Ch.325107. Hoping You Won’t Come (3)

The Kingdom of Dabas had a rather close relationship with the Enbrave family, which had been reborn as the Radiant Imperial lineage through the merging of the Golden and Radiant bloodlines.

While the previous king of Dabas, the Cold King, had stubbornly maintained an anti-imperial stance, positioning himself at the forefront of anti-imperialism on the grounds that their territory had been taken by the Berk Empire.

The current king, once known as the Wolf Prince or Wolf Crown Prince, Barzento Pamern Al Dardaros.

The current Darminon IV achieved the remarkable feat of establishing friendly relations with the Empire while simultaneously declaring previously lost territories as joint zones under mutual agreement.

The Empire was able to focus on resolving internal conflicts by turning its greatest adversary into an ally.

Meanwhile, Dabas concentrated on strengthening its internal affairs and addressing confrontational situations with several nations whose relations had soured.

Amidst all this, Banus changed the landscape of the south-central region by forming blood ties with the Dabas dynasty, which had been the sworn enemy of their ancestors.

The current Darminon IV.

Called the Friendly King in Burgi, he minimized warfare while seeking territorial recovery through diplomacy and gaining advantages by sowing discord among rival nations.

Without coveting territory, they thoroughly consolidated their internal strength by intervening in conflicts to reap substantial benefits.

Though known as a nation of warriors, they had many shortcomings compared to the Empire’s elite knights.

Therefore, Dabas made massive investments in their few warriors, ensuring that each one could face a knight without defeat.

They also invested heavily in magic and certain technologies, and by displaying a consistently firm yet friendly attitude toward even the weakest nations, they came to be known as the “brother nation” to several small countries.

Some lords voluntarily submitted to him, and in the resulting conflicts, the Friendly King spared no effort in supporting those who had come under his command.

He never lost when it came to justification, and because of this, even without raising his own army, he gradually expanded his sphere of influence by intervening in battles with appropriate cause.

The royal direct territory was just the capital.

Except for resorts and certain areas, most lands were fairly granted to meritorious subjects.

Naturally, the subjects became devoted to serving the nation.

During the Friendly King’s reign, he fought five major wars and led them all to victory.

In smaller battles, rather than commanding personally, he sent his generals, and many talented individuals flocked to serve under this great king known for his fairness, dedication to his people, and support for his subjects.

It was a period known as the Golden Age of Dabas.

Elimion, the son of Lueld Brendiar and the first bearer of the Radiant Imperial bloodline, had to work hard to stabilize the Empire afterward.

Various cults seeking to revive the demon religion and the Demon King.

Additionally, he had to devote considerable effort to normalizing the Irenis Order, which was plagued by unbelievers and corrupt elements.

In this process, while independence was granted, Feisran, where the Irenis faith became the state religion, naturally returned to the old Magic Kingdom and moved away from the Empire’s sphere of influence, resulting in the country being torn apart by foreign invasions.

During this period, disciples of a one-armed swordsman joined Feisran and made great contributions to national independence and recovery.

This was the moment when Feisran transformed from a Magic Kingdom to a Magic Sword Nation, encompassing both sword and magic in its foundational ideology and beliefs.

Afterward, in Feisran, the existence of swordsmen, neither warriors nor knights, came to prominence, with the greatest among them honored with the title of Sword King.

And.

After a long period of turmoil yet internal calm.

Just as the Friendly King had grown old and fallen ill, Rio was celebrating his fifteenth birthday at the orphanage.

====

“Stop this.”

Elina.

Essentially the eldest at the orphanage aside from the nun.

She fiercely addressed the masked men pointing weapons at the children.

“…”

The men swallowed hard at the pure white light emanating from Elina’s entire body.

The girl, who had just come of age, was somehow making them sweat nervously, despite their ability to easily dispatch not just grown men but even monsters.

“What are you doing?”

Just then.

The masked men flinched at the irritable voice.

