Chapter 466

By executing the princess, the empire can solve many problems. Firstly, it can temporarily alleviate the anger of the crowd looking for a sacrifice. Secondly, by diverting the negative attention towards the execution of the princess from the anger poured on the Great God of Odae, it can redirect the negative attention towards the Great God of Odae elsewhere. Thirdly, the empire can alleviate the distrust of the other imperial countries who were suspicious of the empire because they saw the empire surrounding the cursed princess. However, ultimately, the execution of Charlotte de Gradia only temporarily solves political problems. The symbol of hatred, the demon king, has not disappeared, so only temporary reconciliation is possible. The true intention of this event is only known by the emperor. Ellen wonders if using Reinhardt is the right thing to do, but she cannot erase her doubts. She believes that Reinhardt will come to save Charlotte, but she cannot help feeling envious. The opportunity to bring Charlotte back was created by Berthus, and if Charlotte is brought back, it will ultimately lead to revealing their identities. Berthus is willing to take the risk, but the problem of losing trust in the empire due to the fact that important figures were taken away by the demon king may arise. In three weeks, the empire's elite are busy resolving the gate incident, so the security guarding the execution platform does not seem to be of high quality. It is likely that a deliberately sloppy security system was established. "To make the princess escape from the empire, the emperor plans to do this, and the demon king agrees. It was ridiculous that such an agreement was made without Berthus and me having a word. But the excited crowd was screaming at the news that the empire would finally execute the princess. Many things were different from the empire's scenery I saw before. People's appearances were the same, but everyone was enthusiastic as if something would change if the princess died. What would they think if the princess was kidnapped by me? Would Charlotte remember herself as a poor princess who was kidnapped twice by the demon king and knew nothing? Or would she remember herself as an important collaborator of the demon king who had to be saved by the demon king in the end? What would Charlotte think of me now? I don't know. I just do what I have to do, as always. Berthus was not going to spend much on security to take Charlotte, Lucynil, and Sarkergar. If the elite leads this execution, which is a manipulated kidnapping drama, some may die fighting and actually die. That's not even funny comedy. I will break through the executioners and guards and disappear with mass teleportation. There is no need to see blood. If I have to kill a few people to declare myself as the demon king and unite humanity in fear of me, I can, but I still don't want to kill people forcibly. Anyway, it doesn't require a large army. I brought Antirianus and Heriot. Liana, who hates the empire, is not suitable for this, and Olivia is not suitable for this either. "Kill her! Kill the princess!" We three were watching the crowd's screams from afar. An enormous crowd was screaming for the princess's death, caught up in madness. I see. Three beings tied to the pile of firewood under the scaffold. On the left was Lucynil, a girl with a silver veil. On the right was Sarkergar, who looked like a demon with black wings. And in the middle. Charlotte, with her hair dyed pitch black, was tied up with her head down weakly. Sarkergar, as well as Charlotte, was making everyone aware that the thick black mist flowing out of the princess's body had made her a very ominous presence. Look at that. The princess was cursed. It was not the princess who returned from the demon king's castle in the first place, but a demon disguised as a princess, and now she has revealed her true form. People's screams like that were heard. I don't know if Sarkergar and Lucynil are aware of the situation. But Charlotte seemed to be resigned, lowering her head. It seemed like she was afraid to meet people's eyes. I will save those three. It's an easy task." Pushing through the crowd, all we have to do is split that scaffold and escape using mass teleportation. That's it. It's a very simple task. As I look at the crowd from afar, thinking that we should enter soon, Heriot grabs my robe. "There's a problem." "Problem...?" It seems like a serious problem just by looking at Heriot's complexion inside my robe. "The spatial coordinates of this entire square are all destroyed." "What? What does that mean?" Similarly, Antirianus, who was also flipping his robe, smiled faintly at me. "Oh, great being, it means that there is a barrier that blocks spatial movement throughout this entire square." "What...?" What the hell... If a spatial movement barrier is laid over this entire area, there is no choice but to break through this crowd to rescue them and then escape immediately using a mass teleportation scroll. We have to break through this crowd somehow. Why did Vertus prepare this kind of defense? Could it be that Vertus really wanted to kill Charlotte? There's no way that's true, right? Antirianus starts to chuckle. "Hehe... In the excessive amount of time given, various thoughts have come to mind... not just for us." Other forces. "Other people who may have anticipated that the Demon King would appear in this place, right?" Are these completely unrelated people intervening in this situation? "Oh, great being, what will you do?" Antirianus laughs. When he told me this story, did Antirianus already have a premonition that this would happen? He didn't tell me on purpose. "This... crazy old man..." As if he had heard praise, Antirianus just laughed even harder. * * * The emperor did not go to the execution site. He just watched the scene from the high tower of the palace walls. There was no reason for