NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Cain was horrified. After going through the trouble of dealing with Andromalius and securing the 70th floor, now he was to hand over the Demon King Castle? It was an incomprehensible decision.
What Cain didn’t know was that the credit for defeating Andromalius had already been given to Citri. Even Nahun’s attitude, going this far, was hard for the young Seere to understand.
“Teacher.”
“Yeah?”
“Why are we giving everything to Citri? Aren’t we the ones losing out?”
Though she asked with a pure voice, it was undoubtedly a question that hit the core. Nahun was sincerely impressed by the insight of a mere seven-year-old child.
“That’s a good question.”
“Yes?”
“The reason we’re giving various things to Citri right now is that it’s an investment for the future. And also, it’s because we don’t need it immediately.”
Since he couldn’t understand what she meant by “we don’t need it immediately,” Cain asked her.
“Claiming the Demon King Castle of Andromalius means we have conquered the 70th floor. Handing that over to Her Majesty Citri means we’re giving up the 70th floor, doesn’t it?”
“Officially, yes.”
Officially, yes. After hearing Nahun’s words, Cain realized he must have some sort of strategy and fell silent, deciding to listen to him.
Nahun, pleased with Cain’s attitude, smiled brightly and spoke.
“Officially, Citri is now the lord of the 70th floor. So, who has the responsibility for what happens on the 70th floor, Seere?”
When Nahun asked Seere, she looked at him with wide, sparkling eyes and answered confidently.
“It’s Citri!”
“Still, we have promised to receive half of the territory and half of the assets of the 70th floor. But this is a contract between the unpublicized 71st and 72nd floors.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s say something happens on the territory we received. Who will be publicly responsible for what happens then?”
“Umm… Citri?”
Nahun nodded in agreement at Seere’s somewhat uncertain expression.
“There’s a very slim chance of this happening, but even if we fail to manage the 70th floor and an accident occurs, Citri will bear the responsibility. Likewise, since Citri is the owner of the 70th floor, the defenses between the 70th and 69th floors will also be Citri’s responsibility. Therefore, we won’t need to use the treasury for defense preparations.”
At that moment, Cain seemed to finally grasp Nahun’s intent and couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
“Wait, you had all of this in mind?”
“Did you think I would just hand it over because I’m foolish? I would like to keep everything for myself, but considering future matters, this method is much easier.”
“When you say ‘future matters’…”
“We need to focus on internal affairs for a while. We must pay attention to Seere’s education as well.”
The territory and funds necessary for immediate needs had been sufficiently secured by conquering the 70th floor. With those funds, they had to update the equipment of the aging soldiers and establish routes to continuously secure finances.
They couldn’t rely on Citri’s support funds and the money gained from conquests indefinitely. They needed to create a cycle of money.
‘I do have something in mind, but…’
Whether it would go well was uncertain. While lost in thought, Cain asked Nahun one more thing.
“By the way, Nahun, how are you so sure you can persuade Aaron Raiders?”
“Oh, that.”
It was because it was one of the events in the game. Although it wasn’t a main event that had to occur, one of the many sub-events was that Aaron Raiders betraying Andromalius.
“I was just lucky.”
In Ebel Queen Maker, the event had only a 5% probability of appearing, but perhaps due to it materializing, the conflict between the two was evident in the reports, even appearing sooner than expected.
“Luck, you say.”
“Yes, it was luck.”
Cain nodded, but deep down, he didn’t believe those words. He knew that Nahun was acting with a certain confidence.
‘I thought he was extraordinary from the beginning… he’s remarkably intimidating.’
Cain vowed to himself that he would make sure Nahun never turned his back on Seere’s forces.
“I’ll let Citri know that for a while, he should focus on internal affairs as well. Since he has secured the 70th floor, he must have many tasks at hand and shouldn’t complain.”
“Understood. I will assist with all my heart.”
“Thank you, Cain. Be diligent in the repair work.”
“Ah, yes, understood.”
Holding Seere in his arms, Nahun entered the Demon King Castle, making his way to his office. On the way, he encountered Cecili, who was diligently wiping away the bloodstains, but he pretended not to notice.
Once inside the office, Nahun sat in his chair and placed Seere on his lap.
“Seere.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
“Now that we have put out the urgent fire, we will focus more on your training and lessons from now on. You’ll also have to learn about the work from my side, as the lord here is not me; it is the Demon King Seere von Debata.”
Nahun tapped Seere’s forehead gently with his finger.
“It’s you, after all.”
Seere looked at Nahun with innocent eyes. Seeing the eyes of a child who didn’t know anything, Nahun smiled softly and spoke.
“Was that too difficult to understand?”
