Demon King of the Royal Class-Chapter 675

Ellen left.

Olivia watched her retreating figure, her jaw clenched tight. Even though she didn’t like Ellen, something about this farewell felt wrong. She dreaded the look on Reinhart’s face when he woke up to find Ellen gone.

Olivia couldn’t fathom why Charlotte had insisted they let Ellen leave. If anyone would want Ellen to stay, she thought it would be Charlotte. Yet Charlotte’s demeanor had been so cold it bordered on heartlessness.

Charlotte was responsible for managing Edina’s internal affairs. When the era of the Demon King began, it would be Charlotte who truly ruled the world. Eventually, Charlotte would become Empress. With such a grand vision ahead of her, she couldn’t afford to be swayed by personal feelings.

Was that why she’d told Ellen to leave, believing it was better for Ellen not to be there?

Lost in these thoughts, Olivia glanced at Charlotte and held her breath.

Charlotte’s eyes were tightly shut, her hands covering her mouth, crying more sorrowfully than anyone else.

How could her heart find peace? She understood that Ellen had to leave, but having betrayed Reinhart in the past as well, she felt immense guilt in saying she could stay while Ellen could not.

She wept silently as she watched Ellen’s departing figure, unable to let out even a single sound. She knew better than anyone that they were in the same situation, yet she had forced Ellen away with her own words. She truly couldn’t bear it.

“Damn it...”

Almost everything had been resolved in an impeccable manner, almost impossibly so. But not everything could turn out perfectly.

So Olivia did something she would never normally do.

“Why are you all crying on such a good day?”

“Ugh... Ugh...!”

Olivia hugged the silently weeping Charlotte and gently patted her back.

***

Ellen, her hood pulled low over her face, moved through the chaotic Allied Forces camp.

Everywhere she looked, she saw people collecting the bodies of the fallen, assessing battle damage, standing around crying, or even just sitting in a daze.

The scale of the devastation was the largest of any battle they had fought during the campaign. The battle was over, yet there was no sense of euphoria. Instead, fear of the uncertain future overshadowed any relief they might have felt from the vanquished threat.

No one knew what lay ahead. The Demon King, once branded as the embodiment of evil, had saved humanity, while the Hero, once hailed as the savior, was now fleeing the Allied Forces camp.

The truth of who was truly at fault would remain a mystery to the masses. Those who had been fed one manipulated truth would soon encounter another. One storm of chaos had passed, only for a new one to arrive.

The fight against the monsters wasn’t entirely over either, but with all the warp gates destroyed, there was hope that civilization could be rebuilt. As time went on, the citizens of the world might find themselves back in an era where civilization could flourish across the continent.

Though the future remained uncertain, if the Demon King fulfilled his role, there would be no war between demons and humans in that future world.

A world where demons and humans coexisted. Could such a world truly come to be? Could the deep-seated hatred be overcome? No one knew for sure. But Ellen, as the last remnant of the old era, couldn’t be part of that world.

She needed to disappear, to live somewhere quiet. To exist as if she didn’t exist.

She still had two holy relics, and monsters still roamed the land. Her work was far from over.

The world couldn’t know that the Hero still lived. From a humble corner on the edge of civilization, she would continue to hunt the remaining beasts. If that was how she could atone for her past, then she was determined to see it through.

Charlotte had mentioned they might cross paths again someday, but Ellen doubted that was possible. She couldn’t allow herself to hope for such a reunion. Returning after all that time to ask if she still had a place would be too presumptuous.

With time, her name would fade into a distant memory for Reinhart. Watching from afar would have to suffice. Helping those in low places from her own humble position would have to be enough.

She hoped the new world would be a good one.

As she made her way through the chaotic Allied Forces camp and reached the outskirts, where the acrid smoke of burning monster corpses lingered, she paused and wondered where she should go next.

Looking out at the vast, desolate plain, and just as she was about to follow the stars with no particular destination in mind, a tearful voice called out from behind her.

“Ellen...! Ellen!”

Clenching her teeth, Ellen had no choice but to turn around.

“Where... Where are you going? Tell me, where are you going...?”

Harriet de Saint-Ouen, her face streaked with tears, ran desperately toward Ellen. Her steps were unsteady, as if she might trip at any moment. Heavy sobs shook her small frame.

Despite her prowess as a mage, Harriet’s stamina was poor. When she finally reached Ellen, she clung to her sleeve, breathless and trembling.

