Chapter 158. The Budding Demon King
“...This is troublesome....”
A report lay before the Great Hero of Insight, who had finally returned after finishing his recuperation.
The Underground Kingdom had been completely flooded.
And the Great Demon Kings that had been sleeping inside it had been released into the world and scattered throughout the continent.
Then there was the not particularly shocking fact that the person responsible for such an absurd incident was Ingwang.
I deliberately left that child alone because once he goes crooked, there’s no telling how far he’ll go....
Did something happen while he was traveling with Erol?
Just who the hell upset that child this time?
Ingwang himself was unstable.
That was precisely why Aiearlo had hoped that traveling alongside Erol, who was still immature when it came to dealing with people, might help Ingwang develop a little more independence and leadership.
At the very least, unlike Ingwang’s existing companions, Erol would try to observe Ingwang from a slight distance.
And Ingwang would naturally remain conscious of the fact that a Great Hero was beside him.
...Erol.
There was a time when I misunderstood him too, but I doubt Ingwang would have disliked such a genuinely good child.
And Ingwang does seem reluctant to mistreat anyone who shows him kindness.
Then perhaps...
Ingwang had simply gone out of control on his own.
“Should I take hope from the fact that he caused no casualties despite all this...?”
Aiearlo sighed.
“Or should I be terrified that he managed to do something like this without causing any casualties?”
Before long, there would undoubtedly be a meeting where people demanded that Aiearlo explain Ingwang’s actions and take responsibility for them.
It would have been nice if he could simply summon Ingwang to attend.
Unfortunately...
Ingwang had already packed his things and fled to Karantlia.
There was no way to bring him back.
Some might criticize Erol for failing to properly supervise him.
But really...
Who in the world could stop Ingwang?
“Haa... I should have returned a little sooner.”
For a moment, Aiearlo wondered whether he should use the wish he still held.
But...
Was this truly the decisive moment to spend it?
“If I cast him out, I feel like he’ll point his blade at us.”
“If I embrace him, I feel like my insides will burn away....”
He rubbed his forehead.
“No matter how many times I look at him, he’s like a puzzle that refuses to be solved.”
Going personally to deal with Ingwang was also an option.
But he had a powerful feeling that doing so would place the Empire itself in danger.
“...Still, somehow he managed to investigate the Fanatics before leaving.”
While traveling around the Empire and beyond with Erol, Ingwang had worked diligently to collect fragments of the Hall.
At the same time, he had gathered information about the Fanatics and submitted it to Aiearlo.
Calling the document a report was somewhat generous.
It contained far too many personal opinions.
The entire thing radiated the atmosphere of—
I’m scared, so please handle it for me, Grandpa~
Aiearlo smiled bitterly while reading it.
He had become a father late in life.
And now...
He somehow felt as though he had gained a troublesome, accident-prone grandson as well.
“...Why do I feel such unreasonable fondness toward him?”
Aiearlo muttered to himself.
“Is it because I watched him fight?”
“Because I watched him overcome adversity over and over?”
“Or perhaps...”
Knock, knock.
As always, he found himself caught between emotion and reason.
Between what he needed to do for the Empire’s benefit...
And what his feelings wanted him to do.
The sound of someone knocking on his office door interrupted those thoughts.
Aiearlo exhaled shortly.
“Come in.”
“G-Great Hero... The Indomitable Hero has sent someone....”
“He sent someone?”
At a time when Ingwang’s position was as unstable as it was now...
Ingwang, who cherished his own people to an almost ridiculous degree, had sent one of them here?
Either he was extremely confident...
Or an attack on the Empire had already begun.
Aiearlo immediately grew tense.
Dealing with Ingwang alone would not be especially difficult.
But if Ingwang seriously decided to move against the Empire...
The resulting damage would undoubtedly become uncontrollable.
He had already demonstrated several times that he was capable of exactly that.
“Let them in.”
“B-But... are you sure?”
“He will never challenge me directly.”
Aiearlo spoke with the confidence of a Great Hero.
“He knows perfectly well that he cannot defeat me.”
The man at the door nodded along with that well-founded confidence.
Still hesitating, he eventually allowed Ingwang’s messenger inside.
Clatter.
Clatter.
“It’s nice... to meet you, Grandfather.”
A pale young girl wearing warm-looking fur clothes slowly entered the room.
Ivory skin.
Eyes that seemed devoid of life.
Her footsteps were awkward and slow, one step at a time, as though invisible strings were controlling her limbs.
At first glance, she appeared to be nothing more than a sickly young girl.
But the eyes of a Great Hero saw something completely different.
An extraordinary amount of life force.
But the girl herself doesn’t seem alive....
Is she merely a doll serving as a vessel?
“It is nice to meet you as well.”
Aiearlo gestured toward her.
“Is Ingwang doing well?”
“Please... don’t tease him too much.”
The girl’s voice was slow and emotionless.
“Master does not... want to become enemies with Grandfather.”
“That is likely because he is afraid of me.”
Aiearlo pointed toward the sofa.
“Come inside and sit.”
“If you have something to say, I will listen patiently.”
The girl slowly walked forward with weak steps and sat on the sofa.
She remained completely still for quite some time.
Then, as if only now remembering something—
“Ah....”
She looked at him.
“Please call me Doll... Grandfather.”
“Is that your name?”
“Yes.”
His daughter was called Jayeon.
His son Modak had been named after a campfire.
When Aiearlo thought of it that way...
The fact that this girl was simply named Doll did make some sense.
Still, his head began to ache slightly.
“What message did he ask you to deliver?”
“I... speak slowly....”
Doll lowered her head.
“Please wait... for a moment....”
She pulled a translucent purple sphere made from the Heart of the Hollow Tree out from inside her clothes.
Then she attached strings to it.
In an instant...
A doll resembling Ingwang perfectly was created.
Although the figure was being controlled by Doll...
The Ingwang doll somehow looked more human than Doll herself.
“Ah, the connection... Mm....”
Aiearlo watched quietly.
“There are many spells installed throughout the castle for security purposes.”
“Communication magic does not work especially well here.”
“Ah... I see....”
Doll nodded.
“Please... wait a moment....”
“Take your time.”
Doll opened the Ingwang doll’s chest.
She began fiddling with various things inside.
Then suddenly—
Clatter!
The doll violently jerked as though having a seizure and snapped its head upward.
“Ah, ah. Can you hear meee~?”
“Wow... it connected....”
Doll tilted her head.
“Can you... hear me...?”
“Hello? Over here~? Can’t you hear me?”
“...Ah....”
Doll peered inside its chest again.
“I think... the hearing function is damaged.”
“I’ll fix it... quickly....”
She shoved her hand deep inside the doll’s chest once more and began repairing the mechanism.
The Ingwang doll started jerking violently while making strange noises.
“Ack! That tickles! What the hell is this? Hahaha! I said it tickles!”
“It’ll... be over soon....”
“I’m sorry....”
“...Haa. This is ridiculous.”
Aiearlo sighed.
“You’re making a fool out of me for trying to build up hostility.”
“Oh! I can hear you!”
“Wow...!”
Clap, clap, clap.
Doll raised the corners of her mouth slightly, apparently smiling, and clapped.
The Ingwang doll stared around with a confused expression, opening and closing its mouth.
Looking at the two of them...
Aiearlo simply could not summon any real hostility.
“Hahaha! Grandpa Aro, hello!”
“Do I look like I am doing well?”
“...No?”
Ingwang had boldly attacked the mine...
Flooded the Underground Kingdom almost instantly...
And released the sealed Great Demon Kings into the world.
Yet he now laughed awkwardly as though embarrassed.
“Haa....”
Aiearlo pressed a hand to his stomach.
“Just thinking about everything I will have to deal with because of you makes my insides ache.”
“Huh?”
Ingwang tilted his head.
“I already settled everything related to that with Duke Soundia.”
“...What?”
Of all people...
Duke Soundia should have been the one protesting the current situation most fiercely.
What exactly was Ingwang talking about?
“Did you use the power of Madness?”
“No, no.”
Ingwang immediately shook his head.
“That’s way too much of a cheat.”
“It felt unfair.”
“Instead, I transferred more than half of my shares in the arena to him.”
“The arena....”
Aiearlo narrowed his eyes.
“I thought you created that without thinking much about it.”
“You saw right through me like always.”
Ingwang nodded proudly.
“Yeah. I made it without thinking.”
Doll slowly removed the bag from her back and placed it before Aiearlo.
Inside were documents detailing the agreement with the Duke...
Some of the recovered Hall fragments...
Detailed information about the Fanatics that Ingwang had obtained...
And part of the spoils they had collected.
“Grandpa Aro.”
Ingwang leaned closer.
“You seriously need to get rid of that Duke quickly.”
