Of course, the assassin had experienced this situation before, so his mind was calm and undisturbed.
'If the dagger doesn't work, use a trap.'
He took out a silver thread pulled from a monster's skin. A sharp thread that, if installed tightly, will cut someone's head off just by touching it.
He reached the place where the 0th Corps Commander's steps were heading, set up the silver wire, and waited for him to arrive quickly, but he, who had been walking along, suddenly stopped. And then a sigh of annoyance came out.
He could tell without him having to say it out loud.
'He noticed it.'
It couldn't have been a coincidence that he stopped right in front of the thread.
It's definitely something that's hard to see with the naked eye, but it's hard to believe that he could find it like that even though his entire body was completely covered with a robe and black cloth. After all, this is not an easy skill, is it? As the assassin watched nervously to see what the reaction would be, he stood there annoyed for a moment, then turned around and grabbed a random soldier.
"Do you know where Ed is?"
"He's probably in the barracks. Would you like me to call him?"
"No, I will go myself."
Are you trying to reveal the existence of an intruder?
He had to get out of here.
Now that he knew that his skills were not a complete lie, it meant that he wouldn't gain anything if he continued like this.
'But...'
He felt so embarrassed.
Groundless confidence that he could do just a little more.
Even though he knew that this confidence was the most dangerous, the assassin could not bear to give up due to the overwhelming regret and chased after him.
"Ed."
"Commander Demon?"
As the Commander of Corps 0 walked through the tent that covered the entrance and entered, the sleek-looking man sitting in front of the table stood up with a surprised expression on his face. The assassin was able to quickly recognize who he was because he had seen his face in documents about the main figures of the Demon King's Army.
'Ed, adjutant of the Commander of Corps 0.'
A man who was mentioned as a candidate for Corps Commander.
Two dangerous people gathered in an enclosed space. The risk of being caught doubled or even tripled, so the assassin became even more nervous and held his breath.
Fortunately, as if he hadn't noticed, the Commander of Corps 0 sat in front of him and opened his mouth casually.
"Do you know anything about the new hero?"
He thought he was going to talk about intruders, but why about Cruel?
'What are you planning?'
Did he realize that Cruel personally ordered the dispatch of assassins?
So why? It could have been ordered by His Majesty, or it could have come by the arbitrary judgment of one of Cruel's subordinates.
Cold sweat flowed down his back. The assassin exhaled slowly and focused on their conversation.
"No. I heard that the 2nd Corps Commander is currently investigating. Because he is wearing a helmet, we cannot see his face, and the only thing known is that his swordsmanship is excellent..."
"..."
"I'm sorry."
"No, thanks. But what about that?"
Although he couldn't see his eyes because they were covered by a robe, the assassin could tell that the 0th Corps Commander's eyes were focused on the bottle on the table.
Ed probably felt the same way as he stood up with a short exclamation of, "Ah." Then he took out another glass from the bag that was lying on one side, put it down in front of him, and said, "It's alcohol. Would you like to drink it?"
"...Is that okay?"
"Yes, this is a war zone. Light drinking to relax is okay."
"If that's the case."
The 0th Corps Commander picked up the bottle.
The moment the glass was filled with alcohol and the moment it was lifted, the assassin threw a small stone he was wearing in his pocket into the corner of the barracks.
A small but clear sound echoed inside the barracks. Both heads turned to one side at the same time.
Yes, now.
He snapped his fingers and threw poison into the glass that the Commander of the 0th Corps had set down. As a bonus, Ed's glass was on the table.
"What was that noise..."
"It seems to have been the sound of things in the bag hitting each other. I just took out a glass."
"Is that so."
Corps Commander 0 also seemed to think it was no big deal as he lifted his glass and brought it to his mouth.
Then he tilted it slightly and put it back down before the liquid reached the end of the glass.
"Ed."
"Yes, Comander Demon."
"Who has been here?"
"No one. There was no one else but Commander Demon."
"Is that so..."
The assassin's heart sunk.
H really needed to go away. If he stayed here any longer...
He quietly retreated due to the strong urging of something he didn't know if it was reason or instinct.
As if he had expected that, a delicate voice touched the back of his neck. A calm voice that seems to say that someone like him could be caught at any time.
"There are so many bugs."
There was no fool here who could not understand the meaning of those words.
Ed stiffened his expression and stood up. Almost at the same time, the assassin also hurriedly withdrew.
If he fight here, he would inevitably lose.
He had a reason to return alive.
'I have to report.'
The 0th Corps Commander's skills were not just a rumor.
'Rather dangerous, playing with assassins...'
***
"This... is the Commander of the 9th Corps?"
That was what I reflexively said when I saw the body of the 9th Corps Commander.
I looked down at it with a face that must have turned white.
The 9th Corps commander I knew was clearly a female demon with straight black hair. Her personality was quite cheerful, so I found her rather pleasant.
Where in 'this' is the straight black hair?
Where does the face with a cheerful smile rest?
A piece of minced meat. I was speechless for a moment while looking at it.
At first, I was confused, shocked, and the overwhelming emotion was worry.
'Will this happen to me, too?'
No. If I participated in the battle like this, this would definitely happen.
I'm a commander and all, but I just wanted to go back. I really desperately wanted to go back.
As if running away, I left the tent where the body was located. I came out in such a hurry that I almost tripped over a rock.
"What kind of rocks are there here..."
Don't these kids even clean the roads? At least the roads inside the military camp need to be cleaned up.
Even as my frustration rose, I was looking around every corner of the camp to find a place to hide.
Then, for a moment, I stood still, as if waking up from hypnosis.
'It isn't possible.'
A faint sigh escaped.
