Demon King of the Royal Class-Chapter 653

Riana and Cliffman finally felt more relaxed around each other, unaware of the two people enjoying the scene as they watched them from a distance.

Though their wounds and feelings of guilt hadn’t fully healed, it was enough to know they still cherished each other.

“Your ability... Is it really that powerful?” Cliffman asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

“Yeah,” Riana replied simply.

“I heard there was some strange weather last winter... Was that you?”

“Yes, it was me.”

Cliffman was taken aback by the revelation that Riana could now not only summon lightning but also create weather anomalies. He nodded, a bit dazed by the knowledge that the unusual weather events had been Riana’s doing all along.

“That’s incredible...”

“I can’t just use that power whenever I want, though. It’s a bit peculiar.”

“Peculiar how?”

“Well...” Riana sighed deeply, settling onto a rock ledge. “The worse my mood, the stronger the effect... something like that.”

“Hmm...?”

“I think my supernatural power reacts to my emotions. It seems like my negative emotions are what triggers the weather anomalies.”

Her ability to control the weather was tied to her dark and negative feelings, since the experience that awakened them had been far from pleasant. And since she couldn’t control her emotions at will, there was a limit to how she could activate that immensely powerful supernatural power.

“It’s a strong ability, but it must be difficult to use freely,” Cliffman remarked.

Riana shook her head. “Not really. I can activate it whenever I want.”

Cliffman was surprised. “Didn’t you say you need to be in a bad mood?”

“If you put it that way, then I’m always in a bad mood, but there’s a way to make it particularly worse,” she replied, pulling a crystal potion from her pocket.

To Cliffman, it was simply a bottle filled with an unknown substance.

Riana smiled in a rather unsettling way. “If I take this, I become so depressed that I feel like hanging myself.”

“A potion that makes you depressed?”

“Something like that.”

“And you still take it?”

“There are no other side effects. It’s safe. And even if there were side effects, so what? If I can kill tens of thousands of monsters in exchange for just feeling a bit down, it’s only right that I do it.”

She wasn’t risking her life; the potion just plunged her into a deep, dark mood.

“If that’s the only cost, then of course it’s worth it,” Riana said with conviction.

Cliffman, lost in thought, could only nod.

Some people risked their lives and still couldn’t kill a single monster. So if the price was just that, it was a no-brainer. Yet, Cliffman noticed Riana’s hand trembling slightly as she held the crystal potion. She was clearly afraid of what she held.

Riana knew all too well the terrible sensation that awaited her after taking it. There was a cost, despite her talk of killing tens of thousands.

Cliffman felt daunted by the enormity of what she could do. Even if he counted every monster he’d ever slain, it wouldn’t add up to tens of thousands. Would it even reach the thousands? But Riana could accomplish such feats with just one use of her ability.

Cliffman had grown stronger than before, but Riana was in a league of her own. In a single battle, she could wipe out tens of thousands of monsters, far surpassing anything Cliffman had ever done.

As Cliffman’s expression grew tense, Riana gently took his hand.

“What’s wrong? Don’t give me that look.”

“It’s nothing. I was just thinking about how we have different capabilities, that’s all”

“Yeah...”

Cliffman understood that they each had their own roles to fulfill.

Riana possessed an extraordinarily powerful ability, but Cliffman’s feat of slaying hundreds of monsters on his own was already a remarkable accomplishment. Comparing the two seemed almost unfair.

After all, Riana could achieve feats that even colossal war machines like the Titan couldn’t match. Her power was unparalleled. Her ability to summon lightning was already an astonishing supernatural gift, and now, she could even control the weather. Was there any supernatural being greater than Riana?

Cliffman couldn’t help but recall the moment Riana had first summoned lightning, at her father’s funeral. In her grief, she had screamed, and in that instant, her ability had awakened.

Though Cliffman didn’t know much about supernatural beings, he vividly remembered the moment Riana’s new power emerged from such a profound and shocking experience.

And now, she held an even greater power.

Had she come by it naturally?

Or...

“Riana.”

“Yeah?”

