Ch.18962. You Shall Burn the World to Ashes. (2)

Originally, they say he was neither cruel nor cold.

He was determined to faithfully follow in his father’s footsteps and become a hero.

Born of the blood of both saint and hero, his brilliance was evident from childhood.

The world blessed him again and again.

The descendants of heroes.

He was always at their forefront, and among them, he was an object of admiration and awe.

When others were learning the basics, he had already mastered swordsmanship and showed outstanding achievements in academics.

He displayed remarkable talent in magic as well, but he drew a line in that area.

“Devoting your life to that means neglecting other areas. It is a discipline, a technique, and an exploration that requires complete dedication.”

In the Berk Empire, where chivalric culture was deeply rooted, this was both a clear assessment and high praise for mages.

Despite his excellence, he was never arrogant, remained diligent, and showed courtesy to everyone regardless of status.

Indeed, all the hero’s children were compared to him.

And none of them could stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

This became even more evident as they grew.

…However.

When the Emperor, seeking to avoid war, sent his daughter as a hostage to a foreign country, that was acceptable.

But when she returned as a cold corpse,

Kariel, who had just turned 12, immediately enlisted in the military.

Naturally, everyone tried to dissuade him and did their utmost to change his decision.

But he wouldn’t listen.

He threw himself into the most dangerous territories, and after three years,

He began to make a name for himself throughout the northeast.

And in the fifth year after his enlistment,

He completely pacified the northeast.

Though he only held the rank of battalion commander, no one treated him as merely that.

It was clearly another legend in the making.

Unlike the hero who saved the world from the Demon King, he was the war hero that the great empire had so desperately desired in a different sense.

Yet even then, the continent did not know.

How terrifyingly monstrous this young hero’s bloodline truly was.

====

The royal palace of a foreign country.

Looking down from its tower, the world was burning crimson.

The Kingdom of Dabas.

But now, its name would be erased from maps,

And permanently relegated to the back pages of history.

They had been the Empire’s greatest adversary, always the strongest in their rebellion against the Empire.

It wasn’t just because their borders touched… but in the end, they were the Empire’s greatest enemy.

They were the ones who had manipulated continental politics to force the proposal that Princess Elhermina be taken as a hostage.

Of course, Dabas wasn’t solely responsible for all of it.

Therefore, even though Dabas had been broken and shattered,

The war was not yet over.

“This is…”

But that’s from history’s perspective.

For those of us living in the present, this scene is far too cruel.

The ancient royal capital burns.

The fire had been raging for over half a day, but far from showing signs of dying down, the flames were spreading throughout the royal capital.

Where the red inferno had passed, acrid smoke hung so thick that even from this height, one could barely see the blackened remains of the buildings.

But that wasn’t the important thing.

Damaged houses and buildings could be rebuilt.

But… life was different.

The people who had lived under the name of Dabas on this land.

Those who had lived within its boundaries.

All those who had been loyal to their king and rulers, bowed their heads, paid taxes, and submitted to them.

Every single one of them was being slaughtered.

A massacre.

Not just a simple slaughter.

Though the Berk Empire had no slavery system, that didn’t mean there were no laborers.

To emphasize the privilege of being an imperial citizen, something else was needed.

That was the status of non-imperial citizens.

Though not as extreme as the old Vera Empire, criminals and foreigners could become imperial citizens after 19 years of military service.

Non-military auxiliary service required 25 years.

If even that was unacceptable, they would be forced into labor for 30 years.

But this privilege was not granted to Dabas.

They were not humans but enemies, foes, heretics, and servants of the devil.

So it was acceptable to kill them. In fact, killing them would bring blessings. It would prove one’s faith!

And so, at some point, even those who weren’t imperial citizens were swept up in the madness, participating in the massacre.

They had now truly become members of the Berk military units.

Originally, the Empire had maintained a military system centered around knights with military units as support.

This was both a product of the times and another consequence of feudalism, with nobles strengthening their rights and capabilities.

Of course, that was from the perspective of the Empire and the Emperor.

But Kariel had completely transformed even that system based on his achievements and results as a war hero.

The knight-centered military system was converted to the military unit system of the old Vera Empire.

This was formed based on the products of successive victories and triumphs.

The knight system was strictly for the nobility.

But in the military, both commoners and nobles could advance without discrimination if they distinguished themselves.

As the Empire’s territory expanded beyond its original boundaries, and the areas to manage increased, the method of allocating territory alone reached its limits.

