85 - Passing Each Other
The Vampio Race were the first to break away from the Demon King's army. Their base is located in the eastern part of Nordende, situated within the mountains surrounding Nordende, northeast from the Undead Legion's garrison.
"...So, the Laurel Kingdom army's invasion has begun."
Hearing the information brought by his subordinate, King Dracul wore a dark expression.
"Yes. A force of approximately five thousand has begun the invasion."
"Five thousand... that is not many."
Compared to the beginning, the Laurel Kingdom army had decreased significantly in number, but they should have still easily exceeded twenty thousand. Hearing that only five thousand had invaded, King Dracul found it strange.
"The rest are building new bases where the burned-down fortresses of the Demon King's army once stood."
"I see. So the fortresses are gone."
"It is not entirely clear, but it seems the Demon King set them ablaze when he fled."
"...I see. It was not a mistake to do so."
It was better to burn them down than to let them be seized by the Laurel Kingdom army. In fact, thanks to that, a large portion of the Laurel Kingdom army's forces had been stalled. However, what concerned him was at what point the Demon King had set the fires. He had already heard that no battle had taken place at the fortresses.
"What shall we do?"
"...A force of five thousand is too much for us to fight alone."
"If we cooperate with other races..."
"How many races do you think are willing to fight at this point?"
"That is..."
Many races had already decided to flee. There were likely almost no allies who would consider fighting the Laurel Kingdom army. King Dracul was not the Demon King.
"The Demon King... he should no longer be called the Demon King. Where is Leo now?"
"No information has been obtained yet."
"I see..."
The former Demon King. If Leo had the will to fight, the numbers would be significantly lower than the original Demon King's army, but they might be able to fight. However, that was unknown at this point.
"Even if there are no ones to stop the invasion, it will still take some time for the Laurel Kingdom army to reach us. By then, I believe more information will have been obtained."
"That is too late. Whether we fight or flee, we need a period of time to prepare."
"Are we fleeing?"
The subordinate wore a look of surprise as King Dracul mentioned the option of fleeing.
"If we cannot win, we have no choice but to flee. We cannot fight with the expectation of total annihilation."
"That may be true, but..."
The subordinate felt resistance to the idea of fleeing. While this was inevitable given the nature of the demon race, it was also proof that he did not correctly understand the current situation.
"...Is there any information on him?"
"Nothing so far."
"From Kai?"
"Nothing in particular."
"I see."
Information on Ray had still not been obtained. Sera, who had been sent into the Forest of Bewilderment, had not returned either. He had thought he would find him more easily, but he had been naive. In reality, it was simply a matter of bad luck, a slight passing each other.
"If we were to move from this land, do you have any places in mind?"
He did not say the word "flee." It was a small matter of pride.
"I don't. Only the Forest of Bewilderment, but that is a bit too far."
"There is also the option of passing through the mountains to the eastern lands."
"True... let us also investigate places that could serve as a main base."
Doing so would reduce the number of people allocated to searching for Ray. However, King Dracul resigned himself to the fact that it was unavoidable in the current situation.
"Then, I shall send out a few people."
"Please do. Ah, that's right. We may need to arrange for food."
"Food?"
The Vampio Race did not require much food. There should be no need for food supplies.
"There may be races fleeing from the Laurel Kingdom army. That is why."
King Dracul intended to prepare food for the other races fleeing from the Laurel Kingdom army. Goodwill was not the only reason. He also intended to put them in his debt.
"...I understand. I will make the arrangements."
"That is all. Move immediately."
"Yes."
The subordinate left the room to execute King Dracul's instructions. A bitter expression appeared on King Dracul's face as he watched the subordinate's back.
"...I am not being understood."
To save the demon race, Ray's power was necessary. That was what King Dracul believed, but it was not easily penetrating his subordinate's mind. He believed they could fight even without Ray, though he had no particular basis for that. It was the same thinking as the Demon King who had betrayed Ray, and his aides.
"This is impossible."
King Dracul had heard about Ray from Kai. That Ray had not originally trusted the Vampio Race. That it was likely due to the attitude of those on this side, who looked down on the Undead Legion. That attitude had not changed even now. If that were the case, even if they found Ray, there was no way he would accept them.
