The Hero Menace Page 10

  “Now that Ryunheit has been freed from Meraldia’s bondage, it no longer has to answer to the Senate before undertaking projects like these. So we decided to rebuild our crumbling walls.”

  After giving that arrogant speech, I turned to Lacy and worriedly whispered, “Are you sure we can touch these?”

  “Y-Yes. I’ve endowed the illusion with a texture. Though if someone tries to barrel through it, the illusion will break.”

  Lacy had always been a skilled illusionist, but she’d grown leaps and bounds since apprenticing herself to Gomoviroa. She was almost skilled enough to be a Holy Priestess in truth.

  Still, I couldn’t let myself forget this was an illusion. One mishap and the ruse would be discovered. I tried to usher Aram and his entourage through the gates, hoping my impatience didn’t show.

  “Now come, why don’t I show you the city proper. I guarantee you’ll be amazed.”

  Please, let’s just go in and see the city. Stop staring at the walls like that, you’re making me nervous. Past the gates lay a wide, empty plain.

  “We’re planning on constructing a new residential district here. The old town is already filled with people, so we’re going to need more houses for all the demons and humans that might migrate here in the future.”

  I was trying to keep the city core unchanged out of consideration for those living there. And I knew from past experiences in my old life just how fierce clashes between established citizens and new migrants could get. We crossed the empty plain and entered the city proper. The moment they laid eyes on Ryunheit’s main street, Aram’s soldiers exclaimed in wonder.

  “Wow...”

  “So this is the demon capital...”

  The eastern sector had been on the decline after I’d blockaded the gate, so I’d asked the canines to set up a workshop here. It was a large workshop, used by canines both to craft commercial goods and to indulge in their hobbies. Plenty of canines came to use it, and the sector had seen a lot of growth. Restaurants and parks catering to canine tastes had started popping up here and there as well. Near the entrance of the workshop, I spotted a human merchant and a canine craftsman chatting idly with each other. Judging by the pair’s happy expressions, business was booming.

  As we continued walking down the street, we saw a group of dragonkin milling about the butcher shop. They were calculating out exactly how many chickens they would need for today’s dinner. My guess was they were Kurtz’s subordinates. They’d probably come to the workshop to place some orders. And over here we have... Wait, is that Fahn?

  “Fahn, what are you doing here?”

  Fahn looked up from the group of canines surrounding her and waved to me.

  “My squad’s off-duty today. I’m just having tea with these guys. Wanna join us, Veight?”

  “Does it look like I can join you!? I told you an important visitor was coming today, didn’t I!?”

  “Oh yeaaaah.”

  Why does her brain shut down every time she starts fawning over canines? I could feel Aram and the others staring at me, so I coughed loudly and said, “Sorry, my subordinates are a little lacking in discipline.”

  Aram’s gaze shot back and forth between me and Fahn. Finally, he fixed his gaze on me and asked hesitantly, “Are all of your men this... casual with you?”

  “I’d prefer it if you pretend you never saw that,” I growled in reply, and Aram nodded hurriedly. Without breaking stride, I went on to explain what was in the eastern sector. “The eastern sector is where the canine’s workshop is, and you can buy the silverwork they craft here. I know rumors say their touch causes silver to rot, but they’re actually quite skilled silversmiths.”

  “Unbelievable... Does that mean the silverware you gifted me with a few weeks past was made by them as well?”

  “It was indeed.”

  “I see. What a splendid industry you’ve built up here. It’s heartening to know canines can craft fine silverware with both artistic and cultural value.”

  Glad to hear you like it. Canines were like distant cousins to the werewolves, so I wanted to clear up the unsavory rumors that had been spread about them.

  “My apologies for assuming the worst when you, a werewolf, gifted me that silverware. I see now you had no ill intentions.”

  “I apologize as well for causing any misunderstandings.”

  So that was why he looked so scared when I gave him that gift! He had probably assumed I was trying to send him some kind of implied threat by giving him silver, which was supposed to be a werewolf’s weakness. I need to be more careful about that in the future.

