CHAPTER 71……………………………………
. Land of Monsters (2):
“What?”
I stared up at Callion in a daze.
‘Had he been deliberately tracking Count Stenel’s “voice”?’
Of course, that man could talk with human merchants.
But a sudden uneasy premonition gripped me.
Then Callion nodded.
“I’ll go check it out.”
“…Huh?”
Without even waiting for my answer, Callion stood up.
“Sir Epikus, Lady. I’ll just step away to this private chamber for a moment.”
“Cal—!”
The instant I shouted at that nonsense about going to the restroom—
“I’m going too!”
Ares leapt up right after him.
I grabbed at Ares’s jacket hem in horror.
But my little hands were far too small to stop the youngest rascal.
“What?! Why—why are you going!”
“Master, I’ll follow the prince!”
“Ares!”
My cry was drowned out by applause.
The two of them slipped through the packed corridor before I could do anything. I pounded on Minte and Rete.
“Minte! Rete, me too! I’m coming too!”
“Princess?!”
“We’ve got to catch them!”
Oh dear gods, won’t somebody stop these kids from my palace!
* * *
Of course, the two boys had their guards following.
But snatching children out of a crowd turned out harder than expected.
“Prince Alcyone!”
“Young Lord—!”
Names were being shouted left and right.
But Callion and Ares paid no heed.
Then Callion barked at Ares, who was deliberately trailing him half a step behind.
“Why are you following?!”
“What, am I supposed to stay behind?!”
Ares’s crimson eyes gleamed.
Not just new eyes—he’s sly, sly as a fox.
A fox constantly scheming for any chance to win Sion’s favor.
Running beside Callion, Ares shouted,
“Don’t think you’re going to score points all by yourself!”
“Then don’t get in my way!”
Callion was utterly annoyed, but he didn’t push him away.
Better to stick with this brat than run alone—less chance of demons interfering.
With Tartarus’s young lord at his side, people only glanced their way, not daring to threaten.
At last the two skidded to a halt before a secluded lounge.
“Ah, here.”
“What’s here?”
“Shh.”
Ares scrunched his face at Callion’s hush.
But then voices came through the crack in the door.
“…Is everything ready?”
“Yes, Sir Stenel. The ship can depart within the hour.”
“Good. Send the rest of the money to my estate.”
“But of course.”
No idle chatter followed.
But when the click of polished leather shoes approached the door, Callion yanked Ares back.
“Hide!”
“Ugh!”
Both boys darted behind the corner.
As expected, Count Stenel emerged.
Thankfully, he walked the opposite way.
Callion wiped the sweat from his brow.
“Whew…”
“Hey. What the hell is he putting on a ship?”
“Not sure… maybe—”
Then, through the half-closed door, voices drifted out again.
“Phew, talking to that stupid monster is exhausting.”
Ares froze stiff.
What… did that bastard just say?
It wasn’t the Count who spoke—he’d already left.
Which meant the “stupid monster” was…
And the lounge wasn’t occupied by only that man.
“You speak truth, Master Merchant.”
Others—his subordinates, it seemed—joined in.
“Horns on its head, strange eyes.”
“Lord Creusa’s gone soft. Bowing to some pint-sized brat.”
At that last jab, both boys’ eyes flashed.
And then the merchant lord himself dropped another bomb.
“Tsk. If only Halcyon had won, everything would’ve been easier for us.”
The men clapped and laughed.
“Exactly! Why’d he have to lose to that monster!”
“We could’ve won comfortably. Halcyon’s completely useless!”
Ares’s fists trembled.
Through clenched teeth, a growl leaked out.
“What do you mean, easier, you—!”
His vision burned red.
And they’re bad-mouthing demons while standing in demon lands?
He had never once heard such words in his life.
Even if they weren’t insulting him directly, they were spitting on the whole demon race.
Callion, too, felt a bitter disgust.
Vulgar merchants.
Uncaring if other kingdoms bled, as long as they made money—it was revolting.
He cast a sidelong glance at Ares, quaking with rage.
Should I try to console him?
Just then, one of the merchant’s men spoke.
“By the way, Master. Will you grant the priest’s request?”
“Hah? Of course. He paid handsomely enough.”
Their laughter rang out.
Priest.
The blood drained from Callion’s face.
He didn’t know what exactly they were trading.
But “priest” existed only in Halcyon.
“…Ha.”
He bit his lower lip.
He’d run here thinking to help Sion, but this—this was an unexpected, dangerous mess.
What do I do? What do I do?
If he reported what he’d heard…
Wouldn’t even he, as a Halcyon native, be punished?
Exiled?
And then, at Sion’s side, there would be…!
At that moment, a soft voice called down the corridor.
“Callion! Ares!”
“…!”
Snapped out of their turmoil, both boys jerked their heads up.
Down the hall came the platinum-haired little one with the Epikus sisters.
“Sion.”
Ares let out a breath of relief.
The youngest of them, yet simply seeing Sion made one’s heart ease.
If it was Sion, he would believe what they’d just overheard.
And he would soothe the raw pain from hearing the word “monster.”
Callion, too, ran to him without hesitation.
“Lord Sion!”
* * *
Are they insane?
That was my very first thought after hearing Callion and Ares’s report.
Count Stenel—has he lost his mind?
Using Iliod men to smuggle something into the Halcyon Theocracy?
I’d thought him just a petty noble with grudges against the crown…
Turns out he’s far more devious—and far more foolish!
We were far too distant for me to send an immediate “voice-spell” report to Father.
Which meant, in the end—
“Minte, Rete.”
I whispered under my breath.
“Don’t let anyone leave that lounge.”
Of course, Iliod might lodge complaints later.
For a moment, I remembered Laocon Creusa, and those chick-merchants who had greeted me so politely.
We might sour carefully-built ties with their guilds.
But this was a crisis.
“Quickly! Now!”
Even young as I was, I was still the princess here!
Thankfully, the knights rushed into the lounge at once.
Predictably, protests erupted.
Inside, there were five human men.
“What is the meaning of this?!”
A young man with chestnut-brown hair scowled.
Minte stepped forward first.
“We’ll be conducting an inquiry. Which guild are you with?”
“Hah? Inquiry…?!”
The man clicked his tongue when he spotted me.
“Really! So it’s the baby princess herself who wishes to interrogate us?”
“Watch your tongue!”
Minte’s voice turned sharp as his hand touched the hilt at his waist.
“Dare to defile the name of House Erebos—”
The killing intent spilling out made even the brazen man flinch.
So he switched tactics.
“I am head of the Burten Guild of Iliod. We trade often with Count Teraine himself. Why are you—”
“We overheard that you intend to sell Tartarus goods to my homeland.”
At that, all eyes turned to us.
Callion stood with hands respectfully folded before him.
Guildmaster Burten gave a dry laugh.
“Where do you get the gall to intrude on adult matters, you apprentice—”
Minte cut him off with harsh authority.
“This is His Highness Alcyone of Halcyon.”
“…!”
“Show due respect to a foreign prince.”
“Hah… well now, ha ha.”
The man let out a mocking chuckle.
“So it’s true—Her Demon Highness is raising a human prince. Truly, what a fine education he’s received.”
