"He ended up doing nothing after all."
"This is rather annoying. I thought he'd have at least put up a final resistance since he was so greedy. But in the end, he was nothing more than a useless fool."
Amid the murmuring crowd in the audience sat twin sisters.
Although at the moment, very few people are paying attention to them as they are caught up in the conversation between Elric and Herman.
But just moments ago, they had been the center of attention, with reporters and knights alike stealing glances at them because of their striking beauty.
Their outfits added to their allure. The skirts, slit up to the thigh, revealed legs that were not only beautiful but sensually captivating.
With their full, red lips and the mole under their eyes that enhanced their sultry appearance, they possessed a magnetism that immediately drew the attention of those around them.
However, their aura was so overwhelming that no man could easily approach them.
Even those confident in their looks and style found it impossible to resist the atmosphere these women exuded.
If they had only been beautiful, in a place filled with men, they might have become the target of flirtatious advances. But there was something more about them that set them apart, making them stand out dominantly.
So, the men could only sneak glances at them like timid puppies, unable to muster the courage to approach.
The twin sisters, seemingly accustomed to such attention, didn't pay any mind to those around them.
They were simply engaged in a conversation that others would find difficult to understand.
"Well, it feels like we've made this trip for nothing."
Lapis Lazuli. The second of the sisters who shared the name of the gemstone Lapis Lazuli, said with a click of her tongue.
It was she who had approached Paul when he was alone after executing Hilton, the man who had ruined everything.
Lazuli's proposal to him had been simple.
Join us.
Otherwise, you'll be ruined. Even if you somehow managed a draw in the duel with Herman, Elric will finish you off with one of the traps he's set. You'll either die, or you'll lose everything.
From what Lazuli had observed of Elric, he was not the type to let an enemy live. Just like the Melvingers before him, once Elric marked someone as an enemy, he would go to great lengths to eliminate them.
That's why Lazuli had chosen Paul Weyl.
She believed that someone like him, on the verge of losing everything, would be the perfect pawn for the Gregory organization.
Gregory had recently been exposed by the Inspection Bureau, forcing the organization to reveal its existence.
Therefore, before engaging in full-scale war, they needed to shake the Empire both internally and externally.
The Red Lion family was already cornered and had fully allied with Gregory.
If they could add the Blue Lion to their ranks, Gregory would have two major cards to play.
The prestige the Lions held within the Empire was immense.
'But that idiot threw away such a great opportunity,' Lazuli thought, still finding the outcome hard to believe.
Paul had immediately rejected her proposal without even considering it.
He said he couldn't trust a demon he had just met, especially one who had snuck in like a stray cat.
At the time, Lazuli had considered that a reasonable reaction, given how sudden the offer had been.
However, she had given him the option to change his mind. She had told him that even if the duel had already started, if he wanted her help, she could offer it at any time.
So Lazuli had assumed that once Paul was cornered, he would reconsider her proposal.
And after that?
Naturally, the god they served would grant him power, and the miracle would take place.
They had prepared thoroughly, blending into the crowd in disguise, ready for that moment.
But it was all for nothing.
Lazuli's irritation was justified.
However,
"I understand, though," said her elder sister, Lapis, smiling softly.
Lazuli's eyebrow twitched.
"You understand?"
"Of course. Humans, especially the males, often throw their lives away for the most foolish things—family, honor."
"Things that are completely pointless."
"Exactly. Pointless. But human males cling to such things, don't they? Paul Weyl was probably one of them."
"Because allying with us would have tarnished his family name?"
"Perhaps. Or maybe he wanted to salvage his honor with the last bit of pride he had. Or both."
"That's ridiculous. How stupid."
For demons like them, who were highly individualistic, the culture of human society was incomprehensible.
Even though they belonged to the Gregory organization, it was merely a means to achieve their own ends.
Concepts like loyalty, filial duty, or righteousness were nothing but foolish games to them.
"Stupid indeed. Utterly foolish."
Lapis narrowed her eyes.
Her two crimson pupils, glowing like fresh blood, fixed themselves firmly on Elric and Herman.
There were two more human males, just as foolish as Paul Weyl, right there.
'I wonder what kind of idiotic things they'll do next,' she thought with amusement, stroking her chin.
The head of the Melvinger family, known for being a pioneer in magic and a magic royal family for generations, is becoming a blue lion?
How would that turn out?
And how would it affect the coming war with the Empire?
It was already looking like it would be fun.
***
"The head of the magic royal family will become the next Blue Lion!"
"A magic swordsman has appeared!"
"What are you talking about? Lord Elric never wielded a sword, so he's not a magic swordsman. He's a battle magician!"
"Whatever! A magician as the Blue Lion is still…!"
