Chapter 186 – Chapter 17 – Arrival at Demon Castle
“Your Majesty, I sincerely welcome your return.”
Still, when they reached the distance where they could see the end of the castle, a group of people came out to meet them.
Those who appeared with the flag of the Demon King family high and dressed in glittering decorative armor.
Apparently, after hearing the news belatedly, he was shocked and hurriedly prepared.
“Your Majesty! How did you come back like this without a message? If we had sent a letter in advance, we would have served Her Highness with courtesy, but why…”
The first person to greet Yulia with a very welcome expression is, of course, the Chief Chamberlain of Kalagur.
For Yulia, who lost both of her parents when she was young, before being a loyal servant, they were a demon tribe that could be called close enough to be considered her family.
Because of this, Yulia smiled very softly and opened her mouth.
“I’m sorry. However, there are circumstances on this side, so it would be nice if you could go over it like that, Chief Chamberlain.”
“What are you saying! No one can say anything about His Highness the Demon King’s actions.”
The old demon lowered his head right away and bowed his head as if he was being unfair.
As expected, among the loyal demons under Yulia, it was a demon that could be called the real one.
“Treasurer Maylore is here too. I must be busy at the moment.”
“It was said that His Highness the Demon King had returned, but we couldn’t prepare properly, so we came out like this out of necessity.”
“You are suffering a lot. You must have suffered a lot because of financial difficulties.”
“Fortunately, with the consideration of His Highness the Demon King, we were able to overcome the difficulties.”
At those words, Yulia glanced at Klaus and smiled at her.
The treasurer May Lore, she knows, says nothing.
In other words, the words that he was able to overcome difficulties thanks to himself are not empty words.
If the finance minister showed such a reaction, it was right to see that the financial difficulties of the Devil Castle had been resolved.
Anyway, how much can I benefit from this man?
Yulia looked around at the others, feeling a sense of self-improvement.
And she soon confirmed the face of the demon tribe that was not originally seen in the demon castle.
“You… Wasn’t it Ferdinand of the Else family?”
“Yes, it is. God Ferdinand Else, meet Your Majesty the Demon King.”
“As far as I know, I remember you as a noble belonging to the neutral faction.”
“His Highness the Demon King is right. However, realizing that my thoughts were very foolish, I belatedly changed my mind to show all my allegiance to Your Highness, the only king of the East. The situation has been unusual these days, so while I was chatting with the people here for a while, I heard that Your Highness has returned, so I’m following you.”
“…”
“If you were offended by my past, I apologize right here…”
“It’s not fair to apologize. Rather, I want to say thank you.”
At Yulia’s words, Ferdinand cautiously raised his head.
The figure of the demon king looking down at himself while standing on top of his horse was captivating, but also strangely, I felt that I could not treat him carelessly.
“Thank you so much for coming to me, albeit belatedly, for trusting me. I know very well that you were in a fairly powerful position among the neutrals. It would be me who would benefit from your decision, but what would you be offended about and what would you be apologetic for? You don’t have to Ferdinand Else.”
“I don’t know what to do when you say that.”
As Ferdinand said that, he was able to realize once again that following Klaus’s words was never a bad choice.
That face that Yulia could see right now, her voice wasn’t just acting.
She is really delighted, very satisfied.
Even though it would be the same for both the anti-demon king faction and the neutral faction that made it difficult for him so far.
One of them was such an attitude that immediately puts aside the past and only thinks about the benefits that can be obtained from it.
Given that Yulia’s age is now an adult.
And if you see that most young people are hot-tempered and do not easily forget past grievances.
It was said that the demon king in front of him hadn’t even thought about that part in the first place.
“Everyone went through a lot while I was away. Thank you for your hard work How embarrassing it must have been for the king to leave his seat and head to the academy.”
“No, Your Highness the Demon King.”
“Fortunately, my heart and my steps were light all the way. I have a present for you, and I have so many presents to show you.”
Saying that, Yulia lightly beckoned her.
Immediately after, Klaus, who was behind her, rode lightly and stood beside her.
“Hello everyone. It’s Klaus who will walk the same path as you from today. Everyone knows, right?”
How could you not know, the Devil of the South.
The chief of staff, the treasurer, and the demon king’s soldiers who followed them.
Everyone looked at Klaus with a tense face or a wary expression.
The same person who defeated the great army of demons in the Continental War over and over again.
A man who endured countless appeasements and temptations, as well as the checks of nobles.
He couldn’t help but be surprised to hear that Klaus followed the demon king, the lord of the East, and not anyone else.
Among them, only Ferdinand had known Klaus for a long time, so he was only smiling without much change.
“Nice to meet you, everyone. And I wish you well in the future.”
Saying that, Klaus bowed respectfully on top of his horse.
It would be the first time for them to see themselves like this, but from this point of view, they were all familiar people who had seen and experienced them.
There were many other people to introduce to the demon castle, but for now, we decided to enter the castle.
