Chapter 31

- Objectively, it can be helpful or unhelpful. If you're determined, it might be better to clear everything up.

‘Is that good?’

- Try to avoid unnecessary killing.

Is that something that should come out of the Demon King's mouth?

- I wonder where the idea that demons love blood comes from...

She was a girl who shouted against war until her voice was hoarse, so it's not surprising.

"Alright, that's enough."

"H... How...?"

"I don't particularly like indiscriminate killing."

As he spoke calmly and stood up, a look of confusion appeared on his face.

"Forget everything you saw today. It's best to remain silent about what will happen next. If you don't want to get involved and die."

At my words, he trembled and nodded silently.

"Alright then."

Snap!

As he flicked his fingers lightly, the man collapsed on the spot.

- However, you should know that they might harbor resentment against you in the future.

‘Didn't you say not to kill before?’

- Still, isn't your life important?

I smiled at the silver-haired girl who giggled and put my hand in my pocket.

"Sometimes, there are things more terrifying than killing."

As I took out the documents and unfolded them, faint light appeared, and the words written in light quickly printed on the paper.

It was the secret information that was encrypted.

Even if I used a magic artifact, it wouldn't be strange. The information unlocked with the guild master's authority was surprisingly vast and detailed.

No wonder they are the kingdom's top guild.

But stopping here would be as good as not doing anything.

- As you said, rabbits don't dig just one burrow.

"There will be fake information and missing information. They probably hid it in other information guilds."

The largest information guild in the Round Kingdom is essentially the Black Moon Guild.

However, even the largest information guild has its risks.

If all the information is stored in one place, it could easily become a shackle.

The Duke of Barrietta isn't a fool; he must have prepared multiple contingencies.

What I want is to force them into a choice they can't reverse.

The information also contained fragmented details about Duke Barrietta's movements, using Calus to aim for the throne.

Thinking about it, this country.

The Round Kingdom hasn't even selected a crown prince yet.

- Will you fight personally?

"Why would I do that? There are people who can take the strength away,"

- Someone to fight on your behalf...

"Even the most powerful noble factions have their enemies."

- But will they move according to your will?

"Starving beasts can't just pass by meat. Among them, there's one who will charge in without hesitation."

And he will create the situation I want.

Speaking calmly, I cast the invisibility spell on myself again.

"Is the theme for today a night visitor? Let's infiltrate without being noticed."

- What if you're discovered?

"Why would I mention infiltration if that were a concern? If the observer disappears, it's a perfect infiltration."

Whether it's assassination or infiltration...

Given that I've already taken down the notoriously difficult Black Moon Guild, why worry about the others?

"Six guilds remain. Let's move quickly."

- As you wish.

15. A Fief? This Wasteland?

"Your Majesty, the manifestation of Prince David's crest is a glory and a blessing for the nation. His contributions are significant. Should we bestow a reward?"

"A reward?"

"I heard that Prince David has already been granted a fief, the Haines region."

"Is that so?"

Each royal family member has their own fief. It's given to those who have reached adulthood.

Naturally, Prince David, who has reached adulthood, has a fief granted by the state.

The Haines fief, located in the eastern part of the kingdom, borders the Holy Kingdom.

However, this land is vast but extremely barren.

It's a piece of land that's too valuable to abandon but too resource-poor to develop, a kind of chicken rib.

Granting this land to David was, in a way, part of her strategy.

"Now that Prince David is almost fully recovered, wouldn't it be good for him to go to his fief and develop it to benefit the kingdom?"

Queen Liness smiled and suggested. She didn't expect it to succeed immediately.

The boy kept slipping out of her grasp.

If he had died while in a coma, it would have been better, but he survived and has been a thorn in her side ever since he woke up.

She didn't like it.

Two assassination attempts failed.

Moreover, her top secret agent, Shari, has gone missing.

Someone is protecting him.

Is it the king, or someone else?

If it's within the realm of possibility, the Viscount Phaeltris is suspicious, but this situation can't be explained unless he acted directly.

She was in a complex state of mind.

Ultimately, assassination couldn't harm him, and because of the manifestation of his crest, it became difficult to declare him a madman and confine him as a deposed prince.

