Ch.29196. You Have Been Defeated (2)

“…..”

A sword with cracks that looked as if it would shatter at any moment.

Once, in Rueld’s hands, it had been a supreme blade that split and cut through the giant fox head of the Demon Lord of Wisdom in its final moments.

The sight of Kariel pointing that sword and asking for an answer…

…surprisingly, showed no particular sense of accomplishment.

Just calmly, dryly.

…merely asking for acknowledgment of defeat.

“…..”

For a brief yet long moment, the two looked up and down at each other.

After a short but lengthy silence, eventually….

“…Yes.”

The silence was broken.

“It seems I have lost.”

Rueld’s expression, as he said those words, surprisingly looked as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

Then.

“…..”

At last, Kariel lowered his sword and closed his eyes.

Only now, finally.

…….

“You fools. So, did you settle your grudges well?”

At that voice, Rueld immediately stood up.

“Demon Lord!”

“…..”

Meanwhile, Kariel.

Slowly opening his eyes fully.

“How was it?”

He merely asked in a drained voice.

“What are you asking? The result is already clear, isn’t it?”

While the golden girl danced merrily with her small body, moving as if shimmering.

Rueld, astonished, glared at her and pressed urgently.

“…What about Ermina? What have you done with the others?”

“Haa~!”

Perhaps it was her sigh that burst out at his rigid attitude.

The Demon Lord, Aureas, persistently chanted Rueld~ Rueld~ Oh Rueld!

“He never intended to harm you from the beginning. Did you seriously think he was trying to resurrect me to turn your city into a flower bed or wasteland?”

“…..”

“You must have known it deep down, right? Or were you really uncertain?”

Giggling and hopping around in the body of a young girl, she appeared utterly nonchalant.

“Then why did things come to this…”

“Because that’s the only way you would show your true feelings.”

As the Demon Lord abruptly cut him off, Rueld momentarily closed his mouth, overwhelmed by her force.

“Only if you genuinely intended to kill him or harbored similar feelings could the confrontation be established.”

“Why was that necessary! What meaning does that have!”

“Because that was the contract.”

The Demon Lord said with a shrug.

Her bare, snow-white shoulders gleamed.

Below them, a pure white dress decorated like artificial flowers encircled her shoulders.

As she twirled her body, the dress fluttered and undulated merrily like dancing flowers.

“Because~ that was the contract?”

“…What kind of contract was it?”

“Obviously, it was to defeat you.”

The Demon Lord, as if suggesting he was slow-witted, curled her lips in a sneer and pretended to poke her forehead with her index finger.

“What meaning does that—!”

“Because that’s what I wanted.”

Kariel interrupted.

“Because that’s what I wanted.”

“Ha.”

Rueld swallowed heavily, as if finding it difficult to comprehend.

“If that’s the case, there was no need to make such a big issue…”

“My target for revenge wasn’t exactly just you alone.”

“What?”

“Father. This might surprise you, but I don’t harbor that much resentment towards you personally. Though I do have some grievances. And those grievances… being so profound is probably the fundamental reason that led to this mess.”

“…..”

“I am of a kind that cannot help but understand others, even if I dislike it. I was born with such a nature, and isn’t that what you all wanted me to grow into?”

So, I understand you all.

“Whether I want to or not, even if it’s beyond dislike and reaches hatred… I understand. I empathize.”

You all are certainly not evil.

“Even though you contributed to breaking me, I know that was never your intention.”

Just.

If there was a fault, it was profound ignorance.

“Kal…”

“But understanding doesn’t mean I will endure and accept it.”

Even if I understand and empathize.

Accepting and enduring it is a separate matter.

“The Empire that made you this way is also at fault. And your fault for being dragged along by it must be significant too.”

“Kal?”

While Rueld felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

“Ka~riel. As you requested, those who repent for their sins will return safely.”

But those who have no intention, will, or desire to do so.

“They will never wake again.”

“What? What does that… mean? Kariel? Never wake again?! Who are you talking about!”

