Episode 165: Making an Excuse (5)
Leon Xiao Chengzhu suddenly realized that the meeting was about to begin.
However, I didn’t pay attention for too long. There was no reason for him, the owner of a minor castle, to pay attention to the castle lords’ meeting.
Of course, someone could have mobilized So Seong-ju or an aide… but in his case, it would have been a loss. It is natural that most people will implicitly encourage sacrifice.
Rather than stressing about it, it would be more productive to take care of things that have been postponed due to preparation for the meeting.
He did his work based on that judgment. There was something that needed to be dealt with most urgently.
Anyway, I’ve heard reports that the wild beast crisis in Camburgh has stopped, but I don’t know how long it will last.
It is quite possible that there are delays due to various events, but it is foolish to believe that Biryuho will take care of it at any time. He hastily drafted a document to announce the break-up of the engagement.
“Lord Soseong, is that really not related to Biryuho’s misfortune?”
“Absolutely not. “The warrior and his companions simply used their power to protect us from the remnants of the great evil.”
“The anxiety of city residents is growing. There are rumors that Biryuho is angry and that if Biryuho leaves, the city will fall into ruin.”
“This is a baseless rumor. Moreover, if Biryuho leaves, how will this land be destroyed? Even in the western part of the country, sea dragons have disappeared, but there is no problem.”
But what are these new stones being thrown at my already complicated feelings?
He chewed his lip as he looked at the new rumors going around and the people being swayed by them.
It is fortunate that the affair between him, So Seong-ju of Camburgh, and Biryu-ho was not revealed, but this is not a good thing.
The source of all evil is Lake Biryu, but hasn’t this rumor led people to defend Lake Biryu?
I don’t like that, so I just keep spreading the word about it so that I can somehow give credit to others and attract everyone’s attention to the subjugation of the Great Evil… but in the first place, this trend itself is not good.
People were frightened by the vines that grew in one day and regained their faith that had been dusty for the first time in a very long time.
If this continues, it will be very difficult to subdue Biryuho, who ate the devil’s body, even if he becomes the devil himself. Until they all suffer like the West over there.
“I guess…”
He finished writing the main text, pledging to keep the existence of Biryu Lake hidden. Biryuho’s writing, which does not even contain the letter ‘ㅂ’, was slowly completed.
[Are you ashamed of me? Why is there no story about me? I told you to clearly declare that you are mine.] A
cool warmth from the black breath covered his back. The stench that used to come from rotting meat touched the tip of my nose.
[Or…]
Drops of cold sweat formed at the weight pressing down on his shoulders. At the same time, he gently turned his head to fulfill his responsibility.
He had a duty to understand the condition of Lake Biryu.
[Are you going to ask the humans who caught the Great Evil to kill me?]
But where have the pink eyes that were as pretty as cherry blossoms gone and only the dull red ones remain to watch him?
[Oh, they cannot kill me. To do that, I even ate this fishy thing.] A
large hand covered his mouth and lifted his body up.
[There is nothing more to notice. Let’s go to my nest.]
* * *
Dev reluctantly followed Nana and the others. It was a decision made after expressing the opinion that he did not want to be there because he felt uncomfortable with the appeal and the temple, which he could testify about.
“I think I’ll buy something now.”
“Is the temple that uncomfortable?”
“It’s a bit like that. “I don’t know how to explain this…”
After much thought, Dev came up with words like maggots, oysters, and corpse oysters. I don’t completely agree, but I understand what you meant.
Roughly speaking, it would be similar to the level of disgust that an ordinary person would feel when seeing something like that.
“Is it because of the magic energy…?”
“The devil worshipers we’ve captured so far haven’t felt this?”
“Do you think there would be someone who would give such a review when they are captured and put in a torture chamber?”
“…I’m glad I didn’t end up in the torture room.”
“Don’t worry. “Unless you really betray me, I won’t go in.”
Dev shook his head with a look of boredom at the Inquisitor’s answer.
