Demon King of the Royal Class-Chapter 677

The Allied Forces were like a massive beast, consuming vast amounts of supplies just to exist, and it was crucial that they were disbanded swiftly once their purpose was fulfilled. Thankfully, with Harriet’s help, we could disband the Allied Forces in record time.

This decision would have several significant effects. By spreading out humanity’s remaining forces and their resources across the continent, we would prevent any single group from consolidating power if they intended to resist me.

Moreover, Harriet’s abilities allowed us to transport entire legions effortlessly, making it impossible for enemies to launch attacks against us while we could strike them at will.

By fragmenting and dividing humanity, I would maintain my influence over each faction. We were too formidable an adversary to challenge, and even if a faction harbored thoughts of rebellion, they quickly realized it was beyond their reach.

By dispersing the various powers across the continent, I could enhnace the effectiveness of my rule.

After securing loyalty from each faction, I would disband the Allied Forces. The common soldiers would be content simply knowing they could return home without enduring a long march. And realizing that this was the Demon King’s doing that would surely leave a positive impression on them.

Of course, I couldn’t win over everyone. Divisions would arise, and seeds of discord were already scattered. Before disbanding the Allied Forces, though, there was still work to be done.

In the headquarters tent, Charlotte sat to my left, and Olivia Lanche to my right.

The heir to the Empire, and now my left hand.

The symbol of the Holy Order, my right hand.

In front of me sat the representatives of all the remaining human factions.

“Greetings, everyone,” I said calmly as I looked out at the audience, frozen in their seats. Despite the uncomfortable and fearful glances they cast my way, none could defy me. They couldn’t even rise from their chairs.

“I am the Demon King, Baalier.”

This scene alone confirmed that I had become the ruler of the continent.

***

Up to this point, Charlotte had been acting on my behalf, so they were aware that the Demon King’s reign had begun. But seeing me in person solidified the fact that everything had fallen under my control.

Many who had already chosen to side with me were present. Louise von Schwartz of Kernstadt, who spearheaded the initiative, sat near the head of the table, while Rowen, the commander of the Order of the Holy Knights, was also in attendance.

Grand Duke Saint-Ouen was present as well. Interestingly, his seat, once positioned near the end of the table, had been moved closer to the head of the table.

Clearly, he hadn’t chosen his previous seat willingly. He had been relegated to the lowest position in the past because his daughter had sided with the Demon King. Yet now, thanks to his daughter’s allegiance with the Demon King, he found himself sitting closer to the head of the table.

This, too, was likely against his wishes. The grand duke had walked an unpredictable path. Once labeled a traitor to humanity, he was now recognized as a founding contributor of the new Empire. Despite this shift in status, his stern expression betrayed no personal satisfaction in his improved position.

‘How should I put it? He seems like someone who lives his life detached from the happenings of the rest of the world.

‘And a devoted father... An unusual man, indeed.’

Apparently, when I had been found unconscious, the grand duke was the first one to seek out Harriet and embrace her.

Even though I hadn’t personally secured their loyalty, many of the representatives present had already chosen to support me before the war concluded. That was down to Louise von Schwartz.

The Imperial Army, a part of the Allied Forces, was already under our influence. Naturally, the Emperor was absent, but many of the commanders were present. They had turned their backs on the Empire after the massive betrayal during the Battle of Diane, and Charlotte had successfully recruited them to our cause. They could no longer be considered the Imperial Army.

“The Gradias Empire will vanish, and from now on, I will be the master of the continent,” I declared.

“I hope you will not see it as an oppressive and rigid attempt at domination, requiring unwavering loyalty,” I continued. “Think of it as a promise instead. When you need help, I will be there for you. And when I need it, I hope you’ll be there for me.”

“Not much will change,” I reassured them. “The important thing is that a significant part of the continent lies in ruins, and monsters still roam the land. Rebuilding our shattered civilizations will demand immense time and resources.”

“I know that your loyalty to me runs deep,” I acknowledged, “but the accumulated distrust and resentment between us is profound, and even our races differ. It’s unlikely that I’ll be able to change whatever you feel inside.”

