CH 475

Chapter 475

I had been staying in Edina because I couldn't leave, but now that there was someone to take my place, I wanted to leave as soon as possible.

I planned to depart the day after completing the preparations.

The night before departure.

Charlotte came to see me.

At first, she seemed extremely flustered when she saw that I shared a bedroom with Harriet, but she didn't ask any questions.

In fact, her not asking anything made it even more awkward.

It was as if she was saying that if I decided so, she would accept it.

On the terrace outside the bedroom, Charlotte asks me a question.

"Reinhardt, can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"I'd like to know the exact scope of my authority."

Did she mean she wanted to know the limits of what she could do?

In the end, Charlotte is a rolling stone.

For two years, she managed to keep rolling, and even though I was confident she would do better than me, she suddenly found herself in the king's seat.

Charlotte calmly looked out the window.

"I think I can handle the demons and the humans. But as you know, the council of elders, including the public servants, are your friends and collaborators. So, my commands and control won't work on them."

"...I suppose."

"I'm happy you trust me, and I will try to live up to that trust. But if you're away from Edina for too long at this time, it could inevitably lead to discord between me and others."

Charlotte was speaking the truth.

The council of elders is not under my control.

Liana, Olivia, Harriet, and Airi are my friends.

While I can control those below them, they have the power to ignore my orders, as they are practically the founding fathers.

In fact, Liana and Olivia seemed to have a negative view of Charlotte.

There was a high possibility that they would rebel if Charlotte suddenly began giving orders.

Leaving Edina before my rule was stabilized was a risky decision.

Charlotte was suggesting that internal strife might occur.

In Edina, Charlotte's only source of power was my declaration of support as the king.

With just that, she had nothing else to prove her control over the entire city.

"If you tell me that I have no command or control over the Four Heavenly Kings, I won't say anything about their affairs."

She wasn't asking for authority, but for clarification of her authority.

I wanted Charlotte's rule to completely succeed my authority.

However, I agreed that Olivia and Liana, who had worked hard to build Edina until now, might feel uncomfortable with Charlotte suddenly giving orders.

Even if they understood it rationally, it would be emotionally difficult to accept.

In fact, I never had any problems with them because there was no emotional conflict. They generally agreed with my opinions, and when I thought they were wrong, we discussed them until we were both convinced.

In Harriet's case, she tried to help Charlotte wholeheartedly.

In Airi's case, she seemed to feel the influence of the Archdemon from Charlotte, so there would be no problem.

However, Liana hated the empire, and Olivia disliked Charlotte, who she couldn't trust.

I was worried about the possibility of friction between them.

What should I do?

Four Heavenly Kings.

In other words, if I told Charlotte not to try and control the Four Heavenly Kings and the council of elders, she would be left with only half of her power.

I need someone who can fully replace me, not just a half measure.

So, in essence, I need a queen of the demon realm who can wholly stand in for me, not just a regent.

"I know my place. So, I understand that I don't have the authority to command or interfere with them…"

"Enough."

However, I cut off my words upon hearing Charlotte's remark.

"You are my substitute. A complete one."

I look into Charlotte's eyes and say this.

"You should consider yourself another Demon King, not a mere regent. And you must become that."

Charlotte needs commands, not persuasion or requests.

That's what I desire.

I want you to become my complete replacement.

Liana and Olivia.

There may be emotional conflicts with them, and political problems may arise.

They may even think that Olivia and Liana harbor resentment towards me because of Charlotte.

If they are resentful towards me, I will feel sorry. And I may have to apologize.

But this is not some political game in a corner; this is the operation of state affairs.

Just because Olivia has done a lot for me and Liana has made many sacrifices for me, it doesn't give them the right to disregard the regent I've appointed.

If they deliberately ignore and exclude Charlotte, I will inevitably be disappointed with the two who intentionally hinder the operation of state affairs just because of their emotions.

From the beginning, I don't think of them as people who would do just that.

They will recognize the necessity of Charlotte.

And Charlotte will earn that recognition.

She must prove that she has the ability.

"So, somehow, get a hold of them."

"…"

Charlotte silently looks up at me.

As soon as she becomes the regent, the king, who should support her, leaves his position.

Like when I started, Charlotte must lead state affairs among the officials who dislike her.

It's not an easy job I've put her in, but she must become my complete replacement, no matter how difficult it is.

No, it's a command.

"Yes, I understand."

Charlotte nods her head.

It's strange to think this way, but

Charlotte's excessively submissive appearance was, in a way, cute.

—---

The next day.

Reinhardt leaves for somewhere.

"Why… Where is he going and why doesn't he tell us…"

Harriet deeply sighs as she looks at the spot where Reinhardt just disappeared by teleportation.

With the king gone, leaving a regent in his place, Harriet, Charlotte, and Olivia remain.

Once the handover is mostly completed, Harriet will return to her original duty of magical research after assigning a new secretary.

The Demon King appointed a regent not only for his own freedom but also to release Harriet, who had been using her brain on his behalf.

Charlotte quietly looks at the spot where Reinhardt left.

And naturally, she couldn't help but feel Olivia's gaze on her.

Charlotte gazes at Olivia hesitantly.

"Do you have something to say, Archbishop Olivia?"

"…"

Olivia silently looks at Charlotte, seemingly trying to gauge something.

Charlotte couldn't read any hostility from that gaze.

At least, not yet.

"Reinhardt is too kind."

"…"

"Too stupidly kind. I was thinking that he shouldn't trust an untrustworthy person. That's all."

Charlotte silently looks at Olivia, taken aback by her blunt words.

"If I were to betray Reinhardt, what could I do?"

“...”

"If I were to deliberately ruin Edina, where could I possibly go afterward?"

At that, Olivia fell silent.

