Eve of War (1)

There had been a great commotion.

Belial, who had been holed up in the Hope duchy as if still preparing, had begun to move his forces, and Siris Forys, whom most had declared dead, had returned.

Of course, the biggest commotion was Edge Forys’s death.

He was a remarkable man.

He accomplished something that even I couldn’t easily guarantee.

Even I, who knew the future. Even I, who knew the devil’s true power.

I believed he couldn’t do it, but in the end, he won.

As he’d claimed, he was able to summon Siris Forys to the meeting place and send her back.

Perhaps that’s why?

“Give my worthy rival the respect he deserves.”

Before the war, Belial visited the Forys duchy alone.

It wasn’t surprising that he wasn’t constrained by the limits of space.

What was surprising was that he came alone, just like Edge Forys had.

And despite his identity as a devil having been exposed, in that moment, he showed the dignity of a high nobleman.

That’s why I thought:

This devil is truly a formidable opponent.

Not just his strength as a devil, but his strength as a human—I couldn’t help but fear this monster who possessed both.

Belial, who had visited the Forys duchy, left as naturally as he had come.

During that brief time, he was clearly the human Wallace Hope, so I too decided not to say much in that moment.

After the devil wore the mask of a human and mourned the death of his political rival.

After Edge Forys’s funeral had ended and his grave had been erected.

“He was an admirable man.”

“I know.”

I approached Allen Wise, who was standing in front of Edge Forys’s grave. He was grinding his teeth as if nothing could be more humiliating.

Edge Forys had been a guardian, perhaps even someone who could be called family.

Allen Wise had occasionally served as Edge Forys’s escort, so he must have felt a great deal about Edge Forys, who had died after heading to the battlefield alone.

“I’m a coward.”

“I see.”

I wanted to deny it, but that’s not what Allen Wise wanted to hear. Even what he’d just said wasn’t directed at me, but was closer to self-deprecation.

He was reproaching himself.

“You know what, Lost? In truth, Duke Forys was an even bigger coward than me.”

“That’s surprising.”

“He was always afraid of making mistakes. I’ve seen his hands tremble every time he had to make a cold decision. But the Duke always made his decisions. Believing his choices weren’t wrong, he never hesitated to move forward despite his fear.”

Allen Wise, pouring out his emotions just as they came, laughed at the end.

“I couldn’t do that.”

“……”

“But I tried to be like that. And I thought I had become like that. Lost, do you think the Duke still saw me as a coward?”

“I don’t think so. If it’s as you say, rather……”

Allen Wise struck his chest as if frustrated.

Yes, Edge Forys, who would make Allen Wise accompany him as an escort for even trivial matters, had gone alone for such a crucial task.

“The Duke must have been too afraid. That’s why he didn’t have the courage to send Sir Allen into danger.”

A story everyone knew.

No, a story Allen Wise would know even better.

I vocalized the answer to this question with a foregone conclusion, as if reminding him.

“So, Sir Allen. There’s no need to push yourself.”

“……”

“Of course, I doubt you’ll listen to what I have to say.”

Allen Wise had already made his decision. So no matter what I said now, he wouldn’t reverse the decision he’d made.

“I just want to ask that you don’t force onto others the same helplessness you felt so deeply. That’s all I wanted to say.”

Allen Wise must have thought that Edge Forys was afraid because he himself was lacking.

If he had been an overwhelming force capable of overcoming everything, Edge Forys would have trusted him and gone together.

Allen Wise had reached such an extremely self-deprecating conclusion.

He’ll probably push himself to become stronger and will be at the forefront of the war against the devil.

To prove himself.

But the result shouldn’t be the same as Edge Forys’s.

If no one else, Allen Wise should survive.

“Because surviving is harder than dying. If you could consider that to be true strength, yes, I’d be grateful if you did.”

“I see… Then I must survive to prove it.”

“Will that be difficult?”

“I think it will be.”

“Finding courage is equally difficult.”

“……”

Instead of answering, Allen Wise bowed his head with a resolute expression.

I’m not sure what he’s thinking. I only hope that he’ll find a way to survive.

“Damn, what a nasty personality. How can you trouble so many people even after death, Duke Forys?”

I turned away with bitterness in my heart.

*     *      *

It was a night like any other.

Recently, everyone seemed quiet.

It had been hard to see Línea lately due to issues with her family, and Ilina Crowley had been busy contemplating the changes caused by Phoenix’s feather.

Perhaps because of that, Eve had been by my side often recently.

She didn’t talk much, as if she still thought it cowardly that she existed in this space, but she was there.

Like this, everyone was sorting through their time in their own domains.

Titan had always been a man of few words, and Claire seemed to have been greatly shocked, having felt gratitude toward Edge Forys.

So today too, as I entered my room, engraving that sense of silence:

“He wasn’t the type to go like that, was he? Don’t you think?”

There was a visitor in my room.

Given that this was a room carefully prepared by the Forys duchy, it would be difficult for an ordinary person to intrude.

I called out the name of the middle-aged man who was sitting uninvited at my table, blowing into a bottle.

“It’s been a while, Shade.”

“Puhah! The liquor tastes good. Damn.”

“Were you close with the Duke?”

“Huh? We were so-so.”

“I see.”

Shade was already quite drunk. It seems he hadn’t just stolen alcohol from my room, but had entered in an already intoxicated state.

Though he spoke like that, it seems they had some sort of relationship.

