Next Life – Chapter 152

As night fell, people drifted off to dreamland.

However, exceptions always exist.

In a corner of the Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Tubant, shadows gathered.

“Don’t you think El should do something about this?” Lovisa said, and Emma nodded.

“Her achievements are indeed remarkable. I cannot deny that. But her behavior, as if disregarding His Majesty, is going too far.”

“Because whenever something comes up, His Majesty consults El…” Barra said with a wistful expression. This was one of her worries. She was aware that it looked pathetic, as if she were jealous, but it was also a reality that she didn’t like the King’s consultations being concentrated on just one person. It was natural to start thinking that she wasn’t relied upon, that she was being slighted. And not just them, but the other consorts felt the same. While that wasn’t the case for them, it wasn’t true for all officials.

“I know it’s asking too much of His Majesty to understand these nuances, but surely that cunning Scheming Succubus can’t be unaware of this, right?” Barra said, and Lovisa and Emma nodded.

“She once eliminated a faction of nobles hostile to Marius by framing them with homosexuality. Those who aren’t familiar with human society wouldn’t even come up with such an idea.”

“In other words, she knows, but deliberately chooses not to point it out. I don’t understand the reason why,” Emma said with a mixed look of frustration and apology.

“Does she not need those who would be dissatisfied with something like this?” Barra tilted her head, and Emma shook hers.

“If you understand humans, you wouldn’t think that. Because humans, generally speaking, are creatures like that. Few would think that His Majesty’s and El’s recent behavior holds some deep strategic plan.”

That was precisely why they were troubled.

If they pointed it out directly to Marius, he would likely change. No matter how many flaws he had, he wasn’t the type of man to ignore sincere advice from others. Otherwise, no matter how strong he was, he wouldn’t have been recognized as a monarch of a nation. Marius didn’t know this, but a man who was merely strong had become king before, but he had never been accepted by those around him. That was the history of the Taliant Continent. It couldn’t be said that El was ignorant of this, as proven by her past actions. She was clearly well-versed in human society and knew how to manipulate people. For such a person to be causing discord in the court was something they couldn’t comprehend.

That’s why they had gathered like this, but it wasn’t going as planned.

“Why am I even involved in this…” someone among the women grumbled, unhappy with the conversation. It was Auraniess, who had been lured by the promise of delicious food.

“You’ve noticed His Majesty avoiding direct engagement with you, haven’t you? El is the one giving you advice on how to do so?” Emma said, and the Demon Lord replied with disinterest.

“Hmph, it’s because Marius doesn’t want to fight. It’s not like he’s trying to do anything to me.”

Although she shouldn’t have known the details of that exchange, she hit the nail on the head. The women felt a chill, wondering if this woman’s intuition was never wrong. They knew Auraniess was terrifying, but they didn’t understand her.

“More importantly than that, why didn’t any of the Goblins or Orcs choose me? That’s even more unbelievable.” Auraniess suddenly exuded anger. Marius, who was far away, jolted awake, thought, “Ah, this presence is Auraniess,” felt relieved, and returned to his dreamland. Because of this, the women nearby were drenched in cold sweat. However, they couldn’t remain silent, so Lovisa pointed out.

“Because it wouldn’t have worked like that. Why did you think Goblins and Orcs would only target young human women?”

“Huh? Isn’t it because there aren’t any females?” The answer came with a blank look, and everyone slumped.

“Even if that were the case, you should have gone for those with a history of attacking,” someone said.

“It’s an unpleasant thought, but attacking young women is probably instinctual. I don’t think they would be interested in something completely unknown.”

“Hmmph. If you see something new, you should try it first,” Auraniess grumbled. For her, trying the unknown was common sense. She must not have imagined that there were those who lacked the courage to try. The women couldn’t help but offer wry smiles at such an opponent, but Auraniess wasn’t stupid or slow-witted.

(This turn of events… I’m sensing something strategic.) Auraniess thought to herself, munching on fruit. From her perspective, El was a cunning, wicked person who lived that way. Wasn’t it unnatural for such a person not to realize she was putting herself in danger?

(Even if I point it out, these people won’t stop, I feel.) Auraniess sensed this and decided not to say anything unnecessary. Furthermore, she thought that even if the women stopped here, El would just instigate something else.

(Just a hunch.) She had no basis for it, nor any obligation to this group. Therefore, Auraniess decided to prioritize her appetite. In the end, the Demon Lord’s opinion was no longer sought, but the consequence of failure, and for whom, would not be immediately apparent.

“For now, let’s try to be more united in the future,” Lovisa said, and Barra nodded. The “Anti-El Alliance” was formed.

