Chapter 133
After a brief date, Nahun and Seere headed to the venue where the Council would be held. Although the Demon World Council meeting would begin tomorrow morning, they had to arrive immediately because a banquet was starting today.
“It’s a nice place.”
“Indeed.”
The two had arrived at the accommodations prepared by Barbatos, the host of the Council. Given that this was a place for Demon Kings to stay, it was dazzling to the point where calling it merely ‘accommodations’ felt inadequate.
“Welcome, Her Highness Seere von Debata. And you must be the aide, Nahun?”
“That’s right.”
“I will guide you this way.”
All sorts of conveniences were available on the premises, and numerous servants were ready to assist them at their leisure. The banquet hall for the preliminary banquet and the conference hall for the meeting were also located nearby, so they weren’t far apart.
“You’ve put in a lot of effort. Was it like this last time too?”
“There are some differences in facilities, but basically, it’s quite similar.”
Nahun nodded. As they headed toward their room, he spoke to her.
“Seere.”
“Yes?”
“I’m going to meet Phynox for a bit during the banquet.”
“…Ah, that’s right.”
Although they had discussed it before departing, Seere seemed visibly displeased.
“By the way, Teacher, are you really not going to tell me?”
“I already told you.”
“What kind of secret could it be that you can’t even share it with me?”
The secret about Phynox that Nahun knew was something he absolutely could not share with Seere. It wasn’t because it was related to her, or anything of that sort.
The reason he couldn’t reveal it, though, was because Seere was a “Demon King.” The secret about Phynox that Nahun knew was a fact that no other Demon King would tolerate if they heard it.
So the only person who could calmly hear this truth was Nahun, and he was the only one who could use it. No other Demon King, including Seere, should know this fact.
“I’ll let you know right after I’m done, so there’s no need to fret too much.”
“Since you insist on meeting her directly, of course I’d be curious.”
“…I’m not going to just chit-chat, so you don’t need to be so jealous.”
“I’m not jealous!”
If that wasn’t jealousy, then what was it? Seeing Seere stubbornly maintaining her stance, Nahun gave up arguing.
A short while later, guided by a servant, they reached their room, and before Nahun entered, he spoke again.
“Let’s head out 30 minutes before the banquet starts. In the meantime, rest in the room.”
“Teacher, then I think I should start preparing now.”
“Ah… is that so?”
“It’s bound to take a while. Well then…”
“Yes?”
Seere smiled brightly.
“Please help me choose a dress. Just see if it suits me.”
“Mm? Alright.”
Nahun thought it was just a trivial request. However, that was a mere misunderstanding. Seere’s smile made Nahun feel a sudden sense of foreboding, and he tried to retract his statement.
Just at that moment.
“Lady Seere, you’ve arrived early!”
“Oh, Gremony. Citri, you’re here too.”
Gremony von Due and Citri, allies of Seere, had approached them upon spotting them. As Citri came closer, he wore a sly smile and glanced at Nahun.
“Wow, who do we have here? Isn’t it the esteemed prince who has gone missing for eight years?”
“…Please don’t mock me, Citri.”
“How can I not? If you haven’t forgotten the contract with me, how could you go missing for eight years!!!”
“……”
Nahun had no words. After returning from hell, he should have met Citri at least once… but he’d been too busy to find time.
“I apologize. I will be diligent in fulfilling the contract from now on.”
So he started with a straightforward apology. There were certainly circumstances surrounding it, but he knew that explaining them now would only sound like an excuse.
“…Well, fine.”
“Do you understand?”
“There must have been something going on. You wouldn’t just ditch Seere, at least, so I understand that there were circumstances.”
Nahun looked at Citri with a face that indicated they were meeting again. Seeing the obvious emotions displayed in his gaze, Citri spoke incredulously.
“What, how do you see me…?”
“Oh, this is my first time properly greeting you, Your Highness Gremony. I am Nahun, the prince of Her Highness Seere von Debata.”
“Hey!”
Nahun lightly side-stepped Citri’s interrogation by greeting Gremony, making her chuckle lightly.
“You’re an interesting person.”
“Feel free to treat me plainly.”
“No, no. I tend to respect those with proven abilities.”
“This must be your first time meeting me.”
“I’ve seen a lot of Her Highness Seere. I can glean a bit about your abilities from having taught her.”
At Gremony’s words, Nahun expressed simple gratitude. Just then, he recalled Seere’s earlier request.
There was a sudden reason for this thought. It seemed like he could make use of the current situation.
“Your Highness Gremony, Your Highness Citri.”
“Yes?”
“What is it?”
“Could you help Seere choose a dress for a moment?”
Seere flinched in surprise at Nahun’s request. Perhaps her keen intellect had grasped his intentions, but there was nothing she could do. Gremony and Citri tilted their heads as they spoke.
“Us?”
“I have somewhere I need to go for a bit, and Seere mentioned she was unsure about the dress she would wear, asking me to choose for her. I believe your discerning eyes are much better than mine, so may I please request your assistance?”
He had passed off the suspicious-seeming Seere to the two Demon Kings. This way, Seere couldn’t just point out that she specifically wanted Nahun to choose for her, as that could make it seem like she doubted the judgment of the two Demon Kings.
So, Seere had no decision-making power. The decision-making power now lay with Gremony and Citri. Although there certainly was an option for the two Demon Kings to refuse his suggestion, Nahun didn’t think that they would.
“Uh, is it really okay for us to do that?”
