Demon King of the Royal Class-Chapter 467

Ellen Artorius was also watching the situation unfold.

Wearing a hood that covered her face, lest she be recognized, she clenched her fists as she focused on the scene.

However, Ellen was unaware of the spatial movement barrier surrounding the area.

Ellen had only one thought. ‘Would Reinhart really appear?’

If he did, she had no intention of acknowledging him.

She had no right to ask to be taken along, and she shouldn’t even if she did.

Ellen knew she was carrying too much on her shoulders and couldn’t abandon humanity.

She knew that her disappearance would be an enormous sin, outweighing any guilt she felt towards Reinhart, and so it was impossible.

She just hoped to see him from afar.

That would be enough.

That would be sufficient.

She hoped that no one would get hurt in the process.

So, even though the frenzied crowd scared her, she quietly watched from the execution platform.

Charlotte, with her head bowed, was merely waiting for her death to come.

Charlotte knew nothing.

She had no idea what was about to happen.

If Ellen were the one tied up there, would Reinhart do the same for her?

She was now humanity’s hope, and so running away was no longer an option for her, but she could indulge in fantasies and entertain such thoughts.

Ellen quietly watched Charlotte from afar. If Reinhart came, Charlotte would be saved and forgiven.

Amidst the deafening shouts, the executioners slowly prepared for the execution.

In truth, setting the fire was more of a show. None of the three who were to be executed could die in the flames of the burning pyre.

Once the fire was set, they would then be stabbed with spears or beheaded with axes.

But if Reinhart appeared, none of that would happen, and those three would be rescued.

As the executioners’ torches touched the three piles of firewood, flames began to rise at a terrifying speed.

—Waaaaaah!

—Kill them! Kill them!

—Kill the demons!

—Kill the demons!

Ellen thought her eardrums might burst, but then she could see it—the figure of someone pushing through the crowd.

They pushed aside the crowd around the execution platform and walked beneath it...

Bang!

With a single kick, one burning pile of firewood exploded as though it were a bomb.

Bang! Bang!

Just like that, the other two piles of firewood were scattered with a single kick each.

A single intruder had appeared. The intruder removed their robe, revealing a young man with the appearance of a horned demon.

Though it was a face she had never seen before, Ellen could tell from the smirk that it was Reinhart.

"These three are rightfully mine," the Demon King said with a snap of his fingers, "so I will take them with me."

Rumble!

In an instant, a fierce ring of flames erupted around the three stakes.

The bewildered executioners and surrounding guards quickly retreated from the sudden flames.

“Reinhart...”

—The Demon King!

—It’s the Demon King!

—The Demon King has appeared!

The cheers of the gathered crowd turned into chaotic screaming with the appearance of the mysterious demon.

Those who had chanted hatred toward the Demon King and demons up to this point began to flee in terror when the Demon King truly appeared.

And then...

Screeeech!

A high-pitched sound tore through the air, and dozens of fireballs began to rain down onto the wall of flames from the sky.

“What... What is this?”

Judging from the direction of the attack, it did not seem to be aimed at the Demon King’s subordinates, but at the Demon King himself.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The falling fireballs began to sweep across the ground, not only striking within the ring of flame, but also falling upon the executioners and the massive crowd beyond them.

Ellen watched the scene with her mouth agape.

The Demon King had appeared, and someone had immediately launched an attack on the Demon King as if they had been waiting for that moment, without caring what would happen to the tens or even hundreds of thousands of bystanders that had gathered at that place.

The crowd, surprised by the sudden appearance of the Demon King and caught up in the destruction that was raining down around him, tried to flee.

People were trampled, getting tangled up and falling over each other.

Those trying to escape were quickly crushed and suffocated.

And Ellen saw it.

Crash!

Bang!

Countless figures in black robes, not fleeing but rather rushing towards the scene, breaking through the windows of the buildings surrounding the grand square.

“What... what on earth...?”

Rumble!

Ellen watched in a daze as numerous destructive spells swept mercilessly over the area, not just within the ring of flames around the Demon King, but also over the civilians caught up in the chaos.

Boom!

In an instant, the wall of flames disappeared, revealing Reinhart.

Reinhart had already rescued all three prisoners from the execution platform.

Amidst the chaos, Ellen saw Reinhart looking around at the fleeing crowd, the people caught in the magic, and then at the unknown assailants.

—... Order... was it you?

—Yes.

—We could never be eternal friends.

Ellen couldn’t understand what they were talking about.

Reinhart handed the unconscious Charlotte over to Sarkegar.

—Vampire Lord and Sarkegar, you should leave first. Their target is probably me. They’ll likely only try to kill me.

—But Archdemon...

—Your Highness, we can’t...

—Go, that’s an order.

