The blockade surrounding the Demon Tribe’s sector.
The commander of the Border Guard was shouting his lungs out in the tavern that had been commandeered as a temporary headquarters.
“What do you mean it’s not confirmed?!”
“Well, aside from some punk’s testimony, we don’t really have any evidence, and the suspects are vehemently denying it…”
“You’re just going to believe those demon bastards when they say they didn’t do it?! You idiot!”
The Border Guard commander hurled an ashtray at his subordinate, scattering cigarette ash in all directions.
“If word gets out that Chancellor Hendrick disappeared under our watch, we’re all dead meat! Got it?! Bring me proof—even if you have to make it up!”
““Yes, sir!””
“Then move your asses!”
People poured out like the tide.
Fuming, the commander lit a cheap cigarette with a flint. Someone reached forward with a lit match.
“Good to see at least one of you has some sense. Hoo—”
“You’ve been working hard.”
Upon hearing refined Imperial dialect, the commander sprang to his feet.
Turning his head, he saw Count Valheit snuffing out the half-burned match with a flick.
“C-Count! What brings you here…?”
“I was on my way out of Novosibir, figured I’d drop in on the Guard Commander before leaving. But it seems you’re in a bit of a mess.”
“This is… well, uh, ahem.”
The commander cleared his throat, unable to find the right words.
Could it be that he already knows about Hendrick’s escape?
“Word is, Chancellor Hendrick has fled.”
Damn it. He knows!
“Haha, where did you hear such a ridiculous rumor?”
“Then why are you holed up here like this?”
“There was a report that the Demon Tribe is hiding a criminal. I, uh, thought it’d be a good time to make an example out of them!”
Count Valheit tilted his head slightly at the commander’s awkward laugh.
He was still smiling, but the commander’s heart pounded with unease.
“Hmm. So this rumor must be fake then.”
“This?”
In response to the commander’s question, Valheit pulled a folded piece of paper from his coat.
“I found this lying around the streets.”
The commander carefully took the paper—and his eyes widened.
On the cheap, folded sheet was written: “Chancellor Hendrick has escaped!”
“Where did you find this?”
“They were scattered all over Central Street.”
No sooner had Valheit spoken than an adjutant burst into the room, panting.
“Commander! These flyers are all over Central Street!”
“Give me that!”
The content was the same.
It claimed that Hendrick had escaped and mocked the Border Guard for their incompetence.
It was convincing enough that anyone reading it would think the Guard was useless.
Grinding his teeth, the commander crumpled the paper.
“Who the hell made this?!”
“We’re not sure. We’re combing through printing shops, but…”
If a civilian reported or asked about it to the military, they’d be in deep trouble. There’d be no turning back.
The commander staggered, overcome by a feeling of spiraling into the abyss.
“You seem troubled.”
A quiet voice curled into his ear like a temptation.
Count Valheit was smiling broadly.
“I could lend a hand.”
“You’d help…?”
“I wouldn’t want the entire town knowing that Chancellor Hendrick escaped, either. Just a small favor in return.”
A small favor.
The commander swallowed dryly.
Anyone in public office had heard the stories—how a “small favor” from Count Valheit could lead to one’s downfall.
“If you’d rather not, I’ll be on my way. Best of luck to you.”
“W-Wait, please! I’ll help you—just help me!”
Trembling, the commander pleaded.
Valheit, who had turned to leave, stopped with a cheerful hum.
“If you insist.”
“Thank you, Count.”
“Think nothing of it. We all need to help each other, don’t we?”
Valheit gave the commander’s bowed shoulder a couple of light pats.
They were gentle taps—but to the commander, they felt unbearably heavy.
***
“They should work this hard all the time.”
Hillia grumbled, watching the Border Guard surrounding the Demon Tribe’s sector.
The blockade, which had begun the previous day, showed no sign of being lifted.
“Are you really going?”
“What other option do we have? The goblins keep barging in and making a fuss. It’s getting on my nerves.”
Noah adjusted his clothes as he spoke.
Just minutes ago, two goblins had come yelling again, demanding they go negotiate.
The native goblins were consistent in one thing: everything was the responsibility of the demons who had come from outside.
“But it was other humans who took the Chancellor. How are we supposed to fix that?”
“Because pinning it on us demons is the easier route. Even if we go negotiate, they’ll just tell us to confess.”
“Then how about you step up for once, Til? Instead of talking like it’s none of your business.”
Noah snapped at Til, who was yawning and stretching.
Frankly, the root of the problem was her and her employer.
“I didn’t know my employer had that kind of plan. I just wanted to see you fight that bodyguard of yours, that’s all.”
“Does that even make sense?”
“What’s the point of bringing up the past? And it was Til who saved your life.”
Hillia cut in sharply.
Noah opened his mouth to retort, then fell silent.
She was right.
The moment his opponent recognized his ability and stopped using magic, every second had been a brush with death.
Til had shown up and saved him.
Had she not cleared the way, they wouldn’t have returned safely with the injured Hillia.