“…..”

Kariel raised his head to look at the empty space and answered.

“Punishing the guilty is what this world originally desires.”

But the reason it doesn’t happen is because societies of humans and other races cannot function that way.

Laws, disciplines, rules.

Such social norms.

“But neglecting and allowing evil leads to the oppression and persecution of the weak, their frustration and indelible wounds, leading to greater despair as time passes.”

Kariel looked at Rueld again and said.

“Confronting such evil and resisting their persecution and malice might be another way this world helps the weak and poor grow.”

But even without that, isn’t the world already a hell?

“Punishing those extremely wicked individuals who wear masks of goodness is surely beyond your capability, isn’t it?”

For you, who wears the shell of a hero.

For you, who is captivated by the title of a guardian of justice and goodness.

“…You couldn’t possibly punish and condemn them freely.”

“Kal. The Lord of this world…”

“I know. I know better.”

He added, cutting off the words.

“Loving all humans and so on… I know it’s true.”

But that method is not the human way.

Moreover, regardless of the Lord’s will, the way this world desires and guides is another matter.

Nevertheless.

The Lord loves His creations.

“That’s why, even though you were defeated, you weren’t abandoned by Him.”

“…..”

“Yet the Lord still loves heroes He cherishes, including you and mother.”

Rather, because of this incident, ordinary people who try to criticize and condemn such heroes will receive even greater punishment.

That will be the privilege that continues until the moment you, father, die, until the moment you, mother, die.

As long as you two don’t go against the Lord’s will.

Yes. In that way, due to the ignorance of the imperial citizens, they throw themselves into thorny vines and struggle in pain like primitive beasts until they die and collapse. Watching them being thrown into such extreme misfortune.

It wouldn’t be bad, it could be another form of Kariel’s revenge against the imperial citizens.

“This is my revenge.”

And he had acquired a just cause and justification.

“Because what I oversee is, after all, sin.”

“…Sin? What do you mean by ‘oversee’? Ka, Kal? What are you saying…”

Rueld was bewildered.

Those words seemed to suggest that Kariel himself was an angel or something related to it.

“Great power is accompanied by appropriate restraining forces.”

Deterrence.

Then restraint.

The fact that the War God confronted his current self.

The fact that another self from another world, a hero who saved the world and another Emperor of Light, appeared before him and declared war.

All are results of restraint.

“The world absolutely does not allow anyone to run rampant unchecked.”

So Rueld’s existence, by the mere fact that there is no restraint, is clearly a blessed and benefited existence.

That’s what it means to have no adversary.

In fact, what the higher-ups expect and what we expect are probably not much different.

Even in fairy tales and myths, we don’t pay much attention to the nameless characters who die.

We only care about the protagonist or the protagonist’s lover. Only care about them.

The rest, truly, is not our concern.

…In fact, even if we wanted to know, we couldn’t.

Because we’ve always only been able to see what’s shown to us.

“Well, you’ve probably settled your grudges by beating each other up, right? Or what? Should I set up a drinking session for you? You seem to have a lot to talk about?”

“…..”

As the Demon Lord started to sneer with an annoyed expression, Kariel immediately closed his mouth.

“Putting that aside… So, Kariel. You could have come this far without calling me, but why did you call me?”

Was that question somewhat unexpected?

“…I didn’t expect to hear such a question from you.”

“No. I know everything, but I want to hear it from your own mouth. You’ve always been so dense…”

“A farewell greeting. We didn’t have one.”

“……Haa?”

At those old-fashioned words, the Demon Lord sighed deeply.

“For something so trivial, you did such an ungraceful thing…”

“But you had fun, didn’t you?”

At those words, the golden one let out a small laugh.

“A little? A li~ttle?”

“…..”

For Rueld, the sight of the two creating such a familiar atmosphere was unbearably difficult.

Kal. Kariel.

That… that Demon Lord… is a nightmarish existence for us.

Why are you so… to that thing…

“I told them that you were my master.”

