Then the Duke laughed.
There was nothing more foolish than relying on emotions, but trying to expect affection from him rather than someone else.
He knew it. Obviously he would kill them as needed when the contract is up. Even if they were saved, it would not be because of affection, but because they have utility or there is no need to kill them.
"Anyway, it will be 10 years. Until then, please consider them as your nephews and take good care of them."
"Your Majesty, even if the same is true for your other children, the age difference between you and the Ninth Prince is only 5 years. A nephew."
"So, my real brother?"
"... I think of him as a nephew."
Ten years and a few more years have passed since then.
Although it may not have been what the First Prince thought or intended, it was a good choice to set a period of 10 years. Soon after receiving magical power from the Demon King, the Duke realized that he could use this magical power to nullify the contract.
Since there was a set period, it was left in place to save magical power. If there was no set period, magic power would have been consumed to remove the restrictions caused by the contract. Then the lives of the 'children' that the First Prince wanted to protect would have been in danger.
'What I thought was an easy contract ended up being more complicated than I thought, but I just endured it and waited until the end of the period.'
Originally, the Duke had planned to select another scarecrow candidate after the First Prince died. He was planning to wield the king as he pleased and use that power to protect the First Prince's 'children'.
Unexpectedly, the Ninth Prince Eduardo Desert, who was the subject of protection, killed the others and ascended the throne. As the Duke, he had no choice but to face a dilemma.
To protect them, he needed more power than anything else. The pinnacle of power would naturally be the ruler of the country.
But unfortunately, the person to be protected was sitting there. It's a situation where he had signed a contract to respect 'free will', so it was too late to drag him down.
The Duke decided.
'Let's take over in a peaceful way. I just need to apply enough pressure to make him want to pass it on.'
It would be okay to this extent.
It was a judgment that came about because Eduardo Desert did not realize the incomprehensible and terrible responsibility he had. Even if he knew, there would have been no other way.
Anyway, the Duke watched the three people for 10 years as per his contract with the First Prince.
So, did the Duke now love the children? Eduardo Desert?
'...'
Even though the contract ended after 10 years, the Emperor still remained the Emperor.
Even though 10 years have passed, the Crown Prince still remains the Crown Prince and the Princess remains the Princess.
'Anyway, the timing is bad right now, so I can't touch them.'
It is a busy time to move to protect the Empire.
The Duke turned his eyes away from the difficult topic that could not be easily answered and looked at the present again. Now that what he could do was limited, instead of doing too much, he was focusing on the Salvation Church and helping to unite the human world through public opinion.
Even the process is not smooth and there are things that are annoying to the eyes, so it can be considered the worst.
'The Demon Cult, the Revolutionary Army... things that would not have raised their heads before are crawling out.'
In particular, the Revolutionary Army's image was rapidly rising through this opportunity. It was safe to say that it had been stigmatized as an organization that serves humanity.
Although the Duke was irritated, he knew that they would be helpful, so he had to put his personal feelings aside.
Because now there is a group that is more annoying.
'The Demon Cult.'
It's a religion that clearly looks like the demons are behind it, so why is it so popular?
After receiving reports that the number of people muttering 'Demon' in a low voice throughout the slums had increased, the Duke was unable to bear the rising stress and wiped his face in despair.
***
'Deon said, there is no harm in doing something first, so advance to the human world.'
While processing documents related to the Demon Cult that had entered the human world, 11th Corps Commander Lirinel recalled the past.
"Wouldn't it be better to do it in advance, even if it may end up being a futile effort, rather than having to do it when we need it and not be able to do it due to lack of time?"
"That's right."
"Isn't it? Demonism can be used for public opinion warfare, and although it doesn't seem to have much benefit, it can be used to summon demons."
It was an enchanting stand.
The human man in front of her, who was touching his handsome jawline and smiling, was extremely elegant and beautiful. Even the shadows under his eyes could not hide his beauty, so Lirinel nodded as if fascinated.
"That's right. Deon is right! After receiving permission from the Demon King, I immediately entered the human world...!"
"No. Do you really need to ask the Demon King for permission?"
"Yes? Because it has something to do with the human world..."
"Huh?"
Deon Hardt tilted his head to the side and folded the corners of his eyes. The finger raised as if to tap the desk circled over the back of Lirinel's hand.
Her heart stopped.
'No, you can't die now!'
She can never die with Deon in front of her!
She jumped up, holding on to her spirit that was trying to escape. At some point, Lirinel held her nose, which had been dripping with blood, and shouted with enthusiasm.
"Of course! Let's proceed right away!"
Deon Hardt just laughed. Even if they advanced secretly, he didn't think the Demon King would care about it. This was just a test.
Since demons follow their father, the Demon King, was this absolute, or was it simply due to respect for the being responsible for the fate of the race and a bond with their parents?
In the latter case, 'rebellion' would also be possible. It would also be possible to rebel against the Demon King.
"There is no need to change the name of Demonism. Let's advance as is."
"Yes!"
And now, he had seen before his eyes that the 11th Corps Commander was prioritizing 'him' over the Demon King.
The red eyes that were slightly revealed between the softly smiling eyelids sparkled.
***
Raising life is something that requires a lot of determination.
Recently, two demons were keenly aware of this fact.
"Dernivan, the baby keeps crying. What do we do?"
"..."
No, only one demon felt it.
