episode_0038

The game I’m playing, ‘Demon King and Hero Party’, is largely divided into two types of content.

One of them is, of course, the subjugation of the Demon Realm, the base of the Demon King’s army.

Another thing is conquering the human world.

Of course, it’s not like the warrior party only goes out day and night to subdue the demon world.

These guys are people too, so of course they need some kind of break.

It is to recover stamina by staying in the empire or another kingdom for a while.

At the same time, he also solves the problems in politics and the human world.

In other words, solving the problems in the kingdom could be seen as the second main content.

In some ways, it could be seen as the developers adding other miscellaneous characters to increase the main content of subjugating the Demon Realm.

However, conquering the human world was much more important content than we thought.

‘Well, it’s directly related to the Demon King’s seal.’

When I think about it, the Demon King is closer to a phenomenon than a living being.

As sorrow rises in the world and emotions become more intense, the Demon King’s seal becomes weaker.

The more karma a person accumulates, the stronger the power of the Demon King becomes.

It is truly mysterious.

Doesn’t this seem like the Demon King is personally judging the sins that humans have accumulated?

Thanks to that, I thought the guy was a phenomenon. He had too much power to be just a living being.

Anyway, moving on.

The idea was that solving the problems of the human world and making it a better place to live would ultimately help suppress the Demon King. Of course, it couldn’t be done roughly.

But, that’s why.

There has never been content this difficult for me.

Well, all sorts of unpleasant curses were stuck to my body.

Maybe if people just look at me, the Demon King’s seal will be released one after another.

That was also the reason why I didn’t like going to the empire very much.

Even without that, the party members are already misunderstanding that I am the mastermind or something. In this situation, what kind of consequences would I receive if I interfere with the nobles?

Perhaps, beyond suspicion of being a mastermind, he will be branded as a demon lord.

When I thought about the fact that the empire’s political circles would also need to be careful in the future… it was truly a headache.

“Haa, I’m really looking forward to it. There must be a lot of delicious food, right?”

“There must be a lot of expensive alcohol. It’s been a while since I’ve had wine.”

“I want to go to church right away. I want to pray while feeling the warm sunlight of the church.”

Of course, regardless of my feelings, they were just very excited.

The news that we defeated Balkan has already spread throughout the human world.

This is because Lily and Camilla sent a letter using magic tools as soon as the expedition was over.

By now, we will surely be greeted by a large crowd in the Imperial Capital. There will be a red carpet at the entrance to the palace, and hundreds of knights, hundreds of nobles, and several members of the royal family will be waiting for us.

It might be a very luxurious treatment to others, but to me it’s just a bed of thorns.

What actions should I take when my favorability rating is basically negative?

Fortunately, there was one solution that came to mind.

*

The Balkans are dead.

The king of all insects, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, has died.

What started as a simple letter quickly spread across the continent.

Although the Four Heavenly Kings do not usually come out of the Demon Realm, their notoriety is widely known.

Thanks to this, those on the continent cheered.

Those who lost their families to monsters shed tears, and those who were trembling in fear of the Demon King’s army were able to catch their breath.

For the first time in a long time, a positive atmosphere was felt in the tavern.

However, while there were people who liked it unconditionally, there were also people who viewed it with a slightly negative view.

It was mainly people who had encountered warriors at least once and nobles.

-No, this time the warrior is, well···.

-really?

Anyone who has seen it even once cannot help but view it negatively, as it is a curse that has been applied. And the nobles were originally people who had quick information.

They know how to gain information and knowledge that others cannot obtain and use that to gain an advantage.

Thanks to this, they could already tell that there was something ominous about this warrior’s condition.

-He said he had an ominous feeling for some reason.

-Well, I heard the saint say last time that the soul is very black···.

Of course, that doesn’t mean they were simply worried like citizens.

As I said before, they know how to use information.

-If you feel strong from the first impression, you probably won’t be politically threatened.

-Wouldn’t it be okay to just push it to a rumor and isolate it politically?

-Then we could use the warrior.

-Still, I’m curious about the identity, so I’ll do some background research······.

Even before the warrior arrived at the palace, many words were exchanged behind him.

After several days, it was finally time for the warrior party to return.

The king prepared a grand banquet for them who had suffered in the Demon Realm for over half a year.

The nobles within the empire, the royal family, and even the various influential figures who were not nobles but had great influence in the country, all gathered in one place to watch the warrior party.

