Grat tried his best to appear calm, but he couldn’t quite control the twitching around his eyes.
“What are you talking about…?”
Hemis asked with a playful lilt in her voice, “Raiderun, Choi Hyun-seok, the Saintess… didn’t you sell them all out?”
Grat swallowed hard.
‘I have to brazen this out. The moment I admit it, it’s over.’
If it became known that he was colluding with humans, he was as good as dead.
Not just dead, but subjected to every imaginable torture before his demise.
He had to maintain his innocent act until the very end.
After all, there was no concrete evidence.
Grat stroked his chin, feigning nonchalance, and said, “No. Raiderun is currently on a secret mission, and Choi Hyun-seok and the Saintess abruptly left Gadrak Castle. Their whereabouts are currently unknown.”
“Hmm~ is that so?” Hemis purred.
“Yes.”
Grat subtly shifted his eyes, trying to gauge Hemis’s expression.
All he could see were her lips, making it impossible to discern her true thoughts.
“Ohohohoho!”
Suddenly, Hemis burst into laughter.
“Actually, I was just testing the waters. I’m relieved that’s not the case.”
“Haha! Is that so?”
Grat forced a hearty laugh.
‘That crazy bitch! Some things are not to be probed so lightly!’
He felt like his lifespan had been reduced by a century.
His heart, which had been pounding like a war drum, gradually began to settle.
“Then shall we slowly return?”
“Yes. I will escort you.”
Just as they were about to head back to Gadrak Castle.
“Legion Commander!”
“Oh my, Choi Hyun-seok?”
Choi Hyun-seok materialized before them.
Grat’s expression flickered for a split second, betraying his inner turmoil, but he quickly masked it as if nothing had happened.
“Croong!”
“Our cutie is here too. It’s been a while,” Hemis cooed.
“Heph heph!”
Bobo rubbed his head against Choi Hyun-seok, overjoyed to see his owner after so long.
Leaving the joyful reunion aside, Raiderun approached Grat.
“Commander. I have completed my mission and returned.”
“Good work.”
Raiderun delivered his report succinctly, without unnecessary embellishment.
Grat could only nod in silence.
‘Damn it! What the hell did the humans do! They assured me they were fully prepared!’
His insides were churning with resentment.
In all likelihood, Choi Hyun-seok must have caught wind of something.
Otherwise, there was no reason for him to seek out Raiderun.
At that moment, Choi Hyun-seok and Grat’s eyes locked.
‘Is he… smiling?’
The corners of Choi Hyun-seok’s lips were subtly upturned.
It was as if he was silently saying, ‘I know everything.’
Choi Hyun-seok, wearing that knowing smirk, turned his head towards Hemis.
“Legion Commander. I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“It’s an important matter… excuse me.”
Choi Hyun-seok began to whisper something into Hemis’s ear.
With each movement of Choi Hyun-seok’s lips, Grat’s heart rate spiked in real time.
Choi Hyun-seok continued to speak, occasionally glancing at Grat with that infuriatingly sly smile.
‘That damn bastard…!’
Just as Grat’s fist clenched involuntarily.
Hemis erupted in a high-pitched laugh as if the story had reached its climax.
“Ohohoho! That’s interesting. Yes. That would be ideal.”
Interesting? Ideal?
What were they discussing?
Grat’s eyes darted around frantically.
‘Did they uncover the trap? Is there something I’m unaware of? No. Calm down. There’s no hard evidence. They can’t dismiss a division commander based solely on circumstantial evidence.’
Grat took a deep, steadying breath to quell his racing heart.
“Hiss… Hoo…”
Grat reasoned with himself.
There’s no need to panic.
After all, that guy doesn’t know anything for sure.
If he can just keep Vice-Commander Keun Ladeuk quiet, he can weather this storm.
“Grat. What are you doing?”
Hemis’s voice snapped him back to reality.
He looked up and realized they had already moved some distance away.
“I, I’m coming!”
Grat hastily caught up with Hemis and the others.
“So~ as I was saying. Isn’t it fortunate that I prevented the annihilation of the 2nd Legion in that situation? Otherwise, the Demon King would have had grounds to reprimand me.”
“That’s right! You are truly the Legion Commander!”
“Ohohohoho!”
Hemis was recounting the events that transpired in the Demon King’s castle.
Choi Hyun-seok showered Hemis with constant praise and admiration.
“I was also deeply upset and frustrated by the situation! I pleaded with tears in my eyes, and the Demon King finally relented.”
“Indeed! Indeed! You are the Legion Commander!”
He lauded even the most insignificant details.
Grat felt a surge of embarrassment just witnessing the extent of Choi Hyun-seok’s flattery.
‘That guy… I disliked him from the start, but seeing him grovel like this is truly repulsive.’
Just as Grat’s expression soured, his eyes met Choi Hyun-seok’s.
‘Is he… smiling?’
Choi Hyun-seok offered a subtle, knowing smile.
Rachel, perched on his shoulder, mirrored his expression with a somewhat sly grin of her own.
“Th-that, that damn…!”
