Chapter 26

"......Demon King"

"Is that so, are you called that now?"

He muttered something meaningful and looked just as he did in the game. Clad in pitch-black armor that covered his entire body, the only thing discernible was that he was male. His helmet concealed his entire head, making his face invisible.

"Prince Edwin, please step back."

"Hmm, so that man is of the Balshain royal family. Don't think you can die easily."

As I made the prince step back, the Demon King let out a resentful voice. It seemed he harbored a deep hatred for the royal family. In the game, the Demon King only spoke of his hatred for humans and the kingdom, but it appeared to be the same in reality. There might be reasons for his hatred that were not mentioned in the game.

I drew my sword from my waist and faced the Demon King. The dark sword, which was easy to use for casting dark magic, was designed for one-handed use.

As I waited for the right moment to attack, the Demon King spoke.

"Hey, what's your name?"

"My name is Yumiera Dorkness."

"Dorkness... I've never heard of it. Are you from a newly established noble family? Or perhaps a family that has existed since the founding of the kingdom is more unusual.

Well, Yumiera Dorkness, would you betray the evil Balshain Kingdom and join me?"

Oh, a standard question. Would I get half the world?

"I refuse. There is no reason for me to do such a thing."

Why does the Demon King try to recruit me as an ally? Is he just trying to strengthen his forces by exploiting my heart, or is there something else—

"Help... me..."

A voice, barely audible, came from behind the Demon King. The source of the voice, the floor of the Demon King's castle, was hidden from my view by a magical barrier.

"Still alive, are you?"

The Demon King, turning around, lifted Alicia, who was now nothing more than a tattered piece of cloth.

I see, they must have had a protective amulet. It seems that even the most powerful magic that can erase space itself can only be survived once with such an amulet.

The amulet that saved my life also saved hers. William and Oswald are probably alive too, but they must be unconscious, as I hear no sound from them. Either way, they must be in a terrible state, with no means of recovery.

"Alicia!"

Prince Edwin tried to rush towards the Demon King, so I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back.

The Demon King, still holding Alicia by the arm, turned to face us.

"I've heard the stories, but you two are quite a mystery. I quickly understood that the three lying there are trash.

Prince of Balshain, why do you care so much about this one? It would be wise to abandon a fool who would betray his allies in the enemy's camp."

"Alicia has done something unforgivable. Still, I love her, no matter what."

"Ridiculous, what good is love? People will betray even those they love for their own benefit."

"That's not true, I will not betray those I love."

"Then, if I let Alicia die, I will accept my own death. If I do, the Kingdom of Balshain will be free from the threat of monsters. What will you do?"

"That's... comparing a country to an individual. Besides, there's no guarantee the Demon King will keep his promise..."

Alicia, who was being held by the Demon King, became agitated when she saw Prince Edwin's hesitation.

"Ed, no! Help me!"

"Be quiet. No, let me ask Alicia. Choose one to save among you, the prince, and the country. Show me your choice."

The Demon King leaned in close to Alicia, who, under the stress of fear, answered in a scream.

"Please, save me!"

"See, Prince of Balshain. This is what people are like."

"Such..."

Prince Edwin, hearing Alicia's desperate plea for her life, was left speechless.

According to the prince, Alicia was a kind-hearted girl, but she changed in my presence. Given that she was the protagonist of the game, this might be true. However, reality deviated from the game's scenario. She was supposed to overcome various difficulties in her first and second years at the academy, but she never did, which I believe is why her heart remained weak.

"Well, I just wanted to hear who you would kill."

The Demon King said this and began to strangle Alicia. She let out a cry of agony.

"Alicia!"

Prince Edwin tried to rush towards her again, but I sensed something odd about the Demon King's actions. He could have killed her instantly, but he was strangling her slowly, as if to show us.

"Push back and emergency escape!"

I stepped in front of Prince Edwin and pushed him back. At the same time, a spell was cast at me. I barely managed to counter it with my own spell.

