Demon King of the Royal Class

Chapter 398

We had been investigating the fabrications surrounding the demon attack when Olivia and I stumbled upon something different.

In Raziern, the capital of the Kingdom of Levaina, the demon attack had shocked the entire populace, and the fear it had triggered had led them to lose their ability to think rationally.

Although the demons sent by the Demon King had vanished without a trace, the lingering effects of the attack still lingered. They couldn’t understand why the Demon King had attacked Raziern, and their fear drove them to find a reason for it.

They distrusted the announcements from their own royal family and the empire, and turned their suspicions onto neighbors they naturally distrusted, labeling them as members of the Demon God Cult. The reasons were often trivial.

It could be something as insignificant as always having a foreboding expression and wandering around while speaking in cryptic terms, or not getting along well with others and staying cooped up at home, or being accused of idolatry for having an unidentified statue in their house. These reasons were hardly worth mentioning.

In extreme situations, unconventional individuals were stigmatized, and people, unwilling to admit that their discomfort was simply because it was unpleasant, would try to turn that person into an object of hatred.

The reason didn’t matter. They just wanted to turn their object of ire into someone deserving of death.

Olivia and I did not intervene. The jurisdiction of the empire did not extend to such incidents. The empire was investigating the Demon King’s attack, but that was as far as it went. There were limits to what Olivia and I could interfere in.

If someone from the empire meddled in the affairs of a vassal state’s royal family, it would be considered interference in internal affairs, and I neither had the confidence nor the obligation to handle such political issues.

Moreover, while I was not a member of the imperial family, since I bore the imperial emblem, acting recklessly would cause trouble not just for me, but for the imperial family as well.

Nominally, I was a beggar who had gained enrolment into the Temple, yet I now found myself contemplating the power struggles between the imperial family and the vassal states. Even more absurdly, I was actually the Demon King, a situation that was nothing short of ridiculous.

We returned to the imperial capital, Gradium, shortly after our visit to Raziern. The fact that I was participating in special activities would have been communicated to Mr. Effenhauser by Sabioleen Tana, so they wouldn’t be worried about me. Or perhaps they were worried, afraid that I might have gone to do something dangerous.

“By the way, the imperial emblem is quite convenient, isn’t it? It allows you immediate access to the warp gate. Should I ask for one too, claiming I’m the champion of Ouen?” Olivia remarked. She found the convenience of returning to the capital so quickly quite appealing.

“Then the Ouen Order would come looking for you twenty times a day, insisting that you return to the embrace of the gods. Are you okay with that?” I replied.

“Ugh, that’s true. Well, I could just inform the imperial family, but I was just saying. I hate it when people bother me more,” Olivia said.

Having just succeeded in shaking off the clingy people around her, she was concerned that if nuisances started clinging to her again, her changed attitude might lead to her throwing punches.

As we headed to the Merchants’ Guild headquarters located in the capital, Olivia quietly looked at me.

“By the way, Reinhart...”

“Yes.”

“Do you remember? The one I faced in the tournament finals...”

‘Radia Schmidt...’

The sudden mention of her almost made me lose my composure, but I managed to keep a straight face.

“Yes, I remember. Radia Schmidt...”

“Have you seen her since we encountered her back then?”

Radia Schmidt, the one who had been spouting nonsense to Olivia. I had cursed at her, telling her to leave Olivia alone. After that, Radia Schmidt had followed me with the intent to kill me, and Eleris had subdued her. Thanks to the information obtained from Radia, I was able to save Adriana and Olivia.

“No. Why? Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her at the Temple either,” I replied, noticing Olivia’s expression darken.

“She’s been missing... since that day,” Olivia said.

Despite her disillusionment with faith and her disdain for those who imposed it, it seemed that Olivia still held Radia as a friend in her heart. We both knew what “that day” referred to without needing to say it.

“... Was she part of that group?” I asked, watching Olivia lift her gaze to the sky.

“Probably... But I didn’t see her there, and I don’t really know who had been there either. The list of casualties from the Order of the Holy Knights isn’t complete... She might have been there...”

Olivia seemed to believe that Radia Schmidt hadn’t just gone missing, but had died in the demon attack. If that were true, it would mean the Demon King saved her but killed her friend.

“It’s just that Radia’s body hasn’t been found... I wasn’t sure, but with no news...”

Olivia seemed to hold little hope for Radia’s survival. It seemed that her need for certainty about the Demon King wasn’t just confined to the manipulated attack on Raziern.

Although Radia Schmidt was technically already a Temple graduate, she had gone missing before graduating. The Temple was likely searching for Radia Schmidt’s whereabouts, and they might have concluded that she had died in the attack on the rogue force of the Order of the Holy Knights.

I wondered how Radia Schmidt was faring in Epiacs. I trusted Eleris would handle things well.

***

Whoosh...

