NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7
Chapter 7
‘It went more smoothly than I expected.’
In fact, the only thing Nahun knew from the game was that “an event where Citri visits occurs.”
This was because in Ebel Queen Maker, Citri becomes an ally after her visit and helps solve economic issues, but the exact details of how she was persuaded were not described.
So Nahun had been pondering since receiving a letter yesterday. How would he persuade Citri?
It was clear that, as seen in the game, Citri was someone who had to be brought to the allies early on. For both economic and military assistance.
To do this, he needed to persuade her somehow during this visit. The first thing that came to mind for Nahun was his own power.
Nahun gauged his strength based on the memories recalled from possessing this body. And he became convinced.
With this, he could persuade Citri.
He could tempt Citri, who desperately needed to conquer higher tiers.
Luckily, Nahun also had financial authority, so there were sufficient conditions to have a private meeting with Citri. And he put it into practice.
The result was the current situation. Citri was writing something on paper with her own blood.
“I’ve finished the contract.”
“Let’s check it.”
The paper contained the contract between Citri and Nahun.
[ Article 1 – Demon King Citri transfers all troops dispatched in the territory of Demon King Seere von Debata to Seere von Debata. ]
[ Article 2 – Demon King Citri supports the military operating budget for Demon King Seere von Debata. ]
[ Article 3 – Nahun promises all possible assistance to Demon King Citri, not limited to specific areas. ]
[ Article 4 – Demon King Citri shall never act antagonistically toward Demon King Seere von Debata. Demon King Seere von Debata shall never act antagonistically toward Demon King Citri. ]
[ Article 5 – Should the above items be violated, the penalty for breach of contract shall be fulfilled by the lives of the contracting parties. ]
Although it was a short contract consisting of five items, its contents contained everything Nahun desired.
Firstly, through Articles 1 and 2, he would be able to fill the impoverished treasury of the Demon King Castle. One might think that Article 1 would actually increase expenses due to the increased number of personnel to manage, but that’s not the case.
Consider that the costs and compensation that had been taken in for Citri’s surplus troops would disappear. And according to Article 1, it meant that the surplus troops would be absorbed into the regular army of the 72nd floor, meaning that taxes could now be collected from those who became residents of the 72nd floor.
In fact, it was a profit. Moreover, the operating costs for these troops would be covered by the support through Article 2, making it a bargain that left only gains. It was sufficient to satisfy the currently impoverished economy of the Demon King Castle.
In addition, Article 4 guaranteed safety from the closest and most immediate threats. What better contract could there be? Nahun himself thought it was a perfect contract. No losses, only gains.
Citri was not unaware of this either. Nevertheless, the reason she accepted this proposal was solely due to Article 3.
‘Nahun will help Citri both materially and immaterially.’
‘The power he just demonstrated…’
As someone who had once held a high rank of 12, Citri understood this better. If this power was merely “part” of his true strength, then compared to the Citri of that time, she would not fall short at all. Nahun might even overwhelm her.
Because she didn’t know how significant that “part” actually was. It could be half or a quarter, but…
‘If it’s at one-tenth or one-hundredth of his original power…’
It was a gamble worth taking. Citri made a request to Nahun.
“You too, leave your blood seal!”
“Alright.”
Nahun took a dagger and sliced his thumb. Then, with a bang, he stamped the contract. As both Demon King Citri and Nahun’s blood seals were stamped, the seemingly ordinary paper began to shine.
The paper transformed into light and split into two, wrapping around their wrists like bracelets. This was the symbol of their contract.
Nahun smiled lightly. He had worried about how things would go from the start, but since everything unfolded so well, he could smile satisfactorily.
“From now on, I look forward to working with you, Your Majesty Citri.”
“So, how do you plan to fulfill the contract? You know that if you don’t help me, the contract will be immediately voided, right?”
“I’m aware. I have a brilliant method in mind.”
Citri perked up her ears.
“What is it?”
“Your Majesty Citri will become my student.”
A moment of silence passed. Citri looked at Nahun with disbelief, but he gazed back at her as if asking what was strange about it. With a thud, Citri slammed her hands on the table and shouted.
“No, what nonsense is that…!”
Squeak.
Just then, the reception room door opened. Nahun and Citri turned their heads simultaneously and found a delightful child. It was a bonus that Nahun’s expression softened at the sight.
“Teacher!”
“Yes, Seere. You’ve come.”
With little steps, Seere, holding a white rabbit, rushed towards Nahun and glanced at Citri with a somewhat wary eye.
“Seere, you need to greet her. As you know, she is Your Majesty Citri, the ruler of the 71st floor.”
Seeing the hesitant Seere, Nahun whispered to her.
“If you greet her properly, I’ll give you a pudding.”
“…Pudding!”
With Nahun’s support, Seere gathered her courage and stepped shyly in front of Citri. Then, holding the white rabbit tightly, she bowed deeply.
