Demon King of the Royal Class-Chapter 577

It wasn’t big news, as it was already rather well-known that the Demon King had infiltrated the Temple as a student, and the fact that he had been in the same grade as the emperor, the princess, and the hero highlighted the Demon King’s malicious and sinister nature.

The Demon King had observed the most important people in the Empire up close and learned about the Empire. He had even attempted to subtly sway the prince and the princess to his side.

However, the Demon King’s identity had been exposed in the end, and those who had been swayed by him and dared to betray humanity had rescued him from captivity and fled.

The Demon King’s true purpose remained unknown, but he had triggered the Gate Incident to annihilate humanity.

The Demon King’s loyal followers were those who betrayed humanity.

And among the second-year Royal Class students, some, including Ellen, had become incredibly important figures.

The emperor, Vertus de Gradias.

The hero of humanity, Ellen Artorius.

Adelia, who had created the Power Cartridge and Titan.

Heinrich, the pyrokinetic.

Cristina, the inventor of Moonshine.

Ludwig had never been particularly conscious of being in the same class as them, but upon witnessing Rowen’s shock, he realized anew that his classmates, even excluding the Demon King and Ellen, were formidable people who were not often discussed.

Rowen’s eyes were fixed on Ludwig, unable to contain her curiosity despite her fear.

“What kind of being was the Demon King?”

Ludwig hesitated before answering.

What kind of being was Reinhart?

During Ludwig’s freshman year, Reinhart had been part of Class A, but was an average student at best.

Ludwig couldn’t be sure if that had been a facade hiding his true power, or if it had been his genuine self.

Although they had not been in the same class, Ludwig had seen various sides of the Demon King. He was of a violent and rough nature, but it was difficult to say that he was evil.

However, the dawning of the Gate Incident made Reinhart an entity that couldn’t be anything but evil.

“I... don’t really know.”

Even though they had spent time together, Ludwig felt he knew nothing about Reinhart, which made him feel pathetic.

“I thought I knew a little, but now I realize I didn’t know even that little bit.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Ludwig stared blankly at the ashen winter sky.

“However, I hope that the Demon King will someday, inevitably...”

As someone weak and defeated, there was only one thing he could hope for.

“I just hope he pays for all the things he’s done.”

A curse, and a desperate wish for divine justice that might never come—that was all he had.

***

Rowen and Ludwig passed through the barricade and stepped into the quarantined area, both wearing masks.

The area plagued by the epidemic was under strict control. Rowen showed some sort of token, and the guards let them pass without resistance.

Ludwig couldn’t help but stare.

“Though I see this often because of my work, I can never get used to it,” Rowen said.

The plague-stricken area had a distinctly different atmosphere from the rest of the camp.

Gloom and despair hung around the whole refugee camp, but here, the smell of death was palpable in the cold air.

Guards were pulling carts filled with emaciated corpses, heading in the direction from which gray smoke rose.

Ludwig had imagined the epidemic to be some sort of terrifying and grotesque plague that spread like wildfire, consuming people.

However, the corpses showed no signs of such a plague. They were simply the bodies of those who had become too weak and died from a disease that was still mild.

The problem wasn’t the lethality of the disease itself, but the frailty of the people.

Ludwig watched with a grim expression as those who had died from seemingly insignificant illnesses were loaded onto carts and disappeared.

Since the entire area was under quarantine, even those not yet infected would soon catch the illness and die.

Such scenes were likely occurring not only here but throughout the rest of the unnaturally massive refugee camps in the capital.

Even if this area were purified, it wouldn’t end. New epidemics would continue to arise, and unless the underlying issues were resolved, people would keep dying from trivial diseases.

“What should we do now...?”

“We’ll walk the streets and offer prayers of purification. Just stay close to me.”

“Is that alright? What if someone sees you praying...?”

Indeed, the priests of Ouen were not well-liked. That was why they had to come to such areas without wearing priestly robes, as if on a secret mission.

