Chapter 541

They didn't imprison Kono Lint. Anti-Rianus didn't even order it, and they didn't plan to treat him as a prisoner. Kono Lint wouldn't even know where Edina Island was or understand anything about the scenery. He was in a bedroom that was like a guest room, not an open space. There was no conversation about how he was doing or catching up because there was no situation or relationship to do so. Kono Lint slowly nodded when asked if he came to confirm the situation on his own rather than receiving a reconnaissance mission. The three brothers who were hostile to Kono Lint even during the temple were afraid of him, and that hadn't changed. They were even more afraid of him now. Kono Lint scouted Serendia on his own without orders from above and discovered them. Whatever he saw was true, and they were also trying to deal with the Gate incident in their own way. That was all. Kono Lint looked at the narrator silently when he was told that he was the Demon King who caused the Gate incident. Ultimately, it was true, but it wasn't what he wanted. Everything that happened from entering the temple to now was to prevent the Gate incident. It was true that the incident happened because of him, but it wasn't what he wanted. "I have to believe you...?" Kono Lint stammers, still trembling with fear. "The Gate incident... you caused it to seek revenge against humans... and you want it to end too... so maybe you're helping the alliance. But once the Gate incident is over... you might destroy humans like you did in Serendia... if that's what you want... it's a plausible assumption. Anyway, whether it's humans or demons, the Gate incident has to end. So I'm helping the alliance until all of this is resolved. Oh, that's a good idea," I suddenly complimented him, leaving Kono Lint stunned. "It could be a good excuse later." "An excuse? What...?" There's a saying, 'When the Demon King's army helps humans, the alliance becomes confused and temporarily cooperates, knowing they will eventually have to face each other.' With an excuse like that, we could openly ally with the alliance. But at the point where we join hands with the Demon King, will the alliance split into five pieces? People need a reason to accept the Demon King's cooperation. It can be a reason to accept it right away. People have guessed my intentions and that's why all this chaos has happened. So there could be plenty of things they could guess this time too. Kono Lint, who didn't understand what I was saying, was just stunned. Kono Lint doesn't know where he is, even though he's in Razak. I was going to send him away anyway. But before that, I need to shut his mouth so he doesn't talk about unnecessary things. "Anyway, I hope you don't tell anyone that I'm paving the way for the alliance or breaking the warp gate. You haven't seen anything." "Pretend I haven't seen anything?" "Yeah. If this rumor spreads, people might think you're helping me because I have some kind of leverage on you. That's not true. I just need the Gate incident to end. I have no ulterior motives or schemes. That's the truth. If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do, but what can I do if the truth is like that?" The series of events leading up to the Gate incident. I can tell him about that. But there were too many moments where I rambled on and on and got off track. "Really... you didn't want this?" "Yeah." "So you're helping the alliance like I saw today?" "Yeah." This guy saw it firsthand. "My army fought in Serendia. I saw them destroy several Warp Gates and fight desperately against monsters. You can understand my sincerity to some extent because you saw it with your own eyes. 'If this is not your doing... if this is not what you wanted... people don't need to know, right?' Kono Lint asks me. 'People... know that this is all because of you.' 'That's right.' 'I know that too. And... I still can't trust you.' 'That's understandable.' There may be things that are hard to believe even when seen with one's own eyes. Can one easily believe that I, who was kidnapped for no reason, am not the culprit? The one who believes is a fool. 'Why did this happen... if it's really not your fault... isn't it unfair?' Kono Lint asks. 'The truth needs to be known by others. If you are really... innocent. Isn't it wrong to do this?' 'Your words seem like an excuse to persuade me, but I don't know why you need to persuade me... and it's not like anything great will happen if you do persuade me. Anyway...' 'Let's assume your words are true. I still can't believe it.' 'But if it's really not your fault, people blame you for everything... is that okay?' Kono Lint asks. 'It doesn't matter.' 'It doesn't matter?' 'If people know, it will only cause more problems.' Knowing is a disease. If they know, they will hate and resent me. But what if they find out the truth? They will hate Ellen and the royal family, not me. They will hate everyone who blamed me for everything while hiding this secret. They will gain nothing but the spread of hatred. There is no benefit to the truth. That's why I don't plan to tell Kono Lint what really happened. It will only make more people hate me. I didn't want that. I just want the Gate incident to end. I couldn't do anything but say that I hope he understands or believes me about the past. 'The truth that will divide everyone will only make everyone fall.' '...' 'If that's the truth, it's better not to know.' If it's a problem that can be overcome with just my sense of injustice, then I will feel unjust. It's not okay at all, and I can't say it's okay." However, if it's just not okay, you have to endure it.

"So let's just pretend you didn't see anything."

The demon lord fights for the true end of the Gate incident and doesn't want anything else.

The truth that won't be understood and will only cause more problems if it is, even if the responsibility is shared by many, will only increase the targets of hatred and cause everyone to fall into division.

Kono Lint stares at me quietly.

He didn't say anything for a while.

He might not believe me. Even if he saw me fighting with his own eyes, he needs the end of the Gate incident just like me.

He might accept that I'm just temporarily helping the Allied Forces without thinking about the future.

That might be a more credible story.

To those who have lost something, my words are just empty talk.

Even if he believes me, the fact that I am the cause of the Gate incident won't change.

"You... I thought you were a weirdo..."

Kono Lint smirks.

"You were even weirder than I thought."

The word "weirder" had a slightly different, positive nuance than the previous "weird".

"Yeah, who would believe that the demon lord was risking his life to break the Gate in Selandia? They would just think that he's crazy because of the war."

He laughs bitterly.

After examining the Royal Class stronghold in the form of a cat, Kono Lint has grown significantly in ability but is still a bit foolish.

Well.

If Kono Lint spreads the story that no one can believe, it will be a story that not only sounds strange but also turns out to be a lie.

They will hear stories like that while they are in the middle of a crisis.

"So, are you going to keep doing this in the future?"

"As much as I can."

Since I can't cooperate openly with the Allied Forces, I will have to do something like this where my vision doesn't reach, and people will feel suspicious, but I can't just leave it like this.

I will do something like this now, and I will try to do something in the future.

Kono Lint stares at me quietly.

He seems to have understood my words that I pretended not to see anything.

"Okay, then I'll send you to the Allied Forces' stronghold...."

"Hey, but wait."

"What?"

"Well... um...."

Kono Lint scratches his head.

And his face seems to be getting a little awkward.

"Since a long time ago... No, it doesn't seem like the right timing to say this now...."

What is he trying to say?

Kono Lint scratches his head, then looks at me as if he doesn't know.

"That... was it you?"

"...What?"

What is 'that'?

What does 'was it you' mean?

It's only two words, but I couldn't figure out what he was saying.

No, I feel like I know what it is, so I can't figure it out.

Ah.

No way.

Is this X?

No.

The answer was too late!

A surprised expression appeared before the answer!

"Did, did you really do it?!" "Oh, no! N-no, that, um, what, what is that? I have no idea what that is."

This.

Could it be?

Do I have to kill him?