Chapter 179: Dream and Memory, Voice (2) (2/2)
Julie frowned. She knew the meaning behind Delric’s words.
“I am leaving.”
“…Sir Delric.”
Julie stood to restrain him, but Delric shook his head.
“Corrupt knight, be still.”
“…”
She clenched both her fists. A fire blazed inside her.
“It is pointless to hold on at Reccordak. Of course, the Knight Deya will naturally say to endure.”
“No. If things are that bad, at least I’ll tell them to leave with the people of the mountains—”
“Okay. Whatever it is, it’s fine. Anyway…”
Creak-!
The door to the conference room opened again. Everyone jumped up and bowed as Deculein strolled in. He glanced around the conference hall.
“Is this a meeting of only the knights?”
No one answered; there was only silence and stillness. Deculein walked between them and sat down at the table’s head.
“The Knights of Reccordak will soon become empty, too, because there are so many people leaving.”
As he said that, he looked around. Delric, meeting Deculein’s eyes, opened his mouth slowly.
“Are you not going to leave, Professor…?”
“I think I said that from the beginning.”
“…”
Delric turned his head, hiding his expression. A moment later, he glanced back at Deculein with a carefree look.
“But look at this report. Hundreds of knights and thousands of prisoners are not enough. This time it’s different from a Great Tiger. The wave will grow as time goes on, and if it is like this from the first wave, it will be a battle every waking hour.”
Delric was desperately trying to persuade him.
“It is also a quality of life issue. To defend this wall, we will be fighting for a whole month. Even if we don’t die physically, mentally….”
His speech went on for quite some time, listing off his reasonable excuses.
“Hmm. That was a good reason to listen to, Delric.”
Deculein nodded. Delric’s face turned pale, as did the other knights who sympathized with him.
“How many people want to leave?”
At first, no one raised their hand.
“Don’t be afraid to raise your hand.”
But when he spoke the second time, they raised their arms, starting with Delric. Deculein looked at them all and smiled.
“Good. Leave.”
“…”
Delric was relieved. After all, did Deculein feel it was impossible too?
“Yes. If that is the case, then after considering the opinions-“
“But.”
Suddenly, Deculein’s face hardened. No, he was still smiling with his mouth, but his eyes were hard.
“I predicted this with the concept of collision values.”
Deculein spoke in a low, deep voice.
“You should have known that, too.”
One of the characteristics of the villain in novels, and many, many worlds.
“However, the cost invested in the acquisition and development of this prison is astronomical. If you had said you wouldn’t follow me, I wouldn’t have spent it.”
First, he especially hated sunk costs.
“Of course, the extent of the damage is irrelevant, but my title of Chairman is hanging on this wall.”
Second, he was obsessed with honor and power. Wealth was always the ultimate goal of a third-rate villain.
“Of course, I don’t need to be the chairman, but… if there is a knight to leave.”
Third.
“It will be better to think that you won’t be returning to good graces.”
His resentment lasted for years and was strong enough to kill people.
“…What do you think?”
Conversely, this was the advantage of the villain. He could mobilize the manpower he wanted to without the need for forced persuasion like Julie.
“Are you going to leave anyway?”
The smile on Deculein’s lips deepened. In the eyes of the knights of the Imperial Palace, that smile was as evil as a snake’s.
“Or do you want to at least gain honor in death by fighting here?”
Deculein buried himself in his chair. He always maintained the noble and constant dignity of his household, but his next words were quite bloody.
“Think for a day and make a decision. There is no corner of this Empire beyond my reach. There might be an accident on the way to the continent if you leave right away.”
Deculein laughed and stood. All the knights were looking at him, but they didn’t dare to say anything. They only watched his back.
Creak-!
The door closed again, but silence remained heavy over the conference room. Each of the knights looked at the scout’s report with mixed feelings.
[There are too many to count. Roughly speaking, a full march across the horizon of Annihilation.]
“Sigh…”
Delric’s deep sigh filled the air like cigarette smoke.
* * *
Meanwhile, Sophien received a book from Deculein about Go.
“This guy wrote it well.”
She nodded. It was placed on her desk, next to Keiron’s Snow Globe.
“More importantly, Your Majesty. Is it true that the Professor hunted a Great Tiger?”
Sophien stared intently at Kreto sitting before her. This guy came out of nowhere asking about the rumors in the north these days.
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Whoa! As expected!”
“Why are you asking that?”
“Haha. I am currently writing a biography about Professor Deculein.”
“Did you go nuts? The Imperial family writing such things? I’ll tear it apart.”
“Oh~, of course, it’s under a pen name. They won’t know it’s me.”
“…Eh. Moron.”
Sophien shook her head with a dissatisfied expression.
“Oh. Rumors of the wave coming soon are circulating. How’s Professor Deculein?”
“How is he? He must be doing well. I’m busy with the Demon Blood.”
At that, Kreto smiled bitterly. Carefully, he glanced at her.
“But, Your Majesty, why do you hate the Demon Blood so much?”
“…”
Sophien was silent for a moment. She stood still and stared at Kreto.
“There is a reason for my hatred.”
“…Yes. Well, you must have one. Your Majesty is wise. Anyway, didn’t the Professor predict that this wave would be pretty dangerous?”
“Right. He said that it’d be significantly harsher than in previous years. I wonder if that will be true or if he will be dishonored.”
Sophien grinned.
“I like the Professor, but… I hope that prediction will be wrong this time.”
“Be quiet.”
Tap-!
Sophien handed Kreto some documents.
“Deliver these to the Minister of the Interior on the way. You read it too.”
“What is it?”
“It is a policy related to the Demon Blood in the future.”
Kreto read the document with a bitter feeling welling inside him.
“…!”
His heart stopped for a moment.
─Gas chamber resolution. Established from the Bethan concentration camp.
─The matter of the annihilation of the Demon Blood Village.
─Unreported Demon Bloods will be consistently treated as a kill on sight.
“…Also, as the Emperor, I have a letter to deliver to a certain minister.”
Kreto raised his head.
“Yes, yes? A letter?”
“Yes.”
Sophien realized that her letter was a little off. Aside from her writing skills, it was too old-fashioned.
“Give me some help with it and go.”
“…Yes.”
Kreto put the papers he was reading down and nodded. Then, he asked without thinking:
“But, to whom are you sending it?”
“That you don’t need to know!”
“…What?”
But Sophien reacted quite violently.
“It’s the Emperor’s matter, so you don’t need to know!”
Kreto was a little curious, but he quickly answered.
“Yes, yes. All right…”