ushernet Chapter 180 Operation: Escape from the Demon King's Castle (2)
Chapter 180 Operation: Escape from the Demon King's Castle (2)
Chapter 180 Operation: Escape from the Demon King's Castle (2)
Episode 180 Operation: Escape from the Demon King's Castle (2)
Siana was in charge of the Immortal Fortress’s residential area, but she hadn’t completely abandoned her identity as an imperial noble.
Actually, the reason she had taken over a minor noble family was to gain easier access to the higher-ups, so now that she was part of the immortal army, there was no need for her to cling to her status.
But it was a shame to just throw away what she had painstakingly built.
Fortunately, her master, Immortal King Hans, also judged that it was still useful, so he allowed her to periodically visit her family.
And that short time was practically a vacation for her, a chance to escape this stuffy and smelly space and enjoy a noble life again.
“Hmm, hmm~♪”
It was only natural for her to hum to herself.
‘As soon as I get there, I’ll start by refreshing myself with the finest black tea and cake. Then I’ll go shopping and enjoy some luxury. Money doesn’t matter anymore, so let’s spend it freely. First, I’ll fill up my shoe collection...’
Siana walked through the gloomy castle with energetic steps, organizing her to-do list in her head.
And as she was about to head towards the teleportation magic circle that the Immortal King had personally set up for her, she decided to take one last look around her jurisdiction before leaving...
And she encountered an undead with an unusual appearance in the residential area’s dining hall.
“Oh my, Andrew? Is that really you?”
“Ah? Ha, hahaha... It’s been a while, Sis.”
No... upon closer inspection, it wasn’t an undead, but a human, Andrew Weber, the awakened one from Earth who had been dragged here with her.
His face was pale and haggard, his hair was greasy as if he hadn’t washed it in a while, he had dark circles under his eyes, and his gaze was unfocused and dull.
He was mechanically shoveling food into his mouth to survive and turned his head to look at her blankly at her voice.
“...It’s pointless to ask if you’re okay, looking at you like that. You don’t look okay at all.”
“Ahaha... Ah, it’s good to see a familiar face after a while. I thought you forgot about me because I haven’t seen you in so long.”
“Ahem, you know it can’t be helped. But I did subtly mention it to Olivia last time...”
She subtly looked away at his words, which had a bite to them despite his weak voice.
Honestly, she had thought about visiting him a while ago but then forgot.
‘Well, it can’t be helped. And come to think of it, it’s not like I did anything wrong.’
Of course, her apology didn’t last long, as expected of a demon.
They were in a superior-subordinate relationship from the beginning, and he was just a fellow recruit, so she was already being generous enough to even care about him.
“But is work that hard? I thought you would be able to handle it with some tricks.”
He could just close his eyes and relax, using his ability, since it wasn’t noticeable...
She couldn’t understand why he was being overworked in a job that wasn’t even manual labor.
“...It’s not like I didn’t try. But that woman, she can sense it. She said she can tell just by looking at my bio-signals...”
“Ah, I see.”
The undead’s basic ability to sense life force.
It would be easy for someone like Olivia to use it to grasp someone’s condition.
She was literally a ghost.
“After I got caught a few times... she even set a quota. And I couldn’t even return to my lodging if I didn’t meet it! To think she wouldn’t even let me rest properly in that environment filled with undead and dark magic power, she’s practically a demon!”
Andrew’s voice gradually grew louder, as if he was frustrated.
And Siana, a real demon, also felt offended.
Being called demonic was a compliment to demons, but it was a different matter to use it as an insult.
“Yes, yes. I’m glad you still have some energy left. But do you have time to be chatting like this? It would be better to finish eating quickly and get some sleep.”
“Ugh! R-right. I got a bit excited. But you’re the one who started talking to me...”
He grumbled at her scolding and then sat down again, stuffing food into his mouth.
Siana shrugged lightly and turned around to resume her inspection.
She wanted to finish her task quickly and leave this dreadful place, as she had finally greeted him after a long time.
And so, in her haste—, she missed Andrew’s suspicious behavior, who was left in the dining hall.
“Whew—”
He stared at Siana’s retreating figure with a look of relief and regret, and then turned his head away with a short sigh.
‘I should tell Siana. It seems like she’s been spoiling him too much because he’s her favorite toy.’
He had been tormented every day for over a month, but he still wasn’t intimidated, so his ego must have been quite high.
To completely subjugate someone like him, constant attention and management were needed.
“I should really tell the owner about this. Because the training is lacking, the beast they were raising ran outside and is baring its teeth at everyone. It seems like the trainer isn’t very skilled.”
Crack—!
“...Heron?”
Simon’s teeth gritted as even a seemingly insignificant commoner mocked him.
Riley also had a worried expression.
It was an everyday occurrence for her, who was also a member of the imperial family, but she could imagine what would happen when someone he considered to be of a lower rank insulted him.
And the guard who could control the situation was away...
“Heh— Well, it wouldn’t be bad to teach him a lesson. I’ve been very annoyed lately. ...They won’t say anything if I don’t kill him, right?”
His reaction was as she expected.
“Wait! Are you thinking of using force here...!”
She hurriedly tried to defuse the situation, but Simon’s patience had already run out.
He had come outside despite his condition because he wanted to vent his frustration, so this was a good excuse.
Wooong—
Aura, which seemed to be activated with determination, instantly strengthened his body and sharpened his dulled combat senses.
He hadn’t spent much time training like Riley, but his age, in his late twenties, and his decent talent were enough to make him a knight.
“Hehehe— Let’s see if you have the skills to match that mouth.”
He wasn’t an opponent that the two of them, who had just barely become novice mages, could face.
Even if he wasn’t in his best condition.
And Crown Prince Simon, who had once again grasped the opponent’s level with his sharpened senses, knew that very well.
That they couldn’t stop him!
“Heron! Wait...!”
He cut off Riley’s words—.
Boom!
“I’ll make you crawl! You lowlife!”
And charged at Hesperon with a twisted expression.
His fist, which cut through the air as if to crush Hesperon’s face.
And he...
Thwack!
“Ugh!”
Thud—!
He was hit squarely and rolled on the ground after a smooth dodge and counterattack.
Crawling on the ground, as he had said.
“Ugh, what... the?”
“...Huh?”
Both Simon, the person involved, and Riley, who was hurriedly preparing magic, blinked in disbelief at the unexpected situation.
He wasn’t a veteran high-ranking knight, but he was at a fairly high level among ordinary knights.
After all, knights were human weapons who only honed their combat skills.
He wasn’t someone a low-ranking mage with no preparation could resist...
“You’re impatient. How can someone like this be the Crown Prince? I’m worried about the Empire’s future.”
But Hesperon just grumbled casually, ignoring their reactions.
He was subtly emitting magic power from his entire body, as if support magic had been activated at some point.