“I told you not to. Why do you do things I didn’t ask for?”

“But it’s the truth, isn’t it?”

“Haa~ I can’t live with this, really.”

The golden one, speaking like that, seemed a bit frustrated.

“Having such lingering attachments will only make you pitiful.”

“…..”

“You know well that I’m a being who committed massacres and stirred the world into chaos, right? That’s why we strictly drew a line in our relationship. Have you already forgotten?”

“Now that I’ve awakened to the principle of cause and effect, it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Oh, really?”

The Demon Lord crossed her arms with an expression that said she didn’t care anymore.

“Well, if this trivial act is your revenge against your father and family, then yes, it’s not bad.”

“Not as much as you, though.”

“…..”

Silence visited without warning.

The two looked at each other like that for a moment.

“I never thought I’d say this, but…”

Master.

“I will miss you.”

“No thanks? Ugh… it gives me the creeps.”

After rubbing her arms and exaggeratedly shaking her body, the golden one.

Now shedding golden dust.

“Is that enough for a farewell greeting?”

“…..”

“Yes. This is just right for us. Men who are clingy aren’t popular, Kariel.”

So don’t be regretful.

Just as everything comes and goes, just as meetings are followed by partings.

“This too is the natural order of things.”

“…I’ll see you again someday.”

“Me? I won’t be reincarnating, so how?”

“Eternal eternity.”

Huh?

“Everlasting eternity. Perpetual eternity.”

Kariel murmured briefly.

“That’s all you, isn’t it?”

“You figured that out too? I just learned it myself recently.”

The Demon Lord rarely frowned.

“Haa! Still, I don’t think you’ll… be able to reach that far.”

“…We’ll see. Whether I go or not… that’s not really important anyway.”

“Do as you please. Ah, time’s up.”

As the golden dust grandly oxidized.

Her beautiful and brilliant form, created from it.

“I’m going, fool.”

With those final words, she scattered and oxidized like sand dust.

-Hey. Don’t waste your time doing useless things, live enjoyably. Don’t ignore this advice.

Like an echo, her warning lingered, and Kariel stood there for a long time, either letting it pass through one ear or engraving it in his mind.

Gradually, the surrounding space began to collapse.

The pitch-black world, resembling the brilliant darkness of the night sky.

Such a world gradually cracked, seeming precarious as if it would break and fall apart at any moment.

“…..”

Eventually.

Kariel looked down at the sword, which he had somehow transferred to his left hand.

‘Yes.’

From the beginning….

‘I.’

Crack!

‘The sword….’

Clang!

…I never liked it anyway.

The cracked sword, responding to his will, shattered and broke all at once, scattering metal pieces.

“Father.”

As the handle fell towards the ground.

While the pommel bounced once after colliding with the dark surface.

By now, a pitch-black sword was held in Kariel’s hand again.

If the Demon Lord had seen this, if she had seen this sight, she would have said what a waste.

That with it, he could have harmoniously handled divine power or something.

That it would have been useful for causing trouble in the demon realm, and would have given him a lecture that wasn’t really a lecture.

‘…..’

It’s alright.

Now.

…Because it really doesn’t matter anymore.

“Finally, it’s time to sever the ties of resentment between us.”

“Kal. You, yes, you. What do you want me to do? If you want… even my life…”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

Kariel snorted slightly and shook his head.

“It’s the opposite.”

“Opposite? What oppo…”

While Rueld flinched, not understanding the intention, Kariel’s action made his intention clear.

“I’ll offer my neck to you.”

“What—”

What absurd—!

The pitch-black blade was now pointed at Kariel’s own neck, following his hand.

“Kal—?!”

“Whether you tell mother or not, that’s your choice.”

Whether to share the truth or bury it.

“Just as you hid my letter from mother, I give you the same choice this time.”

“Kariel! That’s! This is not right! What are you doing! Why?! Isn’t this matter already settled?! Are you afraid of the aftermath of causing such a big issue?! No! That can’t be! The current you wouldn’t worry about such things—!”