It’s not a situation where you can have a leisurely conversation in an empty field like this.
“His Highness the Demon King!!”
The moment when Klaus and his party arrive at the huge gate to the castle of demons.
The burly demon standing in front of him approaches with a big smile.
It was Heetari, the warrior commander who remained at the castle and guarded the gate in case of an emergency.
“… Warrior chief.”
“How was your academy life? Was it the place you imagined when you first headed there?”
“…”
Yulia’s expression strangely changed.
Originally, the warrior commander he trusted more than anyone else in the castle.
Chief Chamberlain Cala Gul is said to be close to his family, but he is old and above all, he is not very helpful in terms of force.
Treasurer May Lore is also a woman who demonstrates her ability in office work, not a military commander.
From Yulia’s point of view, who was only being pushed back by her uncle in the military field, it was a situation until recently that Heetari was the most needed subject and an existence that should not be lost.
Of course, because it was Yulia who became suspicious of the warrior chief by Klaus.
Although now it has become a state where it does not receive such certain trust.
“Your Highness the Demon King?”
“Oh, sorry. Warrior chief. Your words reminded me of my past academy life.”
“Is that so? Judging from Her Highness’ face, it seems that nothing pleasant happened.”
“Yes. It did. There couldn’t be only good things. Cancer, no way.”
Yulia muttered that as she passed through the castle gate and went inside.
She finally arrived in front of the huge castle where the demon king resided and got off the horse, and the people in the carriage began to appear one by one.
“… Well?”
And Kalagul, the chamberlain, soon realized that a demon he had seen several times was among them.
At first, I thought I was wrong. It’s because he’s not a person who will ever come to the Devil’s Castle.
But soon Cala Gul realized that his eyes were not mistaken.
“Oh no? Aren’t you the Lady Cecily of the Leblanc family?”
The demon lords turned their heads at the almost screaming cry of Kala Gul.
And all of them had more stern expressions than when they saw Klaus.
Because no one knew who the Leblanc family was supporting.
“Oh, hello. Three, this is Cecily LeBlanc.”
Cecily greeted with a nervous expression, probably realizing that she was never welcome.
Cecily, the youngest daughter of the LeBlanc family, has a bit of a rambunctious temperament.
Aside from the slight change in her personality due to her Klaus, the facial expressions of her demon lord faction figures weren’t pretty enough to make her nervous.
“Stop it. You are my guest.”
“Eh, Your Majesty the Demon King?!”
“I tell you Cecily, from the LeBlanc family, was a formally invited guest to me. Honey, there shouldn’t be the slightest lack of her in the way she treats her.”
There were many people who looked like they had a lot to say.
But soon they turn around to mean that Yulia doesn’t want to talk about Cecily, so they end up saying nothing and shut her up.
Perhaps the appearance of Klaus would be enough confusion for them.
Cecily’s appearance was another shock that added a little more to it.
After entering, Yulia immediately moved to her office.
Having brought her people there, she introduced the rest of the characters.
In particular, when introducing Caela, she showed admiration on Ferdinand’s face.
“… I have a lot to talk about with you, but I’m feeling a little weary from coming here. So, we want to discuss the details tomorrow morning.”
“Please do as your Highness the Demon King wills.”
“If so, you may withdraw to your respective seats. Ah, it would be nice if the chief chamberlain could assign their own rooms to those who newly entered the castle. All of them are important guests, so take special care, so that the demon lord can save face. And Klaus. You stay a while I have a story to tell.”
“I will follow your orders, Your Highness the Demon King.”
The demons send strange eyes at Klaus’ clear answer.
The demon of the South, the man who was the decisive defeat in the East in the Continental War.
It was still hard to accept that he was bowing his head and showing respect to the demon king, the lord of the demons.
“… Are you all gone?”
With the closing of the door, the chief of staff, Carla Gul, left the office except for Klaus.
Then Yulia cautiously opened her mouth and muttered that.
“Looks like everyone is gone.”
At Klaus’ answer, Julia nodded her head.
Then she leans deeply against the back of the chair and stretches lightly.
“Sometimes it’s a very cramped place, but it’s still definitely my home.”
“You speak for granted. Why did you ask me to stay?”
“Warrior commander. I have to dig into that man in earnest from now on. Seeing as there has been no proper report so far, it seems that nothing definitive has been found.”
“It seemed so.”
“Klaus, if he really is a traitor, as you said, you must find evidence and twist his throat. How dare he think he was going to put a knife in my back, he said, just thinking about it makes his teeth quiver.”
“…”
“But if you can’t find evidence, it’s useless. That’s why I’m asking you. Could there be something sharp? A way to find evidence of betrayal.”
Of course there is, can it not be?
Even if it wasn’t there, it would have been a crime to make it on this side.
Klaus, who smiled inwardly but put on a serious expression, actually opened his mouth as if he was thinking about something.
“Actually, there is a person worth recommending in that area, Yulia.”