It was around that time that the Archmage turned his attention to me.
“What about you? “Are you okay?”
me? What am I… I don’t feel comfortable in a temple space, do I?
At some point, I began to feel as if a thousand needles were pricking my body and eyes were floating around and watching me from all directions. It was so crowded with tiny bugs that it felt like they were walking all over my body.
However, if it is a concept, I will not avoid it. So I decided not to avoid it.
Even if it wasn’t just because of the concept, I wouldn’t have tried to avoid it.
Anyway, instead of expressing my feelings, I increased my walking pace and blocked further questions in advance. Because of that, I didn’t notice the Archmage starting to worry behind me.
As soon as we reached the castle, a guide came out and led me and my group inside.
Perhaps because it was judged that the reception room was too small, the final destination was a place that looked like a banquet hall.
“It’s spacious.”
“Because there are a lot of participants.”
I hesitated at the entrance for a moment, listening to their conversation.
I am hoping that my concept will not be recognized by the castle lords and that a war of destruction will not occur.
“Isn’t the devil knight coming in?”
“….”
Anyway, I can’t come here and leave out. I walked inside, hiding what I was praying for.
“But how on earth is a meeting held here?”
“The method is to scan the opponent’s appearance using magic and then transmit the scanned information as an illusion. Likewise, the appearance of this place will also be conveyed that way.”
Right in front of the entrance, the Archmage is giving a lecture to Dev. Her finger pointed to the floor.
“The surrounding scene will be transmitted from this inner line. So, if you have anything to say, please stand here. The same goes for the Inquisitor.”
“All right.”
“Then me too later…?”
“How can we impose different rules on you? But I think… it would be better for you to come forward a little later.”
“Then I will come forward when you give the signal.”
“Thank you.”
I realized once again that there is little difference between science and magic. It reminds me of holographic video conferencing.
“Is everyone here?”
Then someone came in. So Seong-ju was in charge of all affairs here, and he was a Seong-ju that we had never seen before.
“Lord Munmund declared that he would not attend. He said that a horde of demons had come to attack us now and that they would follow whatever the outcome of the meeting was. “The rest all expressed their intention to attend.”
“Right. “Okay.”
As if it were not for nothing that I had entrusted this to Seongju So, Seongju looked clearly ill. He couldn’t even walk on his own, and even though he was from the Shagi tribe, his body was very thin.
It didn’t look like he had been sick for a day or two.
“Ah, warrior. The wise man and his colleagues also came. “I’m sorry I’m late in greeting you.”
However, even though he was sick, his spirit did not seem to be weakened.
He was thin enough to have a lot of space left on his shirt, but his waist was straight, and his fur may have lost its luster and become sparse, but his eyes were full of gunfire.
“no. “It seems like it’s about to start slowly, so please postpone things like that until later.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
And while the Archmage and the castle lord were lightly greeting each other, images of people began to be projected near the huge table set up in the banquet hall.
“Well, since everyone seems to have gathered, let’s begin the meeting. “The Lord of Münmund was unable to attend due to unavoidable circumstances.”
Ednium Seongju, who stood at the head table in his capacity as host, began to lead the meeting.
“I would like to inform you in advance that in this situation, Ednium is prepared to make any sacrifice.”
─What kind of sacrifice are you talking about…?
“That’s literally it.”
─Does that mean you will fight the Biryuho?
“If everyone’s opinion is like that, then so be it. “Otherwise it won’t happen.”
─What that means is….
“If a father wants his son’s sacrifice to be tolerated, he says yes. “Don’t waste your time talking back.”
─Kuhm.
However, the flow of the meeting itself was as expected.
─But is this conversation necessary? Ednium Seongju It’s a pity, but I don’t think Biryuho will take this as a big issue if I just send So Seongju.
─The reason you ate the devil… wasn’t it just because you didn’t want to leave the devil on this earth? What kind of person is Biryuho? Would it be a problem if he only ate one devil?
