NOVEL NEXT Chapter 66
Chapter 66
“Hmm.”
Nahun was in the human realm. As soon as he crossed the portal, he found someone waiting alone in the forest.
Originally, he wondered if Seere would follow him, but for some reason, she shook her head.
“I have to attend a liberal arts class, and there’s still much work to do. I want to go, but please go alone this time, Teacher.”
So Nahun was able to come alone. In fact, he found this much more comfortable and pleasant. Not having to pay attention to others and being able to act freely was a relief.
It could be said that he was given true free time after a long while.
However, he still had to meet someone, so he decided to do that first and then enjoy his long-awaited freedom. Nahun cast his gaze through the trees, and there appeared a woman.
“Nahun!”
It was Eri. Unlike Dein, who had stayed in the human realm, he had asked Eri to help him obtain an identity to use in the territory of the Northern Alliance.
“Did you get it, Eri?”
“Yes, here!”
Nahun looked at the identification card that Eri handed over and frowned slightly.
“Eri, this…”
The problem lay with what was written on the identification card. The gender was listed as male, the status was that of a commoner and an adult, but…
“…62 years old?”
The age indicated he was elderly. While Nahun’s age as a great demon was undoubtedly much greater, he didn’t care since age held no significant meaning for him.
However, the appearance of humans changed with age. At 62 years old, he should look like an undeniable old man, and there was no way to disguise his youthful face that resembled a man in his twenties.
“I-I’m sorry! It was the only one I could find. The Holy Kingdom has become strict about identity management recently…”
“Hmm?”
Nahun tilted his head, realizing the reason and nodded.
“It’s because of what we did the last time.”
“It seems so… but, Nahun!”
“What is it?”
“I don’t think the age of 62 will matter!”
Nahun furrowed his brows at Eri’s statement.
“What do you mean by that?”
With a look that seemed to ask if he appeared like an old man, Eri shook her head vigorously.
“That’s not it! You can say I’m a half-elf!”
“Ah.”
Half-elf. This term referred to the race born from the union of elves, one of the demi-humans that exist in the human realm, and humans. This race, influenced by elves, has a very long lifespan and does not age.
Thus, having the appearance of someone in their twenties at the age of 62 was not a problem. Unlike elves who lived secluded in forests, half-elves could be found wandering through cities, so it would not be strange.
“Alright, that’s not a bad idea.”
“Haha… is it okay?”
“Just try to find something a little more appropriate next time.”
“Yes…”
Nahun stored the identification card in his pocket and looked at Eri. Eri met his gaze briefly before asking in a slightly anxious voice.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No, it’s not like that. Dein was just worried about you.”
“Pardon?”
“Dein was really concerned. Since you are alone in the human realm, he was uneasy.”
Eri gasped and scratched her cheek in a slightly embarrassed manner.
“Ahaha… I’ve actually caused a bit of worry for Dein and Luke… my friends. I was frail when I was younger…”
“I see.”
“Yes. I think that’s why Dein is anxious about leaving me alone.”
Eri tightened her grip on her staff as she spoke.
“But now I can handle things on my own! I’m successfully fulfilling your commands, Nahun!”
“That’s true.”
“Dein worries too much.”
Eri laughed lightly. Nahun watched her for a moment before giving her honest advice.
“Eri.”
“Yes?”
“Be nice to Dein.”
“Ah, okay.”
Seeing Eri respond without any particular thoughts, Nahun shook his head slightly. It seemed that the feelings were one-sided.
‘Dein is in for a tough time.’
Before leaving, Nahun finally asked Eri.
“Were there any unusual matters after submitting the report?”
“Ah, there’s one thing.”
“What is it?”
“The war will end soon.”
Nahun widened his eyes slightly.
“Who won?”
“From what I hear, it looks like the Bismarck Empire will win. The voices of opposition to the war have grown within the Northern Alliance… and they proposed a ceasefire agreement to the Empire.”
“…I see.”
Fortunately, the outcome of this war did not differ from the game. Now, the Northern Alliance would enter into an unfavorable treaty, naturally distancing themselves from hegemony, and the Empire would rise as the most significant power among the three factions.
“Then the Northern Alliance must be in considerable turmoil now.”
“That seems likely. I can’t say for sure since I haven’t been there…”
“Alright, understood. Any other information?”
“No, nothing worth mentioning beyond this.”
Nahun lightly nodded. Once the war in the human realm ended, it would be necessary to change how to deal with matters here a little. The point at which the war between the Northern Alliance and the Bismarck Empire would end was…
‘The hero will appear.’
It was the time when the second hero, the hero of the bow, would begin to appear. Initially, the hero of the sword, who should have appeared long ago, was dead, so the hero of the bow would take on the role of the first hero.
‘As the first hero, it may be possible for them to become stronger than what appeared in the game.’
The first hero being strong was a well-known principle in all Demon King hero stories. Originally, Luke would have taken that place, but it wasn’t so at this moment…
“Eri.”
“Yes?”