“Did something... happen?”

Her father’s death... Had she awakened this new power through a similar, traumatic event?

Cliffman could see from the shadow crossing Riana’s face that something had indeed happened.

After a brief silence, Riana spoke.

“I committed a sin.”

Cliffman didn’t respond. He continued to look at her, waiting for her to continue.

“A sin so great that it can’t be undone.”

A tragedy hadn’t befallen her; it was something she had chosen to do, something that Cliffman struggled to comprehend.

Riana offered a short explanation. She had killed people, not monsters. An uncountable number of people. She didn’t elaborate further.

“Why... Did you do it?” Cliffman asked, knowing Riana wouldn’t have acted without a reason.

“There was a reason for it. There definitely was.”

“...”

Riana stared at the forest floor, her gaze fixed on the weeds pushing through the soil, her expression steely.

“But I realized too late that some things should never be done, no matter the reason.”

She had believed it was necessary, but it had turned out to be a mistake. Now, someone else was suffering the consequences.

“Because of that, I don’t think about revenge anymore.”

Revenge had become a distant, almost laughable notion to her, and she no longer entertained the thought.

That was all Riana said.

***

Riana finally returned.

No matter how long they talked, the reunion felt too brief. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Cliffman had left, and Riana was waiting for us at the prearranged spot.

“How did it go? Did you have a good talk?” I asked.

“Weren’t you guys hiding somewhere, eavesdropping on everything?” Riana said, and Harriet and I flinched.

“How did you know?”

“As if you wouldn’t.”

Was I really that predictable? Or was it foolish to think I wasn’t?

What mattered was that Riana seemed more at ease. Cliffman probably felt the same way. While Cliffman might choose to support us later, Riana hadn’t met him for any political reasons.

Setting aside the political implications of certain events, there were issues that needed to be resolved before the final battle.

“Do you feel relieved?” I asked.

“A little,” Riana replied, nodding with a faint smile.

Many events were still in motion.

“Let’s go back.”

“There’s no point in staying here any longer,” Harriet said, her voice firm as she began casting her spell.

Riana had been afraid—afraid that Cliffman might have changed. And he had changed, but not in the way she’d feared.

I had taken on a different appearance, yet I had managed to check in on everyone. Still, knowing how they were didn’t guarantee how they’d react when they truly met me again.

Just as Cliffman held no resentment toward Riana, there might be others who felt the same about me. Scarlett was one of those people.

Cristina, on the other hand, kept her resentment hidden beneath the surface.

Riana hadn’t been desperate to meet Cliffman, but she seemed more at ease after their encounter.

I, too, had someone I wanted to meet, even if it was just for a fleeting moment.

Time was running out.

There was only one person, apart from Ellen, whom I longed to see.

***

The day before the army was to move out, Adriana found herself in a tent she had never entered before. She wasn’t frightened, but the unfamiliar surroundings made her feel tense.

The owner of the tent sat on the desk instead of the chair, arms crossed, quietly observing Adriana.

It was a youthful face. It seemed almost five or six years younger than her own, though Adriana had trouble pinpointing the exact age of the person to whom that face belonged.

There was a perpetual smile on that face, making that person seem like someone who would leave a good impression wherever they went. However, this was Adriana’s first time meeting them alone, and she couldn’t shake the sense of incongruity from that ever-present smile. The smile felt too fixed, as if it were etched into their face. It didn’t feel genuine.

The person before her was, in essence, her highest superior.

Adriana, a holy knight, was standing before Rowen, the commander of the Order of the Holy Knights.

She had summoned her out of the blue.

Though Adriana was a holy knight, she was serving with the Temple contingent. Therefore, while she was technically part of the Order of the Holy Knights, she was not directly within their chain of command. It was no surprise that she felt both puzzled and rather tense when the new commander of the Order summoned her.

The sudden replacement of the previous commander, Illeion Volten, had been unexpected news, even for Adriana, who wasn’t directly involved with the Order. It did not help that the details surrounding that change in leadership remained murky. Adriana herself felt a sense of confusion about it, and the event was likely even more bewildering for those within the Order itself.

