“You can probably guess the rest—what I did, and what happened to the EU.”

“…No way… But, but your mother! Road’s parents made it out, right?”

“…No, she died. I… I really didn’t understand anything at all.”

◇ Back to the Past Again

“You’d be dead if I hadn’t shown up, Zeke.”

The command room of a massive vehicle.

This was the front lines of the war against the European Union, where Zeke and Road faced off on the battlefield.

By now, Road had acquired the dignified air of royalty, and he had come to respect Zeke.

In the past, he had resented Zeke for killing his uncle.

But after stepping onto the battlefield, Road learned that it was the war itself he should hate—not the soldiers.

They could only follow orders.

Having come to understand what career soldiers were, Road no longer held a grudge against Zeke.

Besides, Zeke had saved his life once.

He and his mother could easily have died that day.

So Road harbored no hatred for Zeke, and Zeke acknowledged Road in return.

“To think the European Union had someone as strong as that… Thor, was it? He lured me right in. I’d be dead if you hadn’t come, Lord Road. Thank you.”

“Relying solely on bravery will get you tripped up eventually. They’re desperate too—putting their lives on the line. But now…”

Road issued his final command.

“Check.”

Today marked Road’s 100th straight victory, achieved with unstoppable momentum.

It had been a long road, but he had finally met the emperor’s condition for recognition.

…

“So, it’s finally time, huh? Very well—go see her.”

After a full year, Road was finally granted a reunion with Scarlett.

But the boy’s dreams of an emotional reunion were shattered.

He was led to a separate room.

And there sat his mother.

“Well, Scarlett? This is your son. And…”

The emperor grinned wickedly before closing the door.

“He’s the one who destroyed your homeland.”

Road stared straight at his mother.

She still bore some resemblance after two years apart, but she looked utterly exhausted.

He must have worried her terribly—his chest ached at the thought.

“Mom…”

He slowly approached her.

He wanted her to hold him. For nearly two years, he’d worn his soul to the bone, all to save her.

He wanted her praise, to hear her say he’d done well.

And he wanted to pour all his love back onto her.

To an eight-year-old boy, his mother was everything.

He’d studied for a year for her sake. He’d kept winning for a year for her sake.

Surely she had been waiting to see him, too.

She would embrace him gently. She would surely praise him.

So he lunged toward her chest.

Yet…

Slap.

“Eh?”

“Ugh… ugh… I… I…”

Road’s cheek stung from the hard slap.

Clutching it, he looked up to see his mother glaring at him with tear-streaked hatred.

“Mom…?”

“I was wrong. You should have died back then. And so should I!”

“What are you saying? Mom…”

Scarlett had been told everything.

Day after day, detailed reports of which regions Road had destroyed, how many European Union soldiers he’d slain.

All courtesy of the emperor.

“You’re a devil! How many people have you killed? Aiding the Earthguards who murdered your uncle!”

“But… I… I was just trying to…”

“Ah, I’m sorry. Father, Mother, Brother. I gave birth to a devil. That devil of an emperor’s… I bore his devil child!!”

Those reports had shattered Scarlett’s heart.

The reality that her rescued son was the cause of her homeland—her country—falling one after another.

For nearly a year, she’d received constant updates on the body count, the regions occupied, even footage.

How many were enslaved, lives stolen in the process.

How many times had she considered taking her own life?

If she was the root cause, then birthing a devil was her sin.

But one thought alone had kept her going.

She had been waiting for this moment.

Her mother had just one wish.

“Road!! You must die!”

She grabbed a fruit knife from the table and charged at Road.

Road couldn’t move. He couldn’t grasp what was happening.

Not even his genius mind could comprehend it.

All he’d wanted was his mother’s praise.

All he’d wanted was to save her. So why… why was his mother trying to…

“I’ll kill you! Then I’ll die too!!”

…kill him?

But the knife never pierced him.

A single soldier stopped her.

“Guh! Let go! Let me gooo!!”

It was Zeke.

As if he’d anticipated this, he’d been waiting just outside the door.

On the emperor’s orders.

Having watched from hiding, Zeke burst in the moment Scarlett grabbed the knife.

“Why, Mom… why…”

“Road! Commit suicide! You can’t be allowed to live!!”

Scarlett thrashed, shoving Zeke aside, still desperate to kill Road.

But she realized her wish couldn’t be fulfilled.

And at last…

“I… was the one who was wrong. This devil…”

She plunged the knife into her own throat, ending her life.

Blood sprayed. Through her hazy eyes, burning with hatred…

…Road was reflected clearly.