“Hello, Lady Citri.”
“…Yes, little one. It’s been a while. You’ve learned to greet now; have you grown a bit?”
Nahun shot a sharp look at Citri in response to her words.
“What’s that? Why the look?”
“Calling the Demon King an insignificant child, Your Majesty Citri, you may need to relearn your manners.”
“Ugh, I got it! It’s been a while, Lady Seere!”
Seeing Nahun’s satisfied smile and Seere’s bewildered expression, Citri thought.
‘What am I doing…’
If I hadn’t heard that I could regain my true power, I wouldn’t have mingled with people like this. Citri lamented her situation inwardly.
Nahun turned to Seere, who had come back to him.
“Seere, now Lady Citri here will help us.”
“Really?”
“Wait, help with what? It’s only financial support…!”
“Isn’t that helping?”
At Nahun’s words, Citri rolled her eyes. The very word “support” inherently implied assistance. Since Citri did not specifically refute it, Seere bowed once more.
“Thank you, Lady Citri.”
“Oh, no, uh…”
Rubbing her head, Citri sighed and sat back down.
“So tell me again how you plan to assist me, starting with that.”
Clearly! To the insistence of Citri, Nahun answered nonchalantly.
“Didn’t I already tell you?”
“Did you seriously mean that?”
“Then what should I do? It was said that you, Your Majesty Citri, were a mighty Demon King once, but that’s not the case now, is it? You’re just…”
Nahun purposely interrupted his speech with pauses, enunciating clearly.
“Stuck in the lowest tier.”
“T-That’s…”
“Your power and influence are just mediocre.”
“Ugh!”
“You’re just an unremarkable, run-of-the-mill Demon King.”
“Y-You don’t have to say it that harshly!!”
Eventually, Citri exploded, looking like she might cry. However, even seeing her like that, Nahun continued speaking coldly, stating the facts.
“Isn’t it true?”
“……”
“So, in this situation where you cannot regain your power, shouldn’t you at least grow the strength you have?”
“How is that even possible?”
Citri sighed.
“I’ve already reached my peak. My strength is merely sealed for a moment; it’s not completely lost.”
What Citri meant was that although she could only use the power of a low-tier Demon King at the moment, her original strength was that of a top-tier Demon King. So, it meant that for Citri to get stronger, she would have to surpass the peak of her former self.
“I don’t want to brag, but I was pretty strong originally, you know?”
“Indeed.”
“Wow, you’re admitting that easily. Yeah, that means it’s hard for me to get stronger.”
“That’s not correct.”
“What?”
Nahun spoke with confidence.
“You can still become stronger, Your Majesty.”
“That’s nonsense.”
Citri dismissed it as nonsense. And while looking at Nahun for a moment, she was startled. Contrary to her expectations, Nahun maintained a seriously earnest expression.
“…You’re lying.”
“If you think it’s a lie, then there’s nothing I can do, but I’m serious.”
Citri thought it was unbelievable, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but recall Nahun’s power, which she had just seen moments ago, making his words a bit credible.
And Nahun was confident. Because Citri, she was a character who, after the early event, became a reliable ally of the protagonist throughout the game.
There is indeed a route where she dies abruptly, but in most routes, she stays until the end, helping Seere and the player.
While doing so, she grows stronger and regains her sealed powers. Nahun was confident because he knew this fact well.
‘No matter what, she would become stronger.’
Thinking that way, Nahun said to Citri.
“For now, you need to fulfill the contract obligations, so let’s return to the 71st floor today. You’ll go back, follow the contract faithfully, and you can visit when you have the time later.”
“What? I should come?”
“Then should I go to you?”
It was absurd. How could she, as a Demon King, be ordered around?
Citri, annoyed, raised her voice in frustration.
“Of course, you should come!!”
“If I had nothing to do, I would have done that, but I’m Seere’s teacher, you see.”
Nahun smiled at Seere and asked.
“Seere, would it be alright if I went to Your Majesty Citri?”
“Huh?”
Seere thought that she wanted Nahun, who had finally become her proper teacher, to always stay by her side. Moreover, Nahun often brought her pudding and gifted her dolls – he was a truly kind person.
Combined with the stubbornness that children often have, Seere absolutely did not want to let Nahun go. She tightly held Nahun’s hand with her little hands.
“No! Teacher is my teacher!”
Nuh-uh.
Seere pouted her cheeks and shook her head, refusing. Seeing her adorable tantrum, Nahun chuckled and looked at Citri.
“Well, it seems there’s no helping it.”
“…Sigh, fine. Should I come once a week?”
“If that satisfies you, then that works.”
“What does that mean?”
Citri let out a small laugh.
“Are you implying that I’d be desperate to meet you or something?”
“Well, who knows.”
Nahun extended his hand and gently patted Seere’s head. Then he flashed his characteristic confident smile.
“You’ll find out if you wait and see.”