At Ludwig’s mention of potential danger, Rowen shook her head.

“Sir Ludwig,” she said.

“Yes, Priestess?”

“Do you think there is anyone here with enough strength left to grab me by the collar? If there were, it would actually be a relief.”

“Ah...”

“Extreme situations are rare. You probably won’t have to step in, Sir Ludwig,” Rowen reassured him with a smile. Though they had faced problems before, such incidents were not common.

Most people didn’t even have the strength left to express their hatred or anger through violence. If anyone did, they could have simply carried Rowen away and escaped.

“And I won’t exactly be singing hymns out loud. Most people would just think I’m some crazy woman muttering to herself,” Rowen said playfully, trying to reassure Ludwig. Despite the grim situation, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

But it wasn’t a joke—it was the truth. Ludwig watched as Rowen wandered the eerie streets, head bowed, quietly muttering prayers.

Just as she said, she looked no more than a madwoman who had lost her mind.

***

There was no brilliant white light or gentle golden glow. Rowen simply walked between the corpses that were yet to be processed and the shanties filled with the sound of dry coughs, murmuring an unknown prayer.

The murmuring might sound ominous to anyone who overheard it, but if they listened to it closely, it was clearly a purification prayer to the God of Purity, Ouen.

The only thing that assured them that something was working was the slow disappearance of the stench that filled the streets, even in this cold weather.

Rowen walked carefully, step by step, reciting the prayer.

Although another epidemic might break out in a different area later, the dreadful disease along this street would surely vanish, and the sick would be healed.

—The will of purity that rejects corruption, decay, and nightmares...

Ludwig suddenly found the whole situation strange. The epidemic that had claimed so many lives, seemingly without reason, even though it wasn’t a deadly disease, was being dispelled by a single prayer by a single priestess. It seemed incredible.

How was this possible? Was this the power and miracle of the gods?

Even if people felt betrayed by two of the Five Great Gods and denied them, the power bestowed by the gods was absurdly beneficial to humanity.

Suddenly, Ludwig realized that no matter how this situation unfolded, if humanity survived, the people would inevitably come back to their faith to receive the power and grace of Ouen and Alse, because the power of the gods was eternal.

Divine Power was fundamentally different from any other action that used mana as a resource.

Although the capacity of Divine Power each priest could wield varied, Divine Power seemed to require no price.

Just like the mysterious nature of supernatural power, Divine Power was a miracle performed without cost, manifested solely through the act of belief.

Regardless of the intent of the subject, there was no reason not to praise a being that bestowed such immense and benevolent power without cost.

Why would the gods, capable of performing such great miracles, choose these kinds of beings?

The prayer was long.

The area afflicted by the epidemic was vast, and Rowen walked very slowly as she prayed. Ludwig’s patrol, which had started in the morning, stretched on until dusk, with no time even for lunch.

As Rowen had said at the start, the refugees—too exhausted even to fight—did not have the energy to pay much attention to her.

The purification work was completed without any problems.

“It seems like it’s finally somewhat finished... Ahem. Ugh... Ahem!”

Rowen’s voice was almost gone after reciting prayers for eight hours straight. It sounded hoarse and slightly metallic. It was inevitable, as she had prayed for eight hours without even drinking a sip of water.

She could have used her power to heal her throat, but perhaps to avoid drawing more attention, Rowen simply cleared her throat and coughed a few times.

Ludwig watched her blankly, wondering if this was what she had to do all the time.

Rowen stretched her arms wide.

“Ugh! Mmm...! Oh, dear, I’m making strange noises... Anyway, it’s fortunate nothing unexpected happened today.”

“Yes... You worked hard today, Priestess.”

Rowen looked at Ludwig, looking slightly tired. “By the way... What were you thinking about for so long, Ludwig?”

Perhaps she had noticed the complicated expression on his face even while praying.

There had been no particular incidents or threats, yet Ludwig had felt troubled all the while he stayed by Rowen’s side.

