The Broken Possessors of the Infinite Regression Academy - Chapter 165



Chapter 165 – Echoes – 5

“What on earth was that guy thinking when he did something like this?”

“Well, I don’t know everything Nika thinks.”

I was spending time in Laura’s room in the palace with Laura, Rosaria, Elisier, and Priscilla.

The fact that the Demons first proposed negotiations was an unprecedented event in human history, so the Emperor gave orders to gather together all those who were judged to be trustworthy.

I heard that not only Director Erestica, but also the Black Tower Lords, the Magic Tower Lords, and even the warrior Leona will be attending.

‘Of course. The Succubus Queen herself requested a meeting.’

Looking back at the atrocities that Astaroth had committed, it was only natural that this would happen. It had not even been three months since he had planned to devour the entire empire and was caught and turned upside down.

Nika has the exact opposite disposition to Astaroth, and the Succubus clan itself was massacred indiscriminately by Dullahan, so compared to then, they’ve almost all been replaced, but no one else but me knows that fact.

I can’t do it even if I know how.

“… … But, do I really have to attend as well?”

Elisier, who had been sitting awkwardly, asked a question, unable to hide her awkward expression. A faint smile appeared on Laura’s face.

“Of course. You are the one who should be there. If someone as big as the former Demon King doesn’t attend, then who on earth can sit in that position?”

“You’re so good at saying that it’s none of your business. There’s no need to act hypocritical. Why don’t you just say outright that you’re just teasing me?”

“How did you know? I was just teasing you. I got to the point, so would you like some praise, former Demon King?”

“… … .”

Laura’s one-sided teasing continued, and Elisier continued to growl without being able to offer a proper rebuttal.

As I said, originally Elisier should not have been in that position. Ciel, a transfer student at Bellium Academy, not the Demon Lord Elisier, is just an orphan who barely managed to secure her status thanks to me.

The other four all had their justifications. Not to mention Laura, Rosaria was a saint chosen by the goddess. Priscilla was also the sole successor to the Duchess of Agnes, so she had enough justifications.

It was the same for me. Not only did I have the full support of the Sword Master, the Chairman, and the Magic Tower Masters, but even the Emperor himself thought well of me.

The only one who had no excuse was Elisière, and Laura had to force the Emperor to allow her to attend. The reason, as she herself said, was to tease Elisière.

“Is Laura there? She’s here to pick you up.”

While the two were meowing, a knock on the door was heard from outside, along with the voice of the blacksmith. Laura and Elisier hurriedly shut their mouths and stopped fighting.

After releasing the soundproofing magic, I opened the door. The swordsman waved his hand and greeted me. Behind him, Karna was bowing his head.

As always, she was wearing a loose-fitting yukata, but there was something different about her. She was wearing a real sword instead of a wooden sword on her right waist.

‘It doesn’t seem to be the Dragon Sword…’

It didn’t seem to be his own sword, which was said to have been made from a dragon’s fang, but it was surprising enough that he had overcome trauma to that level.

Geomseong noticed my gaze and smiled awkwardly.

“Now is not the time to worry about this, so let’s focus on other things. Are you ready?”

“Yes. Just leave like this.”

Everyone got up together. Laura was the first to walk, following the swordsman, followed by Priscilla, Rosaria, and Elisier. I was the last.

“Have you heard anything about what the succubus is doing?”

I asked Karna, who was following me, a question. Karna seemed to be thinking deeply about something, then clapped his hands and said, “Ah.”

“They said they were waiting in a separate space. They said they were surprised because it was surprisingly quiet.”

“There was no other reaction?”

“There was even an opinion that we should kill him when we get the chance since he was so quiet, but I think it was abandoned because it would be difficult to deal with the aftermath if he failed and returned alive.”

“… …Who has such an opinion?”

I engraved the names that flowed from Karna’s mouth in a corner of my heart. Since they were discarded opinions anyway, there was no need to retaliate with them, but it wouldn’t hurt to remember them.

It was a fortunate thing in many ways. For me, and for the Empire. If Nika had died like that, I wouldn’t have let it go. At the very least, I would have made all those who had suggested killing her suffer the same fate.

“Okay, this is it. I guess we should split up around here.”

The blacksmith led most of the royal guards and Laura and headed to a slightly wider door. We were guided to a relatively smaller door. It was a natural measure, since we could not be treated like the crown prince in a public setting.

The door leading to the central hall opened. All the lords of the Empire, the chairman of the Bellium Academy, and everyone else who was considered a high-ranking official in the Empire were gathered there.

“… … .”

As I checked the faces of the people in attendance, my eyes met with those of the Matapju.

Fortunately, the knights of the castle tower seemed to be aware that they were standing before the emperor, so instead of making a fuss when they saw me, they just gave me a short bow. If they had behaved as usual, my situation would have been very difficult.

-Don’t forget.

The chairman, who was sitting next to the crown prince on the throne, looked at me, blushed slightly, and pursed his lips. Elisier, who couldn’t miss that, poked my back.

