7th Demon Prince Jilbagias’ Chronicle of Demon Kingdom Toppling - Chapter 97: Hidden Ambition

９７． Hidden Ambition

「――Welcome, His Highness Demon Prince.」

A person wearing a deep hood bowed before me.

It was Claire.

The appointed day of the necromancy lesson. She made an appearance in the residential area. Her saucy attitude softened a lot compared to before, she acted like your usual employee.

Well, Claire didn’t have peerage in the Demon Kingdom.

She was nothing more than Enma’s apprentice, Lich’s apprentice, nor did she have military achievement. She only did something like field exercises such as exterminating the goblin deserter like me.

『That will make my death worth it!』

Though the person herself killed the goblin in the cruelest possible way, desk work didn’t seem to be her calling…

We were heading toward the base of the undead followed by Sofia who acted as my escort like usual.

「…」

Different from Enma, Claire who had no peerage couldn’t just speak indiscreetly. That’s why she couldn’t talk carelessly in a public place such as the residential area of the demon race.

I recalled my conversation with Lyla a few days ago as I looked at the robe of our quiet guide――

†††

『How about becoming a couple with me?』

Lyla’s question almost made me spurt. Alas, I hadn’t expected that she would be at this time.

Rather than emphasizing romantic bonds, it seems as if Lyla was thinking about filling the gap in my heart who just experienced a broken heart.

『???』

And even after I explained to Lyla, she just cocked her head, I guess she still had no idea what I was talking about.

『I mean, uhm… Some might think something along the lines of pretending to fall in love with me, becoming intimate with me, and then stabbing me in the back when I let my guard down!』

Lyla was really surprised after she heard my reply.

『There’s… No way I can do that…』

『 Unbelievable…』 And muttered as she covered her mouth.

… She hadn’t actually been affected by the Dark Dragon’s bad personality. Lyla might have suffered for years under the oppression of the Dark Dragon and yet, even that suffering didn’t affect her kind and gentle demeanor.

She was akin to a beautiful flower blooming in the middle of mud…

I had to protect her from now on.

I was aware that she was trying to become more independent.

『――But, it’s not a bad idea.』

Nevertheless, I couldn’t just keep denying her daring side. It was a welcome change from my perspective.

『Regarding romantic feelings, we… Have to put on an even bigger show of affection than when I was releasing Liliana. Despite my status among the demon race, they’re more than prepared to meddle in my affairs at any given moment.』

It wasn’t a bad idea to complement our relationship.

『But the first thing we have to do is to consolidate our plan to make sure that you gained Platy’s trust and make her believe that you’re not going to betray me.』

『Uhm… That’s a tall order.』

Lyla nodded as if realizing the difficulties of her problem. Well, there was no need to go that far… If she wished, Lyla could do it.

『My apologies for being useless…』

『That can’t be true!』

I spoke hastily upon seeing the disheartened Lyla.

『In fact, having you, someone who I can be honest with is already a really great help for me. And you have my gratitude for that.』

Lyla expressed a fleeting smile upon hearing my heartfelt gratitude.

『… And I’m not?』

Ante was pouting inside for some reason. I could already imagine her pouty face.

――Well, I don’t mean that you’re not. I mean… Look, we’re literally one body and soul, though you’re a trespasser in this case. What I mean is, I’m thinking of you as part of m—

『KAAH! What is this less-than-half-a-century-old pipsqueak talking about? And still less than half a century even if you add your previous life by the way.』

It seems she was sulking. There there, I’ll pat your head later.

『MUKIIIIIIIIIII!』

Oi, don’t kick my so–Ubh!

『…? Hello…?』

『Ah, my bad, don’t worry about this.』

The Demon God in me was just throwing a tantrum right now…

『Anyhow… Our persuasion might work if I say that the reason I have a relationship as a man and woman with you is to recruit the dragons to my side.』

And for that…

――I need to recover from the love-at first sight syndrome.

Yes, it was thanks to Lyla that it felt like a ton of weight was lifted from my shoulders alas.

I still couldn’t find any solution for Claire’s case. Nor did I know if there would be a solution for her case in the future.

Even the so called 『Solution』 is nothing more than――

『Come to think of it… Is it true that you really fell in love at first sight with an undead?』

Asked Lyla timidly.

This was something that I might’ve had a hard time explaining, we were already accomplices, no need to keep her in the dark about this matter.

『Strictly speaking yes, and that person is… Enma’s disciple.』

I replied while smiling wryly at Lyla.

『She… Was a childhood friend of my previous life. She fell to the hand of the Demon King’s army, and seemingly suffered an extremely cruel fate till she died…』

I mean, even after her death, her hatred had only become stronger.

Whether it was a fortune or not.