Dernivan quietly looked at his superior who was looking at him blankly, then stretched out his hand to the baby.
***
Was it when I received the head of King Rweche's younger brother, or when I heard the news that Paras territory had collapsed? At some point, I began having nightmares.
It was a pretty bad dream.
A dream in which vengeful spirits appear in such terrible forms that it is difficult to see them with a clear mind.
"Can you sleep peacefully after killing us?"
"Why did you do that? Why did you do that? Why did you do that? Why did you do that?"
"Die! Don't shamelessly live, please die!"
Oh, if you have a conscience, you shouldn't look at their behavior and say it's terrible. Because the person who made them like that was me and no one else.
I stood in the middle of the dream and silently watched the ghosts that were oppressing me in all kinds of bizarre ways. I could have looked away or closed my eyes, but I didn't. I would just stand there, make eye contact with them, and then wake up from my dream.
As this was repeated, the vengeful spirits that had once been ignored by me at the time of death seemed to have realized that the effect was minimal, and began to turn into people I knew and shout for me to die.
'It doesn't matter anyway.'
Today, too, I, who was watching the ghosts who transformed into various people and cursed me, raised one eyebrow as if I felt something.
"Die... die!"
I ignored the curses I always heard.
The dark, distorted black fog slowly took shape, as if trying to imitate someone's appearance.
Familiar body type and familiar height. Deon smiled faintly, feeling like he knew who it was.
"At last."
I was waiting. When would he appear and when will they try to imitate his appearance?
I never thought it would be too late to figure out what would hurt me the most with the vengeful spirit that lives in my head. I really thought I was going to lose my mind while waiting.
As the shape gradually becomes more complete, familiar black hair can into view. The moment when the face was finally completed.
Whoa!
A strong light burst out from a corner of my vision, as if covering everything.
"... !"
I opened my eyes.
The quiet view of a room greets him, as if the harsh, noisy voice was a lie. I blinked for a moment and slowly got up. It didn't feel real, so I stayed in a daze for a while. It wasn't until the wind that came in through the slightly open window and dried my sweaty body that I realized that this was reality.
"... Ah."
I sighed deeply and buried my face in his hands. A hollow laugh escaped me.
"Haha, I never thought I would be kicked out..."
I knew it instinctively. I was kicked out of my dream.
... No, I couldn't have been 'kicked out'. I am the owner of my dreams. So I guess I woke up from the dream because I wanted to.
Was this the basic survival instinct that all living things have?
Disgust rose up and I raised my head. A fluttering curtain caught my eye.
At the same time, a window with a cool breeze coming in came into view, and a flower placed there caught my eye.
The sight of it in full bloom under the soft moonlight was quite foreign, so I couldn't help but fix my gaze as if I was fascinated.
'... I guess Hien said it's a flower picked from the human world.'
I slowly got down from the bed.
As I got out of the blanket, my sweaty body was completely exposed to the cold wind and my body cooled down in an instant, but I didn't care and went to the window. The flower I saw up close was more intact than I thought.
"There's no sun... but it's still vivid."
Was it under the influence of magic because it was in the demon realm? Anyone who sees it will think it's a freshly picked flower.
After gazing at the flower that showed no sign of wilting, I leaned my upper body against the window frame and leaned my chin on my hand. In that state, I tilted my head to examine the flower and muttered softly.
Talking to myself without anyone listening quietly spread through the quiet space.
"If my brother had told me to die, I would have died happily."
At the end, the moment the ghost's shape changed, I noticed it right away.
That was Cruel. This was the older brother I have been waiting for. The vengeful spirit was trying to tell me, who was unable to die because my brother saved my life, to die in the form of Cruel.
The cold wind blew through my hair. At the same time, the flowers that could not withstand the wind were shaking. I smiled softly, as if that look was trying to stop me from doing that.
"Well, okay. I don't think today is the day."
If you change your mind, come visit me anytime, Hyung.
Ironically, I haven't had a nightmare since that day. It was a quiet dawn when the world was in silence.
***
"... What are you doing?"
"I will fasten your belt for you."
"I'm asking why you have it tied to my thigh."
It was a day of meetings, not battles. So why was he putting on a belt that was used to fasten a dagger sheath? No dagger sheath, just a belt.
Regardless of whether the absurd gaze hit him or not, Ben spoke as he steadily tied the tough leather belt around my thigh.
"Since you keep dragging your thighs, I should at least give you this."
"..."
It was a phrase without a subject, but it wasn't difficult to understand.
Ben glanced up at me, who was silent, and added as if he were nailing it.
"From now on, please hold your cigarette on this belt."
"... If this continues, I'll be late for the meeting. I think it's done, so get up now."
Ben's eyes narrowed at the obvious avoidance of an answer, but I ignored him and stood up. I should be used to it since I have often worn the sheath, but today the feeling of it constricting my thighs was bothersome, so I had no choice but to cast his gaze at the belt for a moment.
I walked down the hallway and gathered my thoughts.
'What can I say to convince them?'
Last time, I pointed out a route through the Duke's territory. Ieven put pressure on Idelia, who said she would turn around and go that way.
Those words would be overturned again. Since the Demon King would not come forward and help in something like this, I need a valid reason, but...
"Corps Commander 0 has arrived."
... I arrived in front of the conference room door before I could even organize my thoughts.