Chapter 231 : The Villain
The Demon King of Dark Flame reached out a hand to Hilderan.
Most dismissed it as absurd nonsense.
Some raged, claiming it was a Demon King’s scheme to stab them in the back.
It could not be helped.
The humans of Arein had fought Demon Kings who had descended for no less than a thousand years.
Even the False Demon King, who had been regarded as relatively moderate and had maintained a not-terrible relationship, was revealed to have secretly amassed tremendous power while hiding ambitions to conquer the continent.
Naturally, there was no way to trust a Demon King overnight.
“Besides, it’s not just the False Demon King. You’ve slaughtered hundreds of heroes and tens of thousands of humans, haven’t you, Demon King?”
“So in the end, you’re saying you can’t trust me?”
“Because you’re a massive butcher.”
“And yet you’re saying there’s a way?”
“There is.”
Ernan smiled.
“Honestly, the people don’t care that much.”
“What do you mean?”
“Whether the Demon King used cowardly tricks or actually sided with them, what matters more is surviving the reality they face day by day.”
The massive invasion of monsters had cracked that daily life.
“Hilderan’s north was swept away by monsters. We prepared defenses as much as possible to minimize damage, but we can’t deny that it became ruins.”
In fact, because they carried out a strategic retreat, it felt like they were pushed back even faster. That was why the ignorant populace would rather misunderstand.
Ah, even the kingdom’s army couldn’t stop them.
“In that situation, the Demon King appeared and dramatically saved them. As a Demon King riding the Sky Tower.”
“I understand that you want to change public opinion about me. I also understand that the Sky Tower was quite effective. But will that alone erase such deep-rooted resentment?”
“Of course not.”
It was an emotion that had lasted a thousand years and had only intensified in recent times.
Humans and demons were enemies, and it wasn’t an issue light enough to be resolved by a little help.
“This is something I learned from Lord Hillan. When it comes to uniting a divided ally force and even turning bad relationships into good ones, nothing works better than an external enemy. Fighting together against the same enemy creates comradeship that dilutes past hostility quite a bit.”
“So humans and I are allies?”
“We’re not enemies, are we?”
“...That’s true, but. Is the external enemy Jason?”
“There’s one more. The Empire.”
“The Empire?”
“Killing heroes doesn’t matter. Humans have grown accustomed over a thousand years to heroes dying while fighting Demon Kings.”
When emotions grow familiar, they become numb. A hero’s death was shocking, but in a way, it was expected.
“The problem is the annihilation of a legion exceeding ten thousand troops. And which country did most of them belong to?”
“The Empire.”
Although Dormunt’s forces were mixed in, the majority were imperial troops.
“And what is the Empire’s upper echelon like right now?”
“...In Jason’s hands.”
Devoured.
Berje’s eyes gleamed.
“So we bind Jason and the Empire together and define them as the axis of evil?”
“We say that even the Demon King was exploited by the False Demon King.”
That the False Demon King had long since taken root and tried to manipulate newly descended Demon Kings to his liking.
“...Like that.”
“...So we dump everything on him.”
“Of course, coordinating the details will be fairly complicated, but at least that’s the big picture.”
Of course, even then, Dormunt, heroes who did not become vassals, and those who simply hated the Demon King might curse Berje.
But so what?
“If there’s no backlash, that would be strange. Humans insult each other even when they join forces with fellow humans. And that level of backlash is better thought of as a good supply source that provides demonic energy.”
“...Hmm, were you a Demon King in a past life, by any chance?”
“That’s rude.”
“....”
“Anyway, that’s why the role of the 3rd Prince we planted in the Empire is important. You’re still in contact with the 3rd Prince, right?”
“Of course.”
“That’s a relief. Then how about giving the 3rd Prince a bit more backing?”
“Backing? What do you mean?”
“Attach Lady Kaede to him.”
“So you’re saying we should release Kaede. On what grounds?”
“She’ll be a symbol of peace. Things with Hilderan will go smoothly.”
“...That’s astounding. You’re really the best.”
“You flatter me. Ah.”
Ernan opened her mouth. Berje, now used to it, put a piece of chocolate into it. She smiled happily.
- No matter how I look at it, aren’t we the villains here?
- A Demon King is originally a villain. A shameless species that attacks other dimensions.
- But Lady Naias, the Crown Princess is human.
- Don’t ask me that much. By the way, where is that adjutant who calls himself a close aide at a time like this?
- He’s upstairs learning how to operate the tower from the dwarves. A Dark Elf shouting about shells and the Sky Tower… he seems to have gone off the rails at some point.
The Spirit King sighed.
- I suppose I’m the only sane one in this tower.
- The moment you say that, Lady Naias, you’re already— kyaah, my soul is being shaved away!
* * *
The next day.
