The Heavenly Demon Can’t Live A Normal Life [EN]: Chapter 193

Fabius was known around Cairo as “the Raccoon.” People called him this because he was clever and quick, always finding ways to get what he wanted, just like a raccoon finds food. Recently, when Marquis Benedict fought against Roman Dmitry, Fabius surprised everyone by turning against the nobles he used to support.

Some people criticized him for it.

They said that betraying the group of nobles, to which he had belonged for so long, would damage his reputation, no matter how much he tried to gain.

They weren’t wrong.

Fabius was not someone to trust, but that didn’t mean his abilities should be underestimated.

Daniel Cairo thought that Fabius might just be the right person.

“Fabius is one of the most politically skilled people in Cairo. He understands situations well and makes choices that benefit him with quick decisions. Even though he was a key figure following Marquis Benedict, the fact that he is now supporting Roman Dmitry proves his abilities for sure.”

This issue required someone with excellent diplomatic skills.

To perfectly execute Roman Dmitry’s plan, one needed the courage to speak their mind without fear, even when facing the dangerous Chronos Empire.

Fabius met those conditions.

Beyond just his abilities, Fabius was looking for an opportunity to prove his worth.

A new future.

The situation had changed.

Count Fabius openly showed his intention to be part of that future.

“It’s not a bad choice since his intentions are clear. If each of us achieves our goals, there’s no better outcome than that,” Daniel Cairo said.

“Negotiations with Chronos are not a simple matter. They are like magical bombs that could make any choice, and they might even violate the continent’s customs of not harming envoys. We intend to reject their proposals and lead them in the direction we think is right. Your life could be in danger if you say no. Can you take that risk and still depart as an envoy to the Chronos Empire?”

“I am prepared to give my life for Cairo. I will do my best to perfectly carry out the mission.”

There was no hesitation in his answer.

Then, the choice was Roman Dmitry’s.

Daniel Cairo turned his gaze and asked Roman Dmitry.

“I believe Count Fabius is the right person for this job. Roman Dmitry, what do you think?”

The meeting ended.

After the meeting, Roman Dmitry thought about Daniel Cairo’s words. He decided to speak with Fabius privately.

Roman Dmitry, given a day to decide, walked away separately with Count Fabius.

He stopped walking.

They walked away from the meeting room and stopped in a quiet garden, where the evening air was cool and the scent of flowers hung in the air. Roman Dmitry looked at Fabius.

“Tell me what you want.”

A Count and the heir of a noble family.

Even though the difference in their status was clear, both Roman Dmitry, who spoke down to him, and Count Fabius, who listened to it, accepted the situation naturally.

From the moment Count Fabius volunteered to be at the forefront of punishing the aristocratic faction, they had naturally stepped onto the boundary between lord and vassal, regardless of their status.

The stage was set.

Count Fabius lowered his head and said in a cautious voice.

“In the last battle, I had the honor of being at the forefront for Roman Dmitry. I might be asking for too much, but I hope that our relationship will not end. I, Fabius, want to serve Roman Dmitry. Please consider this envoy issue as a sign of my loyalty to you.”

A lifeline that appeared before his eyes.

Count Fabius gripped it tightly.

Knowing so well the negative opinions about him, his loyalty was a little different from others.

“I will not deny that I am a turncoat. No matter how much I prove my abilities and swear my loyalty, people will always see me as someone who betrays others. People say that a person who has turned once is likely to repeat the same choice again. I cannot guarantee my future either. Unlike others who follow Roman Dmitry, I cannot blindly ask you to believe in me, but I will take this opportunity to promise you.”

He looked at Roman.

His eyes showed his determination.

“I do not wish to be treated the same as those whom Roman Dmitry trusts. However, please use me, Count Fabius, in the future. Anything is fine. Just like leaving as an envoy this time, if it is Roman Dmitry’s order, I will risk my life. I will prove that I want to be more than just someone who follows orders. I want to be someone who is useful and does things well. In return, please promise me just one thing. Help me become powerful and respected. If I can live as a powerful figure by Roman Dmitry’s side, I am ready to do anything.”

Fabius’s proposal was shockingly straightforward.

Instead of a typical lord-vassal relationship, he spoke of a transactional relationship that demanded each other’s abilities.

If Roman Dmitry remained a powerful figure, if he didn’t fail like Marquis Benedict, Fabius said he would remain a useful person to Dmitry until the end.

‘Count Fabius’s decision is not accidental. He experienced the war with me, and in the process, he understood what kind of person I am. He realized that the ideal I desire is not a one-sided emotion like the romanticists that ordinary lords want, but a structure that benefits each other.’

It was interesting.

On the fierce battlefield, while Roman Dmitry fought the enemies, Count Fabius constantly watched Roman Dmitry from outside his line of sight.

How he acted, what values he had, and what standards were used to form relationships with those who followed him.

Various figures.

The reasons for loyalty varied.

Chris wanted power surpassing Roman Dmitry, Kevin expressed blind loyalty to the savior of his life, and Henderson admired Roman Dmitry, who had punished Blood Fang, like a hero from history.

It wasn’t just such emotional exchanges.

Volkan and Pooky, who were mercenaries, seemed satisfied with the clear benefits that Roman Dmitry provided, and everyone had different reasons for following Roman.

