episode_0125

It was a rather heterogeneous drinking party.

Hero of the Empire.

The strongest in the empire.

And the enemies of the empire.

The three of them gathered in a shabby bar in the countryside, glaring at each other and pouring drinks, and there was no other spectacle.

“What is your purpose?”

“Anyway, they are irreverent. No matter what, I am their master and sect leader.”

The Demon King took a sip of cheap spirits without thinking.

“Not a bad drink.”

“… This is the kind of alcohol that only day laborers drink.”

“Yes. It has no flavor or aroma. It is an honest and plain drink that is only intended for getting drunk. That is why I say it is not bad. It is faithful to its original purpose.”

As he put down his glass, the ground began to shake.

There was no earthquake.

It wasn’t like the giants suddenly appeared.

The earth began to shake in fear due to only the Demon King’s murderous intent.

“I am just like that. I will become a sword. To become a sword and carry out its original purpose. It must cut and stab people and make them bleed. ”

“In short, it seems like nothing has changed.”

He didn’t even blink at Raul’s criticism.

“You guys always do that.”

“What is that…”

“You are going to stab someone’s chest, and if they even wave their hand once, it’s not right. No matter what, it’s too much. You try to criticize the other person’s revenge. Without even considering the minimum cause and effect.”

“Do you know how many people you’ve killed?”

“… Funny. Since when did the Empire value human life?”

“Then it’s even more ridiculous. Those poor people who don’t even cherish the empire…”

“I just hate everyone.”

The Demon King calmly poured the wine into a goblet and drank it even as the earth shook.

“I once loved you, you who received my love and betrayed me, and the empire that was made up of them all. It’s all so hateful.”

That wasn’t a lie.

The Demon King really did love humans at one time.

That is why he helped build the empire so that they could become one.

He also killed the previous Demon King who tried to persecute them.

He stopped the nomadic nations from the East from attempting to trample on the empire.

The ancient demon that awoke from the ancient seal was also sealed again.

He has prevented threats to the humans of this continent time and again.

But what came back was,

It was just a betrayal that cut straight to the bone.

“… After killing the previous Demon King, he gave freedom to the kings of each race who had no interest in ruling. ”

However, when their actions became no different from those of the previous Demon King, he, as the Demon King, sent messengers to humans to bring about peace.

But the long history of distrust was not easily resolved, and the Empire arrogantly demanded that the humans send a factor as an envoy.

The Demon King initially wanted to go himself, but his wife stopped him.

Since the throne is already unstable, he asks that you please protect the Demon King’s throne and that he will take on the role of envoy.

The Demon King was not pleased with it, but he eventually respected her opinion. He was able to do so because he trusted humans.

And that belief eventually broke his heart.

“Isn’t insulting a country’s envoy like that a call for war? It’s a war you started. It’s a war you brought on. It’s a story you wrote the prologue for. Don’t think you can stop it on your own.”

The Demon King still regretted that day like crazy.

The day I heard of her death, the moment I heard the truth about her horrible death, the times I howled like an animal and blamed myself.

The king could never forget.

Because all those moments were quietly repeating themselves even now.

“Did you think I would forgive your sins? Did you think I would tolerate the Empire? No. I will not forgive you. I will not tolerate you. I will kill and punish you all. I will kill and punish everyone who was involved. Of course, even me.”

He had a more calm face than usual, but beneath his skin was a madness and anger that was far more intense than before. He was now nothing more than a sword sharpened with anger and resentment.

Because while hating humans, I also threw away my humanity.

Because when you lose someone you love, you also lose love.

“That means there is no room for compromise or negotiation.”

“… Wasn’t it the empire that eliminated that possibility?”

“Then there is only one thing you wish for.”

“Yes. What I wish for is the extinction of all humans, including the Empire. That’s all.”

“Okay, then we have no choice but to…”

“”The enemy.””

And at that moment, a strong shock wave and a fierce typhoon caused by the vibration hit the Demon King directly.

