Demon King of the Royal Class-Chapter 535

Heinrich sat there, frozen, when Reinhart appeared in his tent.

The Demon King was a curse upon humanity. It was hard for Heinrich to believe that Reinhart from the Temple and the Demon King, who was hated by the world, were the same person, but it was true.

Reinhart was the Demon King. And the Demon King was behind everything that had happened.

Heinrich couldn’t help but feel confused. How could the person who had sent that letter be Reinhart, and how was it that he was standing right in front of him?

“It must feel like you’re sitting on pins and needles now,” Reinhart said abruptly, as if he knew everything that was happening.

“We’re not in a position to have a long conversation, so I’ll keep it short,” he continued. “Whether you die here or you end up killing someone, it’ll be a problem. You know that, right? Come with me instead. If you follow me, I’ll explain everything to you step by step. What’s happened so far, what will happen next, and what you can do about it.”

They weren’t in a position to have a long conversation, nor could they.

Heinrich was frozen upon seeing Reinhart, someone he never thought he’d see again.

How did he know he was going to die? Where had he been watching him from, and where did he hear about him being an illegitimate child?

Reinhart had appeared right after Heinrich confirmed for himself that he was indeed a bastard, as if he had been waiting for this moment. Just when he realized he had no place in the Allied Forces and that he would soon be assassinated, Reinhart appeared and extended a hand, asking him to leave the Allied Forces.

Heinrich never thought he’d see Reinhart again, but he had imagined confronting him.

Amid the countless deaths and the despair so deep it hardly seemed real, a tragedy beyond tragedy, brought on by the Gate Incident...

‘Why did you do this? Did you really hate humanity that much? Even if humans destroyed your world... did you have to go this far?’

He didn’t know Reinhart well, but the person he had known was not someone like that. Had it all been just a mask? A lie?

Had that steady countenance always been hiding such a vengeful spirit?

Now that Reinhart had appeared before him, Heinrich found himself at a loss for words. The thought of becoming a hero by killing the Demon King right there didn’t even cross his mind.

He couldn’t think of anything other than what Reinhart had said. If he followed Reinhart, he could still live. Reinhart had also promised to explain everything that had happened and why it had to happen.

Everything that had happened so far had a reason behind it. Reinhart’s expression suggested as much. As he took in that expression, Heinrich realized that he still didn’t know Reinhart well, but he understood one thing: the Reinhart from the Temple, who was a troublemaker but never truly evil, was the real Reinhart.

Did the gods never make wrong choices? Was there a reason unknown to him that made this inevitable?

He had accepted that his siblings would eventually try to kill him. Thus, there was no place for him in the Kernstadt army.

As Vertus said, even if Heinrich were part of the general headquarters staff, he couldn’t escape the influence of the Kernstadt army.

As long as his status as a member of the Schwartz royal family didn’t change, and the fact that he was a bastard didn’t change, his brothers would eventually try to exclude him. That seemed like a foregone conclusion to Heinrich.

If he took the Demon King’s hand, he would become a traitor to humanity. For some reason, three people had betrayed humanity and sided with the Demon King: Olivia Lanche, Harriet de Saint-Ouen, and Riana de Granz.

If he took up the offer, the name Heinrich von Schwartz would be added to those names.

Heinrich had firsthand knowledge of how the devoted Duke of Saint-Ouen was treated despite his dedication to the war effort. If he sided with the Demon King and word of his defection became known, the Schwartz royal family would suffer the same treatment.

A family with a traitor within its bloodline.... The prestige of the Schwartz royal family would plummet.

Revenge... What better revenge could there be against the brothers who despised and ignored him for being a bastard?

Whatever they were dreaming of, the royal family’s image would be tarnished by the betrayal of a bastard. It would be the perfect revenge for the neglect and mistreatment Heinrich had endured.

Heinrich silently stared at Reinhart, who was waiting for his answer.