Rumors about Rowen, the new commander, were spreading. Whispers suggested she had ties to the shadowy side of the Church of the Five Great Gods. Some claimed she was an inquisitor, or part of a secretive assassination unit. There was talk that someone who should have remained hidden had now emerged into the public view.

Adriana knew of the rumors swirling around her, fueled by suspicion. And now, the new commander of the Order of the Holy Knights, Rowen, had summoned her.

Adriana wasn’t a high-ranking holy knight. She had never met Rowen before, and had no reason to be on her radar. Despite her undeniable skill and possessing abilities that matched or even surpassed those of higher-ranking knights, she held no official position or responsibilities within the Order of the Holy Knights. Therefore, the commander’s sudden summons struck her as odd.

To make matters stranger, Rowen was perched on the desk instead of sitting in the chair, simply staring at her. Though the commander wore a smile, Adriana couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling it gave her. The commander’s gaze felt intrusive and unpleasant.

“Commander, have I done something wrong...?” she asked cautiously, unable to endure the silent scrutiny any longer.

Rowen tilted her head slightly. “No?”

“Then, is there something I need to do...?”

“Hmm...”

Rowen fell silent, leaving Adriana’s question hanging in the air.

‘She’s an enigma...’

Most people wore expressions or had reactions that hinted at their feelings. But Rowen, the commander of the Order of the Holy Knights, was an exception. Her mood was impossible to decipher. Even when she smiled, it was hard to tell if she was genuinely pleased or if her thoughts were elsewhere. It was as if she had undergone some special “training” to mask her emotions.

Talking to someone whose intentions and feelings were so well hidden naturally made others uneasy. And when someone like that wielded such power and authority, especially the power over life and death, discomfort quickly turned into fear.

Adriana couldn’t shake the feeling that Rowen was well-practiced in using her presence to intimidate others. She seemed like someone who thrived on instilling fear through sheer attitude.

Naturally, Adriana began to suspect that at least one of the rumors about her might be true.

Even though the commander of the Order of the Holy Knights used honorifics when addressing Adriana, a mere lower-ranking holy knight, it was hard to tell if there was any genuine respect.

The silence seemed to stretch on for an eternity.

Just as Adriana felt she might remain frozen forever, Rowen finally broke the silence.

“You have quite an impressive record, Adriana.”

Adriana was even more taken aback by the unexpected compliment.

An impressive record... Did she have anything that could be considered one?

“Being admitted into the Temple’s Royal Class is an impressive record, wouldn’t you say?”

“Ah...”

Understanding Rowen’s point, Adriana nodded thoughtfully.

The Temple was renowned for attracting the best talents from across the continent, but only those with exceptional abilities were admitted to the Royal Class. Status and power didn’t matter; only talent secured a place in the Royal Class. Being a member of the Royal Class was undeniably an impressive achievement.

“I’m not sure what others may think, but I don’t really think so...”

Adriana wasn’t just being modest. She often felt insignificant when compared to the powerful supernatural beings and mages. She saw herself as lacking when measured against those with extraordinary talents.

“Why is it,” Rowen wondered aloud, “that only mages and supernatural beings are seen as gifted? Adriana, your record in monster extermination is impressive, even when compared to high-ranking holy knights and priests of our Order.”

“Is that so?” Adriana replied, her voice tinged with surprise.

Adriana couldn’t recall how many times she’d been on the battlefield, facing off against those monsters. She had been in constant battle ever since the Gate Incident broke out, and then alongside the Allied Forces. Perhaps her experience had finally caught the attention of the Order’s commander.

Rowen began to read a document that lay beside the desk.

“Born at the Art-Ouen Monastery in the provincial city of Saint-Ouen in the Duchy of Saint-Ouen... Birth details are unclear... Educated at the monastery, showed talent, and entered the Temple Royal Class...”

Was that a document detailing her past?

Adriana watched as Rowen read through it.

“Dropped out of the Temple in her second year... Participated in the Gate Incident, returned to the Order, and then joined the Temple contingent of the army...”

