Chapter 623

On my way to persuade Illyon Valtain, I received a gentle but firm scolding from the Duchess instead of talking to Illyon Valtain himself. Only fools become tyrants. No, there are too many foolish things that someone sitting on the throne can do without proper principles, such as killing people without reason or continuing a conquest war without any justification. However, trying to excessively calculate the situation of outsiders and not showing their fangs can also be tyranny in itself, as it may not kill those who are not sure whether they are enemies or allies in this dangerous era where it is not enough to make a decision to kill someone just because there is a possibility of being threatened. It's not just about killing enemies. Isn't that too human a way of thinking? Once someone is identified as an enemy, they have already shown their fangs, and a fight is inevitable. There is also a way to kill them before they become enemies. I am not King Wae, but how long do I have to justify myself with that? It is not rationalization or excuse to say that I do not have the qualifications to be a king now that I have become one. I had nothing to say to the Duchess who felt that my way was dangerous and uneasy. I agree with that. Even if I put all my strength into protecting the sheep inside the fence, I was living with the thought that the herd of beasts outside the fence might be sheep. The king must think of everything outside the fence as an enemy and protect everything inside the fence. I wasn't doing that. If a lord with such a mentality ruled the land where I and my child live, I would hate the country too. I'm not asking to kill Illyon Valtain. I asked if she would do it again in the future and if she knew how dangerous it was. There is no one who has achieved a country with love, understanding, and mercy. The throne can only be placed on what has been taken away. And that throne must be maintained with blood. If you ask if I didn't know that truth, I did. It's just hard to accept it. The Duchess didn't tell me something only she knew. She told me something that everyone around me knew but didn't tell me. It could be because she felt sorry, or because she knew that I couldn't bear it, or because she didn't want to give me any more burden. The Duchess told me that everyone knew but no one told me. That too, must have been courage. The walk was not too long or too short. We just walked silently in the heavy atmosphere. When we returned to the mansion, Illyon Valtain and Charlotte were outside. Is the conversation over? "Reinhardt, Valtain Kyung wants to talk to you for a moment." "......Really?" I don't know how the conversation was resolved. But judging by Charlotte's expression, it didn't seem like there was a bad result. * * * Confronting Illyon Valtain. Not inside the mansion, but outside. The footprints on the beach we just walked on were still there. I don't know what they talked about, but my heart feels heavier.

"I don't think I ever had a choice."

"...Is that so."

In the original, the commander of the Holy Knights was Leberia Lanche. And it hasn't changed. Olivia Lanche exited the story in the margins. Illyon Valtain was also one of the marginal characters. He only knows about his public affairs. Due to the failure of the radical faction Leberia Lanche, Illyon Valtain became the next commander of the Holy Knights as a moderate. It wouldn't have been his own will. The Empire wanted Illyon Valtain to become the commander of the Holy Knights. And the popes may or may not have received that influence, but they would have wanted to continue to restrain Leberia Lanche, one of the main heroes of the Demon War and a war hero. The popes wouldn't have wanted the influence of the commander of the Holy Knights to become too great. Illyon Valtain became the commander of the Holy Knights due to various circumstances like this. It didn't matter whether he hoped to become the commander of the Holy Knights or not. Even in the situation just before the Gate incident, he was swayed by the opinions of the pope, Ellen, and Olivia. And over time, the popes chose to make the sect their own. He had to withdraw forcibly just a few days later. And now, he was offered to become a holy knight of the Sacred Order again, possibly returning as the commander of the Holy Knights. Looking at it this way, he was a person who was swayed to a terrible extent. As if to show that people can be swayed by greater power and greater will, even if their own authority, strength, and power are not weak. "But now, even the gods I have believed in were all lies." "Is that so." All the teachings about the five gods and the demons were all in vain from the beginning. There was no truth, and even faith was reinterpreted at will. "Even Tiamat has two forms." "...That's right." "Can you show me?" Is hearing not enough? Or do I have to see it with my own eyes to see that the power of the gods is really out of control, as the Sacred Order says? I summoned Tiamat in my right hand, but that's not what they want. -Kurung! Now I don't even need a command. The blackened Tiamat's sword spirit, which responded to my will, began to flow darkness. "...It's a corrupt energy." Illyon Valtain looks at the demonic Tiamat and falls silent. "Is that enough?" "It's enough." When I reverse-summoned the demonic Tiamat, Illyon Valtain gave a bitter smile. "Are the gods wicked, or have we just been chasing after them all this time?" The idea that the gods are beings that go beyond human understanding is the same here. But even if they misunderstand, they lend their power. Illyon Valtain seems to be caught up in a fundamental question: what are the gods? He questions whether the teachings about the five gods and the demons were lies and summons Tiamat, a sword spirit, to demonstrate the corrupt energy of the gods. The chapter highlights the theme of power and influence, as Illyon is shown to be a person who was swayed by greater power and will, even if his own authority and strength were not weak. He reflects on his past and realizes that he always followed the mainstream, without making his own judgments. He now sees himself as a coward and admits that he has always been one. "I now realize that even finding my own direction instead of making choices is a cowardly act, so I might as well be a coward for the rest of my life," Illyon Valtain's attitude seemed desperate. "When I think about how killing my subordinates was the worst choice, I feel like I'm not someone who should make choices. No, this is just an excuse." Illyon Valtain laughs. He laughs for a long time. As always, the lament mixes with the self-reflection of an old man. Illyon Valtain's realization that he has only accumulated cowardice in his life is mixed with sadness.