I looked around. “I do not want an overt show of loyalty, or for you to offer me gifts. Instead, do your best in your respective roles for yourselves. Rebuild civilization and restore broken livelihoods. That is the paramount task you must perform before any demonstrations of loyalty to me.

“You don’t have to offer me anything, or try to give me something. I have no intention of forcibly taking anything from you. Just accept me, and above all, live well. That is the greatest form of loyalty you can show me.”

They weren’t in a position to give me anything.

Reviving this shattered world was my mission. Their loyalty would not be measured in the amount of tribute, but in their efforts to reestablish a foundation for independent living. All I needed from them was to scatter and thrive as they were. To rebuild, and rise from the ruins of this fallen civilization.

Had they expected terrifying words from the mouth of the Demon King? “You’re all doomed now. I’ll repay you in kind. Foolish humanity will now pay the price of defeat.” Or perhaps, “If you defy me, there will be violent, bloody revenge.”

Were those the words they had been waiting for?

They all looked stunned when I told them to go back to their own territories and live well whether they chose to serve me or not.

“Don’t think of this as a simple command,” I warned. “In these desperate times, I’m giving you the hardest task of all.”

Living well... Was that easy? I had given them the most challenging command. They had to survive in a shattered world. In this reality, where monsters still roamed the land and most of civilization lay in ruins, living well was the most demanding order of all.

When I added that comment, they finally seemed to consider what it truly meant to live well, and their expressions grew somber. It seemed they finally grasped that it was the harshest and most difficult task.

Everyone was weary of discussing death and blood. I did not need to warn those who refused to serve me, or those who would betray me. Those issues could be addressed when they actually happened.

“I said I would help you,” I reminded them, “So I will give you the first thing I can offer.”

It was a day of joy. The war had ended.

“First of all, everyone, go home,” I instructed.

‘Go home, take a bath, and rest. Everyone. No exceptions.’

***

When I announced that the Allied Forces would start preparing for withdrawal as soon as the entire army was assembled, no one was surprised.

They probably assumed they would have to march back to the capital, just like they had marched all the way here, and reclaim it. But when I clarified that the withdrawal I spoke of was quite literally just that—a simple withdrawal—they all looked confused.

When I revealed that I could teleport the different armies back to their hometowns instantly, without enduring the long journey back, their mouths dropped open in disbelief. What lay ahead of them was not a trek that would take months or even years. If they wished, their army could be home in a single day.

Though many had lost their homes, everyone had somewhere to return to. And the longing to go back wasn’t just a soldier’s wish.

Everyone looked as if they’d woken to find that a treasure had been laid out before them while they’d slept. There was no need to fight the Empire. They simply needed to return as they were and live there. They were surprised that my rule came with such a small price. It wasn’t even a price at all, but a reward.

Such an enticing benefit just by embracing the Demon King’s rule... It was so tempting that they couldn’t help but wonder if it was too good to be true.

“I told you. Go back and fulfill your responsibilities. But remember, there will be no more supplies to sustain you all, and just because you return doesn’t mean the mouths that once needed to be fed will vanish. Surviving on your own won’t be easy.”

Many soldiers had joined the Allied Forces simply to escape starvation. The commanders of each army also served as representatives for their respective factions, so they now faced the challenge of sustaining themselves without the Empire’s support.

It would be by no means an easy task.

Only then did they begin to realize that returning home wasn’t purely a blessing; it brought its own set of worries and uncertainties.

“There’s nothing more to discuss. Once you’re ready, prepare for withdrawal and report when your faction is prepared. I’ll send you back immediately.”

I looked around the room. Some of the commanders wore determined expressions. I saw faces of those that seemed to have prepared grand speeches, as if they were ready to make their final stand here. Others appeared poised to call any offer a dirty trick or something similar.

However, because of what I had spoken and the meaning it carried, they couldn’t bring themselves to say those things. They seemed so overwhelmed by the sudden opportunity to return home that they forgot what they had intended to say.

I found their dumbfounded expressions oddly refreshing.

“Go back and live well.”

That was the first decree issued by the new Emperor of the continent.

