Chapter 471

It became night. I thought about watching Charlotte until she fell asleep, but it seemed better not to. The more I tried to be considerate, the more guilty I felt, so it seemed better not to watch her. And I couldn't just talk to Charlotte forever. I headed to the tallest tower in the prosperous city with Sarkergar and Lucinil. There was no better place to overlook the landscape of Razak than here. The view from the rooftop of the tower, which was built in a high place in the first place, was breathtaking. The sea and the vast land behind it were visible to the horizon. The city area, which was gradually expanding, and the vast farmland were visible. It was a dark landscape. Sarkergar would have wanted a land only for demons to live in. But I chose to reconcile with humans and was still rescuing humans and continent's demons. It wasn't exactly what Sarkergar wanted, but I succeeded in building my own country on the land that avoided disaster. Of course, it was a kingdom achieved by conquest. "God, I never thought I'd see such a sight before I died... Actually, I didn't think about it." Sarkergar looks at the port city of Razak and the vast refugee residential area and farmland on the opposite side with a full expression. Sarkergar stands still on the rooftop of the tower, which is open on all sides, as if he will be doing so forever, looking around once, then again, and then again. The sight was like that of a child facing a strange landscape for the first time. "Your Majesty... God, I'm okay with dying now. Even if I die... I'm okay with blessing Your Majesty's new world and dying... anytime... anytime..." Sarkergar is laughing and crying like a child. "Why do you think of dying? There's so much to do that you'll regret it if you die when there's no country." "Whatever it is, whatever it is, I'll die laughing, even if I'm crushed by work, so please give me any command." Sarkergar holds the edge of his robe with both hands and bows his head in front of me. "Great, unique, and sublime." "The absolute ruler of Darkland and all demons. And the lord of humans." "The eternal and immortal demon king of the millennium." "This humble Sarkergar." "I will always obey your orders." Sarkergar looks at me and smiles. He always laughed wickedly and dangerously. However, Sarkergar's expression, which was happier than ever with tears in his eyes and a smile on his face, was not his true self but that of a false human woman. It was enough to make one think that this was what happiness looked like. At first, I was honestly afraid. I thought that someday I might have to remove Sarkergar. And at some point, I felt guilty for not being able to fulfill Sarkergar's wishes. But in the end, I became the lord of Darkland. Sarkergar went down to the top of the tower to see my Darkland up close. Sarkergar, Ephinhauser, Royar, and Lucinil were the ones who blocked the knights of Sabiolin Tana and Shanafel when I left the temple. Royar and Ephinhauser died, and now, after a long time, I was able to recover the other two. "So, it's even sadder. Mortal lives have an end called death. That's why Lucinil seemed to feel both happiness and sadness in the midst of brilliance. 'Why did you help me, Lord?' '...Huh?' Lucinil tilted her head at my question. Lucinil helped me. She could be considered next to Eleris in the council. She even risked her life for me. I couldn't tell if Lucinil had a reason to do so. I only heard that she had received help from Eleris and wanted to repay that debt. Lucinil looks at me. 'When my lifespan reached its limit, it was Eleris who helped me become a vampire.' 'Ah...' I thought it might be something like that. Was it Eleris who helped Lucinil, whose physical lifespan had reached its limit, become a vampire? 'So I was originally a member of the Hwayo clan. Of course, I made a promise. I didn't plan to lead the clan. I could make you a vampire, but I wouldn't take responsibility for it. So Suhyo's lord, who was close to Eleris, took care of me.' 'And then you became Suhyo's lord?' 'There was no other clan for the previous lord of Suhyo to pass it on to. There was only me to receive it.' Lucinil stretches. 'But honestly, I helped you to repay my debt of life, but... I don't know? I'm the type to work hard no matter what.' That statement was strangely funny. 'Immortals inevitably become lazy. So if you fall into that laziness, you become tired of even boredom, and if you get tired of even boredom, you give up on life. I told you before, didn't I? Most Lord Vampires give up on life themselves.' 'That's right.' 'So I don't have much to do, but if I decide to do something, I work hard. Helping you was also in that context.' She risked her life to help me. That sounded a bit strange. 'Is there anything complicated? You can think of me as being just as strange as Antirianus.' 'That kind of strangeness is too convenient for me.' 'Is it?' Of course, Antirianus' strangeness is unpleasant, but it's the same for me. 'Of course, I don't work hard for someone who is ugly or worthless just because I work hard.' Lucinil stretches again, taking a deep breath a few times. 'You're quite a pretty guy, cute and brave. Immortals like us inevitably become so old that we can't help but find someone like you cute when we get too old.' 'We're so old that we know what works and what doesn't.' 'Even if we didn't do it ourselves, we lived through the history recorded in books in real time.' 'Beings who dream too big.' 'Knowing that it's fleeting, knowing that it's impossible, knowing that it's too hard.' "So, would we ridicule those who dream too big, thinking that such things will never come true?"

