Demon King of the Royal Class-Chapter 690

The banquet continued without interruption, as halting it wouldn’t have solved anything. Besides, nothing was certain yet.

The Emperor and Empress Louise discreetly gathered the people they needed to speak with, inside the conference room of the Spring Palace, and posted Scarlett at the entrance to ensure no one could enter or leave at will.

The five empresses and the Emperor were all convened in one place.

The Emperor waited in silence as they all reviewed the contents of the notebooks. Their expressions and reactions mirrored his own.

Some species of monsters were reproducing, and it was impossible to determine which species were multiplying, how extensively, or where.

Despite the gradual recovery, resources on the continent were only about thirty percent compared to the previous era. Exterminating all the monsters at this juncture was simply impossible, and so the task had to be postponed until they had the means to accomplish it. If the information in the notebooks was representative of the new reality, though, then a time where all monsters were eradicated might never come.

The situation might not be as dire as the Gate Incident, but the battle against the monsters would still be unending. Perhaps they might be eradicated one day, but that day seemed awfully far away.

A gloomy shadow settled over the faces of all those in the room.

“We can’t say that we’re too late,” Charlotte said. “After all, given where we are, it has just been impossible to scour the entire continent and kill all the monsters.”

She was right. This was just another disaster following the first, and there had been no way to prepare for it. The fledgling Empire, still struggling to find its footing, could not possibly reach the heights it dreamed of yet. Everyone had hoped such a thing wouldn’t happen, but it did.

The others in the room knew all this without Charlotte having to articulate it. They had given their all, but some things were beyond their control. There was no room for self-blame or self-pity.

“The monsters have begun to establish themselves as a species within the continent’s ecosystem. We don’t know how the changes they will cause will affect us. Monster attacks against the populace are not the only thing to worry about. We should also be wary of the unpredictable events that will unfold as the ecosystem shifts.”

Changes would occur whenever a new species disrupted a stable ecosystem. The emergence of the monsters had already wreaked havoc, leaving many areas desolate and irredeemable. The fact that these creatures were settling in and starting to reproduce posed threats that went far beyond just simple attacks.

“We need to rethink the way the Adventurers’ Guild operates,” Charlotte proposed. “We should offer bigger rewards to those who find breeding monsters, or groups of them.”

Everyone nodded in agreement with Charlotte’s suggestion. Whether they could act on it immediately or not, this was still vital information.

Spreading the information that monsters were reproducing could help avert future crises or disasters. By targeting the nests of breeding monsters, they could eliminate thousands of potential threats before they even appeared.

It was clear they needed to increase the funds allocated to the Adventurers’ Guild and boost the rewards for adventurers. Even when things were running smoothly, there was still a dire shortage of forces required to maintain order.

The Emperor smiled bitterly. A government that relied on ordinary citizens, adventurers, to keep the peace... He remembered a time when he had scoffed at the very idea of such a government.

The Holy Empress quietly flipped through the notebook. “This is, of course, a significant issue and a big deal, but...”

Still holding the notebook, she looked over at Empress Louise. “Empress Louise, you said this came from the Adventurers’ Guild, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Where is the adventurer who turned this in? To reward them for this... we’d have to offer them the very foundations of the Empire. Would they be willing to wait quietly...?”

“After delivering these materials to the Velodosia branch in northeastern Kernstadt, the adventurer vanished.”

Olivia, who had posed the question, along with the other Empresses and the Emperor, had already anticipated that response. They just weren’t the ones to bring it up first.

“The places named in this notebook... They’re all regions we haven’t reclaimed. All these records are from uninhabited zones. And considering the sheer volume, it couldn’t have been documented in just a few days or months. The handwriting is consistent, so it was all recorded by a single person. It’s pretty evident that compiling these records took years...

“I’ve heard that adventurers sometimes head into perilous areas to hunt monsters, but this must have been documented by someone who is actually living in those dangerous zones. If an adventurer of this caliber were registered with the Adventurers’ Guild, we would know their name... And yet they handed over this trove of materials and disappeared without waiting for a reward.”

She paused, her eyes traveling slowly across the room. “It’s not that they don’t want a reward; it’s that they can’t accept one. To have lived in uninhabited areas for what seems like years, in such a state... No ordinary person could do this, nor would they have a reason to.”

An adventurer living in dangerous, uninhabited areas. An adventurer who had delivered materials deserving of immense rewards, but vanished before they could be awarded.

This adventurer was strong enough to survive for extended periods in monster-infested territories, constantly gathering and documenting these materials. Yet after going through all these trials, they disappeared right after handing over their findings.

