We had failed.
I knew this as soon as I had entered the ballroom.
Even if I didn’t want to, when her highness Paimon, who was supposed to be expressing kindness towards me, was staring at me with a terribly contorted face, I had no choice but to come to terms with it.
…… I was prepared.
Merchants must always respect equal exchange.
Even if Demon Lord Dantalian was merely rank 71st, and even if Lapis Lazuli was merely an outcast half-breed, they too were lives that did whatever it took to stay alive.
A life for a life.
You had to put your own life on the line if you were to go after another.
Keruk.
It was a simple equation.
…… I dreamed for a world that was not controlled by hierarchy.
For merely being born as a Demon Lord you stood at the pinnacle of society. For being born between a demon and a human, you were treated like trash. That was the current state of the demon world. I wanted to change this……
Although some minute details were different, Ivar Lodbrok carried the same desire as myself. In this shabby world, Ivar and I were tied by camaraderie.
If one wished to change the world, then one needed money. That was why we had raised the Keuncuska Firm this far. Over the past hundreds of years, we had overcome an uncountable amount of hardship and adversity, and had barely reached the position of the greatest firm in the demon world……
Aaah.
I really did want to see it.
A bit more equal society.
I simply wanted to live in a place with less prejudice.
……I wanted to see a more beautiful world.
“Kuruk!”
I could feel the cold metal piercing my throat.
As one would expect, I could vividly feel the warm blood that was dripping down the blade.
Strength left my knees quickly. My body fell over slowly, and little by little it approached death. I could feel all this clearly.
Ivar. Take care of the rest.
I was unable to see the world change, but if it’s you, then you should be able to live till the very end. You are frighteningly cunning and intelligent after all.
Except, I worry that there may be no one who could understand your madness. Do not stay in solitude. One day you will find someone who will stay by your side once again……
And finally, I turned to look at Dantalian.
There was no special reason to this. My line of sight had simply moved to Dantalian coincidentally when I had fallen down. However, after looking at the face of the rank 71st Demon Lord, I opened my eyes wide.
“……!”
He was expressionless.
There was no bounds to how expressionless he was.
Despite having obtained a surprising victory tonight, there was not a single sign of Dantalian being delighted or overjoyed. It didn’t even seem like he was surprised by my suicide. As if it was obvious—he was staring down at me with eyes that appeared as if they understood completely why I had chosen to kill myself.
Was that it…… was that what it was……!
Seeing that expression, I immediately understood. Demon Lord Dantalian was not plain prey. Lapis Lazuli betraying our firm, and the murder of Andromalius, they were all schemes plotted by that man. It was not possible to know exactly what the plots were, but those eyes. Those eyes of a killer, surpassing logic, were more than enough to convince me. Dantalian was the puppeteer!
Aah, Ivar Lodbrok.
From beginning to end we were mistaken.
We had dived on top of a chessboard with no idea who our opponent was. Because of this, it was no wonder that we had lost so gruesomely. Have you realized, Ivar? Were you aware of the fact that that man was the true danger……
I wanted to open my mouth and warn Ivar. To please be careful of Dantalian.
But to my dismay, I did not have even a margin of energy left to move my lips. Rapidly. Life from my body dispersed silently. The vision in front of me faded to black.
I may have dreamed a beautiful dream, but I was unable to live a beautiful life. I have committed a fair amount of evil deeds. No doubt the Gods will drop me to Hell……
Ooh, merciful Proserpina.
Please show pity for this poor soul.
And then, I was enshrouded by eternal silence……