Chapter 23

Isak was a man born with the qualities of a hero.

This meant he had no hesitation in stepping on others' shoulders to climb up.

It would also be correct to say he had no conscience.

That was why, with Isak's way of thinking, he could not understand an ordinary commoner who struggled to survive.

Because he had never once cast his gaze upon such trivial things.

Moreover, as a medieval man, it was hard to imagine that the soul of a gamer from another world resided in Leon.

This is why conversation between people is important.

Misunderstandings must be resolved in a timely manner.

If Isak had only promised to let Leon live, Leon would have sided with him.

But that worldline had long since split off and drifted away.

There was no way to turn back time and go to the past, so all that remained for Isak now was a burning city and an unfinished battle.

However, Isak was a man who had a knack for battle.

And in most wars, all you needed to do was capture the enemy commander.

It was for that reason that Isak shot Leon with a crossbow the moment he saw him at the negotiation table.

***

Oh, that was a surprise.

I almost died.

I glared at the arrow embedded in the shield.

It had been loaded with such force that even after hitting its mark, the arrow was still dancing up and down.

“……”

Let's be honest.

I couldn't even react.

If Theo hadn't blocked it quickly, I would have had an arrow piercing my head like a Halloween decoration.

“Theo, thank you. You saved my life.”

“No. It was just luck. I just blocked it thinking something was flying this way.”

“……”

Hearing his dazed voice, it seemed Theo had also blocked it unconsciously.

I returned to reality.

Isak, who had launched the surprise attack, was casually tossing the crossbow aside as if it were a disposable item.

It was truly an attitude of unparalleled self-importance.

The reason I wasn't angry at his audacity wasn't just because I was dumbfounded, but because the Heart of Iron and Blood trait was forcibly clearing my mind.

「Trait Activated: Heart of Iron and Blood Some things happen in an instant. Like the grim reaper who takes a life.」

I protested to Isak.

“Duke Isak, isn't your welcoming greeting a bit too aggressive?”

“A pity. I could have sent you off in one shot. Next time, I should aim a little lower. I've learned a good lesson.”

“Is that what you have to say right now?”

“Why are you making such a fuss?”

“What?”

It was beyond absurd, but Isak turned the tables and admonished me.

“Have you forgotten that we are at war? In war, one must win by any means necessary. If you didn't know, you should reflect on it.”

“……”

“No, wait. Stay just like that next time. If you suddenly die screaming, it's a good thing for me. I can roughly guess what your last words will be. You'll probably say, ‘What on earth is happening?’”

“……”

That bastard is really not normal.

I learned a new side of Isak I hadn't known, but it wasn't a pleasant discovery.

I was just staring blankly out of sheer absurdity when Isak's subordinates brought out a high-class chair that a company executive might use.

Isak sat in that chair, crossed his legs, and said to me.

“What are you doing? Didn't you come to negotiate? Hurry up and sit down. How rude, just as one would expect from someone of the Akardi family.”

I realized one thing.

The Heart of Iron and Blood trait doesn't even activate for something this ridiculous.

Fortunately, I wasn't the only one who was dumbfounded.

I looked to the side and saw that everyone else had a baffled expression, which was a small comfort.

“Should I shoot?”

Theo whispered, as if he disapproved of Isak.

We had already deployed troops around the negotiation site just in case.

“No. Hold on for a moment. That's a last resort.”

It was a tempting suggestion, but I shook my head.

Doing so would be satisfying, but the negotiations would truly fall apart.

Not only would there be no room for dialogue, but one side would have to die.

But my top priority is to survive, not to die in the midst of chaos.

“……”

Suddenly thinking that, I understood Isak's way of acting.

Isak never moves with only one goal in mind.

He came to negotiate and shot a crossbow at me?

That's because my death is more beneficial than negotiating.

When killing me failed, he brazenly suggested negotiating?

That's what we gathered for in the first place, so there's no problem.

If I get intimidated by the threat, he can also seize the initiative in the negotiations, and if things go wrong, he can turn the negotiation site into a bloodbath with his army.

It was a way of thinking that only someone with extreme rationality, who believes they have the upper hand in negotiations, could have. 'If you don't like it, let's have a go,' is what he was saying.

At this point, Isak didn't seem human.

Isak was the god of negotiation.

But I am a genius who blasphemes even the gods.

Hmm……. To be honest, I'm not a genius.

But I can blaspheme the gods.

Let's give it a try.

Who does he think he's scaring?

“Theo. Bring a chair. Let's have a conversation.”

Instead of following my instruction, Theo protested.

“Hey, how am I supposed to get a chair here?”

“Why not?”

“Look around. Is that even possible?”

I looked around.

The place I had designated for the negotiations was an outdoor square.

And in the square, which had been swept over by the tide of war, only broken pieces of stone were rolling around.

It was a wonder they managed to get a high-class chair in this mess in the first place.

Where did they get that from?

“But it looks strange if I'm the only one standing while they're sitting. A person has to have some dignity. I need to maintain my class.”

“Then go over to that side. I'm sure they'll welcome you.”

“Ah, come on.”

“What can't be done, can't be done.”

Theo flatly refused my timid request.

I licked my lips and casually perched on a rock rolling around nearby.

It might look funny, but it's better than standing.

Since it's a dynamic posture, won't it make me look like an active person?

Isak looked at me as if I were pathetic.

Right.