Siding with the Demon King would ensure his survival and deliver a humiliating blow to his brothers. They valued honor more than life, and had despised him for being an illegitimate child.

Just the fact that there was a traitor within the Schwartz royal family would be enough to cause enormous political damage. It would be all the more cruel then to reveal that he was actually a bastard, given how the Schwartz royal family had used him as they pleased thus far.

“I won’t rush you to make a decision. It’s not something to be decided in haste,” Reinhart said. He leaned against one of the tent’s supports and crossed his arms, and said nothing more, giving Heinrich time to think.

Heinrich wasn’t sure if he was confident that he wouldn’t just attack him, or if he was confident he could handle it if he did.

Following the Demon King felt like the right thing to do.

If Reinhart had a compelling reason for his actions—if all of this wasn’t driven by malice but was the result of a series of unavoidable events—then perhaps it could be justified.

Even in the midst of all this turmoil, Reinhart had infiltrated enemy territory to save Heinrich’s life. They hadn’t been particularly close, and yet he had come for him.

If the Demon King’s goodwill was genuine, then there was no reason not to take his hand.

If staying with the Allied Forces only put him in greater danger, then it would be better to go elsewhere. Perhaps, from there, he could also give the Schwartz royal family a taste of their own medicine.

But still...

The royal family was one thing. The people were another.

The Schwartz royal family and the Kernstadt army were a major part of the Allied Forces.

Just as the Duke of Saint-Ouen was stigmatized for his traitorous daughter and received no recognition for his dedication to humanity, the members of his mage corps were treated the same. Those under him had to bear the sins of their ruling family.

If it became known that Heinrich sided with the Demon King, not just the Schwartz royal family but the entire Kernstadt army would be branded as traitors.

Whatever reasons the Demon King might have would only be known to those who were privy to secret knowledge.

The Kernstadt army would face the same treatment as the Duke of Saint-Ouen and his mage corps, and would lead to a drop in overall morale and a division within the ranks of the Allied Forces.

Many in the Kernstadt army would feel an immense sense of betrayal. Even if his disappearance were classified as desertion instead of him siding with the Demon King, the drop in morale would be inevitable.

Heinrich was a hero of the Kernstadt army. Like Ellen, a hero’s mere existence was valuable. There were things he had to bear. Even if his brothers tried to kill him, even if they were shortsighted in their attempts, he couldn’t betray humanity. He couldn’t betray the trust the people had in him, nor abandon those who found hope in him.

Heinrich did not ask Reinhart many questions. There were many things he wanted to ask, but they became meaningless.

Reinhart had come to save him. What choice would he make?

“As you know, a lot has changed since the old days,” Heinrich said. “I’m not the small flint you used to mock anymore.”

Reinhart chuckled at the slight arrogance in his tone. “Yeah, you’re not just that anymore.”

When Reinhart, who was a commoner and had no supernatural powers at the time, had made that metaphor to express his disdain for Heinrich, anger had flared in his eyes. Now, though, Heinrich was turning those words back on Reinhart.

‘How time has passed, indeed.’

He was no longer a mere human flint, but had gained enough supernatural power to burn down a mountain. As he grew stronger, some feared him, while others found hope in him.

“I’m not such a pushover that I will just do whatever you say.”

“Well, you’ve become quite presumptuous, haven’t you?” Reinhart replied with a condescending grin, but to Heinrich, he seemed unchanged from before.

“I can’t go with you. I have to handle my own affairs.”

Reinhart silently gazed into Heinrich’s eyes.

“You understood what I meant when I said it would be a problem whether you die or kill someone, right?” he finally said.

“I understand,” replied Heinrich.

He had to handle his own affairs. No matter which road he took, there would be problems ahead. If he was killed or if he killed someone, there would be a problem. But following the Demon King would also have its own problems. If every choice led to a problem, Heinrich would just have to choose which problem to face.

“Alright, if that’s your choice, there’s nothing I can do,” Reinhart said.

The old Reinhart would have used force if things did not go his way.