Illyon Valtain and Tiamat continue to talk for a while. "For a few months, I looked around this country." "It must have been a strange sight to you." The coexistence of humans and demons sometimes feels grotesque to me too. "It was." Although it was a place with few people, he seemed to have wandered around here and there while staying in Lazark. He was probably with the Duchess. Whether the Duchess guided him first or Illyon Valtain asked first is unknown. "I can't help but think it's a strange country." "It must be strange." He must have thought a lot about the landscapes created in Edina Island. "Ogres plow fields, trolls build buildings, orcs stand guard, succubi sleep with parentless children, and mermaids appear on the beach and joke with people... " "A strange country." "If this was possible, why did we do what we did until now?" "Why did we fear and hate each other?" "Did we have to kill each other?" "Why could we say that there was no other choice?" "I wonder where those words started and everyone believed them." "I became curious." Illyon Valtain looks up at the blue sky of spring. "The Demon King... no. Reinhardt." "What?" "In a sense, this country will be a disaster." A disaster. I still think it's much better to live here than in the desert. But he knew what that meant. "Do you know how many people will despair just by knowing that the long and long history of hatred towards each other was meaningless and that it could have been different?" "You can think of it from that perspective." All the wars so far were meaningless. The history of hatred and resentment, which was believed to be right, has now been denied, and the result is in front of us. They could have coexisted and symbiotically existed. The Demon War was not a glorious war. Many people may feel despair rather than hope because it overturns human values and historical views. "Did you despair?" "Yes." Above all, it was Illyon Valtain himself who felt despair in this peaceful and strange sight. The beings he killed, the beings that died. They didn't have to be like that. He must have felt that. "If this was possible. No, if this world existed like this from the beginning, there would have been no Gate incident. The result of distrust towards each other is the reality we have now. If it was a society of coexistence and symbiosis, there would have been no hatred, distrust, or fear towards demons, and there would have been no Demon Realm War, which is the cause of all this. And then, humans invaded the demons. All problems arose because of the lack of faith and trust. In fact, that was the origin of all things in the world. It was ridiculous. The Duchess said to hate everyone beyond the fence. Illyon Valtain realized that all the blood and tears he shed until now were meaningless. Those who do not know war speak of slaughter, and those who know war speak of peace. They speak of the meaninglessness of slaughter. 'It's not just humans who feared demons.' The demons were the same. For a very long time, demons also feared humans. Even Elerys, the ancient demon, once dreamed of the extinction of humanity. The former Demon King Bali also feared humans. That's why he wanted to go to a world without humans. They feared each other. 'I hate this country.' Illyon Valtain said with a firm expression. Because he realized that all the past events could not be justified when he realized that peace was possible. It was not a victory over humanity's absolute enemy, but just a massacre driven by fear. He could only hate this sight because he faced the despairing truth. 'But, it must be a sight that needs to be protected because of the hatred that existed.' In the end, it shows a possibility that was considered impossible. It is inevitable to feel despair, but it is not a sight that should disappear. The truth does not disappear just because it is denied. Just because you know an unpleasant truth doesn't mean you can erase it from your mind. The truth that is stuck in your mind cannot be erased. He seemed to think that he had to protect this truth. * * * After talking with Illyon Valtain, Charlotte and I got on the way back to Lazard. 'We agreed to cooperate, but what did you talk about with him?' Illyon Valtain seemed to have already agreed to cooperate with Charlotte and me when we talked. Living as a coward for life is a difficult thing to admit. 'There was nothing special.' I was hesitant to talk more about his personal issues, whether he only talked to me about cowardice or also to Charlotte. 'He said it was a strange country.' Illyon Valtain was shocked. A strange country. Well, it would be a spectacle that would cause a stir among demon subjugationists. 'Certainly, it's a strange country.' Charlotte nodded as if agreeing. In fact, I came from a world where the essence was no different from humans, and there were no demons. This sight feels the strangest to me. As with most wars, the Demon Realm War was no different." "There was no existence that seemed worthy of living. 'It's not as good as I thought,' she said with a strange expression. 'Oh, no. It's good. I like it.' 'Then smile a little.' At Charlotte's words, I awkwardly smiled. Thoughts kept swirling in my head. The Duchess's words that to maintain peace, there must be no hesitation in killing. Illyon Valtain's words that he had despaired after realizing the meaninglessness of the war that he had considered justifiable slaughter. The Duchess's words were not wrong. But if I live according to the Duchess's words, I will become Illyon Valtain. I must fear my neighbor. Knowing that the end of that fear is now, I am forced to repeat the same history."