Chapter 93: Because It Depends on the Other Person

For the outsiders who found themselves stranded within the village, some endured in silence, waiting for the situation to settle.

Others, however, were actively inquiring and trying to grasp the circumstances. There was a considerable amount of movement.

It was the duty of the village guards to mediate and block such commotion and confusion, but they were just as overwhelmed.

In such a case, it was nearly a miracle that the situation hadn’t escalated into a full-blown riot, and the reason for the swift resolution was the assistance provided by the personnel from the Edenlevan Regiment branch.

“You’re working hard.”

“…What a disaster, all because we let the wrong person in.”

A female demon with blue skin.

Ruslan, who belonged to the Edenlevan Regiment branch, was maintaining smooth communication with the guards, just in case.

The two stood side by side at the entrance of the branch building, observing the bustling crowd inside against the backdrop of the desolate village, each reflecting their own emotions.

Since the disaster had been caused by the Demon King Remnants—those openly called demon remnants—there was a high possibility that the fallout would splash onto the Edenlevan Regiment if things went wrong.

To those blinded by rage, the fact that the relationship between the Regiment and the Demon King Remnants was abysmal likely wasn’t a significant issue.

‘What matters is who they want to believe in.’

It is an instinct of the weak to seek a vulnerable target to pour their resentment upon, rather than blaming an irresistible enemy.

In truth, they weren’t exactly weak, but it wasn’t as if they could be persecuted either.

Early in the morning, several men and laborers who had attempted to attack Kariel were killed by soldiers following a demon Legion Commander.

And currently, those soldiers had set up a small temporary camp near the village entrance.

Because of that, no one could easily attempt to escape through the entrance.

Aside from the entrance, even if one could slip away, moving luggage was impossible.

Those who came with nothing on their backs might somehow manage to escape, but…

“This incident is bound to spread as a rumor among the local merchants.”

“The Lord’s prestige is at stake, so he’ll take measures… but who knows. It might actually work out well.”

At the guard’s regretful words, Ruslan briefly contemplated how to handle the aftermath from a ruler’s perspective.

“It’s a relief that this is Metran. If it were another country, we might have been killed or hanged on a gallows just for being demons, as a way to vent their anger.”

“They would go that far?”

“Yes. Absolutely. However, thanks to Lord Grandeus, this is one of the few nations where demons who broke away from the Demon King’s Army joined the Human Alliance peacefully. Because many received help, the animosity is relatively shallow.”

Metran didn’t regard Grandeus as a symbol merely because he had defeated Lueld.

He had influenced many places, starting with Metran.

The reason they were able to unite peacefully even in situations where conflict and disputes could have arisen was that his presence—the most incongruous of all—had led them to unite in the name of justice.

And what made that possible was overwhelming power.

Even numerical and qualitative violence could not easily launch an offense in the place where he existed, not even for the Demon King’s Army at the time.

“If you put it that way, it seems the man called the son of the Great Hero who saved the world is also suffering quite a bit.”

Surprisingly, the guard did not pour malice toward him.

“Don’t you resent him? He’s being pointed out as the main culprit of this situation.”

When Ruslan asked, the guard replied.

“It would be a lie to say there’s no resentment, but actually, it should be the opposite. It’s right to be grateful… but for people right now, that probably doesn’t matter. I grew up hearing those stories since I was a child, but not everyone did. Before that, Miss Ruslan, aren’t you hearing things from those around you because the branch here accepted him?”

“I have to bear that. It is a clear fact, after all.”

Perhaps.

The current situation might not have been a problem caused by the descendant of the Great Hero.

Perhaps that man, the Last Legion Commander of the demons, originally had business here.

And then, upon arriving, he found the descendant of the Great Hero?

Could that be the case?

“What a coincidence, of all things? Tsk!”

As if realizing his own words were a bit off, the guard clicked his tongue softly.

Ruslan spoke as if praying.