She managed to catch Enma’s attention――

『…!』

As expected, even Lyla couldn’t hide her shock from such an unexpected plot twist.

But… It suddenly dawned on me.

I noticed that I felt less resistance from myself the moment I could talk about various things to Lyla.

No matter how tragic her end was, I―― Would rather see Claire dead as a human――

Well, could it be that would become the source of her deep-seated hatred for the Demon Race and the Demon King army?

And yet, Why did Claire―― With that strong competitive spirit of hers, agree to work under the Demon King Army――?

Did she… Have a reason to do that?

Yes, she must have her reason.

For Claire to work willingly under the Demon King’s army is just――

Smells like something that would result in a disaster.

「Ha~h, my shoulders are stiff!」

Claire shouted in relief as she took off her robe after we entered the staircase that went all the way down until the bottom.

「Can you even get stiff shoulders with that body?」

I spoke in a teasing manner like usual.

「Geez, Your Highness had no tact at all! Talking about a girl’s body is rude you know!」

Claire flinched away from me while embracing her body forcefully.

「It was just a figure of speech, Hyu~~!」

「I know already, my bad for that.」

I felt a lonely sadness and sadly,I was enjoying this frivolous banter with her.

Sofia was looking dumbfoundedly from the side alas, ignore this, please!

「Hey! I’m looking forward to this. I mean, this is the first time using a high-rank spirit!」

「Eh, even though you have been her apprentice for so long?」

「… We did summon a dragon’s soul in secret. But it can’t be said to be a high rank since their soul had already been in tatters.」

We kept descending the seemingly endless spiral staircase.

「～～～♪」

Claire hummed happily.

I was taken aback. The piece of my lost memories was resurrected. And that piece was―― The folk song passed down for generations in our village.

It was a song that praises and thanks the Gods of Light to express an abundant harvest―― I danced with Claire during the festival―― As we sang this song――

「… Nice song.」

Claire snapped back to reality when I unconsciously muttered those words.

「I will sing again hu~h. Habits from when I was still alive are scary!」

She turned around, and sent a glance at me as if teasing me.

「This is a folk song from my hometown. Is said that this is a song that praises the Gods of Light for the abundant harvest!」

She explained with a giggle.

「Wow, that must be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard, an undead singing praise for the Gods of Light.」

She turned around to the front again.

「――Yet, that Great God never comes to save me no matter how much I pray.」

…

The only thing I saw was her swaying hair and her back as she spoke.

Honestly just imagining what kind of look was on her face right now was enough to scare me…

――Only to get startled a moment later when she suddenly turned around.

Her impish smile. It seems she was waiting to see what kind of face I made right now.

「Aha.」

… This girl’s mischievous attitude became even more polished after you resurrected her, Enma!

We kept going into the deepest part while doing that kind of banter.

「Wait a second, Jil-kun.」

Enma greeted us with an excited look on her face. Today fashion is rather low-key. Maybe because I’ve done observing her… Wait a minute, she wore a new ring. Let’s refer to that later.

Right after entering the hall, everything from profound barrier formation to curses that suppress one’s soul.

Properly speaking… This was the kind of preparation needed to summon a hostile dragon’s soul.

Thus I realized just how careless I was back then by using only a defensive ward and a simple barrier of bone powder.

「You’ve prepared this kind of equipment huh.」

「We need at least this kind of preparation.」

Enma shrugged her shoulders as she replied to me.

「If I’m pushed to say, we have to focus on snatching the thoughts and resistance of the other party. and since the attribute of our target is light, there’s a high possibility of him committing suicide by destroying his own soul――」

And spoke with an extremely wicked yet satisfied smile on her face.

「――That will be good teaching material right?」

I see now, I nodded, feigning my composure.

「Let’s begin, shall we?」

「Roger.」

I adjusted my breath.

I kneaded my magical power of darkness and started chanting the aria.

「【Aorat Teihos Po Horizui――】」

… I had yet to find a solution regarding Claire’s case.

But still.

「【Inirie Ne Woz Fapana――】」

I would destroy the Demon Kingdom for sure.

If she was part of the Demon King Army by then――

「【――Faravugi】」

That would be the end of her.

… A silence filled the entire room.

「【Faravugi】」

That guy wouldn’t appear no matter what

… That was natural I guess.

「Uhm.」

I turned my head, looking really serious.

「It seems his soul has already been annihilated.」

I spoke casually, pretending to be disappointed.

I scanned both of their expressions.

Enma and Claire made a disappointed face――

Someday,I…

Will destroy the undead with my own hands.

Yeah.

Now I’m finally on the same stage.

――I felt that I looked at my own reflection from Claire’s marble-like eyes.

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