Chapter 83: Gale (2) (1/2)
Under the blazing sun of the Kahal Desert, some people lived only on camels and tents.
Originally a native of the eastern part of the continent, the poor Demon Blood clan got entangled in foreign rights, were banished, and since then became the living evidence of discrimination and oppression.
Whooosh…
As sandstorms pounded on their tents amid the darkness, their leader’s anguish coursed through the clan’s future.
“This is troublesome, chief. It’s finally begun…”
Captain Zubaekren stared at the dark tornado in the desert, finding it no different from hatred. It whirled around like a never-ending cycle of grudge breeding resentment and resentment breeding hatred.
That cycle would only end with the destruction of either side or the proliferation of harmony and unity.
In an era when the latter was reduced to a mere mirage, he watched the Altar’s movements, knowing full well that the Demon Blood and the Altar’s religion were the same at a glance.
“There are rumors that Professor Deculein is building a concentration camp in Rohalak.”
Disappointed by his passive attitude, the Demon Blood radicals joined the Altar, which ‘seemed’ to have similar religious doctrines, and in the end, committed horrific misdeeds.
“The groups will be taken there.”
Zubaekren nodded.
Deculein.
The Yukline successor defending the Demon Blood at Bercht confused him. Nevertheless, he was grateful.
“I see. He bought us time in Bercht, but since this attack was our clan’s doing, he must have thought we betrayed his good graces…”
He remembered the former Yukline Family head and Deculein’s father, ‘Decalane.’
He was a hunter of wealth and had no mercy, a pitiful man who couldn’t even develop feelings to love someone.
Though more Yukline than anyone else in their family, he was never bound by the yoke of it.
That was why Zubaekren was afraid of him.
“The cost of betraying them has always been excruciating.”
“… Yes. I know. ‘Fear the demon.'”
Fear the demon.
That was the Yuklines’ dictum. It made people aware of the demons’ existence and, at the same time, revealed the tradition and power of their family.
Having been hunting demons since ancient times, the Yukline resembled their targets the most. That was why the ‘demon’ their enemies should fear wasn’t only the devil itself but also the ‘Yukline who would become a demon to them.’
“A gale will soon come, rendering all words we utter into excuses. Even peaceful rallies will be difficult to execute.”
The Demon Blood clan was spread out in groups across a low-lying area, some of them having decently sized populations.
“We won’t be able to control all the new and bloodthirsty groups. If we press them hard, they might leave and cause incidents like the terrorist attack.”
“… That’s true.”
“Don’t let the ‘Cradle of Trees’ handle it. ‘Elesol’ and ‘Carixel’ will be able to lead well.”
He then looked at the distant whirlwind gradually growing larger as it absorbed the sand and mana of the desert. Beyond it, he could see the faces of his long-lost friends.
The sweeping and howling air currents seemed to act as their screams; the grains of sand their blood.
He felt as if they were calling out to him.
“I haven’t been thinking properly until now… But what can I do? The answers I seek aren’t in this world.”
Captain Zubaekren sank into the darkness amid the sandstorm.
* * *
Hadekain, three days later.
“What nonsense is that?!”
Yeriel yelled at the family Head, who visited after so long.
“Why would you build a concentration camp on our estate?!”
“…”
“Answer me! Sir!”
Though Yeriel usually sat on the lord’s seat, Deculein took to it silently for the first time in a while.
“I hate the Demon Blood as well, but a concentration camp! That’s a hate facility! Sir!”
“Stop adding ‘sir.'”
After a few moments of waiting for her to subside, she finally gasped and sighed.
Only then did he get to the point.
“It’s far from the private mansion.”
“Where are you going to build it, sir?”
“… Are you rebelling?”
“What, sir…?”
“I won’t ask you again.”
“I’m not, sir.”
She chuckled in disdain, to which he responded by shaking his head.
“The camp will be in Rohalak.”
“… Are you kidding me?”
Her expression hardened.
The Yukline County was large enough to match the Principality of Yuren, a country. Still, only half of that was available land because a part of Marik, the land of magic mines, was within their territory.
Considering that place was accompanied by a multitude of obligations, it was more accurate to say it fell under their jurisdiction rather than their ownership.
“We mustn’t let corrupted beasts into the civilian world.”
“It doesn’t matter if they’re Demon Blood. They are human.”
Rohalak was the worst area close to extinction.
It was a hell comparable to Recordak, the northernmost prison of Freyden County.
“People live there—”
“I’m not here to discuss it with you, Yeriel.”
“…”
His glare pierced through her like a blade, causing her to stagger back.
She had been out of Deculein’s shadow for quite a while now, but she still couldn’t stop herself from feeling scared every time this happened.
“… Okay. The Demon Blood aside, what benefits would this bring us? Nothing! That area will only be nicknamed ‘the territory where the camp was built!”
“The Imperial Family will soon pass all the benefits to you.”
He got up from the lord’s seat and exited the room. Yeriel then hurriedly ran and sat in the empty seat, which normally served as her chair.
“I’m going. Just know that I’ll assign the raw materials needed for the foundation construction.”
