Volume 14 Chapter 15 Yaalan’s Doubts
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
*Yaalan’s Perspective
The immigrants, brought from the Eastern Continent’s Abraham Empire, had begun to settle in the abandoned villages of the northeast, left empty by war.
They were clearing land and starting farms.
At first, the immigrants were told they were coming for excavation work, to earn money.
But I never intended to use them for such a pointless task.
I planned to use the food and supplies provided by the Abraham Empire to welcome them as new residents of the desolate northeast, as citizens of my Dukedom.
The immigrants, realizing they’d been tricked, had nowhere else to go.
Returning to the Abraham Empire meant certain hardship, so most of them accepted their fate and began the land-clearing work.
Some did try to escape from the Dukedom, unable to adjust to the work.
They fled to the neighboring True Demon Kingdom or the Garuda Principality in the east, but their numbers were few.
I had Bricks, the Abraham Empire’s Commissioner, buy up the Magic Tools being sold cheaply here.
He was to pass them off as the immigrants’ excavation finds.
These would be used as bribes to get back into the central government.
Greedy Bricks was using his connections to expand the Magic Tool sales network within the Empire.
It seemed the excavation finds weren’t enough, and he even requested more.
So, to gain funds for the Dukedom’s Administration, I was supplying Bricks with even practical-level Magic Tools.
I had successfully siphoned off a vast amount of funds.
Felia reported that the Dukedom’s critical financial situation was over.
She expected our national power to increase steadily from now on.
And then, at a time like this… Kent sent his sister, Flamil, as an urgent messenger.
She barged into my office in Kranshtadt.
”…Well, well, Flamil… It’s been a while… Over a hundred years, hasn’t it, since we last met? My sister, your beauty remains unchanged. As your brother, I am pleased.”
”…I didn’t want to see a brother who killed our father, the King…”
Flamil’s sharp gaze pierced right through me.
It seems he harbors a deep hatred for me, for killing that incompetent father of his.
That foolish dad nearly handed over the Dukedom, the cherished homeland of Gwain, to his enemies ── a man deserving of endless loathing.
And if that blockhead had been more competent, I wouldn’t have had to lead the nation, the [Soul of the Overlord] wouldn’t ache, and I could have died surrounded by my beloved succubi.
That incompetent father ruined it all.
”I have no regrets about killing the king. He was a danger to the Dukedom, that’s all. So, what brings you here today? You didn’t come to complain about the king’s death, did you?”
”Indeed. As an envoy of my husband, King Kent Blackdagger, I have come to persuade you, Sir Yaalan of the True Demon Dukedom, to attend the Demon Continent’s head of state meeting”
”The Demon Continent’s head of state meeting?”
I turn to Yuri, standing beside me, waiting for an answer.
Yuri steps closer and whispers in my ear.
”…Sir Yaalan, it seems that ‘another world monsters’ are multiplying rapidly in Kent’s territory, and he is seeking aid from the leaders of various nations at the Capital City of Shifa. Currently, the Black Dragon and the Eastern Garuda Principality have agreed to participate”
Hmph, ‘another world monsters’ multiplying in Kent’s territory… I thought the unity of the nation was solid, but this could be an unexpected opportunity…
While the mighty Kent is busy dealing with the ‘another world monsters’, I could stir up a rebellion in Black Dragon to keep them occupied, and in that gap, I might just conquer the militarily weakest True Demon Kingdom and usurp the Demon Lord… not a bad plan at all.
Flamil shot a bitter glare at Yuri as she whispered into my ear.
Maybe she thinks Kent only sent me as his hidden trump card.
Yuri already told me what Flamil said.
But I couldn’t guess what Kent really wanted.
To everyone else, we’re supposed to be in an alliance.
But why ask me──a possible future enemy──to take part in this summit.
If they’re inviting even me, these ‘another world monsters’ must be serious trouble.
”King Yaalan, King Kent says the crack in time and space at the Abyss Gate is now enormous──monsters from the other world are multiplying out of control. The Demon Continent is in grave danger. I’ve seen those monsters myself in the Southern Region──whole swarms, attacking villages. If you ignore this and my country falls, the monsters will surely flood into your land next.”
”Flamil. Are you…threatening me?”
”I would never threaten you──I’m only stating the facts. Hundreds of mid-sized monsters are appearing every day. Their numbers grow larger with each passing day. That’s what our experts say. The longer King Yaalan delays his decision, the more risk your country faces.”
Flamil didn’t say the monsters were ‘born’──she said they were being produced That word stuck in my mind.
I glanced at Yuri, but from the look on her face, this was new to her too.
”Wait! Flamil, what do you mean the monsters are being produced? Explain──now!”
”King Yaalan. The ‘another world monsters’ are bio-machines made in some other realm. Their bodies don’t hatch from eggs or get born from parents. They get put together by assembly line machines──built, not born. That entire factory is inside the Abyss Gate, and it’s only growing bigger and bigger. Do you get what I’m saying?”
Yuri listens to Flamil’s explanation.
Her face is stunned──like her mind can’t accept it.
All this time, nobody really dug into what the ‘another world monsters’ were.
When people defeated them, their bodies stayed behind, not fading to mana like other monsters.
…Mass-produced by machines… How am I supposed to believe a story like that…
”Flamil. Are you just fabricating lies to trap me?”
”King Yaalan, that’s what the Demon Continent summit is for. King Kent will share the details himself at the meeting, so please join us. Then, you can decide whether to accept support from King Kent, or reject it outright.”
Flamil doesn’t break eye contact.
Her gaze is steady──pushing me to say yes to the conference.
…I could ignore them and stay out of it…
But──what if Flamil is speaking the truth
If the coalition that fights off these ‘another world monsters’ attacks my kingdom next.
That could mean disaster for us… our country’s very survival on the line…
The information about ‘another world monsters’ from Kent shakes me.
My heart pounds──my dream of conquering the entire continent suddenly doesn’t feel steady.
…No helping it.
I’ll have to go to this Demon Continent summit, drag out the truth, and only then decide my next move.
”Fine. I will go to this so-called Demon Continent summit. Yuri, we’re leaving immediately. Get ready.”
”King Yaalan, your wise decision… My husband, Kent Blackdagger, will be delighted.”
Other monsters in this world usually fade away, turning into magical energy (“mana”) when defeated.
These new monsters don’t.
This difference made everyone treat them as living beings, not techno-creations.
So, I decided to go with Flamil to the Demon Continent Summit in Capital City Eternita
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply