269-263 Lionel's back




 There was no hesitation in Lionel's declaration that he would capture the Emperor.
 Then he gave instructions one after another.
''Luciel-sama, first of all, please collect the corpses of the soldiers who have turned into demons.
Okay.
'Keti, Kefin, be on the lookout for signs, magic, and sounds to alert you to the possibility of demonized soldiers.
Ha!
Esther, you take care of Paula. And if you see anything unusual that you feel is being covered up, report it to me immediately.
Yes, sir.
'Paula ... Mr. Luciel, do you have any extra honey, bread, etc.?
Yeah, I have.
Give that to Paula. That honey will bring a little magic back.
 Sure, that honey would restore some of the magic, but I don't know how you come up with it.
All right. Okay, Paula, here's one and here's one.
Thanks.
 As soon as Paula received the bread and honey, she poured the honey over the bread and began to munch on it.
Now, let's be as quick as possible. Now let's hurry as much as we can, for if the Emperor leaves his bedchamber, his guards will be on him.
Okay.
 Nevertheless, the way Lionel was giving me directions was very imposing.
 Even so, I was painfully aware that Lionel was still letting me continue to take command, and that it was to encourage me to grow.

 As I headed to collect the demonized corpse as instructed, I heard Lionel's voice on my back.
''As soon as Luciel-sama finishes retrieving the corpse, we'll head to the Emperor's sleeping quarters. From here, you'll be able to focus one more step and get to work.
"[Aha]
 I'm sure I wouldn't be as persuasive as I was if I said the same words to you.
 Even if only while I'm in the Empire, I'll let you learn the side of Lionel, not as a player but as a leader.
 With that in mind, I collect the corpse.

''Well that's worse than the demon race we recovered down there.
 The words came out of his mouth without a second thought.
 I didn't know where and how to modify them to make them like this, but the corpses had been drained of water like mummies.
 As expected, I didn't want to touch them, so I poked the corpses with my illusionary wand and stored them in the magic bag.
 There was no demon tribe pretending to be dead, so the retrieval was over quickly, but I strongly believe that this demonization technique is a forbidden.......kind of forbidden art.
 However, it seems like we have crossed a line that we should not cross as people, but we never felt like the gods intervened.
''........Couldn't the gods intervene in this world? Or it can't be contraindicated... either way-- 
 I don't know how the reincarnation named Alice got involved in Cloud's research, but there's a chance that I'll have to have my memories rewritten by the dark spirits in the worst case scenario.
 I finished retrieving all the corpses when I felt a little heavy hearted.
 Then Lionel called out to me.

''Luciel-sama, I would like to contact Doran while we move, if that's alright?
Yeah.
 I take the magic ball out of the magic bag and hand it to Lionel.
Thank you, sir. Thank you very much, let's go to the emperor's bedchamber. In the meantime, I will make a call. Also, I would like to ask Luciel-sama to prepare the sanctuary wards just in case.
That's fine, but do you plan to use it anywhere?
''Yes. If the emperor is turning into a demon race, I definitely want you to return from the demon race to the human race. And even if he has the means to turn into a demon race, we will definitely stop him from doing so.
 It's like declaring that I won't even give him time to turn into a demon race like Cloud. Furthermore, even if he was turned into a demon race like Melfina, if he seems to be conscious, I want to turn him back somehow.
 I can feel that kind of feeling.
''I understand. If there's anything else you want to do, feel free to ask for instructions.
''I understand. But for now, Luciel-sama, please try to recover your own magic power.
Yes, sir.
Let's go, boys and girls.
 Lionel nodded, and this time he called out to everyone and then proceeded to take the lead.
 As I watched his back, I felt a different dependability from Master Brod.

