Let the Whales Fight, This Shrimp is Leaving! - Chapter 75

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 75
I had no idea what nonsense this man was spouting.
Unable to make sense of it, I merely stared at him until Deyan, in his measured tone, began tapping the map.
The land bordering the Plene Grand Duchy.
He was referring to the region one would cross first when heading toward the Adorif Empire.
“This area contains undeveloped mines. The soil is fertile enough for farming, and there is a large river here that has long attracted settlers, forming a substantial city. The roads are well-maintained, so trade with Plene should proceed smoothly.”
“What madness are you speaking right now?”
“The nearby villages can supply resources for evacuation. Since there are nobles in this region, we can raise private troops, and we can dispatch mercenaries to that area.”
Regardless of my thoughts, it seemed a complete picture had already formed in Deyan’s mind.
“When the incident occurs, the current Emperor will die. With a change in imperial authority, we can seize the opportunity to demand accountability for breaking the pact.”
“You’re telling me to use myself as evidence?”
“Yes. If the imperial bloodline continues unbroken, the next Emperor will be a fifteen-year-old child. The nobles will be in chaos fighting over their spoils of power, so if we demand war reparations before the Emperor’s faction voices grow strong, we should be able to secure enough funds to support the settlement of displaced persons.”
He was right.
There was no flaw in Deyan’s reasoning.
I traced through the regions he had indicated once more.
If we could gain portions of Count Nemanic beyond Plene’s territory…
I pressed my eyes shut.
‘No. There are more problems than that.’
My heart wavered.
I could not think of any sharp solution to break through this situation.
Deyan’s proposal was far too idealistic.
Of course, if things proceeded smoothly as he outlined, it would be perfect, but the migration itself was the immediate problem.
War has not yet broken out. And even if they met a pointless death, most would protest that they wished to be buried in their native homeland.
What words could persuade them? And who could guarantee that migration and settlement would succeed without incident?
If migrants and settlers turned hostile to one another, each forming their own faction and clashing, then another war would break out.
‘At minimum, there would be riots.’
It was greed to think that no blood need be shed in managing the situation during that process.
Besides, after the war there wouldn’t even be enough people to suppress them—
It was clear that everyone would fall into chaos.
Yet the reason his idealism drew my heart was that, among all the scenarios I could immediately conceive, it remained the most attractive choice.
“I believe I bear some responsibility in the Ducal Princess becoming entangled in such affairs.”
“…That wasn’t something you wanted.”
“Still, I carry their blood. I use the name passed down to me, so I must rightfully shoulder the responsibility and fault that have continued from the past.”
“….”
“I apologize for having no better solution to propose.”
I swallowed hard at his unnecessary apology.
A throbbing pain struck my head.
I thought that if I could only scream, my chest might feel lighter.
‘Emotional outbursts solve nothing.’
I squeezed shut eyes burning with strong anger.
“Haah…”
I hoped that sigh would ease this sense of helplessness, but it helped little.
Still, the heightened emotion subsided somewhat.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Yes.”
This situation, which had been neither a true discussion nor a real conversation, came to an end.
I first sent Deyan and Giselle from the office, then approached Beval.
I knelt before him and examined his condition.
Leaning against the wall, half-reclined as he was, he remained drenched in blood, yet the gaping wound in his chest had already healed.
His nails, grown long and sharp as blades, were entirely blackened, that darkness creeping up his forearms.
At various points across his body, marks that seemed to prove he was indeed a Demon were faintly visible.
Particularly his whites turned black and his crimson irises, with elongated pupils at their center.
How unfamiliar this was, so different from when I first summoned him, when his expression curved temptingly.
[Why? Planning to kiss me?]
Beval, who had been letting me stare at him, let out a thin laugh.
His voice at the end of his teasing remark fractured into multiple strands.
Some tones were very low, others slightly higher.
It was as though several people spoke the same words simultaneously, and I shuddered.
To overcome the strange, alien presence emanating from Beval, I brought my hand toward his face.
Then—slap.
[Ow.]
I struck his thin lips without hesitation.
Beval immediately whimpered.
[That hurts. Why are you hitting me like that? Just because I’m injured and weak right now, you think you can toy with me?]
“Then why did you lose?”
[Wow, poking right where it stings. I do like your style. Idir, when I die, won’t you become my bride?]
“I’ll have to decline.”
[Why? I’m handsome enough.]
“I have my own tastes.”
[Then tell me what your taste is. I can change my appearance.]
“Right now?”
[Not that. I haven’t recovered my strength yet.]
Beval answered lightly.
I stared at him as he laughed softly, then spoke without warning.
“I hid myself behind a smile like that too.”
[Hm?]
“In truth, I wanted nothing more than to cry, to rage, and to hunt down whoever brought this calamity upon us and give them the cruelest end imaginable.”
[Ah, what? Really?]
Beval smiled again, his eyes closing languidly.
[Good, I understand. Bring your ear close. I’ll tell you in secret. It’s one of the most agonizing torture methods humans have devised―]
“I don’t think I was wrong.”
I clenched my fists tightly.
In truth, my conviction was beginning to blur.
Precisely in such moments must I speak all the more firmly against it.
So I could deceive even myself.
Can I have my revenge? Was summoning a Demon the right choice for that?
Would it not have been better, as everyone says, to choose some moderate lord and rely on his power to gain a fleeting peace that would pass in time?
“Idir. When a hundred years of history fill this land, I shall pass this position to you.”
That word, that promise which had become the purpose and milestone of my life—
Was it right?
Was this what my father hoped for me?
Whenever it occurred to me that perhaps my fate was more trivial and pathetic than I had wished, I laughed.
I squeezed my eyes shut to hide emotion, forced composure behind a smile, and denied even my own heart to endure until now.
‘Is this right?’
For some reason, now it does not come easily.
“Does it hurt?”
[…….]
“Your strength won’t return, and behind the Demon you thought you could easily grasp stands an Angel, firmly planted.”
[Why so suddenly sentimental? That’s not my taste.]
“And losing stings your pride.”
[Hey.]
Beval’s hand closed around my throat.
I felt a hand hot as a coal gradually tighten around my windpipe.
I did not struggle or resist against his grip, but breathed in shallow, labored gasps.
[Don’t scratch. No matter if you’re Idir, I won’t forgive such insolence.]
“Because that’s how my heart feels right now.”
[I do like that you’re not crying or whimpering.]
With a ragged laugh, he slowly loosened the hand around my throat.
Yet he did not release me entirely, but let his fingers settle naturally at my chin, pulling me up to meet his gaze.
No breath came from the Demon.
He merely wore the beautiful face of a form mimicking humanity, attempting to enchant me.
[Do you need comfort?]
“I need certainty.”
[Hmm. Doesn’t seem like it though…]
“You said you glimpsed the past in the underground of Count Nemanic. You learned that way that an Angel was involved.”
[Ugh, boring.]
Beval finally released me entirely.
With my movement restored, I gazed into the Demon’s completely disinterested eyes and moved my lips.
“Do that for me too.”
Show me the past.
Take me back to that day when my mother was murdered.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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