CHAPTER 170……………………………………………………..
In the Snowy Country, Again (1)
……Three years had passed since the fall of the Akidalia Kingdom royal family.
During that time, the northern lands had fallen into chaos, and all kinds of forces had risen.
Some noble houses declared themselves the new king.
Others began exploiting the people along the borderlands even more, claiming it was the perfect time to increase their wealth.
Even the border region called “Styx” suffered from such exploitation.
Already a place where spring was short and winter long, resources were squeezed dry.
That is, until just a year ago.
“Ugh, cold… so coooold…”
Haemon Hypnos, aide to Commander Ismenios, shivered, rubbing his hands together.
Even though he was a “human” from the Styx region, cold was still cold, and hardship was still hardship.
“Damn it, Commander, I… I’ll get the letters to you like this!”
If he didn’t sing or make some sound, his lips might freeze from the cold.
“Damn this weather!”
Grumbling, Haemon gathered the letters that had arrived today.
Haemon had originally been a subordinate of the noble family ruling Styx—though one could read his position as “slave.”
“Ugh… that truly vicious little hyena bastard.”
In this frozen land, Haemon had been drained to the marrow, his very life force sucked dry.
He had thought countless times about escaping with his comrades under cover of night.
But if even they left, the villagers who paid taxes would suffer.
“My life is precious, yet my conscience is only marginal… there’s no solution.”
Indeed.
At that time, Haemon’s life had no solution.
The kingdom was already devastated by rebellion.
The borders with Tartarus were in chaos, so where could he possibly escape?
Then, one day…
“They say the mage knights are coming up from Tartarus!”
Unbelievable news began to circulate.
One by one, the southern border regions were being overrun.
They targeted areas where the demon clans lived, where massacres had taken place.
Incidentally, the hyenas Haemon served had done similar things.
But the Styx region was the farthest from Tartarus, so the hyena nobles were complacent.
“Hah! There’s no way they’d come this far.”
While they were so careless…
The flames eventually reached Styx.
A group led by a young demon igniting magical firestorm took Styx.
And they dealt with the lord who had been squeezing the blood and tears from the villagers.
“You noisy pig.”
The irritable young demon who spoke looked like a grim reaper.
……Haemon saw this and thought:
“Please… if you’re going to kill, just do it in one blow.”
The idea of being burned alive in magical fire was horrifying.
Haemon shivered with his surviving comrades.
Then, the young demon knight’s red eyes locked onto them.
So red they seemed to have flames in them, his gaze swept over them, and everyone flinched.
“Looking at this estate, seems like the underlings did their work.”
At that, Haemon and his comrades’ eyes widened.
The “underlings” referred to them…
“Too bothersome to kill, so just show me you’re doing your job.”
Alive! They were alive!
Haemon and his surviving comrades hugged each other, tears of joy streaming.
At that moment, the young demon seemed to glow with a halo.
Then, the female aide standing beside the youth moved her lips.
Her expression was pitiful and desperate.
She spoke silently with her lips:
“Do… something!”
……Later, after becoming friends with the demon called “Lunai,” Haemon complained.
“Why didn’t you move your lips bigger back then? Why!”
But by then, it was too late.
Thus, Commander Ares Ismenios became Haemon’s new superior.
“…Damn, being young and capable is infuriating.”
Thinking back, Haemon felt a surge of irritation.
At first, he respected Commander Ismenios.
‘He participated immediately after his coming-of-age ceremony?’
Yet he kept achieving feats, reaching even the remote Styx.
And he brought the region under Tartarus’ control.
Taxes were even lower than during Akidalia, so no one complained…
“Ah, still…”
Haemon felt another burst of frustration.
Even as a demon, strong and capable, he could process mountains of work… but still!
“I’m not like that, damn it, damn it.”
The fortunate part was that not only humans suffered.
Even the demons who came this far with the commander looked exhausted.
For example, Lunai, who had just come out of the castle…
“Hello, Haemon.”
“Greetings, Lunai.”
Even the demon Lunai looked weary.
Perhaps after patrolling with the commander yesterday, she seemed exhausted.
Haemon muttered quietly, frustrated.
“…Why didn’t you speak up more clearly back then?”
“No, human. I did my best.”
“No, Lunai… your best wasn’t really enough.”
Still, having Ares as a superior had its benefits.
Even humans unaccustomed to demons could grumble and vent to each other…
Indeed, complaining about one’s boss gave an oddly unifying power across nations and species!
‘Still, better to stay here.’
Haemon sighed to himself in relief.
Unlike his ruined homeland, this place was finally peaceful.
The demons, contrary to frightening rumors… were just ordinary, and surprisingly fair.
Most of all, Commander Ares’ strength captivated the humans here.
Strong, unbiased, open, and recognizing effort…
‘That’s why everyone works here, even while grumbling until they cough blood.’
Finally, Haemon rationalized it and went to his office.
He had letters to deliver to his young superior today.
Most letters were exchanged between other knight orders.
Sometimes, they came from Ismenios, the commander’s homeland.
‘Hmm… but this one…?’
One envelope looked particularly luxurious.
A pale golden envelope sealed with black wax.
The seal bore a gold symbol resembling the number 8 laid on its side.
But before examining further, Haemon entered the office.
“Commander, I’ve brought today’s letters!”
At his loud call, a large man turned.
His red eyes gleamed sharper than arrowheads, making Haemon shrink back.
‘Wow…’
Even the same man, he looked annoyingly handsome.
Big build, rugged facial features, yet oddly dignified—likely from being a great noble.
However, upon reading the golden letter…
His handsome face twisted into a scowl.
And in a deep voice, he cursed crudely.
“Damn.”
“…Excuse me?”
Haemon’s blood ran cold.
Had his superior cursed him?
The day the Styx hyena lord was executed came to mind, sending chills down his spine.
‘W-what… did I do wrong?!’
Haemon still wanted to live.
He hadn’t married! Hadn’t seen a little rabbit-like child yet!
It’d be unfair to die before spending the money he had worked so hard to save!
Luckily, Commander Ares didn’t kill him.
Instead, after a dry face wash, he issued rough orders.
“Haemon, summon the castle administrators and the demons immediately.”
“W-what is the matter?”
“The Erevos royal family will arrive here in two weeks. Prepare immediately.”
……Haemon’s face turned pale.
The demon king’s family is coming here?
He had never served the old Akidalia royals!
“Save me, human!”
He wanted to scream, but barely swallowed it.
Ares frowned at him.
“Ah, and Haemon.”
“Y-yes?!”
“When speaking directly with the demons there, never mention my hair color.”
“Uh… yes, understood?”
“And make sure the others keep quiet too.”
An utterly incomprehensible order.
Don’t mention his hair color… What did that mean?
As far as Haemon knew, Commander Ares’ hair was white.
Ever since they arrived at Styx.
