Between Negotiation and Plunder (1)
"Um, so, you see? You're not really planning to just gloss over the achievements I made with mere praise, are you?"
"...Huh?"
Flinch?!
The king's dumpling mustache twitched involuntarily.
At the same time, the king sensed it.
The truly warm air that had surrounded them.
The atmosphere that had been ever so gentle.
All those soft and pleasant things, with just a single sentence, were blown away like the last leaf caught in a cyclone hurricane.
And the king could see it.
That sly grin, brazenly hanging from Kim Jangcheol's lips now, like he was the ancestor of all swindlers, or perhaps, a devil incarnate!
'Wh-what is this?'
A shiver ran down his spine.
An instinctive sense that something had gone terribly wrong.
Unconsciously, he raised a rebuttal.
"P-pretending to gloss over things with praise? You think I would do that?"
"Ohhh, surely not, right?"
"O-of course not!"
He nodded without thinking. Only afterward did he realize his mistake. But by then, it was too late.
"As expected. I have always believed in Your Majesty's benevolent rule and grand vision."
"R-really...?"
"Absolutely."
"No, wait, that's not how it seemed."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"The look in your eyes just now, and the expression on your face... It was practically radiating deep suspicion and doubt toward me, wasn't it...?"
"Oh my, how could I possibly be so rude? Oh dear, that's simply impossible. Ohhh, that would be a grave matter indeed."
"......"
Yes, a grave matter indeed.
But I saw it, you know?
Really, truly, without a doubt!
The king was tempted to argue with mounting resentment. Yet, for some reason, the words wouldn't leave his lips.
Was it simply because he was at a loss for words?
No.
'Why... don't I find him hateful?'
What he's doing is absolutely irritating.
His face was full of that smug, sly grin.
By all rights, he should scold him with a sharp "Enough!"
And yet... why?
'Even this behavior doesn't seem all that bad?'
Was it because this man had thrown himself into danger to save him?
Or perhaps, there was some unknowable, devilish charm at work?
He wasn't sure.
He couldn't say for certain.
Which only made him more curious, more intrigued.
At the same time, Kim Jangcheol's silver tongue kicked into high gear.
"Well, even though I am of the demon race, the feats I've accomplished are undeniable and will surely be passed down to future generations without being altered or disparaged. That said, it's only natural that I! Would never! Dare to presumptuously climb above Your Majesty or behave thoughtlessly, wouldn't you agree?"
"Y-yes, of course...?"
"Precisely. And so, it is only with utmost caution that I humbly request a small, reasonable, and modest reward from Your Majesty."
"A small... modest reward?"
'Indeed, Your Majesty. Rewarding merit and punishing faults are the foundation of a nation and the cornerstone of governance. Those who err should receive just punishment as an example, and those who achieve greatness should receive just rewards as another example. That alone instills vigilance and ambition in the remaining members of the organization—surely the simplest and most fundamental principle of management. Wouldn't you agree?'
"Y-yes, that's true."
The king had no choice but to nod.
It was certainly a reasonable argument.
Kim Jangcheol's clever speech continued.
"Thus, by receiving such a modest reward from Your Majesty, I too can serve as a model and inspiration to all in the kingdom. And this case, in turn, will someday nurture and foster meritorious vassals far greater and more splendid than myself, becoming a precious seedbed for the future, don't you think?"
"Y-yes, indeed."
Another reasonable argument.
So he had no choice but to nod again.
At the same time, curiosity began to bloom.
"So then, what modest reward do you seek?"
He asked outright.
Kim Jangcheol smiled brightly.
As if he had been waiting forever for that question, like the end of a workday.
"It's nothing much. What I desire is—"
"What do you desire?"
"The scabbard of Camilan."
"...What?"
The king flinched.
He doubted his own ears.
"Camilan's... scabbard?"
"That's correct."
"Sir Kim Jangcheol?"
"Yes?"
"Are you truly aware of what kind of item that scabbard is?"
"Of course."
"You do know it is the royal heirloom, left by the founding ancestor of the royal family?"
"Naturally, I know."
"And yet you wish to receive it?"
"Not as a gift, mind you."
"Then?"
"Just a loan?"
"......"
This bastard... what?
The king stared at Kim Jangcheol, dumbfounded.
When he had asked for a modest reward, he had wondered what it might be. He thought, judging by his previous behavior, perhaps he would simply request some money.
But the scabbard of Camilan? The heirloom the royal family has safeguarded for generations?
It was so outrageous that he couldn't even get angry.
Had the request been merely excessive, he would have been angry.
But this was so far beyond expectations it felt like it had crossed the universe.
Instead of anger, he found himself genuinely curious.
"And since you say it's not a gift but a loan... there must be a purpose behind this request, mustn't there?"
"Exactly."
Kim Jangcheol quietly rejoiced inside.
Then he looked at the king with a slightly different gaze.
'As expected of a king. He's much sharper than he looks.'
The king usually seemed like someone who merely stroked his dumpling mustache and chuckled benignly. But judging a person solely by outward appearances was dangerous—especially with someone like this.
Kim Jangcheol knew this from experience.
'Someone who becomes powerful? That can happen. Anyone can get lucky once or twice. But someone who's remained in power for ten, twenty years? That's never just luck or coincidence.'
Everyone covets high positions.
The competition is that fierce.
And maintaining that position?
No laughing matter.
Anyone who's held onto it for ten, twenty years or more... usually has the necessary reasons and abilities.
Just like the professors he had seen back in university.
"......."
Their personalities were questionable, and they acted like guys who just liked drinking, but when it came to skill, our professors were no joke.
Kim Jangcheol quickly pushed aside the dark(?) memories of those professors that had briefly surfaced.