Blood splattered across Road’s face.

(Is this what you wanted… Your Majesty?)

Zeke watched it all. He’d even placed the fruit knife there, anticipating this outcome.

Road stood frozen. Zeke left the room, leaving him alone for a time.

What Road thought that day…

What he felt… no one knows.

The boy who would later call himself a devil, dubbed the Devil’s Brain by the world—what did he think before his mother’s corpse?

His beloved mother, who should have loved him, whom he’d desperately tried to save.

What did that boy think, after nearly being killed by her?

No one knows.

But soon, the world would remember Road Earthguard once more.

The undefeated commander who seized half the European Union.

Whether a true devil lurked in his heart’s depths… no one knows.

◇ End of Flashback

“My mother died. From illness! It was her time—went peacefully, I suppose. With such an outstanding son and all!”

But Road didn’t tell Kenya the truth.

Kenya couldn’t read the forced smile on Road’s face.

Still, his mother was gone.

He’s just covering it up, Kenya thought.

Road told Kenya only two things.

That he was the half-blood son of the emperor and Scarlett.

That he’d once fought for the European Union but made a deal with the emperor for his mother’s sake and turned to fight against them.

And now, as emperor, he sought to end the war.

He said no more.

Only Zeke and the emperor knew what his mother had done to him.

“I see…”

“That’s why, Kenya. Make me emperor. We have to end this tragic world. And today, seeing Jin and Rilbelt made it clear, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“That’s the result of this country’s education. It’s not their fault. So…”

But Road’s words trailed off.

And as if changing the subject, he continued.

“That’s why I’m going to become emperor.”

He popped a grape into his mouth, and the two fell silent for a while.

“Sorry, Road. Because of my selfish actions… I mean, who am I to say it, but are you okay?”

“You mean today’s mess? Honestly, it’s the worst.”

“Ugh.”

“Heh. But for some reason, I don’t feel bad about it. Sure, we’ve taken a huge hit, but I’ll handle it somehow.”

“Sorry…”

“Next time, think a little more before you act. Though, if the same situation came up again, you’d probably do the same thing, huh?”

“…Yeah.”

“Man… did I pick a troublesome knight or what…”

There was a hint of joy on Road’s face.

With that, they finished off the grapes.

Kenya loaded Road onto KOG and returned to the military camp.

Waiting there were Jin and many other Earthguard citizens staring at Kenya.

Awe, fear, anger.

A barrage of emotions directed at him—as an enemy.

Then Road stepped forward and spoke.

“About what happened today… That was my order. Don’t kill those who surrender.”

“Wha!?”

Kenya shot Road a shocked look, but the glare telling him to stay quiet made him hold his tongue.

“Many of you know how I’ve treated prisoners in the past. That’s why I demand the same from my knight. This time, it went against my brother’s orders—that’s a mistake on both our parts. Sword swore loyalty to me as my knight, so he bears no blame. Please forgive him.”

The soldiers nodded in understanding, murmuring “I see.”

Road’s leniency toward those who surrendered was known throughout the Earthguard Empire.

So it made sense for his knight, Sword, to act the same.

Odin’s orders had been to kill, but Road was royalty too. Following Road’s command as his knight felt more natural.

Today’s events could be chalked up to an unfortunate command chain mishap—an unavoidable accident.

Forced to accept it that way.

Fortunately, no one was hurt, and Road was taking full responsibility. No reason to stay mad.

If anything, it raised Sword’s reputation as a loyal man.

“Got it, Sword. So that’s how it was. Sorry.”

“Sorry, Sword. I didn’t know the circumstances.”

Jin and Rilbelt apologized to Kenya too.

“N-No, it was my fault for not explaining. Sorry for drawing my sword on you!”

Kenya bowed his head.

With that, the matter was settled—for now.

(This should calm things down here. But my brother won’t let it slide… As long as it doesn’t affect the Empire Sword Martial Festival… No, he’ll definitely play this card.)

Only Road understood the vulnerability he’d handed his enemies—one they couldn’t ignore.

…

Hearing the report, Odin burst into laughter.

“What a fine card we’ve got now… Right, Catherine? All for the loss of just 20 KOGs.”

“Yes. A weakness on Lord Road like that isn’t easy to obtain. It’ll make a perfect trump card someday. That boy does fine work as a double agent, doesn’t he?”

Road and Sword had handed Odin a fatal weakness.

Unaware that this incident could decide the world’s fate.

And nearly half a year later, toward that fateful day…

The Holy Knight exam finally began.