Demon King of the Royal Class-Chapter 602

Ellen didn’t bother explaining anything to the bewildered staff at the management office of the Imperial National Cemetery. They were better off not knowing; it was safer that way.

After leaving the cemetery, she dusted off her clothes, her mind as unsettled as the staff she’d left behind.

Everyone was confused.

“I still can’t figure out everything,” Ellen admitted, feeling the weight of her own confusion. “But a few things are starting to make sense. The Empire definitely had a hand in the swapping of corpses—or at least knew something about it. That much is certain.”

While it wasn’t clear if the Empire was behind everything that was going on, it seemed unlikely it was unaware of what was happening at the national cemetery.

Ellen looked up at the snowy sky, feeling the pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place.

Some of the clues might be misleading, but others were leading her closer to the truth.

“Now I understand why Archbishop Rowen approached you,” Ellen said, turning to Ludwig.

“You understand...?” Ludwig echoed, puzzled.

“Yes,” Ellen replied.

They initially had all sorts of theories about Rowen’s intentions. Ellen had even thought she knew the cause of the Gate Incident and was either trying to harm Ellen through Ludwig, or to do something to eradicate the Hero Cult, which was unrelated to the current situation. However, with the new possibility of the Empire’s involvement, Ellen saw Rowen’s actions in a new light.

“She wasn’t trying to use you to get to me and harm me. She wanted to use you to investigate this issue.”

Rowen’s actions were all aimed at uncovering the truth about the incident in the underground tomb of the saints.

Ludwig struggled to understand the meaning behind Ellen’s words.

“Use me to investigate this incident...? How could I...?”

“It wasn’t about you being my classmate,” Ellen explained, pointing to the south of the capital.

Something significant lay beyond, obscured by the swirling snow.

“It was because you’re a Temple student. That was what mattered.”

The Temple...

“Very few can enter the Temple.”

Those who could move freely in and out of Temple did not realize how difficult it was to gain access, or how it was nearly impossible to infiltrate it. Access to the Temple was always tightly controlled, even when it had been fully operational.

“Rowen wanted to use you to learn what was happening inside the Temple,” Ellen continued.

Rowen had approached Ludwig because she herself couldn’t enter the Temple.

“Wait, wait... What does the Temple have to do with this incident?” Ludwig asked, bewildered.

Ellen sighed softly. “Let’s go to the magic department of the university,” she said, starting to walk. “Then, you’ll understand.”

Now that they were close to uncovering the truth, the meaning behind the clues became clearer. The puzzle pieces were forming a nearly complete picture.

Their destination was obvious: The magic department of the Temple University.

She could now deduce what the guards, who had seemed to be protecting a significant secret, were doing there.

Louise followed Ellen, her expression tense for a different reason.

‘How am I here...?’ she wondered.

If something was happening at the Temple and access was so tightly controlled, why had she been allowed in? She might learn the Empire’s weaknesses or secrets, and in fact, it seemed she was on the brink of discovering them.

Why had she been let in? Louise couldn’t understand it at all, but ultimately, the path ahead was clear.

“Wait.” Louise suddenly halted, her thoughts crystallizing into a firm resolve.

Ellen, Heinrich, and Ludwig turned to her, sensing the gravity of her expression.

“If what we’re chasing is truly at the magic department of the Temple University... and if the Empire is behind all this... does that mean they killed Archbishop Rowen?”

“Probably.”

“The Empire... killed the priestess?”

The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, each revelation bringing them closer to the truth.

“Rowen must have discovered the Empire’s involvement in the incident at the Tomb of the Saints. She must have realized something was amiss at the Temple and reached out to Ludwig.”

Rowen had uncovered something significant, and sought to conduct an investigation within the Temple through Ludwig.

“The Empire caught wind of her intentions and silenced Rowen and everyone at the Inquisition’s temple.”

An inquisitor getting too close to forbidden truths had left the Empire with no choice but to act.

