I’m Not That Kind of Talent Chapter 128

128. Tightrope walking (2)

The voice was so light that it felt like flying.

On the other hand, the other corps commanders stiffened, thinking that what was coming was coming.

As status was status, there was a lot of information that could be heard even if one stayed still. Was there really no information about the empire among them?

“It looks like the emperor is determined to start a war.”

“In the end….”

Tsk, clicks of tongues could be heard here and there.

There have always been minor conflicts along the border, so the ‘war’ we’re talking about now probably means ‘all-out war.’ Even the corps commanders who liked battle were not happy, and the corps commanders who said they were a little confused narrowed their eyes at the incomprehensible situation.

‘I thought that if I put enough pressure on him by pretending to step forward, he would back down.’

‘Is the name of the Demon World only worth that much to humans? Or is the emperor that serious about conquering the continent?’

Has so much time passed that the warnings from the demon world seem ridiculous?

There was no way he could have known why the Demon King had made such a move, but the Emperor ignored the silent warning to stop at that point and instead openly announced that he would go to war with the Demon World.

This is a situation that cannot be avoided since the Demon King is the first to argue.

“…We always covet the land of the human world and are prepared for war in our own way, but from the emperor’s point of view, it would be more advantageous not to go to war.”

The lifespan of humans is short, and that of demons is long.

A monarch in the human world must care about not only external enemies but also internal enemies, but this is not the case with the Demon King.

The current demon king is so tired that he does not attack the human world first, but the story that he used to be a fierce man and pushed the human world to the brink of destruction is passed down orally among the demons.

As the past shows, in the end, the longer the war took place, the more disadvantaged it was the human world.

Is there some kind of ulterior motive? Idelia, the 4th Corps commander, frowned and spoke.

“If you really want to fight such an unfavorable war… I don’t understand. “I don’t think the emperor I knew was stupid.”

From the emperor’s point of view, the people who divide and scatter at the slightest opportunity are a loss whether he wins or loses.

If we win, it will be a problem to deal with the aftermath of a fierce war, and we will lose the external enemy called ‘Demon World’, which is a means of controlling the empire and the human world, and if we lose… I don’t need to say more.

“If we just remain in a relationship of moderate conflict and retreat, it will help strengthen the imperial power, so why bother…”

I heard that the empire is still in charge of the boundaries that appear in each kingdom. This would mean that the influence of the empire gained through the use of the demon world was great.

The devil himself came up with a contradictory answer to the foolish actions of the not-so-stupid emperor.

“Isn’t there a rough answer? “You want to die.”

“…Emperor…are you going?”

That toxic person?

When Idelia frowned at the incomprehensible answer, the Demon King smiled as if he understood and called out Develania.

“What does Emperor D’Vellania value most?”

“That’s right… it’s ‘responsibility.’”

“What’s higher than that?”

The half-exposed pupils under drowsy lowered eyelids roll over and then close in annoyance.

Develania is the commander of the 2nd Corps in charge of information collection. It was enough to hurt her pride that there was something she didn’t know.

‘Actually, it’s natural that you don’t know.’

The Demon King smiled and gave an answer instead.

“guilty.”

“…It’s called guilt.”

“okay.”

A voice as fluent as a song rang through the space.

“Shall we go over it step by step again? “What was the reason why Emperor Idelia killed her own brothers to ascend to the throne?”

“Because we decided that the cause of the death of the closest brother was a succession battle between them.”

“Yes, but in fact, he was killed by Stave Illuster, the current Duke of the Empire.”

Contrary to the seemingly insignificant words, the content was something that could not be taken lightly. A fact he knew because his anti-contractor was Starbe Illuster.

The conference room is shaking with the truth that I had no idea about. Develania and Idelia had their eyes wide open.

Amidst the confusion, the Demon King spoke leisurely.

“He must have felt a lot of guilt because he had suddenly killed innocent brothers. “How do humans usually behave in times like this?”