Actually, I already kew that. How could it be possible to hide in a situation where so many eyes were gathered?
'But I can't stay still.'
The decision was quick.
If there is no best, then the next best, the worst and the lesser of the lesser evils.
If you can't run or hide, there aren't many options left.
I grabbed a random soldier nearby and asked, "Do you know where Ed is?"
"He's probably in the barracks. Would you like me to call him?"
"No, I will go myself."
I left the guy who said he would follow me at best, but it's not like training a mutt and I can't call him back.
Ed's barracks were not far away. When I got inside, Ed, who was sitting at the table, stood up and called out to me as if he was surprised.
When he called me questioning what kind of business I had come for, I threw out the business as he wanted.
"Do you know anything about the new hero?"
"I heard that the 2nd Corps commander is currently investigating. Because he's wearing a helmet, we can't even see his face, and all we know is that his swordsmanship is excellent..."
Damn it. How on earth can you survive without information? I was racking my brain to find another way, but I guess he thought I was angry. Ed, who was carefully examining me, slowly lowered his head.
"Sorry."
"No, thanks."
People around me seem to be good at apologizing when it isn't their fault. I didn't even know that it was putting more pressure on me.
Anyway, I thought the atmosphere would get awkward, so I rolled my eyes and found another topic to talk about.
Then what came into view was a bottle on the table. In addition, the half-full glass, which seemed to have been drunk just a moment ago, was showing off its presence as if asking me to look at it.
'...Alcohol? Wow...'
He wouldn't let me drink it and only he drank it, right?
"But what about that?"
"Ah."
He let out a short exclamation, turned to the direction where his bag was placed, and immediately took out a glass.
And he kindly set the glass down in front of me and said, "It's alcohol. Would you like to drink it?"
It seems like things have changed back and forth? Shouldn't you ask first if I wanted to drink and then bring the glass? But Ed knew me too well.
I mean, what fool would refuse alcohol that is difficult to drink freely?
Of course, it seemed a bit too obvious to say yes so quickly, so I opened my mouth as if hesitating.
"...Is that okay?"
"Yes, this is a war zone. Light drinking to relax is okay."
"If that's the case."
My face was covered, so I smiled without hiding it and grabbed the drink, pretending not to be able to resist.
The moment Ed poured a drink and picked it up.
Clink.
A small but clear sound of unknown origin struck my ears.
I reflexively turned my head to find the source of the sound. I saw a space that didn't seem to be anything special.
"What was that noise..."
"It seems to have been the sound of things in the bag hitting each other. I just took out a glass."
"Is that so."
I didn't hear wrong. For a moment, I thought I was hallucinating. I felt relieved and lifted the glass to my mouth. But before I could tilt it all the way, I stopped my hand. The back of my hand felt like it was burning as I put down the glass.
I stupidly almost drank it without even taking off the cloth that covered my lower face.
'How embarrassing.'
I wonder if Ed would have looked at me like an idiot.
...Let's change the subject.
I hid my embarrassment and called Ed as calmly as I could.
"Ed."
"Yes, Commander Demon."
"Who has been here?"
You will have your own life and meet someone.
So, to change the topic, let's take this opportunity to talk about you. There was a former colleague among the soldiers here, or something like that.
But unfortunately, Ed had a very clean private life. It was so clean that no one was even a close friend here.
"No one. There was no one else but Commander Demon."
"Is that so..."
What a pitiful guy. I clicked my tongue inwardly and frowned as I looked at him with a pitiful gaze.
The flies that have been buzzing around me ever since I came here were so annoying that it was driving me crazy.
Of course, this was a war zone, so it's natural for crows and flies to be attracted to it, but maybe it's because it's been so long that I can't get used to it anymore.
I felt like I couldn't let this frustration out loud, so I ended up saying it in a casual tone.
"There are so many bugs."
"!"
Ed seemed to be bothered by something in my words and jumped up from his seat. When I saw the hardened expression, I was inwardly shocked.
Why are you doing that? I wasn't that annoyed, right? I used the proper honorifics and there was no problem with the tone of voice, right?
He strode around the barracks and looked at every nook and cranny. And finally, he picked up the glass on the table, concentrated for a moment as if he was using magic, and then called out to those outside with a cold, stern expression.
He spoke softly, crushing the glass with his grip.
"There was an intruder."
Alcohol and broken pieces were dripping from his hands.
After that, there was an uproar. Ben, who came running after hearing the news, saw the broken shards and the alcohol on the floor, and scolded Ed about destroying evidence. He took the glass still in my hand and checked for poison.
And as soon as it was discovered that it contained a deadly poison, the military camp was turned upside down under the command of 1st Corps Commander Jaykar.
All soldiers had their identities checked, and the confirmed soldiers ran around looking for intruders.
In addition, I received an apology from Ed who said he was sorry for not noticing it in advance...
"Because I was stupid, I didn't realize it quickly even though you gave me a signal. Sorry."
No, I didn't know either? What signal did I give you...? How did you even notice that?
Well, anyway, there was only one thing I can say in this situation.
"It's okay."
These are words that I keep repeating in my mouth while staying in the Demon King's Castle.
If I had really known in advance, I would have accepted the apology with peace of mind, but my conscience was pricking me, so I couldn't accept it.
Anyway, Ed also went out to participate in the search and I, alone again, sat blankly in front of the table and looked at the bottle of alcohol. There was an intruder, but in the end, no damage occurred, so my mind was very peaceful.
It's to the extent that I'm thinking that if someone had known, they would have looked at me with disdain.
'Is that bottle poisoned or not?'
Yes, I still haven't been able to give up my addiction to alcohol.