Half of the bar was destroyed, and the Demon King flew through several slums before crashing into a rock far away.

“Coolook…!”

Although he was a Demon King with skills that could be said to be at the pinnacle of the empire, or even the world, his physical condition was just as bad as Raul’s.

No, it would not be an exaggeration to say that it was worse than Raul.

Five of the eight veins that formed the basis of his body were ruptured by the hands of heroes, so it would be nothing short of a miracle that he was still alive.

No matter how hard he pushed himself, his body continued to break down, and he had pushed himself quite hard during his previous fight with Raul.

In that state, he could not respond to the attacks launched by Raul and Heron.

“I see… It’s tough.”

The Demon King barely managed to raise his weakened body and vomited blood.

It was obvious that the Empire would be defeated if it fought with such a body.

With a body that has become so weak that it can no longer stand still, the best it can do is team up with two of the heroes.

“It’s miserable… and miserable. My whole body screams in excruciating pain, and before my eyes are the strongest enemies, and the reality that I can’t see ahead.”

If he had led his men and attacked from the beginning, he would have definitely won.

Nevertheless, he deliberately sent away his subordinates one by one, and as a result, only their sick bodies were left behind.

It was a situation where even a desperate situation would have been acceptable.

For those who dream of revenge, a crisis has arrived in which there is not even a single ray of hope.

And he wanted that to happen.

“… I told you. The opportunity to grow… the step to the next stage… always comes when you stand at the crossroads of life and death.”

He began to catch his heavy breathing, which was vibrating with the smell of blood.

That may not be enough to prevent the physical collapse, but it did unify the mind.

After becoming one, I would think of just one simple thing, with my mind as transparent as a mirror.

What on earth could he have thought of?

Anger toward the Empire? Betrayal toward humans? Or a desire to become stronger?

It was neither.

The only thing he could think of was the face of his beloved wife.

“I’m sorry… How painful it must have been… How shameful and miserable it must have been… I can’t even imagine. I should have protected you even if it meant giving up the throne. No, I shouldn’t have trusted humans in the first place.”

As the shining sword came out of its scabbard with a rustling sound, transparent tears flowed down his cheeks.

“This suffering I am going through right now…is also karma that I must accept sweetly. It is a trial that I must endure because I failed to protect you.”

He decided to attribute all the frustrations and hardships he was experiencing to trials imposed on him by his wife.

He decided to accept this hateful world as the punishment his wife had given him.

I decided to view the obstacles blocking my revenge as obstacles prepared by my wife.

What is needed for someone who has reached a certain level to become stronger is not training.

All they need is enlightenment through understanding and a change in perspective.

That realization has helped me change so many things.

“Yeah.”

Even though it must have been a full moon night, the light started to shine so brightly that it was blinding.

“Jump over and look.”

A pure white night has arrived. Everything is covered in pure white, with a light brighter than daytime.

And the Demon King’s black hair also became covered in pure white, and a new light cozyly settled on his fading body.

The disintegration of his body stopped, his ruptured veins returned, and his injuries completely disappeared.

“You got it.”

His soul and sword, which had been flying high toward new realms, finally reached a new height.

At the border between life and death, he reached the realm of myth.

He absentmindedly drew his sword and swung it towards the mountain in the distance.

All life and terrain in between were eliminated, and only the mountain was completely cut down.

The mountain that was touched by the sword’s will turned to dust and was erased as if it had never existed in the first place.

“It doesn’t take a bit of strength…”

He simply swung his sword without any force whatsoever.

“This feeling that it’s not just my body… This elation that feels like I’m floating… Indeed.”

The Demon King sensed a dangerous aura and smiled as he looked at Raoul and Heron, who had come to kill him, and Camilla, who had come running in a hurry.

“Heroes of the hateful empire.”

He laughed like a saint and exuded a devilish aura.

“Thank you.”

The worst disaster was waiting for them.