“In extreme measures… they commit suicide.”

He runs away by dying under the pretext of atonement.

Information processing is the responsibility of the 4th Corps. Idelia, who had carefully put together the information given by the Demon King, trembled as if she remembered something.

The Demon King smiled cheerfully, as if he was amazed.

“That’s right, but the emperor has responsibilities. ‘Enthronement’ was the problem. Because I was responsible for countless people. In addition, I have to take care of my nieces and nephews and the children left behind by my close brother. Even if you kill yourself, you will be insulting the brothers you killed to ascend to the throne.”

“…Oh, as expected….”

I think I understand now.

Guilt above responsibility. However, this was the plan chosen by the emperor who could not die on his own.

Only then was Idelia able to understand the emperor’s actions of continuing to fight unprofitable wars. For what reason did they choose an all-out war against the demon world?

“It would be easier if I did my best to take responsibility and then died.”

“To be exact, I’m ‘pretending’ to do my best, but that’s right.”

If you can’t die from guilt, wouldn’t it be easier to die from being weighed down by responsibility? At least if you die while pretending to do your best to fulfill your responsibilities, you will have an excuse even after you die.

In that sense, I must have been happy that the demon world, which I could not dare to attack first due to my responsibilities and status, started to fight. Thanks to this, the possibility of dying has increased. Problems after death would be none of his concern.

“How selfish. Just for that reason, countless people were driven into the battlefield. is not it?”

I rolled my eyes happily as I looked at Deon.

There was no reply, but the Demon King shrugged his shoulders regardless and spoke again.

“Well… what can I do? “He says he wants to die, so I have to kill him.”

“….”

“I’m jealous. “There are enemies who will kill you.”

He was said to be selfish, but strangely enough, the Demon King was able to understand the Emperor. As beings who have lived for a long time and as the heads of a species, they are similar in that they are unable to kill themselves, if nothing else.

It is the hero’s job to suffocate the devil.

“I think it would be fun to see how far a person who is not a hero and only has the fragments can do, so let’s just skip it for now.”

Idelia’s expression became strangely distorted.

“…Are you really…going to fight an all-out war?”

The Demon King nodded lightly.

“Isn’t it embarrassing to start an argument first and then back out? “I heard that the 7th and 9th corps commanders on the front lines are already having fun fighting?”

“If we finish fighting moderately like we have done so far…”

“The emperor will once again turn his attention to conquering the continent, and as long as he lives and breathes, he will eventually pour the national power he gained during the conquest into this side, no matter how long it takes. “It will be a tougher fight.”

“Why are you so confident that the emperor will succeed in conquering the continent…?”

“Then you don’t think so?”

The last words were a question posed not only to Idelia but also to all other corps commanders.

The Demon King asked again, casting his gaze at each of the corps commanders sitting in their seats.

“really?”

“….”

There was no answer.

The Demon King, who knew that he couldn’t openly acknowledge humans and chose to remain silent instead of answering, chuckled.

“It’s been a long time since we last had a proper war. Think of it as loosening up your stiff body and just enjoy it.”

“Yes, Idelia. “If Trover were here, he would have grabbed me by the collar right away, calling me weak.”

Idelia pursed her lips and remained silent at the sarcasm of the 3rd Corps Commander Ashild.

In the natural silence that came for a moment, the Demon King looked at Deon, who had his eyes fixed on the desk from beginning to end, as if he could not hear anything, and then spoke with secret mischief.

“Perhaps an all-out war will begin when the demon leaves the mission.”

Deon’s eyelids fluttered.

“Do you mean to attack while Demon is away?”

“Trying to take advantage of an opportunity when you don’t have the best power… That seems like a cowardly thing.”

“Well… let’s say so.”

As long as Deonhardt is in the demon world, the emperor cannot make any moves. If he’s not careful, his movements could be seen by Deon Hardt as an act of abandoning me.