Given this, there was only one option left.

Remove him legally from the palace.

Whether through a political marriage or independence, there were several methods.

She made this decision because she couldn't afford to focus on him anymore.

The previous day, someone had raided the information guilds where they had hidden their resources.

Not just one or two, but all seven information guilds in the country were cleaned out by a single person in a single day.

Though they couldn't identify the person, they were certain it was the same individual who had helped them for a long time.

He was surrounded by a terrifying aura that made it seem impossible to defeat.

Even when threatened, the response was that they didn't want to fight such a monster.

If the information stored in the guilds fell into the hands of the Viscount Phaeltris, a well-known enemy of the noble faction, the repercussions could shake the Duke of Barrietta's faction to its core.

The opponent was that cautious, and the information was that valuable.

The situation was so serious that she had to consider rebellion as a last resort.

That's why she made this suggestion.

She couldn't afford to focus on David now, so the best option was to remove the problematic boy.

Whether King Crianes would accept it was unknown, but she had to try.

She smiled at him as if searching him out.

"That's true. It's not good for an adult prince who isn't the crown prince to stay in the palace for too long."

Queen Liness feigned surprise at his calm response.

So quickly?

She widened her eyes in surprise at his unexpected decision.

'What is this man thinking?'

All her strategies to strangle David had been thwarted by him.

And now he's agreeing so readily?

She couldn't understand, but it wasn't bad.

If she could get rid of him, the immediate problem would be solved.

If the Haines fief developed, it would give him immense power, but she was confident it wouldn't happen.

The Haines fief was a cursed wasteland.

"Since we're on the topic, let's prepare, Chamberlain!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Summon Prince David."

Watching him speak boldly, Queen Liness wasn't sure whether to smile or frown.

* * *

"Prince, His Majesty is looking for you."

"His Majesty?"

"Yes, please change your clothes quickly and go to the palace where His Majesty is."

"Um... I understand."

As I got up, the chamberlain Vesperus appeared, and I narrowed my eyes and looked at his back.

What for?

As I thought this and stood up, I saw Perserk sleeping soundly on the bed.

'Wake up.'

-Um... I'll sleep a little more...

She mumbled and wrapped herself in a sheet several times her size.

Though invisible to others, her presence was real, so it looked like a poltergeist phenomenon to anyone watching.

'I'll let you sleep deeply later, so wake up.'

Of course, I had no intention of indulging this mischievous Demon King's tantrum.

-Cough... You're heartless and tearless, and because of you, I can't get any sleep. Sleep guarantee is a must.

'How old are you? Don't say things that will cause misunderstandings.'

-Grr... Your lip service is terrible.

She yawned widely and clung to my head, her face pouting.

"I'll help you change. Your Highness."

"Thank you."

Amy smiled happily at my words.

* * *

I expected it.

He must have decided that I, an existence like a strange bomb, can no longer be kept here.

"Go, go and develop the Haines fief granted to you and shine even more."

He speaks as if throwing a challenge to his son to help him grow.

But thanks to Perserk's chatter, I already caught the hidden meaning.

-Oh... He's afraid his son will make a reckless move and is trying to move him elsewhere.

'Don't bring it up.'

-You already noticed, didn't you?

Perserk shrugged, looking interested.

-Your father doesn't seem to fully trust your abilities yet.

'If I hadn't done this, I would have left on my own. My work here is done. Staying here is meaningless.'

No mines have been discovered, and it's a wasteland, making it difficult to develop farmland. It's also close to a monster habitat.

Moreover, it has no notable specialties, so it's essentially a small town built on abandoned land.

The only advantage I can think of is that if the roads are well paved, it could become a strategic transportation hub.

Ah, there's one more thing.

The fief of the Alisad family, my mother's family, is right there.

Now, the Alisad family is a dissolved minor noble family with no one left.

My maternal grandparents have already passed away.

I know that my mother's only blood relative, her younger brother, is missing.

King Crianes' eyes showed a bit of confusion at my unexpectedly calm expression.

Whether it's Queen Liness or King Crianes.