Chapter 320
At Chris's fed-up reaction, Count Khazar tilted his head.
“Really? That's strange. It didn't seem like she wanted to see you for purely official business.”
Rather.
It was exactly the face of a young girl, showing a glimpse of anxiety and excitement.
‘Hmm, does this punk not know? Anyway, he may be my son, but he's a detestable punk.’
“For me, if it's Grand Duchess Idrinne, I'd be fine with a non-human daughter-in-law.”
“…Father.”
“…I was just saying. It's time for you to think about a partner, too. Grand Duchess Idrinne did seem like a very good person.”
“…Fa. ther.”
“Ahem, anyway, that's that. In any case, make time and go see her. She's been waiting for you.”
Chris nodded.
‘I do have to meet her.’
He felt a strong sense of repulsion because of his memories from his previous life, but it seemed he needed to get closer to her to find out what would happen to Idrinne in the future.
“Let's stop that talk here. What is the war situation?”
Count Khazar continued heavily.
“Not good. If not for the cooperation of the Blood Sword Demonic House and for taking the Corridor of Death in advance as you said, we would have been defeated and retreated long ago. But that, too, is reaching its limit. We won't be able to hold out for much longer.”
“That's good.”
“The damages are continuing to accumulate... What did you say?”
Count Khazar asked back as if he had misheard.
“I said, that's good. The situation is perfect. It's flawless.”
“What?”
“Because it's the perfect situation to deceive the bastards from the Four Kings' Castle.”
“!!”
Chris continued in a meaningful voice.
“Father, there is no chance for our Dark Alliance to defeat the Four Kings' Castle with strength alone. It's impossible without using a stratagem.”
“Explain it precisely.”
“We will retreat from this Corridor of Death, fall back to the territory of the Dark Demonic House, and engage in a pitched battle.”
“Are you insane? If we engage in a large-scale head-on battle with the Four Kings' Castle, we will surely suffer a crushing defeat. We'll be annihilated.”
“That would be the case if we fight with strength.”
Chris raised the corner of his mouth.
“Do you know of a 'water attack'?”
“…Of course, I do. But they aren't the kind of opponents it would work on, are they?”
It would be threatening if common soldiers were fighting, but for demonic beings who had learned Demonic Energy, they could easily withstand a mere water attack.
“If it were an ordinary water attack, yes.”
“…What are you thinking?”
Chris spoke of his true 'plan' in a low voice, and Count Khazar's eyes began to widen as if they would tear.
“Impossible? There's no way such a thing is possible?!”
“Why not? Have you forgotten that I am the Hero?”
“Even if you were the Hero's grandfather, it would be impossible! Even the Alliance's 9-Star superhuman, the Sacred One, couldn't do such a thing!”
Just what was Chris's plan for Count Khazar to react in such a way?
‘No matter how crazy my son is, this is absolutely impossible.’
Chris's plan was so absurd that it made Count Khazar think this way.
However.
“The Sacred One may not be able to, but I can.”
Incomprehensible confidence.
“Of course, even for me, it's not possible just like that. To succeed with this plan, there is a condition.”
“What is it?”
“First, we must raid the main castle of the Four Kings' Castle.”
“!!”
Count Khazar had an even more dumbfounded look on his face.
The main castle.
It was the Pantheon of Demons, where the main houses of Blood Sword, Curse, and Necromancy were all gathered in one place.
“What kind of crazy...?”
“Please listen.”
Chris explained the detailed plan, and Count Khazar swallowed hard.
He had thought he'd been as surprised by his son as he could be, but he was mistaken.
His son was a true madman.
The next day.
News that would shake the entire battlefield to its core spread.
It was the news that Christian would hold an 'endless wheel battle' against the Four Kings' Castle.
It was the first step of the operation.
***
Endless wheel battle.
It means to continuously face opponents' challenges alone.
Something one could only do if one had great confidence in their skills, or if they completely looked down on their opponents.
“That's our Grand Duke. An endless wheel battle as soon as he returns.”
“I heard that thanks to the Grand Duke, the Tri-Alliance has sided with our Dark Alliance, too?”
“Yes, I was wondering where he'd been, but they say he secretly helped the Tri-Alliance, which had fallen into chaos due to the Four Kings' Castle's conspiracy. I don't know the exact details, but the new heads of the Tri-Alliance received great help from the Grand Duke.”
“And on top of that, an endless wheel battle. Heh. We'll get to see the Grand Duke crush the pride of those Four Kings' Castle bastards.”
“But is it okay? No matter how great the Grand Duke is, an endless wheel battle against the Four Kings' Castle. It seems too reckless.”
“Right, it's not just anyone, it's the bastards from the Four Kings' Castle.”
The reactions were a mix of cheers and worries.
To be precise, the concern was greater.
“Formidable opponents will surely come from the Four Kings' Castle to duel him.”
“Right, perhaps even the Legion Commanders or the Five Evils class will show up.”
These referred to the core, highest-ranking demonic beings of the Necromancy and Curse Demonic Houses, respectively.
“I hear a rumor that the Five Evils, in particular, are grinding their teeth at the Grand Duke.”
“The Five Evils, aren't they all highest-ranking demonic beings of High 7-Star?”
For reference, the Curse Demonic House's puppeteer, Märchen, who had previously been killed by Chris, was also one of the Five Evils.
The rumor was that the Five Evils were targeting Chris throughout the war to avenge Märchen.
“Shouldn't we stop the Grand Duke?”
“Actually, the other high-ranking figures tried to dissuade him, but they say he wouldn't listen.”
"What is the Dark Demonic House doing? Shouldn't they take responsibility and stop him?"