  After a tour of the eastern district, I led Aram to the center of the city. Airia was waiting for us in front of her manor, bedecked in ceremonial garb.

  “It has been a while since our last meeting, Lord Aram. I had intended to greet you at the city’s gates, but as you can see...”

  She pointed to her two secretaries, each of whom were carrying a stack of papers. Behind her stood an honor guard of 20 soldiers and 20 werewolves. She’d clearly been busy with paperwork up until the last minute. That’s probably my fault, isn’t it? Since I kept running off to go to Shardier.

  Of course, there was another reason she hadn’t come out to the main gate. There was a possibility that Aram might try to have her assassinated. She was one of the most important people in the demon army, as well as one of the weakest. Unlike me, she wouldn’t be able to just shrug off an ambush.

  However, Aram smiled in relief when he saw Airia. He strode up to her and said, “It’s good to see you well. I grew worried when I heard tales of how you’d become a demon ambassador.”

  “As you can see, I am alive and well. Though I am indeed serving as the demon army’s ambassador to human nations.”

  To be honest, her title sounded so fancy it felt a little embarrassing to hear her say it. She probably felt the same way.

  “I would be more than happy to explain to you the events that led to Ryunheit’s declaration of independence. Come, let us go inside.”

  At Airia’s invitation, Aram stepped into the viceroy’s manor. I filed in afterwards as a matter of protocol, but honestly, I knew Airia could handle this.

  Aram nodded to himself as Airia finished her tale.

  “I understand now... That explains why this city appears so prosperous.” He took a sip of his tea and continued, “Were I Ryunheit’s viceroy, I would have made the same choice as you. Though perhaps not as swiftly as you, Lady Airia.”

  Says the guy who came here after only a few days. I shot Aram a look, and he smiled ruefully.

  “That being said, Shardier has few troops and no sturdy walls to hide behind. Unless the demon army can provide troops to defend my city, I am unable to betray Meraldia.”

  He had a point there. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any troops to spare. While I might be able to send a few over in an emergency, I definitely didn’t have enough to station a battalion there permanently. As I was agonizing over how to respond, Aram added, “That being said, I would not be opposed to forming a covert alliance with Ryunheit. Once circumstances allow it, we could make the alliance public. Naturally, our alliance would be not just with Ryunheit, but with the demon army as well.”

  “That’s certainly an appealing proposal.”

  A secret alliance wasn’t the best-case scenario, but it was more than I was expecting to get. Airia and Shardier signed a few unofficial documents sealing the alliance, then shook hands. With that, Shardier became our ally. Four of Meraldia’s cities were now on the demon army’s side.

  After forming a covert alliance with Shardier, I returned to the Demon Lord’s castle to make my report.

  “I see you’ve been busy, Veight.”

  “Just handling a few small tasks here and there, sir.”

  The Demon Lord chuckled, “Defeating a fake Hero, crushing the Meraldian army’s morale, bringing an enemy mage onto our side, and forming an alliance with Shardier aren’t things I would brush away as just ‘small
tasks.’”

  “Well, you know...”

  Compared to what the Demon Lord was trying to achieve, my accomplishments really were just a few small tasks. It was better that I took care of these trivial problems so that the Demon Lord could focus on his grand vision. He shook his head and threw a sheaf of papers down on the desk between us.

  “If you consider all this nothing more than a few small tasks, then the demon army’s entire mission may as well be one, too. If your accomplishments grow any bigger than this, the demons would be better served with you as their lord than me.”

  “N-Now hold on a second. If you were to abdicate, sir, I would much rather retire as well and live out my days in the countryside.”

  “I must say, I have never met someone as lacking in ambition as you,” the Demon Lord said with a smile. I smiled back. I enjoyed being vice-commander.

  “Regardless, I am pleased with how you handled the situation with the fake Hero. What is the self-proclaimed Holy Priestess doing now?”

