Chapter 550: Old Blade

「Ha, ha, ha, ha! Did Valerie say she forgives me? Did she? 」

A bold voice echoed through a room in Fort Medraut.

It was a laugh that sounded like it might blow open the room door. It was certainly not the sound of an old man past his prime.

Dore’s eyes hardened after looking at such man across the table.

「…Is there anything strange, Your Excellency Commander Richard? 」

Dore was the emissary of the Great Holy Church and the northern Gharast Kingdom allied forces. Facing her was Commander Richard, guarding Fort Medraut. Each side of the meeting was accompanied by a bodyguard.

Dore’s impression of Richard was that of a strong, old man. She had met him several times in the past, and although Richard had grown older, she never saw him as an old man. But it seemed he had truly aged now.

「Well, I apologize. But what are Valerie going to forgive? There’s nothing for me to be forgiven for. 」

「…You. 」

The close guard instinctively reacted to Richard’s words. The silver-rimmed ultramarine soldier. The fact that he was one of those loyal to Valerie was a problem.

Dore waved her hand to stop him, but the guard still seemed unsettled and took a step forward.

But Richard didn’t seem offended by the gesture and just snorted. He was probably used to being treated rudely anyway.

「I’m the one who says, “we’re willing to forgive you”. We’re cleaning up the mess. Right, Dore? There’s no need for pretenses or honorifics. We’re not strangers. 」

Dore’s expression hardened after seeing Richard’s humorous smile. Dore understood his character well.

In other words, he was a cunning man who always had a plan lurking in his mind. The fact that he was at the negotiating table meant that he had already mapped out a path to the end.

The reason he had been able to overcome so many dangerous situations in the past wasn’t because of his title of hero or his physical strength. It was because he had always been driven by evil thoughts.

That’s why Dore believed there was room for negotiation. There must be a reason why Richard remained at Fort Medraut in such a desperate situation.

He wasn’t the type of person who would sacrifice himself for someone else.

「…In that case, I’ll hear what you have to say, Your Excellency. I find it hard to accept the term “cleaning up the mess”, but we can make a deal after you talk seriously. My Master and I both want Your Excellency to return. You’re not planning on turning this fortress into a graveyard, are you? 」

The big picture situation has already been set. Your Excellency’s way is to follow our interests. The New Kingdom will not grant you any interests, you know. But we will.

Dore took a piece of parchment from her chest and spread it out on the table.

Clause after clause was listed in black ink, with Valerie Brightness’ signature at the end. The contents were simple enough that even a child could understand.

In other words, a peace proposal. The conditions were Richard Parmillis’ surrender and the handover of Fort Medraut.

If he accepted, Richard’s status, property, and the lives of his subordinates would be guaranteed. He would be pardoned from his crimes. He would also be recognized as a position in the Gharast Kingdom. All of this was sworn in Valerie’s name.

For Valerie, who was personally appointed as her guardian by the Holy Maiden of the Great Holy Church, such a thing was easy.

「Your Excellency, why don’t you consider that there was just an unfortunate misunderstanding between us? Now that demons have manifested, Your Excellency, you wouldn’t be able to fight them alone. That’s why you temporarily joined the rebels. That will be the end of your life. Let’s just look at the facts, Your Excellency. 」

Dore leaned forward and intensified the light in her eyes. She felt her skin tense.

Meanwhile, Richard listened quietly. He stroked his beard with his left arm; his eyes fixed on Dore.

But there was no sign of rejection.

Dore was Valerie’s sword, too. Up until now, Dore had handled all of the negotiations that Valerie had struggled with. She had a wealth of experience. That’s why she understood.

Richard was eager to negotiate. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so willing to listen so intently.

He pointed firmly at the parchment with the fingers of his remaining left arm.

「Let me ask you this first. What are you guys going to do from here? After capturing Fort Medraut, will you advance to the royal capital? 」

Dore raised her eyelashes at Richard’s leisurely question.

He began to talk about the future.

In other words, he had no complaints about the conditions.

「No. We’ll hold the front line. We’ll buy time until the Great Demon Zebrililith is defeated…Saint Ariene will defeat the Great Demon together with her guardians, after all. There’s no point in reducing our troops so carelessly. 」

If they could just take Fort Medraut and strengthen their defenses, then the New Kingdom Army would no longer have the strength to advance north.

Their main army was already close to Zebrililith’s path. They had very few options.

But the Royal Army was different. They had plenty of options. It was clear which hand Richard would take.

「…Excellent. Easy to understand. Just my style. 」

Having Richard say those words, Dore couldn’t help but relax. She felt the air in the room relax. Regardless of the specifics, this answer could be taken as an agreement on the general terms.