“I.”

For quite a long time.

“I’ve wanted to see this.”

Very desperately.

“I’m finally fulfilling that wish now.”

Rarely, a bright smile spread across Kariel’s face.

Now I understand a bit why the Demon Lord was so cheerful about this.

Probably, laughing happily like this…

This will be the last time in my life.

So forgive me.

Only you two…

Have the right to accept my resentment.

“Kari—!”

Swoosh!

After the pitch-black sword passed through his neck once.

Slurp—

Before Rueld’s eyes, Kariel’s head fell off completely.

“Ah…”

Roll roll roll—

His rolling head eventually stopped at Rueld’s feet.

“Ah……”

Is this a bad dream?

If it’s a dream, please… I wish I could wake up now.

If I wake up again… perhaps Ermina and Kariel would be as if nothing happened…

He remained like that for a while, with his eyes wide open, abandoned in the collapsing world.

And finally, in the crumbling world.

Thanks to the sight of the headless body being buried in the blackness and turning to dust.

Rueld finally sat down heavily, trying to at least preserve the head, embracing it, and belatedly wailed.

Thus, in the end, he could only cry out loud.

====

“Daddy?”

Toddling.

A child who had been running somewhere with clumsy steps suddenly tilted his head.

Young master! Little young master! Where are you!

Though a familiar voice was heard from the alley, the child hurriedly took small steps as if trying to get away from there.

Today there was supposed to be something amazing, but daddy and mommy left him behind to have fun by themselves.

He felt like crying from the hurt, but the child somehow managed to escape from the house.

“Uung…”

But where should he go?

“…..”

As people were bustling around as if they were busy with something, the child finally realized he was lost and made a sad face.

“Huh?”

Then, noticing someone looking down at him, the child tilted his head.

“Who… are you?”

“…..”

The man, whose golden eyes flashed through his black hair.

Eventually suppressed a laugh and extended his hand towards the child.

“I’ll take you home.”

“Eh?”

The child, not knowing any better, firmly grasped the fingers of the man who had lowered himself with those kind words.

“Mommy said not to go with bad people.”

“Is that so.”

Thinking it wasn’t right to move while holding just his fingers, he eventually picked up the child and placed him on his shoulders.

“Mister, who are you anyway?”

“…..”

He laughed again at those words.

“Who are youuu! Don’t laugh! An-answer! Answer! I’m talking to you!”

“Ha….”

Truly.

What a pleasant life.

…Isn’t it?

Master.

‘Ah….’

Suddenly, this thought occurred to him.

If our relationship hadn’t gone so wrong.

Perhaps.

By now, father might have been beside me, playfully poking Elimion’s face with his finger as he sat on my shoulders.

And mother, following right behind, might have been quietly laughing at the sight of us.

And I….

Looking back and forth between the two, while Elimion hugged my head tightly and cried out “Daddy, I hate you!” with his childish antics, I would have received it with a sense of bewilderment.

…In any case.

Yes. Perhaps such a life could have existed.

No.

It would be possible even now.

If I just made up my mind.

Yes.

It would certainly be possible, but….

“Mister? Hey?”

“…..”

“Are you crying?”

He answered with a quiet laugh.

‘Yes. We were just unlucky.’

Let’s believe that.

Because only then….

Inwardly, it seemed to make sense.

If.

If this incident had truly caused the two of them to be abandoned by their God, their Master.

If that had happened, perhaps my choices would have been a bit different.

But still, the One above did not give up on the fate of the two.

Yes. Given that decision.

I now can never… with them…

“…..”

Suddenly his footsteps stopped.

“Hey?”

“…..”

Young master! Where are you!

In the opposite direction of the anxious calling voice.

As he unconsciously turned his head, a familiar silhouette entered his view.

With fiery red long hair flowing freely.

Showing a pale face in pajama-like attire.

But with those blue eyes filled with light, intensely staring at this direction…