Chapter 74
“…So, did Prince Tarek wash his hands with that water?”
“Yes, he thoroughly washed them with that poisoned water. Damn, I don’t know why I had to watch a man wash his hands.”
“You…”
“What? Got a problem?”
Iruel’s snide tone made Rufus sigh.
“…Sorry. I misunderstood something about you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I thought you were just trash, but it turns out you’re somewhat useful trash.”
Iruel bristled at that.
“That’s an insult, isn’t it? You’re such a dog, Lieutenant.”
“Rather than a dog, call me a puppy.”
Rufus inadvertently uttered the words, recalling Sarubia’s remarks from the dream.
Iruel looked at Rufus as if he were crazy.
“Are you nuts? I don’t have a hobby of pet-naming men. Bloody hell.”
“Your tongue is quite eloquent—for a drunken fool obsessed with women.”
“Look who’s talking. A traitor who’d sell his country for a naive young girl.”
The two hurled insults at each other, then started preparing their equipment. Rufus grabbed the silver sword given by Baroness Inferna, while Iruel picked up the iron sword gifted by the witch Odr.
“I’ve spoken to my mother again. Once you give the signal, the demons will attack the troops.”
“Understood.”
Rufus checked his sword before leaving the tent. The surface of the blade, reflected in the dim lantern light, shone desolately.
Having completed their preparations, Rufus and Iruel stepped out of the tent.
It was a moonless night, and the sky was overcast, obscuring even the stars. Soldiers carrying torches tried to dispel the darkness, but it was still pitch-black.
Nothing was visible beyond the burning torches, except the soldiers’ tents. Beyond them, total blackness.
—A perfect night for a kill, unseen and unheard.
Rufus sneered at the thought that crossed his mind.
“What brings you out, Lieutenant Rufus?”
Two soldiers patrolling spotted Rufus and approached. They were Nad and Barzan, members of Rufus’s squad.
“The serious conversation I had with Iruel has just ended.”
Rufus spoke with gravitas.
Initially, Rufus’s subordinates thought he had taken Iruel to his tent to scold him. Therefore, they had to continue this pretense.
And the quick-witted Iruel deliberately expressed a deflated voice.
“I was wrong, Lieutenant. I will never touch an empty bottle again.”
Nad and Barzan, the subordinates, cast sympathetic glances at the disheartened Iruel.
“That’s enough. Iruel, go patrol with Nad and Barzan.”
“Yes.”
Iruel quickly inserted himself between the subordinates Nad and Barzan.
“……”
Rufus watched Iruel and his subordinates disappear into the darkness.
Left alone, Rufus steadied his breath.
In this ink-like deep darkness, the demons hid their claws.
Rufus’s task was simple.
He just needed to send the signal. Then, upon receiving Rufus’s signal, the demons would immediately attack the camp and slaughter the humans.
The battle between humans and demons was about to unfold. In the ensuing chaos, the witch Odr would cast a transformation spell on Third Prince Tarek, disguising him as the Demon King. Rufus would then slay the ‘Demon King’, Prince Tarek.
He just needed to give the signal.
Lifting his sword, he would signal the demons. Then, he could kill Prince Tarek and return to the capital with the head of the ‘Demon King.’
He just had to signal…
“……”
Rufus tightly gripped the sword in his hand.
—How many will die?
How many humans would the demons tear apart once he lifted this sword?
***
Initially, when negotiating with the demons, Rufus told them not to kill the humans.
‘We will only kill Prince Tarek. Do not touch anyone else.’
To this, the demons objected.
‘Foolish. If not a single human dies in a battle with the demons, it will look suspicious.’
‘Moreover, if humans attack us, are we to just endure and not defend ourselves?’
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.