【Hilderan’s Crown Princess returns from the Tower of Dark Flame without a single wound.....】
【Her Highness the Crown Princess returns safely, ‘They were more reasonable than expected.’ Citizens: ‘The Demon King?’ Doubt arises.】
【The master of the tower who blocked the False Legion declares intent to cooperate with Hilderan...!】
【Demon King of Dark Flame: ‘Cooperation with False was unavoidable. I, too, was merely used by him.’ Uproar.】
【The Demon King who escorted the Crown Princess returns to the tower....】
An unprecedented flood of news swept the continent.
* * *
War was an act that required extensive preparation.
Training and readying armies.
Preparing the supplies the armies would use.
And ultimately securing the funds to support it all.
That was not the end.
Simply having weapons and troops did not mean war could be waged.
Discussions were needed on how, and in what manner, the war would be fought.
Which routes to advance through had to be considered.
When declaring war on a specific nation, the reactions of other countries had to be taken into account.
And it had to be confirmed whether the nation could even bear the burden of that war.
Thus, war was never something that could—or should—be undertaken lightly.
But this time, the Empire’s declaration of war ignored everything.
It abruptly declared war without justification against a member of the alliance formed to face humanity’s common enemy, the Demon King.
And under the pretext of borrowing a road, it invaded Iasince, another member of the alliance.
Naturally, the only ones on the Empire’s side were Ormus, which invaded Iasince together with them.
“The Emperor has clearly gone mad!”
“Indeed! How else could he commit such an act!”
“And is it only the Emperor? The nobles who didn’t risk their lives to stop him as he tried to ruin the Empire are also at fault!”
“No matter how the hero’s march failed, to dare do something like this!”
The alliances that had united quickly adopted resolutions condemning the Empire.
And they decided to dispatch allied forces, led by Arkan, to aid Iasince.
However, support forces were not something that could be assembled and sent so easily. The process was complex, and naturally, it took time.
In that gap, Iasince’s royal capital fell.
* * *
“Haha....”
In the distance, as black smoke billowed upward, the prince of Iasince shed tears of blood.
That place was the royal capital. Until just moments ago, it had been Iasince’s proud history.
“Your Majesty, you must go.”
“...Mind your words, Duke. I am not the king.”
“Though it was simple, you inherited the throne from the late king. Therefore, Your Majesty is the legitimate king of this country.”
The prince bit his lip. He had never wished for a succession like this.
The royal capital trampled by the Empire, and his father choosing to share the capital’s fate with his own life to preserve the kingdom’s honor.
Only a few months ago, he had never imagined such a future.
“...I will have revenge. I will never live under the same sky as the Empire.”
“The gods will aid you. For now, we must escape. Once they realize you’re gone, the imperial army will organize a pursuit.”
“If I flee, is there hope?”
“The allied army led by Arkan has reached the border city.”
“So we couldn’t hold out even that long.”
He let out a self-mocking laugh.
It wasn’t that Iasince was incompetent. The war had been nearly a surprise attack, and the imperial army was that strong.
“Then we should first join up with Arkan.”
“Yes. Once you join the allied army, you’ll be able to return to the royal capital.”
“That will happen. Without fail.”
Without fail.
The king bit his lip again and steeled his resolve.
“The gods will surely make it so!”
“We will make it so!”
Nobles, knights, soldiers, and citizens all bowed their heads, shedding tears.
That was when it happened.
───!
A massive silhouette slammed down from the sky.
The earth shook as if struck by an earthquake, and people staggered.
“W-what is that!”
“It’s an attack!”
“Something fell!”
Knights drew their weapons and aimed at the crater. The dust settled.
“A, a monster!”
“It’s a demon!”
What stood within was a gigantic demon.
“...Lavinia Arkan?”
But the gazes of some nobles were not fixed on the demon, but on the person sitting atop its shoulder.
The 1st Prince—now the King of Iasince—stepped forward boldly, one step at a time.
“Y-Your Majesty, it’s dangerous!”
“It’s Arkan’s reinforcements.”
He brushed aside the guarding knights and approached.
“Lavinia Arkan. What brings you here?”
Their eyes met.
Flinch—
A chill ran through the king’s body.
‘What is this...?’
It was rage. Like a raging volcano, ready to erupt at any moment.
“The Empire?”
“We are not the Empire. We are the people of Iasince. Are you reinforcements?”
“Iasince?”
“That’s right.”
“Me, reinforcements.”
“Did you come alone? Where are the other troops?”
“Don’t know. Empire, where?”
“The imperial army is over there.”
The king pointed to the burning royal capital.
“They’re gleefully trampling our nation’s history. Alone, you—”
“Thanks.”
──!
Lavinia Arkan vanished.
“...She shouldn’t go.”
The king’s last words passed by emptily.
Far away, a gigantic monster spread its single wing and flew toward the royal capital.
“...She’s going straight to the capital?”