It seemed likely that human lands posed a threat to this adventurer. They hadn’t simply vanished; they had fled.

The truth was clear to everyone the moment they laid eyes on the notebooks, and it was Olivia who finally voiced what they were all thinking.

The Holy Empress narrowed her eyes. “It’s Ellen, isn’t it?”

Everyone in the room knew that the author of these notebooks could only be Ellen Artorius.

***

“We could do a handwriting comparison,” the Archmage suggested cautiously to the Emperor.

The Temple still had some of Ellen’s belongings from her time there, including test papers and other documents. By comparing the handwriting in the notebooks to those documents, they could confirm whether Ellen had written it.

“Yes, it’s best to be certain. Let’s do a handwriting comparison,” the Emperor agreed.

Both the Archmage and the Emperor already knew what the outcome would be. They couldn’t recall Ellen’s handwriting precisely, but they could see in the neat writing and the concise, accurate drawings that they had likely been done by her. The handwriting and drawings reflected her calm and collected demeanor.

Ellen Artorius had to have known that the moment she provided these records to the Adventurers’ Guild, a report of it would reach the Emperor, and her identity would be discovered. She had to have decided that informing them of this urgent matter was more important.

While they waited for the results of the handwriting comparison, they had to plan their next steps with the assumption that Ellen was indeed the author.

“She must be on the run,” the Emperor said softly.

Ellen would never have been naive enough to think her identity wouldn’t be uncovered. Even if it hadn’t been, she was the most wanted fugitive on the continent, and she had to escape human territories as quickly as possible.

“When and how did these materials come into your possession?” the Emperor asked Louise.

“These materials were deposited last Saturday in Velodosia, a key city in northeastern Kernstadt,” she replied.

After the local branch of the guild reviewed the notebook’s contents and recognized its significance, the materials were sent to Koilen, the capital of Kernstadt, arriving on Sunday morning.

Typically, such materials would be sent to the headquarters of the Adventurers’ Guild in the capital. However, because of the urgency of the matter, the Guildmaster in Koilen decided to report it directly to the Kernstadt royal family.

The materials that had been turned in on Saturday had reached the imperial palace by Monday night.

It was rare for materials from the Adventurers’ Guild to make their way to the imperial palace, and a testament to how highly the guild had evaluated their importance to be.

To ensure the Emperor received the report as swiftly as possible, they bypassed the usual command structure. Instead of going to King Heinrich of Kernstadt, the report was passed directly to the regent. It was not Louise, Regent of Kernstadt, who received the information, but Empress Louise.

Given the urgency, the Adventurers’ Guild in Kernstadt had chosen the quickest route by which the report would reach the Emperor. They had not delayed at all, and adapted swiftly to the situation. Even so, it had taken two days.

“She wouldn’t have been able to leave Kernstadt in just two days,” Louise said, and Charlotte nodded in agreement.

“Velodosia is the key hub city for the reconstruction efforts in northeastern Kernstadt. It’s surrounded by many small and medium-sized cities, along with numerous forward bases and hubs.”

“Ellen must have felt she had no choice but to head into the hub city,” Harriet added. “If she had handed in the materials to a small local branch of the Adventurers’ Guild, they might have been discarded or lost.”

Ellen had taken a significant risk by venturing that deep into human territory. But if the materials had been dismissed by a clerk as unreliable or somehow lost during transport, it would have been disastrous. She would have wanted to avoid such risks at all costs.

“Two days just isn’t enough time to make it out of Kernstadt, no matter which direction she fled. Ellen Artorius is likely still within Kernstadt’s borders, Your Majesty,” Harriet concluded.

The Emperor nodded slightly. “Indeed.”

Since the Gate Incident, her whereabouts had been a mystery, with countless false sightings being reported. This time, for the first time, Ellen’s location was revealed. If they missed this chance, they might never find her again. It was only because she had found it necessary to share this crucial information that even the smallest trace of her had surfaced.

The world was vast, and this was essentially their first and last opportunity.

“Will anyone besides us also realize that Ellen authored these materials?” the Emperor asked unexpectedly. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

“These notebooks passed through many hands to get here. It’s very likely that others will have the same thoughts we did.”

The materials had been scrutinized by many before reaching the Emperor. They had been strictly examined by a range of individuals, from low-level clerks in local Adventurers’ Guild branches to high-ranking officials, guildmasters, and even the top officials of Kernstadt. Each had deemed them credible enough to be passed on before they finally reached the Emperor.