Among the crowd, someone hesitantly raised a hand.

“Um... Demon King... Your Majesty.”

I couldn’t tell who it was.

“What is it?” I asked, knowing there wasn’t any reason for me to refuse to listen if they had something to say.

He looked bewildered.

“If the Allied Forces disband... how do you plan to occupy the whole territory of the Empire...?” he asked, genuinely curious.

It seemed he was wondering if such a thing was possible with just the remnants of the Imperial Army and the forces at my disposal, which made me think he might be on my side.

Occupying the whole Empire would be no small feat.

“May I speak on that matter?” Rowen interjected before I could respond.

“The Emperor has already fled,” she announced.

I had heard it before, but hearing it again still carried weight. Those words meant that any remaining loyalists of the Empire had disappeared.

The throne and the imperial palace stood empty.

All we had to do was step inside.

***

Thud... Thud...

The carriage rocked gently, and Vertus slowly regained consciousness.

With a gasp, he quickly sat up. Dim light flooded the interior of the carriage.

‘Where am I?’

His entire body felt heavy, as though weighed down by waterlogged cotton. He had no idea how long he had been asleep, only that he was being transported somewhere in a dark carriage.

Vertus tried to piece together his last memory.

The Battle of Diane had ended. As the last Emperor of the Gradias Empire, which was on the brink of vanishing, he had prepared himself for what needed to be done. He was ready to face the consequences of being branded a traitor to humanity and the root of all evil.

A sacrifice was necessary for the dawn of a new era. The Empire would vanish alongside its Emperor, which had become a hated symbol, marked as the embodiment of absolute evil. The accumulated hatred would be burned away, with the Emperor hanging on the gallows.

For this to happen, Vertus had been preparing. Preparing to hand over everything to the new power and adopting the mindset of someone who had to die.

But then, Sabioleen Tana returned.

Vertus’s final order had been to destroy the underground laboratory beneath the Temple. After that, she was free from his commands. He had released her from her duty as his knight and commanded her not to return, but to survive. The Empire was destined to fade away, and whether she chose to return to the battlefield or forge a different path, she needed to let go of her role as a knight of an Empire on the brink of vanishing.

He wished for her to live by her own choices, and so dissolving the oath of loyalty that had once bound her was part of his command to her.

Yet, Sabioleen Tana returned just moments after the Battle of Diane concluded.

“Dame Tana...?”

The knight who had been instructed not to come back had put the Emperor to rest.

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

Those were the last words he remembered.

In the dimly lit carriage, Vertus slowly became aware of his surroundings. His clothes had been changed. They did not appear especially luxurious.

Knock, knock!

After tapping against the coachman’s seat a few times, the carriage came to a gentle halt, and there was a stirring from the coachman’s seat.

Clunk!

When the door swung open, it revealed exactly who he anticipated.

“Your Majesty.”

“Dame Tana...”

There stood Sabioleen Tana, just as expected.

“What... What is this?” Vertus said, his voice trembling with disbelief.

He had urged her to live free, to survive against all odds. Yet now, the Emperor’s knight had done the unthinkable—kidnapped the Emperor himself.

Sabioleen Tana understood the gravity of her actions. Her face was a mask of anguish.

“This... you can’t do this. You should not be doing this,” Vertus murmured.

Tana understood Vertus’s intentions. Even if the Emperor remained silent, she had sensed his plans and preparations.

The Emperor had sealed his own fate. He had dug his own grave, and all he needed to do was to step into it. The moment had been upon him, and he had already made his decision. He had envisioned a new era beginning with the downfall of the Emperor, who was universally vilified and hated.

But Sabioleen Tana’s last-minute actions had thrown all his plans into disarray.

Vertus had no idea how far the carriage had traveled or where it was headed. Dressed in plain clothes and riding in an unremarkable carriage, he could only speculate about Sabioleen Tana’s intentions.

“We must go back,” he urged.

Everything had been for this purpose—all the scheming and plotting.

“Why does it have to be this way?” Tana said, tears finally welling up in her eyes.

“I must die. Someone has to take responsibility,” Vertus replied.

