The Abandoned City (1)

This was a discussion I had with my allies before.

[It’s strange that they targeted two districts simultaneously, given how unstable they are. Even maintaining control over one would be challenging]

[Not to mention, Bifron is between District 7 and 13, making it even more difficult to defend their territories]

[…Right. Why would they do that? Do they have some goal in Bifron?]

We didn’t know the full picture then, but at the time, we suspected there had to be a hidden motive behind their moves.

And that guess turned out to be correct.

“…!”

As soon as I mentioned Bifron, a flash of surprise crossed his face, but he brushed it off by saying “…Now what are you talking about all of a sudden—”

Even if he tried to cover it up like that, it was already too late.

My suspicion had already turned into certainty.

“Looks like you don’t need to make way anymore.”

I cut off his words.

Because the answer was already clear.

I still didn’t know what exactly they were hiding in Bifron—

“But we’re heading to Bifron.”

The golden rule: just do the opposite of what the enemy wants, and you’re halfway to winning.

“…”

Seeing him fall into deep thought at my words, I was reminded once more that negotiation and battle weren’t that different.

Just like earlier.

If I hadn’t seized the moment to strike unexpectedly, I wouldn’t have gotten this kind of reaction.

“…”

The silence dragged on.

He didn’t object like, Why are you going to Bifron all of a sudden?

No excuses like, You must be misunderstanding something.

Nothing

He just stood there, silently staring at me from a distance, not saying a word.

It seemed like he was carefully weighing his options in his head, unwilling to speak recklessly.

Too late for that now.

“Well, we’re about to turn around and leave. Still not gonna stop us?”

I grinned as I spoke, and the vice commander muttered quietly in response.

“I’d heard you were clever, but I didn’t expect it to be to this extent.”

Well, the same goes for me.

I’d only heard of him as Orcules’ second-in-command, but I’d never heard anyone describe him as a strategist, though.

“So, what’s your answer?”

When I pressed him confidently, the deputy-commander snorted and replied immediately.

“Do as you please. You want to head to Bifron? Then go. We won’t stop you.”

…A bluff?

That was my first thought. But I couldn’t be sure.

You always have to leave room for every possibility.

Honestly, maybe he just panicked when he heard the name ‘Bifron’ earlier—but even if we did go there, it might not really cause him any problems.

Sigh… Another mind game.

My head was starting to hurt.

Even though we hadn’t fought yet, it was clear from our exchange that this guy was incredibly strong.

This guy wasn’t an easy opponent.

“From now on, it’s your choice.”

“…….”

“So? What will you do?”

The deputy-commander had suddenly returned to his calm tone.

What, Did he think he had regained control of the situation?

To be fair, now that all the options were back on the table, it was harder to pick just one.

But…

“I hope you make the right choice. A lot of lives depend on it, after all.”

Barbarians don’t suffer from indecision.

No matter how difficult or dangerous something seems, if they believe it must be done, they do it without hesitation.

Ah, of course, they’re also used to having no choices at all.

“Why won’t you shut up? Quit buzzing in my ear.”

I growled at the sub-commander, who looked like he couldn’t follow my train of thought.

“What choice? I told you already. We’re heading to Bifron.”

He probably had no idea.

That the moment he tried to sow discord in front of the others, crossing the wall had already stopped being an option for me.

There’s no way I’m just walking out like this.

First of all, I am an evil spirit.

Then During the Ice Rock expedition, I killed the Rose Knights and made it seem like nothing had happened. On top of that, I tried to evade taxes and siphon off palace assets.

If I gave the royal family even the slightest reason to investigate me, I’d be in more danger than I am by going to Bifron.

So…

“Anyway, you said you wouldn’t stop us. That’s perfect. Take care. We’re off.”

“…”

“You’re not gonna change your mind now, are you?”

I shrugged and asked, and the deputy-commander replied flatly.

“Of course not. I keep my word.”

“Oho, you’re more manly than you look?”

“More than I look…?”

“Haha! Worrying about stuff like that’s not very manly, you know?”

“…”

“Now would you mind disappearing from sight? We’re about to head to Bifron, and having you lingering here is a bit annoying.”

As I lowered my voice and spoke, the deputy commander paused as if organizing his thoughts, then shouted.

“All troops! Return to the wall!”

The Noark forces confronting us murmured in confusion, but they didn’t disobey their vice-commander’s order.

“They’re really letting us go….”

As I watched them leave and return to the walls, I recalled the vice-commander’s last expression.

Before turning away, his face almost looked like he was mocking me. Or maybe… pleased?

And because I saw it too…

“Is this… really the right decision?” Amelia asked me worriedly.