Vertus to personally conduct the execution, and he had no reason to face Reinhardt in that place. From afar, all Vertus could do was watch Reinhardt rescue Charlotte. The angry shouts of the people boiling in the square could be heard in Vertus's ears. Why do they hate her so much? Why do they hate her so much? Vertus watched the scene with a grim expression. Waiting for Reinhardt to appear. And if he doesn't appear, waiting for the next plan to be executed. "Your Majesty, there seems to be a problem." "...A problem?" "We don't know who installed it, but a spatial movement barrier has been formed throughout the entire area around the square." "...What did you say?" The complexion of the royal magician who stood by Vertus turned pale at his words. Reinhardt's thoughts and Vertus's thoughts were not much different. Vertus knew that Reinhardt had a large number of highly skilled magicians. Therefore, they thought it was a simple matter of breaking into the scene and escaping with teleportation. It was a situation where everything would be resolved once Reinhardt appeared. There was no need for a big fight or collision, and there was a conviction that Reinhardt would not cause large-scale slaughter. However, the fact that a spatial movement barrier was in place means that to escape, they would have to break through the crowd outside the barrier even if Reinhardt appeared. If Reinhardt tried to break through that crowd by force, a massive slaughter would occur. Vertus knows that Reinhardt would not want such a thing. "Who the hell...?" "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. We can't know who installed the spatial movement barrier from this distance." It was too far away. So, this means that other forces have intervened. "Who... knew that the Demon King would come here...?" Ultimately, the execution of Charlotte and two of the Demon King's subordinates in the execution ground became a bait to lure the Demon King here. "Are they trying to kill the Demon King... Reinhardt?" The fact that a spatial movement barrier was installed meant that it was to kill the Demon King without giving him a chance to escape once he revealed himself. If Reinhardt was really here, as Vertus noticed, he would have to realize this situation. It's not his trap, but this situation has become a trap. Although it is known to only a few, today's execution ceremony is a process to bring the Demon King to the emperor and take the princess. Of course, the executioners do not know that intention. If Reinhardt retreats, the execution will be carried out as scheduled. Even if they don't die in the flames of the bonfire, the executioners will somehow strangle the Demon King's two subordinates and the princess. If Reinhardt steps forward, he will be attacked. However, if Reinhardt retreats, the Demon King's two subordinates and Charlotte will die. "Who the hell...?" Vertus was watching the overflowing anger and madness in the square with his eyes wide open. Translation: Knowing that the planned surprise attack would begin, should I rush into the scene to save Charlotte and break through the crowd? Or should I watch Charlotte, Lucynil, and Sarkergar die? Antares enjoys throwing me into these situations. That monster will be satisfied no matter what choice I make. Even if I die due to my first choice, he will be pleased because of my foolish attachment. Even if I successfully rescue them with my first choice, he will still be pleased. He will also be pleased to watch me despair in the reality where I had to exchange my survival and their lives with my second choice. He enjoys whatever I do, so he enjoys putting me in extreme situations. Antares did not advise me on the parts I did not think of. He wants me to come here without knowing that. In the midst of the angry crowd's screams, the execution is about to take place. Will I die if I go in? If I die as an Archdemon to save Charlotte and the others, what will happen to the Edina Islands? The ruling system of the Edina Islands cannot be maintained without an Archdemon. No, they might all die like a bunch of idiots without being able to rescue them. I don't know who is going to attack me. I haven't even reached my master yet. So, it's better not to do anything. I know that I shouldn't save them. Too many lives and souls depend on my life alone. It's a matter of weighing thousands of lives to save only three. Even if I can actually save them, a lord should not risk his life in such a situation. A lord is a commander, not a swordsman. It's reckless. But. If I hadn't done reckless things, I wouldn't have survived. I wouldn't have fought with my seniors. I wouldn't have achieved the ultimate goal of becoming the Demon King through countless reckless acts. I wouldn't have had many relationships, and I wouldn't have lost any relationships. I wouldn't have any relationships to recover. It's right not to do reckless things. But I, who stand on top of the mountain of recklessness, can only think that not doing something reckless is just settling for what I have achieved through recklessness. That's cowardly. That's just defeatism. I became who I am now only through recklessness. It's too reckless to say that I shouldn't do something. A lord should not risk his life in such a situation because he has too much to bear. Discard what needs to be discarded. Take what needs to be taken. That's the only way. But. I have never once thought that I am a suitable existence for a lord. I did not do anything because I could, but because I had to. I have never thought that anything can be done no matter what. "I haven't done everything thinking it's possible. Alone, I'll go," I say, looking at the angry crowd. "Harriet, neutralize the space interference. Antirianus, provide long-range support." Charlotte de Gradias, Sarkagar, Lucinil, I will save you today, and always. I will continue to save you. It's the path of a lord that I take."