The demonic figure and the silver-haired girl, just freed from their restraints, nodded with grim expressions, seemingly overwhelmed by the weight of the Demon King’s words, and began to withdraw, as if they knew they could not fight.

Lightning rained from the sky, and fireballs fell.

The attackers weren’t just using magic.

Figures wielding swords and spears charged forth as well, enveloped in blue mana, rushing at the Demon King.

She could not tell who they were, but they were clearly not ordinary fighters.

“Stop.”

While those charging at Reinhart did not come to a complete halt, they hesitated.

-Slash!

Alsbringer cleaved through the neck of one of the assailants wielding a sword. It was a fierce strike that mercilessly shattered the barrier of Mana Reinforcement enveloping their body.

Alsbringer was a holy relic of the God of War, Alse, that strengthened its user further the stronger and more challenging his opponent was.

This situation was the perfect situation in which to maximize Alsbringer’s ability.

Reinhart wasn’t a Swordmaster. But the torrent of offensive spells pouring down around him couldn’t penetrate the wall of mana that flowed like flames around the Demon King’s body, covering an area with a four-meter radius around him.

The overwhelming mana output alone was intimidating to witness, and the sheer brute force he wielded was undeniable.

Slice! Boom!

With his right hand, Reinhart cut through the spear shaft of the one charging at him with a spear, slicing their body in half from the waist. His left fist met the sword of another assailant who was just about to stab him, and the shockwave shattered the man’s body into pieces.

A Swordmaster wouldn’t wield power so recklessly, but the Demon King simply unleashed his massive mana output as it was, and it was that unrefined destructive power that prevented a single attack from reaching him.

The assailants, realizing that they could not simply overwhelm the Demon King with a barrage of attacks, pushed through the fleeing crowd to focus on him.

The Demon King saw the many people who had died.

The crowd had been densely packed, and thousands had already been killed by the magic unleashed by the Black Order.

They had died not at the hands of the Demon King, but those trying to kill him.

“So, nothing else matters as long as you can kill me, is that it?” the Demon King said in a low voice.

The Black Order attackers remained silent.

“Yes, I know there are many things in the world that can’t be helped,” the Demon King continued. “Just as I couldn’t help it, you can’t help it either, I suppose. I understand. I understand well enough.”

The Demon King walked forward slowly, glaring at his attackers with undisguised rage.

“So why don’t we hopeless people who can’t care less about anything, kill and be killed by each other?”

Rumble!

The Demon King charged forward, and the members of the Black Order stood in his way.

***

Effenhauser had disregarded the intentions of the Black Order and saved me. As Antirianus had warned me before, I knew that the Order was no longer on my side.

But I hadn’t expected them to try to take advantage of this situation to kill me at the cost of massive civilian casualties.

I didn’t know much, but the Black Order seemed like a group that would do evil for the sake of justice.

Trivial as it was, it seemed they were ultimately similar to me in that regard, in that what they did wasn’t much different from what I did.

Good or evil was not worth debating.

We were both in situations we couldn’t help but be in.

I had to save my people, and the Black Order wanted to eliminate me, the seed of a great conflict.

Our clash was inevitable, and ultimately, one side had to perish.

But I couldn’t afford to die. So, I had to kill.

Clang!

Alsbringer crashed down onto my opponent’s sword, deflecting it away.

Clink!

Taking advantage of my opponent’s stagger, I reached out to grab their throat, but a chain suddenly appeared out of the air and wrapped itself around my left arm.

“What...?!”

I did not know if the magic was cast by someone else, but the chain of mana wrapped tightly around my left arm and wouldn’t let go.

The one who had been staggered by my attack took the opportunity to thrust their sword toward my neck.

Clang!

The sword struck my mana barrier and couldn’t pierce my neck.

Gasp!

Bang!

I jerked my left arm towards me. The mana chain could not withstand the sudden force and shattered into pieces.

Most of those who specialized in close combat knew how to use Mana Reinforcement, and some could even use magic.

As expected, the Black Order was a group of insane monsters, composed of close combat specialists, mages, and even swordsmen who could wield magic.

I had made my appearance, and they were clearly determined to kill me.

I wasn’t just being engaged by enemies in close combat; there were also those sniping from a distance.

The grand square was still filled with people. Many were trying to flee, but the crowd was too dense for them to quickly escape.

More people were likely being trampled to death trying to escape rather than by the Black Order’s magic.

My opponents not only could perform Mana Reinforcement, but there were also Master Class individuals among them.

I already knew from seeing Mr. Effenhauser that the Black Order wasn’t composed solely of mages.

I could sense that others were watching from afar, seemingly waiting for the most critical moment.

They were likely sending in small fry in a battle of attrition, waiting for me to present a definite opening to stab or cut me down.