"...Is Kai my only hope? Will that actually work?"
If anyone could speak with Ray, it was only Kai. King Dracul felt anxious about whether that would be enough to make Ray accept the Vampio Race. It was not a question of Kai's persuasiveness, but the belief that Ray would not acknowledge anyone other than Kai.
"...Kamiira. Was my choice correct? What would you have done?"
A question to which no answer could possibly return. Even so, King Dracul spoke it aloud. He was so anxious about the uncertainty of the future that he could not help himself.
◇◇◇
The information on Ray that King Dracul sought. It was something that would soon be obtained. There was a member of the Vampio Race who had found Ray's location and was speaking with him face-to-face. It was Kai. It was precisely because it was Kai that he was able to meet him.
"I knew it, this was the right place. I should have just waited here."
These were Kai's first words upon finding Ray. Kai had already visited this place once before.
"Yeah, it took quite a while to get here."
"Why?"
"That's..."
It was a topic that was a bit difficult to talk about, even with Kai. Ray hesitated.
"The cause is that woman, right? Who is she?"
Usually, Kai was cute—by Ray's standards—but the look in his eyes as he looked at Cecil was cold. Even for Kai, who had fewer prejudices than other members of the Vampio Race, an unknown human was different. He saw her as the enemy of his mother and sisters.
"Cecil-san. Someone who took care of me in the capital of the Laurel Kingdom. She is also the savior of my life."
"The savior of your life?"
"She saved me from burning to death."
"...I see. But she's part of the Laurel Kingdom army, right?"
Hearing that she was Ray's savior, Kai's gaze toward Cecil softened slightly. Still, the hostility did not completely vanish. Hearing she was a human from the Laurel Kingdom, that was only natural.
"She says she'll abandon her country and fight for my sake."
Ray explained about Cecil in an attempt to diminish Kai's hostility, but...
"...Hmm. For Ray's sake, huh."
Even if the hostility diminished, it gave birth to a different emotion.
"What?"
Ray was bewildered by the meaningful look Kai was giving him. He had no memory of Kai ever acting this way.
"What does Ray think of her?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, what does Ray think of that woman?"
A direct attack born of youth. Ray's convenience was not considered at all.
"...That I'm glad she saved me."
"Is that all?"
"What else would there be?"
Ray played dumb, knowing full well what was being asked. However, this did not count as playing dumb toward Cecil. It was essentially saying he had no special feelings for her.
"Really?"
"What would I gain by lying? More importantly, why are you here, Kai-kun?"
Anyway. Ray wanted to end this conversation. He changed the subject quite forcefully.
"To look for Ray."
Kai had no intention of dwelling on the topic of Cecil. If they were to get to the main point, that was fine.
"I know that. What do you intend to do now that you've met me?"
"Father wishes to speak with you."
"...That doesn't sound like a very good conversation, does it?"
Ray had no desire to speak with King Dracul. He felt no necessity for it either. The one who wanted it was the other party. No matter the content, it would only be a nuisance to Ray.
"It's not a bad story. First, he wants to apologize for the betrayal of his comrades."
"The betrayal of comrades... does that mean I have nothing to do with it?"
"Eh? Did you perhaps think Father had betrayed you?"
"Normally, one would think so. The King of the Vampio Race is Kai-kun's father. Whatever the Vampio people do should be the King's will."
"...That might be true, but this matter is different. Still, because it was something his comrades did, I think he feels he also bears responsibility."
"And so he apologizes. Even if he does..."
Sansei and the soldiers of the Undead Legion would not return. Just because he apologized did not mean the betrayal of the Vampio Race could be forgiven.
"I know. About Sansei... I don't know what the right thing to say is, but it was unfortunate. I'm sad too."
"Yeah. I understand that feeling, Kai-kun. You seemed to get along well with Sansei."
"I don't think Father or the others can understand the sadness of Sansei's death. Still, the feeling of apology is genuine. I won't ask you to forgive him. But I want you to at least listen to what he has to say."
Kai spoke his thoughts honestly. He could not do tactical maneuvering. He did not think it would work on Ray anyway. If that were the case, he believed he should just tell the truth.
"...So it's not just an apology."
