Ch.8026. I Dream of Something Grabbing My Nape (3)

The Demon King, once called the Golden Beast, was originally known as the Golden Demon King or the Guide of Trembling.

There were dozens of expressions referring to it, and people would recite the most impressive one according to their discretion.

Although it was defeated and died… those who rose up under the pretext of continuing its legacy were surprisingly numerous.

This isn’t just a story about demons.

Within the Empire, everything was settled within five years after the Demon King’s death, but in the remaining territories outside the Empire, the aftermath and influence still remained intact.

Among them were those who instigated sedition and discord, claiming that things were better during the invasion era.

And those who secretly supported such individuals eventually established a new Demon King’s army, claiming to inherit the will and legacy of the previous Demon King’s forces.

“But I heard that force wasn’t very large in scale?”

Luirin offered a counterpoint to Deike’s explanation to confirm.

Luirin also remembered hearing about this secondhand.

A full-scale civil war that transcended race, ethnicity, and regional boundaries, started under the pretext of “It’s the hero you should fear, not the likes of you!”

Various conflicts and discord disguised as this had supposedly flooded the continent?

But even that was ancient history.

Luirin guesses it must have happened right after she was born, or when she was still a babbling infant wrapped in swaddling clothes somewhere unknown.

“Whether it was because they tasted bitter defeat after acting openly, after suffering near-annihilation and bloodshed, they finally began to think around that time.”

In other words, they started operating covertly and insidiously rather than openly.

In fact, this was somewhat predictable from the moment they weren’t completely eradicated.

That’s why each country has continued to actively cooperate on this matter until now.

The Empire, which was the first to achieve stability in this regard, began to achieve rapid growth as a result.

And once, this instability ignited into conflict, with non-imperial countries forming an alliance against the Empire.

This nearly erupted into a large-scale war.

Even here, the Empire demonstrated overwhelming power, but concerned about the severe damage both sides would suffer even in victory, the Empire also began desperately searching for a compromise.

If that heroic Emperor had greater ambitions, if he had set his sights on conquest…

The situation would have taken a completely different turn.

“That’s also why the name ‘Bloodline of Radiance’ became famous externally.”

The situation took another turn when the only son of Rueld, the leader of the nine heroes who were externally known as the Great Heroes in place of the Imperial Prince or Princess Elhermina Berk Enzul, was chosen as a hostage instead.

That’s the official story, but rumors circulated that he had actually volunteered for the role.

“While problems with the Imperial Princess would provide sufficient cause for continental war, the same applies to Rueld’s child. Rather, the prospect of giving Rueld a reason to participate wholeheartedly in the war was a direction no country wanted.”

A force that defied common sense, capable of single-handedly confronting the military might of several countries.

Moreover, neutralizing entire legions without killing anyone would be historically rare.

If such a person had justification and will to commit deliberate massacre… what difference would that be from recreating a nightmare beyond fear?

Therefore, Rueld’s child, who was taken as a hostage through diplomatic procedures, received meticulous protection from the elite guards of the visiting countries rather than the Empire.

They even formed teams of elites from the allied foreign countries to protect him.

Though a hostage in name, both the Empire and non-imperial countries…

Found themselves in a prolonged stalemate where neither side could act rashly against the other.

“And being the child of Rueld who slew the Golden Beast, the remnants of the Demon King’s army couldn’t simply stand by and watch.”

A trap they knew, but if successful, could potentially split the continent in half and reduce it to ashes.

Also, one of the few golden opportunities for the remnants of the Demon King’s army to establish a new rallying point.

However, if they revealed their traces openly, extreme retaliation was guaranteed.

In the end, they had to make it appear as if those who took him hostage were the ones who killed him.

The beginning of dark and sticky intrigue.

In other words…

It was also a golden opportunity to extract the traitors, the poisonous thorns secretly embedded in each country.

“That’s when Rueld’s son began to be called not just a prodigy, but a genius.”

That child had a chilling ability to see through others’ psychology and thought patterns.

He laid groundwork, set traps, used himself as bait, and even feigned death and suffered serious injuries.

In the end, he played a decisive role in extracting the poisonous thorns from several countries.

“That’s when the Wolf Prince of Dabas worked alongside him and gained succession rights to the throne. Despite originally being 11th in line for succession.”

However, the current King of Dabas harbors deep resentment toward the Empire and never considered this a favor.

But…

At least if the prince later sought to strengthen relations with the Empire, the king somewhat agreed to partially set aside his hostile response to the Empire, judging coldly that it would be beneficial.

In a way, this hostile relationship had begun because the Empire had swallowed territory that once belonged to Dabas but had become a neutral zone since the Demon King’s army invasion.

“Conversely, it was a kind of respect and agreement toward Rueld and his son who would unshakably maintain that position in a different sense after Rueld—that’s the general assessment.”