“From now on, cross over to the Bismarck Empire and continue your intelligence activities. As an adventurer, you shouldn’t have any problems crossing over.”
“Ah, yes! I’ll do as you say!”
“Go on. I also need to take my leave.”
“Yes, please be careful.”
Eri bowed her head and then ran off into the forest. Nahun briefly gazed toward where she had vanished before he moved towards his own destination.
#
Nahun’s destination was one of the seven castles that formed the Northern Alliance, ‘Dorhon Castle.’ There was no other reason besides the fact that this was the castle closest to the Kalt Mountain Range, the northernmost point of the continent.
Having heard the news that the Northern Alliance was the first to propose a ceasefire in the war, he had stopped by to assess the atmosphere here.
‘As expected, everyone seems to be in a bad mood.’
The entire city within the castle was filled with a gloomy atmosphere. People were quiet, and even the merchants lacked energy, engaging in their calls very quietly.
This indicated that the shock of defeat in the war had reached the average citizen. And wherever chaos arises, there are bound to be issues.
“Give it back!”
“Are you not letting go!?”
“I need it…!”
In a dimly lit alley where sunlight hardly reached, a young girl was clinging to a sturdy man’s leg, pleading. The man was holding a square paper bag in his hand.
At first, Nahun thought the man was stealing from the girl. But upon hearing the man’s voice, he realized it was a misunderstanding.
“Why would I give back what you stole!”
Upon hearing that it was stolen, Nahun felt a mix of disbelief. If even such a child had to resort to stealing bread… he could roughly gauge how dire the finances of this castle had become.
“I haven’t eaten for days…!!”
“Still, no! Do you think it’s easy for me to live? If you pay the proper price, I’ll give you as much as you want… now let go of this! I need to get back to selling!”
“Please give it back to me!!”
He could have just passed by, but this caught his attention. Sighing softly, Nahun approached them.
“How much?”
“Who the hell are you?”
“I mean, I’ll pay for it.”
As he said this, Nahun handed a silver coin to the man, who looked astonished.
“B-But, this is only enough for ten or so breads. I can’t sell bread and receive a silver coin!”
When Nahun threw the coin, the man seemed to realize he was dealing with someone high-status, and his tone became respectful. Nahun did not mock the man for his sudden change in attitude; it was a perfectly normal reaction.
“I know. Since this is all I have right now, just take it.”
“Ah…”
After a moment’s hesitation, the man handed the bag of bread to Nahun, took the coin, bowed his head in thanks, and disappeared down the alley.
Nahun looked down at the bread bag. It was the same girl who had been clinging to the baker’s leg just moments ago. Her gaze was fixed on the bread bag.
Nahun first took out a piece of bread from the bag and handed it to the girl. She quickly accepted it and began to gobble it down. Watching her, Nahun asked.
“What about you?”
“…What?”
The girl, gazing up at him with golden eyes, seemed to narrow them.
“Why is a child of the Moon’s bloodline pretending to be human here?”
“…!!”
“It seems true that you are young, but…”
With hair that seemed to contain the moonlight of the surface and eyes that shone with a reddish-pink hue, she exhibited characteristics unique to vampires, a race that Nahun was seeking.
While not all vampires had these specific attributes, the combination of pale hair and pink eyes was unique among demon races.
Nahun realized this upon seeing her up close, as he wouldn’t have recognized it from a distance. This girl was indeed a child of the Moon, a member of the vampire race.
“Hasn’t your bloodline taken care of you lately?”
“W-Well…”
“Hmm?”
The girl, pausing her eating, looked up at Nahun with a pleading expression.
“I-I can give you this in exchange if you don’t tell anyone you saw me?”
“Are you planning to steal bread again?”
“Ugh… I-I’ll manage that part myself!”
“Forget it. Just eat all of it. And there’s no reason for you to tell humans that you’re here, so don’t worry.”
“…What?”
The girl blinked in surprise and tilted her head to try and see Nahun’s face, covered by a hood. Nahun warned her.
“Just eat your bread.”
“Y-Yes…!”
As Nahun observed the vampire girl hastily devouring the bread, he thoughtfully pondered why the vampire race would cast away such a young child.
‘They aren’t a race that rejects children.’
In fact, they were likely to welcome them instead. Since they had given up on the Demon King’s rule, it was nearly impossible for them to increase their numbers. While they weren’t reduced to a mere handful, the continued decrease in their population was a fact due to various reasons.
Thus, a child was vital for the future of their race. She was considered a talent who would lead her kind in the next generation.
“What is your name?”
“V-Veronica.”
“Veronica…”
Nahun mulled over the name, his eyes widening as he looked at the girl.
“Veronica?”
“Yes?”
“No way… are you really Veronica?”
“Yes. Do you know me, Mister?”
“Mister?”
“Ah, I-I’m sorry. You’re not a mister, are you?”
“…….”
Nahun relaxed his expression at her quick apology. He then remembered the name Veronica and thought.
‘I didn’t expect that Veronica would be living like a beggar in such a place.’