What was certain was that Roman Dmitry satisfied everyone.

Seeing him form relationships of benefit no matter what they wanted, Count Fabius instinctively knew what was important.

If Roman Dmitry was a similar type to Benedict, Fabius would have brazenly shouted blind loyalty.

But because he was a different type, he rather honestly emphasized a relationship that benefited each other.

“Please accept me.”

He knelt.

He lowered his head and abandoned his pride.

He was an increasingly likeable figure.

Roman Dmitry understood Fabius’s reasons and knew what Fabius wanted.

“Count Fabius.”

Roman Dmitry looked up as the man knelt before him.

“From this moment forward, as my man, you will enjoy everything you desire,” Roman Dmitry said, his eyes unwavering.

A few days later, Count Fabius, having completed all preparations, joined the delegation and set off for the Chronos Empire. They didn’t have much time, with a ten-day deadline, the delegation had to hasten their pace, even if it meant a demanding march.

During their journey, a nobleman loyal to the King, who was part of the delegation, asked, “Fabius, I don’t get it. How do you betray people and still do okay? Especially with someone like Roman Dmitry!”

It was a frank question, and Fabius chuckled as he replied.

“People make a mistake; there is a certain romance to betrayal,” Fabius said.

“Romance?” the nobleman asked.

“Yes. People often talk about betrayers who just move from one person to another without any real beliefs, showing an attitude that seeks only profit. Such beings are not worthy of swearing loyalty. Powerful figures will already have those who have dedicated themselves to reaching that position by their side. If you don’t differentiate yourself from them, how can you survive?” Fabius explained.

He spurred his horse on, gazing at the plains, he thought of Roman Dmitry.

‘That’s why I always offer my sincerity. Even knowing that Fabius is a turncoat, I prove my usefulness to such an extent that they cannot discard me. It’s a simple matter. There is someone willing to risk their life for you. If a person who boldly makes decisions that even loyal subjects hesitate to make was a turncoat in the past, would you abandon them for that one reason?’

“…Perhaps they would keep them close and use them,” the nobleman said.

“That’s it. The act of using them. That one opportunity becomes the reason for accepting a turncoat,” Fabius replied.

In truth, the relationship so far had not been entirely sincere. He carried out orders with genuine effort, but it was merely the image the other party desired. However, Roman Dmitry was different. For the first time, instead of wearing a mask and speaking of loyalty, he spoke frankly about a transactional relationship.

‘I, too, do not enjoy a life of betrayal. If Marquis Benedict had remained a powerful figure for life, I would have lived a life for him. The reason I live as a turncoat is because there is no one worthy of such loyalty. And Roman Dmitry is completely different from the beings I have experienced.’

It might be a hasty judgment, but perhaps, just perhaps, Count Fabius had a feeling that he might have found the person he would serve for the rest of his life.

They arrived in Aleksandr, the Imperial Capital. Count Fabius, visiting the Empire for the first time, was wide-eyed at the sight that began from the city gates.

‘…So this is the Empire,’ he thought.

The massive castle and the magnificent buildings, unseen in Cairo, captured his eye. Strong soldiers, seemingly guards, passed by on the well-paved roads, matching their ranks with chilling precision. They scanned their surroundings with sharp eyes, proving how powerful the Emperor’s authority was. It was different from Cairo. Daniel Cairo was swayed by the nobles, but Chronos was a nation that revered the Emperor like a god.

“Follow me,” a knight said, guiding them through the city gates. The emblem displayed on their arm proved they were from the 7th Knight Order, and even as the 7th, their spirit was extraordinary. Each time their eyes met, the intensity was so great that it took his breath away. Even if Count Fabius was not a great swordsman, he could at least gauge whether or not the opponent was an approachable being. It was certain that the Empire’s knights were stronger than Count Nicholas. A being once called the best swordsman in Cairo could not confidently say that they could defeat even the 7th Knight Order.

‘I have now entered a world beyond the heavens,’ he thought, his mouth parched. He had not yet met the Twelve Swords of the Continent. If they were in charge of his guidance, they would clearly be mere gatekeepers, but even that was enough to completely overwhelm Count Fabius.

Only now did he recall the reason why Cairo had been groveling before Chronos. Roman Dmitry had dealt with Gustavo, the commander of the 10th Knight Order, on the battlefield, but such a result had no impact on Chronos’s power, as they possessed a military force that was beyond approach.

He moved his feet and entered the most beautiful palace, the Imperial Palace. After passing through an endless corridor, he stopped in front of a massive door.

“Your Majesty, the delegation has arrived,” the knight announced. They could not open the door immediately. This was the Emperor’s space, and even simply looking at the door and speaking, the knight of the Chronos Empire bowed his head in respect. Count Fabius had no choice but to follow suit. He bowed his head towards the massive door, not daring to look up until the Emperor’s command fell from beyond the door.

It was then that the door creaked open. Finally entering inside, Count Fabius shuddered as he confirmed the being before his eyes.

The Emperor of the Empire was there, looking down from the highest place. Count Fabius swallowed hard.

‘…The moment I misspeak, I will die in this place,’ he thought, a warning from his instincts. The Emperor was an unapproachable giant, that was Count Fabius’s judgment upon first meeting the Chronos Emperor.