Demon King of the Royal Class-Chapter 697

“I honestly find it amusing.”

Tana tilted her head, intrigued. “Amusing, you say?”

“Seeing you like this.”

“Ah...”

“You’ve never been treated like this before, have you?”

“That’s... true...”

The experiences that Sabioleen Tana was having in this village were entirely new to her. In the past, no matter where she went, she had always been regarded as someone second only to the Emperor himself.

She had earned and maintained her position through sheer skill, not through bloodline or any other privilege, and was the last person anyone would have called incompetent. Even if the orders she received were flawed, her execution of them never was. In fact, she had flawlessly carried out the impossible commands of the last emperor.

Her life had been one never marked by failure.

However, since her arrival in this snowy village, she found herself failing at everything she attempted. She had become so accustomed to failure that even a four-year-old child in the village would offer to help if they saw her struggling with something difficult.

Tana sighed. “I think the people in this village are more competent, wise, and versatile than anyone I’ve ever known.”

“I feel the same way.”

Sustaining life through one’s own strength... For some reason, these two, who had managed the world in the past, were in awe of a community of just three hundred households thriving in such an extreme environment.

Every villager understood their responsibilities and fulfilled them.

In a large system, each part only needed to perform its assigned role. But in a small system, each part had to be versatile enough to function independently to keep everything running smoothly. Someone always had to be ready to step into another’s role, and therefore, everyone needed to know how to do everything.

Sabioleen Tana, who had been a vital part of a much larger system, ironically found herself ill-suited for life in such a small society.

In large systems, specialized tasks were handled by those with the necessary skills, and Tana’s role had always been to wield a sword. But in this close-knit community, Tana found herself critically out of place.

“If only monsters showed up more often, I’d have something to do. But that’s not how it is. I guess it’d actually be odd to wish for that,” she mused.

“True. That is also a blessing,” her companion replied.

“Yes...”

In truth, even in this secluded area, monsters were a rare sight. The few that did appear were usually discovered as lifeless corpses, reclaimed by nature, or were taken down by the village hunters. Tana’s strength wasn’t needed, and she had no reason to draw attention to herself.

To the children, she was just a pretty lady. To the women, she seemed like a clumsy and naive neighbor. And to the elderly, she was a charmingly awkward young wife.

That was Tana’s reality.

“Being treated like a child by kids much younger than me... It’s hard to endure. The hardest part is having no real comeback, though.”

In truth, Tana had lived longer than the oldest elder in the village. To her, everyone in the village seemed like a child, yet they treated her as if she were the one who knew nothing.

And indeed, she knew nothing.

That disparity left Tana sighing more and more each day.

Tana gazed out the window at the falling snow, still holding onto the rapidly cooling cup of water.

“Still... I’m grateful that such a place exists,” Tana said with a smile.

She had once tried to escape the gaze of others by retreating into the wilderness, yet she still found herself living among people. And here, she realized, she could continue to live.

Vertus smiled back at her, sharing in her contentment.

The snowy plains stretched out before them, surrounding the nameless village.

—I heard it’s a boy!

—Oh, is that so?!

News of new beginnings had just started to ripple through the community.

***

A healthy baby boy had been born, and the mother was doing well.

Betten had insisted on joining the hunters despite the snow, eager to host a village feast after his child’s safe delivery. However, neither the mother, the baby, nor Betten could attend the celebration, remaining together as the mother recuperated.

In the village’s central hall, a variety of dishes made from the reindeer meat Vertus had taken down had been prepared, along with other dishes to mark the village’s joy.

Naturally, Tana and Vertus were present at the feast.

“It should have been a girl,” someone remarked.

“Why does it have to be a girl?” another asked.

“If it’s a boy, won’t he end up just as stubborn as Betten?”

“It would be better if the child took after Ella and was a gentle girl, wouldn’t it?”

“They say daughters take after their fathers, so she might be a stubborn girl like Betten.”

“Oh dear, that would be troublesome,” someone sighed.

“Hahahaha!”

Laughter filled the air as people chatted about the arrival of a new life. They sipped on fermented reindeer milk, sharing stories and laughter.

Though they were not wealthy, they weren’t struggling either. This feast would not put a strain on their food supplies, thanks to the village’s skilled hunters and their excellent food preservation techniques. On joyous occasions like this, they could indulge freely.

Vertus and Tana had grown used to the simple fare, and ate without hesitation. Yet Tana’s expression remained somber.

On days like these, certain questions were inevitable.

An elderly woman, who had assisted as a midwife, approached “Violet” with a gentle smile, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.

“So, when is your baby due?”

“S-sorry?” Tana stammered, caught off guard.

On a day like this, what else could that possibly mean?

It was obvious—she was asking about a child. They were asking when Tana planned to have one.

Tana’s face naturally turned pale.