"Yes. I don't think it's my place to tell you everything, but he wants to fight together with you."
"With whom?"
"Against the Laurel Kingdom army."
"...And for what purpose?"
"I'd like to say revenge, but perhaps it's to protect the demon race?"
Kai also had feelings of revenge. He wanted to avenge his mother and two sisters. However, he knew his father's thinking was different from his own.
"I have no obligation to do that."
"That's true. But what if I said I wanted your help?"
"I have no duty to help."
"I see... that's difficult."
Negotiating with Ray was difficult. Kai had known that from the start. Ray was fighting for the sake of his own mother and sisters. Not for the demon race, nor for the Vampio Race. Kai did not find this disappointing; rather, he found it pleasing.
"...By the way, who are these comrades who betrayed us?"
"They were exiled. It's a very heavy punishment."
"But it's exile. Not the death penalty."
Kai called it a heavy punishment, but Ray did not see it that way. He did not know how significant exile from one's race was for a demon. Not only that, Sansei was dead. The soldiers would never be resurrected. Compared to that, he thought it was lenient.
"I'm not satisfied with it either, but they didn't betray us of their own will."
"Then why?"
"It seems they were threatened."
"By whom?"
"The Demon King—or rather, he's not that anymore. The former Demon King, Leo of the Ryan race."
"I see."
The Demon King had been pulling the strings from the shadows. He had been an untrustworthy opponent from the start, but with this, he could definitively categorize the former Demon King Leo as an enemy.
"Still, betrayal is betrayal, so they were punished. Perhaps they were kept alive because he wants Ray to forgive them?"
"...Kai-kun. You're quite... that, aren't you? How should I put it, you see things very clearly."
Ray still saw Kai as a child, but talking to him like this, he realized Kai saw things properly. That was unexpected to Ray.
"I'm relatively good at that kind of thing."
"Yeah. You are Kamiira-san's son, after all."
The ability to read people's emotions. He had thought it was a power that anyone of the Vampio Race possessed, but Ray considered that even so, there seemed to be those who were better at it than others.
"Can you forgive them?"
"Impossible. But I might be able to pretend I don't know they're alive. Something like that."
He had no intention of forgiving the betrayal. He could never forget Sansei's death. If he could tolerate anything, it was that he wouldn't go out of his way to kill them.
"I see. Is fighting together with the Vampio Race also impossible?"
"...I don't feel the necessity. What I need now are comrades who will absolutely never betray me."
"The Vampio Race doesn't normally betray, either."
For demons, contracts were absolute. Betrayal should normally be an impossibility.
"But they have no intention of cooperating with my revenge. Not being able to share a goal is a problem that comes before betrayal."
Revenge and protecting the race. Ray's and the Vampio Race's purposes for fighting were different. With that, there was no way they could act together.
"...But fighting the Laurel Kingdom army alone is difficult."
"That's the point."
"Eh?"
"I don't necessarily need to fight the Laurel Kingdom army. People and the country. My goal is to erase them, not to win a war. Killing is not a requirement. If I can make them suffer more than death, that is enough."
"...Persuasion is difficult, then."
Ray had no reason to protect the demon race. As long as that was the case, a joint fight would not be realized. The idea of wanting him as an ally was merely the selfish desire of the Vampio Race—more accurately, of King Dracul.
"I'm sorry, Kai-kun, but I don't have the luxury to think about the demon race."
What kind of revenge to give to each of them. Just thinking about it was exhausting. If he wanted to realize it, it would be even more so. He had neither the feeling to do something for the demons nor the luxury of time.
"...It can't be helped. But I'll apologize in advance. I can't not tell Father that Ray is here."
"...Just say I was here but I'm gone now."
"But that's a lie."
"It's not a lie. I plan to leave this place soon."
"Eh!?"
The one who let out a cry of surprise was Cecil. She had not heard a single word of such a thing from Ray.
"Nothing will progress if I just stay cooped up here."
"Where are you going?"
"The capital of the Laurel Kingdom."
"Eeeh!?""Haa!?"
Right into the heart of enemy territory. At Ray's declaration that he was heading there, not only Cecil, but Kai also let out a cry of surprise.
"The battlefield is not the only place for a fight. Especially once the battle with the Demon King's army settles down."