Attacking with aura weapons would be the most direct method of attack.

However, knowing that destructive magic couldn’t penetrate my mana barrier, they seemed to be trying a different approach.

Crack!

Vines suddenly sprouted from the ground, rapidly wrapping around my limbs. Countless insects crawled out from those vines, covering my body.

The Black Order... A group with many forbidden techniques.

This magic was unpleasant just to look at.

“Burn,” I declared.

I didn’t know what these insects were, but I had no intention of letting them burrow into my body.

Rumble!

The Flame of Tuesday blazed, unleashing a fierce torrent of fire.

The insects and the vines that had wrapped themselves around me turned to black ash and vanished in an instant.

I didn’t need to kill all of them. I just needed to escape the grand square.

I didn’t know what Antirianus was up to, but once I got confirmation that Lucinil, Sarkegar, and Charlotte had safely escaped, I could leave.

They were watching me from all sides, and it was clear that the Order had not unleashed their full strength.

They were clearly trying to gauge the extent of my power and were just watching, waiting for a definite opportunity to kill me.

But my long-range support was reliable.

Slash! Rip!

I could clearly see swarms of bats materializing here and there, tearing apart and killing the mages who were bombarding me from a distance, turning them into blood.

‘That old man Antirianus... Can he use something like a clone technique?’

Fortunately, the mages attacking me from a distance were distracted by Antirianus.

People were fleeing, but I was sure that others were watching. However, the empire couldn’t help me, nor should they. I had to get out on my own.

Still, there was something strange.

I quietly observed those who were watching me.

There were a few who were definitely Master Class, and there were probably also those equivalent to archmages. The mages who were not easily taken down by Antirianus were still fighting.

“Is this really all of your forces?” I said.

Was this all the Black Order could send?

They were certainly a strong force, and there were many that were challenging for me to handle alone.

But if their goal was to kill me, it would mean that the Black Order’s elite forces were concentrated in this area.

While they were not to be underestimated, they seemed rather underwhelming if these were truly the Black Order’s elite.

“You and the empire weren’t the only ones dealing with the Gate Incident on your own,” one of those who had been observing from a distance away said as they began to walk towards me. “That’s all there is to it.”

The Black Order had appeared only once in the original story and had not been mentioned afterward.

This suggested that, in the original story, they were dealing with the Gate Incident and the monsters in the background.

It was two years after the Gate Incident had been triggered, and the Black Order had to have been fighting on their own, trying to resolve the Gate Incident.

That would naturally cause their forces to weaken as they lost combatants in various battles.

While they were certainly a powerful force, they could only muster this assault team to eliminate me, the most significant seed of conflict.

The Black Order had lain in wait for me at a place where they had predicted I would inevitably show up.

The person walking towards me removed his hood, revealing his face.

It was a middle-aged man I had never seen before. Since appearances could be deceiving, I couldn’t tell how old he actually was.

Though he seemed like a middle-aged man, his hair was white, which made it difficult to guess his age.

As he approached me, the other Black Order members who had been confronting me slowly began to retreat.

This gave me some indication of the approaching man’s status.

“Are you the leader of the Order?” I asked.

He looked at me quietly and shook his head.

“Well... the term ‘leader’ doesn’t quite fit. The Order usually comes to decisions through meetings involving the highest-ranking members,” he said.

I couldn’t read anything from his eyes.

“But now that all the highest-ranking members except me are dead... I suppose calling me the leader isn’t entirely wrong.”

He spoke calmly, his sword held loosely in his hand, pointing towards the ground.

“Archdemon, how about you die here for the sake of humanity?”

“... Die?”

The middle-aged man nodded. “I know that you love humanity, no, all beings, very much. That’s why Effenhauser, who among the Order had watched over you the longest, died for you. Because he knew you. Because he knew of your love, and so he had no choice.

“You know very well that your death could achieve quite a lot for humanity. The mutual distrust, the overflowing despair, and humanity’s current search for a scapegoat to overcome this despair..."

After a brief pause, he continued, “While I can’t say your death would overcome all of those things, humanity will at least stop looking for a human scapegoat to stand in for the Demon King in their desire for revenge.

“If you die, humanity will gain hope. Of course, we know that the value of hope isn’t all that great, and that nothing can be achieved with a false sense of hope. However, without any kind of hope, one cannot live. You are the embodiment of hatred and despair. Take a look.”

The man gestured toward the crowd, terrified and trampling each other to death.

“Sadly, your existence only evokes despair and fear.”

“...”

“No matter how you view humans, to them, you are only an object of fear and despair.”

“...”

“When you show yourself, you draw out these emotions and throw humanity into a frenzy, and when you don’t, humans burn with anger, driven by revenge and hatred.”