Yet, it was baffling why the Empire would take such a drastic step as to desecrate the tombs of the saints of the Order of the Holy Knights. But with so many clues pointing to the Empire as the mastermind, doubt was no longer an option.

“This means the Empire is already aware of our movements, since we visited the university yesterday.”

“Yes.”

Although they had visited for a different reason, the moment they had approached the university’s magic department to find Anna de Gerna, everything would have become clear to the Empire.

“From the moment we decided to investigate, the Empire might have been tracking our every move.”

“That could also be true...”

If the Empire was indeed at the heart of this conspiracy, they would have been monitoring their every step.

The capital was the Empire’s stronghold, and the Temple was its core. They had been warned that the perpetrators who killed Rowen might target them, so caution was paramount.

From the moment they embarked on this investigation, though, the Empire would have been aware of their actions.

Visiting the burned temple, the main temple of the Order of the Holy Knights, the university, and the national cemetery—they would have been under surveillance all this time. And now, they were closing in on the truth.

“Because you’re involved, they couldn’t act against us... Is that it?”

If the perpetrator indeed turned out to be the Empire, they couldn’t touch Ellen, because Ellen was Ellen. Her presence might have meant the Empire could not act against them.

Louise had already committed to this cause, and was ready to face the risks. But from her perspective, this would be a direct confrontation with the Empire.

There was no turning back now. The Empire had been watching from the beginning.

A murder investigation and the safety of the Hero... Those were her priorities, but now she realized she was entangled in a matter that could determine the fate of the Schwartz royal family as well.

Ellen considered Louise, who all of a sudden was grappling with this enormous decision.

“I’ll protect you,” she said with quiet determination.

“You will?” Louise asked, surprised.

“Yes.” Ellen nodded slowly.

Louise had said that whatever Ellen did was humanity’s work.

Ellen understood the risks Louise had taken to help her. Therefore, Ellen would protect Louise, who had supported her so selflessly. She would also strive to protect the Schwartz royal family.

All four of them were returning to Temple to uncover one of the Empire’s significant secrets.

The Temple was their home, but now, knowing the dangers lurking there, they were returning with a renewed sense of purpose.

***

Upon returning to Temple, the four headed straight to the magic department of the university.

They had a clear goal: they needed to see firsthand what was unfolding there.

The place, which was a restricted area for entirely different reasons, was intricately linked to the incident they were investigating.

As snow accumulated around them, they walked the broad path leading to the Temple University.

The entire Temple felt deserted. Not a soul was in sight.

Then, in a place where no one should have been, someone stood out.

Amidst the falling snow, a lone figure sat quietly, an umbrella resting on their shoulder.

“Dame Tana.”

Sabioleen Tana sat alone on a bench, silently watching Ellen and her companions approach.

Without a word, she rose from the bench. It felt as if she had been waiting, somehow knowing they would come.

“Did you know I would come?” Ellen asked.

“I hoped you wouldn’t,” Sabioleen Tana replied softly, her gaze fixed steadily on Ellen. “If you’ve returned here, it means you’ve already uncovered something.”

If they were still in the dark, they wouldn’t have retraced their steps and come back to the university’s magic department. They would only have returned if they’d discovered something and realized there was more. That was why Sabioleen Tana was there, guarding the path, hoping Ellen wouldn’t come.

“If I told you not to investigate any further, you’d know the Empire was involved. So I hoped you wouldn’t find out. I hoped you’d get lost in the pile of clues scattered about... but... Just three days. It only took you three days.”

Sabioleen Tana exhaled a breath, which misted in the cold air. “You’re too quick, Ellen.”

Sabioleen Tana seemed saddened that Ellen had so quickly uncovered a truth she shouldn’t have. However, she couldn’t only admire Ellen’s remarkable skill and determination. She turned her attention from Ellen to the person beside her, Louise von Schwartz.

“Your Highness.”

“...”

“I didn’t expect you to repay His Majesty’s kindness in this way.”