"...I understand."
If Ray was determined, she had no choice but to steel herself. That was what Cecil thought, but...
"You probably don't understand."
"Eh?"
"I'll have Cecil-san stay here."
"What!? No! I will follow you!"
Cecil could not accept being separated from Ray. She intended to refuse resolutely, but...
"Even if you say that... honestly, you're a hindrance."
"Ah..."
He hit her where it hurt. She was fully aware that she was a hindrance.
"In the royal capital, I cannot act while worrying about Cecil-san. I wouldn't be able to achieve my goal."
"...I won't be a nuisance."
"I believe I have a grasp of what Cecil-san can and cannot do. It is impossible to take Cecil-san to the royal capital."
"............"
Ray had clearly rejected her accompaniment. She wanted to argue, but Cecil had no materials to do so. In this moment, all Cecil could do was look down, her eyes filling with tears of frustration.
"A month and a half. At most, I plan to return in two months. Until then... until then, huh."
Spending two months in these mountains. For Ray, it was nothing, but when he thought about what that would be like for Cecil, he became anxious. He could not say for certain that no enemies would come.
"...Should I stay here too?"
The one who offered a helping hand to the conflicted Ray was Kai.
"Is that okay?"
"I can't stay forever. But since I only go home occasionally, I'll be away from here for less than half a month."
If he ran at full speed, the distance to the Vampio Race's main base was not that great. Only by the standards of a demon, however.
"Then, I'll ask you to. Cecil-san, that's okay, right?"
"...Yes."
She could not reject Kai, whom Ray trusted. Cecil had no answer other than agreement.
"I'll feel more at ease if Kai-kun is here, but I'll strengthen the defenses a bit more before I depart. As for food... I think it will last, but just in case, shall I transport some from other bases?"
"Other bases?"
"Yes. There are four other bases in the mountains. Only this one and one other are actually usable, though. I'll tell you the locations when I go to get the food, so if it comes to it, please flee there."
The garrisons used by the Laurel Kingdom army's mobile units. Those were the bases.
"...Yes."
"There are traps at the other bases as well, so it would be better if you remembered the locations."
"Traps?"
"Traps that set fire if a large number of people enter, for example. In a situation where you're chased by enemies, they'd be useful, right? Pretend to flee into the base, lure the enemy in, and then burn them to death with the traps."
"...I see."
Ray could perform such cruel acts without hesitation. Cecil already knew this, but knowing his usual self, she couldn't help but feel a sense of incongruity.
"There's a lot to do before I depart. It looks like I'll be busy."
――In fact, from this day on, Ray spent every day lacking sleep. Even so, it caused almost no hindrance.
"...Haa... n... ah... n..."
How many nights had it been now? Cecil had regained the greed she had at the beginning.
"I-it's your fault... I... ah... ahn..."
Cecil tried to tell him an excuse she had already given many times.
"It's okay. I won't hate you."
"R-really?"
"Yes. It's true. There's no way I'd hate being able to do this with a beautiful person like Cecil-san."
The reason Cecil had been hesitant was because Ray's reaction was poor. Every time they did this, Ray looked as if he were suffering, so she thought he hated it.
"B-but..."
"It's true."
"...I understand."
Then why doesn't he seek it himself? Cecil swallowed these words. She tried changing her attitude, wondering if he hated proactive women. But Ray's attitude did not change. Because of that, she felt depressed again. It was only natural that he would be bewildered if she suddenly changed, but Cecil did not understand that. Even if she was proactive about sex, it was only because it was Ray. In the first place, Ray was the only man she knew.
"I love you."
"...Yes. Thank you."
"............"
Without even asking, the intensity of their feelings was clearly different. In truth, she was afraid to hear Ray's true feelings. Doing so would only hurt her. Cecil knew that.
"...Ah... e-enough... p-please... enough... a-ahhh..."
To shake off the unnecessary thoughts from her head, Cecil immersed herself in the act.
"R-Ray... enough... I can't... ah... nnn..."
"...I-it's okay."
"Ah... nnaaaaaah!!"
In this moment, there was no anxiety at all. Her mind went blank, and only happiness spread. In this brief time, Cecil was happy.