He had witnessed the greatness of the gods—and also the unfathomable nature of their power. It had stirred in him a strange mixture of fear, despair, and hope. It was as if he had somehow glimpsed the true nature of the gods.

“The gods are so benevolent... But then, why did they choose the Demon King?”

The Five Great Gods, who granted the power to perform such wonderful miracles without cost... Why would they choose the Demon King, the one who had brought such great calamity and despair to the world?

And not just one god, but both Alse and Ouen?

No matter how much Ludwig pondered, he couldn’t understand it. The gods seemed kind, yet from a broader perspective, it seemed as if they desired even greater suffering.

Like many others, Ludwig saw both grace and despair in the gods’ costless power.

Rowen remained silent, quietly watching him.

“Ludwig, no one can fathom the mind of the gods,” she finally said.

“...”

“They see what we cannot see and know what we do not know.”

Various arguments had been set forth by those who still remained faithful to the Church to justify the choices of Alse and Ouen.

The main argument was that the gods were never wrong. Therefore, the events unfolding now would ultimately lead to good, all according to the gods’ design.

Even the Demon King’s evil deeds had to ultimately bring about a greater good. The fact that two holy relics had been bestowed upon him did not mean he was a righteous being. His arrogance in wielding the relics was said to be part of the gods’ plan, and in the end, the Demon King would face ruin.

The Church of the Five Great Gods put forth many arguments to support the just nature of the gods and the wrongness of the Demon King.

The general consensus was that all these events were part of a divine design, and the Demon King was merely a pawn in the gods’ hands.

Eventually, he would pay for his arrogance and cruelty, suffering eternal torment under the gods’ judgment after death.

In the end, the outcome would be for humanity’s benefit.

No one knew exactly what that outcome would be, but because the gods were great, they had to have a plan, though such faith may seem like an irresponsible hope.

“Does this mean all of this is the gods’ plan...? That all these events will somehow end up being beneficial to humanity...?”

What kind of goodness could be achieved through such terrible despair and death? Ludwig couldn’t possibly know.

Ludwig’s words were filled with resentment.

Rowen inclined her head slightly. “I’m not so sure,” she replied.

Ludwig was stunned. “Pardon?”

“I’m not sure myself.”

Ludwig was dumbfounded by her somewhat innocent attitude.

“A beneficial conclusion? Beneficial to humanity...?”

Rowen shook her head slightly. “So many have died. To believe that all of this will somehow lead to goodness... I can’t claim to understand the will of the gods, but isn’t that unlikely?”

In truth, her words echoed Ludwig’s own thoughts. So much tragedy had already unfolded that no future outcome could possibly justify it all. An ultimate good that reversed the weight of so much loss—it seemed impossible.

It felt as though the very person who was supposed to have insisted on a hopeful conclusion was instead suggesting that these events would only bring more sorrow.

“Ludwig,” Rowen said softly, “isn’t believing that the gods always strive for the good of humanity... actually a form of presuming to know their will?”

Ludwig couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Sorry?”

“Is there any reason the gods shouldn’t desire the extinction of humanity?”

“W-what are you trying to say...?”

The young priestess smiled innocently. “The world, and humanity, are merely byproducts of the gods. Whether they choose to grant power to such byproducts freely, or to cast them aside, is entirely up to the gods’ will.”

“What? What are you saying, Priestess...?” Ludwig asked, stunned.

“I’m saying that the gods might actually desire the destruction of humanity.”

Ludwig flinched at her words.

“To believe that the gods always pursue goodness... or that their choices are always for the sake of humanity—isn’t that belief itself a kind of blasphemy?” she continued.

In that moment, Ludwig realized something painfully obvious.

“The good that the gods pursue might not be what humanity percieves as good. The gods never claimed it was, did they?”

In a situation like this...

In an environment like this...

In a reality like this...

A priestess who still clung to the Order of Ouen couldn’t possibly be in her right mind.