Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 260

Chapter 260. The Dreadful Bastard I Respect (1)

"So, you mean to say that His Highness Eulsis intends to resurrect the Demon God in this land with the Demon God's horn?"

Yes.

When I nodded at Uruhar's question, he frowned.

"What nonsense."

As expected, I knew he wouldn't believe it.

No one would think that the 4th prince wishes for the 'empire's downfall' by summoning the Demon God.

'Especially the players.'

Eulsis was just a character like an isolated island that didn't affect the story at all. It had never occurred to me that his survival would come back like a boomerang.

'... That's why it's even harder to persuade.'

I stared at Uruhar absentmindedly.

Just collecting the Demon God's horns could serve as proof, but most people wouldn't think Eulsis is someone who would do such a thing.

More precisely, they would feel he doesn't have the guts for it.

"It seems Abigail is using the emperor as her front to deal with external matters."

I can't persuade him. But I realized there's no need to insist on 'convincing' him.

I merely need to plant a seed of doubt for him to discover on his own.

"The horns brought by the emperor."

I extended my fingers. Excluding the Demon God's horn I currently have, I held up three fingers to indicate the remaining three horns.

"The three horns currently held by the imperial family. Uruhar, do you know where they are?"

"Don't tell me you're asking for their location?"

"The Heavenly Reverence Vault, which only royalty can access. Surely you don't think the horns are there, do you?"

At my words, Uruhar flinched.

"How naive. If you truly thought they were there, that's nothing but naivety."

"They were originally preserved there. Are you saying now that the Demon God's horns are not enshrined there?"

"They were, but Eulsis took them."

Impossible.

With that expression, Uruhar clicked his tongue.

"Why don't you ask the manager if you're curious? Chamber 1-3 of the Heavenly Reverence Vault, that's where the Demon God's horns are lying."

"Wait, how do you know that!?"

There are no players from 《Kill the Demon King》 who knew all the contents of the Heavenly Reverence Vault, but we are generally aware of this fact.

In Chamber 1-3, there lies something unknown.

Although it remained an Easter egg, it was easily presumed that it was the place where the 'Demon God's horns' were stored given the circumstances.

"If you want to know, there are ways to find out."

Of course, I couldn't be detailed, so I glossed over it roughly.

"We'll have to talk later about what cooperation entails."

As I was continuing, I saw a torch flickering in the distance, piercing the darkness.

It seemed like the troops Uruhar called were approaching.

"... See for yourself. If there's no Demon God's horn where it should be, who took it and for what purpose?"

And also.

"Find out with your own eyes who is violating the empire's rules."

"Hold on! If things go as you say, then what will...!"

"I'll send someone."

"Someone...?"

Why is this guy so curious!

Looking at the torch that was getting closer, I hurriedly pushed off the tree and began climbing upwards.

After that, I left the place brilliantly under the moonlight.

Or so I hoped, but I only peered down from the tree, as quiet as a mouse.

"... Running away like that is impossible."

I've never tried such moonlit acrobatics, so I'm not confident.

Of course, my physical abilities were impressive enough to make it possible.

'... The question is whether the branches can hold me.'

To recruit Uruhar, I have to use his respect for the Black Knight.

'Falling would be quite disgraceful.'

With that in mind, I decided to wait. Until they leave.

***

Uruhar, having heard the absurd claim that Eulsis, the 4th prince of the empire, intends to resurrect the Demon God, recalled the conversation with the 'Black Knight'.

The 'Demon God's horns' should be in the 'Heavenly Reverence Vault' now, but allegedly, 'Eulsis' had taken them away.

"It's a lie."

Uruhar constantly thought to himself. That it's a lie.

Nevertheless, his steps were leading him to the 'Heavenly Reverence Vault.' Emblazoned in gold and black, symbolizing royalty, the Heavenly Reverence Vault was where a manager met Uruhar at its entrance.

"How is it that an Imperial Knight has business here?"

"I would like to check the contents of the safe. To verify if everything in Chamber 1-3 is as it's supposed to be."

"Hmm..."

The manager frowned a bit, then asked Uruhar.

"Even if you're an Imperial Knight, you cannot access the Heavenly Reverence Vault's contents."

"Here is the seal."

Uruhar took out and showed the 'Emperor's Seal' from his sleeve.

More precisely, it was the 'Emperor's seal' that was issued to retrieve the 'Demon God's horn' once held by 'Flugel'.

Originally, it should have been returned to the Emperor, but now that the Emperor had collapsed, no one was there to take back this seal.

'Is this really okay...?'

Uruhar wondered. Was it right to use the Emperor's seal so thoughtlessly?

Though he respected and trusted the 'Black Knight', Uruhar also held trust in the 'royalty'.

He believed Eulsis was not someone who would commit such an act.

"Indeed."

Uruhar made up his mind.

'If there are no issues, I'll face consequences for my actions.'

This was merely affirming his 'faith'.

"Ah, this is indeed His Majesty's seal. Understood, Sir Uruhar, please follow me."

After checking the seal Uruhar showed, the manager began to walk ahead.

