CH 453

I had seized the throne of the Edina Archipelago.

Far too easily.

Just because a sudden villain appeared and forced the king to rise from his seat, then took it for himself, did not mean that he would be recognized as the rightful ruler.

However, I was the Demon King.

It was not merely a powerful villain but the fact that I bore the heavy title of Demon King that made everyone feel terror in my presence.

Those who did not want to discover that I was the Demon King now knew it.

So now, it didn't matter if the whole world knew I was the Demon King; I intended to use the fear that stemmed from my name to my advantage.

Fear is an incredibly powerful tool for control.

"As you all have seen today, the warp gates across the continent have been altered to summon monsters from another world. Soon, the disaster that is happening now will not just be limited to this archipelago, but will encompass the entire continent—a disaster of global proportions."

"That's why the phenomenon that occurred in Lazak has also taken place on other islands of the archipelago: Saint Louis, Port Ramz, and Greenwind."

"Currently, my subordinates are suppressing the occurrences in these locations."

"The Edina Archipelago will suffer some damage, but since we are far from the mainland, the situation will be resolved by destroying the warp gates across the archipelago."

"The reason I am explicitly stating that I am the savior of the Edina Archipelago, which would have faced destruction if left alone, is because I want you all to know that my rule will be quite generous and compassionate."

"Submit to me, and you will gain stability and peace."

"In the short term, I will focus on stabilizing the chaos-ridden Edina Archipelago, and in the long term, I will expand to the monster-infested continent."

"I will give you one day."

"Even if you refuse, I won't kill you."

"Those who do not wish to obey me may leave."

"I will permit you to live as ordinary people in the archipelago. You can avoid my rule by going to the continent, but once you cross the vast sea and arrive on the continent, you will realize that there is nowhere else for you to set foot but this archipelago."

Given that the entire continent was engulfed in chaos, going to the continent was tantamount to wishing for death.

However, they could still judge my words as a blatant lie. They might think that the Demon King is just saying this to scare them.

Whether they believe me or not, and whether they submit or not, is up to each individual.

I did not intend to force them that far.

I couldn't tell if they would accept me, but I had much for them to do.

"The chaos in Lazak has been resolved for now, and there is no need to be frightened. Immediately start the recovery efforts."

Even though the chaos had subsided, the streets were still littered with corpses. In addition to dealing with the burnt houses, the exact number of casualties had to be determined, and efforts to stabilize Lazak needed to be focused upon.

"From this moment, gather all available forces to clean up the corpses and assess the extent of the damage. Also, immediately determine the status of relief supplies, including the food reserves within the castle, and report back to me."

The soldiers seemed taken aback by my first, not overly demonic, mission directive.

What does it mean to be 'demonic'?

Would it be more fitting for a Demon King to demand a blood sacrifice or a human offering as soon as he took the throne?

Whatever kind of Demon King they might have expected, I was quite different from the one they had in mind.

They were still bewildered, not knowing what I had asked of them.

"Are you not moving quickly enough? If you're going to leave, leave! If you're going to listen and act, move swiftly, you brats! Do you think we have time to spare?"

In the end, it seemed that no matter where I went, they would only understand me when I yelled.

The soldiers followed my orders and evacuated the palace, beginning the process of addressing the damage in Lazak.

I wasn't sure if they would do the job well, but it was only the first day.

I ordered the nobles to withdraw and let them do their work.

—---

Deep into the night.

One by one, they returned to Lazak.

As I had instructed, everyone arrived at the Edina Royal Palace.

Liana even brought the Duchess of Grantz, who had been hiding in the Angel Capital.

They had all seen terrible things, but this situation seemed even more incomprehensible.

It had only been a short time since we arrived in Lazak, and now I was sitting on the throne of that country's royal palace.

"...What happened?"

"I said I was going to conquer the Edina Archipelago."

That was all I had said to Olivia.

There were many stories to share, and we needed to discuss what to do next.

Liana, Harriet, and even Eleris seemed mentally unstable after witnessing the horrifying sights. Luvien and Gallarush's expressions were very serious, though not as extreme.

"Who would have thought becoming king could happen in just one day... Was it really this easy?"

Luvien seemed astonished.

"Given the circumstances, it was easier than expected. Anyway, did everyone handle the situation well?"

"We suffered considerable damage, but we managed to destroy the gates and exterminate the monsters."

We had successfully quelled the chaos in the four major ports of the Edina Archipelago.

"The local governments will take care of the damage assessment, but there might be riots or similar events..."

"There are so many people who have lost their homes... What will happen to them?"

