Chapter 59 (2/2)
Hidden underneath heavy armor and thick plating, his throat rang loudly.
“Then it would confirm that he will be the focal point of the next Bleed. Even if we all lose our lives in the process, we must eliminate him here and now.”
♥♦♣♠
After hearing about the state of affairs from Sasara, I pressed on towards Jiiteias Castle with both impatience and anger.
Of course, we did not go in straight from the front like fools. Having heard from Sasara that she had been tailed here, I activated the [Move Outer Plane] spell, then led everyone through the alternate plane.
The negotiation — or whatever that was — had apparently been frozen temporarily, but above anything else, I was just relieved to see that n.o.body was hurt.
“Rather than that, we should now be thinking about what kind of response to make.”
“...... Yes, let’s.”
While feeling both grat.i.tude and respect towards Claura, who is pale-faced but still level-headed, I went straight to the Command Room.
The people that I brought in with me were Sedam, Claura, Torad, Jiruk, and the 5 dark elves.
“When the War Tribe has their eye on you, things get troublesome. Even if we successfully drive them away this time, if word of this gets out, our reputation would take a nosedive.”
“More like, hasn’t it been 10 years since the War Tribe’s shown up in that large a group? All I’m feeling is foreboding from this.”
“In the first place, what is their basis for claiming that Margils-dono is a Shadow Demon?”
“I don’t know the full details, but they apparently have some special technique or tool that can make the distinction.”
While listening to the conversation between the adventurers, I somehow try to calm my fl.u.s.tered mind.
I drained the cup of s.h.i.+l tea that Mora had poured for me with a face close to crying in a single gulp. However, I still feel rage boiling deep at the bottom of my stomach.
“...... If that’s the case, then all I need to do is have them use that technique or whatever it is they have to establish that I’m not a Shadow Demon. That’s only if that technique is real, of course.”
“It would indeed be best if everything would be resolved with that. What if they’re just finding something to fault you for in order to remove you from the position of castle lord?”
“If that is truly what they are aiming for, then it would make everything so much simpler. I can just kindly allow them to choose whether they’d prefer being a stone statue or a pig or whatever else.”
“......”
Everyone’s eyes gather on me, colored with surprise from hearing me express an anger-affected opinion.
“When you stop being calm, things can get out of control, fast. I understand how you feel, but will you please calm down?”
“...... Though in actual fact, we will need to exact some form of reparation for this.”
In response to Sedam’s worried words, Claura shot her own opinion out.
When I take a better look, I realize that the veins on her forehead are clearly bulging. I can tell that she is also currently suppressing a lot of anger inside.
“But with that in mind, I also advise that we aim to build a cordial relations.h.i.+p with them.”
“......”
Everyone silently nodded agreement to her extremely calm counsel.
She is right, of course. The War Tribe is a group of seasoned warriors who’ve been fighting the Shadow Demons for generations. Considering what my own goal is, they should be people that I would be willing to go to great lengths to acquire.
If they had offered a friendly hand at the very start, I would have taken that hand with nothing but joy in my heart.
Techniques to discover Shadow Demons and Demonists. The know-how regarding how to fight them. There are very few existences who would be more reliable as collaborators in the cause that we share.
“Only if we manage to first clear this misunderstanding, that is.”
“Her earlier point was also quite valid. After having done this much to us, how can we let them go home just like that?”
Reparation, huh.
No matter how strong they might be, it is easy for me to turn them into rocks or pigs. It would be even easier to exterminate them. But well, however full of anger I might be, I’m not actually considering the extermination option.
Of course, I will indeed exact some form of ‘reparation’ for having frightened everyone at the castle. Since, as the castle lord, working on our public image is also part of my duties……
“Whichever way, it seems that we all agree I must at least first meet with them face to face.”
Everyone exchanged uneasy looks at my conclusion. Oh don’t worry, I won’t suddenly call down a meteor with no warning.
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