“You’ve changed a bit too, haven’t you?” Heinrich said with a smirk, and Reinhart chuckled.

“Not as much as you,” he replied.

Heinrich was surprised by Reinhart’s appearance, but his appearance had also raised another question.

It was unrelated to anything they had discussed, and was utterly out of place.

“Did you have a drink, by any chance?”

For some reason, Reinhart seemed to be swaying slightly in the darkness, as if he was a little out of it.

At Heinrich’s question, Reinhart shook his head.

“It’s not alcohol... but something similar... Um, never mind.”

Reinhart widened his eyes as if trying to regain his composure.

“Stay alive, if you can.”

With that, Reinhart disappeared into the darkness.

Heinrich couldn’t tell how he vanished. He stood there, staring silently at the spot where Reinhart had been.

Reinhart had appeared suddenly and disappeared just as suddenly. Only then did Heinrich realize the absurdity of what he had experienced. The Demon King had come to him, offering help, and he had refused it.

Was all of this really happening? Heinrich was left in a daze for a while.

***

At a place far from the Allied Forces’ camp, beyond the reach of the guards...

“What happened?”

“He said he’d handle it himself.”

“Hmm... How, exactly?”

“That I don’t know.”

Sarkegar furrowed his brow.

I had been in a daze from the catnip in the Royal Class camp when Sarkegar approached me to report that something had happened.

It was an indescribably hellish feeling. It felt good, but so good that it felt bizarre. Who would have thought I’d get intoxicated by catnip one day? And why did that crazy Anna request such a thing to be supplied to the camp?

Anyway, now that the issue of Heinrich being an illegitimate child had surfaced, the situation was bound to escalate.

Heinrich had refused my offer to join. I had been contemplating how I would respond if he attacked me, but fortunately, that didn’t happen.

The Heinrich I saw had changed. The arrogant, insolent, and rude youngest prince of Kernstadt was no more. I didn’t know if it was just a natural change after going through difficult experiences, or if it was some other reason.

If he had made his choice out of arrogance, I would have used force to bring him with me. But Heinrich seemed to be thinking about others besides himself. He seemed to believe he had a role to play as part of the Allied Forces. Whether Heinrich’s choice was just bravado or something else, I didn’t know. But he seemed to believe he could handle whatever was to come.

I remembered the Scribe’s Advice. “Do nothing.”

Perhaps it meant that even if I tried to help Heinrich, he would refuse, rendering all my actions meaningless. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

“What will you do?” asked Sarkegar.

I crossed my arms.

His relationship with his siblings was already strained beyond repair. Heinrich had confirmation that he was an illegitimate child, and his other brothers were aware of it. Their mutual fear would soon manifest as aggression.

Heinrich could die, or he might end up killing them. Was division within the Allied Forces inevitable?

Should I have brought Heinrich back with me by force? I didn’t know. What was clear was that Heinrich had changed. His decision was one that only a more mature Heinrich could have made. He had become someone who could think about more than just personal survival. But could that change guarantee his survival?

Some things were uncertain, but these variables were not significant enough to significantly alter the situation. As long as Heinrich remained with the Allied Forces, those variables could not prevent the foreseen event from occurring.

If Heinrich killed his siblings, it would lead to more problems. If Heinrich survived and his three other siblings died, chaos would explode within the ranks of the Allied Forces, as expected.

Was it right to just watch? I now understood the Scribe’s Advice to “do nothing.” It meant Heinrich would refuse my help. But what about the other bit of advice—”How did Heinrich survive?” I still didn’t know what that ambiguous advice meant.

‘What does it mean...?’

“Let’s just observe the situation for now,” I said.

We had to avoid the worst case scenario. Heinrich had refused my help, but I would continue to observe the situation.

***

It was four days after the occupation of Senkerian. The Allied Forces were reorganizing for the next advance while revising their plans.