“Don’t go... Where are you going...?” she pleaded, her voice breaking. “You said we’d stay together. You promised we’d stay together...”

Everything was over, and they could finally be together.

Harriet gasped for breath, her face flushed with the intensity of her tears.

“Don’t go... Please, don’t go. It’s all over now. All the sad things are behind us. You don’t have to leave, do you? Huh? Why, why are you doing this... What about Reinhart? Think about Reinhart... huh?”

This was why Ellen had not wanted to see her. Being held back by others was painful enough, but seeing Harriet was especially hard.

Everything was supposed to be fine; only good things were supposed to happen from this point on.

When Ellen first woke up, Harriet had hugged her, cried, and then smiled brightly, declaring that everything would be okay. She had meant to be comforting, but it only tormented Ellen more. Therefore, she had tried to slip away while Harriet had gone away briefly.

Why were they like this?

People who should have been relieved to see her leave were now holding her back. Those who should have wanted her gone were keeping her from leaving now that Reinhart lay unconscious.

Ellen glanced down at Harriet, who clung to her tightly, tears streaming down her face as if she couldn’t bear to let go.

Harriet had become Ellen’s friend after meeting Reinhart at the Temple. Yet, neither could fully embrace their friendship. From the beginning, they both knew their hearts were set on the same person. Therefore, despite their fondness and care for each other, there was always an undercurrent of resentment between them.

That tension often surfaced in the form of Harriet’s jealousy toward Ellen. But this time, Harriet was pleading with Ellen not to leave. She was asking about Ellen’s plans for Reinhart. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

“Don’t go... I don’t understand why you’re doing this, but... if you don’t have to leave, then you shouldn’t. Let’s stay together, okay?”

Harriet de Saint-Ouen cherished her just as much as she cared for Reinhart.

When Ellen thought about it, she realized it had always been that way. That was who Harriet was. Always giving in, always wanting to be with her, constantly yielding so much to Ellen. When her jealousy and sorrow had finally erupted, the worst she could muster was, “That’s unfair.”

That was the harshest thing she could say to a friend.

“Maybe... I don’t really have to go,” Ellen said.

Perhaps there wasn’t a genuine reason for her to vanish. She could find a way, somehow. Any reason, just to stay by his side. She could make people think the Demon King had surrendered to the Hero or that she had betrayed them. She could let them imagine whatever they wanted, and she could simply ignore it all, living on happily.

But she had already been selfish enough. She had betrayed Reinhart, and had already received more than she deserved. She had been saved, even after crossing a river into a place she thought she would never be able to return from. She had received so much already; asking for more felt selfish.

She wished she could ignore the other problems that might arise because of her. She longed to love and be loved.

But wanting more than what she already had felt cruel.

She couldn’t allow herself such desires.

Such happiness.

Such comfort.

She couldn’t believe that such a life could be hers.

She felt compelled to live in despair. Driven by an overwhelming sense of guilt, she felt a deep compulsion that she had to live the rest of her life in atonement. Setting aside all other reasons, she knew that this dark urge was the true reason she was leaving.

“Then don’t go... If you don’t have to, you shouldn’t,” Harriet pleaded, tears streaming down her face as she looked up at Ellen.

Ellen didn’t cry. Instead, she smiled gently. “Reinhart was right.”

Harriet, confused by the sudden statement, looked up at Ellen, her face still wet with tears. “Huh...?”

Reinhart always had a way with words when it came to Harriet.

She only ever wished for things to go smoothly, never desiring anything good solely for herself. Selfishness was foreign to her. The one who had caused the most trouble was now offering to vanish on her own, yet she was pleading with her to stay for Reinhart’s sake.

“You really are a thick-skull.”

“Huh...?”

What else could you call someone like that but a fool?

Harriet might have been the smartest person Ellen knew, but in the end, she was also the biggest fool.

Harriet, taken aback by Ellen’s sudden remark, stopped crying and stared blankly at her.

“I’ve already received a lot. More than enough. I’ve received too much.”

She felt a nagging anxiety that if she dared to want more, she might face severe consequences.

Harriet looked up at her, confused.

“If you keep being too nice, you’ll end up with nothing, Harriet.”

‘Just being nice won’t get you anywhere. After giving in time and again, you’ll find there’s no place left for you. If you want something, you have to go after it. If you keep dreaming of the perfect situation, by the time you wake up, everything else might have slipped away.’