"Considering that Reinhardt saved me from execution in the empire, there's no way I could return there."

Harriet listened quietly to their conversation.

"So, there's no reason for me to intentionally ruin this place, nor any reason that I should."

"Some people would rather ruin themselves than let anyone else be ruined. There seem to be quite a few people like that these days."

At Olivia's words, Charlotte nodded her head.

"Yes, that's true."

Olivia had seen many people willing to sacrifice their own lives to kill the Demon King.

Such deep hatred seeks destruction, even if it means destroying oneself in the process.

"I understand that you can't trust me, and you have every right to think that way. After all, I have committed sins."

"..."

"But still, I'll do my best."

Charlotte lowered her tail.

She never intended to fight in the first place.

It wasn't even a fair comparison.

Olivia was here with these people because she trusted Reinhardt.

Charlotte didn't trust Reinhardt at first, but he had ultimately saved her, so it was different.

"Though it may be greedy of me to hope for your support, please don't think that I would do anything to ruin something on purpose."

Charlotte bowed her head deeply to Olivia.

"From now on, I look forward to working with you."

"..."

Once an empress, she now bowed her head to someone who had made a greater decision than her own out of guilt.

At that humble bow, Olivia furrowed her brow.

"…Why is it even more annoying?"

Wishing that Charlotte had acted more annoying, Olivia kicked a pebble and stormed out of the castle.

“Ah, this is so irritating!”

One needs two hands to clap.

While angry, Olivia left the castle yelling, frustrated that her counterpart didn't provide a reason for her to be angry as well.

Charlotte looked at Harriet.

"Thank you for everything so far, Harriet. I hope we can continue to work well together."

"Ah, no, why are you bowing your head like that…"

Harriet, greatly flustered, hastily waved her hands.

—---

I don't know much about Ellen's hometown.

Kernstadt, at the southwestern edge of the border. A village in the mountains where a considerable number of people don't even know it exists, according to Ellen. I have a rough idea of its location on the map, but it's overly vast.

The village's name is Rezaira.

Of course, the name isn't marked on any map.

Perhaps, under normal circumstances, there might have been people in nearby villages who knew Rezaira's location. But since the Gate Incident, such small villages have all been destroyed.

Thus, I have no choice but to give up on finding someone who knows the exact location of Rezaira.

I have no way of knowing whether Rezaira has remained intact after this incident.

However, even though I don't know for sure, Ellen's mother is presumed to be a stronger figure than even Saviolin Turner.

I don't know anything specific about Rezaira or Ellen's mother.

Ellen's mother's name is Luna Artorious.

And she called herself the Lord of the Sun and Moon.

Therefore, it is speculated that she might be related to the Sun and Moon (Sunday and Monday) Vampires – the ancient vampire tribes that were said to have disappeared long ago.

And she said that it was a principle not to interfere with the affairs of the world.

For some unknown reason, it is believed that even now, amidst the Gate Incident, there has been no activity in a place called Rezaira.

Could Rezaira have really escaped the effects of the Gate Incident?

Is Luna Artorius truly not involved in this situation?

Will I be able to find Rezaira?

I still know nothing.

I cannot directly ask Ellen about Rezaira's location. It is best to avoid meeting Ellen if possible. Besides, the situation doesn't permit it.

My reason for seeking Luna Artorius is simple.

I don't know how to persuade her, but I intend to ask for her teachings. She possesses a transcendent power that even I cannot fathom.

I don't know the method, and she has little reason to teach me.

If things remain as they are, I will have to use the Alsbringer in the final battle.

I don't want to die like that.

Perhaps I can resolve the situation without using the Alsbringer, but if I ever have to fight Ellen for some reason, I cannot defeat her in my current state.

The unchanging truth is that I must at least be equal or superior to Ellen in skill to have a choice.

I must at least reach the Master Class before the final battle. If possible, I need to obtain even greater power.

While there are excellent mages around me, none have reached the Master Class.

The strongest person I know is Saviolin Turner.

However, asking for her teachings in these times would be an absurd impossibility.

That's why I must seek Luna Artorius, who is presumed to be even stronger than her.

It is a truly vague task.

To find Ellen's mother and beg her to make me stronger.

In this situation.

In these times.

Isn't it too ridiculous considering everything has gone awry?

Monsters roam the continent, but as I stood before the mountain range in the southwest of Kernstadt, I felt nothing but uncertainty.

"What is this...?"

They said it was a rural village.

Before me lay a mountain range that resembled a natural fortress filled with strange rock formations.

When I heard it from Ellen, it seemed like an ordinary village nestled in the hills, but it was a vast alpine region.

This region was called the Sren Mountains on the map.

Ellen...

Calling this place a rural village when it's hidden in such a mountainous area is a bit of a stretch...

Come to think of it, Ellen has always been a bit different from ordinary people.

I didn't expect to find Rezaira easily.

I already confirmed it with the map, but this mountain range is incredibly vast.

And there is no way a proper road leading to Rezaira could be built in such treacherous terrain.

-Aaaahhhhhhh

The howls of unknown monsters echo from within the mountains.

The monsters that have been roaming the continent have already infiltrated these mountains.

How many days, weeks, or even months will I have to wander?

In this mountainous region where monsters lurk, can I really find Rezaira?

Where will I sleep and find food?

Even if it is to prepare for the final battle.

I've ended up playing a survival game in this mountainous region teeming with monsters.

"Sigh..."

Well, when have things ever been easy?

I have always found and obtained what I sought, no matter the difficulty.

A powerful fate is at work within me.

I intend to find Rezaira and meet Ellen's mother.

So, I will be able to find her and meet her.

I set foot into the vast and treacherous mountain range.

To not offer my life as a sacrifice in the final battle.

I must become stronger.

Without fail.