Veronica was one of the ‘Lords’ leading the vampire race in the Ebel Queen Maker. Her name carried the title of the great ‘Princess of the Moon,’ a mark of nobility among her kind.
In the Ebel Queen Maker, one could use a build that attracted minority races only after overcoming at least the 35th floor. So, while Veronica would appear as the vampire lord at that time, it was still quite a while until that point now…
“…Is that what brought you to this state?”
“Yes?”
Nahun looked at the girl, who had devoured seven pieces of bread in the meantime.
“Veronica, why are you here alone instead of with your kin?”
“…I was cast out.”
“Cast out?”
The expression on Veronica’s face grew somewhat somber.
“My father and mother did something wrong, and then we were cast out… At first, we were together, but my father protested against that decision and continually visited our kin’s land, but he eventually left. My mother fell ill after hearing that news and passed away. Now, I’m all alone.”
“…Hmm.”
Nahun had not expected such backstory, and he propped up his chin lightly.
‘So how did Veronica become a lord in the original story?’
The child of a criminal couldn’t rise to the lordship.
‘The chances are high that their crimes aren’t true.’
It was likely that they had been misunderstood, resulting in the family being cast out. That misunderstanding could have been resolved later, allowing Veronica to return to her kind.
“Veronica.”
“I’m really thankful for the bread you’ve given me…”
“Hmm?”
“It feels awkward to be called so familiarly. We just met…”
“…….”
Nahun felt a bit bemused. For a moment, he contemplated withholding the remaining three pieces of bread from her.
“Who am I being thought of as a strange person?”
“Ah, that’s not it.”
“I called you to ask something. If calling you by name makes you uncomfortable, I’ll stop. What should I call you?”
“…Just call me by name.”
Nahun, unsure which tune to follow, found himself reflecting on how mature Seere had been when she was that age.
He asked Veronica, “Don’t you want to return to your kin?”
“…I don’t want to go back. They ruined my family. Even if I did go back, I would only be pointed at as the child of a criminal. I’d rather endure this hunger than live uncomfortably in such a place.”
Nahun found this surprisingly insightful. Except for a few odd remarks, her thoughts were quite profound. She seemed clearly aware of the predicament she would face if she returned immediately.
This made things easier for Nahun. He had initially intended to buy her bread and leave, but knowing that she was that Veronica, he felt he couldn’t do that.
“Then, follow me.”
“I-I don’t really like that kind of thing. It’s better to get to know another kid…”
“It’s not like that.”
Nahun sighed as he placed a hand to his forehead, thinking of where she might have learned such ideas.
“Let’s go to the Demon World with me.”
“W-What? The Demon World?”
Nahun nodded and explained.
“I am Nahun, the teacher of Seere von Debata, the lord of the fifth floor.”
“Y-You’re the teacher of the Demon King!?”
“Speak quietly…”
His voice was at a level that wouldn’t draw suspicion.
‘How can someone who said they went days without food have such vocal strength…’
Nahun proposed a tempting offer to Veronica.
“If you follow me, I will provide you with a comfortable place to sleep and warm meals. In return, you must pledge your loyalty to Seere von Debata and me. You must also do as you are told.”
“…You mean to take me as your subordinate?”
“Correct.”
“Why…? I’m just a child!!?? Is there really no other intention…?”
“Don’t keep dragging this to a strange direction.”
As Nahun decisively stated, Veronica closed her mouth and nodded her head. He then asked the now quiet Veronica one last question and extended his hand.
“Will you come with me, or will you continue your life of starvation here?”
While it was his final question, in truth, Nahun was inwardly wishing for her to take his hand.
Veronica appearing as a lord in the original story meant that she would naturally grow well and return to her clan even if left alone.
Nahun intended to involve her beforehand and turn her into an excellent soldier for Seere. So if she declined here, it would be a loss solely for Nahun.
Veronica briefly glanced at Nahun’s eyes, then looked down at his hand. Thankfully, she cautiously reached out her own hand.
“I-I’ll go. You will really provide delicious and warm food, right?”
“…Of course.”
“And blood too?”
“As long as there’s some, that’s fine. You don’t have to worry about that.”
The vampire race, like other demon races, had the same basic staple foods. However, akin to their name, they needed to drink blood periodically to maintain their life.
“By the way, how have you been resolving your blood needs until now?”
“I’ve been catching mosquitoes.”
“…?”
“I’ve been catching and eating mosquitoes that I sucked blood from.”
“Oh dear…”
Nahun felt a wave of pity for Veronica rapidly.
#
“…What is this?”
Seere, who had been asleep, awoke feeling an inexplicable discomfort. Suddenly, her gaze fell on the white whale plushie she had set beside her.
“Teacher…”
Suddenly a sense of unease concerning Nahun surged within her.
He wouldn’t have brought back something weird, would he?
Like a girl…
Having already taken in two humans, she felt even more anxious. Seere stared at her whale plushie for a moment, then wrapped both it and the white whale she had placed at the head of her bed tightly in her arms.
Squinting slightly, she muttered to herself.
“…I won’t allow concubines.”