“Huh? What did you say?”
A curse nearly escaped his lips, but he managed to suppress it as Hemis turned around.
“I, I was just thinking about the humans! Those damn bastards. How dare they set a trap!”
“Is that so? Ohohoho!”
“Yes! I must exact revenge next time. Hahaha!”
Grat clutched his chest.
His heart was pounding so violently that his head felt like it was ringing.
‘I’m going to die like this…’
He might become the first demon to succumb to cardiac arrest due to arrhythmia.
***
After that harrowing experience, they returned to Gadrak Castle without further incident.
Grat collapsed as if his strings had been cut, drenched in a cold sweat.
“Hoo… my heart…”
The sheer tension had completely drained him.
His life hung precariously on Hemis’s whims.
Witnessing her brutal display of power only amplified his anxiety.
“Ah, this is no time to wallow!”
Grat scanned his surroundings.
“Vice-Commander! Keun Ladeuk! Where is Keun Ladeuk!?”
Responding to the division commander’s summons, Keun Ladeuk rushed into the room.
Grat seized Keun Ladeuk by the collar without hesitation.
“You. You didn’t blabber, did you!?”
The question was riddled with omissions, but its meaning was perfectly clear.
“N-no! Really!”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes! The Legion Commander did ask a few questions, but I maintained that I knew nothing about the humans!”
Grat scrutinized Keun Ladeuk intently.
“Hmm…”
Of course, he couldn’t definitively determine whether Keun Ladeuk was lying simply by staring at him.
He merely sought to probe further, driven by his mounting anxiety.
“I understand.”
Grat released Keun Ladeuk.
“Prepare to move out quickly. We need to evacuate this place as soon as possible.”
“Yes!”
Vice-Commander Keun Ladeuk hurried out of the room.
But, almost as soon as he left, he returned.
“D-Division Commander!”
“What!?”
“The Legion Commander is requesting your presence!”
***
Grat took a deep breath.
“Hoo…”
There’s no need to be nervous.
She likely wants a report on the recent battle.
Calming his trembling heart.
He knocked on the door of the division commander’s office, which was once his own.
Knock knock.
“Come in~”
With permission granted, he cautiously opened the door.
Instantly, Grat’s expression hardened.
‘Why are those guys here…’
Hemis was not alone.
Raiderun and Choi Hyun-seok were also present.
“What are you waiting for? Come in.”
“Yes.”
Grat closed the door behind him, feigning composure, and entered the office.
Hemis stroked her chin with her long, slender fingers, her gaze fixed on Grat.
“What are your plans moving forward?”
Grat blinked, taken aback.
Why was she suddenly inquiring about his future plans?
He cautiously responded, “What do you mean…?”
“You’re expected to vacate Gadrak Castle, correct? Are you intending to remain here?”
“Ah, no! Haha! Of course not. I was planning to depart immediately!”
“Hmm~ is that so? Do you have pressing matters to attend to?”
“No! Originally, I should have departed in accordance with the Legion Commander’s orders, but the sudden human attack forced me to postpone my departure. I apologize!”
Grat bowed deeply, nearly 90 degrees.
Hemis waved her hand dismissively, as if she didn’t care.
“No matter. You may leave now. But Grat…”
“Yes.”
“There seem to be an abundance of communication devices in this division commander’s office?”
The corners of Hemis’s lips curled into a subtle smile.
A stream of cold sweat trickled down Grat’s back.
“C-Communication devices, you say?”
“Yes. Take a look at this.”
Communication devices began to materialize before Hemis, one by one.
Grat’s pupils dilated in alarm.
‘Those communication devices are…!’
Some of them were directly linked to the human commander’s network.
He had meticulously concealed them deep within a drawer, but how had she managed to retrieve them?
Grat scrambled for an explanation.
“I-I subdivided them to provide detailed instructions, resulting in this arrangement. As you know, I lack trustworthy subordinates to delegate tasks to, so I tend to issue orders directly, one by one. Hahaha…!”
“Oh, is that so?”
Hemis’s smile widened, becoming even more unsettling.
“I’m intrigued. Shall we test their functionality?”
Mana surged through the devices, causing them to illuminate with an eerie glow.
Wooong…!
Grat swallowed hard.
‘There’s no need to panic. The secret communication devices are equipped with a safety mechanism that triggers upon detecting mana other than my own.’
It doesn’t matter if it connects to a general unit.
Even if it connects to a human, the safety device will destroy it.
If that happens, he can simply dismiss it as a malfunction.
At that moment, a connection was established.
“Who’s there~?”
Hemis inquired.
Grat breathed a sigh of relief.
‘It seems to be a communication device linked to a subordinate unit.’
Since the device remained intact, it must be intended for internal communication within the unit.
But the response he received was utterly unexpected.
-Who are you? That’s not Grat’s voice.
Grat’s eyes widened in disbelief.
‘Brian Balcaz!’
The commander of the Holy Empire, Brian Balcaz.
It had connected to him of all people.
‘Why? There was supposed to be a safety device!’
Grat’s heart hammered against his ribs.