“I really wanted Zofi and Al to cooperate too…” Emma said regretfully. Zofi and Al had refused. The fact that both said they “don’t want to make an enemy of El” suggested that their enemy was formidable. The women felt this way. However, the situation had reached a point where it could no longer be overlooked.

“I think this matter is sufficient as a deterrent for female criminals, but what about measures for men?” Barra said.

“Well, if they were created by His Majesty and Auraniess, perhaps male criminals are just a minor issue,” Lovisa replied.

“Even if that’s the case, we should say something,” Barra, Lovisa, and Emma debated. Remika and Aina were also present, but they remained completely silent. This was because they felt intimidated.

“Do you two have anything to add?” Lovisa, noticing this, prompted them, but they shook their heads. Anything they might have thought of had already been brought up. Lovisa and Emma, realizing this while still finding them unreliable, had lost their composure.

Meanwhile, when El heard about the formation of the alliance from Al, she said, “It took longer than I expected. Is it because Emma was infatuated? I was starting to think I needed to revise the plan.” Al, hearing this, made a strange face.

“You knew?”

“Of course. What do you think I did it for? I want them to band together as much as possible.” Al, while thinking it might have been unnecessary trouble, asked about something that bothered him.

“Auraniess was participating for some reason?”

“Naturally, if people want to do something about me without my lord knowing, they’d invite Auraniess or Lady Zofi. Iris and Sophia aren’t interested in this kind of thing, and you have no intention of making an enemy of me, do you?” Al nodded.

“The people I don’t want to make enemies of are the Lord, Auraniess, and El.”

“Oh. How flattering,” El said, smiling faintly at her friend’s words.

“Auraniess was probably lured by food, or perhaps with conditions like being taught how to make the Lord eager to fight.” Al thought, “She’s figured it all out.”

“Hey, tell me. Those beings created by the Lords, they seem like they’ll have a major impact on the ecosystem in the future, is that okay?” The reply was a smile. A dark aura emanated from it. Al gave up on trying to elicit information and moved on.

“Then, next question. Why did you make the countermeasures for male sex criminals so lenient? You didn’t overlook them, did you?”

“For that, my lord doesn’t need to be troubled. We can ask our kin for help.” In other words, she would mobilize the Succubi. Al understood. He had become estranged from Zofi after acting with her, so he had completely forgotten, but their race, whom they could call kin, lived in considerable numbers.

“The men who know nothing mistake being attacked by our kin as a reward, but if they get serious, it will be a terrible punishment.”

“Indeed,” Al completely agreed. Excluding outliers like Marius, Succubi are capable of completely controlling the life and death of their partners. Whether to leave them alive, or let them die of exhaustion, is entirely at their discretion, and it can be the most terrifying torture. It could even be said that the Succubi’s specialty is transforming the ultimate pleasure into the worst torture.

“Besides, even I can’t tell my kin to handle Goblins and Orcs,” El said with a wry smile. Succubi have their own sense of honor. They had no intention of breaking it for unrelated matters, unless it was for Marius. To realize Marius’s plan, it was better to have more allies.

“Giving women males could be seen as a reward,” Al said, noticing something. El nodded.

“That’s part of it, but wouldn’t Goblins and Orcs be more shocking?”

“Well, it’s not uncommon for women to hate even hearing the name of the race,” Al was convinced.

“And if they did it perfectly, the other party wouldn’t have a leg to stand on, right? They’d have no excuse to condemn me.”

“…Is everything in your hands?” Al murmured to his close friend, who looked a bit chilling. El replied, “No, I certainly didn’t know the exact timing of its formation. But well, I hope they’ll unite and come at me now.” Al, feeling a bit frustrated by the overwhelming power, decided to launch a small attack.

“I’ll report to the Lord that El is working behind the scenes for you,” he said.

“What…?” El’s face suddenly turned bright red, and the next moment, she shouted, “Don’t do anything unnecessary. If you do, I’ll get revenge. Something much worse than when I made you cry half-heartedly back then.”

“Then, at that time, I’ll cry to the Lord that El bullied me.”

“You… you!” Al, about to leave as his colleague flustered, had words thrown at his back.

“Wait, Al. If you say anything unnecessary to the Lord, I’ll punish you, okay? I’ll get serious.”

“I know. I don’t want to be ruined yet,” Al waved his hand.

“Don’t act so confident!” El was completely agitated.

(If she showed this side of herself, she wouldn’t be disliked.) Al thought. His long-time friend was devoted and selfless, yet shy. Only she and Zofi knew this. Otherwise, he would surely have more people he could call friends.