“There’s no major problem yet. The fact that they’re proposing negotiations means they’re in a hurry.”
“Because if word gets out, they’re done for.”
Noah nodded.
That meant even the other side didn’t know whose hands Hendrick was in.
“First, let’s stall for time and make a plan—”
“Attention to the Demon Sector!”
Til’s words were cut off by a loud shout.
Someone stepped forward near the blockade line, raising their voice with a loudspeaker.
“If you don’t return the kidnapped human within three hours, we will commence suppression! I repeat—!”
The area quickly fell into chaos.
Fear spread among the Demon Tribe.
“Should we run?!”
“But they’ve surrounded us! Where would we even go…?”
“I don’t know what’s going on, just hand them over!”
Panic bred panic. The demons added to the confusion with every outburst.
Til frowned as the situation unraveled.
What the hell is this?
Given how heavily the Border Guard had been guarding Hendrick, they shouldn’t be acting this boldly.
They should’ve been working harder to cover it up.
Which meant… they had gained some kind of assurance. But getting it this suddenly seemed unlikely.
Naturally, the smiling face of that sly bastard floated to her mind.
Did Valheit get involved? But why?
He never moved without a reason.
He never acted unless it benefited him.
Then again, maybe it wasn’t him—maybe someone backing him.
Just as her thoughts grew tangled, Noah stepped up on a boulder.
“Attention!”
The makeshift camp grew still, everyone turning to look at the Diaboli.
“It doesn’t matter why the humans are doing this. What matters is how we respond.”
“So what do you propose?”
An angry voice shot back, but Noah stood firm.
“We still have three hours. That’s time to figure things out. If there’s a gap, we exploit it. If we can deceive, we deceive. If we must fight, we fight. But no one here can do it alone. We do it together. Regardless of race, gender, or age.”
The various demons glanced around suspiciously at one another.
No doubt, some of them were enemies by blood, and many had never accepted help from another species.
“…Scouting squad, gather up. We’re checking the situation.”
While the rest hesitated, Karl spoke bluntly.
Those who usually worked with him slowly stepped forward.
“We need to set up barricades.”
“We need lookouts.”
“Let’s tear down the tents. If we see a chance to escape, we bolt.”
Order was quickly restored.
They’d worked together just the day before, so everyone naturally fell into place.
“Not bad.”
“Just raised my voice a little, that's all.”
Noah scratched his head, descending from the boulder as Hillia praised him.
Til stretched with a satisfied look. Whether it was that detestable man or someone else, the course of action remained the same.
“Alright then. Let’s make ourselves a little escape tunnel.”
She turned and stopped suddenly.
For a moment, she thought she saw a shadow atop a nearby spire.
Normally, she would’ve cursed that lecherous superior, but just this once, she let it slide.
She had a vague sense of why he was interested in that strange Diaboli.
Still, I’ll make sure to give him hell later.
Til smiled slyly and followed the other demons.
***
“We did as you instructed. But… is this really going to work?”
“Yes. Now, just wait.”
I answered cheerfully, and the Border Guard commander, whose face had been clouded with doubt, finally looked relieved.
If anything went wrong, he could claim it was Count Valheit’s plan—an escape hatch, basically.
I was a bit worried. It was an improvised move, after all.
The mixed bag of Demon Tribe members might easily collapse.
Though I doubt that’ll happen.
I expected Til to handle it, but unexpectedly, Noah had stepped up and taken charge.
Even with the story diverging, protagonists shine no matter what.
“Did you deploy the troops as I instructed?”
“Yes, we’ve opened a path toward the Federation. But… will the demons really go to the Northern Federation?”
“It’s best if they do. That’s the only way you all survive.”
If Noah and the Demon Tribe moved to the Northern Federation, things would more or less follow the original plot.
After that, Cesare and Til could take over.
And if the Demon Tribe moved out, the issue would shift from domestic to diplomatic—which was ideal for me.
While the Emperor stirred up the Federation looking for his uncle, I’d have breathing room.
“Commander, we’ve received word from the regiment.”
The adjutant whispered into the commander’s ear.
“What’d they say?”
“Well…”
When he hesitated, the commander’s face darkened.
Finally, the adjutant spoke in a tiny voice.
“Lord Joseph Chartra visited their unit. They say they can’t spare any support right now.”
“Is that so? Well, isn’t that a stroke of luck.”
A smile bloomed on the commander’s face.
The later the Imperial Army arrived, the more excuses he’d have. It was good news for him.
And good news for me, too.
It meant Blaiher and Hendrick had safely reached the Imperial Army, which was under Chartra’s influence.
The first step toward replacing the Emperor had been completed without issue.
Before moving to the next step, I need to deal with Noah’s group.
They were leaving Novosibir, but that didn’t guarantee they’d go to the Northern Federation.
It was partly about matching the original plot—but more importantly, I feared the Emperor might lose his mind and chase down the demons who helped his uncle escape.
I need to give them a reason to go north.
The image of Stunner came to mind—half-crying as he worked in the print shop.
If I was going to use him, I might as well milk him dry.