Reports had already reached the general staff of abnormal weather phenomena appearing along the way to their next destination, and that large groups of monsters had been almost wiped out by them. Because of these occurrences—events which most in the army were unaware of—the Allied Forces did not need to deploy large squads to conduct forward reconnaissance, scouting, or extermination operations as they usually did.

As a result, a significant number of troops could conserve their strength. Combat fatigue was a critical issue when it came to maintaining an army’s combat power. Thanks to the Demon King’s assistance, the Allied Forces were able to maintain their military strength.

Among those beneficiaries were Sabioleen Tana, Ellen Artorius, and, of course, those with supernatural power from the Temple. Thus, Heinrich von Schwartz had not received any significant call-ups for missions since the occupation of Senkerian, and was able to rest during this four-day reorganization period.

However, could it really be called rest? He had learned a truth he did not want to know—that he was an illegitimate child, and he had encountered someone in the camp who should never have been there at all.

His relationship with his brothers had soured, and an icy coldness permeated the air between them, though no one else in the command knew.

Heinrich had tried to be as polite as possible to his older brothers. Although they maintained a cold, disdainful, and mocking attitude, they still managed some small conversation. However, the silence among the four siblings was deadly. They all knew something. A division would soon occur.

It began with Louise von Schwartz. On the fifth day after the occupation of Senkerian, as the army was about to advance, Louise von Schwartz called all her younger brothers together.

“They say the area around Senkerian is ‘definitely’ secure. Once we start advancing, these days of peace will be over, so let’s take a look around.”

The other three remained silent.

“And there’s something we need to discuss,” Louise said to Heinrich, who nodded. He schooled his features into an expression of determination. They were going to discuss something heavy.

***

The area around Senkerian was indeed free of monsters. Although the city was not going to be rebuilt since there were no people around to live in it, it was enough that they had reduced the number of active warp gates on the continent.

The four siblings of the Schwartz royal family departed the camp on horseback to inspect the area around Senkerian without any attendants or retainers.

It was more of a leisurely outing than an inspection, but that was not the main point. They were going away to discuss a matter that was inappropriate in a place with many listening ears.

Was it really just a discussion? Heinrich played the scenario out in his mind.

Although his other two brothers could handle weapons, it didn’t matter much to Heinrich. The real threat was Louise von Schwartz—a genius with overwhelming talent and the captain of the Kernstadt royal knights.

Moreover, she had reached the Master class long ago. If she intended to kill him, could he handle it?

Heinrich knew that Louise von Schwartz wasn’t afraid to wield her sword on the battlefield. Having witnessed Ellen and Sabioleen Tana fighting multiple times, he understood how threatening a warrior who had reached Master class could be. Heinrich’s physical capabilities were not all that impressive.

If Louise von Schwartz drew her sword and tried to kill him, she could do so without much trouble. The problem was what would happen afterward. How would they explain the sudden death of Heinrich von Schwartz? How would they address the resulting drop in morale and the other issues that would arise?

Such a significant life could not be made to disappear that easily. It would not be easy for his siblings to make a move against him. Louise likely wouldn’t try to kill him during this excursion.

The area around Senkerian had already been cleared, so the excuse that monsters had suddenly appeared and killed Heinrich wouldn’t work at all. Louise von Schwartz could not make a move. In another place, and in another way, perhaps, but not that day.

Even so, despite saying that they were going to talk, Louise von Schwartz was silently leading the way on horseback, not saying anything.

Alphonse and German, too, remained silent, waiting for their sister to speak first. The silent ride out of Senkarian seemed to drag on forever.

Louise stopped and dismounted in front of an abandoned building. Her brothers exchanged quizzical glances.

“Dismount, all of you.”

The building, which might have been used as a barn before, was spacious. Since nothing had been discussed in advance, Heinrich and his two other brothers were equally bewildered.

Heinrich’s expression hardened as he stared at the dark entrance to the barn. He thought it wouldn’t be the case, but were they willing to accept whatever furore that might arise? Did they really see him as such a significant threat?