It was clear to anyone who examined these documents that an ordinary person couldn’t have compiled such extensive materials. Therefore, it wouldn’t be hard to deduce that humanity’s missing hero, Ellen, was the one who had submitted them.

While those outside the conference room could not be as certain, they could certainly make that assumption.

The Emperor could almost hear the echoes already, the voices of countless ministers in the audience chamber, demanding the Hero’s capture.

There were things he had to do, even if he didn’t want to. In fact, he had done more things he didn’t want to do than he cared to count. There were also things he longed to do but couldn’t. This matter, however, would be thrust upon him, whether he liked it or not.

Find the Hero.

Kill the Hero.

The echoes in his mind already whispered of that inevitable future.

The Emperor rose quietly from his seat.

“Just... just give me a moment. I need to think,” he murmured.

***

On the upper floors of the Spring Palace, where even the banquet guests rarely ventured, only the faint strains of music drifted through the dim corridor.

The Emperor stood silently, observing the people milling about in the courtyard below. That area was, naturally, alive with guests reveling in the festivities.

Bathed in moonlight, the Emperor watched them in silence. His fingers toyed with an object in his pocket, an item he couldn’t bring himself to discard.

He rolled it gently between his fingers.

Soon, someone approached from behind, an unmistakable presence.

“Reinhart...”

“Yeah.”

It was the Archmage, Empress Harriet, who quietly stood beside him.

“Let’s do it.”

“...”

The Emperor remained silent, unable to find the words to respond.

“I think we should,” she said.

Still, he offered no reply to the Empress’s words.

Or perhaps, he simply couldn’t.

“We don’t know when we’ll get another chance like this,” the Empress said. “We’ve prepared so much for this moment.”

The reality of the monsters being able to reproduce was grim, but this revelation had also presented them with a rare opportunity that might never come again. Missing it could mean losing their only chance.

“I’m sorry,” the Emperor said softly.

“For what? Why now?” Harriet asked, tilting her head in confusion at the unexpected apology. She couldn’t quite understand why she was being apologized to.

The Emperor’s demeanor remained unchanged, his expression unreadable. Eventually, he gently wrapped his arms around the bewildered Empress.

“I’m sorry for putting you in a position to have to say those things,” he murmured.

“Ah...”

“That wasn’t the reason I said I needed some time to think.”

Held in the Emperor’s firm embrace, Harriet offered a quiet smile. “I didn’t say all this to get an apology either,” she said.

“You’re making me feel even more remorseful.”

“What do you want me to do then?” the Empress grumbled playfully as she hugged the Emperor back just as tightly.

There was no time to hesitate. No time to ponder.

“Alright, let’s do it.”

They had all known that this moment would come eventually.

That was why they were always ready.

***

The Emperor soon returned to the conference room.

The deliberation was over. The decision was made. They were ready.

The Hero was one of the last remaining threats to the Empire. Her presence was like a powder keg, capable of setting off a chain reaction if handled carelessly.

“We’ve let this go on for too long.”

Now, though, much of the gunpowder had been removed. Even if it exploded, it would only result in a brief flash. Killing the Hero would not lead to any significant upheaval.

In the early days of the Empire, when many still supported the Hero, such an act could have incited the anti-Demon King forces to rise in fury. It might have even thwarted the establishment of the Empire.

The Empire could not afford to toy with the Hero’s legacy. In fact, the Empire had relied on the hope of the anti-Demon King forces, who still believed in the missing Hero. ‘Someday, the Hero will come and save us all.’ That belief, however, meant that they did nothing but wait for the Hero’s arrival.

Given the sentiment in those early days, the sudden, reckless death of the Hero or a rumor of her death might have caused the populace to erupt in anger rather than fall into despair.

But while those who saw the Hero as their savior wasted precious time waiting for someone who would never come, the Demon King steadily expanded his Empire. During this period, several desperate human rebellions arose, only to be thoroughly crushed. Until finally, the last remnants of the populace still opposed to the Demon King were trapped within their Autonomous Territory, clinging to a faint hope and waiting for a hero who would never arrive.

News of the Hero’s death would plunge these territories into complete despair. Even if anger flared, they were now just a flickering candle, easily snuffed out with a single breath. In the end, the Autonomous Territory, in its despair, would fully submit.

A long time had passed. Countless political upheavals and several wars had come and gone over the years, and those who still believed in the Hero were now like tiny candles flickering in the wind. Even if they flared up, their light could never shine brighter than a single flame.

And so, this was the time...

“As of now, the northeastern border of Kernstadt is completely sealed.”

The time for the Hero to die.