"... Remember?"
"Yes, the note the Duke gave me said 'Remember'."
To be exact, it had the Duke's seal and Remember's name and signature written on it.
Ardal looked at the note Elpidius held out and lowered his head. One of the talents brought directly by the former Emperor Euardo Desert, he chose to serve the 'current Empire', unlike Nemeseus, who died following the Emperor. Because in the first place, he served the Empire, not the Emperor.
So, he bowed his head to the 'Current Empire' in front of him and replied politely.
"I will follow your orders."
As long as Elpidius did not make a decision that was harmful to the Empire, Chancellor Ardal will follow him unwaveringly as a subject, as he has done so far.
***
Deon Hardt returned to the Demon World. Even though he made a great contribution by killing the Emperor, among other things, there was no warm welcome.
Because the person who should be praised said with his red eyes shining fiercely that he did not like loud noise.
After dispersing the general demon soldiers at the entrance, Deon passed the people quietly glancing at him and arrived at the inner castle. He ordered even the 0th Corps to disperse and entered the building.
Ben, who had been quietly following behind, checked the direction and tilted his head.
"I'm sorry, but that's not where the Demon King is."
"You mean the Demon King? I'm going to my room?"
"Yes? What do you mean... without even reporting?"
"Yeah, I'm tired."
This meant that he would rest right away without even seeing the Demon King.
What if he ended up incurring the Demon King's wrath? Deon, who was walking calmly, leaving behind the fidgeting Ben, narrowed his eyes when he spotted someone standing in the middle of the hallway. Because the light was backlit, his face was in shadow, but as he became a warrior and his eyesight improved, it was not difficult for him to identify his opponent.
In the first place, there were only a few demons that would stand proudly blocking the middle of the hallway as if waiting for someone, so even if he was in his original state, he would have figured it out right away.
"... Ed."
"Demon..."
Ed stopped when he inadvertently looked at Deon's face at the familiar call.
"... Master Deon."
"It looks like you're here to meet me again. I would have said there was no need for that."
"As a lieutenant, this is a natural... behavior. But..."
He came creakingly and stretched out his hand. As if he belatedly realized that it was a rude action, he quickly became shocked and took it again. A somewhat mesmerized voice stuttered and asked.
"Could it be... that you have become a hero?"
"Well, that's right."
"I see... I heard the news of the birth of a hero, but I never thought it would be Deon..."
Was that that shocking?
Just as a question appeared in Deon's eyes, Ed, who quickly recovered his thoughts like a capable adjutant, bowed his head with a light smile.
"Congratulations. I heard that you made a big contribution this time, and only good things are happening one after another."
"It's a good thing..."
The demons might see it that way.
Deon chuckled and took off again, having stopped for a moment. After checking the direction he was going, Ed belatedly expressed his doubts.
"Are you going to your room?"
"Yes."
"I heard you just arrived... but have you met the Demon King? So quick..."
"I haven't met him."
That damn Demon King.
Even though he wasn't able to sleep, and the people he killed this time were all people whose faces he knew, he spent more mental power than usual, so his nerves were on edge, but he wondered why they're making such a fuss.
A sharp voice suddenly came out. Ed's expression was perplexed.
"Yes?"
"I said we didn't meet. I'm tired, so I'm going to get some rest first."
"Ah..."
He didn't pay attention to the change in tone again because it wasn't anything new. What Ed cared about was none other than the content of his words.
It's not like nothing special happened, and he even killed the Emperor, the biggest enemy, and he was going to rest right away without even seeing the Demon King's face. Was it really okay for him to do this? If it weren't during the war or if he was seriously injured, he would understand to some extent.... But the situation was during a war where every piece of information was precious and the speed of delivery was important, and Deon Hardt was just tired and uninjured.
"... Understood."
Deon, who read the hesitation on Ed's face, passed him with an annoyed look on his face. Ed called from behind, "Master Deon?", but there was no answer.
He walked and walked until he reached the door and opened it without hesitation. Of course, contrary to what he thought there would be no one, there was a guest inside.
... No, he should say a worker, not a guest.
Dan, who appeared to be changing the water in a vase by the window and was holding a vase and a still vivid flower in both hands, saw Deon and quickly finished before approaching him. A voice that was no different from usual called to him calmly.
"Master."
"What I asked you to do... seems to have been done well."
He noticed it from its seemingly innocuous attitude, but when he saw it in person, it felt different again.
Red eyes were fixed on the wooden box placed on the desk.
Dan followed his gaze and smiled as if he was saying something new.
"You are stating the obvious."
"..."
There was no answer. He probably didn't even hear it.
Although his expression was completely emotionless, Dan seemed to know what he was feeling, so he clicked his tongue softly and spoke.
"Then I'll just leave. You look tired. Please rest well."
Dan walked away without notice and the door closed with a click.
Only after being left alone in a quiet space without a single sign of anyone's presence did Deon take the steps he had been taking. Slow, hesitant steps slowly approached the wooden box.
He placed his hand on the lid and took a deep breath.
'I need to check.'
He needed to check if it was really moved without any damage.
But he didn't have the confidence to see his brother's head again... Deon, who hesitated several times while just placing his hand on it, soon bit his lip and opened the lid.
