Chapter 15: A New Journey (2)

The contents of the report written by Mitae regarding the situation in the Demon Realm can be summarized as follows:

A talented mage escaped from the prison camp and is currently making contact with the resistance forces to attack

the Empire. The military will be mobilized to suppress them. However, what happened next was the complete

disappearance of a security unit and a slave merchant guild. The only survivors were Mitae’s whimsical report and a

few of the security officers, who, upon hearing the news of their comrades’ massacre, were filled with fear. However,

when their report reached the upper echelons of the Empire, the statisticians, who were known as the “leaders,” did

not know how to mourn after seeing the numbers and reading the report.

“The Colonial Governor will surely be furious.”

Instead, their first reaction was as follows: The walls made of white, the towering ceilings, and the impersonal

decorations that were only symbols of the Empire. Perhaps the place where they worked was designed to make

people feel like machines.

“Send it to the Colonial Governor. Let’s see his anger.”

The mood in the Imperial Administration, after returning the report, was filled with mockery.

Upon receiving the report, the first thing the Colonial Governor’s office did was to execute all the security officers

who brought the report. The stated reason was that it was suspicious that only they survived in the enemy’s territory.

However, the true reason was that they reported the situation to the Imperial Administration before the Colonial

Governor’s office. The security officers had only sought the quickest channel to report upon arrival in the current

world. But no one was willing to hear their grievances.

The Colonial Governor of the Imperial Colony, Duke Rossan, had to repay this humiliation. The deaths of the

security officers did nothing to restore his honor. The ridicule and criticism from within the Empire now became his

motivation to act. Duke Rossan requested an audience with His Majesty the Emperor to resolve this issue once and

for all.

The most powerful nation in the world, the Empire. Among them, the one with the most powerful authority was

none other than the Emperor himself. Despite his frail body, the Emperor permitted Duke Rossan’s audience in the

pure white palace.

Duke Rossan entered the palace cautiously, trying to suppress his nervousness. The clicking of his staff echoed,

announcing his presence, but the pressure from the palace was far greater. Thousands of flags symbolized the many

families that had submitted to the Emperor, and the Emperor’s guards were armed with the most formidable

weapons in the world.

The pure white palace was maintained meticulously without a speck of dust, and the Emperor, seated at the highest platform, was difficult to even see clearly.

“Greetings to Your Majesty, Emperor Rossan.”

The Emperor did not respond to Duke Rossan’s greeting. Instead, he waited silently for Rossan’s report.

“Your Majesty, I am aware that the problems occurring in our colony have been troubling you, so I have come here directly.”

“It seems that stronger enemies have appeared in their land than our Colonial Governor’s predictions. I, Duke Rossan, would like to think of a definitive way to suppress them.”

“If Your Majesty grants me permission, I would like to use the Second Knight Order.”

The Emperor did not show any reaction. He neither moved his hands nor spoke, nor even relaxed his stiff neck.

Since Duke Rossan had entered, the Emperor had shown not the slightest movement, responding through his mind rather than his body.

“I grant permission.”

That was the only response Duke Rossan received from the Emperor.

In stark contrast to the pure white palace the Emperor resided in, there was a black-colored military camp. As soon

as the Emperor’s ‘permission’ was granted to Duke Rossan, they immediately began to move, leaving the military

camp under the Emperor’s command. The command had been received by all of them, and they were to meet Duke

Rossan and prepare for battle.

Nearly 1,000 soldiers gathered in the palace courtyard, all dressed in black armor, matching the color of their

military camp. These were the Second Knight Order, “The Black Army.” As one of the many swords protecting the

Empire, the Emperor willingly lent this powerful army to Duke Rossan.

For a mere slave merchant guild? For a small security unit? For the whims of a noble? No, it was to prevent any

precedent of ‘success’ in the colonies. If they dared defy the homeland, they needed to know that overwhelming force

would descend upon them. They must not be allowed to kindle even a spark of hope, to prevent any further rebellion.

When Duke Rossan arrived at the location where the Black Army had assembled, the commander spoke first.

“Gather the Knights.”

The sounds of heavy metal resonated as the knights lined up in formation, their movements synchronized. The sound of the steel was enough to answer the commander.

The knights saluted Duke Rossan, and the commander, too, knelt to show respect. The commander’s appearance was

utterly cold, with no emotion on his face, and his icy eyes revealed not a trace of humanity. He only withdrew the

killing intent he radiated when he showed respect to Duke Rossan, not for his sake, but solely for the Emperor.

Now that everything was prepared, the traditional customs before the knights set out began.

“…The Emperor’s strong soldiers, I have come to deliver His Majesty’s command to you.”

“Please, speak.”

The commander replied to Duke Rossan’s words.

“However, I, Duke Rossan, am not a warrior like you, so I wish to ask: For what do you fight?”

“The Empire and His Majesty the Emperor. These are the beliefs that the hero and the hero’s companions sought to protect.”

“Who is your teacher?”

“The history walked by the hero is our teacher.”

“Whose steel is yours?”

“It belongs to the citizens who serve the Empire.”

“Good. The Empire will remember your loyalty. Take your questions to the Empire.”

