Ch.26989. Inevitably, Winter Will Come.

# The Second Saint arrived on the island on the third day of the jousting tournament.

The island was in a festive mood.

Various topics were being discussed by both young and old, and the excitement was spreading countless expectations and aspirations without restraint.

“Lady Tronel.”

“What is it?”

Unlike before, she now wore a pitch-black nun’s habit that even covered her head, and was habitually fingering the wooden rosary hanging around her neck.

With eyes as bright as the sun etched in the clear sky, she responded to Medrin’s call with a gentle smile.

“Do you truly believe that Kariel has already entered the island?”

“My intuition tells me so.”

“Intuition… you say.”

If an ordinary person had said this, he would have dismissed it, but it was coming from her.

…How could one ignore the opinion of a saint with superhuman intuition?

The two walked side by side along the crowded main street.

Despite the hustle and bustle, they continued their conversation without distraction.

“So secretly that even agents and the intelligence department lost track of him. Perhaps it’s good to assume he possesses means that go beyond mere secrecy into the realm of the extraordinary.”

“You mean to assume the worst of the worst?”

“Something like that.”

The two had experienced quite a few situations before coming here.

If the Demon King of Extermination was the worst, then what they encountered afterward… those that could be called phantoms of demon kings that disappeared overnight.

The Demon King of Mercy, the Demon King of Wandering.

Unlike Extermination, those two were entities one could reason with.

And regardless of their true intentions, both provided relatively plausible information about Kariel.

“Kariel’s goal isn’t to release the demon kings. That’s not his objective but a means, and there’s a reason for that means. And knowing that it won’t actually have a significant impact on the world, he still caused this commotion—that’s probably the correct assessment for now.”

“Prince Filbar II gave appropriate advice in that regard.”

At Tronel’s words, Medrin recalled what that pale boy had said.

“…It’s hard to accept beings that deviate from the natural order, but even that must be the Lord’s will.”

The world is vast and immense, and such creatures might exist.

If everything is created and exists under the Lord’s intention, then even they are creatures born under His will.

To presume to accept or reject this is not the role of a servant like Tronel.

“The concept of barriers and domains as expressed in magic, or sanctuaries as the church calls them. A more advanced concept of these was difficult for me to understand at first.”

“Divine beings or those who haven’t reached that level but have constructed similar worlds. It’s certainly beyond comprehension, but if it’s possible, we must accept it.”

What good would come from denying and rejecting it?

At first, they thought it might be related to demon king revivals or cultists who worship demons, but it was quite the opposite.

The phantoms Kariel had spread were actually expelling such entities or making them repent.

Especially the Demon King of Mercy.

When they followed that entity’s traces and confronted it, there were over a hundred cultist remnants around her, all shedding tears and begging for forgiveness and mercy from heaven and earth.

It wasn’t so much a spectacle as it was a terrifying scene.

…Though Tronel seemed somewhat accustomed to such sights.

The Demon King of Mercy.

She had told them:

[That child is searching for a specific demon king. Thus, he is testing whether it’s feasible by employing methods to temporarily manifest us in this land.]

Despite being a demon king, there was a nobility about her, something that could only be perceived as dignified and classical.

The will to fight, even the motivation to oppose her, seemed to have evaporated completely.

Around her, there was only mercy and forgiveness.

An experience that felt like it might transcend beyond helplessness.

If they had remained bound in that domain any longer, they might have effortlessly fallen to their knees.

Though it paled in comparison to overwhelming power, that humility was something that could make even the mighty kneel… an irresistible force of sorts.

“Perhaps,” said Medrin.

Having heard certain things, he could make a reasonable guess.

“…Kariel might have made such an agreement with the demon king he contracted with. For instance, resurrection.”

“Isn’t that something the Empire has been denying?”

Even with the subject omitted, both understood exactly what was being referred to.

The Demon King of Wisdom.

By another name, the Golden Demon King.

And as they called it, the Golden Beast.

“…At the point of mentioning that, Kariel ceases to be a subject for salvation. We must not forget that. That would be… a great threat to Lord Rueld and Lady Ermina. And beyond them, to the Empire itself.”

The saint offered what might have been a warning or an entreaty as advice.