Heinrich quietly observed as his two brothers dismounted with meaningful smiles.

Louise’s cold gaze fixed itself on Heinrich.

“I told you to dismount.”

“Yes.”

If a fight broke out, what would his first move be? Heinrich dismounted, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest.

‘Would it have been right to have followed Reinhart?’ he thought, but it was meaningless now.

Regretting not taking the hand that had been offered to him was just foolish. Did he have to kill to survive, then? If he had to act, wasn’t it better to strike first? He had to subdue Louise von Schwartz before the other two.

His opponents had their backs to him. If he was going to make a move, there was no better moment than now. Heinrich quietly followed behind, preparing to use his power.

To survive, he had to kill.

They stepped into the barn, and shock evaporated all the other thoughts in his mind. There were people inside.

His brothers let out surprised exclamations.

“W-What is this...?”

Five people were there, bound and gagged, kneeling on the ground. Louise von Schwartz drew her sword.

“Alphonse. German.”

Louise von Schwartz looked at the two of them.

“You recognize who they are, don’t you?”

“S-Sister...”

“Sister, what is the meaning of this? Why are they here...?”

Heinrich didn’t know who the bound and kneeling people were, but it was clear that Alphonse and German recognized them.

Louise von Schwartz held her sword as she looked coldly down at the trembling, terrified people in front of her.

Slice!

The sword, imbued with blue mana, mercilessly sliced through one neck. Heinrich could only watch in shock as blood spurted from the wound.

After slicing through one neck, Louise looked calmly at Heinrich. Heinrich, as well as Alphonse and German, didn’t understand what was happening.

“Youngest. You are indeed a bastard.”

Slice!

A second neck was severed.

Two lives were ended in quick succession. The remaining people, with their mouths gagged, began to wail like beasts, but Louise did not stop. She did not glance at the dying or soon-to-be dead, but kept her eyes on Heinrich.

He was indeed a bastard. That had already been confirmed. So why was she bringing it up again?

“But do you know whose bastard you are?” Louise said as her sword struck a third neck.

“S-Sister?”

“Sister...? What are you talking about...?”

Both Alphonse and German couldn’t hide their confusion. It was a strange and incomprehensible statement—her words did not match the situation at all.

Heinrich was left in shock.

“Youngest. You are a bastard.”

Heinrich’s lips turned pale. “S-Sister...?”

“Not father’s, but mine.”

Slice!

Her sword passed through the necks of the last two victims in quick succession.

Louise von Schwartz looked over at the stunned Heinrich, her eyes wide open. “You are my son.”

Louise glanced over at the bewildered German and Alphonse.

“Yes, you wouldn’t have known. I deliberately hid it, so you two couldn’t have known. I had to keep it a secret... It was a promise I shared with Father... I kept it a secret, so that Heinrich wouldn’t be killed. I couldn’t tell anyone. So, Alphonse, German. I had no choice but to go along with your antics... Yes, all this time. I’ve been doing that...”

Her eyes grew sorrowful. “But in the end. You both tried so hard to kill my son. You two.”

The people she had just executed were assassins within the Kernstadt army who had been ordered to kill Heinrich in the past few days.

“I believed you two wouldn’t do such a thing, no matter how much you two hated him, no matter how much you two despised him. I thought you two would never demand such a thing...”

Heinrich was rooted in place with shock, and Alphonse and German, who had learned the truth about the bastard, were pale as they faced their sister’s cold gaze.

“If killing you two is the only way for our youngest brother... No, for Heinrich, my son, to live, then I must do it. I can no longer just watch.”

“Sister, sister, something... Something is wrong here... Something... S-Something...”

“This is absurd. This is absurd, sister! What are you... What are you trying to do...?!”

“If I have to kill someone to protect someone, then I must accept that burden now.” Louise von Schwartz, the Swordmaster, approached her two brothers. “Even if they are my brothers who share my blood.”

Heinrich, in shock, watched the brutal execution unfold.

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