While I was fucking Eris, a large-scale political purge was underway within our Vampire Legion—
"Don't think about it."
"......."
At Chief of Staff Akamond's words, my thoughts came to a halt.
The moment I sensed the 'stop' signal in his expression, I set aside everything rising in my mind.
"Just how many spies were there besides the succubi? Which legion did those spies come from? Had they sent spies from another legion from the very start, and is he reading my mind right now?"
"Is it true?"
"No. The Vampire Princess said that when you panic, your true feelings show on your face. Exactly so. Ah, you just thought that again, didn't you? 'Is the Chief of Staff close enough to the Vampire Princess to have such conversations?'"
"So there really is a mind-reading spell, isn't there?"
"Nothing of the sort. Hehehe. Humans truly are amusing. All the more so for the only human in the Demon King's Army!"
Chief of Staff Akamond lightly tapped my shoulder.
In feeling, it was like the rough, cheerful pats of an old man laughing "Keheheh!", but his touch was as light as brushing against thin paper that seemed like it would tear at a touch.
He must have been controlling his strength that much.
"Rest assured. I didn't ask separately. Rather, it's the opposite. The Vampire Princess enjoys talking about you."
"Master...."
"Yes. Even in the case of that 'Casey' you discovered, it is so."
Even now, Casey was held by her limbs, diligently laying slimes.
"It's not that you are reluctant to politically involve yourself in the legion's affairs; rather, her wish is simply for you to carry out your training without undue prejudice or worry."
"......."
"Of course, my personal opinion is... I do think that not only do you have ideas enough to influence our Vampire Legion's course, but that your insight and political acumen are outstanding enough to set the entire legion in motion."
"Thank you for thinking highly of me."
"I am. Someday...."
A chill ran down my spine at his grinning laugh, but I forced a smile and avoided Chief of Staff Akamond's gaze.
That just now—it was the expression of a professor looking at a student who had almost become his graduate pupil.
"I'm saying this because it's just the two of us here, but it's still too early for you to exert political influence in our legion. Until now, you've only been in contact with those who are favorable to you."
Chief of Staff Akamond pointed at Lilis and the other succubi.
"What do you think is the reason they followed you on your inspection of the main ranch?"
"I believe they are bodyguards who stepped forward to respond to anyone who might still despise me for being human."
"Precisely. That discernment is exactly it. The very reason I wish to utilize such perceptiveness and insight of yours, yet am unable to for now."
"Because I am human, and my standing within the legion is still insufficient?"
"...Exactly."
Chief of Staff Akamond clapped and laughed.
"If you have achievements, you'll be able to involve yourself in matters outside the legion as well."
"Achievements...."
Two vampires had been born.
But this was not an achievement that could be mentioned publicly.
"I did turn two captive human women into my cocksleeves, but that is more than a little lacking to appeal to the other Vampire Legion officers."
"......Uwahahaha!!"
Chief of Staff Akamond burst into a belly laugh, clutching his stomach.
"Yes. That 'cocksleeve' business. It is indeed somewhat lacking to appeal with. If there is one achievement of yours known publicly for now, it's that you caught a spy, even if it was like a cow stepping back and catching a mouse."
It was slightly unfair, but it couldn't be helped.
In the process of packaging information obtained through creampie regression as coincidence, I had framed it as though I'd noticed Casey's poison through the obstinate fussiness of an old codger.
"Once may be called coincidence, but if such things repeat several times, that becomes inevitability. And if you can continue creating that inevitability, that is skill."
"......."
"I hope you are such a capable man. Truly."
"Even though I'm human?"
"Having served the Master in the Vampire Legion for a long time, what matters in the end is not race, but this."
Chief of Staff Akamond pointed alternately to his head and heart with one hand.
"As for other legions, the Demon King's Army, and matters outside the legion, we'll speak of that once your achievements have piled up a bit more. To be specific, when the atmosphere has ripened enough to call you to the 'Officers' Meeting' as the commander of the Training Corps."
"So I must produce results enough for a human to sit at the same table before I can be acknowledged by the 'seniors,' is that it?"
"...Good, good. I like that ambition."
His eyes changed even more.
It felt like walking into a professor's office to submit a report, only to have the professor close the door and ask, "Do you prefer coffee, or green tea?"
But.
'If the only path is that of a graduate student, I might as gladly go through the master's and doctoral programs to become a professor.'
If I built up a record as a trainer within the Vampire Legion and was acknowledged as an officer, someday I would be able to exert some influence within the Vampire Legion.
'Then I'd be able to fuck more virgins, too.'
Power and pussy are proportional.
