Chapter 7: The Truth of the Demon King’s Essence

At this time, the Grand Temple, the headquarters of the Goddess’ Order, was bustling with prominent figures from across the continent.

Among them were the emperor, the master of the mage tower, and even the leader of the assassins’ guild.

None in the square had fought directly against the Demon King himself, but they took pride in their battles against the Demon King’s forces.

“Before we begin, let us take a moment to honor the fallen heroes who have turned to dust,” announced the bald cardinal, folding his hands in prayer and bowing his head.

“For the 108 heroes who came to us from another world, and for the countless others who stood against the Demon King’s army alongside them.

Because of their sacrifice, we are breathing and living now, free from the Demon King’s tyranny.

Let us pay our respects and offer prayers that the Goddess may watch over them.”

The congregation responded, echoing, “May the Goddess watch over them.”

The prayer, however, was little more than a formality—a ritual to ease the tension before the impending inquisition.

“Let the questioning begin.”

With the cardinal seated, a tall, fair-haired young man stepped forward.

“I, Louis Bonaparte X, Emperor of the Empire, declare before the Goddess that I shall render a fair and unbiased judgment.”

Applause echoed through the square, though each clapped for their own reasons.

Some trusted him, others were doubtful but willing to believe, and others clapped simply because everyone else did, though they didn’t fully understand why.

Why was this gathering even taking place? Because an unprecedented crisis had emerged, pitting divine decrees against reality.

“We are at a pivotal moment in history, where we must judge whether the words of the saintess or those of the heroes hold the truth.”

The emperor’s gaze turned to one side of the square, where the saintess sat silently with her eyes closed, seated on a bench crafted to resemble scales.

“And on the other side, we have the four female heroes,” he continued, indicating the women who stood with haggard faces.

In stark contrast to the saintess’s pristine appearance, the heroes bore the marks of hardship, looking far from their once radiant selves.

Had they suffered from fighting the Demon King? No. It had been over a month since the Demon King had fallen.

Their current condition was due to something else: they had spent more than a month imprisoned in the underground cells on the saintess’s orders.

“The saintess has proclaimed that the Demon King’s essence resides within these four heroes, that each of them carries the Demon King’s seed,” the emperor declared, and a wave of shock rippled through the square.

Even those who had heard the rumors before couldn’t help but feel horrified anew.

The thought that the terrifying Demon King might resurrect was appalling—and even worse, that his essence could be within the bodies of the revered heroes.

“Cut them open!” “Bring a saw! Kill the Demon King’s spawn before it’s born!”

Although cries almost escaped from their lips, everyone held back, restrained by the glares of those close to the female heroes. Even the emperor himself was known to have a relationship with the imprisoned hero, Femme Fatale.

“We needed to observe the heroes closely. Thus, when the Goddess’ Order confined them to the underground cells—an interrogation chamber for heretics—we could do nothing.

The Demon King’s matter is too grave.”

Even the emperor found himself helpless before the Demon King’s legacy.

“If any of my family were destined to become the Demon King, I would take up the sword myself—for the peace of the continent.”

A comparison, though it only hinted at the true implication, as he couldn’t bear to speak more directly about those present.

“The saintess has proclaimed that the heroes bear the Demon King’s seed, meaning they are pregnant with a child who will surely herald the Demon King’s rebirth.”

A grim silence settled over the crowd. Even the emperor, delivering the statement, seemed uneasy as he continued.

“But!”

The emperor broke into a broad smile.

“Over the past month, we have monitored the condition of the female heroes. And we can confirm that none of them are pregnant.”

A murmur spread through the crowd.

“Please, do not ask for details. All that matters is that these women are physically capable of pregnancy, yet they are not with child. Do you understand?”

“A-ah.”

Delving further into the matter could easily be seen as inappropriate, so the people chose to trust the emperor’s word. After all, this was a matter concerning the Demon King, and it was unlikely that the emperor or anyone else would lie about it.

“Still,” the emperor continued, “the saintess claimed that the Goddess told her that one of the heroes bore the Demon King’s seed, meaning they would soon give birth to his child.”

“…Yes, that’s what I was told.”

“Saintess,” the emperor pressed, “did the Goddess specify that it was one of the female heroes?”