Richard bared his teeth and said to Dore, who had now let go of the weight on her shoulders.

「No obligations, just rights. That’s very good. 」

「…Obligations? 」

In her relaxed thoughts, Dore couldn’t help but ask again.

The words alone sunk into her mind.

「That’s right. 」

Richard replied.

「It’s the Great Holy Church’s duty to hold back and destroy the Great Demon Zebrililith. Everyone knows that. But they’ve abandoned that duty long ago. 」

「…I know that it’s costing many people their lives. But it can’t be helped. He’s a literal monster. No one can stop it. 」

Fear ran through Dore’s bones for a moment. Having once relaxed, Dore felt strangely unsteady on her feet again.

She felt like she was talking about something she shouldn’t have.

She didn’t want to continue this conversation. That thought reflexively crossed her mind.

But Richard continued speaking against her will.

「I don’t know. Maybe they’re being negligent after all. I don’t know if any of those generals or even guardians ever fought against demons. 」

Dore’s guards intensified their gaze but didn’t react too strongly. They understood that the temptation to say even a nasty remark could cost them greatly. The guards were rational in areas that involved Valerie.

In fact, it might have been Dore who was being irrational.

「Your Excellency, what are you talking about? 」

Richard paid no attention to Dore’s words.

「Don’t you already know? Those who failed to stop Zebrililith at Fort Suzif were the most negligent. That was when Zebrililith’s momentum was at its lowest. There was plenty that could’ve been done. But they didn’t do their duty. Tens of thousands of soldiers have died in vain. 」

「They did their duty. 」

There was a hard slam on the table. For a moment, Dore couldn’t tell who made that sound.

It was the sound of someone swinging their fist.

Dore’s thoughts churned. She knew this was bad.

She had to control her emotions. She couldn’t let her negotiating position give him any leverage. Her agitation was going to be in this man’s hands.

But Dore didn’t even have time to grit her teeth.

「Just look at the facts, Dore. Those guys at Fort Suzif are cowards, defeated by monsters despite having 60,000 soldiers. As a result, while all of them got scared and fled, only one man remained, fighting against an enemy that every country and army have turned their backs on. The man you all called the Great Evil, yes, the embodiment of evil, is shouldering your duties. 」

「…They’re not cowards. Please correct that, Your Excellency. 」

「Hey, did you actually see their bravery? Oh my, don’t tell me you’re going along with them to the point of being a coward as well. You know what? I’m here because I’m no coward. 」

Ah, shit.

Dore distorted her tongue. This man knew all about it. And yet he was spouting nonsense like this.

Shit, shit, shit. Dore gritted her teeth, desperately trying to suppress her emotions.

At this moment, Dore also felt strong emotions after seeing Master Valerie’s intense emotions directed at her.

Hatred.

「Think calmly, Dore. What I said wasn’t just my own assumption. There are many who think the same. You see, the people at Fort Suzif were so pathetic that even a small army outwits them. 」

「Excuse me? What are you trying to say? 」

「I told you to think calmly. Right now, Lugis is leading 25,000 soldiers to destroy Zebrililith. That’s less than half the number of Fort Suzif’s soldiers back then. And Lugis’ army is on flat ground, without even a single fort to protect them. 」

Dore slammed her fist on the table again. She knew what this cunning man was trying to tell her, and what he was trying to get her to do.

She had to control her rage. She had to stay calm. The Silver-Rimmed Ultramarine Valerie Brightness’ dagger must not waver.

「He will definitely kill Zebrililith. What will the world say when that happens? 」

「It won’t work! There’s no way anyone can kill a monster like Zebrililith! 」

Dore had seen it firsthand.

Its enormous form, reaching into the heavens. The strangeness that swallowed up armies and even buildings. The fear that permeated its entire body.

If anyone could kill it, then it would’ve to be another monster. If the Saint was the incarnation of God, then it must be none other than her.

If not, what if a mere human were to kill it?

…Their bravery, their resolve, their sacrifice. All would be wasted!

It was too unbearable for Dore. Only she knew their final moments. She couldn’t allow that to be tarnished by the existence of a mysterious human.

「I think he will. He killed the Great Demon Vrilligant. Even if information isn’t precise, I think you know that it’s a fact, Dore. So there’s no guarantee it won’t happen again. 」

Richard said, snapping the fingers on his left arm.

Dore didn’t argue. There was only the unpleasant sound of her breathing. Her eyes were wide open.

A few seconds of silence followed.

Dore’s face turned pale. Richard placed his left arm on the table and said the following words.

「Don’t worry, Dore. It’s not that I truly believe that either. But if things continue like this, they’ll just end up being someone’s steppingstone. What do you think? …Are you willing to hear what I have to say? 」

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