"Hmm, a failure. Well, it's fine, I managed to kill this one."

In the Demon King's hand, Alicia hung limply like a doll.

"Ha, maybe the foolish prince could have saved her if he hadn't stepped forward."

I heard no sound of the prince moving from behind. He must have fainted from the shock of the emergency escape.

"I don't sense any respect for the royal family from you... Are you really not going to join me?"

"No, why do you keep offering me the chance to betray?"

"That's because..."

The Demon King tried to answer but I sensed the presence of a spell. It was not aimed at me but at William and Oswald at his feet.

I wanted to interfere with magic, but I might involve them. I ran forward like a cannonball and attacked the Demon King.

I felt the impact of my strike aimed at the Demon King's neck, but it did not seem to interfere with his magic. They were already dead.

"Too fast. You are in a different league of strength."

The Demon King, who had jumped back, remained calm. That's strange, I felt the impact.

In the next moment, the helmet on the Demon King's head shattered into pieces. The face that emerged...

"Me?"

No, it's a man. But with black hair, black eyes, a lack of expression, and a face that closely resembled mine, there was a man who even had a similar aura.

"You do look similar. I was surprised when I saw you. I have no descendants, so perhaps we are distant relatives."

Is the Demon King human? Or was he human?

"Did you offer me the chance to betray just because we look similar?"

"Has this country, no, this world, been difficult for you with your black hair? You must have faced unfair treatment. Hate the world, hate the country, hate people, and let's destroy everything together."

"Indeed, my life has been unjust and difficult. However, the emotion I felt was not hatred but resignation. I thought about running away many times, but I never wished for the end of the world, the disappearance of the country, or the death of people."

I don't... I don't want to think it exists. Realistically, I could do it.

"Why go that far... In the end, you will be betrayed. How do you understand the establishment of this country?"

"The country was founded by the hero and the holy maiden who sealed the Demon King."

The Demon King's secret might be related to the country's foundation.

"Hahaha, the hero and the holy maiden, those commoners."

"Commoners?"

"Have you never wondered? The country must have existed before the Demon King appeared, right?"

Indeed, I had wondered and investigated, but I found no books about the history before the founding of the kingdom. I had assumed they were destroyed in the war against the Demon King...

"Before the Kingdom of Balshain was established, this area was in a state of constant warfare. The first king of Balshain won many battles and founded the country. He had two excellent subordinates, one who used light magic and one who used dark magic."

"Could it be..."

The two subordinates were the first queen, known as the holy maiden, and...

"That's right. I served the King of Balshain. I respected and admired him, and I believed my loyalty was unmatched. He accepted me with my black hair."

The Demon King, who was a loyal subject of the first king. But then...

"But as soon as the country stabilized, I was sent to this remote area. The king feared my power. No, he only wanted my power from the beginning. He must have despised my black hair and dark magic in his heart."

His face, as he spoke of the past, was surprisingly calm, as if reminiscing.

"...So you rebelled?"

"Absolutely not!"

Suddenly, the Demon King's face changed to one of anger.

"Absolutely not. I thought it was inevitable. The king's concern for his people was genuine, and I thought that was enough. I was content to spend my remaining years in this remote area, hearing of the king's achievements through others."

But it didn't turn out that way. And the first to take action was...

"But the king raised an army. I had no troops, so I even pleaded to be sent to the harshest battlefields."

I wondered why he didn't fight back, why he didn't run if there was no chance of winning. Probably, unlike me, he cared about this country...

"I loved this country and its people. But I was betrayed. Even the people who believed the king's rumors and the subordinates I trusted."

Because he loved them so much, because he cared so deeply, when that love turned to hate, it became a terrible hatred.

"And I killed everyone, destroyed everything. When I realized it, I could control monsters. I hated the monsters that threatened the country and its people, but I used them too."

I didn't know the Demon King's story. But I knew the ending of his story.

