Chapter 193 : The Resistance’s secret lair
Our carriage had left Midhaze and was driving south.
That area was a wasteland of nothing but sand, dirt, and rocks.
The scenery in that direction remained unchanged for some time. Once we passed through that wasteland, I could see a town, but considering the speed of our carriage, this trip would take more than a day.
I stuck my face out the window and looked at the other carriage in front of mine.
It was painted black and luxuriously decorated.
The one riding it was Zerceas, the head of the Algart family.
By focusing my Magic Eyes, I could see the interior of that carriage.
There were Zerceas, his two aides, and Ramon on board.
It was probably not by chance that Ramon was placed in that carriage.
As I leisurely gazed at the scenery, I listened in on them.
Before long, Zerceas opened his mouth.
“…He might be useful to us…” (Zerceas)
“Huh…?” Ramon interjected in disarray.
He looked as if he had no idea what Zerceas was talking about.
“I’m talking about Anosh, the boy you brought in. He possesses terrifying talent at such a young age. And the fact that he’s a child works better for us.” (Zerceas)
Zerceas stroked his own white beard.
He spoke as if to say that no matter how powerful I was, since I was a child, he could make me do anything he wanted.
“I-I thought so too. Which is why I brought him to you, Zerceas-sama.” Ramon said in a happy tone.
But I figured he didn’t have the slightest idea about Zerceas’ intentions.
“Let me ask you just one thing.” (Zerceas)
Zerceas flashed his Magic Eyes.
He asked in a threatening manner while emitting particles of magic power from his entire body.
“Is Anosh really your sworn brother?” (Zerceas)
“O… Of course he is, sir… I’m not the sort of man who trusts others so easily, after all. No matter how powerful he is, I’m not the type to entrust my back to anyone other than the people I’ve shared my joys and sorrows with for years.” (Ramon)
He was talking a big game to make a bigger deal of himself than he actually was, but he only came off as pathetic.
Zerceas stared at Ramon in silence.
Simply being the head of the Angart family made him powerful enough to frighten him.
“Then why didn’t you tell me anything?” (Zerceas)
“T… Tell you what, sir…?” (Ramon)
“He’s an individual who can use such formidable spells. You should know how desperate we are for such people right now. So why didn’t you tell me about him until today?” (Zerceas)
“W-Well…” (Ramon)
Ramon was anxious, but he still desperately racked his brain to think of an excuse.
The reason was simply that we had just today, but he couldn’t just tell him that, of course.
“It’s… It’s because he’s my sworn brother, sir.” (Ramon)
mon)
After thinking about it, he somehow managed to squeeze the words out of his mouth.
“No matter how talented he is in magic, Anosh is still a child. I don’t think the Demon King’s army are the sort of enemies we can defeat by facing them head-on, which makes me worried about him…” (Ramon)
“Hmm… You’re right. In order to counter the Demon King’s army in spite of our inferior military forces, we must focus on assassination and espionnage. Not mentioning him because it would be too big a responsibility for a child to bear no matter how powerful he is was the right decision. Ramon, it appears you’re not as stupid as I thought you were.” (Zerceas)
After a moment’s pause, Ramon reacted with a laugh.
“O… Of course!” he replied in a good mood even though none of that ever crossed his mind.
“But is that really the truth?” Zerceas asked, as if to make sure of it.
“T… The honest truth, Zerceas-sama. I have no idea what you’ve been so worried about for the past while, but…” (Ramon)
After thinking for a moment, Zerceas spoke up.
“Very well, then. Since you’re no fool, let me tell you what I think.” (Zerceas)
Ramon nodded with a smile.
He was probably thinking that this was a good opportunity for him to rise from the lowest rank to the top.
“We’re going to gather more comrades by heralding Anosh as the true Demon King of Tyranny. Many of those who left our faction concluded that we had neither great convictions nor unequaled power. But once we have them all, a great number of them will return to us.” (Zerceas)
“I expected no less, Zerceas-sama. This is a great idea. Nonetheless, you mean to take back the title of Demon King from that bastard Anos and reinstate the Royalists, correct?” (Ramon)
Zerceas threw a reproachful glare at him.
“I understand your impatience, but I think you’re being hasty. If you rush things up, they will end in failure.” (Zerceas)
Ramon gulped at Zerceas’ sheer pressure.
“I-I understand, of course. I was merely speaking for the future, sir.” (Ramon)
Zerceas sighed and stroked his beard.
“Which is why it’s essential that I know Anosh’s background. Given how powerful he is, on the off-chance that he’s a spy for the Demon King’s army, our entire plan would fall apart.” (Zerceas)
“Please rest assured. I basically raised Anosh myself, and we’ve known each other since way before that bastard Anos even showed up. He idolizes me and follows my orders to the letter no matter what.” (Ramon)
Ramon probably thought that since I was tied to a <Contract Zekt> stipulating that I would follow his commands, he could get away with a few lies.
From his point of view, this was an opportunity to improve his standing among the Royalists that he couldn’t miss.
If anything, he must’ve thought that if they were going to make Anosh Polticoal the true Demon King of Tyranny, then as the one giving orders to the boy, he would basically be at the top of the food chain.
There was nothing more difficult to handle than an ambitious yet incompetent subordinate.
The question was whether Zerceas could see through his bluff.
“Very well. Ramon, if the plan goes well, I will consider offering you a position as an executive. Let’s keep fighting together to protect the purity of our blood.” (Zerceas)
“Hehe! It will be my utmost pleasure, Zerceas-sama.” (Ramon)
We were enemies, but I have to say that their trust in me was just too cheap and easily earned.
It was hard to imagine that such a bond could ever be used to accomplish anything, but I suppose the Royalists couldn’t afford to expect more nowadays.
Having lost so many comrades after their dissolution, Anosh Polticoal must’ve been a godsend for them. Both Zerceas and Ramon were smiling, as if they could figuratively see the end of the tunnel.
Hmm. Well, I decided to let them dream, if only for a short time. Until they realized what an outrageous plague they brought into the fold, that is.
After that, there was no further conversation between them for a while.
Eventually, our carriages slowed down, and then came to a stop.
The door was opened, then I climbed out to find myself in the middle of the wasteland.
“Do you know where we are, Comrade Anosh?” (Zerceas)
Zerceas was staring at the ground.
When I turned my Magic Eyes in the same direction, I saw man-made cavities under the surface.
They looked quite deep and intricate, and I could feel the magic power of several demons here and there.
“Hmm. Looks like the Royalists are experts at digging holes.” (Anos)
“Hahaha! I can’t deny it.” (Zerceas)
Zerceas drew a magic circle on the earth.
It cracked open as the <Demon Quake Deyas> spell was activated.
Once it was fully open, a huge tunnel appeared.
“Surprised, Anosh? After all, this is the secret lair of the champions of justice.” Ramon announced with a proud look on his face, as if he were showing off a toy.
“Ohh? Interesting.” (Anos)
Zerceas levitated using the <Flight Fless> spell, and went into the tunnel.
I flew up as well and followed him.
“Is this secret lair what you wanted to show me?” (Anos)
“There was that too, but there’s one more interesting thing I want to show you. We have set up our base here not only because it makes for a great hideout, but also for a certain goal.” (Zerceas)
Zerceas descended deeper and deeper, to the bottom of the tunnel.