The Weyl family's territory was bustling with people.
The events unfolding—from Elric's territorial war with Paul to the internal conflict between the Weyl brothers for the title of Blue Lion—had captured the curiosity of many across the Imperial capital.
Those with the time and resources had gathered directly in the Weyl territory, while the more reserved central nobles had sent people to observe and report the outcome.
Among those gathered were many who had come to support Elric.
Elric Melvinger had become a hero to the young people of the capital. His name was as influential as the imperial family and the Lion Duchy.
The story of his rivalry with Paul Weyl had spread far and wide through the media, igniting the passions of the youth.
Especially well-known was Elric's heroic actions in Lacente and how he had saved the Fourth Prince, Cromhel, at the border, forming a close bond with him.
The number of people who had gathered here, hoping to lend Elric a hand, numbered in the hundreds.
Most of them were merely local nobodies who hoped to make a name for themselves.
But there were also a few whose presence and determination stood out.
Brian was one of the latter.
Though he hadn't been allowed inside the Weyl main house and was forced to wait near the outskirts of the territory, he still harbored a deep admiration for Elric, just as much as—if not more than—anyone else.
But then he heard the rumor.
'What? Elric's been offered the title of Blue Lion? What's going on?'
Brian, unsure of what to believe, silently listened to the conversations around him.
The stories were all over the place.
There was the duel between Herman and Paul.
Then there was the part where the Inspection Bureau had brought a direct message from the Emperor, only for Elric to publicly ignore it.
And then, Elric had chosen Herman as his proxy in the territorial war and succeeded in defeating Paul.
Finally, there was the news that Herman had suddenly offered Elric the title of the next Blue Lion.
Had Brian simply heard this in passing, he would have dismissed it as nothing more than exaggerated tales spun by gossipers.
Or he might have assumed it was some ridiculous plot from a third-rate novel circulating in the markets.
But the rumors were too detailed to be dismissed as mere idle chatter.
It was hard to tell what was true and what was false.
One thing, however, was certain.
Elric had won.
"Hey? Look! There they are!"
"It's Elric Melvinger!"
"The Blue Lion is with him too!"
As Brian clenched his fist in anticipation, the crowd near the mansion suddenly erupted in excitement. Elric and Herman, along with a group of knights, were emerging from the mansion.
In an instant, the crowd surged toward them, and the entire area became a chaotic mess.
"What? The territorial war ended just like that? Already?"
"Then what do we do now?"
"We're not just going to disperse, are we?"
"That's ridiculous! I came here to make a name for myself!"
Meanwhile, those like Brian, who had hoped to join Elric's ranks, looked perplexed.
Most of them had come to support Elric, hoping for some reward or to gain recognition, and they were reluctant to leave empty-handed.
Brian, in particular, had thrown his resignation letter at his superior, Chaif, before coming here, and it would be humiliating to just return without accomplishing anything.
But how could he even catch Elric's attention at this rate?
Just as they were wondering what to do, Elric stepped forward.
The crowd, including Brian, fell silent and turned their eyes toward him.
"I want to thank everyone who came this long way to support me and my family," Elric began.
Though he didn't amplify his voice with magic, there was something about it that resonated deeply in the ears of all present.
"Thanks to your support, my family and I were able to survive this crisis and continue moving forward."
Elric scanned the crowd, making eye contact with as many as possible.
"So, in return for your support, and to show my loyalty to the Empire and the imperial family, I will be joining the Imperial forces in the suppression of the Red Lion family's rebellion."
People quickly exchanged glances.
Some were moved by Elric's words, while others began calculating their next moves.
When Elric had declared the territorial war against Paul, Herman had been a powerful shield, making it a relatively safe endeavor. But joining the suppression forces?
There would be no such safety net on the battlefield.
They started wondering what rewards they might gain from such a venture—or if they would simply risk their lives in vain.
『Looks like there are plenty of people scheming already,』 Mephistopheles commented.
[It's probably better to weed out those with other agendas from the start. Less of a headache to manage later on.]
Having followers wasn't a bad thing.
Just as Tasha Nerester had her Firebird's Nest and Prince Cromhel had his knight order, Elric could also benefit greatly from having a private organization of his own.
Perhaps this was an opportunity to build a force that could rival the likes of the Nerester family or the Anthromorph tribe.
But before that, he needed to filter out the undesirables.
Simply amassing numbers wouldn't do him any good.
『True. But I imagine your mind is still occupied with something else. It could either bolster your reputation or ruin it,』 Mephistopheles added.
Herman's proposal for Elric to become the next Blue Lion weighed heavily on his mind.
Though Elric had told him he'd consider it, the decision still lingered, pressing heavily on his heart.
[T/L: You can read ahead chapters and support me here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]