I Became the Narrow-Eyed Villain in a Dropped Novel

“So you’re saying those bastards are going to attack the port.”

“The Demons can't stay in the Federation forever, can they? They seemed quite desperate.”

“Tsk. Annoying.”

Cesare clicked his tongue, frowning.

Normally, he wouldn't have been able to spare a thought for the Demons while busy cracking down on the barons, but the Northern Federation was different from the original story now.

“What are you planning to do?”

“It's a good thing if they leave on their own, but raiding the port is a different matter. I'll have to deal with the barons whining about their businesses being affected.”

“Are you planning to respond?”

“If they go quietly, I might not know, but if they cause a ruckus, I'll have to step in, won't I.”

That was the answer I wanted.

I had given them the location of the ship, but that alone might not be enough.

A change in the destruction timer would probably only happen if I made Cesare fight Noah.

Of course, it would be troublesome if either of them died, so I planned to hit the brakes in the middle.

“Mr. Ede. Please stay and help Mr. Cesare.”

“Yes, I understand. I guess this is the Count's Shadow Corps' first mission.”

“Count's Shadow Corps…?”

Cesare tilted his head.

I thought I had gotten a little used to it, but hearing someone else say it, it was still embarrassing.

“Just know that such a thing exists. By the way, was there any news from the headquarters while I was away?”

I glossed over it and changed the subject.

I had given detailed instructions before leaving the headquarters, so of course there wouldn't be any messages, but….

“Ah, come to think of it, there was one thing.”

“There was?”

“Why are you surprised? Weren't you waiting for it? I thought you would know since it was important enough for the headquarters to send as an express message.”

No. I have no idea.

“Old man Kaseph visited the headquarters.”

“Kaseph? Kaseph of the Conflagration?”

“Yes. That Kaseph of the Conflagration.”

It's news I didn't even expect, and on top of that, it's not even good news.

Seeing my expression crumble, Cesare scratched his chin.

“Uh I don't know the exact details, but is your relationship that bad?”

“If I had to say, it's very bad.”

So bad that you could call us sworn enemies.

The inner details were never revealed so I couldn't know, but in the Eight Council, there were no characters with a worse relationship than Kaseph and Valheit.

Even Avantnik and Professor Zain, who were itching to fight each other, had a better relationship compared to those two.

‘He's also the only one whose relationship chart started at –100.’

Not long after Valheit died, he fought with Noah and then disappeared.

It was hinted that he wasn't dead, but since the series was canceled, there's no way to know.

In complete contrast to Valheit who was cooped up in the headquarters, he never stayed in one place, so I thought I wouldn't run into him for a while.

“Do you know why he came?”

“I don't know either. The headquarters just said Kaseph was here and to come as soon as possible.”

So I have to go meet a guy who hates my guts without any information.

Damn it.

“A dear colleague has come, so it would be polite to go quickly. I'll leave the Demons to you. Mr. Ede, please follow me for a moment.”

“Yes!”

The cold air seemed to clear my head a little.

When I turned my head, Ede was waiting for my words with sparkling eyes.

“Originally, I was planning to visit the Federation one more time, but since Kaseph has come, I might not be able to. You remember what I asked of you, right?”

“You said to help those Demons since Cesare would manage on his own without my help anyway.”

“Not just helping….”

“Help them just enough so they don't die. I've perfectly memorized it. Though I still don't know why I have to do it.”

“I told you that you'll find out later. For now, just follow my instructions.”

Ede nodded his head vigorously.

Seeing how he's worked so far, I don't think he'll act on his own, so it should be fine to leave it to him.

According to the original plan, I was going to check again when they raided the port, but that would be difficult now that Kaseph was here.

‘I don't want to ask for another favor.’

Pressing on my throbbing head, I turned my steps towards the carriage.

***

The headquarters' reception room was gloomy as always.

No, it was even gloomier than usual.

The heavily clouded weather was a problem, but an even bigger problem was the masked man.

“How long are you going to sit there like that?”

“…….”

Even at Til's outburst, the masked man showed no reaction.

His attitude was as if Til, sitting opposite him, wasn't even there.

Til also acted as if he wasn't there and let out a long sigh.

Kaseph was a strange man.

No, he was closer to a withered old tree than a man.

His fingers were so thin that they looked like just skin and bones, making one suspect he might be a corpse.

The strangest part was that he could walk around perfectly fine with such a body.

If only Valheit hadn't been away, if only he had gone hunting as usual, she wouldn't have had to deal with this quiet eccentric.

“Why did a guy who we barely hear from usually show up and make everyone so uncomfortable?”

Even at her resentful grumbling, Kaseph showed no reaction.

He just sat in his seat, occasionally letting out a hissing breath.

“I don't know how the Commander ever accepted a guy like this.”

“Til Chartra.”

A raspy voice suddenly burst out.

Til stretched her neck to check if the man sitting in front of her had just made that sound.

“Finally feel like talking?”

“He is here.”

She could tell who "he" meant with just a moment's thought.

It meant that Valheit, the person this lanky man had been waiting for in this reception room without moving for two days, had arrived.

She thought about asking how he knew, but she kept her mouth shut because it didn't seem like he would answer anyway.

Just as Kaseph said, not long after, the door burst open and Valheit came in.

Instead of his usual sly face, he was frowning heavily.

“It's been a long time, Kaseph.”

“What are you thinking, Count?”

Kaseph shot up from his seat and strode towards Valheit without any preamble.

Clicking his tongue as if he was used to it, Valheit sat down in his own seat.

“I can't answer anything if you speak so incoherently.”