Harriet spoke with a depressed expression.

"We need to investigate the damage in each port. How many people lost their homes, how many orphans were created, and whether we have enough relief supplies."

From the start, it was a headache.

"We won't be able to trade between continents in this situation. I came this far to keep the empire from finding out where I settled. The Edina Archipelago will have to be self-sufficient from now on."

Becoming king to deal with the Gate crisis was one thing, but the nation was in crisis from the very beginning. The Edina royal family would eventually be grateful that the Demon King took care of this troublesome matter.

We shared many stories.

I had to explain everything to Airi, who knew nothing of what had happened so far.

And what we needed to do moving forward.

Where to start.

How to take responsibility, as a king, for those whose lives were destroyed.

It was all new to us, things we couldn't have imagined doing when we woke up that morning.

But we had to do it.

—---

Perhaps it was the longest day I had ever experienced in my life, and I had not yet finished it.

Although we had seized the royal palace, the royal family who had ruled the Edina Archipelago until now still lived within the castle.

It was a robbery without even a pretext, but I was the Demon King.

Just as people thought I had evil intentions because I was the Demon King and interpreted my actions as they pleased, I had no intention of securing the legitimacy of my rule by asserting my so-called status.

They would assume I was doing this because I was the Demon King and leave it at that.

I wouldn't drive out the royalty overnight. I had to absorb the information they knew about the archipelago and the intellectual basis for their rule.

I stood atop the royal palace's spire, looking out over the night landscape of Lazak, which spread out below the cliff.

The port city was quiet after the resolution of the Gate incident. From a distance, I could see soldiers carrying torches, following my orders to clean up the corpses.

There were still places where smoke rose, and it seemed like I could hear the cries of children who had lost their parents, as if in hallucinations.

Was all of this my fault?

From the spire, I could see the horizon of the sea beyond the harbor.

Beyond that sea, on the continent, people were still dying.

This was the destiny I had to face.

Everyone in the temple who wasn't here would probably be gradually thrown into battle as the mobilization order came down.

Someone would die, and since the Gate incident happened earlier than expected, one of my peers might die as well.

In this situation that had arisen because of me, I was trying to start something on this remote archipelago at the southernmost end of the continent.

Could this be a way to save someone?

Or was it just setting the stage for another war?

“Ahhhh!”

A cry that shouldn't be heard seemed to come from between the city lights.

-Splash

A sound of the sea waves that shouldn't be heard seemed to reach me.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

When I turned my head at the sound coming from behind, there was Liana de Grantz.

Even though I had become the king, were we still friends?

It was ridiculous to think of myself as a king when I had not even been on the throne for a day.

Liana stood beside me, crossing her arms and looking down at the landscape of Lazak.

Liana de Grantz.

Her magic was important, but Liana's lightning ability was a great help in suppressing the Gate incident.

And it was a great help when I escaped.

"When did you know?"

Liana knew that the murder of Duke Grantz wasn't my doing.

That's why she saved me.

"Not long ago. My mother told me."

"…Really?"

"I thought my father was saying strange things, but a revolution? I never thought he'd try something so bizarre."

Liana looked down at Lazak with a snicker. Strictly speaking, there was no connection between Liana finding out the truth and her saving me.

However, Liana tried to save me and actually did.

This meant that there was another intention besides saving me.

"Do you want to destroy the empire?"

"…"

Liana was silent at my words.

"I thought you could do it."

It was not only to save her friend but also to save the Demon King.

Liana knew that Duke Grantz's death was due to the Empire's internal strife, and so she must have harbored a desire for revenge against the Empire.

It struck me anew how great Liana's desire for revenge was that she didn't immediately attack Bertus, Charlotte, or Turner.

It would be a desire for revenge that couldn't be satisfied by killing just a few royals.

Only the collapse of the Empire could satisfy such an insatiable desire for revenge.

I couldn't gauge how deep and dark the desire for revenge was beneath Liana's calm appearance.

Could it be a feeling of despair, similar to what I feel or perhaps even deeper?

Just like how Harriet gave up being a princess to stand by my side.

And Liana abandoned her position as a duchess to stand by me as well.

Of course, in this moment when the world is swaying, how much meaning does that hold?

"It seems like you weren't really interested in those things."

"That's true."

I told them that I started all this to protect humanity, and I'm still working for that cause.

The Demon King seemed plausible as a partner for her revenge, but in reality, he probably wasn't.

I don't want war and I don't hope for the collapse of the empire.

However, Liana stretched and then draped her arm over my shoulder.

