Chapter 25 The Instructor, Laments

The Instructor, Laments

“Oh? So you were here, Sieg.”

Saying that, I slowly lower Arisu, who is clinging to me…down—ugh…

Excuse me. Please get down, Arisu-sama…

She looks dissatisfied.

After somehow convincing her to get down, I turn my attention back to Sieg.

Seeing that he doesn’t continue to attack, it seems he at least intends to talk.

He’s pretty obedient, after all.

For some reason, Sieg isn’t wearing his preferred equipment but Ricardo’s clothes and sword.

Ricardo, standing next to him, looks a bit dejected.

Did Sieg take his stuff?

Why would he do something like that…?

“Didn’t I teach you before that if you want someone’s attention, you should talk to them instead of attacking them?”

For now, I try reasoning with him.

The clan members, stunned by the sudden turn of events, finally regain their composure and start making a commotion.

“Sieg! What are you doing to Sensei?”

“Sieg! You!”

“I’m going to kill you.”

Anna, Elze, and others raise their voices to condemn Sieg.

Isn’t there something dangerous in that?

“Shut up! Don’t be fooled, everyone! Sensei—no, I can feel the power of the Demon Lord from Veiss!”

He points the tip of his sword at me with a stern face.

It’s rude to point your sword at people; please stop that.

Well, what Sieg is saying isn’t wrong, though.

“It seems that those with the Hero Skill can sense it….”

Arisu mutters from behind.

So everyone didn’t know.

It doesn’t matter if they find out, but since only Sieg seems aware that I’m the Demon Lord, I’ll play along.

“What’s this, what’s this? I’m sad, Sieg, even though we haven’t seen each other in so long!”

I shake my head dramatically and fake a sigh.

In situations like this, exaggerated behavior is more effective for the audience.

“I can tell! My Hero Skill says you’re the Demon Lord!”

Sieg shouts impulsively.

Hmm, his simple-mindedness hasn’t changed…

I pointed out before that when he gets upset, his vision narrows.

…But I can’t really say much about that myself.

Well, if that’s the case, I won’t hesitate to take advantage of it.

“Hmm? So you’re saying your basis is intuition? That’s not good. It’s really not good, Sieg. People won’t be convinced unless you show evidence.”

I respond gently.

The key is to neither deny nor confirm.

I mean, he’s right about me being the Demon Lord.

“Did I not teach you before that jumping to conclusions can provoke unnecessary backlash? We’re not monsters, so let’s start with a conversation, shall we?”

I say this as a reminder to myself.

Right, we definitely lacked communication.

I’m not even sure if Monica and I were really a couple.

…No, I’m pretty sure we were.

“I’m the one who belongs to Danna-sama!”

Oh yeah, sorry (?)

“I have nothing to discuss with the Demon Lord!”

Oh dear, he’s stubborn.

I sense a lack of composure. Is that fear I see…? Ah, that’s the backlash.

Well, if I look closely, it’s clear that he’s showing signs of aging.

“He seems to be paying a high price, doesn’t he? He’s overusing it, and the effects of the skill are getting stronger.”

Arisu whispers in my ear.

I understand.

Sieg, if you’d told me from the beginning, I could have helped you. I feel a little sad.

“The decision not to rely on Danna-sama’s power is the responsibility of that damn slug himself. Don’t dwell on it, okay?”

Thank you, Arisu. But let’s not use dirty words, okay?

“What are you two flirting about? That woman is also a Demon Lord, isn’t she? I’ll cut you both down!”

Sieg even points his sword at Arisu.

Don’t do it!

You’ll turn to dust in no time! Don’t do it!

It’s scary not knowing!

I understand that he knows Arisu is the Demon Lord, but he doesn’t know her true power.

I definitely don’t want to be Arisu’s enemy.

I have to escape.

“I won’t let her escape.”

No good…

Sieg raises his sword and lowers his stance slightly.

He’s serious.

He’s still as short-tempered as ever.

I have a few things I want to ask him, so I’ll try to calm him down.

“Hey, Sieg, aren’t you glad to see me again…?”

I make a deliberately sad face, exaggerating it a bit for effect.

Since the clan members are here, I’ll try to win them over emotionally.

“I’m happy to see you again, Sieg.”

Well, it’s not a lie.

I have a lot to say, but he’s one of my students.

“Hmph…”

He seems to hesitate, and his body relaxes a bit.

Okay, let’s talk some more.

“By the way, what happened to the usual members? Like Monica…”

I changed the subject.

“Monica!? I want to know too, that b🬀🬀ch!”

Sieg suddenly gets angry.

Eh?

“She repaid kindness with evil!”

Sieg roars even more angrily.

He unconsciously puts his hand to his side.

…What did Monica do?

I look away and watch the clan members with bated breath.

Anna, Lotte, and Rolf seem unaware.

Karl… hmm, maybe he knows.

Dominic, Gunter, Klaus, Vili, Elze, and Witte don’t seem to know either.

Gomez… ah, he seems to know something.

“Gomez? Can you tell me what happened?”

Gomez flinches, clearly surprised to be addressed.

“I-I’m not sure of the details, but… it seems that Sieg has been stabbed.”

Gomez stutters as he answers.

What the hell did she do? What happened after I left?

“How did it come to this…?”

“How should I know?”

Sieg spits the words out harshly.

Huh…? If you, the one who got stabbed, don’t know, then who does…?

“Well, at least we know Monica isn’t here! Where are the rest of the clan members?”

I notice Sieg’s close companions, Jean and Gisself, are also missing.

The key members who were supposed to be the main force are also absent.

“…! No! That means…”

Sieg lowers his eyes, seemingly at a loss for words.

…I have a really bad feeling about this.

Most of the clan members here have unique abilities.

They don’t seem to be of much use in a battle for subjugation against the Demon Lord Goblin King, which is likely to be a straightforward clash of forces….

Why did Sieg bring someone like [Librarian] Lotte?

…!

Could it be!

Come to think of it, those over there are the Lord’s Army!

A joint operation with the Lord’s Army…?

I point at Sieg with a trembling finger and ask,

“Sieg, didn’t you fail miserably during the first expedition?”

That’s the only explanation.

The missing main force and the others seem to be here only to make up the numbers.

My heart is beating fast.

I’m overwhelmed by an intense feeling of frustration.

“How many survived? How many were injured? Please tell me there are no dead!”

I say these words with a heavy heart.

He doesn’t answer.

“Answer me, Sieg!”

“Shut up! You already left the clan! It shouldn’t matter to you anymore!”

Sieg swings his sword, showing a strong refusal.

Ah… what a mess…

I scratch my head in frustration.

A feeling of despair washes over me.

“…Gomez, how many? How many… have died?”

I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

“…I-Including the porters, at least 25 are confirmed dead… Many more are unable to return due to injuries… and several, including Chitose, are missing….”

Gomez’s expression is somber.

I involuntarily look up to the sky.

“Sieg! What have you done!!! What have you done!!!”

Intense anger and sorrow well up within me.

At the same time, I want to kill the part of me that did nothing.

Why did I run away?

Why wasn’t I there?

How could this happen?

Ah! Ah!! Aaaaaahhhhh!!!!!

“Danna-sama…”

Arisu gently grabs my arm.

Ah… Arisu can feel my feelings…

“Thank you, Arisu. I’ll be fine.”

I pat her arm gently.

She still looks worried.

It’s okay.

I look directly at Sieg and say,

“I have already left the clan. I abandoned you. So maybe I don’t have the right to say this. But I’m going to say it anyway. As the one who raised you, I’m going to say it. Sieg, I’m disappointed in you.”