Even for the sake of more pussy, I had to rack up achievements for the Vampire Legion in my own way.
"So, the reason you've come here? It doesn't seem to be merely for sightseeing."
"I intend to trade aphrodisiacs at the negotiation table with Baron Zilbert."
"With these aphrodisiacs?"
"Yes."
I had already received permission to negotiate with the baron through Chief of Staff Akamond.
There was no need to explain the plan in detail again, but the Chief of Staff did not know specifically what would be discussed at the negotiation table.
"I had intended to learn the results of your negotiation through the report, but it seems you require some administrative support from within the legion."
"I would truly appreciate your help. This place does not seem to be under my jurisdiction, after all."
"Indeed. If you'd pointlessly come face to face with the person in charge here, a major incident might have occurred."
If Chief of Staff Akamond had not appeared, I probably would have had my waist snapped in two by the person in charge here while being told, "for a human."
"Very well. I'll take care of it. However, know this: unfair as it may be, others may think I am showing you favoritism."
"The other officers think so, is that right?"
"Yes. You're sharp, so you'll avoid it well enough on your own, but don't go stirring up needless trouble. Leave as much as you can to the secretary."
"I will keep that in mind."
Let's be careful.
It wouldn't be an empty warning for the Chief of Staff to tell me to avoid direct contact with the officers myself.
"Sss...."
Chief of Staff Akamond hesitated, seeming about to say something, then opened his mouth.
"I simply must ask. What do you plan to do with the aphrodisiacs, and how? Tell me the specific plan."
"This aphrodisiac, sir. I've tested it myself, so I know—it has considerable effects."
"And so?"
"In the human world, it is a 'premium product' with far better effects than existing ones and fewer side effects."
Chief of Staff Akamond's eyes grew solemn.
If until moments ago they had been the eyes of one offering advice and counsel, now that 'money' had entered the conversation, they were quite literally the eyes of a 'Chief of Staff.'
"I intend to sell the aphrodisiacs and receive something in exchange for them."
"What?"
"Things unnecessary to them, but most necessary for the training room."
I pointed at myself.
"In exchange for the aphrodisiacs, I will demand humans. Regular transactions."
"......Buying and selling humans? With aphrodisiacs?"
Chief of Staff Akamond tilted his head.
"Baron Zilbert sells humans?"
"Practically speaking, yes, but can't we package what is known publicly as much as possible? Even if it fails, it is my failure; there shouldn't be much of a problem."
"...I had intended not to speak on political matters, but this could result in a political issue."
In reality, such an element did exist.
"A single negotiation demanding ransom for the release of hostages is possible. But what comes after? After the hostages are released? No, the hostages are already dead to begin with."
"We simply keep our mouths shut and pretend they aren't dead."
"......What?"
"I will set up a collusive scheme with Baron Zilbert. We will treat the nest dungeon as shared territory and a relay point, and leave management of that shared ground to the House of Zilbert."
"...Continue."
Chief of Staff Akamond snapped his fingers.
Chairs appeared behind both of us. After he sat down, I sat across from him and straightened my posture.
"What you're saying sounds like staging a pretense of continued confrontation between the Vampire Legion and the House of Zilbert to the public, while secretly dealing with the House of Zilbert in reality. Is my deduction correct?"
"Precisely."
"The place where the dungeon opens is human territory, but what manages it is the 'nobility.'"
"If Baron Zilbert simply stations knights on patrol with warnings that 'this place is dangerous, do not approach,' he can control who enters. And even if someone does enter, all we need is a mark."
"An envoy, then."
Not killing an envoy is a virtue.
This is a virtue that holds among humans, but here in the Demon King's Army, in the Vampire Legion, there is one human.
"Unlike random adventurers, a sort of contractor representing a negotiation partner with Baron Zilbert."
"If there is no mutually agreed-upon mark? Yes. They die. But if they bring the mark, they become an employee of the trading partner, so to speak."
"...You supply them with aphrodisiacs and receive people in exchange. Yes, this is the part I understand the least."
Chief of Staff Akamond pointed at me.
"Will the baron obediently send people? Ignorant, good-natured commoners?"
"If they are not good-natured, the story changes."
I lightly tapped my wrist.
"After the negotiation is concluded, the place where our legion's nest dungeon opened will officially be closed off. And that place will become...."
Swish.
"An execution ground."
I made a slashing motion across my neck.
"It will become an execution ground where vicious criminals deserving of death are executed."
A transaction is—
"The Vampire Legion is happy to be supplied with people, and they are happy not to have to dispose of the corpses."
It is a law that holds when both parties' interests align.