NOVEL WEB Chapter 292
Chapter 292. Fate and Decision
“Eh, ah, no, I’m sorry! Right, if my limbs have come back, then my self should be back too…!”
It seemed that Leila finally remembered that Liliana was a High Elf, as she turned red and waved her hands in a flustered manner.
“Um, Liliana… would it be alright if I call you that today?”
“Aha! Just call me Liliana like before.”
Leila, dressed almost in nothing but the {Kizuna} equipment, froze up, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight.
“Sure, I’ve regained my self, but it doesn’t mean the memories I have with you have disappeared. Everything we spent together… um… all of it…”
Liliana’s words started to trail off.
“All of it… I remember…”
Her voice was so faint it seemed like it might vanish. I felt her forehead gently bump into the back of my head.
“………”
Silence.
I could feel the sweat start to bead on my forehead.
She remembers everything… Well, I also have memories from the time when I was active as the Demon Lord’s Prince Zilbagias, so I can’t really say it’s unexpected… Not just the cuddling and bathing, but ugh, my head…
Leila wore a smile that looked almost like a strained smile, while Antendeixis was desperately trying not to laugh like a sleazy old man at a tavern.
Suddenly, Liliana stroked my shoulder.
No… that’s not it! This isn’t my shoulder…
It’s the Bon-Daze style I’m wearing…!
“It’s my skin, you know…”
She said softly.
“………”
I felt the sweat start to trickle down.
“Ohh…”
Antendeixis made a strange noise. Don’t start summoning forbidden powers now…!! Someone… anyone, help me…!
…No, what kind of face am I making asking for help? I chose this path myself. So, all responsibility lies with me…!
“Um—Liliana.”
“It’s alright.”
Liliana hugged me from behind again.
“….You have no idea how much I’ve been saved by being pulled out of that hell. You probably wouldn’t understand.”
She trembled a little.
“Someone who wanted to disappear, who thought they had nothing to live for… You made me remember the warmth of the sun, the joy of living, the simple happiness— you made me remember it all.”
Liliana’s fingers tightened around me.
“And to think I would never see you again… I got to see you once more. I was so happy. Being with you made me happy. So don’t apologize.”
Thank you—
With a trembling voice, Liliana whispered.
………
“I too… I was saved a lot. It’s not just that you healed my injuries. At that time, no one was on my side except Antendeixis. Knowing you were alive and being with you…”
Just how much I’ve been saved.
“Thank you so much.”
I patted Liliana’s hand.
“For being with me all this time, thank you.”
I heard her gasp softly.
I turned around. I looked up at Liliana’s face. Her slender legs had returned to normal, and now she was a bit taller than me.
Things had changed; I couldn’t stay like before anymore.
“You want to go home, don’t you? To the forest?”
Liliana’s face paled, and she lost her words— yet, she did not deny it.
She had stopped being a dog.
The reason she could play the role of a dog was simply that she had wished for it herself.
Even if I tried to seal her self again with forbidden magic now, I would have to seal away my own true self as Alexander, and once the magic was lifted, she would regain her self again.
Or if I were to cut off her limbs and forced her to pretend to be a dog with reason—even then, I don’t think I could fool the cunning Night Elves. Living in the Demon Lord Castle like before would be difficult.
I had been thinking about it all along.
What would I do if Liliana regained her self?
“As for me— I’d like to inform Her Majesty the Queen of the Holy Great Tree Alliance about the current situation.”
Right now, the Forest Elves were on the brink of a crucial decision.
In about ten years, the frontlines would meet the Elf Forest.
I think Liliana regaining her self at this timing isn’t just to support me. She probably had an inkling that her hometown was about to be engulfed in flames.
Therefore, the existence of me as a trump card.
Also, the current situation of the Demon Lord Kingdom, national strategy, and the Night Elf intelligence network.
If this information reaches the leadership of the Holy Great Tree Alliance—
It would significantly influence their future decision-making.
At the very least, they wouldn’t resort to desperate actions, such as recklessly rushing in, thinking the forest couldn’t defend itself and deciding to retreat from the alliance to isolate themselves.
If I rise up, the Demon Lord Kingdom would surely waver. With that hope, they would be able to choose strategic retreats or delaying tactics. The High Elves, being long-lived, could act with a view towards one hundred or two hundred years ahead.
And if the Forest Elves continue to support without giving up, the allied forces still have a fighting chance.