In the ancient castle of Epiacs, Radia sat in the kitchen, watching absentmindedly as chopped vegetables and meat sizzled in an oiled pan, while a pot of stew simmered nearby.

“I’ve noticed before... you’re quite good at cooking,” Radia said cautiously, swallowing the unspoken thought that Eleris didn’t need to eat.

“When you live long enough, you learn to do a bit of everything, even if it’s something you don’t need,” Eleris replied.

Although she was busy cooking, Eleris sat beside Radia without moving a finger. She was preparing three dishes simultaneously using only telekinesis.

Radia watched in awe as ingredients floated into the pot while the fire under the pan, created by magic, was adjusted effortlessly.

Radia didn’t know how difficult this was, but she found it fascinating to watch. The scroll shop frequented by the prince of the Demon Realm lacked cooking utensils, so Eleris couldn’t have cooked there. But since taking responsibility for Radia’s life and moving her to Epiacs, Eleris had brought in various household items.

Although Radia felt lonely, Eleris ensured she was comfortable, providing her with food and shelter.

Radia watched the vampire, who was resting her chin on her hand and gazing out the window, not visually monitoring her cooking.

After living together for several months, Radia realized that, contrary to her initial fear, this vampire was strangely kind. She had expected Eleris to brainwash her into aligning herself with the demon forces, but Eleris had never mentioned such things.

Eleris only cared for her, asking for nothing in return. She simply suggested they chat when she felt bored, and shared ordinary conversations with her. They talked about what life at the Temple was like and how Radia had come into her faith. Over time, Radia found herself sharing personal stories without realizing it.

Radia Schmidt now admitted that she no longer felt hostility towards this very powerful yet very kind vampire.

Even the last remnants of fear, which would have been embarrassing to call hostility, had disappeared.

This cold and desolate ancient castle was lonely, but the warm meals prepared by the vampire were always served on time. She would watch over her quietly, not taking a bite herself, because she felt it would be lonely to eat alone. If Radia seemed to enjoy the food, Eleris would even give her a warm smile.

There was no need to be wary of this vampire. If she could cook so well without even looking, using telekinesis for something as unnecessary to her as cooking, she was clearly someone who mastered skills for the sake of others, not herself. She cared enough to always prepare warm meals to keep her warm in this cold place.

Radia had come to accept that such a being couldn’t possibly be dangerous.

The warm stir-fry and stew were served to her, and she took a careful spoonful, savoring the warmth and care infused in the taste of the food.

“Eleris, why did you become a vampire?” Radia asked.

“Hmm. Why are you curious about that?” Eleris replied with a subtle smile.

“I’m just... curious,” Radia said.

Eleris gave Radia a gentle smile. “Because I didn’t want to die.”

Her words over-simplified the past, and contained no substance.

“It was too frustrating, unfair, and sorrowful to die as I was,” she continued, her self-deprecating words carrying a bit more weight.

“So that’s why,” she concluded. Radia observed her as she spoke, but the vampire’s complicated expression didn’t reveal everything.

“But you know, living too long makes everything dull,” Eleris continued.

“...”

“Anger, sadness, hatred, desire—they all become dull. In the end, you stop wanting anything.”

A being without desires... Radia couldn’t know what intense hatred and anger Eleris once held, but she sensed that Eleris had become a weathered existence.

“Then... Why do you serve the Demon King?

“Hmm...”

Eleris’s smile faded, leaving only sadness. “Because even without desires, there are things that must be done... things that must be watched over... I suppose.”

Eleris’s eyes met Radia’s. “I’m sorry, it’s not a past worth boasting about.”

“Oh, no. Thank you... for telling me... I’m grateful.”

“I’m the one who’s grateful. It must be lonely here, but you don’t even complain...”

Eleris gazed quietly out the snow-covered window, and Radia ate the meal she had prepared.

Radia had no family. She had grown up in an orphanage, demonstrated a talent for Divine Power, and had joined the Alse Order. She had decided to walk the religious path, reading sermons and scriptures.

Now, distanced from faith, Radia reflected on her life.

‘How did I come to serve Alse, and how did I come to believe?’

She had the conviction that she was a chosen being. Unlike other orphans, she had shown talent in Divine Power, and was therefore given special treatment.

Different food was served at her table compared to other children, and when she tried to share it, she was scolded.

The teachers and priests always told her that since God had bestowed talent upon her, it was natural for her, chosen by God, to receive such special treatment. It wasn’t given by the orphanage director but by God, and she should accept it as such.

Radia believed she was a special being, and delved into faith to affirm herself. Just as it was natural for those less capable than her to receive lesser treatment, she accepted that children with talents greater than hers deserved more noble treatment.

She believed that all she needed to do to receive better treatment was to work hard. Talent, power, and reward—these were a natural part of Radia’s life.

Those who proved themselves received treatment commensurate with their achievements. That was Radia’s truth, and thus, she always thought it was only right for someone as exceptional as Olivia to have everything in the world. Olivia’s rejection of that seemed like a sin to her.