It was natural to be cautious, as there was no record of moving troops after considering profit or loss, regardless of whether the life of a general captured in the enemy camp during the war was in danger.

So, if an all-out war starts now that Deonhardt is in the Demon World and there is a very real possibility that he will be on the Demon King’s side, it will probably be after Deonhardt returns safely to the Human World Empire.

“In other words, it means that the authority to open the gates to an all-out war is up to us… or rather, the Demon.”

You have already handed over your authority by saying that you can return to the human world at any time.

The eyes of the corps commanders were focused on one place. The Demon King also glanced at Deon. Deon, who seemed to feel the gaze, raised his head, glanced at the crowd, and then slowly came up with an answer.

“We plan to start preparing right after the meeting.”

“Did you hear?”

“It’s too fast…”

Idelia muttered reflexively.

It was a muttering, almost like talking to herself, but to some it seemed like it was an argument, and Lirinel stood up on one side.

“Are you now criticizing Demon’s choice?!”

The red brooch on her chest catches the light and sparkles. Idelia looked at Lirinel with bewildered eyes.

“But it’s true that it’s too fast. “We should have time to prepare too.”

“So now you’re criticizing Demon’s choice!”

“…This cult leader…!”

Suddenly, Idelia also got up from her seat.

“stop.”

“….”

“….”

The air in the conference room became cold.

Idelia, trembling and looking at the Demon King’s notice, slowly sits down. Lirinel also rolled her eyes nervously, closed her mouth, and slumped down in her chair.

The Demon King, who had been watching the two’s actions with his expression hardened, glanced at Deon and then bent his eyes like a crescent moon, hiding his pupils. A painted smile appeared on his face.

“It reminds me of preparation. “When have we ever prepared and fought a war separately?”

“….”

Those who thought of the 7th and 9th corps commanders, who were already in conflict with the empire on the front lines, slowly shook their heads.

What are the preparations? The demon world has always waged unexpected wars. Because of this, preparations for battle have been taking place in daily life, so what would be different even if more time was given?

Although it may be the 2nd and 4th corps commanders who deal with information, other corps commanders did not have any complaints because they did not suffer damage due to the short or long time given.

After scanning the silent audience, the Demon King raised his elbow and supported his chin with the back of his hand.

“Still, what Idelia said is not entirely wrong. It would be much better to prepare than not to prepare at all. When the war begins, the 7th and 9th corps alone will not be enough, so I wonder if it would be okay to withdraw operational troops in advance… Let’s see….” The

voice flows out dryly, as if reading a book. A poor plan thrown together to appease the dissatisfied 2nd and 4th Corps commanders.

In addition to all this, the Demon King may or may not have been aware that his crooked head was showing his haphazard attitude toward living life, but with his eyes half closed, a list of corps commanders appeared in his head.

There was only one thing he cared about and put effort into.

***

[In other words, it means that the authority to open the gates to an all-out war rests with us… no, with the demons.]

At that moment, all the corps commanders’ eyes were focused on me.

Cold sweat runs down my back from the stinging gaze that I can feel even without raising my head. When I barely raised my head and looked around, I felt like I was going to burst into tears because I was so thankful for the gazes that met my expectations and did not disappoint.

‘…Anyway, now is the time for me to tell you, right? ‘I’m telling you when you’re going to go.’

So I barely came up with an answer.

[…We plan to prepare immediately after the meeting.]

[It’s too fast…]

How scary it must have been to have complaints follow us without even thinking about it. That alone made me feel like my heart was pounding, but when Ririnelle started a fight with the speaker immediately after, I really wanted to be a bean bug.

It was even more so because I heard stories about the emperor that I didn’t want to hear.

‘If you accidentally spill this in front of the emperor, it will be destroyed.’

Even if you show that you know, you die.

Regardless of whether it is useful or not, it will die unconditionally.

‘It’s fortunate that the gap in memory is particularly large in this part… But now, do I have to consciously control my unconscious mind?’