Of course, the nobles engaged in political maneuvering to expand and strengthen their rights based on this.

But Kariel shattered that.

They were completely wiped out because of their naive belief that Kariel’s sword would not be turned against them, his allies.

For those who had somehow achieved stability after driving out the Demon King’s army from their hellish past, Kariel’s drastic measures must have felt like a terrible betrayal.

But Kariel showed no mercy.

Instead, he even got the religious order to join in excommunicating them and branding them as heretics.

Those who fled ended up wandering in hostile or foreign countries.

…The Empire used this as another pretext for pressure and intimidation, making non-negotiable proposals to other countries.

It was like squeezing every last drop from a bone.

Kariel was not just a simple commander who was good at war.

And this was a great misfortune for his enemies, regardless of whether they were friends or foes.

In the case of the Kingdom of Dabas, surprisingly, the military difference wasn’t that significant.

Moreover, if allied countries had joined forces, the Empire wouldn’t have been able to overwhelm them with troops.

While the Empire was at war, Dabas had been focusing on strengthening its military capabilities.

So why did it end like this?

It was nothing else.

Because the battalion commander was “him.”

He was already being called not just a war hero but an apostle of God.

“Stop.”

“…”

Just as he was about to enter the former king’s office after searching through the royal palace to find his location,

Two knights stationed in front of the door blocked Elimion’s way.

“He said not to let anyone in without business.”

“Then I should be allowed to enter.”

The knights blocked him again, but…

“…”

Despite being just a boy in his early teens, the pressure emanating from Elimion’s eyes carried a presence that even veteran knights couldn’t easily suppress.

Even that’s an understatement.

Though he wasn’t emitting killing intent, when his anger flared directly, the knights’ faces quickly turned pale.

The knights realized it.

This boy, too, was a once-in-a-century genius and monster comparable to “him.”

Elimion was said to have surpassed their battalion commander in terms of swordsmanship.

If Kariel was the god of war, he was the god of the sword.

He had absorbed all the techniques of the hero, the Radiant Knight Rueld, at such a young age.

Let him in.

At the voice from inside, the knights stepped aside, inwardly relieved.

“…”

Elimion was about to burst through the door, but after taking a moment to compose himself, he bowed his head to the two knights, apologizing for his earlier rudeness.

Then he opened the door and entered.

“You’re a genius at butting in where you’re not needed.”

Inside were Kariel and a mercenary he had seen a few times since coming to Dabas.

A damp, viscous scent mingled with moisture was noticeably emanating from them.

‘Asheratte.’

A woman of extraordinary beauty.

Her skills were formidable, her mind sharp, and her intuition keen.

As Elimion, the crown prince’s personal guardian knight, had never had the opportunity to converse with her.

However, it was clear that she was very close to his brother Kariel.

Even now, that was evident.

She was calmly dressing without any apparent discomfort.

Kariel was practically half-naked except for his pants.

“Aren’t you embarrassed in front of your wife? What about your children?”

Kariel responded to Elimion’s words with a snort.

“If she’s disappointed, she could have stayed by my side.”

“How can you say that…”

“I know Seras better than you do. Or what? Are you planning to take her if I die?”

“Why! Why do you always talk like that?!”

At that moment, the blonde woman, tossing her hair behind her shoulder, smiled and said:

“Lord Elimion. Don’t scold Lord Kariel too harshly. He was just giving me a proper reward.”

“…Reward?”

“He said if he was satisfied with my mission, he’d lend me a night. Fortunately, he seemed satisfied, so I gladly served him.”

She said with a smile in her eyes.

Since she wasn’t fully dressed yet, her exposed skin was visible, making her seem as beautiful as a fairy.

But Elimion had heard rumors that this fairy was actually a monster devoid of humanity.

The Demon of the Lake.

Among mercenaries, she was infamous as someone not to associate with, and even more so not to antagonize—a notorious villainess.

Though rumors tend to be exaggerated, among her many achievements while employed by the military… there were more than a few that were inhumane and inhuman.

“You are irreplaceable as a mercenary.”

“And getting too close would be poison, right?”

“Yes. That’s what I like about you. I don’t have to repeat myself.”

…Terrible exchanges were taking place.

By now, Elimion had learned enough to understand indirect, euphemistic expressions and political diplomatic rhetoric.

He had been learning bit by bit at the side of Crown Prince Alesius.

As a battalion commander, as the Empire’s flag bearer, Kariel had to maintain a clear line.

And the one who could cross that line was… her, the mercenary Asheratte.