  “I’ve hired her as my personal aide. She’s a well-mannered girl, and she doesn’t seem to harbor any grand ambitions herself.”

  Well, that and she’s a master of illusion magic. Honestly, she’s good enough that she could use it in combat, even. Though she was a timid girl, her heart was in the right place. The Demon Lord nodded.

  “Your skill in converting enemies to our cause never ceases to amaze me. In that, you surpass even me.”

  “You flatter me, sir.”

  Really, I just suck at finishing people off. And then they end up following me around. I wanted to protest, but since the Demon Lord had gone out of his way to praise me, I decided not to.

  “Furthermore, your handling of Shardier’s viceroy was truly splendid.”

  “To be honest, I kept messing the negotiations up...”

  First I’d misjudged Aram’s personality, then I’d threatened him when I didn’t mean to, and in the end, I’d just come clean with him.

  “I wouldn’t consider myself skilled at persuasion by any means. I just happened to be human in my past life. It took me forever just to realize Aram was only pretending to be a crafty politician.”

  “Hmm, I see.” The Demon Lord nodded again. “But you know, Veight, most demons would not even consider the possibility that someone might be putting on an act. No other vassal of mine would have been able to pick up on that.”

  He had a point. Demons saw no purpose in creating personas. All that mattered was strength. Even among demons of equal rank, the stronger one held more authority. If the other guy was stronger than you, you listened to what he asked. If he was weaker, then you could do as you pleased, and maybe protect them if you liked them. That was the extent of demon relationships.

  The Demon Lord added, “Human society is complex. Too complex for demons—who believe in survival of the fittest—to understand. It is for that reason that I need the strength of people like you. Though I know such over-reliance must cause you a headache.”

  I matched the Demon Lord’s rueful smile and said, “I’m sure my troubles are nothing compared to yours, sir. Anything you need me to do, just ask.”

  Crap, I promised to help without thinking again. The Demon Lord nodded and responded, “Once Viceroy Aram publicly declares himself our ally, Meraldia will move in to reclaim Shardier. Whether or not the demon army can protect Shardier from Meraldia will be pivotal to the future of this war.”

  “Yes, sir!”

  I’d been worried about the same thing myself. The humans of this world sure loved fighting amongst themselves. Then again, that might have been true back on Earth as well, I just happened to live in a peaceful country. Hence why I wasn’t as familiar with cases of infighting.

  “Fufu...” The Demon Lord chuckled, and I tilted my head in confusion.

  “Is something the matter?”

  “Oh, don’t mind me. It’s just... Mmm, I see.”

  What’s so funny?

  “Veight.”

  “Yes, sir?”

  “Now that we have conquered more territory, we need more troops to protect it. Take five hundred of my Azure Knights, and distribute them as you see fit.”

  The Azure Knights were led by Vice-Commander Baltze, and were the Demon Lord’s most elite troops.

  “I-I couldn’t, sir. You need them here to protect you, don’t you!?”

  But the Demon Lord just shook his head.

  “Their duty is not to safeguard me, but to safeguard demonkind’s future. And that future doesn’t exist here, it exists in Ryunheit.” He rose to his feet and placed a hand on my shoulder. “I have already discussed this with Baltze. He told me it would be reassuring to fight by your side.”

  “But then you’ll have no one to protect you...”

  The only group with fighting power equal to the Azure Knights was the Crimson Scales, and those had been dispatched to the north. While most of the first regiment’s regular soldiers would still remain in Grenschtat, they alone were insufficient.

  “Fear not, Veight. I am more than capable of protecting myself. Were I not, I never would have risen to the position of Demon Lord,” he said while giving me a reassuring smile. “Thanks to my overly-capable right-hand man, I have found myself with little to do. You must allow me to at least do this much for you. What point is there in me being Demon Lord otherwise? You may... think of it as an overprotective father’s doting, if you wish.”

  He scratched his cheek awkwardly as he said that. I never knew he thought so highly of me.