"But I lost. They avoided direct confrontation and sealed me with ancient magic. And that's how it has been until now. Even after hearing this, will you still side with the Kingdom of Balshain?"

"I think the first king was entirely at fault. But things are different now."

"Those I killed didn't accept you, did they?"

"Well, they were particularly harsh, even among those who disliked me... But His Majesty the King and Prince Edwin are not like that."

"They are just sweet-talking you, anticipating my revival. Even if you kill me and return, you will have no place in this country."

Hearing the Demon King's story, I understood the meaning of the king's words about a "second Demon King" and the idea that it was better for me not to know the Demon King's true identity.

"I want to eliminate the discrimination against black hair. For the sake of the black-haired children who will be born in the future."

That's why I can't become the enemy of humanity. If I did, the discrimination against black hair would only intensify.

"The king said he would support me to prevent the birth of a second Demon King. Probably, in the royal family's narrative, you are portrayed as evil.

However, the king might have realized that you did not rebel. The Demon King is a being born from discrimination and taboo."

I could become a true Demon King, and I might be even stronger and more terrifying than the one in front of me.

"People's hearts change. What is good now may change in a few decades."

"Then I will run away, even to another country or continent. Besides, the only one who could kill or seal me, Alicia, is dead. If I destroy the light-attribute sword, it will be almost impossible to kill me."

The Demon King's angry expression softened slightly.

"You are quite... cold. Do you have no one you love?"

"I... do."

"What if he betrays you?"

I never said I loved a man, but he is a man. If Patrick betrayed me? I think I would run away. I don't want to hurt him, and I don't want to hurt myself by hurting him.

"I would... run away. If he betrays me and it makes him happy, I would accept it."

"I thought the same at first. Seeing the king and his lover, I thought it was fine. But the second betrayal was different."

Perhaps the Demon King and the first queen were lovers. To serve his lord even after losing his lover, his loyalty must have been incredible.

"I have the option to run away, which you didn't have. That's the only difference."

The Demon King had the courage to face it, which I lacked.

"Run away... I never considered it. If I had run away, perhaps a different history would have existed..."

Seeing him imagine a different life, my fighting spirit gradually faded. Maybe I am just too kind, as Patrick said.

"What if you run away now? Pretend you are dead and go far away—"

My suggestion to run away was cut off. He seemed determined to face it to the end.

"I cannot run away after doing so much. I think your goal of eliminating discrimination is noble, but I believe this world should be destroyed."

The final destination for two people who cannot agree through discussion is one: a fight to the death.

"I understand. It seems we have no choice but to fight."

With that, the battle between me and the Demon King began.

We both jumped back and started casting spells from a distance. I had the upper hand in power and speed, but I had to intercept all the spells to protect Prince Edwin, who was lying behind me.

Long-range combat was disadvantageous. I tried to switch to close combat, but the Demon King attacked the floor under my feet.

I jumped to avoid it, and the Demon King smiled. He must have thought I couldn't move in the air. But I am skilled at aerial maneuvers.

I propelled myself forward with magic and approached the Demon King. He was taken aback by my speed, but it was too late.

"I got you."

My strike cut off the Demon King's right arm. I quickly brought my sword to his neck.

"...What are you waiting for? Kill me quickly."

"Are you still thinking about running away...?"

I thought I was prepared, but hearing his story was the cause. The king's advice was on point.

"Enough! With your strength, you must have killed many monsters, right? It's the same, I am no different from a monster now."

"That's not true. You are a human."

A much stronger human than me. A much more principled human than me.

"I don't know if it's kindness, but it will strangle you in the future."

I know, not being able to kill people is my weakness. But I also think it might be okay to leave it as it is.

"One last thing, tell me your name. You are not a monster or a Demon King."

The Demon King's eyes widened, and he smiled in a way that seemed to express both exasperation and amusement.

"My name is—"

On that day, I killed a person for the first time.