Well, that’s probably why he was able to establish a base in the Forys duchy.

It’s not something I know exactly.

Something even I, who returned from the future, don’t know.

Yes, that’s how it is in the end.

I should always be careful of the delusion that I can know everything.

“Hey, Mister Apostle.”

“Go ahead. I’m listening.”

“Need anything for this war?”

“……”

Shade was twirling an empty liquor bottle with his usual sly expression, but his eyes were different.

It seems he too plans to seek some form of revenge. There’s a limit to what an individual or a small guild can do. But it’s also difficult to bring an organization like Shade to the surface.

That’s why he’s come to me, who’s classified as solely belonging to the Pantheon Temple, despite being part of the opposition forces but unlike the empire.

“How is Mar doing recently?”

“Don’t try to make moves on my daughter. I’ve already heard whispers that you’ve seduced three women.”

“My, Shade. You’re quick with your information gathering.”

More than that, is Ilina Crowley also classified as someone I’ve seduced?

I’ve never actually accepted her, yet somehow such an atmosphere has formed, which is frightening.

It’s ridiculous to deny it now, but it is what it is.

It’s my fault for not pushing her away more firmly. Of course, if I had pushed her away more firmly, Castian would have pushed my soul out of my body.

Power is truly terrifying.

In the end, she got what she wanted, one way or another.

“I tried to start with light small talk, but it seems I brought up the wrong topic. Still, please understand. Honestly, that’s about the only thing we have in common to talk about cheerfully.”

“Who are you to claim you’re cheerful with my daughter?”

“…Let’s drop this.”

That’s a sickness at this point. Even a doting father has his limits, but his intent to hover around her endlessly is unsightly.

Perhaps the image of Mar Shade that I remember will never be seen again because of this middle-aged daughter-obsessed man in front of me.

“Then, unfortunately, it’s better to go straight to the main point.”

“That’s right. We should remain just a customer and a guest, after all.”

“My, how impressive you are, coming here like this, begging for work, and still acting this way.”

“People naturally become shameless as they age. You too. You’re already shameless, but I can’t even imagine how much more shameless you’ll become when you’re older.”

“Haha……”

For some reason, Shade’s words sent a chill down my spine.

Is it because I, who once acted as if I’d never forget the Saintess, now somehow have three people I care for around me? I fear myself for naturally adding Ilina Crowley to my list of lovers.

“Anyway… How much do you know about the current war situation?”

“Most of it.”

“Do you also know that the Ares Kingdom has already been destroyed?”

“If I didn’t know that, I’d have to close down my information guild and go farm in the countryside.”

Among the countries opposing the empire, the Ares Kingdom was the one that was somewhat comparable in terms of military power.

Coincidentally, it shared a border with the Hope duchy, but I don’t know exactly when it was taken over.

Before my regression, it had been one of our reliable allies.

I’m just surprised that Belial had conquered the Ares Kingdom so early; I don’t know where things went wrong.

“Even though the devil’s forces are strong, it would have been difficult to completely swallow the Ares Kingdom like that.”

“Because of the Sword King.”

Sword King Calips de Ares.

He is an unrivaled powerhouse, considered the strongest among existing warriors.

“The Sword King’s whereabouts are uncertain. Even if the kingdom was destroyed, he’s someone with enough military power to support the country alone. If they had truly cornered him to the point of killing him, information control would have been impossible.”

“I see, so you think the Sword King is alive.”

“He’s not the type to die quietly.”

He’s someone who could survive even in a direct confrontation with Belial.

He actually did so.

Even if everyone in the Ares Kingdom died, that monster alone would have had the capability to escape on his own.

“Well, now that we’ve discussed this far, you know what needs to be done, right?”

“Find the Sword King, I suppose. How do you see it? Can I remain undetected even in front of him?”

“Why is hiding a premise?”

“Before we changed our profession to an information guild, we apparently killed quite a few people from the Ares Kingdom.”

“That’s quite something.”

“Yeah, it was quite something, wasn’t it? Of course, there’s no need to praise me, a pacifist, for achieving such a feat.”

“Hmm……”

Honestly, even the possibility that the Sword King might be alive is just my hope. I only believe there’s about a 60% chance he’s alive.

Depending on how Belial’s scheme worked, he might have met his end along with the Ares Kingdom.

So there’s no reason to risk one’s life to find him in the first place.

“But let’s look for him just in case. It might be risky and could be a waste of effort, but if he joins the battlefield, the tide could change significantly.”

“Even if we find him, will he be willing to help? The empire has been tormenting the Ares Kingdom for a long time.”

“We’ll have to meet him to find out. If worst comes to worst, you can contact me as soon as you locate him. I’ll try to persuade him myself.”

“Well, I’ll give it a try. Now, let’s talk about our fee.”

“Let’s do that.”

He must have something he wants.

That’s why he wants to participate in this war, even in this way.

In this case, the probability is high that he’ll take something other than money.

“Let me get one stab at that damn devil bastard.”

“Do as you see fit. I’ll invite you to the stage.”

“Ha-ha! That’s enough for me.”

Thud.

Shade put down the liquor bottle he had been twirling with a sly smile.

And with the sound of the bottle touching the wooden table, the king of assassins disappeared from my sight.

“Then again, he’s a monster in his own right.”

A prepared assassin is terrifying.

Especially if it’s Shade, the so-called king of assassins.