“...She looks alone. Is that really okay?”
“Even if Lavinia Arkan looks alone, she’s not. She carries quite a few chimeras inside a magic artifact containing subspace magic.”
“Even so, the imperial army numbers over two hundred thousand.”
“...Arkan must have sent her with some plan in mind, no?”
“Well, Arkan isn’t foolish either....”
Believing there was some strategy, the nobles nodded.
Then, from afar, dust rose along with the sound of hooves.
Unlike Lavinia, this time their identity was immediately clear.
“It’s Arkan!”
“Arkan’s reinforcements!”
“No, wait.”
The leading knights were clearly elite, and the banner was indeed Arkan’s.
But to be called reinforcements, their numbers were far too small.
At most, around a hundred.
They stopped at some distance from Iasince.
“I am Cain Arkan, the 5th Prince of Arkan! Who are you?”
“I am Homerun Iasince, Prince of Iasince!”
After confirming identities, Arkan’s group approached. Cain dismounted, and the soldiers led them before King Homerun.
“You should be in the royal capital. Why are you here—don’t tell me?”
“That ‘don’t tell me’ is correct.”
“...We were late.”
“The Empire was fast.”
“And Your Majesty?”
“My father abdicated in my favor and chose to share the royal capital’s final fate.”
“...I greet the King of Iasince.”
“Good to meet you. But what is this? Your numbers are too small to be reinforcements. Are you envoys?”
“No. That is....”
Cain hesitated briefly, then continued.
“We’re looking for someone. Have you seen my elder sister? She rides a gigantic chimera—”
“I have. She asked about the imperial army’s whereabouts and then flew off to the royal capital.”
“...Damn it, were we too late!”
Cain ground his teeth.
“Ah, my apologies.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“If it’s not too much trouble, may we greet you properly another time? Arkan’s main army has arrived at Valoin Castle. If you go there, you’ll be able to meet them.”
Cain and the knights looked so urgent that Homerun nodded without thinking.
They quickly disappeared toward the royal capital.
“...It doesn’t seem like this was planned after all.”
“...They say Arkan’s Chimera Princess does whatever she wants. Seems that rumor was true.”
“Is it really okay to leave it like this?”
“...She’ll handle it. It’s unfortunate, but we can’t let ourselves be endangered because of them. Before the Empire forms a pursuit force, we’ll quickly join Arkan.”
“Yes!”
“We receive the order!”
The army of Iasince quickly withdrew.
* * *
The Empire’s 250,000 troops did not divide into multiple columns.
Whether their claim of borrowing a road was sincere or not, they maintained only a 50,000-strong vanguard and a 200,000-strong main force as they rapidly advanced on the royal capital.
“Take the capital before foreign reinforcements arrive.”
Resistance was fierce, but the Empire’s assault was fiercer still.
Iasince was not a weak nation, but it was no match for the Empire’s legions alone. In just one week, the royal capital fell.
The Empire’s Supreme Commander, the Duke of Ormus, arrived at the palace.
Seated upon the king’s throne, he faced the King of Iasince, dragged before him in misery.
“What a pity. If only you had accepted the Empire’s request to clear the road, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“Spare me your nonsense. Iasince is no vassal of the Empire.”
“Not a vassal, but a weak nation. It is only natural for the weak to kneel before the strong.”
“Then you will kneel soon enough. This war, born of the Emperor’s and your collective madness, will end in your defeat.”
“You are mistaken.”
The duke rested his chin on his hand atop the throne.
“The Empire always wins. This is merely the opening act of a full-scale war. Iasince was nothing more than a preliminary skirmish.”
“How barbaric!”
“I may be barbaric. I am seated on this throne as a duke of the Empire, while you, the king of a weak nation, kneel before me.”
“...Kill me.”
The duke rose from the throne and strode right up to the king.
“Just before the capital fell, a group slipped out through the western gate.”
“....”
“They’re the ones you’re placing your hopes on, aren’t they? The future of the kingdom. Its young shoots.”
If they were all captured and brought back—
“Wouldn’t that proud face of yours twist just a little?”
“...Bastard!”
“Yes, that face. If you’ve lost, then look like a defeated general. Why are you so proud?”
Heh heh heh, the duke laughed.
“They’ll be back soon. I’m very much looking forward to that family reunion between father and son—”
“Your Excellency!”
At that moment, a messenger rushed into the grand hall.
“They’re here. Did you capture the prince?”
“T-that is....”
At the unsatisfactory reply, the duke’s brow furrowed.
“Report properly.”
“...A monster has appeared!”
“A monster?”
“A monster appeared and annihilated Marquis Tryan and the Black Blade Knight Order!”
“...What did you say?”
“T-that, that...!”
The messenger’s eyes were filled with terror.
“With one blow of that tiny fist, Marquis Tryan’s head burst! That woman is a monster!”