He wrestled with his surging emotions, forcing himself to maintain a semblance of calm.
“Hmm~ who am I?”
-Yes. This communication line is exclusively for Grat’s use.
“I’m the 3rd Legion Commander~”
-The 3rd Legion Commander? If it’s the 3rd Legion Commander, isn’t that the Gourmet Hemis?
Grat’s breathing became shallow and rapid.
“Huk, huk… huk…!”
Hemis raised her head, her gaze piercing Grat.
“Grat. Is something amiss?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
“Okay.”
Grat desperately tried to project an air of nonchalance.
Fortunately, Hemis redirected her attention to the communication device.
“So who are you? Judging by your reference to me as a gourmet…”
At that precise moment.
Clang!
The communication device shattered into countless fragments.
Hemis smacked her lips, feigning disappointment.
“Oh dear~ it appears it couldn’t withstand my forced override.”
“…”
“So Grat. Who was that just now?”
Grat desperately wracked his brain for a plausible explanation.
“Th-that’s a spy I planted within the human ranks!”
“A spy?”
“Yes! Intelligence is paramount for survival on the front lines, wouldn’t you agree!”
“Oh~ Grat is clever after all. Ohohoho!”
“You flatter me! Hahaha…!”
The unsettling exchange of laughter between Grat and Hemis stretched on for an agonizingly long moment.
“Grat.”
Suddenly, Hemis spoke with a grave tone.
“I understand. You may leave now.”
“Yes!”
Grat turned and slowly reached for the door.
He mustn’t appear flustered.
He had to move with as much naturalness as he could muster.
Just as he was about to escape, he overheard Hemis and Choi Hyun-seok conversing behind him.
“Now that I think about it, I also have a spy embedded within the Holy Empire. Perhaps I should contact them after this long hiatus?”
“Ooh! You are truly the Legion Commander! When did you orchestrate that!”
“Intelligence is essential for a Legion Commander’s survival, wouldn’t you agree? Ohohoho!”
“We should attempt to glean information about this impending attack from that spy while we have the opportunity.”
“Yes. Indeed, we should.”
Leaving their conversation hanging in the air.
Thud…!
The division commander’s office door slammed shut.
Simultaneously, Grat bolted, running as if his life depended on it.
‘This is bad! This is incredibly bad!!!’
Hemis clearly knew everything already.
Even if that wasn’t the case, if the human spy was real, it was only a matter of time before Grat’s treachery was exposed.
“Keun Ladeuk! Keun Ladeuk!!!”
Grat, fueled by desperation, frantically searched for his vice-commander.
“Y-yes!?”
“Follow me immediately! We’re abandoning Gadrak Castle!”
“Division Commander. Preparations are incomplete. The troops haven’t fully assembled…”
At that moment, Grat fixed Keun Ladeuk with a terrifying glare.
“Silence! Just follow me! Do you understand?”
Keun Ladeuk’s eyes widened in response to the sudden outburst.
“I don’t need those other fools, just you follow me. Is that clear?”
“But the soldiers…”
“You imbecile!”
Grat made a snap decision to abandon Keun Ladeuk.
Upon reflection, he realized he felt no loyalty towards the man.
If he was destined to be caught regardless of whether Keun Ladeuk divulged information, it was far better to simply abandon him and flee.
“Division Commander Grat. Is there an urgent matter?”
“No. Don’t concern yourself. Just continue with your assigned tasks.”
“Eyy~ how can I possibly do that~?”
Keun Ladeuk responded with a sly undertone.
Grat frowned at the unusual behavior.
“Tell me what’s happening~ Division Commander Grat.”
It was an attitude that Keun Ladeuk would never have displayed under normal circumstances.
Grat’s brow furrowed even further.
Keun Ladeuk was grinning, his gaze unwavering.
“What are you doing?”
“What do you mean~? I’m simply curious about what’s transpiring~”
Keun Ladeuk’s smile widened, becoming increasingly unsettling.
Just as Grat began to feel a sense of unease.
Joo-ook!
Keun Ladeuk’s lips were torn wide, stretching grotesquely.
His mouth, which had been perpetually smiling, now extended all the way to his ears.
“Y-y-y-you… what…!”
“Where are you rushing off to~? I’m asking you~?”
It was Hemis.
He wore Keun Ladeuk’s face, but Hemis’s voice emanated from the distorted visage.
“Aaaaaaaaaa!”
Grat fled without looking back.
Fortunately, Keun Ladeuk remained rooted to the spot, seemingly uninterested in pursuing him.
‘I can’t die like this! I will live. I will survive!’
How frantically had he run?
He had already reached the entrance of Gadrak Castle.
A soldier who recognized Grat tilted his head in confusion.
“Division Commander. Where are you headed?”
“Open the gate immediately! Now!”
Grat urged the orc soldier.
At that moment, the orc soldier’s mouth tore open in a horrifying fashion.
“Why are you doing this~? Aren’t I asking you where you’re going~?”
“Heeik…! S-save me!!!”
Grat’s personal hell had only just begun.