“I’m just considering the possibilities. Denying it won’t change reality, will it?”

“……”

There are truths that, even if correct, shouldn’t be acknowledged.

This was likely one of them.

The descendant of the hero who defeated the Golden Beast is trying to resurrect the demon king that nearly dominated the continent?

…If that fact were to spread, the chaos it would cause…

Above all, what was frightening about the Golden Beast wasn’t its inherent skill or the power and authority associated with the name “demon king.”

It was… its cunning and schemes, its deceitful tongue.

And its insight that seemed to understand all things in the world as if it knew everything.

…It was truly like a chalice of wisdom.

If such a being were to deliberately hide and plot… it would sweep the continent with a crisis of a different kind than when it led armies of demon kings.

Demon kings obsessed with authority and power might not be able to bear such humiliation.

But the Golden Beast would be different.

“If it comes to that, then we’ll have no choice.”

The Second Saint Tronel dismissed it as if there were no exceptions.

“That’s why I was dispatched, I suppose.”

The possessor of all the holy relics that Rueld had returned.

While the divine sword chose its master, the holy relics were a different story.

And she was the one who had legally inherited them.

Moreover, she had even received some sword training from Rueld.

…Though brief, she might be the only one who could truly be called his disciple in the genuine sense.

Because of this, she couldn’t view Kariel as a stranger.

That small baby in Ermina’s arms when she met her as a child.

Although holding that baby wrapped in swaddling clothes was the first and last time she had done so.

“…Haa.”

Tronel cherished even that as a precious memory.

And not just that.

For her, this world was a world worth protecting and nurturing.

“……”

Medrin thought to himself, “It’s not easy,” maintaining a composed exterior while inwardly swallowing a bitter smile.

“But the Demon King of Mercy denied that premise, didn’t she?”

The Demon King of Mercy.

According to what she had told them:

[But the Demon King of Wisdom is in a different position from us. Making it manifest arbitrarily like us now is probably impossible.]

Kariel.

He must know this fact.

Or is he trying to summon someone other than the Demon King of Wisdom?

If so, is he trying to summon the most likely candidate who can fulfill his purpose?

“And at the point where the two of us have entered the island like this, his intentions, whatever they may be, are naturally being inferred.”

Thoughts momentarily halt.

Yes, we’ve entered the island.

Given the many eyes of the Empire, our movements have likely been detected already.

Even so, there’s no need for it to be classified as confidential.

Though we might be holding some secrets.

…Is it somewhere between a secret and classified information? How peculiar.

“Do we have any trustworthy collaborators?”

“Many, but… I’m not sure.”

Medrin, who had been hesitating like that.

With an unperturbed face, he revealed a positive response.

“There is one knight who will cooperate with us unconditionally, no matter what happens.”

“Would I know this person?”

“You would know her well.”

At those words, Tronel smiled mildly.

“Since we entered the island. I was also considering visiting her.”

Her attitude suggested she could guess whom Medrin was referring to.

A female figure who had received sword training alongside her when she was learning from Rueld.

While she naturally parted ways because she belonged to the church, she remembered hearing through the grapevine that the other woman was still with the Empire, specifically in the knight order led by Rueld.

“I’ll be seeing a familiar face after a long time.”

Patina.

A genius female knight who joined the Golden Dragon Knight Order at the youngest age, and as a woman.

After being knighted and subsequently recognized for numerous achievements, she was officially awarded the title of baroness.

She would now be among the ranks of the nobility.

She had earned the right to establish her own family line.

“But… where can we find her?”

“…I anticipated this and sent a message in advance.”

Medrin had a surprisingly cunning… no, meticulous side to him.

“Your efficiency is beyond the rumors.”

The saint’s smile was truly radiant.

—-

“……”

Rueld gripped the divine sword.

And the figure before him stood holding what appeared to be fine straight swords in both hands.

Though he had the build of a boy, or even a younger child, the hero didn’t let his guard down.

The stance, movements, and posture he took were identical to those that had once defeated Rueld.

In essence, the origin of that swordsmanship likely stemmed from this individual.

The Weakest Demon King.

The first attack came from Rueld.

There was no point in showing petty considerations to such a being.