At that very moment, though, Radia was eating a warm meal prepared by someone who expected nothing from her. That person didn’t want anything, nor was she forcing her to study or pray. Yet, she always asked her if she was okay and occasionally suggested they use teleportation to escape the cold and enjoy a walk in more pleasant weather.

She expected nothing from her, but was willing to do anything for her.

“...”

Radia realized something.

She had never had a family, but perhaps this was what family was like. A relationship where no one expected anything from another, yet they were more dedicated to each other than anyone else. That was what a family might be.

She knew that Eleris was simply concerned about her comfort and probably didn’t consider her family. But Radia, who had never experienced such warmth, was confused.

The process of coming to believe in God required many things. There was a price for belief. @@novelbin@@

She had to live a better life, read scriptures, and study what God claimed and pursued through prayer. To believe in God, she had to know God, and those around her demanded and urged her to know God.

Now, though, Radia saw Eleris as a harmless presence. Yet she still didn’t know who Eleris was, and Eleris hadn’t told her anything substantial about herself. She was just there, beside her.

Over time, Radia had built up trust in Eleris through the latter’s words, actions, and the small acts of care she showed her. It was a trust different from faith. For the first time, she was feeling this, coming from a being that wasn’t even human.

Radia knew a little about Eleris. She knew there was such a thing called a Vampire Lord, that there were seven families, each headed by a Vampire Lord, that this place was where those Vampire Lords occasionally gathered, and that Eleris was the head of the Tuesday family. She was the head of a family without any other vampires in it.

Radia had learned at least that much.

Before her stood a being that directly contradicted the teachings of the Church of the Five Great Gods, which taught that all corrupt beings were evil. However, Radia couldn’t find a trace of malice in Eleris’s demeanor.

Had God delivered the wrong teachings?

If she couldn’t believe in the kindness and gentleness before her, what in the world could she believe in? This distrust had begun to sprout in Radia Schmidt’s hear a long time ago.

Radia Schmidt thought that perhaps God was wrong. Because of that, when she first experienced this kind of warmth, something inside her broke. No, it might be incorrect to say it broke.

In this cold place, where everything seemed frozen, something might have melted away.

***

In the capital, Gradium, at the Merchants’ Guild headquarters...

“The Guildmaster is currently unavailable,” came the predictable response to our request for an audience.

There was every possibility that prior discussions had taken place, and that the guildmaster had been instructed not to meet with Olivia Lanche if she visited.

“Then when will he return?”

“We don’t know his exact schedule. We only know that he’s been very busy with major internal business issues recently. It could be a few days or over a week before he returns...”

If Owen de Getmora was intentionally avoiding meeting with Olivia, she might never get to meet him. Of course, Olivia had no way of knowing that this incident was a fabrication by the imperial family, so it would be difficult for her to realize that information was being deliberately concealed, and that she was being prevented from meeting a key figure related to the incident.

In the end, Olivia and I left the Merchants’ Guild headquarters without meeting the pivotal figure, Owen.

If he was deliberately avoiding us, it was the best course of action. He could have met us and given us a perfect excuse, but not having the conversation at all was even better. At this stage, he probably wasn’t even under suspicion.

“We traveled a long way for nothing...” Olivia remarked.

We had gone all the way to the southern Kingdom of Levaina and returned to the capital, only to find ourselves unable to meet the Guildmaster.

“We’ll have to choose between returning to Raziern to investigate further or waiting for the Guildmaster to return,” she suggested.

Owen’s absence was actually a relief to me. If Olivia discovered the truth, she might become so disillusioned with humanity that she would truly side with the Demon King.

Even though she had joked about it, without me around, Olivia might actually side with the Demon King.

Olivia said she needed certainty. She hadn’t specified whether she was seeking certainty to be able to hate the Demon King or to hate humanity. If she learned the truth of this incident, she would certainly be pushed to hate humanity.

Unless I revealed myself to be Demon King, Olivia siding with the Demon King given the current situation would be like her willingly walking into a fire.

“Let’s return to Raziern,” I suggested.

Olivia agreed. “Shall we?”

I wanted to avoid any situation in which Olivia might meet Owen.

***

The distance itself was immense, but traveling by warp gate made the journey almost instantaneous. We took very little time returning to the capital and then getting back to Raziern.

“I always wonder how people lived without warp gates...” Olivia began to say, but then fell silent. I was overcome as well.

Olivia narrowed her eyes, staring at a spot in the plaza where the warp gate was located. It had taken us about three hours to leave Raziern, visit the Merchants’ Guild headquarters, and return. Even with the warp gate, traveling to and from the Merchant’s Guild headquarters had taken some time.

We had returned to Raziern in just three hours.

“What... is this?” Olivia murmured in a trembling voice.

In just three hours...

—Burn them! Burn the heretics!

The people who had been accused of being part of the Demon God Cult were tied to stakes, dead.