188. For you (11)
The pillar of light shined so brightly that it could be seen from anywhere on the continent.
That means that everyone in the human world learned of the birth of the hero.
A hero who was dramatically born in a threatening situation where the Demon King’s army pushed the empire to the edge of a cliff. Even though I didn’t know who the target was, it was natural to have hope.
The same was true for the king of the Mountain Kingdom. It was the same, but
now there was something I was more worried about.
‘I really can’t connect.’
Did they discard the communication device altogether?
What kind of disrespect is this to the king of a country, to arbitrarily notify and unilaterally cut it off? Does that mean you are the emperor?
Still, she couldn’t get completely angry, just staring at the communicator. That’s because he knew what his actions meant.
“…He seems like a person I can’t completely hate.”
If a monarch of a foreign country could make him feel this way, it would be proof that his choice was not extraordinary.
“Anyway, it’s terrible.”
How should we deal with the Demon King’s army in the future? Is there no choice but to expect something from the hero?
He sighed and crossed his eyebrows.
***
Naturally, the king of Rweche also heard the news of the warrior’s appearance.
When everyone was hopeful, he quietly muttered as he remembered the face of his younger brother, who left the room with the curtains closed without leaving a single portrait.
“I’m sorry. It seems like the empire’s life will be longer than I thought.”
It has not yet been revealed who the hero is.
I have a very personal and selfish thought that it would be better if that hero were Deonhardt and took revenge on the emperor instead, but there is no way he would be chosen as a hero when he goes on a rampage with demons over so many people in the human world.
If you reveal these feelings to someone, they will most likely be shocked. You might ask, if the resentment is that deep, why don’t you take action?
“I was foolish.”
Of course, I want to take revenge on myself… As the king of a country, I made a promise to a knight of the empire.
After thinking that far, he burst into laughter.
“In the end, I am a king and can do nothing about it.”
I have nothing to say even if you criticize me because I’m an ugly older brother who can’t even avenge my younger brother.
I felt like I was overflowing with self-blame for a moment, so I picked up the overflowing emotions and buried them in my heart and got up.
Because you can’t take care of national affairs while being immersed in emotions. Now it is time to fulfill my duties as king again.
***
The appearance of the hero did not impress the emperor.
Anyway, even if a hero comes to help, the current imperial palace will already have collapsed. By then, this body will have already left.
The location of the demons that kept changing came to mind.
‘Was the speed of the advance at the level of running without sleep?’
For some reason, I wondered if they had suddenly changed their route midway to gain time, but even so, it seemed like they would arrive sooner than expected. He showed a subtle expression when he realized that his destination when he changed his route was Illuster territory, but that was only for a moment.
Everyone on the route to the imperial palace has long since been evacuated, so the only ones left are those in the capital. Nobles who stayed in the capital for the safety of the people of the empire and themselves.
They tried to evacuate the people of the empire first and then the nobles, but there was strong opposition. It wasn’t about why they evacuated mere imperial citizens first instead of themselves. They were protesting, asking why they had to evacuate.
It makes no sense to move the capital at this time. Isn’t it too much to proceed arbitrarily without even a single consultation? Are you really planning to abandon this palace with its long history? So, did you know that Deon Hardt is the commander of the 0th Legion?
There were some remarks that were acceptable and some that were completely off topic, but in the end, the backlash did not last long.
[Jim has already done everything and all that is left is you. In other words, it means that all the troops have been moved there, so the only way to stay here would be to die. If you want to stay that long…]
[I’ll go.]
Look. The emperor chuckled.
‘What is the long history?’
Even thinking about it again, it’s absurd. You cite its long history as a reason not to abandon the palace. There were many comments that weren’t worth answering, but this one was the most memorable. Did they think of this empire as a country that continued the history of the previous dynasty?
It’s funny. Rather than promoting the previous dynasty to an empire, he wiped out the entire dynasty and established an empire on top of it. To think something like that just because the blood of the monarch is inherited.
This palace has a long history, but that does not make it the long history of the empire. Long history? What does it have to do with the history of the dynasty before I ascended the throne? The reason he used this palace as is was not because he respected the history of the palace, but because he did not want to waste taxes on building a new one.
“…But…”
The golden eyes resembling a wild beast roll over to capture the article in front of them.
An unexpected, or perhaps even expected, person is standing there with firm eyes as if he or she has decided on something. The emperor smiled bitterly inwardly.
“Why didn’t you move and find your luggage? “I’m sure Jim would have told you to move.”
“Please allow me to remain here.”
Lien Reiner, the knight who once served Deon Hardt, bowed his head.
“I know that Your Majesty deliberately placed me in a place where I would not encounter him. “I deeply appreciate your consideration, but I have a reason to meet him.”
“This is a remark that is likely to be misunderstood. “Isn’t life worth it?”
It was a threatening situation in which her head could be blown off if she were not careful, but she calmly answered after seeing the emperor and understanding him in her own way.
“I know your Majesty is not the type of person to do that.”
“….”
The emperor remained silent for a moment as if speechless, then slowly raised the corners of his mouth. He said with a somewhat bitter smile.
It was not a response to Lien’s remarks, but a response to a previous request.
