Chapter 462

The situation in the city center was somewhat better, but the people living in the refugee shantytowns were wondering if they could survive this winter. The empire couldn't abandon them. In a long line where distribution was taking place, security guards could be seen giving something out. From somewhere in the shantytown, a loud voice could be heard. The people began to reject the chosen ones who served the demon king. The priest of Tu'an walked away with a depressed expression. The situation became more serious as they approached the outskirts. The empire didn't have the ability to support all of the population. If the people they saved eventually died of starvation, what was the point of saving them? The people were dying too easily in places where the empire couldn't intervene. A monster was rampaging through the shantytown. It was a 4-meter creature with the face of a wild boar and the body of a gorilla. It was a single individual, not a group. It wasn't a particularly powerful individual, but if left alone, hundreds of people in the refugee shantytowns would have died. Civilians couldn't do anything about it. In areas with no security, even one monster could kill hundreds of people. There was no time to waste. Activating all of my magical power, I ran towards the scene. Although I haven't reached the master class, I have become much stronger than before. My abilities include mind control, speech, magical domination, weapon skills, anti-magic, and poison resistance. My overall ability rating is demon king, and my combat level rating is S+. Every time I defeat a monster, I gain achievement points. Although I haven't been in many battles lately, I invested my accumulated achievement points in strengthening myself. While I wanted to maximize my magical power, it became impossible after reaching SS rank. However, I was able to develop some new abilities. Although I couldn't advance to the next level, my basic physical abilities and magical power have grown abnormally. Therefore, my magical output is not inferior to other masters, but lacks refinement and versatility. Based on my magical power alone, I am on par with Savoirin Tana, but I don't have the confidence to defeat her. The monster's body collapsed after losing its head. Although I had covered the monster's flesh and blood, it flowed down the magical barrier covering my body, so my clothes were not stained. "In a short moment, the monster killed about fifteen people. It happened before a minute had passed since the monster appeared. The people who were running away were staring at me in disbelief after I single-handedly defeated the monster. I was transformed through Sarkergar's ring, so no one could recognize me. There was no need to explain anything or say anything. At the moment I was about to leave, something started to boil and rise from the monster's corpse. Tentacles. Sharp tentacles hidden in the body of the monster were aimed at me and shot out. I summoned Alsvinir and struck the tentacles. Even though the sound of flesh and sword colliding was heard, the monsters were unpredictable, even with my powerful magical protection. I thought it was dead, but tentacles suddenly sprouted from the corpse. I used the flames of the fire to burn the monster's body and the wriggling tentacles that were thrown away. People were looking at me. The people's gaze was fixed on my sword. Recognizing relics is basic and corresponds to the upper class. However, the appearance of Alsvinir and Tiamat, the two relics possessed by the Demon King, became as famous as Lament and Raphael possessed by Ellen. Therefore, people recognized me. '...Demon King...' One of the people who fell and trembled pointed at me. 'It's the mark of the Demon King!' The mark of the Demon King. It was a new nickname attached to Alsvinir and Tiamat. People began to flee in fear. It wasn't something I expected anyone to recognize. I already knew enough about Gradium. I took out the scroll book and unfolded the teleport scroll. I watched the people who were running away in fear until the light of teleportation swallowed me up. Ellen heard strange rumors before leaving Huangdo and immediately went to the palace. Demon King. As soon as she heard that word, it felt like her mind went blank. She couldn't bear it without knowing what was going on. So even though she was Ellen, she had no choice but to be rude and visit the emperor. Berthus was in his office, holding his temple with his right hand and speaking in a low voice. 'There have been more than a few rumors coming out of the refugee area...' Ellen felt a strange feeling of relief when she heard that. False rumors. People who see things that aren't there in fear and panic are common. Ellen felt like her already fragile mind was cracking even more." "Strictly speaking, it seems like it was Alspringer, not the Demon King. Based on the description of its appearance, it seems certain that it was Alspringer... Then, it must have been Rhinehardt who did it." Ellen's lips trembled as she heard those words. If it was Alspringer that was seen, then there was no doubt that the owner was someone else, and the sighting of the Demon King was true. "You're talking nonsense. That the Demon King brought a monster and killed refugees and disappeared..." A short new story was relayed. Ellen shook her head vigorously. "That's impossible..." "Of course. I don't know why he came, but a monster appeared in the outskirts and Rhinehardt killed it and disappeared somewhere. But who would believe that the Demon King saved people?" The truth that the Demon King killed the monster attacking the refugees and disappeared was buried among the rumors spreading like wildfire. People don't believe the truth that the Demon King saved them because there is no reason for the Demon King to do so. So, believable lies took the place of the truth. "Ellen, Rhinehardt must have felt frustrated..." Ellen and Berthus were feeling the frustration Rhinehardt must have felt in real time. Rhinehardt had no reason to do such a thing. If he had wanted to attack the refugee area properly, he wouldn't have brought just one monster. People believe only what they want to believe in their fear. They don't believe that if Rhinehardt had tried to attack properly, one section of the refugee area would have turned into a sea of fire. The truth doesn't resonate with the crowds consumed by fear and hatred. How can they believe in the Demon King? Ellen and Berthus, who couldn't believe in Rhinehardt under the thought of how to believe in the Demon King, were now in a position where they had to watch the truth turn into a believable lie spreading among the crowds. "That's all well and good, but why did Rhinehardt come here in the first place?" Ellen felt the same doubt as Berthus. At this time, the Demon King, who had not heard any news since leaving the imperial capital, appeared in the imperial capital. Ellen suddenly remembered the strange sensation she had felt a while ago, as if she was being watched. The eerie feeling that she thought was a delusion. Could it be... "No way..." Ellen felt self-loathing at the thought that it might have been Rhinehardt. The same delusion that made her not believe in Rhinehardt. Was she still delusional, thinking that Rhinehardt might be thinking of her? Ellen wondered if Rhinehardt was watching her. She felt foolish for having such delusions. Rhinehardt had no reason to be there. Two years had passed since the tragic events, and Rhinehardt had likely forgotten about himself. He had done nothing wrong to Ellen, only to himself. Ellen couldn't forget Rhinehardt, even though he had betrayed her. She wondered why he had come to the area in the first place. Meanwhile, in the main port city of Lazak, Herriot and the speaker discussed the recent events in the empire. The population had exceeded its limit, and people were starving to death. Crime was rampant, and a monster had appeared in the outskirts. Alspringer had been used to deal with the situation. The speaker worried about the rumors that would spread and the impact they would have. The appearance of the Demon King had already caused fear and panic among the people. Although the people on the Edina Peninsula were at their wits' end with the issue of food, it was still like paradise compared to the mainland. While there were certainly people starving, there was no one dying of hunger.