The place they arrived at was a vault marked as 1-3. Upon opening the door, with stringent protective spells in place, they found...

"... There's nothing here, is there?"

No items were inside.

"Hmm, didn't you already know?"

The manager stroked his beard, exhibiting curiosity at Uruhar's shocked tone.

If he claimed ignorance now, it was clear the manager would become suspicious.

Bringing the 'Emperor's seal' implies knowing about the items stored in Chamber 1-3. Given such, this reaction bespoke volumes.

'If spoken wrong here, it could become a problem.'

Uruhar pondered. However, the time for pondering was short.

"I know that the Demon God's horns were kept here. What mystifies me is why they are absent."

Opted for the straightforward approach.

Hearing Uruhar's words, the suspicion that lingered on the manager's face eased somewhat.

"I see you were aware. Hmm..."

The manager's reaction confirmed it.

"The Demon God's horns were indeed here."

The Black Knight's claim was accurate.

'But how did the Black Knight...'

Though curiosity piqued, there was something else that needed clarification first.

"Who removed the Demon God's horns that were here?"

"The retrieval records are not something even a Imperial...."

"It's an imperial order."

Once more showing the Emperor's seal, Uruhar insisted, creating a troubled expression on the manager's face.

"According to the records, it was retrieved by His Highness Eulsis...."

Upon hearing the name Eulsis, Uruhar's mind reeled into confusion.

***

In the Adratan Empire, the knights had an odd event they partook.

The 'Knightly Review' presided over by the Empereror Adratan.

With profound understanding and appreciation of martial prowess acquired during the 'Conquest Wars,' the Emperor made it mandatory to hold this review once a year, gathering all knights to inspect them himself.

"Due to the fall of His Majesty the Empereror Adratan, the review this time will be conducted by the 2nd prince, his Highness Osborne, I heard."

"Then it'll be a bit less strict."

"True, given His Highness Osborne's interest in martial arts.... Kuheum."

Engaged in idle chatter, the knights fell silent upon the arrival of Uruhar.

Even as Imperial Knights, Uruhar participated in the 'Knightly Review'. Despite being directly affiliated with the imperial court, it was an inevitable part of bearing the title of 'knight'.

Only those in the midst of an assignment were exempt.

'... What scheme could His Highness Eulsis be plotting with the Demon God's horns?'

Midway through the ongoing review, Uruhar found himself constantly reflecting on the events at the Heavenly Reverence Vault.

'What could be so enticing to warrant resurrecting the Demon God?'

Should the calamity known as the 'Demon God' recur in the Rozen Continent, it was evident that the continent would become desolate as in the past.

Especially if something were to happen in the capital, the inevitable demise of the empire was clear.

What is he aiming to gain even if through such means, Uruhar pondered.

'... Does he wish for the empire's downfall itself?'

Eulsis, as the 4th prince.

As the child of a concubine, though he hadn't witnessed firsthand what treatment he received, he had heard through rumors.

Needles hidden in his meals by the orders of the empress.

Deliberate loud noises during his rest.

Pig's blood in his bathwater.

It was whispered that such base acts were inflicted repeatedly, unbefitting of the so-called 'noble blood'.

If that could be a reason, then the direction is misguided.

While he was engrossed in such thoughts, someone spoke beside him.

"It has been a while, Sir Uruhar. May I sit here?"

A voice called out from right next to him. Upon turning and recognizing the face, Uruhar nearly frowned.

"Yulian..."

The voice belonged to Yulian.

Despite half a year having passed since their coincidental encounter, it felt as though no time had progressed.

With a smiling face masking his true thoughts, he approached Uruhar.

"There's no need to ask me, is there? 'Blind Eyes' is directly under the imperial court. This spot is reserved purely for the 'royalty's entourage."

"Indeed. I suppose it has nothing to do with your capabilities."

A chuckle resounded in Uruhar's ears.

An ongoing rivalry from the days at the Bayer Academy.

Moreover, the misdeeds committed to enter 'Blind Eyes'.

These memories began to stir in his mind, so Uruhar shook his head in an effort to calm down.

'By the way, what did the Black Knight mean by sending someone?'

If analyzed.

It implied, upon fully understanding that His Highness Eulsis was the one who retrieved all the Demon God's horns, he would send someone.

'I found out at the Heavenly Reverence Vault that His Highness Eulsis took the horns.'

Then, how would the 'Black Knight' know this and decide whom to send?

'But before that, the person sent by the Black Knight.'

Uruhar harbored a bit of expectation.

He was someone sent by the Black Knight.

Noble as the night.

Lonely as the rising moon.

A man who moves through the capital, masking his ideals with a facade.

In order to safeguard such near-mythical secrets, undoubtedly he'd send someone he most 'trusts.'

"Have you sorted your thoughts?"

The path laid by the 'Black Knight' was purely for the 'empire'. Believing that every action bore grandeur, the moment he thought this, Yulian once again spoke.

"What's to think about."

With a slight frown, Uruhar responded, to which Yulian, without diverting his gaze from the vast arena where the review was underway, responded.

"What else, you returned from the Heavenly Reverence Vault, didn't you?"