“Whatever it is, I hope it resolves well.”

“When everyone was flocking toward the Order of Irenis chapel, I thought a disaster was about to break out. But seeing him dismantle that situation head-on, I thought, ‘He really is something.’”

“You saw it yourself?”

“From a distance.”

His presence was truly exceptional.

Even though he looked like a kid much younger than her at first glance.

The way he drew the crowd’s attention from the moment he appeared and carried out his will—every single moment of it was truly a masterpiece.

“Are all of the Hero’s bloodlines like that?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

Whether he was great because he inherited it, or great by birth.

Or perhaps both.

…Only they would know.

“By the way, the rats were stirring yesterday, but strangely, not a single cat is in sight. The chickens didn’t crow today either, did they?”

“Oh, now that you mention it, that’s true.”

“Turns out they were all dead. There was no omen, yet. Because of that, the owners were wailing and making a fuss. Some people are feeling ominous, wondering if a plague has broken out.”

“Such a thing happened?”

Generally, in the face of a great anomaly, the instincts and intuition of animals react faster than human intuition.

She hadn’t witnessed it herself, but she recalled her colleagues and those around her mentioning how strange it was after seeing the signs.

‘Perhaps.’

The crisis might not have even begun yet.

They say misfortunes come all at once.

Or.

Perhaps the situations intertwined in this way at the moment they overlapped.

====

By blocking the entrance and removing the possibility of lighting signal fires, the village becomes a No-man’s Land.

Even if a signal fire had been lit, it would take at least half a day for the Lord to assemble an army and rush over.

To begin with, since this place was located deep within Metran, the threat from foreign powers was low, and the forces maintained for public order were minimal.

In the past, those who called themselves warriors and fighters, regardless of gender, had become utterly weak in the present day.

Unconditional peace, in this way, erodes even the strongest of spirits.

“It is time.”

Bargo moved toward the village entrance.

Some followed him, while others remained to begin tidying up the barracks.

Regardless, the business here was now coming to an end.

Even as the old remnants of the Demon King’s Army walked openly, no one dared to restrain them.

Since most people were inside, the surrounding area was empty, but Bargo began climbing the stairs as if it didn’t matter.

His target was the place from before.

If he were going alone, a few seconds would suffice, but moving with subordinates was a form of show of force and a process to instill pride.

Even if he died, this sight would be spread to his comrades through the eyes and ears of the subordinates who survived here.

‘…If they survive?’

Why such a premise?

Stopping for a moment, he looked up at the sky.

“Legion Commander?”

“Strange.”

It was quiet.

Where humans gather, beasts and insects inevitably seep in.

Yet, such presences were hardly being detected.

‘What is it?’

Strange.

But it was too late to withdraw.

‘A trap?’

Something was different.

“Let’s go.”

Even so, he could not stop here.

Bargo had to confirm.

There were so many things to ask.

From Kariel.

And from those who had induced this situation.

He was extremely curious about the decision that the beings looking down upon this entire scene from a distant place would make.

‘How far does your arrangement go?’

The Demon King of Wisdom.

The first thing that came to mind was, as expected, gold.

A wolf or a fox in the form of gold.

But what came to mind even more vividly was.

…A vast golden land.

It was still vivid.

Forming mountains, forming strange rocks, forming deserts, forming icebergs.

…A golden land where everything was free and harmonious.

However, even that gold.

It had not invaded the sea.

What on earth was the reason?

It was a random question.

But he regretted for a long time not asking it.

Though it would now be an answer he could no longer obtain.

====

“Uh, excuse me… are you really going to be okay?”

Kariel did not draw his sword.

To those watching, he had merely held onto the hilt for a moment as if praying, enduring it.

Then, as if he had no lingering regrets, he removed his hand from the sword.

The anticipation of those who were watching—out of curiosity, surveillance, or various other reasons—immediately turned into disappointment.

“…….”

Even at Leo’s question, Kariel only gave a slight nod.