The Emperor’s death would not erase all the seeds of hatred or all past sins. But perhaps some of them would fade away. If everyone resented the Emperor, and the symbol that was the target of all that resentment died, wouldn’t there be fewer people carrying that resentment into the new era?

“That’s not courage, Your Majesty.”

“...”

From a very young age, this knight had been by his side. She had watched over him since he was a baby and had even played with him when he was young. Now, for the first time in Vertus’s life, he saw this knight shed tears.

“In the end, that’s also just running away,” the knight said softly.

Ultimately, he was leaving the world to someone else and escaping it through death. He would claim he had paid his dues. But in reality, he was dodging responsibility rather than facing it.

“You have the courage to die, but not the courage to live a life filled with disgrace? Why... why must it be that way?”

Death did not bring closure. It did not solve all problems. So why was he clinging to it so desperately? Wasn’t it more courageous to endure a life that had been tarnished? Wasn’t Vertus’s longing for death just his way of trying to reclaim his own sense of honor?

If he was trying to find solace by dying under a false accusation, then what reason was there not to live as a truly cowardly and wretched fugitive instead? Wasn’t it better to bear true disgrace and survive than to seek false honor through death?

“Dame Tana... I... don’t want that. I...”

With a heavy thud, Sabioleen Tana dropped to her knees and bowed her head. Though she had always been a loyal knight, Vertus had never seen her humble herself in this way before. Even as a servant, she had always maintained her dignity.

She bowed so deeply that her forehead touched the ground. That was something even the Emperor could never demand of her. Yet there she was, kneeling, her head pressed to the earth, sobbing.

“Please... please... I’ve spent my life following orders. Loyalty needs no reward. This is Sabioleen Tana, the Emperor’s sword. A servant who has dedicated her life to the Empire does not seek reward, but something small in return for her loyalty.

“Your Majesty. Please live. Even if it’s a life of disgrace, even if it’s a life of cowardice, please. Live. That’s the only thing I wish for in return for my lifetime of loyalty.

“Didn’t you tell me to live according to my own will now? This is my will...”

Vertus, looked at his knight prostrate and weeping before him, his eyes wide with shock.

She had dedicated her entire life to the sword and to the Empire. She had pledged her loyalty to the Empire long before Vertus had even been born. In fact, she had been a knight of the Empire even before his own father’s birth.

She had never asked for anything in return from the Empire. She was the Empire’s most steadfast loyalist, serving the longest and standing closest to the imperial family. She had taken on all the dirty and necessary tasks, and lived without a hint of defiance.

Though loyalty demands no reward, in accordance with a knight’s virtue, if anyone deserved to ask for a reward, it was her.

Even the word “reward” felt overwhelming, so she referred to it as a favor.

All she wanted in return for her unwavering loyalty was for him to live.

“Please... Your Majesty... please...”

A coward’s life...

Was it better for the last Emperor, who had betrayed humanity, to face the gallows, or to escape and survive somewhere else?

It was futile to direct hatred at the deceased Demon King.

When Vertus discovered that the last heir of the Demon Realm had survived, he had been pleased. And he had expressed this sentiment without realizing he was speaking to that very heir.

He believed that the Demon King was essential for the Empire’s unity and stability, and was grateful to know that the last Demon King was still alive somewhere. After all, this knowledge sent shivers down people’s spines, driving them to pin all their hopes on the Empire.

Thus, the Empire had become the focal point of humanity’s strength.

Since the Demon King had been used as a symbol to be hated, was it now the Emperor’s turn to bear that burden?

A life spent in hiding, a cowardly and shameful existence of a defeated ruler...

Was this escape a more fitting reality for the new era than the Emperor’s death would be?

Vertus didn’t know.

But his knight was weeping.

She had dedicated her entire life to the Empire. Now, with the Empire gone, she was determined to protect its last remnant—the Emperor.

Vertus stood there, gritting his teeth, caught in a whirlwind of emotions.

He couldn’t bring himself to embrace Sabioleen Tana or to push her away, the last knight of the Gradias imperial family, as she prostrated herself at his feet in desperation.