Leona, sitting next to the chairman, waved her hand slightly at me. Judging from the fact that she was alone, it seemed that Aria had not come in with her. It made sense, since Aria was currently an ordinary academy student.

Because we took the achievements and position that should have originally gone to Aria.

Next, Laura came in, and Geomseong took the other side of the chairman. Given the circumstances, it seemed as if they were going to skip over complicated rituals.

“The sun of the empireㅡ”

However, it seemed that he could not skip the courtesy towards the emperor, and a long and lengthy speech followed. Then, the emperor, who looked completely different from when he had met me alone, walked out with a truly dignified appearance befitting an emperor.

“Has the power arrived?”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“That’s it. Send the enemy tower master to bring in that demon tribe.”

“I will follow-”

“There’s no need for that. We’ve already arrived.”

The Emperor’s solemn and dignified voice rang out, cutting off the words of the enemy.

It was Nika’s voice, but it wasn’t Nika’s usual voice, which was dull and somewhat lacking. It was closer to the dignified and stiff voice, like when Elissier spoke.

Soon after, a figure appeared in the middle of the central hall as if the fog had cleared.

‘… … Is that Nika?’

Unlike her usual attire, which did not seem to indicate that she was wearing anything, she was wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a veil over her head, and her entire body was wrapped tightly from her neck to her ankles, so that not a single bit of skin was visible.

The tail was also hidden inside the clothes, so the only exposed skin was the lips and the area around them. It was less revealing than the maid outfit worn when working as a eustera.

As soon as Nika appeared, a pink smoke spread around her. Those who were touched by the smoke staggered around with blurry eyes.

The only people who were fine after inhaling it were Geomseong, the chairman, Leona, Elisier, and me. I confirmed that Geomseong, who had noticed the presence of the smoke, was holding his sword with a cold face, and used magic.

The magic that removed abnormal statuses covered the entire central hall. People who had been staggering with half-open eyes came back to their senses.

“… … !!!!!!”

The magicians who had just realized that it was magic looked at me with foam at the mouth, but given the circumstances, they just stood there stamping their feet and didn’t dare come near me.

“Should I accept that as a declaration of war?”

The blacksmith spoke with a completely different tone and voice than usual. His left hand was gripping and releasing the handle of the sword on his waist. A terrible murderous aura was spreading around him.

“I apologize. It wasn’t my intention. Just now, what I did was the equivalent of exhaling for a human, but I couldn’t have imagined that such a thing could cause harm. It was my mistake. I will try harder in the future to be able to breathe.”

It wasn’t 100% false, but it wasn’t 100% true either.

First of all, the smoke that just appeared was definitely intentional. It is true that the power contained within it was only enough to exhale. It seemed like they did that to gain the upper hand.

“Okay, I’ll accept it. But keep in mind that there will be no second chance. Geumseong, you too, calm down.”

At the emperor’s words, Geomseong let go of the handle he had been holding. Both hands went into the loose sleeves. It seemed that the trauma had not completely healed.

“Yes. You said you wanted to call a ceasefire.”

“That’s right. Succubi won’t attack humans, so humans must not attack succubi either. Of course, if they want, they can ‘exchange’ to some extent. I don’t think such exchanges between individuals will be considered attacks, right?”

It was obvious what the Succubus Queen meant by ‘exchange’, so coughs could be heard here and there. They were coughs mixed with a hint of anticipation.

“I am an exception to the rule, so don’t have any idle thoughts. If there is anyone like that, I will tear out their eyes.”

“It wasn’t like that from the beginning.”

The emperor snorted.

“Why should Jim accept that offer? I still remember clearly what you did. The entire empire was almost overthrown. And now you are demanding a ceasefire?”

It seemed that there were quite a few people who had lost their family or relatives or suffered hardships due to being associated with a succubus, so the nobles unanimously agreed. Nika paid no attention this time either and accepted it.

“The previous queen, Astaroth, who planned this, is dead. Most of the succubi who helped Astaroth in her scheme are also dead. I succeeded her as queen, and I have nothing to do with Astaroth’s scheme, so I reached out. Isn’t that enough of an explanation?”

“You are also a member of the same succubus clan. It would be an exaggeration to say that we are not related at all.”

“Then you too can bear the sins of the previous emperors. Tell me. Would you accept the sins of the previous emperors as your own? If you cannot, then what difference is there between my succession to the throne of Astaroth and your succession to the throne of the previous emperors that you refuse?”

“… … .”

The Emperor’s eyebrows twitched slightly. It seemed as if he had not expected to be refuted in such a way. Nika changed the subject as if she had expected this.

“You may be wondering why I have made this proposal. I am sure everyone here would be wondering why. Now listen, I will explain why. The reason I have proposed a ceasefire to you is… .”

The eyes of the central hall were focused on Nika. The emperor, who had been frowning just a moment ago, the sword master, the chairman, the magic tower masters, and various other nobles. And even the possessed people, including me.

I couldn’t help but wonder why Nika would do something like this out of the blue. No, actually, since I knew what kind of personality Nika usually had, I was even more curious.

“… …because the Demon King is dead.”

For a moment, an eerie silence fell over the central hall.