“…This isn’t information you can easily hear anywhere, right? You seem to know a lot. Besides, weren’t we talking about the Demon King?”

Though my head wasn’t particularly hurting, it felt so random that I couldn’t help but ask.

“That’s this bastard’s worst habit.”

Lusiri constantly scolds Deike, saying he thinks women will fall for him if he acts smart.

“It’s all necessary! It would be long if I explained everything, but you need to know this to make what comes next easier. To summarize about that son.”

Anyway, after Rueld’s son went through a major ordeal in the country of the long-ears, rumors spread that he had become disabled or died.

“At some point, news spread throughout the continent that he was safely staying in the Empire. However, the general assessment is that his former brilliance and genius had disappeared.”

“Really?”

“And there was someone who gained fame from this incident.”

Self-proclaimed as the Dull Commander.

“Rumors quietly circulated that someone claiming to be a commander of the defunct Demon King’s army nearly succeeded in killing him in the elves’ sanctuary. I believe that’s why the illustrious Knight of Radiance personally arrived.”

“Brother Deike. You’re not an ordinary person, are you?”

If it were that significant an incident, rumors would have spread far and wide by now.

No, it would have been classified as a major incident.

So why weren’t there any rumors? Was it just nonsense? A simple hypothesis fabricated in someone’s mind? Fiction? A false story?

“I am one who follows prophecies.”

Luirin reflexively questioned in response.

“…The Cyan-Green Prophet?”

“The fact that you immediately identified that means you’re not ordinary either.”

The northwest of the continent.

A small yet vast island, archipelago, and chain of islands.

An expression referring to the ruling clan that supposedly dominated that area.

However, hundreds of years ago, these indigenous people were expelled by those who came from the continent.

The fact that they were merely expelled was because that made smooth integration with the existing indigenous people possible.

It was also because such an agreement had been made.

Afterward, those people, called the Cyan-Green Prophets, wandered the continent without setting foot on their homeland.

Some of them settled in one place, while others formed groups of gypsies, nomads, and wanderers, periodically gathering and moving from place to place.

Thus, though few in number but possessing special abilities and visions, they spread throughout the continent, and their astrology became renowned across the land.

A famous clan that, just a few centuries ago, was recorded even in church history books as being advisors to kings and great nobles.

And when someone asked about them, they would introduce themselves like this:

As those who follow prophecies.

“I heard from someone I know. They said eight out of ten people who say that are frauds, so be careful.”

At this, Deike’s expression soured as if he had bitten into a bitter fruit.

“…Whoever it is, they seem to know us very well.”

Not nine out of ten, but specifically eight.

“We’ve strayed far from the topic, right? Partly because I asked, but… I’m even more curious now, so please tell me quickly.”

“But. Do you understand my intention in readily telling a little miss like you these things? Are you persistently digging because you know?”

“Deike?”

Despite the sharp glares from Leo and Lusiri, Deike rubbed his beard.

Rather, it was the precociously mature Luirin who calmly responded.

“It’s a request for cooperation, isn’t it? There might be some showing off and vanity, but that friendly expression you’re trying so hard to fake is because you’re not used to it. Oh, I’m risking becoming disliked by saying this, but it’s to show off my competence. Obviously, if you want to use me, you’ll have to pay the price. Please make requests through the Eden Revan Association branch. That way, neither of us will get backstabbed.”

“Hey, Leo. Every time I see you, I think you’re blessed with good people. Me too, but also that little witch over there. Why do such valuable people always gather around you?”

“It’s not my blessing? It’s you and Leo who cling around me. Let’s get the facts straight.”

Lusiri complained with a dissatisfied face.

“Fine. Then assuming you’re an ally, I’ll provide some service. While looking at divinations and investigating based on them, I recently learned that accompanying our Great Hero’s son is a girl with light hair close to silver and eyes that look as if molten silver was poured into them.”

“…Huh? Are you talking about me?”

Luirin’s eyes widened.

“Don’t talk in code among yourselves; our ears work fine, so speak clearly!”

Lusiri shot irritated glances at both Deike and Luirin.

“Um, Brother Deike? I think I just heard something really important.”

“What is it?”

“…The Great Hero’s son? Are you talking about my master?”

“Is your only companion your master? If you’re referring to a dark-haired boy or young man as your master… probably? I can’t be certain since I haven’t seen him directly.”

Luirin pretended to ponder, crossing her arms.

In truth, the only clear evidence was what he had just said.

…In that sense, if this bearded man was one of those eight out of ten great frauds?

Either way, there are only two conclusions.

True or false.

And assuming it’s true.

“What? He was really a high noble?”

Deike questioned.

“You didn’t know?”

“I was just acting as a guide after receiving a request. I was only briefly told he was a noble young master accompanying a knight.”

“Is that so? The divination was strange, and now I see why. There was silver and gold among the meteorites… then what is the gold?”

Deike suddenly unrolled a leather parchment on the table.