Even if he somehow used that to break through the current crisis.

…That would be nothing more than a compromise.

In the end, it would be the same as surrendering.

Even if someone snapped that he was being stubborn or clinging to useless pride, there was nothing he could do.

To begin with, I hate it, and that thing doesn’t want it either.

Above all, they say that if I draw it, I must enter into a Solemn Covenant, which is even more absurd.

“The omen is very sinister.”

Toward Leo, who had stepped back from Kariel and returned to the group.

Deike reminded him of the anxiety, adjusting his hat with a reluctant face.

“It’s not just a matter of someone living or dying.”

Luciri snorted.

“Making a fuss again. If someone dying is a big deal, then is that a small deal?”

“…….”

Luirin was calm, but somehow seemed spaced out.

Leo, worried by her appearance, asked.

“Are you okay?”

“…Ah, me? Yes. I’m fine.”

Her teacher, Kariel, did not look fine no matter how one looked at him.

He still looked precarious even just standing there.

However, he had no more time.

Now that the people from the Order of Relief Knights who had been by his side were gone.

He was clearly alone.

And there.

Those who had just reached the Fourth Layer by climbing the stairs.

With a clear purpose, they were burning with hostility toward Kariel.

Bargo stopped ten paces away.

He asked with indifferent eyes.

“Were you hesitating to draw it until I arrived?”

“No.”

His strained appearance remained, but perhaps because the enemy had appeared.

His momentum shifted.

Kariel replied lowly to Bargo’s question.

“And if I did?”

“Because that is not mine.”

“……Are you saying you won’t draw it? Or that you can’t?”

“Think whatever you want.”

“Deeply disappointing.”

In the end, you were a clown as well.

Bargo, having dismissed his soldiers, gripped the Jet-Black Spear once more.

“In that case.”

His figure vanished, and only his silhouette stretched long, shooting toward Kariel.

It traversed distance and space in an instant, like an arrow fired in a straight line.

Before those watching could reflexively move their gaze or turn their heads.

Bargo had already reached Kariel’s face.

“!!”

But.

…….

It was Bargo’s side that first created distance by slowly stepping backward.

“What trick is this?”

Kariel’s extended sword.

The one-handed sword Elhermina had given him was thrust straight forward.

If Bargo had intended to close the distance, he would have been pierced through.

No, that premise is strange.

He is merely extending it.

Who would voluntarily throw their body into that?

“…….”

Kariel looked as if he wanted to click his tongue.

Since he lacked the energy, it seemed he replaced the click with a short sigh.

“…….”

Something had changed.

It had changed.

But he didn’t know what it was.

Compared to when he first saw it, this was merely a faint ember that looked as if it could be extinguished at any moment.

Yet, for some reason.

…It didn’t look easy to extinguish.

====

-The Black Light Star that the sword rambled about is a problem for later. Right now, that’s not what’s important.

Either way, it’s a situation of life or death.

-Since you are completely empty, you are currently in a state where you cannot help but be more affected by external forces than before.

Even a small warm breeze could be enough to not just graze, but cut through your skin.

Kariel’s body and senses were currently in an indescribably disastrous state.

-Utilize everything to the maximum. Even so, the current you is a flawed mess, far inferior to that of an ordinary human.

Still, the technique remains.

The Skill remains.

The body that optimized it remains.

Even though the body was never completed or refined.

-Now that you are completely empty, you can actually exert everything. I’ll temporarily awaken the sensory parts. And since physical limitations are meaningless at this point, let’s just release them all.

Even so.

-If you relax and fail to control your body even slightly? A magic trick where your internals are shaken just by your own heartbeat will unfold. That’s how bad your condition is.

Above all.

-The compatibility is poor, but because of that, you could say the compatibility has actually become very suitable right now. Don’t forget your specialty.

What you do from now on.

-Depends entirely on the opponent.

And that was your specialty, wasn’t it?