“…Is this the right choice? It feels like they might be luring us there…”

Versil also cautiously voiced his concern.

But…

Like hell they were luring us.

That final expression said it all.

I shook off my last remaining hesitation and turned my back toward the opposite direction from the wall.

“What are you all waiting for?! Move! We’re heading to Bifron now!”

Whatever it is, I’ll find out when we get there.

Just what is it hidden there that he disliked the idea of us going to see it.

***

Roland Banojant, Vice Commander of Orcules.

He let out a dry chuckle as he looked below the now-vacant wall.

“…They really went.”

While he muttered that, a woman dressed in revealing clothes walked up to him.

“Commander-oppa, are you okay?  Are we really just letting them go like that?”

Lirane Vivian.

Once a gifted student of the Mage Tower, she eventually turned into a dark mage after conducting numerous experiments on forbidden magic.

Rumor had it she’d always been cruel even before delving into black magic, and from Roland’s point of view, it was hard to say whether her personality had grown more or less extreme.

Her mischievous nature, too.

“You were caught off guard, huh?”

“…….”

“Aw, that’s totally the face of someone who didn’t see it coming. You always act like you’re so smart, but I guess you didn’t expect him to actually leave?”

Roland didn’t like people like her.

Actually, it wasn’t just dislike. He despised someone like her.

But…

She’s still useful.

So he kept a kind smile on his lips as he replied.

“Heh, how could anyone predict everything? Judging by your tone, Miss Vivian, you must have expected this.”

“Me? Of course not! Who could’ve guessed? I mean, we practically offered to let him go back to the city, and he still chose that?”

“…”

“But shouldn’t we follow them now? What if something goes wrong in Bifron? We’ll be in serious trouble, too.”

He nodded bitterly at that.

Though she seemed carefree, she was by no means stupid.

As she said, it was certainly not a positive development for an unpredictable figure like Baron Jandel to enter Bifron.

“But following them now would be even riskier. If we abandon the wall, the royal family will get suspicious. It’s not time to give up Sector 7 yet.”

“Sure, but… still! You really just let them go like nothing? That’s not like you.”

Vivian teased, but Roland just smiled calmly.

“Yes, I know. I’m regretting it too.”

“Ugh, now you’re making me feel like the bad guy. I’m just curious, okay? Why would our smart Vice Commander do that?”

Her persistence finally earned a reluctant answer from him.

“Miss Vivian, ordinary people wouldn’t make such a bold choice in that situation. Especially when there’s so much to lose.”

This wasn’t just an excuse.

He had seen countless people make decisions-or rather, he had observed them.

That’s how he got the nickname “The Demon Eye.”

Most assumed it referred to some kind of special ability, but he had simply been good at reading people since childhood.

But…

“Wow, our Vice-Commander oppa is just a fake genius, huh?”

Even after that honest answer, Vivian just mocked him.

Roland couldn’t hide the irritation in his expression.

Sensing she might’ve gone too far, Vivian quickly added:

“I mean, you said that’s what most people would do. But Bjorn Jandel isn’t like most people, is he?”

She shrugged and walked off, leaving Roland to chuckle bitterly.

“Not most people, huh…”

He first learned of Bjorn Jandel when the barbarian earned his title after the battle in the Goblin Forest.

But now?

Bjorn Jandel had become one of the kingdom’s most prominent figures.

And…

How many times has this happened now?

For some reason, Roland kept running into him.

Like with the Dragonslayer, Regal Vargos.

When Banozant learned that the person he had met in the labyrinth after regaining his memories was Bjorn Jandel, he’d been stunned.

And that was before Jandel had even earned his fame and title.

“Is this what they call a bad fate?”

He didn’t believe in superstition, but he had a gut feeling—Bjorn Jandel would continue to be a major obstacle in the future.

“I should report to the commander first.”

After settling his thoughts, he used the communication device to send the news to the commander stationed in Sector 13.

After finishing the report, he turned to stare at the now-empty wall, and his thoughts drifted to a past conversation with the Dragon Slayer.

[“Hmph. You want to hear about Bjorn Jandel?”]

Back then, as Bjorn’s reputation as an explorer was rapidly growing, he had asked the Dragon Slayer, who had regained his memories, for information.

[“…Ah, Vice Commander. One last thing.”]

At the time, he had dismissed it as nonsense, but now…

[“If possible, it’s best not to speak to him at all.”]

But now… he was starting to understand.

[“The moment you start a conversation, everything will begin to move according to his will. Without you even realizing it.”]

Now he knew why the Dragonslayer had said that.

 

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