The saintess bit her lip in hesitation.

“Saintess, you share a close connection with that man, ‘Undertaker,’ do you not?”

“Everyone here knows how you feel about him and also recognizes him as a true ‘hero.'”

The emperor, the mage tower’s master, and all present knew the extraordinary feats of the man known as Undertaker. However, even a hero of his caliber could fall from grace if he were perceived as a threat to the well-being of the people.

“So, where is Sir Undertaker now?” the emperor asked.

“He has vanished. His whereabouts are currently unknown.”

“Is that so?”

Subtle shifts in expressions began to show among the crowd.

“I ask you this, though it may sound improbable… could it be possible that the Demon King’s essence resides within Sir Undertaker?”

The emperor’s inquiry pierced through the tension as he scrutinized the saintess.

“Saintess, you’ve stood by Sir Undertaker more closely than anyone else. You’ve nursed him through injuries, remaining by his side constantly. Did you notice anything unusual?”

“Is this Femme Fatale’s doing, pushing you all to this conclusion?” snapped the saintess.

Her sharp response silenced the crowd in astonishment.

“Are you implying that I’ve been shielding Undertaker, that my words about the Demon King’s seed were somehow about him and that I’m trying to cover it up?”

“Saintess!”

“Very well, then,” the saintess replied, gesturing to the women standing on the other side.

“I am merely the voice of the Goddess. The Goddess instructed that we confirm if any of them bore the Demon King’s essence, but since they all had their cycles, the truth is as clear as I have stated.”

“Saintess! Mind your words!”

“Three of them.”

A shiver ran through the crowd.

“The Goddess bestowed upon Sir Undertaker the power to destroy the Demon King’s essence. Furthermore, she revealed that the essence has taken hold within three individuals.”

“What… what did you say?!”

The emperor was visibly shaken. This was new information—something the saintess had not disclosed until now.

“Can you take responsibility for those words?” he demanded.

“Of course. I swear on my mother, my name, my honor, and my love. The Goddess declared that only two of the heroes would be allowed to return to their world, Earth. Only the two who are free of the Demon King’s essence.”

The assembly fell silent, frozen.

“That’s absurd…! Don’t lie to us!”

“Whether it’s a lie will become clear in due time,” the saintess replied, unyielding. “Then let me ask: the Demon King is dead, so why are they unable to return? Why haven’t they left on their own?”

“That’s…”

“Sir Undertaker told me not to speak of this, but now it’s come to this.”

The saintess closed her eyes tightly, then spoke.

“No matter what those heroes claim, their words are lies. I am the vessel of the Goddess’s words. The Goddess declared that only Sir Undertaker and a single other will return to their original world, Earth. There is not a shred of falsehood in my words.”

The saintess raised her head resolutely.

“If there is a single lie in my statement, I offer my life as collateral.”

She stood boldly, unwavering.

“…Hmph.”

The emperor, faced with a dilemma, could not easily dismiss her claims.

“Very well. I shall render my judgment.”

Just then, a loud banging echoed through the hall.

Femme Fatale, one of the female heroes encased in a magical barrier, was pounding against it, mouthing words in silent protest, her gestures conveying that the saintess’s words were lies.

“Following the saintess’s counsel, this emperor concurs that we should wait and observe for the ten months that a woman carries a child. However, that does not mean it has to be in this underground cell!”

Ignoring the murmurs of the crowd, the emperor declared his decision.

“Femme Fatale shall be confined within the empire’s palace annex. This is final!”

“Emperor! What is the meaning of this! We will secure her at the Mage Tower!”

“…It is our domain to handle this matter, Emperor. This violates the rules.”

“As emperor, I command—and I issue this decree to everyone present: Find Sir Undertaker! To discern the truth, we must hear Sir Undertaker’s account!”

Though the Demon King had perished, confusion only deepened.

The saintess was proclaiming what she claimed to be the Goddess’s words, yet doubts lingered—her story was intricate and hard to refute. But a lie, once told, cannot evade exposure forever. In the midst of accusations, with the saintess seemingly distorting the Goddess’s words to buy time…

I have to verify it.

This ring…

“…the Demon King’s sword…”

If it can be changed.