On The Other Side: I Quit Being Human

"Hahaha! Thank you for welcoming with such vigour." Laughing lightheartedly, Niles puts his hand on his chest and bows lightly.

"I honestly intended for my visit to be a quiet one, but I quickly found that it was an impossible feat to achieve." At this, everyone in the room laughs.

The banquet is held to welcome Niles as the owner of the Dukedom by the initiative of the owner of Golden Goblet Hotel. Niles doesn't really want his presence known in this time's visit, but since the people have caught the whiff of him, he can't help but attend.

That is one of the reasons why the security of the banquet is very lax. He doesn't have any intention to spend a long time here, which is why he doesn't even bother to put extra security measures.

I get what he is doing, but it still seems pretty stupid in my opinion.

"This banquet, unfortunately, has to end sooner than you have initially intended," Niles says solemnly, surprising the people. "There is something I need to tell you about, but I need you to stay calm."

"What happened?"

"Is this territory finally going to be handed over?"

"Ah, the Duke's daughter, isn't it? That is unfortunate, but I get his decision."

Murmurs of speculation and worry fill the room. Niles merely watches without showing any intention to stop them.

Like the others, I also wonder what kind of urgency he is going to inform us about. I believe it is related to our Conquest Army, but I am not too sure since he doesn't look very worried.

"An invasion is going to occur soon, here, in our Dukedom." After some time, Niles finally opens his mouth. "A kind gentleman provided us the information this afternoon, and because of him, we are ready for the invasion."

Picking up a glass of wine from the table in front of me, I take a light sip and watch as Niles' eyes turn to me. He smiles at me gratefully, and I lightly nod my head in return.

"That gentleman didn't only provide us the information about the invasion, but also predict where the invasion will be started. Everyone, I am excited to tell you that the very gentleman is here with us now."

As Niles points his hand at me, I can't help cursing under my breath. "Fuck! Of all time, why do I have to attract people's eyes now?!"

Everyone's eyes turn to me, and I can see the light of understanding, or I should say, misunderstanding in their eyes. They must think that I came here just to be addressed by their Duke.

Ignoring their eyes, I turn to Niles and quirk my eyebrow to tell him that I don't like attention. He immediately smiles apologetically—I think he understands my message.

"Kuhum! Due to the clear reasons I have stated, this banquet has to end in an hour; we need to evacuate the citizens to lower the number of victims. Frankly speaking, it is a little bit overboard to still have a banquet in this situation."

Niles chuckles lightheartedly, whereas the others laugh nervously. They value their life greatly, so I believe they are eager to run away now after hearing that news.

"Still, I can't just dismiss the banquet after the effort everyone has put to make it possible, can I?" He smiles, turning the others speechless. "Well, everyone, without further ado, let us start the banquet!"

Getting down the rostrum, under everyone's gaze, Niles walks toward me. I have to turn my body toward him because of that, since it will be rude for me not to face a higher standing person when he is coming at me.

With a magnanimous smile, he greets me. "Hello, Layne. You are finer and younger than I expected." He extends his hand, prompting me to take it.

"It is an honour to be able to shake hands with you, sir," I say.

"Looking at how unchanging your face is though, I can't help thinking it was nothing more than a pleasantry." He laughs. "I don't mind that to be honest. I like straightforward people."

Letting go of his hand, I respond, "A smile doesn't alway convey how happy you really are. Apes can smile, but when they do, it means that they are going to kill you."

"... You really are an interesting young man, aren't you?" Looking at me interest, he leads me to a nearby table. "Do you mind to have a drink or two with me?"

"It will be my honour."

All I want is to wait for Niles to be alone before assaulting him, which is why I attended the banquet. Having a chat with someone who I am about to kill and get to know each other is not in my to-do list.

Since it is happening nonetheless, I have no other choice but to go with the flow.

Upon sitting down, both of us look at each other before sipping the champagne on our table. We look at each other silently for some time until Niles decided to open his mouth.

"What is your purpose of coming here?"

"Accompanying my wife."

"Oh... Right, you have a wife."

The question honestly took me by surprise. I thought that he had figured out my identity for a second, but then I rationalized that he might be just curious.

"I don't mean to be nosy, but considering how powerful your presence is, I believe there is no need for you to let your wife remain an Adventurer. You make enough for the two of you to spend your life lavishly together, don't you?"

"I can't buy my wife's freedom with the money I make. She likes exploring the world—what right do I have to stop her?"

"Aren't you afraid of losing her?" Niles' gaze turns empty. "Freedom is a curse if not used correctly. Sometimes... Living in confinement guarantees you a better life."

"What happened to your daughter was not your fault, Duke Niles," I comment, waking him from his thought. "Whether you are a freeman or a slave, misfortune is bound to befall you."

Wincing slightly at the cringey things I have said, I add, "Doing something about it is always better than regretting what has happened."

Fiddling with his glass, Niles looks at me in ponderment. I don't know what he is thinking, but for some reason, my hands can't stop twitching.

I take another sip of my champagne as I look at him calmly. He leans forward after some time, and my heart pounds as I am anticipating for the things he will say.

"What is the Demon King's Army going to do in this territory of mine? There is not even that much natural resource here—what will they get from conquering this place?"

At that question, my heart calms down, and I can't help smiling slightly. "You can't possibly expect me to understand how Demons think, can you?"

"As a Demon, surely, you know, don't you?"

Schwing.

As soon as I hear a familiar voice, I feel a cold steel touching my neck. My smile disappears, and I look at Niles with a quirked eyebrow.

"Have you finally decided I am not worthy of your husband anymore, wife?" I ask, but I get no response. "Is it a test to see how faithful my wife is to me, Duke Niles?" He ignores my question, and merely sips his champagne silently.

I am expecting myself to be panicking in anytime soon, but I am pleasantly surprised to find my heart beating calmly as if nothing is happening instead. I can even pick up my champagne glass to take a sip without even trembling slightly.

Looking at my surrounding from the corner of my eyes, I see everyone starting to get out of the ballroom. All of them look confused about what is happening, so I am sure none of them are told about my identity as a Demon.

"You played your game well, Winerva, I have to admit. You almost made me want to spare you because of how pleasant the time we have spent together."

"... Well, I am glad to hear that, but I don't think you are in any position to spare anyone here," Winerva states. I can sense a faint tremble in her voice.

"You can choose, Layne, or should I say, Kleinhaus?" Niles speaks calmly with a quirked eyebrow. "Whether to surrender yourself and allow us to take you to the capital or die brutally here."

My heart pounds in excitement at his statement, and my hands are itching to cut some throats. Channeling my Mana into my palms, I clap my hands once, sending a shockwave of Mana throughout the room.

Boom!

"This bastard!" Before Winerva runs her sword on my neck, I catch her arm and slams her to the table. "Kuhak!"

I immediately kick the ground to take a distance, and stop when I am far enough. Smirking lightly, I watch as the Array I have activated by clapping my hands earlier rapidly covers the entire room.

The doors are closed, and the room is entirely isolated from the rest of the world by the time it is fully activated. In result, many ordinary people are trapped here.

"Dying brutally here? Me?" I sneer. "Let us see who will swim in their own blood by the end of this!"

As the ordinary wealthy merchants and their partners scream in panick, the Magic Practitioners in the room come at me first.