“You might be a good match with that fool.”

“Though your words honor me, Lord Elimion wouldn’t want that.”

“…”

“I’ll leave you two to talk. I’ll take my leave now.”

“If you feel the reward was insufficient, feel free to seek me out. I won’t refuse.”

“I would gladly serve you whenever you send for me.”

Joy gleamed in her green eyes, but

To Elimion, it felt extremely artificial.

As she headed for the door and met Elimion’s eyes, she gave a polite bow and left.

“…You’ve reduced a country to ashes, yet you engage in such sacrilegious acts.”

“Sacrilegious? Are you saying the act of creating life is sacrilegious? If you had said it was filthy, I would have laughed it off, but sacrilegious? Do you even know what you’re talking about?”

“…”

“So. What is it? Have you come to whine again? You should know that I’m not the type to normally allow this. Unless you’ve lost your mind or gone crazy, you must have a reason. Yes. Since you’re here, speak up. Go on.”

“I’ve realized that I was wrong.”

“That’s commendable coming from a fool. But it doesn’t sound like something I’d find favorable.”

Elimion, gritting his teeth, asked again:

“You said that if I wanted to change you, I would need to rise above you or be in a position equivalent to that, right?”

“Yes. That’s the clear reality.”

“But even if I rise above you, that would be impossible, wouldn’t it?”

“On what grounds?”

“…Because you’re not the type to listen to anyone. You might pretend to comply for the sake of appearances if the Emperor or Father says so. You might postpone… but your priority in judgment will always be you, your own judgment, won’t it?”

“What an obvious statement.”

“…It’s not obvious at all.”

If neither the Emperor nor Father is to your liking.

“You’re thinking of removing them, aren’t you?”

“Of course not. There’s no reason to. You’re making me out to be too much of a villain.”

“If it were just villainy, that would be a comfort. How is what you’re doing now… any different from the Demon King who plunged the world into misery, let alone a demon?”

“I’d be grateful if countries other than the Empire saw me that way.”

At first, he thought he had misheard.

So he reflexively questioned:

“What… did you say?”

For us, descendants of heroes, to accept being called Demon Kings.

What kind of, what kind of absurd!

“Listen, you fool. I prefer a dirty victory, a nauseating victory, over a noble defeat, a great defeat.”

“…I know very well that you isolated Dabas by brutally and cruelly devastating the surrounding areas, influencing the small neighboring countries. Do you think I’m doing this because I don’t understand that?”

“You fool. Is that all you can see?”

At Kariel’s mockery, Elimion spoke with intensity in his eyes:

“My stance has always been the same. Save even one more person, and kill ten or a hundred more enemies. That’s my war policy.”

“What does that have to do with—”

“Because they fear me, the enemy is afraid to touch our soldiers and citizens. And that will definitely save someone someday. Whether they’re soldiers or civilians.”

“Don’t you think about the innocent who will be killed out of vengeance? What about the innocent people you’ve massacred?!”

“Fool. There are no innocent people in this world. There are only pathetic fools who want to believe that.”

“…”

“Try claiming you were innocent after being struck by lightning from the sky. When you’re killed by a robber, your family is murdered or raped, and you’re sold as a slave to a distant foreign country, try claiming you’re innocent then. Or what? Do you want your wife or children to receive such treatment in the future?”

“Why are you connecting the conversation in this direction?! That’s not the point, is it?!”

“We are at war. Do you think that if they surrender after defeat, we should accept it generously? If it’s beneficial, by all means. But right now, killing them is beneficial. Therefore, we kill them. And since just killing them would be half-hearted, we crush them thoroughly. This city will become ruins. I will make it so, and this will be a terrible fear and irresistible terror to our enemies… and for those who don’t want to oppose us, it will provide a more definite choice.”

Kariel said with a grin:

“In that sense, my generosity will make potential enemies unable to oppose us, so this is actually the way to avoid war. Fool. Ambiguous fear breeds fear and provokes rebellion and resistance… but in the face of absolute terror, resistance becomes meaningless. If they rebel against us, it’s simple. It’s because there wasn’t enough fear. Not enough terror. We are continuing our war activities to pacify potential enemies with the harvest of fear. Even at this very moment. And those who deserve respect are given rewards commensurate with that. It’s so simple, yet you’re getting emotional and making a fuss. Tsk, tsk.”

And you know what.

In this process.

“There is no innocence. Only incompetence.”

“Do you think that justifies the massacre of innocent people?! There is nowhere in the Irenis doctrine that encourages such massacres!”