  “In that case, I’ll gladly take the men.”

  I bowed deeply, grateful for the Demon Lord’s generosity.

  “My men are eager to fight alongside the famed Hero-Killer Veight,” Baltze said, a playful smile on his lips.

  “The Hero I killed was a fake. It’s hardly something to be proud of.”

  “Fake or not, he had become the bane of the second regiment. It most certainly is something to be proud of.”

  Baltze was riding a two-legged monster known as a wyvern. Though wyverns weren’t as sturdy as horses, they were much more maneuverable. Their greatest advantage over horses was their nature, though. Namely that they were carnivores. Their ferocity when it came to fighting made them horses’ natural enemies. You could think of them as the strategic counter to cavalry. However, dragonkin were the only riders wyverns permitted.

  Meaning while Baltze and his men got to ride out of the castle, I was the only one walking. I couldn’t even ride a horse, since the wyverns would kill it. Even though I’m supposed to be a vice-commander, I’m the only one on foot...

  “You’ve been making a queer expression ever since we left the castle. Is something wrong?”

  “N-Not exactly. While I’m happy to have the famed Azure Knights under my command, I also feel as though a heavy responsibility now rests on my shoulders.”

  Baltze grinned, “Believe me, I feel the same way. I sincerely hope I don’t end up dragging you down, Sir Veight.”

  Wow, what a reliable guy. But while I was glad for this addition, it meant yet another different faction added to my already multicultural unit. Organizing everyone was going to be a pain. As we returned to Ryunheit, the canines were in the middle of creating another set of stables for Baltze’s wyverns.

  “Ah, Lord Veight.”

  “Welcome home, sir.”

  “Whoa, he’s brought dragons with him!”

  They’re not dragons, they’re wyverns. You’re making their stables right now, so what’s there to get surprised about?

  “Sir, can we try riding these?”

  “I wouldn’t if I were you. Only dragonkin can tame those guys.”

  “Aww... What a shame.”

  Stop playing around and get back to work, guys.

  ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊

  —The Baltze Brothers’ Afternoon—

  After transferring to Ryunheit, I’ve been able to spend more time with my brother Kurtz. He’s the smartest of us azure dragonkin, and I’m proud of
what he’s achieved.

  “Brother, do you think you could allow the Azure Knights to use your newly developed Dragon’s Jewels as well?”

  “Unfortunately we’re having a difficult time mass-producing the metallic powder we need to give the Jewels their color, so they’re not as versatile as before. If you don’t mind them being colorless, I can dispatch one of my officers to your unit.”

  “That would still be a huge help.”

  But even when we ate lunch together, all we ended up talking about is work. I remember once having lunch with Lady Shure, and she’d asked me if I ever thought about anything else. At the time, that stung quite a bit, and I became depressed for three days straight. Unfortunately, I really didn’t know what else to talk about most of the time. For that reason, I was quite glad that both my brother and Sir Veight were more than willing to discuss work at any time.

  While Kurtz may not be a general, he was still one of the Demon Lord’s most trusted vassals. He truly was the smartest dragonkin the demon army had, and was probably its most valuable asset. Both His Highness the Demon Lord and Lady Shure were from the Crimson Scales clan. Despite that, the Demon Lord hadn’t played favorites, and gave both me and my brother important posts in the first regiment. What surprised me even more though, was that he also brought Veight, who wasn’t even a dragonkin, into the first regiment. If I’m being completely honest with myself, I do feel like the other races aren’t as intelligent or as rational as dragonkin. I know I myself can be a little rash at times, so perhaps I shouldn’t judge, but almost all of the demons’ past Champions have been dragonkin. It was that history that has likely made us feel superior to the other demon races.

  “Brother.”

  “What is it, Baltze? Oh, and wipe your mouth. There’s food stuck to it again.”

  Since we were children, Kurtz always scolded me about my table manners. I hurriedly wipe my mouth before continuing.

  “Brother, who would you say are the demon army’s greatest Champions?”