The Little Demon King is Too Bothered by Her Brave Dads - Chapter 86 - 7. Grand Council

***

The moon rose impartially over both the human empire and the demon realm.

However, the moonlight shed by the crescent moon, no larger than a fingernail, seemed insufficient to push back the darkness of the night.

The room remained dark.

“Master.”

At that call, the elegant middle-aged man who had been staring at the moon turned around.

The subordinate unconsciously swallowed hard.

The eternal second-in-command of the demon realm, the noble head of the Bartoloa Family.

Even though it had been over 10 years since he began serving this man as his lord.

……Whenever he met those ice-blue eyes, he still felt a strange pressure.

“They’ve discovered the existence of the Lintz Merchant Group in Orleans.”

“Ah.”

The master clicked his tongue briefly.

“I thought they might be of some use, but I guess it was wrong to expect anything from vermin.”

About 4 years ago.

The head of the Bartoloa Family had given an order to his subordinate.

It was to infiltrate one of the human merchant groups.

Since it was difficult for demons to directly enter and move in the human world, the plan was to try using humans first……

“I will report on what kind of punishment the Lintz Merchant Group received.”

“No need, it’s obvious.”

The head of Bartoloa waved his hand dismissively.

“Orleans is Siegfried’s territory, isn’t it? Then Siegfried would have dealt with it personally.”

“Yes, exactly as you said.”

“I know well how thorough that fellow is.”

Deep wrinkles formed between the master’s brows.

“He would have retrieved and disposed of all the magic tools spread in other regions, and will try to strengthen vigilance against demons.”

“That’s right. I heard they requested to hold a grand council.”

“Grand council? Ah, that… gathering where those vermin come together to supposedly discuss?”

A scoffing sound escaped between the lips of the Bartoloa head.

It was clearly mockery.

“Realistically, they might find it difficult to wage war, but they won’t stand idly by while demons run rampant… Something like that? Too soft.”

The master added, shrugging his shoulders.

“After all, those three transcendents are quite lenient towards humans.”

To the head of Bartoloa, the three saviors of humanity were an eternal enigma.

The absolute rule of the demon realm is survival of the fittest.

The strong prosper by sacrificing the weak.

From the perspective of demons, the three heroes should have trampled on humans and taken everything.

But the three heroes didn’t do that.

They sympathized with the fragile humans and felt responsible for their power.

They tried to prevent anyone from exploiting the weak.

Even while knowing that realistically, a world where everyone can be happy together doesn’t exist.

Yet they still dreamed of it.

‘The only transcendents who escaped from being vermin, unable to let go of their affection for the remaining vermin, struggling in vain……’

The head of the Bartoloa Family shook his head.

‘That’s why humans are hopeless.’

The master stopped thinking about the three heroes at that point.

There were many other issues to worry about, after all.

For instance…….

“By the way, I put quite a lot of effort into making this magic tool. I never expected Her Majesty to personally interfere.”

The Demon King, Tatiana.

The weak half-human, half-demon girl chosen by the Demon God.

While the three heroes were slaughtering the five demons who had usurped the title of Demon King, he thought she had somehow escaped like a rat.

When he found out that she was hiding in the human empire, as the darkest place was under the candlestick.

He couldn’t believe how audacious it was.

Moreover, she had somehow managed to win over the three heroes and was even under their protection.

“I’m endlessly delighted to see that Her Majesty is alive and well.”

“Master.”

“However, what I’ve learned this time is… that even among vermin, there are different types.”

The smile on the lips of the head of the Bartoloa Family deepened a bit more.

“There are incompetent vermin that can only crawl on the ground, and then there are vermin that at least know how to squirm when stepped on.”

The ice-blue eyes sparkled as if dancing.

“So this time, let’s try to recruit vermin that at least know how to squirm.”

Meanwhile, the subordinate watching this scene felt.

…..felt goosebumps rising all over his body for no reason.

7. Grand Council

Grand Council.