This time, the commander of the knights asked the questions first, and the duke began to respond.

“What is troubling the Empire?”

“The rogues from the demon world have killed hundreds of citizens and chased more than a thousand demons into the Empire.”

“What do you ask of us?”

“Find the enemy of the Empire who has caused all of this. Capture them, or kill them as you see fit.”

“Our swords will eliminate the Empire’s enemies.”

“Go, descendants of the hero. Show them the power of the Empire.”

The commander of the knights stood up first and turned to look at his troops.

“Knights, raise your heads.”

Once again, the sharp clank of metal rang through the area.

“The Empire needs you.”

“We will follow your orders!”

Part 3:

Magicians: 0

Priests: 0

Disciples: 0

210 knights.

A main force totaling 300 people.

Along with many nuns, assistants, auxiliary soldiers, and servants, totaling 700 people.

Altogether, a force of 1000 began to move as one.

They would soon set foot on the demon world’s land.

The Demon King, observing the silver-haired beast-girl he had found in the dungeon, was deep in thought.

The girl’s condition was now far better than when he had first met Leražie.

She had only been slightly hungry, with no wounds or illnesses.

However, he couldn’t predict what she would think when she woke up.

The girl appeared to be a human child, but she was a ‘demon beast.’

There was a possibility that she might act hostile, either fleeing or attacking.

But if she were an animal, a conversation based on instincts might sometimes work.

The Demon King purposely cooked a warm meat stew and laid the girl next to it.

When she woke up, the first thing she would notice would be not the Demon King or Leražie, but the smell of meat.

After finishing these tasks, the Demon King spoke in a calm voice.

“There is no need to hide. Come out.”

“W-What?! Me? I wasn’t hiding…”

Leražie, who had been refining her magic nearby, was startled.

But the Demon King wasn’t calling her out. It was the hooded figure hiding outside the cave.

The person cautiously stepped forward and revealed themselves.

“…How did you know?”

“You’re inexperienced.”

“Me?”

The hooded figure frowned upon hearing this comment.

Was the resistance agent calling her lack of stealth ‘inexperienced’?

Seemingly offended, the person suppressed their emotions and removed the hood to reveal their face.

The resistance agent had been searching through the remnants left behind by the Demon King.

The woman’s blue eyes turned toward Leražie.

“…Did you do that to the prison camps?”

“Yeah.”

The Demon King confirmed her suspicion, but then immediately focused his gaze on the simmering meat stew.

This seemed to offend the woman even more, as she drew a dagger from her chest and aimed it at the Demon King.

“Do you even understand the consequences of your actions? The Empire will never let this go. Do you have any idea

how much blood will be spilled because of what you’ve done?!”

“I know.”

The Demon King replied coldly, and the woman’s emotions became even more erratic in response.

“…No, what do you mean…?”
Just as the woman was about to charge at the Demon King, she realized he was the one who had obliterated the prison camps.

She hesitated for a moment, then decided to wait.

Without the Demon King, this situation would never have been resolved.

“You’re right.”
Leražie, with a foolish expression, said while scooping up some soup.
“…?”
“This is the Demon King.”

It was no longer a secret, and Leražie revealed the truth on behalf of the boy.
“…What? The Demon King has been resurrected?”
“It’ll take a long time to explain.”

The Demon King sighed as if bored, then sent a thread of magic to disarm the woman, pulling the dagger from her hands.

He drew his own sword and infused it with magic.

“…Huh?”

The next moment, the Demon King broke the woman’s dagger with his bare hands, then repaired it with magic before returning it to her.

In that brief moment, he used necromancy, sorcery, martial arts, and magic.

“Wh-what?!”

The woman was thrown into confusion upon meeting the Demon King like this.
In the midst of her bewilderment, it was the Demon King who calmed her down.

“You came from the resistance?”
“Eh? Ah, yes. That’s correct.”

“I have many questions for you. Please sit next to me if possible.”

The Demon King issued the command, but the woman fell into deep thought.

So, he just used four abilities at once right in front of my eyes?

Yes, and in the entire history of the demon world, only the Demon King has used four abilities simultaneously.

The prison camp and the merchant stronghold were annihilated, and I followed the aftermath.

But there are only three people here. It didn’t make sense, but if the Demon King has been resurrected, then it’s

possible.

“…Uh… uh…”

The woman briefly looked at the boy.

And the next moment,

“G-Greetings to His Majesty the Demon King! We… we, the resistance, have always been waiting for the Demon King’s army!”

The woman bowed deeply, pressing her forehead to the ground.

“I… I am a resistance agent named ‘Mern.’ It’s an honor to meet you, Demon King!”
“Good.”

The Demon King, thinking that it would take some time, quietly spooned the soup into a bowl.

Mern cautiously observed the Demon King’s reactions.

“Demon King, there is something we in the resistance think is important to tell you now that you have returned.”

“Speak.”

“Baal is alive.”

“…What?”

The Demon King’s rare expression of surprise startled Leražie as well.

“…Demon King, you must find him.”

“Who… who is Baal?”

When Leražie, who had never heard of that name, asked, Mern answered cautiously.

“…Baal is the Demon King’s wife, the Demon King’s queen.”