A sword strike that approached like infiltrating wind, without any presence and at high speed.

The other skillfully received it and tried to counter by sweeping it away.

But Rueld thrust his sword, ignoring that intention by utilizing his strength, technique, and agility to the extreme.

He aimed to push the sword through, targeting the body, or if not the body, then the arms, or if not the arms, then the legs or lower body.

Corin skillfully responded by reversing his movements and body to adeptly counter.

Even overwhelming physical abilities, due to Corin’s timely responses, were reduced to ordinary offensives and attacks.

His sword strikes, even without invoking holy power or utilizing mana, were sufficient to cleave bedrock and leave scars on the earth.

The fact that the other could receive them without any issue was truly a mystery beyond strangeness.

Moreover, the weapon he held showed no signs of damage.

“Hmm!”

With a short battle cry, Corin pushed forward again, advancing his body that had been pushed back.

Rueld wouldn’t be pushed back, but to prevent his wrist from being twisted due to his body structure, he further solidified his lower body.

While doing so, he firmly supported his wrist based on his shoulders and arms, causing his upper body, which had almost staggered, to remain fixed as if nailed in place.

“Hmm?”

Corin struck the sword away as if finding it curious.

Despite the light strike, it almost made Rueld’s upper body spin around.

If that had happened, it would have certainly had an unnatural impact on his waist.

The transmission, action, and influence of force seemed to deviate from ordinary physical laws.

“Indeed…”

This swordsmanship was entirely different from Grandeus.

Though the movements might be the same, the application and harmony far transcended the skills of that black knight, the commander.

At this point, it could only be considered a completely different swordsmanship, a different sword technique.

“Further continuation would be meaningless.”

Just as Rueld felt he was starting to get a grasp on it, Corin was the first to withdraw his sword.

“…May I ask why?”

“You and I have the same conditions involved, so victory or defeat has no meaning.”

“Conditions?”

“By your standards, the blessing of victory. By mine, the will of the protagonist.”

The blessing of victory? The will of the protagonist?

“To explain this… I’d have to use myths? Fairy tales? Legends as metaphors.”

For example… Yes. Since you’re a hero, let’s consider hero legends or fairy tales.

In those, the hero always wins in some way, and ultimately triumphs even at the very end.

“It’s like that. For instance, the protagonist in a legend doesn’t lose. Even if they do, it’s just another process for a later victory.”

“……”

Rueld pondered for a moment.

“And that’s also why your son has been avoiding you for so long. Because a match wouldn’t be established. Wisdom probably told him that fact.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Hmm. Originally, I approached you partly to make you aware of this. I had intentions, but I didn’t intend for it to go this far… Well.”

…Even this kind of contact, approach was planned?

“I’ve gained something, so I should pay a price. That’s why I’m telling you.”

First of all.

“You already know that your son will appear before you, right?”

“Of course.”

“When that happens, face him with all your might. If you face him half-heartedly, you’ll do more than just get hurt badly.”

Well. Even the descendant, if he’s not a fool, will come at you assuming the worst of the worst.

“Since our descendant claims to be a disciple of Wisdom in opposition to you, you need to reconsider Wisdom’s approach.”

“……”

By wisdom, he must be referring to the Demon King of Wisdom.

Just thinking about it makes him take a deep breath involuntarily.

“Do you think the descendant only learned how to wield a sword because he had time to spare? Wisdom doesn’t even handle swords, right?”

“So you’re saying that the child’s attitude, his way of life, was deeply influenced by Wisdom?”

“You’re quick to understand.”

Corin’s lips stretched.

“Respond with all your might. If you can win, that will lead to another development.”

“……”

“If you lose, the same applies.”

However, Corin refrained from speaking about what would come after.

Whichever way it went, it wouldn’t lead to the development the hero before him desired.

That would be Wisdom’s way.

But if Rueld noticed this point and created a variable… would that benefit or harm Kariel?

Corin was a bit curious about that.

The man before him was definitely not an evil person.

But fate, destiny had twisted the two.

More precisely, the biggest issue was that the man before him had pledged everything to God to fulfill his mission as a hero and as the nemesis of demon kings.

But he doesn’t know.

That he has concluded such contracts multiple times.