The document naturally included details about her dropping out, her involvement in the Gate Incident, and her eventual enlistment in the Allied Forces with the Temple contingent.

Rowen stopped reading there, as the rest seemed to be about battles she’d fought in.

Why had they compiled her history, and what was she trying to say?

Rowen hopped down from her desk and walked over to Adriana.

“We have similar backgrounds,” she said.

Adriana looked at her, puzzled.

“I’m also from a monastery,” Rowen continued. “And an orphan.”

Adriana was taken aback by his unexpected revelation. Both she and Rowen had been left at monasteries as children. They shared that part of their past.

They appeared to be around the same age, though Rowen was probably a bit older.

“It seems we have similar talents too,” she added.

Adriana’s confusion only deepened. Both of them were orphans raised in monasteries, of similar age and talent. Yet Rowen had risen to become the commander of the Order of the Holy Knights, while Adriana remained a holy knight serving in the Temple contingent.

Was Rowen mocking the disparity between them?

Adriana couldn’t fathom why the commander would indulge in such pointless mockery.

Rowen gently touched Adriana’s cheek. The unexpected gesture felt unsettling. Not because it was unwelcome, but because there was something genuinely eerie about it.

Despite Rowen’s outwardly kind and pristine appearance, her rough, calloused hand spoke volumes about the hardships she had endured. Adriana’s hands bore similar marks, but Rowen’s touch vividly conveyed the struggles of her life.

The commander of the Order of the Holy Knights addressed the humble holy knight before her.

“What difference is there between you and me...?”

There was no contempt or mockery in Rowen’s voice.

“Why am I like this, and why are you like that...?”

Her words were laced with jealousy and envy.

Adriana struggled to grasp the emotions she sensed from Rowen.

Why had the commander of the Order of the Holy Knights summoned her, only to speak in such riddles?

The envy was plain to see. There was a longing in Rowen’s eyes that was hard to miss.

Finally, she spoke again.

“There’s someone who wants to meet you.”

That was all the commander said.

***

The commander of the Order of the Holy Knights had spoken in riddles, then simply told Adriana that someone wanted to meet her, and only gave her a location and a time.

Though she was technically part of the Temple contingent, her direct superior was still the commander of the Order of the Holy Knights.

It was a puzzling order, but she couldn’t refuse it.

So, Adriana set off alone, heading south of the camp without any company. She couldn’t help but wonder why the commander had given such an order.

Who was this person who wanted to meet her? Could someone really request such a personal favor from the commander, to set up a personal meeting with someone who wasn’t even a high-ranking holy knight?

Who could that person possibly be? And why would they want to meet her?

With these questions swirling in her mind, Adriana continued to walk further south of the camp.

In a grassy area far from the battlefield, untouched by the chaos of war, she spotted someone sitting quietly in the grass within the moonlight.

“Ah...”

She still didn’t fully understand what was happening. She couldn’t piece together how things had reached this point, but Adriana had her suspicions.

What was unfolding? Why had the commander of the Order of the Holy Knights issued such an order? What had become of the Order of the Holy Knights?

Adriana couldn’t know everything, but she was piecing together what was unfolding with what had already transpired, making a connection to determine why someone might want to meet with someone as seemingly insignificant as her.

The person sitting quietly in the grass rose when they spotted Adriana.

It wasn’t a face she had dreamed of.

It wasn’t a face she had yearned to see.

Their relationship wasn’t like that.

But still, even so, deep in her heart, she held someone very dear, and now he was standing before her.

“Reinhart...?”

“It’s been a while, senior.”

Bathed in moonlight, the junior with the perpetually sour demeanor offered her a sad smile. He addressed her with the same title as before, his voice gentle and familiar.

Adriana, as if in a trance, couldn’t comprehend everything, but she understood one undeniable truth.

“You survived...!”

Overcome with emotion, Adriana rushed forward and wrapped her arms tightly around the junior with the difficult personality.

“Of course, who do you think I am?” the naive junior said with an air of arrogance, just like she remembered.