He scattered differently colored pebbles and wood fragments that resembled shards on it, then began to observe them carefully for a while.

“There he goes again.”

“…I’m already overwhelmed just processing what I’ve heard.”

When the food finally arrived, there was a brief moment to catch their breath.

Deike emptied his cup in one gulp and called for more, while Luirin quickly emptied her bowl and ordered additional servings without hesitation.

How can they be so nonchalant?

Is shamelessness just natural for those who live well?

Leo scratched his brow awkwardly at Lusiri’s sigh.

Anyway.

“It would take more than a day to hear everything from Deike, so please explain, Leo, since you’re good at it. Are you here looking for the Demon King? And what exactly does ‘Demon King’ refer to?”

“…Right. It would be more satisfying if I explained.”

Leo’s expression hardened, unlike his usual self.

“We’re looking for the Demon King. Not the one from the demon realm, but one that emerged in the middle realm. There are exactly two of them. And I believe one of them is the enemy who destroyed our village. That’s why we’re searching.”

Two of them? And in the middle realm?

“Why do you call them Demon Kings?”

“I’ll explain that.”

Lusiri cut in.

“Have you heard of the Legacy of the Great Demon King?”

“……”

This seems too outlandish to dismiss.

“There are seven in total. During the Demon King’s army invasion, three fell into the hands of the human alliance due to betrayal by demons. But where are the remaining four? Their whereabouts are still unknown.”

It’s a frightening story.

…Or is it really frightening?

Honestly, I can’t quite grasp the feeling.

“The possessor could be a remnant of the Demon King’s army, but it could also be an ordinary human or someone of another race. What’s important is whether that person has inherited or awakened the Great Demon King’s legacy. We provisionally call such beings ‘Demon Kings’ based on that criterion.”

Well, this is also information I heard from Deike.

“We suspect that Leo’s village was destroyed by one of them. My sister and brother-in-law were in that village. That’s also why Leo and I have been traveling together.”

“……”

Leo, his expression hardened, was sweating profusely, as if the scene was still vivid in his mind.

“That must have been… difficult for you.”

Though Luirin offered words of comfort and managed her expression to show concern…

Inwardly, she couldn’t help but feel indifferent.

Tragedy is everywhere.

Brothers, sisters, siblings who become cold corpses overnight, gnawed on by rats—did they think I’ve only seen that once or twice?

So honestly, shedding tears over tragedy just felt tiresome.

The world was already sufficiently hard and painful enough to be sad about.

…More importantly, what scared those rats earlier to make them scurry about in broad daylight?

It had been bothering her, but there were too many other concerning matters to pay attention to.

“So Leo is looking for the Demon King, and from what I heard earlier, some Elder told you to ask a sword about its whereabouts here, so you came here to seek answers from that sword stuck up there. Did I understand correctly?”

“Yes. That’s exactly right.”

Leo weakly smiled and nodded.

“But if it’s a Demon King, wouldn’t it be incredibly powerful… How do you plan to handle that?”

“……”

It’s not that he hasn’t thought about it.

However, that’s not reason enough to give up the search.

Leo’s expression conveyed such will and spirit.

“That’s why we’re looking for a hero.”

Lusiri added an explanation.

“If the rest of our group doesn’t bring one… we’ll have to manage somehow. But that’s a problem for after we find it.”

“Hey, no, friends? The divination looks ominous. Why did it suddenly change like this?”

“There you go again! Do you always have to be so foreboding?!”

“No! Really! All the stars have been swallowed!”

“…How can you tell stars are swallowed by looking at those stones and wood chips?”

“Why blame me for your blind eyes?”

BANG!

“Ugh! Bone! My bone!”

Deike looked deathly pale due to something happening under the table.

“By the way, the Great Hero’s son? You’re talking about Master Riel, right?”

“…Probably?”

When Luirin nodded while looking at Deike, Lusiri reached out and grabbed Deike’s earlobe.

“Aaagh! Hey! Let go!”

“Stop making things unnecessarily complicated! What could be finished in a few minutes, you drag out all day!”

“It’s all necessary— Aaagh!”

“Don’t make excuses, man! Even illiterate Leo explains better than you, so why can’t an educated person like you get to the point? Are you really a graduate of Truga Public Academy?”

“But Lusiri, you were complimenting me, right? And I learned all the letters because of you, so isn’t it too much to still call me illiterate?”

They’re quite a boisterous bunch.

Still, there seemed to be such solid trust between them that there were no barriers.

“……”

Perhaps.

This is a realm that she and her master could never aspire to.

Luirin couldn’t help but think.

And she was certain of it.

If she had to express it, it would be:

Resignation.

Or something like giving up.

Friends might be possible, but comrades who stand back-to-back is another matter.

This is unavoidable.

‘Because we’re broken.’

Even if you want to trust, you can’t.

The world has broken us.