And Then There Weren’t None

January 21, 2022Zathael

“So what happened after that”

It’s the morning after the Meeting of the Ten Greats and Chloe has come over.

“As the attendees rose to their feet, Takumi-san alone calmly remained in his seat and boldly proclaimed thus.
The likes of you all can be defeated as I remain seated with a single fingertip”
“As expected of the king of us dragons!”

Reia’s story is getting exaggerated.
I no longer have the energy to retort.
Also I’m not the Dragon King.
However, I did well to make it through that chaotic situation.
For a moment my legs had given out and I was stuck in my seat unable to move.

“Let’s not fight here”

I wonder how relieved I was to hear those words from Chairman Barbaroy.
Perhaps he said that out of caution for me.

“In exactly one month is the guild’s martial arts tournament.
Each side will put forth several representatives and the losing side will have to listen to any one thing from the victors”

The Guild’s Great Martial Tournament.

I have bad memories of that tournament in the past due to Nuruhachi forcibly making me participate.
I suffered a merciless one round defeat that left me with light trauma.

“What do you mean by any one thing?”
“Anything, like that the guild won’t interfere with you or to never come back here again”

As expected of this old man, he accurately saw through my desires.
But on the other hand if we lose, I may be restrained for the rest of my life as the Demon Lord.
I look to the members of the round table backing me.
Compared to our opponents I don’t feel we’ll lose.

“What about the number of representatives? Apart from the people here, I have only one more ally to call”

Because I was a loner until recently.
The only other person I can think of is Chloe but if possible I don’t want to ask her.
After all it seems like I’d gradually start becoming their king.

“It doesn’t really matter how many.
If you have the confidence you can always enter by yourself”

Nononono, if anything I want to say that my stomach hurts and not enter at all.
After all, the other side can mobilise the whole guild.
Just thinking about it is scary.

“In that case, the other three members of the Four Heavenly Kings can enter nya”

Beastman King Miacis’ words provided me some relief.
If it’s the Four heavenly Kings, who possess strength equivalent to Miacis who easily repelled Berserker(Mad Warrior) Sacher, then they should be pretty reliable right?

“I see.
I accept that proposal”
“Then it’s decided.
We will relay to you our representatives later”

Barbaroy stands up and turns his back to me.
Perhaps because the remaining five haven’t accepted it, they’re still glaring my direction.

“Give it a rest, to fight against an opponent of unknown strength is the height of folly”

Those words finally convinced the five to leave.

“…..With ease you say.
If you felt like it, I’m sure you could easily deal with us all no?”

Nope, before I deal with all of you just leave already.
Please.

“But don’t look down on the guild, Demon Lord Takumi.
We also have a hidden weapon up our sleeve”
“Is that so, I look forward to it”

Well, I’ll leave the rest of it to you guys and withdraw in the first round.
I swear in my heart.

And so the curtains finally closed on the turbulent Meeting of the Ten Greats.

Reia and Chloe’s conversation was getting more heated and didn’t seem to be ending anytime soon.
Leaving the cave, my eyes meet with Beastman King Miacis who is basking in the sun on top of a large stone.
When she’s behaving herself, she’s like a real cat.
It’s kinda cute.

“Nnya? Did Demon Lord-sama also come here to sunbathe nya?”
“No I haven’t.
More importantly, how long are you going to stay here?”
“Well Demon Lord-sama is kind and the food is good, I’d like live here forever nya”
“Definitely not”

Since all of us who remained ate dinner together last night, Miacis has gotten really attached.
It’s already hard enough with Chiharu and Reia, I can’t add more dependents.

“More importantly there’s something I want to ask.
The Demon Lord’s presence, have you felt it again since that time?”
“Nope, I can’t feel it at all nya.
Even being this close I can only see you as a pathetic weakling, Demon Lord-sama’s ability to conceal their power is amazing nya”

I haven’t been called a pathetic weakling in a while, my eyes are becoming a bit hazy with tears.
But if Miacis felt that presence here then the candidates for Demon Lord will shrink considerably.

The Guild’s Great Martial Tournament in one month.
If I can find the true Demon Lord by then, I will be acquitted and the case can be solved without needing to participate in the tournament.

The Demon Lord candidates are the meeting’s twelve members.
The six that left and six that remain.
Which side has the Demon lord I wonder.

“Oi, damn cat.
Don’t think you’ve won because of that”

Slightly further away, Berserker(Mad Warrior) Sacher was doing practice swings with his greatsword.
Why didn’t you leave as well…..

“When I rampage, I can demonstrate over ten times more strength.
That time I showed you only a glimpse of my true ability.
In the Great Martial Tournament I’ll be the one to beat you to a pulp alright”
“Yes yes, I understand nya.
If you like I can be your opponent right now nya”
“…..N- Nah, I want to defeat you on a large stage so let’s not for now.
I- It’s definitely not because I’m frightened okay”

Sacher swings his sword wildly to gloss over the issue.
I don’t think he’s the Demon Lord but there is the chance he’s pretending to be weak.
For the time being I’ll be vigilant.
But it’s probably not.

“Ah, that’s right.
Demon Lord-san.
I want to eat something greasy for dinner so prepare some meat.
Fat is necessary for Mad Warriors.
Also I want my rice to be piled up high to begin with.
Asking for seconds every time is a pain”

Do you also plan to stay.
At the round table near the entrance, the Goblin King and Rick are playing a game from the east known as shogi.
Could it be that everyone intends to stay here for the whole month?
That’s not good.
Before the issue of whether they’re the Demon Lord or not, my food reserves will not last.
I won’t be able to survive the winter.

While I was thinking, a messenger bart flies before me and leaves a black envelope like last time.

“Could it be that the other side has decided on their representatives already?”

Panicked I break the seal and look inside.
Just as I thought, the representatives name was written inside.

“Aahh!”

Sacher, who was peeking from behind, raises a loud voice.

“My name isn’t included!”

Yeah, I don’t care.

More importantly, I can’t believe who is on the guild’s side as a representative.

Alice.

Without a doubt those five letters are etched there.

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