Because it was not putrid, the clear smell of blood stung the tip of his nose. The red eyes, which were momentarily shaken, regained their composure and carefully examined the interior.
"... First of all, the part visible from this angle... looks good..."
He didn't have the confidence to hold up and examine the non-visible part himself. However, he couldn't leave it to someone else.
He repeatedly reached into the box and pulled back, but eventually gave up and closed the lid.
For a moment, something passed over his extremely calm face. It clearly had the appearance of endless, falling despair.
"... Hyung."
It's just because he's tired.
Because he couldn't sleep, because he was going through so many things at once and couldn't rest. So, in other words, because he was out of his mind.
"I'm suffocating."
Complaints that were never allowed to him came out of his mouth.
He slowly raised his hand and placed it on his neck, scratching it as if he was grasping it. Five red lines appeared like a trace where the fingernails passed, but soon disappeared without a trace due to excellent recovery power. There was blood in some parts of the scratches, but Deon didn't notice.
He came to his senses thanks to the hot pain that followed him one step later.
"...Ah."
Crazy. What could be more shameless and ridiculous than the perpetrator complaining to the victim?
He should have taken medicine before this happened. He quickly dug into his pocket, took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep inhale.
Although it was called cigarettes for convenience, it was ultimately a drug. The effect was fast.
"It's better now."
The feeling of being stuck in his body and strangling his breath disappeared with the help of the medicine. Thanks to it, he regained his composure.
As soon as he could feel the effects of the medicine, Deon stubbed his cigarette on his thigh and hurried over to sit down on the sofa, holding the box in his arms. He held the wooden box tightly with both hands, tilted his head back, and closed his eyes...
He welcomed the sleep he had put off for so long, rushing in like a tidal wave.
***
I was being hugged by someone in a dark space without a single light.
His arms were firm with a strong will, as if he would protect me from something, but his arms were actually shaking slightly.
The moment I felt this, I knew it instinctively. No matter what he does, I will eventually be exposed to that unknown danger.
He also knew that it was impossible to protect me. And yet, he was curled up so desperately, trapping me in his arms.
"Who...?"
A question suddenly came out of my mouth.
As far as I knew, there was no one in this world who would care for me this much, so who are you?
"..."
"I'm a little frustrated..."
I writhed in frustration, not only because I didn't even understand why they were doing this, but also because I didn't know who it was.
Because the other person didn't let go, I couldn't escape, so I barely managed to lift my head and rest my chin on his shoulder, so I was able to breathe easier than before.
I tried to turn my head to look at his face, but he pressed the back of my head so hard that I had to look over his shoulder.
Thanks to that, I was able to see it.
"... What is that?"
Black liquid poured in from all directions.
It moved around as if it had a will, occasionally standing up as if it was trying to form something, or joining together to form a tsunami. It was clearly coming this way with bad intentions. At first glance, it appeared to be a disaster that cannot be resisted. Was this person holding me right now really trying to protect me from that? Even though you knew it was impossible before you even stretched out your hand to protect me?
Even still, he was not giving up. As I was rolling my eyes wondering who this person really was, he opened his mouth.
"...─."
"Huh?"
"──."
"What?"
"–What kind of crime is he guilty of?"
It wasn't a word addressed to me, it was a meaningless muttering aimed at the empty space.
"You say this young, weak child is guilty of something..."
Young? Am I weak?
Even before my feelings of absurdity rose, the fact that I intuitively realized brought other feelings to the surface.
Shock, longing, guilt. And... fear.
'No way.'
I think I know his identity.
I unconsciously opened my mouth, but suddenly the words that were coming out just a moment ago suddenly stopped coming out, as if they were blocked by a stone. But I had to say it just to be sure.
I need to call him.
"... Hyung?"
"..."
The other person paused.
White light exploded.
***
"Gasp!"
I trembled violently and opened my eyes. I obviously fell asleep while sitting, but I don't know when I laid down, but I was curled up on my side on the sofa.
I couldn't understand the situation, so I blinked slowly. Just like it did one day, the quiet view of the room came into view. It was only when I realized the presence of a wooden box in my arms that I realized this was real.
Then, that was a little while ago.
"... It's a dream."
Apparently, since I was kicked out of the nightmare before, at least I haven't had a nightmare in this room.
After taking a moment to catch my breath, I put the box down on the sofa and stepped on the floor. Suddenly, I felt a different unpleasant sensation than before, so I lowered my gaze.
"What... is this blood?"
No matter how you look at it, it looks like blood. Was there any chance of blood pooling in this room? I reflexively looked at the wooden box next to me, but there was no trace of blood leaking from it.
To get a closer look, I bent down and felt the blood pooling at my feet. The thick bloody smell became more vivid and a slimy sensation was felt at my fingertips. However, when I straightened my back and checked, there was nothing on my hands.
Even though I've clearly never cleaned it somewhere.
'... Ah.'
I think I know what this is.
The blood pooling precisely at my feet. Clean hands that have clearly touched blood, but had not even a trace of blood.
After rubbing my fingertips, I lowered my gaze again and took a step forward. I stepped on a place that clearly wasn't filled with blood, but a puddle formed there and I felt the wet sensation again.
"It's a hallucination..."