“… I don’t care.”
It was something he did on his own without any consultation. There was no way he would change his mind even if she insisted.
Yeriel glanced at Deculein.
Creak—
He opened the door to the lord’s office, finding his companions, imperial knights, and imperial officials gathered before him and greeting him with a smile.
They seemed excited about the Demon Blood suppression.
“As expected from Professor Deculein. Oh, I should call you Count Yukline here.”
“With the Count who overpowered Rohakan and resolved the imperial terrorism in an instant, we would go to even the end of the universe—”
Creak—
The loud flattery subsided as soon as he closed the door behind him.
“Sigh…”
Now alone in silence, Yeriel muttered, “Rohalak, Rohalak…”
Even she had never thought of shoving people into that place.
Of course, his intentions were vaguely understandable. The truth was also undeniable.
The support would come from the imperial family, and the Demon Blood concentration camp would be useful as a ‘human wall’ like Recordak.
It would become a fortress that would prevent the beasts from coming.
If they built the camp in that location, the captives would defend against the beasts themselves to survive. Moreover, there would be no real damage to the Yukline even if they were destroyed.
A cold, cruel, extremely Deculein-like thought.
“I thought he was a little more human these days.”
Yeriel touched her temple. Lately, she found herself no longer able to peer into Deculein.
“… Well, I don’t know what it means to be called human anymore after those assholes carried out such acts of terrorism.”
As Yeriel talked to herself helplessly, the door opened again, revealing her butler.
“The Marik Underground Passage’s income this week has been aggregated.”
“I see.”
As she looked at the document without much thought, her eyes immediately widened when millions of Elnes entered her sights.
“…!”
Money was pouring in huge amounts.
“How did this happen? Our weekly earnings far exceeded expectations! I thought it would take some time for word of mouth to spread?!”
“The number of visiting adventurers far exceeded our projections. As a natural result, the sales of the underground mall also increased.”
The product prices of Marik’s restaurants, hardware stores, equipment stores, magic stores, and others, including the Pig’s Flower, were 30% higher than in most cities, but adventurers who valued convenience over money paid without hesitation.
“O-Okay, that’s a good thing. Let’s stay calm and keep the profits flowing. Got it?!”
“Of course.”
Her own territory remained the top priority.
She didn’t care about the Empire, Imperial Family, Emperor, Demon Blood, or others. After all, from childhood to adulthood, Yeriel’s only ‘possession’ was their estate.
“You may go.”
“Alright.”
After sending her butler away, she immediately placed her hands on both cheeks.
She looked at the ledger again, laughing like a child.
It was ten times the income they expected.
… She couldn’t stand the excitement!
“Kyaaaa, kyaa~ kya~”
She sang like a nightingale and played the turntable.
♩♬~ ♩♪♬~ ♪♩♬ ♪~
Yeriel danced a slightly clumsy waltz to the resonating classic.
*****
Rohalak. A wasteland close to a desert, having neither grass growing nor sand. The scorching sun and sweltering heat dominated its barren soil.
Although I had only ever seen this scenery in the game, it was bleaker than I thought it would be.
“Professor.” Julie grabbed the hem of my robe.
When I looked over at her, she hesitatingly spoke.
“Don’t you think… the ground here is too weak… to build a camp…?”
It was a cautious question.
The Freyden, her family, had more than enough hatred towards the Demon Blood and the Altar.
Perhaps Zeit rebuked her, considering the way she asked, ‘Aren’t you going too far with Rohalak?’ shyly and euphemistically.
“It’s okay. Suppression is better than annihilation.”
I would build the largest camp possible in this place to ensure that as many demon-blooded as possible could survive here.
After all, a literal massacre would occur at the camps that many other wizard families would create in the distant future.
“But I’m just not certain if… anyone… can even survive here…”
Looking at our surroundings with [Man of Great Wealth] activated, I immediately located Rohalak’s water source, which I would use as the focal point of the ‘fortress.’
“Julie.”
“Yes?”
“Trust me. What concerns you won’t happen.”
“…”
When I smiled to reassure her, Julie nodded.
“Professor! The raw materials are ready!”
I soon heard a shout coming from a distance, where multiple wagons filled with steel frames were parked.
Whooong—!
I used [Psychokinesis] on all of them to make them hover.
Today’s objective was to build an iron wall to designate the border of the camp. My magic would prove extremely useful in achieving it, considering it was great for engineering and architecture.
At some point, however…
“Ugh!”
A small groan startled my heart more fiercely than anything else, causing me to immediately look back.
“Oh. I’m fine. I think I stepped on a cactus.” Julie smiled bitterly.
I didn’t know if she was feeling ill or just hot, but sweat dripped down her chin.
*****
The Yukline residence, late evening.
Julie, who fell asleep as soon as she returned from Rohalak, got up quickly at some point, feeling as if her soul was being thrown out of her heart.
“Pant… Pant…”
The immense pain she felt made her upper body stiffen. After repeatedly conducting a breathing technique for some time, she quickly came out of the room.