“Even if I force him to evacuate by invoking Hwang Myeong, if I were to do so, I would move to find him again.”
If you never meet, you will live in guilt and suffering for the rest of your life.
There are so many people living with suffering that there is no need to list one more person. That’s why he had no choice but to nod.
“Do whatever you want.”
and.
After the short interview with Lien Reiner, the emperor pressed his throbbing temples as another interviewer appeared.
“You…”
Even though an evacuation order was issued, the duke did not even enter the palace, let alone evacuate, and did not care. It doesn’t matter whether you die or not, as long as you don’t die in connection with the emperor. I understand that Lien Reiner said he would stay. Because I know how she feels.
But you cannot. The emperor spat out the words with low anger, as if he was growling.
“Why are you still here?”
“Your Majesty is still here, so how dare you run away first? “That is disloyalty.”
The prince and princess, who were already gone and should not have been there, were moving around in front of him.
***
The emperor’s movements are strange. Paul, who had been observing the situation in the empire with a suspicious eye ever since he poured his troops into Miller, made a quick decision when he heard that all the people heading to the capital had been evacuated.
‘Instead of helping the empire, we should think about how to survive after it falls.’
The emperor abandoned the empire. Maybe it’s not an empire but a capital. However, it is equally difficult to expect the empire’s strength in the future.
The people of the capital have not been evacuated yet, but if things continue like this, they will move soon.
You must save power. Paul immediately withdrew the revolutionary troops from the empire. I’m holding my breath trying to decide what to do and move based on the situation going forward…
– Please help me.
I received a call from the duke.
– I know that you are the one who held back the Demon Lord’s army in other regions. They’ve been trying hard to hold you back with various spells, including making you lose your way and wander, right? Thanks to this, the empire was able to focus solely on fighting in key areas.
thank you
The words he never thought he would say were heard faintly, as if they were scattered. Paul quietly looked down at the communication signal transmitted through Salvation Church.
A sincere thank you may be surprising, but… Daniel died because of it. Boundaries are natural. A rough voice was suddenly spit out.
“You asked for help, what on earth is that?”
– The Demon King’s army will soon arrive at the capital. Please delay their arrival time by just 3 hours, no more, no less.
There is no way the duke didn’t know that it was a sarcastic remark rather than a question. Nevertheless, does answering like this mean that it is that desperate?
I thought of the speed of the Demon King’s army advancing toward the capital. There were reports of people running without sleeping at all. I heard that Deon Hart, who seemed determined to shorten the time as much as possible by switching horses whenever he got tired and insisting on riding a horse from the human world, rode a horse from the demon world. As if that wasn’t enough, what kind of confidence was there? In a situation where even a single troop was wasted, stragglers were left behind and running every time they arrived at a new territory… The
most recent information received was that they had arrived at the territory closest to the capital, so if things continue like this, they will probably arrive within half a day. I will do it.
“…is this a trade request?”
– Please. I’ve already given all my possessions away.
The duke’s family is no strangers to the wealth they have accumulated over generations, but they gave it all away…?
Is this related to the fact that I asked for only 3 hours? I tilted my head for a moment.
‘It’s none of my business where the Duke spends his fortune.’
What is important is his behavior in trying to get help for free.
Paul chuckled.
“You killed the squadron leader and now you want to use it for free.”
From the duke’s perspective, it must have been quite humiliating to have asked for a ‘favor’ rather than a ‘deal’. And since the enemy was the revolutionary army that they had once controlled under them, their high pride would probably have been cruelly shattered. Even though he knew it well, Paul just smiled and was very sarcastic.
“You’re shameless.”
– ….
“But… I will listen to you specially just this time.”
Considering how much pride the duke must have sacrificed to ask for this favor, it can be said that he received a pretty good reward. When will the day come when the duke’s pride will be trampled on like this?
It’s not a request to kill Deon Hart or to defeat the Demon Lord’s army, but a request to just take 3 hours. Since this problem could be resolved with minimal loss of troops by using magic and jinn, Paul accepted with great pride.
I thought I heard the sound of teeth grinding before disconnecting, but I ignored it.
***
After becoming a warrior, his physical strength must have improved. Deon Hart ran without sleeping. After leaving the Demon King’s Castle, I had nightmares every time I slept, so being able to endure without sleep became one of the few reasons why I was satisfied with becoming a hero.
The demons that could not stand made the sound of death, but Deon believed in their strong bodies.
‘It’s not like they’re demons for nothing.’
There won’t be any problem even if I don’t sleep a little.
I arrived near the capital at the fastest possible speed… What is this?
I lost my way.
I became convinced of this fact when a demon spoke cautiously while I was at a private residence.
“Deon, it seems like you keep circling the same spot.”
“…Do you think so too?”
“yes.”
Somehow I felt like I couldn’t find a way even if I kept going. I wasn’t sure because it was a forest, but that tree looked like a tree I’d seen before.
‘…It’s witchcraft.’
Deon was confident about the space distortion spell because he had heard about it from a shaman during the eradication of the Salvation Church in the past.
“Usually the only way to do this is to find the Jinn’s main axis and destroy it, or find the right path, but there’s no way we can find the right path…” …It’s a
forest, so should we just burn it all down?