“Why not? Isn’t it right here?”

Kariel pointed to himself and said:

“I am the will of God, His word, and His proof.”

“That’s! Beyond sacrilege, it’s blasphemy!”

“You’re the one committing blasphemy. In the first place, if God didn’t allow my actions and activities, how would this be possible?”

“That’s…”

“Is the omniscient and omnipotent One unable to foresee this situation and sent me into the world? If so, He is not omniscient and omnipotent. Therefore, denying me, denying you, and denying everything in the world—that is blasphemy. War is also His domain, and massacre is also under His jurisdiction. Despair, frustration, fear, and horror. All of it.”

“That cannot justify the massacre, the burning of the world.”

“Justify? What unnecessary white noise. Have I ever done that? You should learn properly. Irenis carried the cross and sacrificed Himself, embracing all the sins of the world. What did you learn from this?”

“…”

It’s ominous.

Elimion couldn’t begin to guess what content would spill from his mouth.

Come to think of it, how long had it been since he had confronted him so recklessly like this?

And yet, how long had it been since he hadn’t even raised a hand against him?

“Let me teach a lesson to my foolish brother. Sin cannot be hidden, discarded, or resolved. Nor can it be stood against. It is like a downpour. Like the sun hanging in the sky. If you start denying these things, how is it different from blaspheming the God who created them? What about the excrement you eat and defecate?”

“What does that have to do with—”

“Someone has to clean up the filth. Similarly, someone has to embrace sin, sweep it up, and then die.”

Kariel said with a smirk:

“Just like Him who carried the cross, embraced all sins, and died.”

“…”

“Tell me, Elimion. Do you find me hateful? But do you know what? That hatred is not yours but a proper proof bestowed upon you by God. Proof of what?”

That you are.

“The one who will nail me to the cross. I am the sword that burns the world, and you are the proof of integration that will nail me to the cross, punish me, and unify the world.”

“Wh-what, what… what are you saying? Why would I nail you, my brother, to the cross?!”

“If your head worked just a little, it would be obvious. The will of God and the will of the world are surprisingly simple. It’s just difficult to execute.”

What He desires is not the faithful, but practitioners who have put His words into action.

“What’s the difference between those pathetic fools who only believe and hope, and well-raised livestock? Yet even that is rare, which is why they are respected to some extent, but in reality, they are… the basics of basics. The fundamentals of fundamentals. It goes without saying that the proof and results of faith are more important than faith itself.”

“What on earth are you talking about?! So, you’re saying you’ll be the sinner who carries the cross?! Is that why you commit sins?!”

“I’m saying that’s how the structure of the world flows. Fool. Even after explaining this much, you still don’t get it. When will you grow up?”

“Brother. Are you… truly in your right mind?”

“Huh. Are you in your right mind?”

Kariel sighed heavily as if frustrated.

“If I don’t embrace that sin, who will? The soldiers who are burning the royal capital in my place right now?”

“…”

“I am the one who makes them into people who commit massacres because they have no choice but to follow orders. Also, for them to join our military unit, we must share the sin for a while. That’s how a sense of solidarity and belonging deepens. Human psychology works that way. By sharing sin, we can unite. There are multiple meanings, not just one. Even in killing and saving people. We are at war, and that’s how it is in the secular world. But only I need to know the fundamental reason. Why? Because responsibility is my domain to bear. I’m not shameless enough to irresponsibly pass it on to those who cannot bear it. You fool. Or what? Do you think I’m doing this for the petty act of engraving my name in history? That’s truly worthless. The most useless thing. Ah! Power? Feed that to the pigs.”

Elimion.

He couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned by his long, sermon-like rhythm.

He had thought he was quite mad, but.

He was truly, beyond imagination… somehow greatly twisted.

But is that twist, that deviation, proof of genius as he claims?

And if this is, as he says, what God… wanted?

Then what am I, what am I?

“…What kind of world do you live in?”

“You fool. You’re making me repeat myself.”

I’ve told you many times.

“A cage-like hell.”

May curses always be with you. But if you don’t like that?

“Become more stupid than you are now. Don’t worry about anything. The more foolish you are, the more the world looks like a flower garden. But don’t become ignorant. That breeds regret and creates more worries. So it’s okay to become stupid. Then you’ll be peaceful for a while.”

Unless, someday, malice gnaws at the hearts of you and your loved ones.

“Now, clever fool. Answer with your own mouth, as if you’re so smart. What would you call such a world?”