Chapter 89

It was three years ago when Rambert revived as an Undead Knight.

A peculiar visitor arrived at the mansion of Viscount Lagal. It was a girl with an unusual appearance, wearing a clown's costume in various colors and a clown's hat, her face covered by a mask with tears streaming from both eyes.

Viscount Lagal and his subordinates, who had been trembling in fear at the news of an important visitor, were taken aback by the sight of the girl. Even the subordinate who had brought the girl was frowning, unsure of what to do.

"Well, this is a problem. I was really reluctant to bring her here. What do you think, Viscount Lagal? Maybe we should cut off her head?"

Viscount Lagal's plump face, bloated with fat, twisted in suspicion, deep wrinkles forming all over it.

"Ha ha ha, just kidding. But, shouldn't we sit down now?"

The girl in the clown's costume extended her gloved hand and pointed to the chair by the desk.

"What, this brat! Seize her! Why did you bring such a thing here!"

Viscount Lagal, looking like he was throwing a tantrum, struck the floor with his cane.

"Heh, but... she has a condition that has kept her appearance unchanged since childhood... she is..."

"Bring me the real one quickly! These are dangerous people, and we don't know what they might do! Get rid of this unpleasant brat!"

Viscount Lagal stood up and struck the subordinate who had brought the girl with his cane. The subordinate fell to the ground, blood streaming from his head.

"I-I'm sorry! Right away, right away...!"

The girl watched this with a bored expression, but then, as if she had an idea, she raised a bright red metal rod in her hand.

"Answer my call, come forth from the material world, the dancing guillotine, Porta Scissors."

A magic circle unfolded, and a giant pair of scissors with three eyes on each blade appeared before Viscount Lagal. Summoning magic... a magic that calls forth beings from another world, known as spirits, through a contract.

"Wh-what...? H-h-h-h-h!"

Viscount Lagal jumped back in shock. The other subordinates were also in an uproar.

Summoning magic that interferes with another world is highly difficult, and spirits are temperamental. Only a select few among magicians can wield summoning magic.

"Did you understand now? I am one of the Eight Sages, the 'Pied Piper Demon,' Luluk Luluk. It's really mean to call me a brat and doubt me, and to think I'm some unknown person who might do anything. I came all the way here for an important negotiation, and now I'm a bit upset."

"I-I am deeply sorry, Sage Luluk! Please forgive me!"

Viscount Lagal, his face pale, bowed his head.

"Hehe, maybe I overdid the act of being angry. It's okay, it's okay, I'm not really upset. You're an important negotiation partner, and I'm an adult, so I won't get upset over such things. I know I look complicated, so it's my fault, really."

Viscount Lagal, relieved, raised his head.

"No, no, but we were the ones who were rude... I apologize for our lack of manners..."

"Relax more, hehe, you're so stiff. I'm one of the most normal among the Eight Sages. That's why I was chosen for the negotiation. Except for the boss and me, the others are a bit strange, you know."

"Haha... Is that so, Sage Luluk?"

Viscount Lagal had a subordinate wipe the sweat from his face with a cloth.

"Just call me Luluk. Well, enough of the small talk..."

As the clown girl Luluk twisted her cane, Porta Scissors spun around and decapitated the subordinate whom Viscount Lagal had struck with his cane. Blood splattered, and the head flew to the corner of the room.

The material world spirit, Porta Scissors, disappeared as if its task was complete.

"Shall we start the meeting now?"

In the silent room, Luluk calmly took her seat.

"A-a... why...?"

The subordinate who had been wiping Viscount Lagal's sweat muttered.

"Huh? No, no, cutting off the viscount's head would be a problem, right?"

No one understood Luluk's reasoning. After a moment of silence, Viscount Lagal, with a pale face, ordered his subordinate, "C-clean it up."

"Viscount Lagal! But, but..."

"It's fine. Even the eccentric noble, Earl Obock, has joined the 'Pied Piper Demon.' They are seriously planning to overthrow the state. If Earl Obock is involved, there's no mistake. We can't back out now."

"Y-yes..."

After Viscount Lagal and his subordinate finished their whispered conversation, Luluk cleared her throat and stopped fidgeting. Her mocking eyes fixed straight ahead.

"As you know, Earl Obock and other nobles of the Regios Kingdom have already shown their willingness to cooperate with us, the 'Pied Piper Demon.' Our ultimate goal is the collapse and takeover of the current Regios Kingdom. In return for your cooperation, we, the 'Pied Piper Demon,' promise to appoint you to a key position in the new Regios Kingdom."

Luluk spoke smoothly, almost like a different person, and handed a document to Viscount Lagal's subordinate. The document detailed the terms she had just spoken.

"Additionally, we would like you to entrust the management of the small city of Tetmberg in the Lagal territory to me, Luluk."

"Tetmberg...?"

Viscount Lagal frowned.

"Are you dissatisfied, Viscount?"

He felt a monster's gaze from behind the mask.

"N-no, no! It's just that... the small city of Tetmberg was built for mining and to house the street children who work in the mines. However, due to the high levels of toxic gas, we can't extract much ore, and it's still running at a loss. Naturally, there's no point in operating it, so it has become a ghost town. It's a bit embarrassing, but..."

Viscount Lagal folded his hands and said in a fawning manner. Luluk said, "Hmm," while kicking her feet and then stood up with a flourish.

"Of course, that's fine. I've already done my research. It's just that there was no other place that met the conditions. However, I think there will be various ways in which you, Viscount, will need to cooperate."

Luluk's tone had returned to that of a teasing child.

After the meeting, as Luluk left the mansion, Viscount Lagal was questioned by his subordinate in the office.

"Is it really wise to ally with such people? It might be better to report them now..."

"That's not possible. Do you remember the great fire in Baron Hinnis' territory six months ago? It was probably the 'Pied Piper Demon's' retaliation for someone trying to report them. It's best not to underestimate them."

"But, if the upper echelons are such madmen, it's hard to believe they can function as an organization..."

"They function because they have succeeded in secretly persuading the nobility and hiding from the country. By the time the Regios royal family realizes, they will have thoroughly prepared and eliminated any obstacles. They are a terrifying group, but that's why it makes sense to join them. We just need to ride the winning horse and enjoy the spoils. Essentially, they just want us to not side with the royal family when the time comes. They don't really expect much from us. They will handle all the dangerous aspects. The royal family will be eliminated."

Viscount Lagal, his thick cheeks sagging, smiled in a way that lacked dignity.