“Here comes the warrior Luke, who will light the way to the continent!”

Finally, the palace gates opened.

The warrior and his party enter through the gate.

Camilla, the honorable knight of Bright House.

Lily, a genius sorceress who learned magic from elves.

The only saint of the Sun God Church, Yulis.

Adel, a dark elf who has lived for hundreds of years.

And the warrior, Luke.

At first glance, the warrior’s appearance seemed strong, just as they had said.

Black hair that looked like it had been eaten, bright red eyes that resembled rubies. His well-defined facial features were definitely handsome, but… there was also a strangely ominous feeling.

This evaluation was made in just a few seconds after entering. It was impossible to predict how much worse the evaluation would become as time passed.

But since I’ve only seen the outside, I’ll just wait and see for now.

With everyone taking that stance, the welcoming ceremony began.

“We warmly welcome you, heroes, who have completed your feat and returned.”

As the warrior party stands in the center, the emperor climbs up onto the stage and begins to calmly give a speech.

It was a formal speech.

“The achievements you have made will be recorded in human history for a long time. I, Maurice von Fieldor, personally declare this!”

You have established such and such a specialty, and in the future you will receive such and such a reward.

So, I ask for your continued support in the future. The content we will exchange will be roughly like this.

However, just because it is formal, it is not something that can be overlooked.

The emperor of a country came forward and personally gave a speech.

Because of this, his party members stood there very tense.

Perhaps after the speech is over, he will kneel down and say something formal like “It is my honor”, to respect the king’s majesty.

It was the way everyone expected it to go, and it had to go that way.

Everyone here thought without a doubt that everything would go as they expected.

That’s why···.

“Also, we have prepared a huge reward for the major you have established──”

“Ah, yes yes. I understand, so stop, stop talking.”

When the warrior stepped forward and interrupted the emperor, he couldn’t help but freeze for a moment.

“Hey, don’t you get sick of repeating the same thing over and over again?”

In the banquet hall that had been momentarily filled with silence, this time shock spread.

The nobles stared at the warrior with their mouths wide open.

‘What is that crazy guy talking about?’

Everyone was thinking the same thing.

*

The atmosphere changes.

From solemnity to stillness, from stillness to awe.

And the banquet hall that had been filled with shock was soon filled with anger.

“What, how rude!!”

“You bastard! What the hell are you talking about in front of the Emperor!!!”

The loyalists next to the Emperor gave a word each, and the knights placed their hands on their swords. The Emperor’s brow furrowed slightly, and Camilla, who was slowly preparing to kneel, was glaring at me as if she was going to kill me.

Of course, I didn’t care and just continued talking.

“No, isn’t that right? Everyone knows what’s going on anyway. Why bother listening to it? It’s just a waste of time.”

It’s been over half a year since I was struck by a curse attached to my body.

During that time, I was able to realize one thing.

Perhaps, this curse can also be used.

It is a certainty that it will distort the other person’s perception and make me disliked.

If so, wouldn’t it be possible to at least twist the direction of perception as I wish?

“So stop this boring event and bring me some alcohol. Don’t you have any alcohol? ···Oh, here it is.”

And if possible, which direction would be best?

What stance will be most helpful for your future activities?

A direction where you may be hated but less suspected.

A direction where my range of action is as unrestricted as possible.

A direction in which I can move as I please, even if it means giving up political influence.

If so, there is only one correct answer.

headsman.

Rather than being needlessly polite and being suspected, it’s better to be a third-rate thug who gets ignored but is not suspected.

That’s why I decided to become a third-rate gangster.

He walks towards the bottle of alcohol on the table with his hands in his pockets.

It was a pretty fancy looking glass bottle. Judging by the purple color, it must be wine. I don’t know how old it is, but it must be very expensive.

I sat down with my legs up on the table.

Then he removed the cork and blew the bottle open.

Gulp, gulp.

The sound of water flowing down the throat echoes everywhere. I tried to drink so eagerly that a few drops ran down the side of my lips.

A burning sensation lingers in my throat for a moment.

“Ugh···!”

Only after I had emptied more than half of the bottle did I put it down.

bang!

As I cheerfully placed it down on the table, I felt people around me looking at me like I was crazy. Everyone was staring at me with blank expressions, as if they were speechless.

I looked at them and said a word lightly.

“What.”

What the fuck.