Chapter 352

The search of the surface of the Demon Castle only resulted in Charlotte admitting to a fact she didn't want to acknowledge. She had come to the conclusion that Baliaga had been using her from the beginning, and it was because of the logic that the demons were resurrecting not to save her, but for the resurrection of the Demon King, which fit perfectly with her flawed logic. Therefore, Charlotte was not in a state to do anything more at the moment due to her sense of betrayal. She regretted warning Eleris to run away. At that time, Charlotte was already almost convinced that I was the successor of the Demon King. However, she only gained confidence in Baliaga's intention to save her. Now it was certain. When my identity is revealed, Charlotte will inevitably hate me, but if I can find a way to completely improve Charlotte's condition in the Demon Castle and execute it, Charlotte will realize that my intention to protect her was pure, even if my identity is revealed later. I have a feeling that the situation where my identity is revealed will inevitably come. I have no choice but to extend my tail, knowing that it will be stepped on if it is too long. There was no situation where I could do more exploration, and there was nothing more to see since the surface had already been revealed. I discovered Baliaga's room, which gave Charlotte confidence in something. Therefore, there were also natural questions. The first place I regained consciousness was not Baliaga's room, but the hallway. I am the prince of the Demon World, Baliaga. But I am not just Baliaga. The actual prince of the Demon World, Baliaga, was not a very good prince. He was a lazy, incompetent rascal who had nothing to offer. He just believed in the power of the Demon King and groveled. I used the convenient excuse of losing my memory, but I don't know anything other than the fact that Baliaga is just a worthless bastard. But Baliaga must have had a life before I became Baliaga. So. Even when the Demon King was about to die, Baliaga must have been doing something. That was the moment I possessed Baliaga's body. I saw Baliaga's room for the first time today. The first place I regained consciousness was not the room, but the hallway. It meant that I was going somewhere. Where was Baliaga going before I possessed him? To the battlefield where the Demon King was fighting? In a weak and helpless state at the time, which was almost equivalent to incompetence? An unanswered question that I had never had before came to mind when I arrived at the Demon Castle. The guest room of the garrison headquarters. It seemed to be a room prepared in advance for high-ranking nobles or soldiers who came for inspection. Like a hotel, there were several bedrooms inside, and it was a place where there was no discomfort to stay for a few days. "We decided to share a room because we don't know what might happen to Charlotte at night. Since the bedrooms were already divided, it didn't matter. Tanar went to investigate the underground search situation. Charlotte stared at her robe hanging on the hanger all day and asked why. She wanted to take a shower. While Charlotte was showering, I waited outside the guest room. Charlotte came out wearing a white dress and slippers, drying her hair. She didn't seem awkward living alone since it was a basic requirement at the temple. She didn't seem to have the dignity or authority of a princess, just like an ordinary person of her age. She asked why I kept looking at her. Later, she sat next to me and leaned her head on me. She mentioned the strange talk she heard from Detto, that we would get married. At first, she didn't care about it, but now she thinks it's interesting and that my status as the champion of Tu'an doesn't matter anymore." It is something that cannot be compared to royalty or nobility.

"I don't think emotions are a problem anymore."

Charlotte confesses calmly that she has special feelings for me, but it was a strange confession that didn't have much impact because it was too ordinary.

"I thought the prophecy would definitely be wrong."

Does she now think it's strange that the prophecy isn't coming true? I couldn't find anything to say and just stayed quiet.

"I didn't plan on marrying you."

"But now, even if I wanted to marry you, I don't think you would agree."

I felt like I couldn't breathe at her words. They were so direct that I couldn't find any words to respond with.

"You have this kind of personality, so even if the queen ordered you to marry, you would probably run away."

"W-what do you mean...?"

I didn't know what to do or say. Suddenly, Charlotte hugged me tightly.

I could smell the fragrance of her hair, which was still wet from the shower.

"You don't have to love me, Reinhardt."

"But promise me one thing."

I felt moisture on my neck. Charlotte was crying.

"Don't...betray me."

I could say that. I could say anything to comfort her. I could make that much of a concession. She was emotionally vulnerable, and that's why she was asking me for a favor. She didn't want me to love her, just not to betray her.

"Of course not."

But the moment I said that, I was already betraying her because it wasn't true. As I moved further away from Bali, Charlotte seemed to get closer to me. And the moment I realized that I was being completely used, beyond just getting over my obsession with Bali, Charlotte seemed to cling to me even more. My relationship with Charlotte only increased my guilt. Just as Charlotte was becoming somewhat obsessed with me, I too became obsessed with her. It was a kind of obligation mixed with a sense of guilt that I wanted her to be happy no matter what. That's why it was difficult for me to lie to her every moment, but I couldn't just abandon her. And now, there was a problem because this was not a room for one person. -Suddenly- Charlotte was clinging to me when Sabyolin Tanar returned. Tanar opened the door without knocking and seemed to hate himself for it, while Charlotte hated herself for acting without thinking. Tanar returns and finds Charlotte clinging to Reinhardt in a room that's not meant for two people. Charlotte is embarrassed and quickly retreats to her bedroom. Tanar is unsure of what to do and suggests they need to use the only guest room for sleeping. Charlotte is still embarrassed and suggests they talk about work instead. Tanar then mentions strange things happening during the underground search and shows a map. "The search has been completed up to the 5th underground floor. There were places like storage rooms, prisons, weapon storage, and large breeding grounds for monsters. The size of the facility was so large that the underground part of the Demon King's palace was even bigger than the above ground part. According to the map, most of the underground areas have already been searched and treasures have been recovered. But there is still more to be searched as they found a secret staircase leading deeper underground while searching the 5th floor a few months ago. There is a 6th floor and beyond that is a maze. It is unknown if there are 7th or 8th floors or even deeper levels. The structure keeps changing every time they search and even traps seem to be recreated after being dismantled. The maze is the problem, not the traps. The situation is understandable as even the magicians do not know what kind of magic is involved in the maze and there are too many casualties. The injured are given medicine and there are even those whose life or death is unknown. The maze is at a level where they have to give up the search. The commander deliberately avoided talking about the maze as it is dangerous and could lead to punishment or dismissal if reported to the princess. The maze was not even mentioned in the report to the royal family. However, they are not on a survey but on a search, so Tanar made the commander tell the truth about the underground maze. The structure of the maze is constantly changing and dismantling traps and moving forward is meaningless. Therefore, the commander is waiting for the withdrawal order while wasting time instead of pouring people into the maze and increasing casualties. It may be job negligence, but it cannot be an ungrateful job negligence for the stationed soldiers." In the original work, of course, that maze would not have been excavated. The commander tried to conceal the fact that the maze exists. If the palace knew about this, they would have sent in more soldiers, resulting in numerous injuries or deaths. While human life is precious, now that Saviole Tanar knows about it, it seems like the commander's neck is on the line. It is certain that there is something in the maze, and it is certain that it is related to the secret space. But that's the problem. "It's too dangerous for you or the princess to go there...." There is too high a possibility that I will be stopped from going there myself. It's too dangerous a place for such important people to go.