Demon King of the Royal Class-Chapter 645

Ludwig returned from his brief walk, his mind still buzzing with worry.

He had just visited the university’s magic department, but the trip had been quick. His anxiety wouldn’t let him stay away for long.

Scarlett was in a precarious situation. He had asked her to follow his instructions without fully explaining the circumstances, leaving her understandably confused. It was only fair to give her some time to process everything, but he couldn’t afford to wait too long.

Back at the Temple dormitory, Ludwig approached Scarlett’s door and knocked gently.

“Scarlett, it’s me,” he called softly.

He stood there, waiting in the silence, but no response came.

Was she somewhere else, lost in thought, instead of being in her room?

Knock, knock.

“Scarlett.”

Ludwig knocked again, but there was no response.

He stood quietly in front of the door, waiting for an answer.

Knock, knock.

And then, a third time.

Ludwig’s expression had already turned grim. He already knew the truth. There had been no sign of anyone inside the room to begin with. He had sensed that Scarlett wasn’t inside, but he had still knocked on the door, just in case.

A chilling thought crept into his mind, growing wild and unchecked.

‘Could it be? No, it couldn’t. Absolutely not. Scarlett wouldn’t do that.’

Ludwig repeated these words to himself, as if trying to cast a spell of reassurance.

His eyes slowly descended into the depths of despair.

What was he supposed to do now?

‘What should I do? What should Scarlett do?

No. What should I do with Scarlett?’

And so, just as the ominous shadow cast over his heart began to turn into the thought that he had to make a dire choice...

“Ludwig.”

He turned his head toward the unexpected presence approaching him from the lobby, not the room inside.

Scarlett was walking toward him, dragging a large suitcase behind her.

“I had some things to pack,” Scarlett said softly, her voice barely reaching Ludwig’s ears.

He moved toward her, almost as if in a trance.

Scarlett was taken aback by the urgency in his stride.

His face was set in a grim, almost frightening mask, and she instinctively stepped back.

“Ludwig...? Why do you look like that...?”

Without warning, Ludwig pulled her into a fierce embrace.

Scarlett was understandably bewildered by Ludwig’s sudden embrace.

“L-Ludwig? Why... What’s this all about?” she stammered.

“Thank goodness,” he murmured.

“Sorry?”

“Thank goodness,” he repeated.

Scarlett could vividly sense Ludwig’s heart pounding fiercely, as if it might burst out of his chest. She couldn’t understand what had brought him such relief or why he was so thankful.

“Thank goodness...” he whispered again. “Really... Thank goodness...”

Scarlett didn’t fully understand what was going on, but somehow, she felt a connection, and she couldn’t help but tremble a little as well.

“U-um... C-calm down. Calm down, Ludwig... I’m not going anywhere.”

Scarlett gently patted Ludwig’s back, offering him reassurance as she held him close. She couldn’t see how violently his eyes were quivering.

“Thank goodness... Scarlett...”

Ludwig kept repeating her name like a mantra, his voice tinged with relief.

He didn’t have to think or imagine the worst anymore.

Scarlett hadn’t vanished as his anxious mind had feared. She had simply gone to retrieve something, which was now in the large suitcase behind her.

“You said there’s no time,” Scarlett said. “Let’s go right away.”

“Ah... Ah, yes. Yes. Let’s go, Scarlett.”

The large suitcase she was bringing with her was a clear sign that she intended to follow Ludwig’s lead. To reassure him, Scarlett gently patted his back to show that she wasn’t planning on leaving.

She had packed her things without asking questions or hesitating, yet Ludwig couldn’t shake the fear that Scarlett might disappear. He had spent time contemplating what he would do if she vanished or had a change of heart.

For a fleeting moment, he had doubted Scarlett, despite her clear willingness to follow his instructions, and he had moved from doubt to a place of fearful imagination.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Scarlett. I’m sorry, I’m really sorry... I’m so sorry...”

“No, no, Ludwig. It’s okay... it’s okay...”

As Ludwig began to apologize out of nowhere, Scarlett pulled him closer, holding him even tighter.

In their embrace, Scarlett couldn’t see the fear in Ludwig’s eyes, just as he couldn’t see the pained expression on her face.

‘I’m... I’m more sorry, Ludwig...’ she thought.

***

Scarlett hadn’t vanished; she had simply stepped out for a moment to gather her belongings. And sensing Ludwig’s anxiety, she suggested they leave right away.

Without hesitation, Ludwig and Scarlett exited the Royal Class dormitory and made their way outside the Temple. Though Ludwig was relieved that his worst fears hadn’t come true, his curiosity lingered.

“So, what did you go out to get?” he asked.

