Chapter 84.2: Neutral Nations Conference (5)

“I expected she wouldn’t come, but it’s still a pity. I wanted to introduce the Seventh Lord to the hero.”

The Overlord stirred the teacup and said lamentably.

The emperor who sat across from her watched in silence, then opened his mouth.

“What do you really mean, Overlord?”

“Hmm? What?”

“Helping Earth Hill, I don’t think it’s the Seventh Lord own action.”

“Ah… that? Right? I didn’t know that the Seventh Lord would suddenly come forward like that.”

It was true.

It was a fact that she did not know that there was a connection between the second prince of Earth Hill and the Seventh Lord, so she hardly expected the latter to intervene so actively in the conflict between the two countries.

It didn’t matter to her, that’s why she didn’t interfere.

However, the emperor narrowed his eyes in disbelief.

He opened his mouth again and asked.

“I’m afraid that maybe Calderic’s prestige will fall. It looks like the Overlord is protecting those who broke the rules and even killed another Lord…”

“Ah, thank you for your concern.”

At those words, the corner of the Overlord’s mouth went up.

“By the way, Emperor. If you say such nonsensical things again, do you want me to rip your mouth off?”

The expression of the second princess standing behind the emperor hardened at the Overlord’s sudden abusive words.

The emperor also looked at the Overlord with a weakly stiff face.

“Don’t act like we’re equal. Get the subject, you little rat. You should know that the only thing I respect about Santea is the hero.”

“You’re talking too much…”

For an instant, the terrifying feeling of intimidation enveloped her whole body, causing the princess’ legs to give up and almost sinking to the floor.

The Overlord, who had regained her momentum, smiled and leaned back in her chair.

“I didn’t come here to threaten you. I have a question for you too.”

At her words, the emperor’s complexion hardened.

“Prisoner transport ship, the warrior.”

“…”

“What the hell were you trying to do after catching ‘that’, Emperor? Even hiding it in a convoy and transporting it to a concentration camp?”

The emperor was just silent, not answering.

The Overlord, who drank all the tea, stood up.

“I’m warning you, Emperor. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but stop doing useless things. If you don’t want to let precious workforce, like the warrior for example, to die.”

The emperor asked her as she headed outside her room.

“What does the Overlord want?”

“…”

“There’s no way you don’t know that the demons’ movements are unusual. If Santea collapses, it’s Calderic’s turn right after. Why are you showing such an ambiguous attitude towards Santea?”

The Overlord only looked back at the emperor and grinned.

***

Evening came, and the banquet began.

There were many people who attended besides those who directly took part in the meeting, so it filled the banquet hall with many people.

The royal family gathered in a corner and chatted about the outcome of the meeting.

Asher, who followed the Overlord and the Seventh Lord to the banquet hall, tried hard not to turn her attention to one side of the banquet hall.

It was because the emperor and the General, who accompanied him, were also seated there.

“…”

She could feel the eyes of the Seventh Lord staring at her.

Asher struggled to control her expression, thinking that she should not get distracted.

“Asher, go back to your room and rest.”

At the words of the Seventh Lord, she shook her head. The other must have noticed her current state.

“No. It’s fine.”

She was an escort knight, so it’s not right to go back alone and rest first.

But this time, the Seventh Lord seemed to be quite determined to get her out of the banquet.

“Then go out to the terrace and get some fresh air.”

Asher hesitated, bowed her head, and moved her steps to the terrace.

She felt the heat in her head subside a little as she went outside and caught the cool breeze.

“…”

Asher looked up at the night sky and recalled the memories she had buried deep within.

The enemy who annihilated her tribe—Santea and the General.

Asher couldn’t keep her composure at the sight of the Emperor and the General sitting calmly in the banquet hall just inside.

She lowered her head, feeling sorry for herself, thinking that she wasn’t really able to do anything she should.

No revenge, no tribe member found. Even though 10 years had passed since that terrible day, she still hadn’t been able to do anything properly.

…In fact, deep inside her heart, she might have already known. That there was no surviving tribe members anywhere.

She was just simply denying reality.

Was that why she couldn’t even decide to get revenge and was wasting her time pathetically?

Even with the enemy right in front of her eyes, she couldn’t even pull out her sword… How could she have the courage to look at her dead family members with the way she was now?

Asher closed her eyes and breathed, controlling her mind.

It was something she was used to. Until a few years ago, these thoughts surfacing was a daily and common occurrence.

After breathing for a few minutes and regaining some composure, Asher turned around to enter her banquet hall again.

It was then.

“…!”

A man walked into the terrace.

General Cayden.

He looked up at the sky as he stood on the opposite railing after glancing at Asher.

Asher’s heart skipped a beat.

She thought, even if she made a fuss here, even if she tried to spew murderous intentions at him, it means nothing, and it would only harm Ron…

It was when she tried to move her steps, suppressing her boiling anger with superhuman patience…

“I’ve been thinking since yesterday, but I finally remembered.”

His mouth suddenly opened and stopped Asher.

She slowly turned her head and looked at him with cold eyes.

“Ten years ago, the Great Mountains of Alten. Were you the only one from the White Moon tribe that I failed to kill?”