"The reaction from the Dark Demonic House bastards is even more absurd. 'Don't you dare doubt Grand Duke Christian?' Ha, really. Those madmen."
The demonic beings from the Destruction and Venomous Demonic Houses, who hadn't yet fully adapted to Chris's crazy antics(?), all shook their heads.
These reactions from the demonic beings were mostly born of pure worry.
Because Chris was a benefactor to the Destruction and Venomous Demonic Houses.
However, there were some who held wicked thoughts.
'A punk who only knows his own greatness. This time, he'll get a proper taste of bitterness.'
'He should know his place. I look forward to seeing what a mess he makes.'
These were the people who thought ill of Chris.
Naturally, not everyone had been won over by Chris.
"In the first place, the things Grand Duke Christian claims to have accomplished are incredibly suspicious."
"Right. Isn't it all a bluff?"
"This time, the bubble will finally burst."
"I look forward to seeing what a shabby sight he'll make."
It was as those who harbored ill will toward Chris were talking behind his back.
“Do you want to die?”
“…What? How dare you? Who are you? Huk, Young Master Kashmir?”
Kashmir of the Destruction Demonic House was glaring at those who were bad-mouthing Christian with blazing eyes.
A completely different appearance from the gentle look he usually had in front of Christian.
“Th-that's...”
The demonic being from the Destruction Demonic House was terrified, but the other demonic beings raised their voices in anger.
“We are demonic beings of the Venomous Demonic House! No matter that you're the Young Master of the Destruction Demonic House, you can't treat us carelessly!”
Just then, another voice cut in.
“To think there was such a bug in our Venomous Demonic House. How shameful.”
“Hup, Young Mistress Marisa.”
“Young Master Kashmir, hand all of these men over to me. I will educate them properly.”
Marisa said coolly.
But Kashmir shook his head.
“No, their education is my duty. To dare slander the respected King Emperor Majesty Grand Duke Christian. I cannot forgive it.”
“…King Em... what did you say?”
“It is a special title I use to address him. Young Mistress Marisa, do not covet it.”
“No, what...?”
One more person chimed in.
“For you to use that title. How absurd. That great title is one that my older brother personally 'permitted' me to use.”
It was Teren!
“Anyway, to dare insult my older brother. You must have spoken with the resolve to have your minds torn to shreds, right?”
As even Teren glared at them, the ones who had been bad-mouthing Christian looked like they were about to faint.
For reference, these three were all making a great name for themselves in the Dark Alliance.
Kashmir, with the extreme destruction thanks to completely absorbing the Flame of Ruin.
Marisa, with her genius art of poison that surpassed the existing system of the Venomous Demonic House.
Teren, as befitting one with an aptitude, with an art of curses even more vicious than the Curse Demonic House's.
Teren, who had grown into a fine young man, looked at Kashmir as if to keep him in check.
“I, the younger brother my older brother holds most dear, will take care of these men. Young Master Kashmir, who is a complete stranger to my brother, please go on your way.”
“…Hey, I'm here too. Why are you ignoring me?”
“Who are you? Young Mistress Marisa of the Venomous Demonic House? I don't think I've heard of you from my brother.”
“You...! I was going to go easy on you since you're Christian's younger brother. I'm the one who's going to educate these men!”
“No, it is I. This Kashmir... for the respected King Emperor Majesty Grand Duke Christian!”
“Do not dare utter that great title. Leave it to me, his younger brother, and all of you get lost.”
“Uwaah... please, spare us! We have committed a crime worthy of death!”
“You stay quiet!”
As such a happening was taking place.
Christian was,
[Ohoho. It has been so long. This Marie had such a hard time waiting all alone while the Young Master was away. I won't let you sleep tonight, so please prepare for a hot night.]
“…What hot night. Stop with the weird talk, will you? Just bring me some virgin's blood juice.”
[Whose virgin's blood shall it be?]
“…Make it with fresh raspberries. Mix in some orange, too.”
lazing about in his barracks, being attended to by Marie for the first time in a while.
‘...Marie's virgin's blood raspberry juice is surprisingly addictive.’
While waiting for his raspberry juice, Chris used his Demonic Energy to manipulate bone fragments.
He was practicing Necromancy.
‘I've finally obtained the basics of Necromancy.’
Originally, the Necromancy Demonic House strictly forbade the leaking of their Necromancy, so outsiders could not learn it.
But this time, during the war, he had captured several prisoners of war and used his Dark Demonic Energy and the poison arts of the Venomous Demonic House to make them talk.
‘Because Necromancy is the most important part of this operation.’
A curious statement.
Just what kind of scheme was he plotting?
Just then, a cool touch landed on his shoulder.
It was Marie's hand.
“!!”
[Ohoho. How is my touch? Doesn't it make your heart flutter?]
“…You startled me. Why did you suddenly materialize?”
Marie was not a faint spiritual body, but had taken on a real physical form and was stroking Chris.
[Ohoho. It is to serve you properly, Young Master. Your power has grown much stronger, so I can materialize for quite a long time. Please look forward to it.]
Marie said with a bright smile on her innocent pretty girl's face.
At the joke that didn't sound like a joke, Chris was left speechless.
“That's enough. By the way, can I ask you something?”
[If you are asking about my feelings for you, Young Master, my answer is always yes. If you desire a hot night tonight, then it's an emphatic yes.]
“…It's not that. Can you form a new contract with me now? You said before that you couldn't because my power was insufficient.”
Currently, Marie was contracted as a 'maid'.
Therefore, she could not do anything that went beyond the scope of a 'maid'.
[…….]
Marie fell silent for a moment.
The smile that was always on Marie's face vanished for a moment, and the atmosphere grew heavy.