“You know what I'm talking about.”

“No, I have no idea. If you have a question, please ask it clearly.”

Ah, this suffocating feeling.

Til wiped her face at the familiar feeling she hadn't felt in a long time.

Even when the Commander was around, those two clashed over every little thing.

It was fortunate that they rarely met because Kaseph traveled around often, but on the days they did see each other, even the Commander had a hard time mediating between them.

There was no way Til could do something that even the Commander found difficult, so there was nothing she could do but watch.

“I'm talking about the intention behind your sudden actions after not lifting a finger until now.”

“Is that so strange?”

“Of course. You have never once sympathized with his great cause, have you? It can't be a good sign if a man who laughed at all our causes after he left suddenly starts to move.”

Kaseph waved his arms and glared at Valheit.

Valheit merely snorted.

“I know you don't like this Valheit, but I would appreciate it if you remembered that I too work for the Eight Council.”

“Nonsense. Aren't you a snake-like man who only moves for your own sake? What are you planning to do this time?”

“If you say it like that, it sounds as if I've done something wrong.”

Bang!

Kaseph slammed the table with a force that was hard to believe came from his withered hand.

Flames spread out from under his palm.

“Causing a prison break that resulted in hundreds of casualties when the Emperor died, instigating a war by disguising it as if Eslick had sunk a Vestol merchant ship, inciting the citizens of Leitche which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Demons and forced ten thousand to leave their homes.”

When Kaseph lifted his hand, embers crackled on the scorched black table.

Valheit nonchalantly brushed off the soot.

“They were things that had to be done out of necessity. However….”

“Things that were necessary for the Count, I suppose. Things only for yourself, not for the Eight Council or for him.”

“Please let a person finish speaking. I promise that such things will not happen in the future.”

At the word "promise," Kaseph bent over and pushed his masked face forward.

Valheit, who had returned to his usual expression, looked straight at him.

The staring contest that continued for a long time ended when Kaseph raised his head.

“It's not a lie.”

“Of course. Why would I lie when I have nothing to lose.”

“We'll have to wait and see. I'll be staying here until the Eight Council meeting, so if you have any other schemes, they will be revealed.”

“What?! You're going to stay here?”

Til shuddered and glared at Kaseph.

But before she could protest further, Kaseph staggered out of the reception room.

“What are you going to do? That eccentric bastard says he's staying!”

“It's unexpected. The fact that he came here in the first place was unexpected.”

“A headquarters with two suffocating bastards in it. I need to leave for a bit. Don't look for me until the Eight Council meeting.”

“That's good news. I had something for you to do anyway.”

Normally she would have grumbled, but today was different.

Whatever it was, she only wanted to get far away from the headquarters.

“Whatever it is, just say it quickly.”

“Do you remember those Demons we saw in Novosibir?”

“Yeah.”

“It seems they are in a difficult situation to get out of the Northern Federation. Go and help them without being obvious. It's not snowing anymore, so think of it as a vacation.”

Til, who looked ready to leave at any moment, hesitated.

He's not the type to care about others like that.

Is it a trap?

“It's not a trap, so just take care of it quickly and come back before the Eight Council meeting.”

“I was curious before, but why do you care so much about them? They're just demons.”

Valheit has no interest in anything that doesn't concern him.

It wouldn't be strange to think that there was some unknown benefit to him suddenly working hard on Eight Council matters.

She couldn't readily understand what was so special about those Demons that this old snake was so interested in them.

“My life is on the line.”

“What?”

His life.

She never expected Count Valheit, who had schemed in the shadows of the Imperial family for so long, to utter the word "life."

“Hahaha, your expression is a masterpiece.”

Valheit, twitching the corners of his mouth, laughed out loud.

Damn it.

I fell for it.

It was one of his occasional jokes.

“Damn bastard. I'm leaving. Have fun with that lanky guy.”

Bang.

About ten seconds after the reception room door slammed shut.

The smile disappeared from Valheit's face.

“He wouldn't have said he's staying for no reason, what is his scheme?”

Valheit, who was nervously tapping the soot with his finger, pressed his temples.

He must be after something, but I had no idea what it was.

‘There's no choice. I'll just have to watch him for a while.’

***

Looking at Caspiye Lake, Kaseph repeatedly created and extinguished embers in his hand.

“That man is not Valheit. This much is certain.”

“Hmm, does that mean someone is impersonating Valheit?”

The raven perched on his shoulder shook its head from side to side and spoke in a human voice.

Kaseph shook his head.

“No. The man's body is Valheit's. There's no way I wouldn't recognize that reeking, rotten body. What has changed is the soul.”

“What then? The contents just completely changed? I've never heard of such magic.”

“I don't know how it changed. But the change itself is certain.”

“An interesting hypothesis. But I won't believe it without proof.”

“I never asked you to believe me, Duke.”

“That's true.”

The raven nodded its head and then flapped its wings with a flutter.

“It will become clear when the Eight Council meeting is held. Find proof by then. If you have it, I'll definitely support you.”

“Are you planning to attend this meeting?”

“Me? Hahahaha!!”

The cawing of the raven and the laughter of a human mixed bizarrely and echoed across the lakeside.

“Ruling a country is a busier job than you think. My daughter will go as usual. Still, she's my daughter, so don't scare her.”

“I'll keep that in mind.”

After a few more flutters, the raven disappeared across the lake.

Watching it go, Kaseph clenched his fist.

Fire dripped down between his fingers.

“After the Count, you're next, Duke.”

After spitting out a monologue filled with hatred, Kaseph headed to the headquarters as if nothing had happened.