Chapter 609

Deep underground, like a cave, dim lights flickered in what could practically be called a tunnel. It was a deep underground cave full of decaying corpses and eerie idols. In the deepest part of the cave, a woman sat in the center while people around her listened to her story. She talked about the day the sky opened up and how she saw it firsthand. She described the light rain that fell from the sky and how it was overwhelming and despairing, like judgment day. She also talked about the first time she saw the demon king and how sad he looked, like he had given up on everything. Despite this, he spoke about how to deal with the future and how to solve things with as little bloodshed as possible. She talked about how people didn't know about the demon king's kindness and how those who did know didn't speak of it. She also talked about how it was wrong that the world made the kindest person become the worst and how it was unfair that good people didn't receive rewards while bad people took everything. "People say we should live a good life, but that's just a lie. You all know it too. If we don't receive rewards for the good things we do in life, then it's just unrewarded. If the good things we wanted to do in life turn into bad things, then the world is just wrong. The Gate incident may have been caused by the demon king's subordinates, so maybe the demon king is not entirely at fault. But isn't it not entirely his fault if he trusted him? If those who held power and authority listened even a little to the demon king's words and held him in trust, this wouldn't have happened. But no one knows that. This shouldn't happen. Blaming one person for all the sins and punishments like this, and whispering among themselves, is not right. Someone is a hero, someone is an emperor, someone is a holy knight commander, a pope, saying it's for the sake of humanity, for the sake of people, and wandering around. It's not right for us to be the same sinners. Just because he did everything wrong, we should hate him. If we start to be hated too, the world may collapse. Making the demon king bear everything alone for such a ridiculous reason is too unfair, too angry, too sad, and too disgusting. I saved you all until now because there was something similar to my thoughts. The demon king didn't do anything wrong. The demon king is right. The world is wrong. We are also wrong. Those who believe in the Divine Faith are wrong people. I was also wrong for not realizing that the demon king was a prophet and believing in him too late. But in a wrong world, do wrong people come into being? Or do they become wrong people because they live in a wrong world? I don't know that. But I know one thing. If there is something wrong, it should be fixed. That's why I've been educating you all well until now. I'm sorry for hitting you a little at first, but I haven't hit you or put a needle under your nails since you started listening to me. I've even put up with those who believe in the Divine Faith wearing the skin of the Heroic Faith until now. Of course, it was because the Demon Faith was better than the Heroic Faith, but anyway. I've been keeping the veil that hides the truth for too long because of reality. The days when sinners walked the world too confidently pretending not to be sinners were too long. The saying that truth is worthless in front of reality. The saying that there are things that should be buried. The saying that there are sins that should be seen and passed by. The saying that there are truths that should be buried because reality is too cruel, and there are people who should be sacrificed, people who should avoid responsibility, and groups. I've heard too much and my ears hurt now. So. I don't want to hear painful words anymore. The Empire and the Divine Faith, which lost their legitimacy a long time ago, are no longer here for the sake of humanity." "They are just excuses, and they are monsters who exist only for themselves. They say to just stay still, endure a little, and think after all of this passes. I don't believe anymore. The world is just like this. It won't change. The words to endure will continue forever. So, I want to change now. I think it's better to change. If killing the heretics will only make them grow like weeds, then it's better to grow trees. Therefore, you no longer need to live as heretics. This is also the will of the gods. I believe so. That's why, while not believing in the heresy, I was the owner of all heretics. But the reason for destruction is trivial, like a few misunderstandings and mistakes that overlap. The cause of destruction is often not significant. The trigger is not very impressive." Amidst the falling snow, I watched as the vengeful and crazed refugees burned down the headquarters of the guards who had persecuted and oppressed them. The cause of destruction is often trivial and insignificant, and the trigger is not impressive. However, the refugees' anger had reached its boiling point, and the rebellion had begun. The empire cannot fall, and the only way to suppress the refugees' hatred and anger is through fear. The only thing the empire can offer them is terror. The only thing that can bring that terror is violence. Unfortunately, the empire may not be wealthy, but it is strong. More than ever before.

* * *

Can a country that does not protect its citizens, but rather kills them, truly be called a country?

Of course, it can exist.

As long as a country possesses the violence to maintain itself, it can continue to exist regardless of its legitimacy.

A large-scale riot broke out in the Huangdo refugee camp.

The guards were killed, and the guard headquarters were burned down. The guards withdrew in large numbers to Huangdo.

Temporarily, the refugee camp became a lawless zone.

But not everything was resolved with that violence.

The angry crowd had to redirect their arrows of anger somewhere, and they had no choice but to find a scapegoat.

But even that was temporary.

Blood was shed.

The empire deployed large armies and knights to destroy any place that showed signs of violence.

The knight order, made up of giants, was able to ruthlessly slaughter hundreds of people alone.

In addition, when the monster suppression unit, which had been killing monsters, was deployed to suppress the riot, the riot was quickly subdued.

The swords and spears that killed monsters sounded even better to people.

In the face of merciless violence that was almost impossible to resist, violence caused by anger could only subside.

The riot was very brief.

Thousands of guards were killed.

However, within a few days, over a hundred thousand refugees were massacred.

The empire trampled on the outburst of emotion, as if violence was solely the property of the state.

Fear silenced and suppressed everything.

But in the end, all legitimacy disappeared.

Everyone knows that the empire's claim to exist for humanity is a lie.

A momentary riot turned into a tremendous massacre, and the rampaging crowd was overwhelmed by fear and could only suffocate to death.

The empire cannot support the refugees, but it can kill them all within a few days.

It was impossible to overthrow the empire with a riot.

The truth doesn't matter anyway.

People still hate the Demon King.

The only thing that has changed is that people now hate the empire too.

What's the difference between the Demon King and the empire?

People whispered to each other, suffocating, but still alive.