as a human being?"
"... What?"
The attack stopped.
"Who... killed who?"
This was a completely unexpected attack. Deon held his breath for a moment.
... So, in the human world, it was said that he killed his brother. It was worth it. If he became his own worst enemy, the human world would become more united. Even those who knew the truth would have closed their eyes and mouths and blamed him.
'I have to manage my facial expressions...'
Even while his mind was covered with a blank slate, some reason was able to recognize that the screen was being broadcast.
In this situation, he couldn't even raise his hand to cover his face, so he had to use reason and calmly overturn that fabrication. But.
'I can't speak.'
His hands under the desk were shaking. It seems like he was thinking calmly because the only thing he could do was apply strength to prevent the vibration from reaching his shoulders, but he was so embarrassed by his body's reaction...
He was worried that even his voice would tremble when he opened his mouth, so Deon had no choice but to stare straight ahead with as expressionless a face as possible.
The first time he opened his mouth was when Paul was about to take the floor again, right before people recognized his silence as 'silence' rather than breathing before answering.
A calm voice matching the expressionless expression flowed out.
"There's so much ridiculous content that I don't know where to start. You better be aware of where you are and what you are saying. It's so cruel to tell a lie in front of all mankind. At least you should have told the truth and not fabricated it."
"That's..."
Deon continued, as if trying to end the conversation before he could say the same thing to him.
"I say this once again as the third hero of the former Empire and the current Commander of the 0th Corps of the Demon King's army. The Emperor is not a trustworthy person, and we have no choice but to get rid of the obstacles that stand in the way of conquering the Empire."
"...!"
"And please know that the demon realm is not prejudiced, enough to even give humans the position of Commander of the 0th Corps. The gates of the demon realm are always open to humans who want a friendly relationship."
The entire screen disappeared with a pale face smiling.
And there was an uproar throughout the continent, beyond the human world and even into the demon world.
***
"... It seems like you were a greater person than I thought."
The Commander of the 0th Corps. Stigma laughed.
He thought that the man on the screen had guts, but the person with guts was actually his junior. The existence of the Commander of the 0th Corps became known shortly after the end of the Eight Year War. Didn't this mean that his junior served as the third hero of the Empire and the Commander of the 0 Corps of the Demon King's Army for a very short period of time?
Perhaps the reason why he often went somewhere at the Emperor's command was to travel to and from the demon realm.
'The statement that the Emperor is not a trustworthy person would mean that His Majesty also knew Deon Hardt's identity.'
He thought he lost his mind at the end and was helpless.
"You're dropping a very big bomb. As expected, you are my junior."
A murderous spirit... As Stigma left the letter on his desk containing the news that the Lofty Knights had escaped while en route to the Amiable territory, Stigma recalled the face of Deon Hardt he had seen on the screen.
"I was worried that he might have been hurt somewhere, but I'm glad that he looks okay."
He couldn't be sure because he hadn't seen his face in person, but even if there was a problem, it would be okay now.
Those bastards wouldn't just watch their master die.
He didn't even consider the possibility that they wouldn't be able to reach Deon Hardt. Even in hell, those guys will tell the Demon King that they have to go to their captain and make them go over.
And those bastards who would make even the Demon King fall by the back of his neck were climbing the mountain. To be exact, they had unintentionally stopped and rested for a moment due to the shocking news they heard on the screen floating in the air a little while ago.
The screen turned off, and in the indescribable silence that had continued until now, someone barely spoke.
"... Wow, our captain... was he the Commander of Corps 0?"
"Didn't the existence of Commander 0 exist long before he even went to the Demon World? That means..."
"He was holding the positions of hero of the Empire and Commander of the 0 Corps at the same time. Was that why he went somewhere for a long time under the pretext of a mission? It was a 'mission' excuse, so the Emperor knew about it and was protecting him."
"What?"
Milan's eyes widened without hiding his surprise at Cleter's cool analysis. The other knights also stopped and looked at Cleter.
"That means he was fooling everyone. That's really..."
"..."
"It's ridiculously cool!"
"As expected, our captain!"
"It's so far from a normal life that it's pitiful!"
"... That's what you guys are like."
Cleter sighed deeply and quietly touched his forehead.
"This is no time for admiration, you bastards. There is no chance to meet the captain unless it is now. If we get caught here, it's all over!"
"Oh, that's right. Are we going to be thoroughly monitored?"
"Wouldn't we be tortured?"
"Don't you think the leader will kill us before that? We left behind only a note."
They didn't see him often because he was called around and interrogated, but he was still the leader. With their affection and feelings of regret, the members of the Murderous Knights left a note for Lien Reiner before running away.
'Sorry, leader.'
"These... damn bastards...!"
Even though they had no way of knowing that the note had been horribly crumpled, the members instinctively felt a sense of horror and stiffened their backs.
"... I'm not sure, but I think we'll die if we get caught."
"I think something terrible will await us if we get caught. I have a bad feeling."
"So if you don't want to die, stop talking and move, you damn bastards!"
They must have gone a few more meters while chatting like this!
Cleter, who was pounding his chest in frustration, changed the direction of his fist and urged his colleagues by hitting them on the back of the head.
***
Deon Hardt, the third hero of the Empire, and Demon Arut, Commander of the 0th Legion of the Demon King's Army, were the same person!
The Demon King revealed this fact at the moment Deon Hardt stood in front of the public. As it was shocking news, almost all demons focused on this, but there was less confusion than expected.
'Demon is Deon Hardt.'
'Really?! ... But what does it matter? In the end, he's on our side.'
'Right... right? Because he was acting as a double agent.'
No matter what his past was or what his identity was, the current person was clearly 'on their side' as he belonged to the Demon King's army.
Although it was surprising, it was not negative news, so there was no further reaction.
'I thought it was unusual, but I never thought he was a hero in the Empire. He's no joke after all.'
'Because he became the Commander of the 0 Corps as a human. He can't be ordinary.'
Should they call him Deon now? What would happen to Demonism?
Despite the commotion, the demons quickly fell into other concerns.
***
They say they used magic to interfere with the screen, but in the end, the key was the magic stone on this desk. He should have turned it off right away when he saw signs of the screen being taken over
He never thought that as soon as they took control, they would drive a nail into it to prevent it from being turned off at will.
'Even so, in the end, it was just a remark from a traitor who sided with the Demon King.'
With that remark coming out, Deon Hardt was no longer able to turn off the other side's screen on his own.
It was a powerful statement with a powerful appearance. If he just turned off the screen there, those last words would be strongly embedded in the minds of those watching. Not only that, but turning off the screen at that time meant that there was nothing to refute, that is, admitting what he said and admitting defeat, so Deon had no choice but to deal with him even if he didn't like it.
So Deon calmly reached out and turned off both screens at the same time, then quietly took out a black handkerchief and put it to his mouth.
If he remembered what his goal was in the beginning, at least he wasn't defeated. He prevented counter-incitement, and furthermore, he threw and extinguished a powerful bomb that could damage the internal affairs of the Empire, the alliance between the Emperor and the other countries, so the other side must be in a state of panic.
But...
"Dvelania..."
Mentally, he was defeated.
Someone's name came out muttered under a black handkerchief. Despite knowing that he had to remove the handkerchief from his mouth to call the other person clearly, Deon raised his voice instead of putting the handkerchief away.
A voice cracked with excessive emotion fiercely scraped the vocal cords and rang out in a harsh voice.
"Dvelania!!!!!"
Whoops. The black handkerchief became damp.
...