Capítulo 173: The enemy of my enemy [2]
[You, How do you know about that?]
Aleph asked, as though he'd completely forgotten he was supposed to keep it a secret from me.
'Well, it was something only they talked about among themselves, so he must be shocked.'
For reference, the reason I asked him about it is just one. The demons' base changes randomly depending on the situation.
So, I'm interrogating him to find out where their base is located. There was no mercy along the way, but anyway, I'm tormenting Aleph with a clear objective.
"I will ask again. Where is your base?"
[I'd never tell someone like you! You think I'd disclose where Grand Dukes stay to a mere human…]
"Yeah, thought so."
I said calmly, and gave him another smack across the face. After that, I went to find Astrid, who was resting, and told her the fact that they had a hideout.
Though she and Noah both looked annoyed, they eventually came down and interrogated him. As expected, When it comes to torture, Noah and Astrid. Both are the best combination.
"The middle of the barren Western lands… This is going to be a pain."
Finished her interrogation, Astrid said as she ignored Aleph, who had completely zoned out.
Certainly.
If it's in the West, that's a much trickier place than I had first imagined.
Demons base was designed to show up in one of three regions. The first is the East, where the war already occurred, so it was a good place for them to loaf around.
Manipulating weak human minds is child's play for a demon.
The second is the Central, which is difficult to suppress. because it's densely populated, making it extremely hard to catch each demon or demonic human.
The third is precisely the West….This place is the most dangerous.
The biggest issue is that we currently can't reach it.
The West is under a republic system, where different families constantly fight to appoint their candidate as the next representative—their ruler.
This place is the perfect feeding ground for demons. and the terrifying part is, to get there, we have to cross an enormous, towering wall that not even magic can penetrate.
This wall divides the West from the other regions, and thanks to their unique system of accepting numerous different ethnic groups, they were able to build a strong military force.
Moreover, there even exists the only demon-worshiping church on the continent, which blasphemes the creator god Arden.
Because of this, it's difficult to demand the extermination of demons through diplomacy
'What a terrible luck. It's always been like this, but this time it's even worse…'
For the record, I've never once managed to clear Inner Lunatic when the demons have taken up residence in the West.
Even with powerful equipment and legendary arms, the demons there had already become incredibly strong. It's going to be dangerous.
As I thought to myself, Astrid who's looked at me suddenly placed a hand on my head.
"…What are you doing?"
"You did well this time. So….. a compliment"
"I don't feel good at all, is this really a compliment?"
It seems Astrid thinks patting me on the head is her way of giving praise, but to me, it's just exasperating.
Standing on her tiptoes to reach, she just left her hand on my head, I felt like some kind of pet and it's kinda weird. But Astrid was unfazed.
"Stay still. It's master's order."
"….Yes"
I had no choice but to keep my head still. Noah re-froze Aleph with an ice spell.
Unable to hold back my curiosity, I asked
"If you use the freezing spell that often, won't he die?"
"It's fine because I used [Absolute Zero] for just a moment! While he's frozen, he doesn't age either, he might even secretly like it!"
I want to say, please refrain from saying things like that with innocent expressions.
but the words wouldn't come out, so I just nodded and said is that so. Thank goodness Professor Lars isn't here.
He would have been horrified and foaming at the mouth
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The enemy of my enemy
Such a relationship sometimes carries a certain ambiguity.
People usually say, 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend' as if it's some kind of idiom, but in most cases, it's not more than just shallow competition.
A relationship built on the enemy of my enemy is only effective while both sides are equally balanced. Eventually, one side gains strength and inevitably consumes the other.
That's why it's difficult to sleep with the enemy.
Penelope had experienced countless assassination attempts, she knew this better.
She understands the cruelty of enemies and the weight of her own position. Even if sometimes it's too heavy and big for her, nothing changes.
Enemies don't consider your well-being when they come for you.
'Therefore, meeting with Eleanor was more dangerous. I knew it was the best way, but meeting her without a mediator was risky, even for me.'
Eleanor de Rivalin.
As we just discussed, she could develop a larger merchant group by clinging to foreign nations.
That's why making a deal with her wouldn't be easy without solid assurances.
Isn't that just natural?
If she aligned herself with another nation? More than just for constraining the First Prince, any meeting between us could be seen as a betrayal to the Arkheim empire.
Her move could be exposed by someone.
Yesterday I was still stuck, unable to act decisively.