“What? Are you afraid of something like that?”

Pushing aside the men with her arm and approaching Elina.

The woman with blue hair and blue eyes, despite her considerable beauty, had dark circles under her eyes and bloodshot eyes, making her appear quite precarious.

“It happens sometimes. Trash like her, loved and blessed by God from birth.”

The woman muttered with a mix of cold mockery and derision, as if talking to herself.

“It irritates me. It makes my blood boil. It makes me angry.”

“What’s your reason?”

Elina.

Light blonde hair.

With black eyes that didn’t match her hair, at first glance she resembled a witch more than a pretty girl.

But once you got to know her, you’d wonder if there was anyone more familiar and friendly.

Strong in loyalty and kind-hearted too.

Her only flaw might be that she occasionally gets heated and acts before thinking, but because of that, she never hesitated to take the lead in physical tasks.

That’s why.

The current scene must be very unfamiliar to the orphanage children.

Elina was standing straight, with calm eyes, seemingly overwhelming everyone.

The woman sat down abruptly on a shabby church chair.

Eras forcibly swallowed her rising anger and presented options to the girl who was emitting a faint yet distinct light.

“Will you come with me willingly, or should I kill everyone and drag you by your hair?”

“Why are you… doing this?”

“Because I hate children of God?”

Eras cackled as if deranged.

It was hard to tell if she was talking to herself or maliciously lashing out.

“Because having someone like you around means I never know when you’ll become a nuisance. I know better than anyone about saints and holy mothers. Each one changes the tide and overturns the status quo.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Your very existence? If the Irenis Order discovers you, do you think they’ll leave you alone? I don’t think so.”

If that’s the case.

“I either have to deal with you or possess you.”

“…”

“So what will it be? Should I kill everyone?”

Eras said this, but she had no real intention of doing so.

…That would prevent her from using the girl as a puppet.

Rather, keeping them alive for blackmail would be more convenient.

Still, she was deliberately threatening and intimidating to gauge the girl’s attitude and response.

“If you harm my brothers and sisters, do you really think I’ll cooperate with you? Seriously?”

“I’ll use brainwashing and drugs to make you incapable of thinking. I’ll turn you into an obedient doll that follows our orders. Isn’t that better for you too? Thinking is hard, isn’t it? Life is tough, isn’t it? Disgusting, isn’t it?”

“No. It’s not like that.”

I don’t know about you, but.

“…”

Elina threw those words at Eras, as if talking to herself.

Eras did not like that composure, or rather, that boldness.

She wanted to gouge out her eyes and make her wail.

“Ah.”

Should I? Should I just do it?

Maybe I’ve been too merciful if the world isn’t hell yet?

Isn’t the world a living hell where you’re cursed just for breathing?

“Let’s do this. I’m very curious how to make you curse and hate being alive.”

The masked men around her flinched at those words.

If anyone here doubted the sincerity of those words, it would only be those who hadn’t experienced her firsthand.

Therefore.

“S-Sister?!”

Eras brought in the bound nun, sat her down, and began to snicker.

“Yes. It might be good to watch before experiencing it yourself.”

Eras drew her knife.

“Watch carefully. I’ll become hell for your mother and matron.”

The gagged nun shook her head in tears, but.

“Oh, don’t worry. It’s because you don’t understand the world yet.”

Why did you…

“Raise orphans and abandoned children? In the end, you end up embracing disasters like this?”

Won’t you, like me…

“Curse the world?”

…

“…”

The children were all crying and wailing, creating a chaotic scene.

Even Elina felt like she was losing her mind.

Blood splattered everywhere, filling the church with its smell.

The nun’s body was now covered in blood, and her breathing had stopped, indicating she had already died.

“Did you see that well? I was going to just kill them, but I changed my mind. Now I’ll kill them all like this. You, what was your name again? Oh, don’t tell me, I’m not curious.”

Just, well, experience it.

“Won’t the world feel like hell to you now too?”