“Seeing what happened today might make it seem intimidating, but we’ve all been through it. It’s not something to fear. It’s a wonderful and sacred event.”

“Ah...”

Tana was older than the woman who had asked her the question, and being questioned about when she planned to have a baby by someone younger than her was enough to drive her crazy.

“Th-that... Well, yes, I’m trying...” Tana stammered as she tried to find her words.

In truth, she had never even attempted it.

The old woman chuckled, her eyes narrowing as she turned her gaze to Vertus. “You two seem like the perfect couple, so why is it taking so long?”

She paused, scrutinizing him.

“Are you a dud?” she finally asked.

Vertus was taken aback. “Wh-what?!”

A dud—someone who looks good on the outside but is missing something crucial...

Vertus was taken aback by the question.

“No! No! My husband is fine! He’s healthy! Very much so! H-he’s overflowing! E-every single day!”

Sabioleen Tana’s voice rose to a shout, her face flushed with emotion. She was more upset about any perceived slander against Vertus than against her, a trait she couldn’t shake. After shouting, though, she realized the weight of her words, and her face turned pale.

Overflowing... What on earth did “overflowing” even mean?

“Every, every day... like... very... very much...” she said, her voice getting quieter.

What was happening every day, and what was so intense about it?

“Sit down, dear...”

In the end, Tana, who had unknowingly leapt to her feet, sank back into her seat as Vertus gently guided her down, unable to meet his gaze.

The old woman, along with others at the feast, chuckled softly. “Ha-ha... Looks like she’s got more energy than the rest of us...”

Teasing this clumsy yet charming young wife was a source of amusement for them. What did it matter if she often seemed lost in her own world and was not particularly skilled at anything? In this village, where everything seemed frozen in time, she always responded with an unexpected liveliness to whatever was said, like a fish leaping out of the water.

The mischievous elders found joy in playfully teasing her.

Her husband was entertaining too, but he was such a gentleman that no matter what tricks they played, he remained unruffled. He was the sort of person that was a model student. He absorbed everything taught to him and carried it out with earnest dedication.

He was useful, but not fun.

His wife, on the other hand, was clumsy at everything she attempted. She always tried her best but often failed, her face a constant mask of worry and restlessness.

She wasn’t so useful, but fun.

In the end, they were both indispensable to the village in their own unique ways.

—Hmm, if it’s every day like you say, how much is that?

—That guy might look weak, but he’s actually strong. Once, he went out alone and returned with a dead bear. Trapping it is one thing, but what do you thing he needs to have in order to carry it back?

—Strong bones?

—That’s a given.

—Then his back must be strong and flexible!

—Bingo. His back is something else.

—Oh...? I never noticed it... But now that you mention it...

—What you see isn’t everything.

.

.

.

As the jokes and whispers circulated, Tana’s face grew increasingly red, and even the usually composed Vertus found his hand trembling as he held his cup.

“S-sorry, sorry, dear...”

“It’s okay...”

Their deep affection for each other was evident from the journey they had shared. Yet, the way they addressed each other so formally struck onlookers as oddly charming, like young lovers newly wed.

They continued to chat about various topics, and all who looked on found it heartwarming to watch. And so, the feast carried on.

Vertus soon noticed the village chief, seated at the head of the table, engaged in conversation with someone who had just entered the hall. The chief, who was both the head of this unnamed village and of the hunters, had led the group in their successful reindeer hunt.

After a brief conversation, the chief left the hall. Vertus noticed something unusual in the chief’s expression, so he decided to keep an eye on the situation.

“...”

“...”

It seemed Vertus wasn’t the only one who noticed. Tana exchanged a knowing glance with him. Something mysterious was afoot.

Vertus shrugged slightly, and Tana responded with a gentle smile.

The feast carried on.

After some time, Betten entered the hall, saying that his wife had fallen asleep.

As the guest of honor, he received many congratulations before taking a seat next to Vertus.

“Radias, brother.”

“Yes, Betten,” Vertus replied, his tone formal.

“Please, you don’t have to speak so formally to me...”

“It’s what I’m comfortable with. Congratulations about today. It’s a boy, right?”

At Vertus’s congratulations, Betten scratched his head sheepishly. Both Betten and his wife, Ella, were much younger than Vertus, yet Vertus had learned more about the village from Betten than from the elders. For this, Vertus was always grateful to him.

“Yes, he’s healthy. I was a bit worried, but Ella seems fine... By the way, how is your wife?”

At those words, Tana blushed. “Oh, um... yes, sorry for rushing out like that...”

“Ella was so concerned. She insisted that I check on you after seeing the baby.”

“Please tell her I’m sorry...” Tana replied, her voice still shaky.

The one who had been assisting with the birth had been more shocked and aghast than the one giving birth, so the midwife had sent her out to rest.