That he has made contracts with deities other than the one he calls his Lord.

And that Kariel’s life was passed on to that being, and simultaneously to the Lord he speaks of.

More precisely, his mother passed it to their Lord, and the man before him from another deity.

…Normally, such wishes, prayers, desires, and supplications would have no meaning.

But the two, the couple, were beings born with a destiny that’s hard to come by in a century.

And the child born between them had too many burdens passed onto him.

‘But Wisdom intercepted that midway, is that it?’

In a world of inevitability without coincidence, isn’t this a truly interesting sight?

In the end, they defeated the demon kings and acquired all glory and honor.

But their tragedy was that they were far from desire.

Therefore… their master must truly blindly adore them.

“This opportunity will be the first and the last. If you miss it, there won’t be a next time, so I wish you good luck.”

“……”

Rueld felt an unprecedented ominousness in Corin’s words.

‘Even after coming this far.’

You, you won’t leave us alone.

‘Golden…’

It comes back to him again.

The fierce mockery shouted at them as they desperately fled.

Even the curse that erupted afterward, vividly.

You, lowly creatures! Yes! Run like that! Run as if you can escape to anywhere in the world!

But don’t worry. The enemies I hate will rather enjoy eternity, immortality!

Survive! Live and live on to the end!

Thus, witness the sight of the river of pain sinking into the sea.

And on this narrow world where there’s no place left to stand, reign as a thoroughly lonely king.

I’ll crown you with a crown of thorns.

Be blessed, forever.

Isn’t that the path of the hero and champion you desire?

“……”

Once, the hero’s party had directly confronted it.

As a result, they lost two companions, and it played with them, toying with them.

The people of the world don’t know.

The Demon King of Wisdom is wise, cunning, and unparalleled in deceit, but in terms of power, it’s not such a remarkable being compared to other demon kings.

But that was a misconception.

Those who faced it all know.

Though few survived among them, those who confronted it couldn’t help but know.

The Golden Beast was certainly a being that could bring down a country on its own.

It might have even preferred being alone.

Its ability to manipulate, reorganize, edit, and reconstruct the world as it pleased.

…And beyond the world, to rewrite even individual personalities, thoughts, memories, and destinies.

A curse beyond curses.

…Only later did they realize that the conditions for using it were absurdly outrageous, and only then could they confront it.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have even attempted to defeat it.

‘…I should end this here.’

I should stop being swayed by a dead entity.

“I’ll do my best.”

“Yes. If you can, that would be good. If things can work out well for both of you, that would be the best.”

Corin left the training ground with his sword resting on his shoulder.

Rueld stood there for a moment, dazed, reorganizing his thoughts.

There were still several things bothering him.

Especially what the Weakest Demon King had said to him during the previous meal.

[You, who offered your soul to your master, who united with your master’s servant, who even sacrificed your child to your master.]

When he asked again later, Corin said he didn’t know.

He said that since you’re the one who offered, you should ask your own mind.

But he had never done such a thing.

Never, but…

It suddenly came to him.

It was an old woman who lived in seclusion on an icy mountain.

At that time, Rueld had his life saved by her once.

Naturally, he asked how he could repay this kindness.

But she merely snorted.

[Compensation? I don’t need such a thing. Just, yes. After you fulfill your mission as a hero. That’s when I’ll take my compensation. Of course, you don’t need to give me anything. I’ll take care of it myself. Don’t worry. You won’t even know you’ve been robbed.]

“……”

Though it came to mind suddenly, he had a feeling it wasn’t entirely unrelated.

Did she keep her promise?

And is this how it manifested?

“It’s too early to jump to conclusions.”

Rueld muttered to himself as if denying it.

Only then did he return the divine sword to its scabbard.

When people are weary and exhausted, they try to vent by blaming and cursing something.

For someone like him, who had come this far with the help of many, he absolutely didn’t want to do that.

Moreover, she was a benefactor who had saved his life and helped him obtain the divine sword.

…Humans so easily try to forget gratitude.

Was he no exception to this?

“……”

For a while, he just looked up at the sky.

The blowing wind was becoming noticeably colder than before.

Yet, it wasn’t winter yet.

Inevitably, winter would come.