“You are truly a demon.”

“That’s right! I’m a demon! A demon! That’s why I don’t die! I can’t die!”

Suddenly, Eras stabbed her own neck with the knife.

Kyaaaah!

Uwaaaaang!

“Keurk!”

As she firmly pulled out the knife, blood and foam flowed and burst from the hole.

But.

“K-kheuheu…”

As if it never happened, even the spilled blood disappeared without a trace.

Eras was somehow perfectly fine again.

“See? This is my condition.”

“…”

“I’m a demon. That’s right. A demon.”

The masked men around her began to tremble.

“And you’ve caught the eye of a demon. There’s no hero or prince here to save you.”

“…”

“I’ve changed my mind. Kill them all.”

“S-stop it!”

Elina desperately tried to intervene, but.

Eras grabbed her wrist.

Chiiik!

“Kyaaaah! Ahahaha! It hurts! It hurts so much! Ahahahahaha!”

“L-let go of this!”

“No! Why would I let go?! It hurts so much!”

She’s insane.

This woman was truly insane.

“S-sis!”

“Elina—!”

The screams and cries.

The struggles and wails would probably be etched in Elina’s mind, haunting her for life.

“Why…”

Why do such a thing…

“It’s your fault. That’s what you get…”

For being born.

“Hu, huhuit! Huhuuk!”

Making a sound that could be either laughing or crying.

Eras smiled brightly as she watched her left hand burn and regenerate.

“I can’t be the only one living in this hell! No! Everyone must walk in hell! Yes! That’s how it should be!”

“Let go! Let go of me!”

“Hahaha! Ahahaha!”

Eventually, even as Elina hit and kicked Eras.

Even as Eras half-fell or had her knees forced to the ground, she absolutely would not release that wrist.

Because Eras was physically larger, Elina couldn’t move an inch, as if tied to a massive stake with a rope.

Thus helplessly, she was forced to witness the one-sided massacre of her young brothers and sisters.

She shed tears of blood both outwardly and inwardly.

“Why such cruelty!”

I will never, ever forgive you!

“Yes! I like those eyes! Hate me like that. And if you can kill me, even better. That would be even better!”

Eras cackled insanely.

And in the midst of the chaos that seemed to drive one’s soul away.

‘Rio. Please… please don’t come.’

She could only inwardly plead for her only hope.

====

“Ah…”

He had barely returned after being chased by a bear in the forest.

Having tried to catch something for his birthday, he had nearly died, which was sad in its own way, but…

“What…?”

The church had burned down and was now reduced to ashes.

He hadn’t noticed much while in the forest, but now he realized.

He rushed over and looked around, but there was no one in sight.

“W-where did everyone go?”

Then, Rio spotted what looked like a pile of children’s bodies, discarded as if stacked.

“Ah…”

Though Eras might not have intended this far.

She had now thrown another boy who witnessed this into another living hell.

The boy fell to his knees and wailed for a long time.

Even as he regained his senses and began to collect the bodies one by one, he retched several times.

Yet, fortunately or unfortunately.

‘Elina is… not here?’

Rio buried the children over several days.

The fact that the body of the nun, their mother, was mangled was clearly an act of malice.

‘This fact… where should I…’

Rio headed to a nearby village to report the tragedy at the orphanage.

Eventually, a week later, he headed to the royal capital where the Dabas royal family resided.

His pleas and appeals might not even be considered.

Nevertheless, Rio had no way to deal with this injustice and resentment.

Also.

What had happened to Elina…

‘I will not forgive.’

Though he didn’t know who they were, he would track them for life.

Track them, and track them again…

I will surely, you all, you bastards…

‘I’ll throw you to the bottom of hell!’

It was the moment when a demon, a beast, was conceived and grew in the boy’s heart.

A certain demon watched this scene with satisfaction, rolling on the ground and laughing hysterically.

But Rio, the boy, had no way of knowing this.