Then, with a more serious look, he turned to the king.
'The king's no different. This man, even though he looks all round and cute, you can't judge him by that. He's a monster who's smoothly maintained the peak of power in this country for over twenty years.'
He must never underestimate him.
Now was the time to negotiate carefully.
Reaffirming that, Kim Jangcheol moved his tongue smoothly.
"The reason I desire the scabbard of Camilan is so that both Your Majesty and I can benefit."
"You and I both can benefit?"
"That's right."
"Explain a bit more."
The king's eyes grew cautious.
Kim Jangcheol spoke.
"As Your Majesty already knows, I am of the demon race from the abandoned land."
"Indeed."
"And the abandoned land is barren and desolate, so all the demons there wish for development."
"Truly, is that so?"
"Yes. Moreover, Your Majesty has wished to develop the abandoned land to prove the doctrine of the book of perfection, have you not?"
"Yes. That's right. I still do."
"That is why I dare, invoking my achievements, to request the royal treasure, the scabbard of Camilan."
"Hmm, from what you say, it sounds as if the scabbard of Camilan would be of practical help in developing the abandoned land."
"Your guess is exactly correct."
As expected of the king.
Quick-witted.
Kim Jangcheol grinned to himself as he spoke.
"To explain further, it would greatly aid in purifying and neutralizing the toxins abundant in one area of the abandoned land—the Swamp of Decay."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
It was the truth.
Kim Jangcheol searched his memories.
He recalled a piece of information from his days playing the game that made up this world, Paladin of Blood, as it was known.
'Camilan's Old Sword.'
It was a longsword one could farm in the early to mid-game.
Honestly, its performance was just so-so. Not bad, but not great either.
Typically, you'd enhance it once or twice and use it early on, then abandon it once better weapons appeared in the mid-to-late game.
But Kim Jangcheol had paid attention to the sword's name.
'I didn't know back when I only played the game. I only realized after coming to the royal capital here that the name "Camilan" on that old sword was actually the surname of the royal family.'
Thanks to that, he had recalled another piece of information.
It was the brief item description that appeared when you clicked on equipment in the game's inventory.
...That's what it had said.
'Paladin of Blood was never a kind game.'
The difficulty was brutal.
And the way it revealed lore was just as harsh.
It never explained things directly in lengthy detail. Neither the characters nor the quests ever did.
All the information was scattered in fragments. Just like that description attached to Camilan's Old Sword.
'So even when I first got that item, I had to make tons of guesses. Ah, this sword seems mediocre, but if I find the matching scabbard, wouldn't it become a top-tier item? Then where do I get the scabbard? I thought.'
And in the end, he had never found the scabbard.
He had tried every possibility he could think of, but no quests or routes involving royal treasures ever appeared in the game.
'So I eventually forgot about it...'
But the memories had returned when he came here, when he heard the royal family's name.
Still, he hadn't dared to ask for it.
At the time, he wasn't qualified.
He wasn't in any position to make such a request.
But now?
It was a different story!
'Now that I'm openly treated as the king's savior and recognized as a royal meritorious vassal, this is my chance!'
Timing was everything.
And in the current atmosphere?
He could take a shot!
'I can do this. If I pull it off? Jackpot. If Camilan's sword and scabbard unite and unleash their purifying power? Say goodbye to the Swamp of Decay's toxins. That's what will happen.'
Then, the Swamp of Decay would no longer be a toxic mire, but an ordinary wetland. That would make it developable. He could rework the environment and build paddy fields!
...Thump.
Rice farming—the ultimate king of population support per unit area.
Just thinking about it made his heart race, which he hurriedly calmed down before speaking.
"In truth, there is a certain legend passed down in the abandoned land. It says the scabbard bearing the name Camilan possesses the purifying power that can save the abandoned land. It is said that any demon who obtains it must return to their homeland."
"I-is that so?"
"Indeed."
Of course, that was a lie.
Kim Jangcheol shamelessly pressed on.
"And so, I grew up hearing such tales since I was young. I harbored the ambition that if ever I found a treasure called Camilan in the human lands, I would take it back home and purify the land to prosperity."
"So... that's why you approached me?"
"I won't deny it."
"Hoohoo, to think you had such intentions from the start..."
"But, the moment I saw Your Majesty, I fell for you."
"...What?"
"For Your Majesty, that is."
"...W-what?"
"Oh, please don't misunderstand. I mean I fell for the grand vision Your Majesty holds."
"...Ah, is that so? Whew. You gave me quite a scare."
"What on earth were you thinking?"
"...….."
"Ahem, anyway! The moment I learned of Your Majesty's vision, I couldn't help but feel deep respect for you."
"You came to respect me?"
"Yes. How could I not? Your Majesty adheres so faithfully to the doctrine of the book of perfection that you even seek to plant hope in the abandoned land, which everyone else had given up on... How could I not respect such a heart?"
"Hoo, you're going that far?"
"To me, it was a shocking ambition. Ah, to think there was such a person even in the human realm. Ahhh, to think such a person was the king. Ahhhh, to think there was still hope left for our abandoned land!"
"Kuhum! Ahem! This is... quite embarrassing."
"And so, when I return to the abandoned land, I thought I must inform the Demon King of this joyous and hopeful news."
"You... were you a close vassal of the Demon King?"
"Oh, not quite a vassal."
"Then?"
He held back from saying I'm the Demon King myself.
Instead, he put on an outrageously shameless smile.
"I'm merely the Demon King's mother's friend's son."
"...Oh?!"
The moment the king's eyes completely changed, Kim Jangcheol felt it in his bones.
Ah, Camilan's scabbard, GET.♡
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