“By the way, Radias,” Betten said, breaking the silence.

“Yes, Betten?” Vertus replied, glancing up.

“Our child still doesn’t have a name,” Betten continued, his expression turning serious. “Could you give our child a name?”

Vertus was caught off guard by the request. “Me? You want me to name him?”

“Yes,” Betten nodded earnestly. “I really want you to name him. It was supposed to be the chief’s duty to name him, but when I asked him about this, he said it was fine...”

Vertus and Tana were taken aback by the request. They had never expected to be asked to name someone, especially since they were still newcomers to the village. Was it really their place to name a child who would grow up as part of the community? The chief had already given his blessing, so there was no reason to refuse, but it was still a shock.

“There’s something special about you. I can sense it.”

“Something special?” Vertus asked, puzzled.

“Yes, something... Well... I’m struggling to put it into words, but you seem different from someone like me. If you name my child, I believe his future will be bright... Yes.”

Hearing Betten’s explanation was eye-opening. And indeed, there was a fundamental difference between him and Betten. It wasn’t something anyone could easily identify through words or actions, but there was definitely a certain aura around him.

Vertus understood Betten’s perspective, but he still hesitated. Naming someone seemed like a simple task, yet it was a decision that could shape a person’s entire life. Did he have the right to do that?

He had abandoned everything about his previous life. Could he really go ahead with something like that?

As Vertus pondered Betten’s request, a firm hand settled on his shoulder.

“Why not do it?”

“Ah... Chief.”

It was the leader of the hunters and the village chief. He had returned unnoticed and now stood beside Vertus, smiling warmly.

“In a village where nothing ever changes, what could be more special than a name given by someone new?”

With the chief not only allowing but encouraging it, refusing the request for personal reasons he couldn’t explain felt like a slight against both his new home and the newborn child.

“Yes, I’ll think about it then,” Vertus replied.

“Thank you, brother!” Betten exclaimed.

Vertus knew he couldn’t choose a name on a whim; it required careful thought. Yet, even after he agreed to consider it, the chief kept his hand on his shoulder.

“One more thing... Could you step outside for a moment?” the chief asked.

“Yes? Oh... of course,” Vertus responded, a bit puzzled.

“And Violet, could you join us outside as well?” the chief added.

“Ah, yes, Chief,” Tana replied, her curiosity piqued.

What could he possibly want to discuss?

As the chief led them out of the hall, he spoke softly over his shoulder.

“You have visitors.”

Those simple words stopped Vertus and Tana in their tracks.

How was that possible?

Who could have come for them?

Had their pursuers managed to navigate the wilderness and find them here?

And if they had, what should they do next?

Though the chief’s tone suggested that nothing was amiss, this was far from a routine occurrence.

It had been an extreme journey for Tana and Vertus to reach this remote and nameless snowy village, and it would have been equally challenging for anyone else to make their way here.

“If you need help, just let me know. I’ll be watching,” the chief said, sensing that this was no ordinary situation.

It was only natural for him to feel that way. After all, both this visitor and the ones they sought had traveled a vast distance, and were unlikely to be ordinary people.

‘Can he truly be of any help?’ they wondered. If they couldn’t handle this visitor on their own, any assistance he tried to offer might be futile. Though Vertus was known for his capabilities, Sabioleen Tana was regarded as a half-wit in the village.

Even so, they had both lived in this nameless village for a long time. While they did not know if the chief could provide any meaningful assistance, they already trusted him, the leader of the hunters and the village, without really knowing why. They felt confident he would guide them through this unfamiliar situation, just as he had taught them hunting, butchering, and how to navigate and survive in the snowy fields.

With that, the chief, Tana, and Vertus left the hall.

Outside, the rest of the village lay quiet in the shadow of the snowy night. All the villagers were gathered in the main hall, and so the only sounds came from within.

They followed the chief to the outskirts of the village. There, two figures in black robes stood waiting. Their robes were dusted with snow, and they stood silently in the middle of the falling snow.

“Take your time,” the chief said as he left them. He looked back over his shoulder, his eyes promising any assistance if needed.

The fact that these two visitors were waiting instead of attacking suggested they had no intention of harming the village. Perhaps they had some business to discuss.

Two figures in black robes stood amidst the swirling snowstorm...

The one on the right slowly pulled back their hood.

“Huh...!”

“You! You are...?”

Both Vertus and Tana were taken aback.

Long hair as dark as midnight.

And a face as pale as moonlight.

“It’s been a while.”

“Anna...?”

There stood Anna de Gerna, the dark mage who had been missing for so long.

The person on the left pulled back their hood as well.

“Louis...”

It was Louis Ankton, the same Louis who had vanished alongside her.

After five years, on a desolate highland which bore no traces of greater civilization, the remnants of the Gradias Empire—long believed lost to time—were finally reunited.