If there was anything to pack, wouldn’t it just be clothes?

Clothes would be in Scarlett’s private room, yet she appeared from the lobby.

“Oh, I went to get some books from the library. Although you haven’t told me anything, it was clear I’d be away for a long time.”

“Books... I see... right...”

Even though he hadn’t offered her a clear explanation, she seemed to understand that they would be leaving the Temple for a long while and heading to an unfamiliar place. It made sense to Ludwig that she thought to bring some books to pass the time.

“You’ll return them for me, won’t you?” Scarlett asked, a playful glint in her eyes.

Her casual comment about returning borrowed library books seemed out of place, but it was her way of feigning nonchalance.

Ludwig couldn’t help but respond with a wry smile. “I’ll return them, and bring you anything you need.”

“You’re saying it doesn’t have to be just books, right?”

“Of course.”

In a world where resources were scarce, he was determined to bring her anything he could manage.

Naturally, he felt grateful to her. How could he not be, when she was quietly going along with his suggestion to find a place to hide just because someone might try to exploit her power?

“But what about the cat? You could bring it along.”

Ludwig was puzzled that Scarlett hadn’t brought the cat she had taken on a walk earlier. Wouldn’t it be fine since it was just a cat? After all, she was facing a lonely existence.

“It’s not my cat; it was just playing with me for a bit. Wouldn’t it be better for it to stay at the Temple dormitory? It would probably hate being taken to a strange place all of a sudden.”

“Ah... I see. You just got back, didn’t you, Scarlett?”

“That’s right.”

Ludwig nodded, understanding that whisking the cat away just because it was adorable would likely upset it.

Scarlett remained quiet as they approached the Temple entrance.

A person who said nothing, and a person who told blatant lies. Which was worse?

Scarlett believed it was the latter.

***

As soon as they stepped outside the Temple, Scarlett encountered a mage in a robe. The mage’s robe was a simple gray, plain and featureless.

Scarlett didn’t ask Ludwig any questions, and Ludwig was silently thankful for her silence.

But Scarlett already knew who stood before her.

No, the term “who” wasn’t appropriate. She knew the right term was “what.”

An army of the dead.

Before she understood its nature, it had been shrouded in mystery. But now that she knew what it was, the thought of confronting it sent chills down her spine.

In a desperate bid to end the war, the Empire had turned to dangerous magic, and what stood before her was just a fraction of the consequences.

Flash!

With a burst of teleportation magic, Scarlett found herself in a room she had never seen before.

She hadn’t been transported to a street, but was inside a room within some building.

She glanced around the spacious yet unfamiliar surroundings.

It didn’t take long for her to grasp the room’s distinctive character.

There were no windows.

Scarlett couldn’t tell if they were underground or above ground.

“Ludwig, where... is this?” she asked, unsure if they were still in the capital or in another city altogether.

In response, Ludwig gently placed his hands on her shoulders. “Scarlett.”

“Yes?”

“Just wait a little. I promise I won’t keep you here for long.”

Rather than answering her question, he offered her a promise.

Ludwig’s words said it all. They implied that she would have to live like a prisoner.

In the end, under the guise of protecting his friend, he was essentially confining her in an unknown place until everything was resolved.

Ludwig explained various things about the place to Scarlett.

If she needed anything or if something happened, she was to inform the person guarding the door outside. And he assured her that food and other necessities were fully prepared.

“So, you’re saying... I shouldn’t ever leave this place... right?”

Ludwig lowered his eyes. “I’m sorry, it’s all to protect you...”

He trailed off. He couldn’t stand himself, mouthing empty apologies while imprisoning his friend.

“I’m sorry.”

“It can’t be helped, I guess.”

Scarlett’s words echoed with a haunting familiarity, reminiscent of something Ludwig had once said.

***

Ludwig left.

In the end, Ludwig couldn’t spend much time with Scarlett.

He was part of the army known as the Immortals.

Scarlett finally realized that the support unit he had mentioned was actually this army. Ludwig was likely not stationed at the rear but fighting on the front lines, in the most perilous places.

Both the Demon King and Ludwig did what they could.

And Scarlett, too, had chosen what she believed she had to do.

She was in a room without windows.

The room was spacious, equipped with a bathroom, and seemed to have all the necessities for comfortable living. Yet, despite its size, Scarlett found the room’s appearance unsettling.

There were no iron bars or anything like that, and at first glance, the furniture was crafted from luxurious materials. But there was a distinct feeling about the windowless design, which made it unclear whether it was above or below ground, combined with the soundproofing.

While it did not resemble a typical prison cell, it was unmistakably a room designed to confine a person. A prison meant for someone for whom it was difficult to treat as an actual prisoner.