 I may see maids and other servants as I move through the place, but when they see Lionel, who is fully armed, everyone comes up to the edge and bows their heads.
 I thought they would just walk by it, but Lionel would always say just one word to them.
''Good morning. Good luck with your day for the sake of the Empire and yourself.''
Good morning. You look a little pale, so don't take it easy.
 What a very gentleman he was.
Even when he was an imperial general, he used to talk to me like that. He was feared by his enemies, feared by his soldiers, and otherwise adored by them.
 It's a good thing that you're not the only one who can get the job done.
 As far as I'm concerned, I'm sure that when Cloud was pretending to be Lionel, he didn't greet you as far as he could.
 I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world, and you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.
Thank you.
 I was very impressed that Lionel was very happy to tell her with a very happy smile.
 I was very proud that Lionel was the strongest in the Empire and one of the best personalities in the Empire.
 I've heard that position makes a person, but Lionel must have become the Empire's general as he was meant to be.  
''Well I'm missing a lot of things. But someday, I'm sure...
 I followed Lionel, muttering so that no one could hear me.

 We passed through a long corridor and up the stairs, and when we finally came to the front of the sleeping quarters, there were ten soldiers standing by.
''Luciel-sama, Estia, we don't want to have to fight here, so please follow the instructions.
Yes.
'First of all, Master Luciel, please give me a purification wave. Is it possible for Esther to drop consciousness only for those who have suffered?
If they're still human, I think it will work. But I don't know if it's a demon.
'Then, if you cannot lose consciousness, I will ask Master Luciel to give you another purification wave. Keti and Kefin, when the cleansing wave is activated a second time, subdue the afflicted soldiers with all your might.
Ha!
 It was a very simple (simple) strategy.
 Nevertheless, when I believed in Lionel and activated the purification wave, I saw that about four of the soldiers who were touched by the purification wave began to suffer.
 There, Esther put a black-purple haze on the suffering soldiers.
 However, they couldn't reap the consciousness, and the eight eyes turned to me as if I had lied about suffering from the cleansing wave.
 When I activated the second cleansing wave, four more men began to suffer.
 The rest of the soldiers turned to look at me as they attacked, but I'm sure the only thing they saw was Lionel.
 He threw a dense amount of intimidation at the soldiers.
 Keti and Kefin closed the distance of about fifteen meters in one fell swoop, and after delivering a powerful blow to the backs and necks of the four men, they cut off their arms.
 As expected, they were stunned, but Lionel approached the soldiers while intimidating them.
''I have an important conversation with Your Majesty. I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more information on this. Is that alright?
 The six men look at each other and one of the representatives begins to speak.

''General Lionel, these are the men the General has put on as His Majesty's guards, right? What does the General think of that responsibility? Depending on your answer, no matter how much of a general you are, I will not let you pass this place.
 The soldier replied spiritedly, despite the large beads of sweat on his forehead.
 Lionel must have laughed happily and then released his intimidation.
 A look of relief could be seen from all six of them.

You can't blame them for this. It will soon become public knowledge that I have not been in the empire since the defeat a little over two years ago, and I have been disguised as me. And I have just defeated the demon tribe that was disguised as me.
 Lionel told the truth in an unwrapped manner.
 But the soldiers looked puzzled.
''Do you have any proof of this, sir?''
It's there. The head of the demon tribe that was disguised as me. And the infiltrator (spy) and enslaved mage who used the power of the demon race. In addition, His Highness Prince Albert and former Saint Fermina are in safe custody.
 The representative soldier was lost, but his gaze turned to me.
''I understand. By the way, who are those people?''
'Master Luciel, the S-level healer and wise man who saved my life. And his followers. One of them has been my squire for a long time, though.
''...I see. It seems to be something we cannot determine. General, can you do me a favor and listen to me?
I'm listening.
''We have to hold back the demon tribe that was invading the place. Therefore, we need the strongest general in the empire to protect this place.
Okay. Well, I'll leave you to it. Thank you.
What are you talking about? It is for us to thank you.
 The soldiers held the demons down and moved closer to the edge to let us through.

 Then Lionel knocked on the door of the sleeping quarters where the emperor was.