A meeting where all the nobles and even the Emperor gather to discuss important national affairs.

However, this Grand Council being held was a bit special.

All three heroes, who usually consciously distanced themselves from political events, were in attendance.

And what’s even more surprising is.

“About this Grand Council. I heard that the three heroes strongly requested it to be held.”

“Is that true?”

“Of course. Moreover, there are rumors that traces of demons were found in the Orleans Duchy.”

“T-That can’t be!”

People were shocked.

The demons had been at war with humans for a long time.

Although things had been quiet since the three heroes vanquished the five Demon Kings.

Everyone knew well how cruelly the demons had violated the human realm during their prime.

There was also another peculiarity, which was.

“I heard that both princes will also attend the Grand Council this time.”

“That’s right. Marquis Philomel strongly recommended the attendance of the Second Prince, and the three heroes requested that the First Prince attend as well.”

“Well, the First Prince is already fifteen, and the Second Prince is fourteen, right? It’s about time for both of them to start getting exposed to state affairs.”

And so, on the day of the Grand Council.

The nobles gathered in the Grand Council hall early in the morning.

“This Grand Council is truly… a gathering of stars.”

The nobles rolled their eyes, examining the attendees.

Unlike regular noble councils, this time all the top-ranking nobles of the empire were in attendance.

Particularly noticeable was the old Duke of Orleans, who had been in seclusion in his duchy for a long time.

His figure, sitting upright in his seat, was like a well-sharpened spear tip.

Other people who caught the nobles’ eyes were.

“…The three heroes really are in attendance.”

Siegfried, Kirios, and Cesar.

“Kirios, I hope you haven’t forgotten where we are.”

Siegfried was lecturing Kirios, who was sitting askew in his chair with his arms crossed.

“How about maintaining a proper posture even in the Imperial Palace?”

“Siegfried. Do thorns grow in your mouth if you don’t nag for even a day?”

However, Kirios only responded with a sulky retort.

Cesar, standing beside them, didn’t even try to hide his expression of exasperation.

He narrowed his eyes, looking at his long-time comrades bickering.

And then.

“Hm?”

As if sensing the nobles’ gazes, he glanced back.

‘Gasp.’

The nobles instinctively shrank back.

Their eyes had met.

Then Cesar smiled gently, his eyes curving.

It was certainly a beautiful smile.

And yet.

“……”

“……”

The nobles felt a strange pressure from that smile.

“His Majesty the Emperor and Their Highnesses the two Princes are entering!”

Finally, the Emperor and the two Princes entered.

All the nobles rose from their seats and paid their respects to the Emperor and the two Princes.

The Emperor swept his gaze across the Grand Council hall and declared in a booming voice.

“I hereby commence the Grand Council.”

Thud!

The doors of the Grand Council hall closed.

Tension settled on the faces of those seated.

***

“Yawn.”

Cesar let out a yawn, covering his mouth.

His expression was clearly one of boredom.

“Cesar.”

Siegfried shot him a glare from the side, as he didn’t even try to hide his emerging yawn.

But Siegfried himself couldn’t hide his frustrated expression either.

“Kirios, wake up too.”

“Ah, Marquis Philomel has just been rambling on anyway. It’s better to sleep instead.”

Kirios, who had been dozing off, retorted in an irritated voice.

It was understandable, as Marquis Philomel had been monopolizing the right to speak for a while now.

“As you all know, forming an investigation team requires a considerable budget.”

Marquis Philomel glanced at the Emperor’s reaction and raised his voice as if for everyone to hear.

“Given the financial issues, I believe it’s best to approach the demon problem cautiously.”

After parroting words that would please the Emperor like that,

“What does Your Highness the Second Prince think?”

He passed the right to speak to Rudolph.

He hoped that his nephew, whom he was backing as the next Emperor, would score points with the Emperor.

“Well, isn’t Marquis Philomel correct?”

Rudolph nodded in agreement without much thought.

A pleased smile spread across the Emperor’s lips.