You must be happy your subordinates are so well-prepared.

But I'm not the kind of bad leader who forces my subordinates to suffer just so I can receive ceremonial treatment.

I feel like glares are pouring in from behind, but let's ignore them.

“Now, let's begin the negotiations. It took a long time to say this one phrase. Thank you for waiting.”

“So, what did you call me here to talk about?”

“It's because of this situation.”

“What?”

“The Imperial Capital is burning because of the fire you set. Not to mention the damage to the citizens. If we just leave it like this, the city will turn to ashes. Shouldn't we prevent that?”

Isak's lips curled up slightly.

A sneer.

“I never thought I'd hear such words from the mouth of someone from the great Akardi family.”

“Why? Can't you believe it?”

“It's like a cat thinking of a mouse. Stop with that nonsense and speak honestly. What are you after?”

Aish, really.

Both Belius and Isak, why does no one believe what I say?

Even after hearing this one hundred percent unadulterated truth, and seeing a face that inspires trust, how can they say such things?

It can't be helped.

It must be because I'm so outstanding that people are jealous.

Let's think of it that way.

“In that case, I will gladly get to the point.”

“I knew you were hiding your true intentions.”

As Isak spoke as if he had known all along, I let out a smirk.

“If you withdraw from the Imperial Capital even now, I will let you keep your life.”

***

I felt the air around us freeze.

Everyone fell silent, and the surroundings grew quiet.

Through that silence, a heat-laden wind blew.

It was basically a declaration that I would kill him.

No one is happy to receive a death threat.

But Isak's face was indifferent.

“I didn't know you had a habit of spouting nonsense when you're at a disadvantage. Not everything you say is a threat. Do you really think those words pose a threat?”

“What if it's not a threat?”

“By what means? Are you unaware that our military strength is far superior, or are you pretending not to know?”

“But this Imperial Capital is in my hands.”

“That will also change in a moment.”

“You may test it if you wish. But I will not be responsible for what happens as a result.”

“You're bluffing. You want me to fall for it.”

Oh really?

So that's what you think?

I gestured to Theo with my chin.

Theo nodded and gestured to someone far away.

As his own subordinates stirred, Isak raised his hand to stop them.

It seemed to mean ‘watch.’

A moment later, Rumble!

A pure white flash erupted from the other side of the city, followed by a huge explosion.

The vibration from the explosion reached us, and the ground shook.

Both sides looked over there in agitation.

“What was that?”

“What happened?”

I explained.

“That went off in the southern square. It's my first time trying it, but it explodes quite neatly.”

“……How do you know that?”

“I prepared flammable materials in various places in advance to self-destruct if the situation gets worse. That was one of them.”

“What!”

Isak looked as if he had been caught off guard.

“Do you understand what I'm saying now? With just one word from me, the entire city will be blown away. Then I'll die, Duke Isak will die, we'll all die together. Or would you like to test how lucky you are? Who knows? You might be the only one to survive the explosion.”

“Just a moment ago, didn't you say we had to prevent the Imperial Capital from turning to ashes?”

“I was just saying that. You're so naive.”

“You…… are you really insane?!”

“No. I'm completely sane. That's why I'm doing this.”

I was serious.

I never thought a situation would arise where I'd be threatening someone with my own life, but what can you do.

This is the situation.

Fail this way or fail that way, I'm dead either way.

If so, shouldn't the end be a spectacular one?

Isak bared his teeth.

It's a face that looks like he's smiling and angry at the same time.

I think I heard that primate animals make that kind of face when threatening an opponent.

“Do you even know what kind of place the Imperial Capital is to be doing this?”

I said with a wide smile.

“Of course I know. And I also know that you, Duke Isak, are aiming for the throne.”

“Hah.”

“What use is the throne if this city, which holds the thousand-year history of the Empire, is gone? Isn't that right?”

The Imperial Capital is where the Emperor has resided since ancient times.

The historical value of the Imperial Palace goes without saying, and nationally, institutions like the central government and the Senate are all gathered here.

So without the Imperial Capital, all functions of the Empire would cease, and the Empire would be shattered.

That's why the final goal of most scenarios in is to retake the Imperial Capital.

At least, according to the lore.

“……”

Isak glared at me silently, but it wasn't scary at all.

Alright, it's a game of chicken.

Let's see who wins.

However, this game is entirely in my favor.

In a game of chicken, the person with more to lose is at a disadvantage.

I only have one life to lose, but Isak has much more to lose.

As someone aiming for the throne, Isak can never give up the Imperial Capital.

And as a living being, he can never give up his life.

There's no way the intelligent Isak couldn't guess my thoughts exactly.

The only thing I'm worried about is the case where Isak goes crazy and refuses, saying, ‘I don't negotiate with terrorists.’

Then there's really no choice but to go ‘boom’ and blow everything up.

After a long, breathtaking time passed, just as I was starting to wonder if I should blow up one more, a notification suddenly appeared.

「Trait Activated: Descendant of a Demon A drop of truth in a bitter cup of lies」

At the same time, Isak let out a deep sigh.

“Damn Akardi family. Vicious to the core, from top to bottom.”

I smiled a triumphant smile.

It didn't really matter that I was being insulted since I had no sense of belonging to the Akardi family.

Because that was the answer I had been hoping for the most, a roundabout way of saying, ‘Won't you call it a draw?’

“What do you want? Tell me what you want.”

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.