"Actually, no."

"We have seen many failures, but we have also seen a few successes."

"We have seen one person succeed even if a hundred or even a thousand fail. We have seen eggs break on rocks many times. But the number of broken eggs is countless, while the number of eggs that have been broken by rocks is so small that it can be counted even over a long period of time."

"We have seen many people try the impossible and fail and die, but we have also seen someone succeed."

"So I don't ridicule those impossible attempts."

"I feel sorry for those who fail."

"I thought those who succeeded were great."

"Immortals like me inevitably find beings like you cute, pitiful, and regrettable."

"So I want to do something for you."

"Do you understand, Ark Demon?"

"So, I want to make sure that your story is not remembered as a tragic one. I want to make the story with you, not just watch it from behind history like we always have."

"So the help Eleris gave me is not that important now."

"I will make sure your story does not become a tragedy."

"Antirianus said he didn't care if I died miserably or succeeded."

Lucinil couldn't say the same, but she seemed to cherish me.

There was something that made my heart ache in her specific words, not just saying she would do anything for me.

Lucinil stretches out.

"Still, it was a short time... but it was frustrating not being able to smell the night air outside even once in two years."

I lived comfortably, but I couldn't have lived a free life.

"Linehart."

"Yes."

She called me Ark Demon, then Bali, then Linehart.

Lucinil calls me whatever she wants.

Lucinil smiled at me.

"Thank you for giving me the night air again."

Does she think of it as a gift?

Not resenting what she couldn't pay attention to for two years, but being grateful for it.

If there were only immortals like Lucinil in the world, wouldn't that be quite nice?

As a reward for saving my life, I thank her for the two years of confinement.

I'm grateful for just one sip of the cold night air.

I shouldn't think I'm happy.

It's not yet time to be thankful for something.

"I'm more grateful."

I was grateful for being able to see Sarkergar and Lucinil, and Charlotte again, even if it was a short time.

Also, I was happy.

* * *

After Lucinil and Sarkergar left, I sat alone on the railing of the tower and looked at the streets of Lazarus.

I succeeded in what I wanted.

There were inevitable losses, but they were truly inevitable.

The remnants of the Black Order fled at the death of their leader.

But.

I looked down at the dark abyss beneath my feet.

It felt distant. There were good things, but also terrible things. I did something cruel to Ellen. At the time, I thought it was the best thing to do and I still think I would do the same thing if the situation arose again. Ellen must be suffering. We couldn't talk to each other normally. I couldn't say what I wanted to say, even though there were so many things I wanted to say. It's all stuck in my head to the point where it hurts. Ellen must have suffered more than I did, or maybe even more. I created something that would make her suffer even more. I caused her pain. The physical pain I inflicted on her must have shocked her even more. I want to apologize, but can such a day ever come for us? Maybe it won't. Ellen and I live in different worlds. I created a society of demons and humans here. Ellen must become the only clue of hope for humanity, bound by hatred, fear, and anger. Ellen is more important than the emperor now. So Ellen and I have to live in different worlds. Our best for each other is just to live like this without knowing where the other is. If we meet, we have to fight like we did just now, even if it's forced. We have to show people that we are enemies. Heroes are stronger than demons, and people have to believe that. People have to believe that the demon king cannot attack the empire and humanity because they are afraid of heroes, and that someday heroes will defeat the demon king. That's why I allowed Ellen to have a fatal wound. But what if... What if that fight was necessary and I deliberately lost? I found out today what would happen if I fought Ellen Artois with sincerity. If such a day ever comes, I will definitely lose. I realized this unintended fight today, with a cold, objective truth.