"But, you know, it's not like you wanted things to turn into a mess like this, right?"

"...That's true."

My existence was already destruction itself, and by the time I realized that, it was too late for many things.

In the original work, the Gate Incident was caused by Valier, but this time it happened because of Eleris.

Wishing for nothing to happen led to something happening after all.

It felt as if I had become the protagonist of an old oracle.

"So, the things you don't want to happen somehow all end up happening, right?"

"...Isn't that a bit harsh?"

"Isn't it that the gate incident happened because you don't want it to happen? All because of you."

Liana laughed with a cackle.

Her words were so malicious that they didn't even make me angry.

"So, if we have to go to war with the empire even if you don't want to, I'll lend you a hand."

I had wished for humanity's peace and stability, but the Gate Incident happened because of me.

Still, I wish for humanity's peace and stability, and the preservation of the empire, but it might collapse because of me.

It seems that the world is falling apart in such a way.

Liana seemed to think that as long as she stayed by my side, her chance for revenge would come. Liana still had her arm around my neck and was looking at the view of Lazak.

"Hey, so am I... one of the Four Heavenly Kings?"

At Liana's words, I felt as if I couldn't breathe.

Four Heavenly Kings?

Why is she thinking of something like that?

"I am to become one of the Four Heavenly Kings, right?"

Liana looked at me with sparkling eyes.

Become one?

Does she think this is some kind of neighborhood gang leader game?

"Uh... well... how can you be one of the Four Heavenly Kings when you're just alone?"

"Let's find three more. If the Vampire Lords are like elders, then... Harriet, Olivia, and... who was it? The one with pink hair? Doesn't that make four?"

Why is the topic suddenly shifting like this after talking about revenge?

"Wow, that seems plausible. Magic, Holy Knight, Supernatural, and I don't know what the pink-haired one is, but anyway, it's four."

Airi, Liana, Harriet, Olivia.

It seemed like Liana had drawn a blueprint of the Four Heavenly Kings in her mind without me saying anything.

I didn't say anything, did I?

"Hey, Demon King, make my nickname cool, okay? Huh?"

-Poke poke

Liana poked my side with the arm she had around my neck.

"You're crazy."

At my words, Liana let go of my neck, laughing.

Actually, it might be easy to think of one.

Since she has lightning powers, maybe something with the lightning word…

Damn it, why am I even thinking about this?

"Anyway, you must have had a hard time. I saw your face turn pale when you were running away earlier."

I couldn't clear up Liana's misunderstanding, so when I encountered her while fleeing, I thought everything was over.

In reality, it was quite the opposite.

"You've gone through a lot. How did you manage to hold back from making excuses?"

"Well, if I had made excuses, the problem would have gotten worse."

"Exactly."

Liana clicked her tongue.

"How have you managed to endure it so far?"

Building relationships with people without revealing my identity.

I had endured it amidst feelings of guilt and pressure.

As if it were remarkable that I had endured it until now, Liana affectionately ruffled my hair.

"Do you want to keep being a pain?"

Talking with her somehow made me feel like I was back in the days at the temple that I could never return to.

It was a pleasant feeling.

Yet, it was also a feeling so faint and sorrowful that it was almost unbearable.

"Anyway, I'm going to go. I need to rest. I'm exhausted."

As if to say it had been an equally long day for her, Liana stretched and prepared to leave.

"Cliffman."

Unable to hold back, I asked the question I should have, but never did.

"..."

"Are you okay?"

"Okay? What do you mean?"

Liana's voice sank in her reply.

"I mean, just...anything."

"I didn't say anything to him. To that kid."

I remembered him making a vow with her to take revenge on the Demon King.

But in reality, Liana hadn't said a word to Cliffman about it.

Was it because she couldn't share the fact that the Empire was too great an enemy, even more so than the Demon King?

Liana had conspired with Harriet, but she hadn't said a word to Cliffman.

That's why Cliffman would remember Liana as a traitor to the Empire and humanity.

Just as I had piled up misunderstandings.

Liana would also accumulate misunderstandings.

I wondered if that was okay.

Because when those misunderstandings piled up and burst, it made me feel so terrible that I wanted to die.

"I have to be okay."

Liana said that and left.

Because the enemy was too great, Liana hadn't said a word to Cliffman.

Liana, Harriet, and Olivia would be remembered as traitors to the Empire and humanity.

Because of that, everyone would have to bear something, and I would have to bear their burdens in their place.

Because I am their king. Because they chose me.

I must become a being capable of protecting those who chose me.