“If it wouldn’t be a problem, please do so.”
Seere was beautiful. Objectively speaking, she was like a doll in how stunning she was, whether viewed by the opposite or the same s*x. There was not a single flaw in her face or figure. She even had an outstanding height. How much fun would it be to dress her in various outfits?
At least, to any Demon King with a keen aesthetic sense, this was undoubtedly a proposal they could not refuse, and Nahun had assessed that and presented it. It was highly cunning, taking into account all situational factors.
“Wait, Teacher?”
“Seere, this is great.”
Seere, who had no time to formulate a countermeasure, urgently called out to Nahun, but the situation had already reached its conclusion. Checkmate. It was like a sports game where the final whistle had already blown.
“Take your advice from the two here. I have something to attend to for a moment.”
“Ah, no…!”
The moment Seere was about to say ‘no,’ Nahun swiftly greeted Gremony and Citri, then ran away.
#
“Phew.”
That was a relief. Initially, he had accepted the proposal without much thought, wondering afterward what to do with Seere’s suspicious gaze.
“She must be having a tough time.”
She would undoubtedly engage in all sorts of awkward behavior, just like when she previously asked him to zip up her dress. And that’s why Nahun had run away, but…
“Seere, I’ll make sure to get the work done properly before I leave.”
Still, it wasn’t a lie that he had something to do. The work he had planned was to be done in advance before the banquet began; it was indeed a task he had to complete originally.
He had already gauged the layout of the accommodations for the Demon World Council as they came. And within that, he found the regularities of the accommodation’s structure.
“The building Seere is staying in is only for mid-ranking Demon Kings.”
The accommodations for the top-ranking Demon Kings, from ranks 31 to 13, and the absolute top-ranking, from ranks 12 to 1, were in entirely different buildings. Of course, the low-ranking Demon Kings were also in a different building.
And the Demon King he was about to visit was the powerful Demon King ranked 9. He was staying in the most magnificent and largest building here.
Nahun approached the building and asked the guards at the entrance.
“Has Phynox von Bog entered?”
“Yes, they have gone to their accommodations. Is there something you need?”
“Please just relay a message. I have something to discuss, so if they wish to hear it, tell them to come over here.”
Nahun pointed to a nearby garden with his thumb.
“Please ask them to come behind the garden.”
“I will deliver the message.”
“Thank you.”
“No, it’s nothing, Nahun.”
Nahun was slightly surprised. They were the soldiers of Barbatos, of course, given that this place was prepared by him.
“Did he say something about me beforehand?”
It felt like they were listening to him well. Grateful for Barbatos’s consideration, Nahun nodded and headed toward the garden first.
Before long, a woman walked toward him from the back of the garden.
“You called for me? I was surprised. Wasn’t it said you’d join forces with the Equites faction?”
“I have something to say to Your Highness as well.”
It was Phynox. She was accompanied by her most reliable subordinate. Nahun briefly examined the person beside her.
“Is it because we are on the verge of the great celestial war?”
Phynox’s most capable right-hand man was still alive.
“Sargatanas.”
Aside from the Demon Kings, if one were to list the powerful figures in the Demon World, he would undoubtedly rank among the top five. His loyalty to Phynox was genuine, making him well-known as someone other Demon Kings could do nothing against.
Nahun spoke to Phynox, who had brought him along.
“I dare to suggest that the conversation Your Highness must have should only be between the two of you.”
“Oh, how unnecessary of you. This man beside me is someone I trust the most. It is perfectly alright for him to hear the story too.”
“…I hope you won’t regret that choice.”
“So, what is this conversation about? I have no intention of listening to the words of someone who has already sided with the opposing faction for too long.”
At Phynox’s probing, Nahun lightly smiled. Then he turned around and walked steadily toward Phynox, stopping precisely at the warning line set by Sargatanas.
“Your Highness Phynox von Bog.”
“Yes?”
“I must say, the plan you are considering is completely misguided.”
There was a reaction. While Phynox still seemed to be smiling, Nahun’s words had caused her eyes to freeze momentarily.
“…Sargatanas.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Stay nearby.”
“What, Your Highness?”
“It seems we need to have a discussion, just the two of us.”
Nahun smiled contentedly, and Sargatanas alternated his gaze between Nahun and Phynox with a slightly bewildered expression. Even so, the loyal man complied with Phynox’s command despite his confused demeanor.
Once Sargatanas retreated to a distance where he could visibly confirm, Phynox gently folded her arms. Then magic began to flow from her.
As an instant barrier that blocked all internal sound was erected, Nahun nodded.
“Didn’t I mention? It’s a conversation meant for just two people.”
“Where did you even hear such things?”
The formalities vanished. Phynox, who had been smiling broadly, now wore a ferocious expression as if a mask had been ripped away.
“You’d better speak the truth.”
“What does it matter, Your Highness? What’s important is something else.”
“I told you to be straightforward!”
Phynox unleashed her magic fiercely, dominating the surroundings. The magic of a top-rank Demon King was immense, completely overwhelming the small space within the barrier she had created. She could even make her opponent struggle to breathe.
Nevertheless, Nahun spoke with a serene expression.
“The truly important thing is this: I am aware of the objective behind Your Highness’s planned actions.”
“You….”
“So I’m telling you: your plan is fundamentally flawed.”
Nahun’s voice turned serious. He spoke with a gravity that could be considered resolute and calm.
“You cannot overturn the Demon World by using the Heavens.”