I couldn’t deny those words—only a few understood my true intentions.

I was merely a symbol of hatred, despair, and suffering. To humanity, my existence was merely a symbol of fear, an enemy to be eliminated.

Whether I showed myself or remained hidden, my mere existence was enough to evoke intense emotions that drove people mad.

The middle-aged man added, “You love humans, but you don’t trust them. That’s why you don’t believe that the deep misunderstandings between us can ever be resolved harmoniously. If you did, you wouldn’t have hidden your identity and entered the Temple.

“Just as our numbers have dwindled as we tried to handle the situation in our way, you must have tried to resolve this situation in your way. And you even came here to save those who could never trust you.

The man sighed deeply. “Not all situations can be resolved, but I’m worried about what will happen after this one is. Someday, a war will break out. If these wounds haven’t healed, humans will insist on subjugating the Demon King, the root of this incident. Even if you don’t want it, even if the empire doesn’t want it, even if the emperor doesn’t want it."

“You must feel that war is inevitable. People desire the death of the Demon King more than the destruction of all the monsters roaming the continent. Today, you tried to save Charlotte de Gradias, which I believe shows the depth of love and understanding that you bear."

With a deep breath, he finally asked, “So, Demon King. Can’t you die now? Before more blood is shed? Before more despair and sorrow engulf the world? Save humanity with your death. That is the favor I ask of you.”

Despite standing in my way, it was clear that he was in awe of my existence.

Regardless of my intentions, my mere existence was a calamity.

So, for the sake of humanity, he was asking me to die.

I was aware that a war might break out after the Gate Incident was resolved.

The original story ended once the Gate Incident was resolved. But after that, a war would break out. A war would break out because of me.

If I died here, in front of countless watching humans, this war wouldn’t happen.

People would rejoice at the death of the Demon King, and there would be no more persecution of the perceived scapegoats for the Demon King, including the Church of the Five Great Gods.

While I lived, I could only instill despair, fear, and hatred. In death, I could save many through hope, regardless of my will.

Therefore, this person was asking me to die here, before more lives had to be sacrificed. To die with respect.

“What is your name?” I asked.

The middle-aged man shook his head. “I can’t tell you. A wretched being like me does not deserve to tell a great being like you my name.”

I could feel that, despite our respective ages, he respected me greatly. Regardless, he stood in my way because I had to die.

“But we are the Black Order. If we must do evil to achieve good, we are the ones who will do it.

“We won’t justify it. We aren’t interested in such things. We aim to perform the good of saving humanity through the evil of killing you.”

Wasn’t that sophistry? I didn’t particularly want to point it out.

Everyone has their own sense of justice, and all those forms of justice are all their own forms of sophistry.

The man before me stood there because he lived for that.

“If I die, fewer people will die. Yes, that’s certainly true.”

Yes, that could be justice. That could be good.

There might be more to achieve in death than in life for me.

From the start, if I had died and disappeared, none of this would have happened.

As long as the world’s malice was directed at me, the more I struggled to do something, the more it could turn into a greater tragedy, a disaster blocking my path.

But...

“But you know, I want to say this.”

I tightened my grip on Alsbringer.

“Screw you.”

I wanted to live.

I wanted to somehow grit my teeth and live. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

I did not want a life completed in death. To die in resignation and despair.

“Whatever it is I must save, I will do so while continuing to live.”

I wanted to achieve whatever I could. Not through death, but through living.

I had no desire to find peace in death.

“While living, I will see with my own eyes what I have saved. What remains.”

Even if the path I was doomed to walk was a thorny road of despair, I wanted to live.

“I will see with my own eyes.”

I wanted to find happiness while living.

I might not be able to restore everything that has been broken. But I wanted to mend the relationships that could be fixed, somehow. I wanted to be happy.

Even in this moment, when the world had collapsed, when so much had been destroyed, I knew that dreaming of such things was foolish and pathetic.

But I definitely knew that I wanted to be happy.

Was it wrong to dream of that? Or could it be wrong?

For a being like me to desire such things might be wrong. But even so, I desired it.

At my words, the middle-aged man nodded. “I see.”

He pointed his sword at me, and it was enveloped in blue flames of mana.

An unknown black energy swirled in his left hand.

“I will remember you,” he said, as if he would remember how great a being I was for the rest of his life.

“And if I die, will you remember me too?” asked the leader of the Black Order, the tip of his sword pointed directly at me.

“That much I can do,” I replied.

That was the least I could do for the first enemy who sought to kill me not out of hatred, but out of respect.

At my words, the unnamed middle-aged man smiled.

“Not the strongest, not the worst, and not the most fearsome, but the most benevolent Demon King.

“I pay my respects to you.”

There was no further conversation after that.