The rain gradually ceased, and the wind died down along with it, leaving behind only the muddy, unendurable ground and a corpse.
Two groups cautiously probed and observed each other. Throughout it all, Duke Olay maintained a calm and polite demeanor.
However, from beginning to end, his gaze was fixed on Emilia, watching her every move, every frown and smile. There was no repulsive desire—only admiration and affection.
A faint smile appeared on his lips, a trace of relief washing over him. Seeing her safe and sound was truly a blessing. Yet, his goal was far from achieved; there was still a long way to go…
The greatest obstacle hadn’t even been removed yet. A head-on confrontation was certainly out of the question—he needed to think of a different approach.
Lowering his eyes slightly, he looked at the utterly dead Gerald on the ground. This only proved his point: even if he didn’t personally kill him, it wouldn’t be long before the Demon Lord finished him off.
The Demon Lord was indeed terrifying—not only had he survived, but he had recovered to such an extent that he could even defeat the Hero… though there must be a way to kill the Demon Lord.
It just required some preparation.
It was clear he wasn’t fully aware of the recent battle’s details, only seeing the outcome… Had he not given Gerald the medicine, perhaps after half a year, the result might have been uncertain. In a way, he had been a significant contributor.
Faced with these unexpected developments and twists, Olay decided to take things slowly. Haste made waste, after all. There was only one chance. Originally, he planned for Gerald to kill the Demon Lord first, then find an opportunity to kill Gerald in his weakened state.
But plans rarely survive contact with reality, and the plan changed just moments ago.
This was also one reason he acted against Gerald. As for the reasons, there were many—perhaps long-planned, perhaps a momentary impulse. In any case, this move served as a stepping stone to fully express his loyalty and position. Even if the other side didn’t accept it, they wouldn’t treat him as an enemy anymore.
At worst, they’d harbor hostility and suspicion, but he had eliminated the uncertain factor that was Gerald, reducing the unknown variables ahead. That guy had been used to the fullest and no longer needed to stick around. After all, Gerald was a lunatic—acting recklessly without considering consequences, more a liability than an asset… a useless fool.
He thought expressionlessly, showing no hint of his thoughts as more ideas kept emerging.
As long as they didn’t see me as an enemy, I have a chance to bind myself with Lady Emilia. Then there will be plenty of time to operate behind the scenes.
Casting a calm glance at Hakimi beside the girl, he understood the deep relationship between him and Emilia. The information from the Demon Lord’s castle’s internal informants further confirmed this.
“Call me Hakimi the Demon Lord, or Lord Sieg.”
“Whatever you like.”
Probably not expecting the topic to shift onto himself, Sieg was momentarily stunned, then waved his hand casually in response. Looking up, he was somewhat surprised at Olay’s courteous manner. He had found the reunion between the two rather dull and didn’t want to interrupt out of jealousy. Everyone had a private life; distance was necessary for a long-lasting relationship.
So he just daydreamed about other things—thinking about the future, about that kind of… that sort of thing. The Demon Lord was very busy.
As for his opinion of Olay? Better to avoid too much contact. This man was dangerous.
When asked why, it was simply intuition and speculation. Press further, and it was persistence and effort.
Then, without hesitation, he asked his question, intending to quickly finish here and return to organizing everything in the Demon Lord’s castle. Opportunities didn’t come often, and once missed, they were gone for good.
“What is it? If you have nothing else, we should leave. After all, our reunion is done. Let’s each return to our own homes and find our own mothers. Oh, here—take this. I don’t like owing favors, so here’s something useful for you.”
He casually pulled a small item from his pants, settling the score without any intention of lingering.
Turning to the girl Emilia, he spoke softly, raising a hand to gently stroke her silver hair—an order, yet unusually tender.
“Let’s go. Time to return.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Gerald lying on the ground, asleep and never to rise again. Flames of fire element spread across his hand, his arm burning until it transformed into a fiery fist. His expression darkened as he planned to send the man off—or rather, burn the body. Given Gerald’s previous resurrection, destroying the corpse completely was the only way to be truly at ease.
Watching the flames burn to pure white ashes, he muttered quietly, “Don’t worry, Gerald. I’ll take care of your wife… Just kidding.”
With that, he hoisted the girl up and prepared to leave instantly, no plans to linger. What was the point of staying? To have fun?
Only the sound of sizzling meat remained in his ears, along with Olay instinctively accepting the gift. Originally intending to discuss matters, Olay’s composure was somewhat disrupted by this and quickly spoke up to regain their attention and prevent them from leaving.
“Wait, please don’t leave yet. I have something to discuss. Don’t worry, it’s not a plea or an impolite request, but a mutually beneficial deal. If I can’t convince you within a sentence or two, you’re free to go, and I won’t bother you anymore. Please give me a moment—I promise you won’t regret it.”
He clearly lowered his posture, showing his sincerity and explaining the situation. Even Sieg couldn’t outright refuse. Admittedly, he was a soft touch—easily swayed by kindness, never by force.
Stopping his nearly instant departure, he shrugged silently, his eyes revealing a hint of curiosity and a reluctance to waste such a small amount of time. He wanted to see what trick the other party intended to play. If dissatisfied, he’d simply leave—after all, that was the deal.
“Don’t say I didn’t give you face,” he said, setting Emilia down gently and lightly patting her smooth back. With a glance, he signaled her to step forward and handle things. It was clear he didn’t want the spotlight, partly due to a lack of ability.
Besides, discussions among acquaintances might go smoother.
Resigned, she brushed her bangs aside, maintaining a dignified composure as she quietly stepped forward. Bowing slightly with bent knees, she lifted the hem of her pristine white dress with delicate hands, then offered a standard smile facing Olay, adopting a businesslike tone.
“Duke Olay, may I ask what you wish to discuss? Please be quick—my husband still has matters to attend to.”
She even elevated Sieg to the position of her husband, as they were effectively married. This was only a matter of time; now, her unilateral acknowledgment wasn’t a big deal.
Sieg himself thought it was absurd. When did this happen? Didn’t he lose his memory? But he chose not to argue, nodding reluctantly to accept it. After all, owing someone means being in their debt. She had already let her subordinates eat their fill—many times to the point of vomiting. Thus, bearing responsibility and consequences was normal—nothing to complain about.
At this moment, Olay was trying hard to present himself, anxious and nervous. After all, there was only one chance; missing it might mean never seeing Lady Emilia again. Naturally, he had no time to focus on his surroundings or words and took a deep breath before giving a concise explanation.
First, he addressed their difficulties to build rapport, then explained his role. He had investigated many matters—down to the smallest details—and could hardly be said to be uninformed. He basically knew everything.
“Of course, I have something important. You’re probably building a new settlement near the Demon Lord’s castle. No doubt the Hero has already ruined it almost completely again. Your previous efforts were wasted, and now you likely have nothing. Trying to start over won’t be easy. I can help you. Don’t worry, this isn’t free—it’s a business deal. But you don’t have to fear me going back on my word. After all, I am the only voice left in the Empire. That should be enough assurance.”