“Don’t let Reinhart take you for granted.”

“...”

He would cherish her, but if he started taking her for granted, he would not feel the urgency to hold on to her, and she would always find herself pushed to second or third place.

When Ellen was absent, Reinhart grew desperate for her. When Ellen’s life was in danger, Reinhart’s thoughts were consumed by her alone. Yet Harriet remained unaware of Reinhart’s true feelings.

Emotions were neither absolute nor eternal. As time passed, feelings would inevitably change, including Reinhart’s. Perhaps without even realizing it.

Ellen realized she had never once yielded. She had never considered these things before. She wasn’t sure if this was yielding, or if she even had the right to speak of such matters. But having already received more than her share, she knew it was time to step aside for those who deserved it more.

Wanting more would only lead to heartache.

This overly kind soul needed a wake-up call.

Ellen glanced at her friend, who seemed oblivious to the gravity of the moment, and offered a sad smile.

Just like her friend had said once before, life was unfair.

It had always been that way.

“I’ll be going,” she said.

In the end, she would leave on her own terms, in the face of this unfairness.

***

I opened my eyes and saw a strange sight above me.

The instant the thought crossed my mind, I found myself already leaping out of bed.

An acrid smell wafted through the air, unmistakably the scent of a battlefield.

I glanced around, taking in the makeshift bed and the walls of cloth draped around me. It all pointed to one thing: I was in a tent. But how had I ended up here?

“Ugh...!”

A groan interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see someone next to me, startled awake by my abrupt movement.

It was Harriet.

“You’re awake...!” she cried as she hugged me tight.

She was safe.

Before I could think of anything else, the relief of seeing Harriet alive overwhelmed me.

“What... what happened?” I asked.

I had blacked out at the last moment. After issuing my final command to Antirianus, everything had gone dark. The fact that I was alive meant that Antirianus had either chosen not to kill me or simply had not been able to.

Harriet gently patted my back, her hand trembling with anxiety.

“Don’t worry... It’s all over.”

Her voice carried a complex blend of emotions—relief, shot through with more than a hint of sadness. It reassured me that many were safe, yet the sorrow in her voice hinted at something deeper.

I instinctively understood what it was.

***

I had been unconscious for three days.

Three days had passed since the conclusion of the Battle of Diane, and I slowly learned from Harriet what had transpired afterward.

In my absence, Charlotte had taken on the daunting task of managing the chaos within the Allied Forces, working tirelessly to reorganize them. The sheer disorder and division among the armies would have been enough to fray anyone’s nerves.

After sharing various other things, Harriet finally broke down, tears streaming down her face as she revealed what she had been holding back.

Ellen had left.

“I’m sorry... I couldn’t stop her... I wanted to hold on somehow... but...”

Even though three days had gone by, it still seemed as if Harriet was struggling to confess something she dared not speak about. Her sobs were so intense they left her gasping for air.

I hugged her gently, feeling the weight of her sorrow.

Ellen had left.

My heart ached, but at least I knew she was safe.

She had returned to her true self, and chosen to leave on her own terms. It was shocking, but not entirely something to despair over. Perhaps because, deep down, I had anticipated Ellen’s decision.

My focus had been solely on bringing Ellen back, and the thought of how to achieve that had consumed me. I hadn’t considered what life would be like with Ellen once she returned. I hadn’t thought about how to manage that risk, nor did I know how.

As Ellen had mentioned, her mere presence in the world we were about to create would inevitably sow discord.

But wasn’t that somewhat fortunate?

The moment that thought occurred to me, I realized instinctively that I would need to transform into someone else for the journey ahead.

The things I once valued would lose their worth in the harsh light of reality. I would have to come to terms with the moments when I might have to abandon them, or even destroy them myself.

Ellen had returned. She was alive. Wasn’t that enough?

That itself was already a luxury for both of us. Before this, there had not been a future where one of us survived, or where both of us did. It had been impossible for us to even envision a future where we both lived. Shouldn’t I have been grateful for this, where the impossible outcome had somehow come true?

Wanting more than that seemed like asking for too much.

As soon as my mind reached that conclusion, a bitter smile crept onto my face.

‘You probably left thinking the same thing. That wanting more was a luxury. Just like me, you must have thought the same thing.’

“Don’t cry, I said to Harriet. “It’s okay.”

I gently patted Harriet’s back as she sobbed with palpable sorrow in my arms.