“What you teach me is fun, Teacher.”
“Really?”
Seere grabbed both of Nahun’s hands and lifted them high into the air.
“White fluffy likes it too! So I’ll learn everything you teach me!”
“…Is that so?”
Nahun smiled brightly. Although he didn’t show it, he wondered if his teaching methods were incorrect. He felt anxious that Seere might not like what he was teaching.
This world was no longer a game. It wasn’t a simple simulation game where you just press a few buttons and level up. There was a real possibility that his teaching method could be wrong.
Thus, he felt relieved to hear Seere’s words. He felt a sense of fulfillment, knowing that his chosen method wasn’t incorrect. Nahun spoke sincerely.
“Thank you for liking it.”
When Nahun smiled comfortably, Seere beamed back. There was nothing as healing as seeing the pure smile of a cute child.
Nahun spoke with a feeling of all his accumulated fatigue melting away.
“Alright, then let’s deal with the pending tasks.”
“No!”
“Huh?”
Seere swiftly grabbed Nahun’s hand as he was about to pick up the pen. Taken aback by her adorable antics, Nahun stared at her for a moment.
“Cecili always said that you should work hard and then rest!”
It was a saying that the maid Cecili emphasized repeatedly. That adequate labor required adequate rest. Nahun had just returned from the battle on the 70th floor, so Seere thought he needed proper rest.
“Let’s take a nap together!”
“Seere, I don’t really…”
When Nahun tried to decline, Seere puffed up her cheeks. He instinctively felt that if he rejected her further, she would sulk.
‘It can’t be helped.’
It was true he felt a bit tired. Nahun had no choice but to pick Seere up and stood up from the desk.
“Alright, let’s sleep a bit, and then we can go over the work together?”
“Yes!”
“Good, let’s do that.”
Nahun headed to Seere’s bedroom and encountered Rea, the head maid. Rea greeted Seere politely first and then turned to Nahun.
Then Nahun asked her.
“Rea, could you bring a warm cup of tea to Seere’s bedroom?”
“Understood.”
“Oh, and there aren’t any injuries, are there?”
Rea was taken aback by Nahun’s sudden question and raised her head slightly.
“…No, I’m fine.”
Through this conversation, Rea realized that Nahun had already grasped the strength of the entire Demon King Castle and understood that Cain had not handled the attackers alone.
‘His insight… is remarkable.’
Rea bowed her head in greeting and quietly passed by. Seere, curious about Nahun’s sudden question, asked.
“Teacher, did something happen to Rea?”
“Hmm? No, I just asked because I was worried.”
Seeing Seere tilt her head, Nahun chuckled lightly. He entered her bedroom, laying Seere down on a plush bed. He placed the whale stuffed animal he had bought for her next to her head and was about to set down the teddy bear as well.
“I’ll hug it while I sleep.”
“Is that so?”
It seemed she was the kind of child who slept while hugging a teddy bear. After covering her with the blanket, Nahun gently patted her head.
“Sweet dreams.”
“Teacher, sleep with me too!”
“I can sleep just fine on my bed.”
“Eeeh!”
Seere clung to Nahun’s arm, throwing a tiny tantrum. Nahun felt a pang of sympathy seeing her like that.
‘Is she clinging to me because she’s filling in for her father who left early?’
He thought that was quite possible. After the death of the previous Demon King, Nahun was the first person to physically and mentally provide Seere stability and teach her something new.
“Alright, alright. Let’s sleep together.”
“Yes~!”
Seere shifted to make room for him, hugging her white fluffy toy closely. Nahun had no choice but to lie down next to her.
‘I’ll just have to stay until she falls asleep.’
Thinking that, Nahun gently patted Seere’s side through the blanket. Seere seemed excited by the idea of someone sleeping beside her, smiling widely with delight.
Of course, that only lasted for a moment. As she lay comfortably on the soft pillow, warmth enveloping her, her eyelids slowly began to droop. Seere blinked rapidly, then gradually drifted off to sleep.
‘Ugh….’
Nahun felt the same way. It was clear he was fatigued.
‘I’m sleepy….’
Nahun forgot his earlier thought of staying until Seere fell asleep and succumbed to the waves of drowsiness.
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The door of Seere’s bedroom opened quietly with a creak. Rea entered, carrying the tea Nahun had requested. She stepped into the bedroom, and upon seeing the scene before her, she couldn’t help but smile gently as she stepped back.
“They’re sleeping so soundly.”
Seere was sound asleep, clutching a teddy bear in one hand and holding onto Nahun’s sleeve with the other, while Nahun had also fallen into deep sleep beside her.
Rea quietly closed the door and murmured softly.
“May you have sweet dreams.”