─So I think we should just end with this. There is no way that there will be any side effects, and on the contrary, we don’t know what kind of danger there will be if we turn against Biryuho, so why bother causing trouble?
─That’s right. There is no reason to scratch it and make it crumble.
Most of the castle owners wanted to ignore this situation.
─It seems like we are taking Adnium Soseongju’s sacrifice too much for granted. Is this correct?
─I feel sorry for the lord of Ednium Castle… All other cities cannot suffer damage because of one lord of Ednium Castle.
─If Lord Ednium steps forward to roast his son, that choice is understandable. But even though he understands, Bemurgen will not agree with that opinion.
─The Bemurchen Magic Tower branch also has the same opinion. Even at this very moment, the sea is full of demons, and I don’t want to have the owner of this area as my enemy.
Leon Sosungju’s sacrifice? That wasn’t even controversial.
They say that the Biryu Lake can be appeased with the sacrifice of one person, but isn’t that enough? It was like that.
I know that sacrificing cattle for the sake of the good is common in the world, but I felt somewhat disgusted that they acted as if they had left it up to them too much.
It felt even more so because the father who sacrificed his son and the small lord of Camburgh who lost his lover were all present here.
─The damage in Camburgh… honestly, isn’t that big, is it? It’s not like the city was going to collapse.
─Have you said everything now? Isn’t there a lot of damage? Would you try saying that to the faces of our citizens who are currently protesting?
─ Adventure… Camburgh Soseongju speaks a little…
─ You have to speak in human language first, so I can respond in human language as well.
Of course, neither of them revealed that fact. In fact, he was so resolute that people who knew the situation started to notice more.
One of the lords of the castle looked at the lord of Cambura biting people without hesitation and said, “As expected of the knight’s daughter…” his lips twitched.
“I…”
rattled.
However, the Archmage was just about to raise his hand as if he was about to participate.
The door to the banquet hall opened. Because the sound was not loud, the castle owners did not seem to notice. In the first place, it wasn’t an area transmitted by magic, so they wouldn’t be able to see it.
“Lord Seong.”
Just then, a person who appeared to be a knight approached Seongju with a stern expression on his face.
“Lord Soseong…”
It seemed like he lowered his voice to say it was a whisper… Unfortunately, I could hear it all. It looks like the Biryu has already had an accident.
“So Seong-ju was kidnapped…!”
“Archmage!”
The Inquisitor, who had been anxious to intervene earlier, glanced back at the Archmage. The Archmage also stiffened his face a little, as if he hadn’t thought of this development.
─What’s going on, Lord Ednium?
─Is this a story you can share with us?
Meanwhile, Seongju Ednium blinked slowly when he heard the news that his son had disappeared.
“They say Biryuho took my son.”
Perhaps due to his mood, the middle-aged man’s voice seemed quieter than before.
─Is this a problem? I was planning to offer it anyway…
─If the knowledge in your head is light, shouldn’t your mouth be heavy at least, Lord Dörpumain?
─Camburgh Little Lord! Such rude words!
─Your intelligence would be disrespectful even to the Lord of Ednium Castle.
Camburgh Little City Lord also seemed a little shaken. Even though I was agitated, I used my mouth too well.
“You’ve been scolded… I never thought Biryuho would come out like this.”
Meanwhile, the Archmage quietly pondered. I am worried about the safety of Soseongju, and it is probably because I am reminded of the many difficulties that will arise if Soseongju disappears.
It would be nice if only people could worry about it, but someone like Archmage has to think about the future as well.
“This is a riot!”
“Can I go catch a tiger? “He’s good at catching Berserk tigers.”
“It’s not over yet, so don’t get excited…”
And I was just as worried.
I don’t think they would have captured and killed him because he was a human being that he loved, but not everything that has life attached to it is good.
And… it may be a bit cold, but without Soseongju, there is no way to peacefully find out the status of Biryu Lake.
If other humans ask questions to Biryuho, they have to risk their lives, but isn’t that the case for So Seongju?
