Chapter 240
Chapter 240. The Demon Lord’s Prince’s Secret
“Yawn…”
Tafuman sat up from his bed and stretched broadly.
Sunlight streamed in from the window… The sun was already high. It seemed he had woken up later than usual.
However, he felt strangely good. It felt like he had a very enjoyable dream.
He sniffed, half-conscious, as if searching for a lingering scent.
“Well then… Time to get to work today too.”
As he stretched and headed downstairs, there was a loud knock on the front door.
“Hey, Tafuman! You there?”
“What’s wrong?”
When he opened the door, a relatively energetic soldier from the guard greeted him.
“Sebastian wants everyone to gather right away.”
“Oh? What’s going on?”
Nibbling on a hard biscuit as a substitute for breakfast, he hurried off to the tavern, which had turned into a meeting place, without even fixing his hair.
“…Treatments?”
He raised his voice in a confused tone while listening to Sebastian explain alongside the representatives who had already gathered.
“That’s right. We just received word from a hobgoblin official. Those wishing for treatment are to come to the royal castle at dawn. Up to ten per day, prioritizing the seriously injured…”
Reactions varied among everyone, but confusion was a common thread. Even Sebastian, who was speaking, showed this.
“Is something like that really possible?”
A trainee priest muttered, squinting in doubt.
Treatment for injuries and illnesses?
People of the darkness who can’t use light magic or miracles…?
“According to the hobgoblin, it is possible. From injuries to terminal illnesses, most can be cured.”
Sebastian replied cautiously, hinting that this was merely hearsay…
“It’s hard to believe…”
Tafuman scratched his head in thought.
“There’s no end to rubble removal and rebuilding houses; the more hands, the better.”
He heard that while the Demon Lord’s Prince Zilbagias is staying in Evaroti, he would accept treatment for ten people daily.
If that’s true, it would be a highly appreciated offer.
“Unless they plan to dispose of the troublesome ones…?”
A black-furred beastman raised his ears, showing concern.
“Even so, if they disappear without a trace, it would become a problem… Ten seems a small number.”
“True…”
Tafuman pointed out that if they wanted to dispose of people, they wouldn’t set a limit of ten, causing Dobel to ponder.
“…If it’s possible, that would be a significant threat. If the Demon Race has such abilities…”
Mycin said with a grave expression.
Everyone recalled Zilbagias’s insane speech. Even if taken with a grain of salt, if the actual number of the Demon Race vastly exceeds the alliance’s expectations, and if advanced healing that can even mend injuries is possible for the dark ones…!
“No matter how much we fight, we probably won’t see any reduction.”
Dobel mumbled, and the former soldiers nodded gravely.
“Well… I suppose we need to send a few people to verify that.”
“That seems to be the case.”
Sebastian nodded at Tafuman’s sighing words.
“Even with ten, attendants can accompany them, right, Sebastian?”
“Of course. Especially the severely injured; many won’t be able to make it on their own.”
“Alright then. I’ll accompany them too. Let’s see for ourselves what that Demon Lord’s ‘treatment’ really is!”
Tafuman steeled himself to confirm the truth. If there are nefarious schemes… he might not be able to resist effectively, but he’d at least voice one complaint. Although it’s rather cowardly, even that was a matter of life and death.
Once that was decided, the conversation moved quickly. Tafuman and his friends split up to seek out the injured and sick.
Some hesitated, finding it hard to believe the Demon Prince’s intentions, but many who had lost limbs in battle or were gravely ill gathered, surpassing ten in number.
From that group, they selected the ten most critically ill individuals who would accompany Tafuman and Mycin at dawn to the royal castle. To avoid oversleeping, they all decided to stay at the tavern that night.
“Hey, it’s time.”
“Mm… Is it already dawn?”
Sleeping when they could and waking up promptly when called was the habit of former soldiers. Awoken by the night shift, Tafuman and company hurriedly prepared. Supporting each other or using stretchers, they trudged towards the royal castle.
Before dawn. The Evaroti royal castle loomed ominously against the cobalt sky.
What was once a proud stronghold of the Defteros Kingdom had now been modified by the Demon Race, exposing a flat, seamless rock face. The former symbol of the kingdom looked as if it were tainted by a sinister curse from the Demon Race. The fluttering black flag of the Demon Kingdom menacingly looked down upon Tafuman and his party—
“…”
The injured were silent the whole time. Some, having lost both legs and an eye, looked up anxiously at the castle while being carried. Others, lying on stretchers, were barely clinging to life…
They were all individuals who volunteered with a desperate determination rather than resigning to death without hope of recovery.
(I hope they get better…)
While Tafuman earnestly wished for this, he also carried anxiety.
– There aren’t many miracle workers capable of curing severe injuries among the allied forces. Only high-ranking priests and mages can wield such “miracles.” If it’s true that the dark forces and the Demon Race can also use them…
If they are already strong, what other capabilities might they possess?!
“…”
Mycin, who accompanied them, was likely there to gauge the situation. Despite his inexperience, he wore an unusually serious expression.
…After speaking to the gatekeeper beastman, it seemed that there was a prior notice, and they were quickly led into the castle.
Passing through the castle gates, they waited in the grand hall for a while—
“Oh, you’ve come.”
The voice of the Demon Prince.
Not only the injured but also Tafuman and Mycin, the attendants, widened their eyes.
The Demon Prince approached briskly, dressed in tattered clothing, covered head-to-toe in blue blood.
“Oh, this? I was just training a moment ago.”
Zilbagias smiled while raking back his hair, matted with sweat and blood. The blood was undeniably that of the Demon Race—however, against the backdrop of his horrifically torn clothing, he bore not a single visible injury.
Could it be… there truly exists a miracle that can be used even by the forces of darkness?!
“Woof!”
…A strangely cute yelp echoed.
From across the hall, something scampered toward him.
And—at Zilbagias’s feet, there sat a little “dog.”
“N-no way…!?”
As Tafuman and the others stood there in disbelief at the scene unfolding before them, Mycin leaned back, nearly popping his eyes out in shock.
“No way… she is…!”
Long, pointed ears, a beauty that seemed almost divine, and above all, an overwhelmingly powerful magical aura that felt familiar even to humans…!!
“Is this her?”
The Demon Prince chuckled, patting the “dog’s” head affectionately.
“My pet, the High Elf Liliana.”
However… her limbs were unnaturally short, fixed in place by metal fixtures—despite that tragic state, she tilted her head slightly, sticking her tongue out.
“Woof!”
With a face that looked like she was seeing a new friend, she smiled innocently and barked once.
“—Now then, shall we begin the treatment?”