Who could such a room have been intended for before the Gate Incident? Scarlett didn’t know. All she knew was that she had to accept and endure what had already happened.

She opened her suitcase and began organizing her clothes. It seemed she would be staying here for a while. Her suitcase contained more books than clothes.

Among the assortment of books were professional texts, novels, and volumes of history. There was even a dictionary. She had brought them along to help pass the time, she explained. Honestly, it seemed like it would take years to get through them all.

Alone in the room, Scarlett picked up one of the ordinary-looking novels and opened it. But instead of a story, she found something unexpected. She turned the pages one by one. Each one was covered in formulas and diagrams.

[Teleport]

[Mass Teleport]

[Noise Canceling]

.

.

.

The book wasn’t some fictional story; it was filled with magic scrolls.

“I’m sorry, Ludwig,” Scarlett whispered, her voice barely audible in the quiet room.

She gently closed the scroll book, cleverly disguised as a novel, and slipped it back into the pile of books in her suitcase.

Ludwig believed he had imprisoned her in an unknown location, but in truth, it was all part of a larger plan.

The first piece of the puzzle was the scroll book she had received from the Demon King. The second was a purple brooch she now held, its cool surface resting in her palm.

When the time was right, the Demon King would send a signal, and she would have to fulfill her part of the bargain.

“...”

Scarlett’s hands were clammy with cold sweat, a testament to the gravity of the situation.

***

“I’ll help you.” 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

After giving it much thought, Scarlett had decided to stand with me.

Honestly, I hadn’t expected her to take my side.

But as Scarlett once pointed out, there would always be people who won’t understand you, just as there were those who will.

Scarlett was one of the latter.

Once back in Rajak, I talked things over with Charlotte and Harriet.

“Wouldn’t it have been better to bring her here?” Harriet asked, her brows knitting together with concern.

She seemed uneasy about leaving Scarlett behind, especially after we’d given her a scroll book and a signaling device.

Regardless of whether Scarlett could be of use or not, leaving her behind was dangerous once she had decided to help us.

“I thought so too,” I said in agreement.

“Did she insist on staying?” Charlotte asked.

“Yeah,” I replied.

Even though I had handed over the artifacts to her, like Harriet, I believed it would have been better to bring Scarlett back to join us.

Charlotte bit her lip. She had been the closest to Scarlett in Class B, and she seemed more worried about Scarlett’s safety than upset about the possibility of never seeing her again.

“It’s dangerous, but Scarlett made the wise decision,” Charlotte admitted, despite her unease. She had to acknowledge that, given the circumstances, Scarlett had made the best choice.

I remembered what Scarlett had said. “If I disappear, things could get even more dangerous, don’t you think?”

“The Immortals can be recalled and automatically repaired, even if they’re damaged. Scarlett is the only one who can neutralize them perfectly without causing harm. If she suddenly vanishes, something even more dangerous might happen.”

Cristina, Ludwig, and the others were controlling the Immortals, and provoking them recklessly would be a huge risk.

Scarlett’s absence alone could unsettle them and make them act unpredictably. Letting her stay with them was the best way to maintain peace.

Scarlett had chosen, of her own volition, to become a prisoner.

Not only had she agreed to help me, but she also let herself be placed in the most perilous situation. That was why I had handed her the scroll book I had been carrying, along with the signaling device I had prepared in case things went wrong with Scarlett.

If Scarlett ever found herself in danger or if we needed her, she could send a signal, or receive one.

In the end, Scarlett had been forced into a situation where she had to deceive her friends.

A friend was being forced to imprison another friend. And that friend was being made to deceive the one trying to imprison her.

“It’s sad,” Charlotte murmured, unable to bear the harsh reality facing her former classmates from Class B.

The grand duke had uncovered the potential of Scarlett’s power. I had acted quickly as soon as I heard about it, and managed to reach Scarlett before Ludwig.

What if I had been thirty minutes late?

What if I had arrived at the Royal Class dormitory after Ludwig had already whisked Scarlett away? What would have happened if I hadn’t known where Scarlett had gone?

I had acted swiftly, and now we had an ally in Scarlett. But, just as I had warned myself, involving her ultimately put her in danger.

In the end, because of my actions, two of the original heroines had suffered badly. Delphine was dead, and Scarlett was being forced to deceive Ludwig.

“...”

“Everything will be alright,” Harriet said softly, offering gentle reassurance. She cautiously wrapped her arms around my shoulders, offering comfort.

“Yeah,” Charlotte said, nodding with conviction. “Everything will be alright.”

It had to be alright.

Although we all said the same thing, none of us could tell if it was a certainty, a declaration, a prayer, or just a desperate hope.