The longer the front lines hold, the more the eastern alliance territory would be shielded from the fire of war.
—Innocent people could be saved.
…If only I could inform the Holy Church as well, but I can’t because of the Night Elf intelligence network. Even regarding the highly classified operation to assault the Demon Lord Castle, although I managed to conceal the whole picture, the general movements of the White Dragon and various nations’ delegations were still grasped.
It’s frustrating not being able to rely on my fellow humans in this matter. However, if I can relay what I’ve learned about the puppet merchant association to the High Elf Queen, it could deal a significant blow to their intelligence network.
“…Alexander.”
Antendeixis spoke with a remarkably cold expression, contrasting with his earlier demeanor.
“I’m against it. Even if it means tearing her limbs off, we should keep her close. If by any chance information leaks, it could precipitate disastrous results.”
—The worst-case scenario for me would be for my information to leak and reach the Demon Lord Kingdom.
I could laugh it off as mere nonsense from the alliance’s ridiculous interference—but my existence is too unique. Just being looked at with doubt could spell danger.
“I understand your feelings. I understand Liliana’s feelings too… Just to let you know, as the forbidden Demon God, your pain will probably generate corresponding magical power.”
“And how many human slaves is that worth?”
I asked back, while aware of the sardonic smile creeping onto my face.
“If Liliana leaves, I’ll end up using slaves for the teleportation spell like before. Knowing this, you’re trying to send her away… I’d probably earn magic power far exceeding the troubles I’d cause Liliana in a month.”
“………”
Antendeixis fell silent. That was an exceptionally eloquent affirmation.
Taking away the limbs and free will of a former comrade, making her suffer and utilize her—indeed, that would generate considerable magical power.
However, compared to the crime of killing one’s own kin, it felt weaker as a taboo. She is a single irreplaceable comrade from my previous life— yet that also means she is just one.
“I don’t want to create any unnecessary casualties either. But if Liliana can convey this information, it will greatly influence the fate of the alliance and consequently reduce casualties.”
“Ugh… But what about the risks of leaked information?”
“I’ll laugh it off! …Just kidding, but if Liliana can escape to the Elf Village safely, I believe the chances of leaks are minimal.”
—If she were a normal Forest Elf, I wouldn’t let her escape.
But in reality, she’s a High Elf Saint, one of the Queen’s daughters. She’s one of the few people who can have direct conversations with the Queen without involving other Forest Elves.
“Is there any more suitable person to bear confidential information?”
Alternatively, there’s also the option of not revealing any information about me. Liliana, who had been the Demon Lord’s pet, could feign her death and escape, fooling even the Forest Elves.
That way, my identity could remain concealed while still disseminating useful information to the alliance.
“In any case, the depths of the village protected by the Holy Great Tree cannot be invaded by dark beings.”
If confidential information is only shared with the High Elf Queen and a select few key figures, the chances of leaks would be extremely low. The High Elves involved in decision-making for the Holy Great Tree Alliance hardly leave the Elf Village.
“Now is the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The only other chance would be if Leila ran away.”
As I looked over, Leila had a face like she was about to cry, biting her lip tightly.
“……You’re right. And the absolute reliability of flight abilities cannot be replaced by other dragons. However, Liliana’s healing can be substituted with the teleportation spell.”
Antendeixis said in a sardonic tone, but at the same time, it seemed half self-deprecating.
“…Ah.”
I understand. Every time it comes to this, you take the role of the bad guy to keep things focused, so thank you for that.
When I smiled, Antendeixis shook his head in resignation.
“So, you’re fully aware of the risks. Alright, let’s get back to the discussion. There are mountains of problems to tackle and many things to discuss. However, we must not forget the most important precondition.”
“…What is it?”
“It’s her will.”
Our gazes fixed on Liliana.
She was biting her teeth, tightly closing her eyes and looking down.
…If we execute the plan to escape the country, it’s a race against time.
Even the time spent worrying feels precious. Still, I wait for her answer.
“I… I…”
Her goddess-like beauty twisted into an anguished expression.
“…I want to be with you forever…!”
Liliana stared at me.
Her blue eyes began to glisten with tears.
“…But…”
Right, I understood.
If that’s how it ended, there wouldn’t be any need for so much suffering.
“I can’t leave my hometown… or everyone…”
I knew it.
—I had known it.
The ‘Saint’ Liliana El Del Milfluer is not the kind of person who could just stand by in her comrades’ time of crisis.