Louise von Schwartz stared at Sabioleen Tana, her eyes going wide.

The emperor’s kindness wasn’t just confined to allowing her to enter the Temple. It had been the emperor who had directly advised her to eliminate her siblings to save Heinrich. Ignoring such kindness and coming here to expose the Empire’s secret... Sabioleen Tana was questioning the righteousness of her actions.

Louise furrowed her brow. “I know I’m not in a position to speak of benevolence and humanity.”

From the moment she killed her siblings, she had already severed all familial bonds.

“But you know well enough that I didn’t come here just to expose the Empire’s weaknesses, don’t you, Dame Tana?”

The manipulation of the corpses of the fallen was something entirely different from merely exposing the Empire’s vulnerabilities. At the very least, they needed to understand what was happening.

Sabioleen Tana glanced at Heinrich and Ludwig standing behind her.

“Whatever you saw was a mere coincidence, whatever you know is a misunderstanding, and whatever you imagined is a delusion. I know it’s hard to accept, but accept it in that way. Even if you know the truth, you can’t change anything, so it’s better to live without that knowledge. In this world, there are things that hurt to know. There are things that make you sadder to know.”

“Ellen, you know that well,” she continued. “There’s nothing more you need to know. Just accept it that way and step back. If you find out, you’ll only have to share a burden that’s already hard to bear, and there’s no need for that, is there?”

Ellen’s eyes widened.

Things that hurt to know. Things that would only deepen one’s sadness. In this world, there was nothing but those things.

Ellen’s mind was filled with nothing but distressing matters, nothing but painful truths.

It wasn’t that nothing was happening. Something was definitely happening. Something terrible had already happened, and was still happening. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

If knowing the truth would only cause her to share in the guilt, then it was better not to know.

But the suggestion to turn away without knowing anything... Ellen was already burdened with too many sad truths, but she still hesitated at Sabioleen Tana’s sincere request.

Despite her firm attitude, Sabioleen Tana was clearly pleading with all her heart for Ellen and the others to step back.

“You know I can’t just go back...” Ludwig murmured, his voice hollow. “What are you doing with those people... those poor souls who already suffered in life, and now can’t even find eternal rest in death? Why do you have to go that far?”

“I can’t justify it. I won’t even try,” Sabioleen Tana replied, her tone cold and steady.

She stood in the middle of the main road, umbrella in hand. As the only Grandmaster on the continent, her martial prowess was unmatched, even surpassing Ellen Artorius, the Hero.

Despite not possessing any holy relics, she had completed more perilous missions than Ellen, who wielded two.

“This is something you shouldn’t know. It’s better if you don’t. When the truth comes out, your ignorance will protect you,” Tana said.

“Are you saying that if we knew, we would have no choice but to stay silent?” Ellen asked.

Tana nodded. “Yes. We’re doing something that can’t be pushed aside. It’s better not to know and avoid unnecessary guilt. I’m saying this not for my sake or the Empire’s, but yours.”

Knowing would only burden them with guilt and responsibility. When the truth was finally revealed, ignorance would shield them from blame.

Should they find out the truth, and be forced to become silent accomplices? Or remain blissfully unaware until the truth surfaced?

A hero shouldn’t be tainted by such knowledge. A hero was the embodiment of the hope of humanity, untainted by evil. It was better not to know.

“You know,” Ellen said quietly, “not knowing won’t spare me from guilt. And you know I’m not the type to run. I’ve already had to face so many painful truths. How much harder could it be to hear people keep calling me a hero... when it’s already so exhausting?”

“So, it doesn’t matter if I learn a little more,” Ellen continued, her tone growing insistent. “Step aside, Dame Tana. I need to know what’s happening.”

Louise listened quietly to Ellen’s poignant words.

Truths that shouldn’t be known.

Exoneration.

The hidden secrets of the Gate Incident.

Louise and Heinrich couldn’t help but realize exactly what Ellen was speaking about.