From the beginning, Lord Soseong knew about this and had promised that if he called Biryuho, he would secretly find out the situation.
Not only the side effects that may have come from eating the devil, but also the origin of Biryuho’s remarks – what about the devil -.
“If this happens, um… things are going to be difficult. “It’s difficult to persuade them with what we have.”
However, if things turn out this way, there is a high possibility that we will be left unaware of the situation at Biryuho Lake.
I looked at the Archmage who was muttering. She seemed to have come to the same conclusion as me and moved forward with a dark expression.
─You…?
“I am an old man who is still with the warrior, even if it is insufficient.”
─Ah, you are a great sage. I’ve heard the story well.
The castle lords must have narrowed their eyes at the sudden presence of someone who suddenly intervened. As soon as the Archmage revealed his identity, he hastily changed his attitude.
“It’s nothing special, I just heard a story that you might find helpful. “Rather than making a hasty decision, why don’t you listen to this story first?”
After all, she spewed out the information Dev had given her. The fact that the Great Devil may be alive and that it seems that the Great Devil and Biryuho have made an agreement.
It was these two things.
─I heard that you definitely killed the Great Devil, right?
─Has there been some mistake?
“well. How could you imagine surviving if you fell to this earth from thousands of meters in the air with a sword stabbed between the devil’s eyes? However, the great demons are beings who have been living on this earth for a very long time. “There is nothing strange about dealing with mysteries that humans do not know.”
─That’s true, but are you sure that the Great Devil is alive?
“He has taken possession of the one who made a pact with jealousy. “I don’t think we can ignore it because it is testimony from him.”
─How do we know if it is digging a trap to destroy our eastern region?
─That’s right! The words of wicked things cannot be trusted!
However, the Archmage did not keep quiet for no reason. People didn’t want to fight with Biryuho, so they picked on him for no reason.
I understand, but honestly…
‘It would be cooler if I just killed them all.’
okay. It was a bit frustrating.
Hurting your nose like that is a very typical cliché.
“…? That…”
“Why are you doing that, young hunter?”
“What’s the problem?”
“…No. And please stop making that stupid noise.”
At that moment, Dev perked up his ears. Then he approached the doorway with somewhat confused looks, then turned and came towards me.
His lips, which had been muttering for a while, finally managed to speak in a truly awkward manner.
“When did you request the Information Guild?”
The slightly whispered words seem somewhat unexpected. However, before I could completely wonder what was going on, something suddenly occurred to me.
Dev also belongs to the Information Guild.
“…I am also from the information guild, so I can be used as a means of communication. That’s how I found out… so please don’t doubt it.”
However, looking at what you are saying now, it seems like he has just received it.
How was it delivered in this secret room? Although I was curious about that point, I glanced at Dev. Dev trembled, as if he was still uncomfortable dealing with me.
“Because I didn’t even read the content.”
However, he still managed to say something. It was a scroll that felt somewhat less civilized. Since the material was leaves, I said everything.
“…that.”
But this may be a key point.
I hastily opened the scroll. It came with unreadable letters and their interpretation.
“What on earth are we talking about?”
“Is there a problem?”
And when even the puzzled Berserker and Inquisitor approached me.
I rerolled the scroll and interpretation I had finished reading.
This is enough. So maybe.
“Demon knight?”
“I am…”
I took a long stride forward and stood next to the Archmage who was about to say something more.
For a moment, I thought that this might be a distraction or that I was being watched by the castle lords, but I decided that it was probably not the case.
I decided to trust myself and go for it.
“Biryu Lake must die.”
After all, a bite of sweet potato is followed by a sip of cider.
“you…?”
“oh.”
─Who are you?…
“If you don’t want the land to dry up every year, you should do it.”
So, in order to end this suffocating meeting, let’s give those people a reason to kill Biryuho.
Ultimately, the conclusion reached at this meeting is more of an excuse that they made because they did not want to suffer harm without benefiting themselves.