Today, when I have to make a decision. I received a message from Nox.
— I have urgent information for Your Highness
Meeting with Nox von Reinhaver became a conversation mediator between Eleanor and me. Eleanor's involvement in the middle of the dialogue and her request that no one else be informed were likely out of consideration for my position.
There was Nox behind this entire arrangement.
'Only him who'd intentionally made Eleanor come late and ask to negotiate with me'
Regardless of Nox's motive, I owed him a big one. I'm grateful to him. That was the best option for extinguishing the current crisis and keeping the First Prince, Louis, in check.
However, if there was part that left me uneasy. It was Eleanor's final condition.
— As compensation for supporting Princess Penelope, I demand the annulment of your engagement to Nox von Reinhaver. As the head of the Rivalin Merchant Group
What could she possibly mean?
As the head of a merchant group, what is her reason for giving that offer?
Naturally, there's no reason to.
During our discussion, it sounded as if Nox had saved her this time…. it seems related to the incident with Professor Aleph, a demonic human, who was detained by Noah.
People said they were stepping on a faulty teleportation formula and went to the North, and the situation became serious.
Further details are being investigated right now. Since they didn't even report this to the Princess, she didn't know that well about this. but she's a bit curious.
That fierce woman, the [Golden Fox] is acting for someone else?
Nox didn't even fear confronting me, the princess. He had a reason for acting this way. That's what she thought,.
Penelope closed her eyes and recalled the conversation,
mainly on Eleanor's words.
— I want this man. That's why I've decided to make him mine.
— Even though I don't care about Nox von Reinhaver supporting the princess. I'm interested in Nox himself. It's not about his family. I need him
To be honest, She 100% couldn't understand Eleanor's words.
Nox von Reinhaver's abilities are indeed remarkable, and with him on her side, her merchant group would surely grow bigger.
It's common for powerful families and trading companies to strengthen their alliances through marriage across the continent, No matter how divided Arkheim is between commoners and nobles, in the end, what truly makes a noble just like a noble is money.
Their faded honor only trampled them deeper into the mud,
because it brought them nothing.
Therefore, Eleanor's decision made sense.
But… why is it?
Something felt off about the way she phrased it.
"I want him…?"
That's an unusual expression for her.
Eleanor, just like her title [Golden Fox] has always collected anything she wanted
This is without doubt a truth.
But if asked did she ever reveal her desires?
Not at all.
'There's no reason to show your desperation, or lowering your position at a negotiation. And Eleanor de Rivalin, as the head of a merchant group, certainly knows this very well'
And yet, she's not bothered by it.
Eleanor expressed her desires transparently,
stating that she wanted to possess Nox. Depending on how she interprets and decides this, she could find out what Eleanor wants. And that would be a valuable card for her to become the Empress.
Penelope should have felt satisfied about this fact, but a suffocating feeling weighed on her chest as she thought about it.
Nox von Reinhaver.
Why?
Eleanor said she wanted him, and she demanded the annulment of her engagement to him. She felt there was something pure in all of these.
Perhaps Eleanor genuinely wanted to make Nox hers…
'…Could it be? That [Golden Fox]?'
Penelope soon dismissed the thought, but it stayed clearly in her heart as if it had been carved there.
Even if she knew it bore no relevance to her.
"Princess Penelope, it seems the time has come for us to make a decision. The First Prince Louis… appears to be preparing for civil war."
"Sooner than expected, right? Echidna."
Echidna spoke, bowing her head. Her words meant that her own brother was moving to kill her, mobilizing military forces to gain power
"It seems there's no time for distractions."
"Forgive me for bringing this up during such a troubling time…"
Echidna wore a sorrowful expression. But Penelope had to remain composed, hiding her own emotions while looking at sad people. That was the virtue of an Empress.
Something she needed to embody.
"We will prepare on our side as well. We'll align with Eleanor and prepare for this civil war. Keep in mind that we need to move sooner than anticipated. within the month… at the latest."
With those words, Penelope briefly remembered Nox's arrogant eyes.
Those mysterious lavender eyes. Whenever she looked into them, she always fell into a peculiar illusion
A feeling that, somehow, if he were by her side, everything might be a little easier to resolve. A faint, murky trust born from that inexplicable illusion.
It was this feeling that had so often saved her in difficult moments.
Perhaps that's why
Eleanor's words about wanting him, stirred a faint sense of resistance within her.
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