Chapter 650

Everyone was shocked by the story of the beauty pageant, but the next part was even more shocking. The Demon King planned to raid the royal tombs to supplement his Death Knights. He needed Kono Rilnt's help to infiltrate the palace. Rint helped the Demon King, but all the tombs were empty. They went to the national cemetery, but all the bodies had been swapped. Heinrich realized that something suspicious was happening in the empire. After replenishing the Death Knights at the underground tombs of the Saint Knights, the Demon King warned Rint not to get any closer and disappeared. The incident involving Ellen, Heinrich, Louise, and Ludwig was never solved, and Heinrich was shocked to learn that Kono Rint was involved. Erich was surprised that Rint had not said anything until now. "He was shocking enough to have kept such a big secret until now and not even hinted at it," said Kono Rint, surprised at his friends' surprise. "No, you didn't know until now?" "I've been holding back when I could, damn it! How do you see me?" Kono Rint was angry at being treated like a liar. It was a surprising fact for everyone. Kono Rint was a man who knew when to keep his mouth shut. Seeing that, Heinrich let out a bitter laugh. Kono Rint also had his own secrets. "I've met him too." "What?" I thought he had disappeared somewhere and couldn't be found. Surprisingly, Reinhardt had been wandering around here and there. However, those who met Reinhardt were keeping it a secret. "You too?" Kono Rint was also naturally surprised. "It's different from you. I didn't help him... I received help instead." "You received help?" Kono Rint had to cooperate with the Demon King against his will. But Heinrich's case was different. However, this was a very difficult topic to mention. "...If it weren't for Reinhardt, I might have died." It was because he had to talk about the death of his brothers. Reinhardt didn't directly save Heinrich, but if it weren't for Reinhardt's letter, Heinrich would have died. "I don't expect you to understand, Your Majesty... no, Mother... but even your decision to side with the Demon King... it's because you knew." They know that the Demon King tried to save his son and that's why he's still alive. Heinrich and Louise both know what it's like to owe their lives to the Demon King. Heinrich reveals that his uncles, who he thought were his brothers, were actually trying to kill him, and his mother saved him. Heinrich believes in Reinhardt and says that he trusts him. Kono Rint also says that he believes in Reinhardt. "I'll believe that bastard too."

Someone believes in the Demon King as a prince somewhere.

Someone believes in the Demon King as a commoner somewhere.

But even if a person has a status, does their belief have a status?

* * *

Those gathered here are special soldiers, but ultimately they are just soldiers.

It is unknown how much influence their belief in or disbelief in the Demon King will have on the situation.

But the moment has come to discuss such matters.

At this moment when everyone is choosing sides, they must stand somewhere regardless of their will.

Will they believe in the Empire or the Demon King?

Will the Empire survive or will the Demon King survive?

It is simply a matter of choosing based on belief or survival.

"Regardless of whether we believe it or not, is it true that another war will happen after the Gate incident is over...."

Everyone fell silent at Cliffman's words.

What Reinhardt wants, whether he believes it or not, is a separate issue.

In the end, at the moment when some kind of destruction ends, another storm will inevitably begin.

Not everyone can be on the Demon King's side.

Not everyone can be on the Empire's side.

"Do we have to choose one of the two...."

Kaiser asked and Heinrich shook his head.

"You can choose neither."

"....What?"

"Just as it sounds."

Choosing nothing.

"There are also those who hope for both the Empire and the Demon King to disappear."

Choosing nothing can also be a choice.

"Then...what should we do?"

Erhich asked.

What should we do?

Is it a matter of choosing between being cowardly or not, or even hoping for everyone's destruction?

Heinrich smiled bitterly at Erhich's question.

Just a price.

Just judgment.

After that, everyone will have to judge and punish the guilty.

There are those who think that way, and Heinrich knows that they are currently the biggest enemy.

Cliffman, who had been silent, spoke up.

"Heinrich, I have a question."

"...What is it?"

"Ludwig's arm."

"...Ah."

Cliffman asked.

"That must be related to Immortal, right?"

Some kind of spell.

Christina and Louis Ancton, and Anna were related to Immortal.

Ludwig's atmosphere has changed.

As if a puzzle that couldn't be solved before was finally fitting together.

"Surely, it must be."

Heinrich nodded at Cliffman's question.

If you know what Immortal is, Ludwig's recovered arm must be related to it.

So it can't be an ordinary arm, and Ludwig is not in a normal state either.

Everyone in this room must make a choice in the end.

There is only a difference between choosing for survival or choosing because of belief.

Unlike those who have already made their choice, one of the ones who can only hesitate.

"Can you tell me one word?"

Cliffman said so.

* * *

Charlotte and I were sitting facing each other in the king's office, which had become the sub-palace office.

"Hmm...."

"Umm...."

Charlotte and I have the same vague expression. Charlotte was the first to speak. "There's really no problem. The fact that an unspecified number of people know that we are involved in the Allied Forces, and that there are forces that do not sympathize with us, means that our involvement itself had to spread under the Allied Forces." "I knew that." Some have reasons to keep secrets, but even those who have no reason to keep secrets know that the Demon King's alliance is involved. Until recently, I thought that if such a fact spread to the Allied Forces, it might fall apart. In reality, not everyone follows the decisions of the commanders just because they cooperate with me to survive. But with the final battle imminent and most of the actual power being Immortal, even if the Allied Forces fall apart now, it may not be a big problem. The issue is whether suspicion becomes turmoil and leads to division, or whether we reach the final battlefield. The current situation is the coexistence of demon followers who should never have existed and the Imperial Army. But fortunately, it is not long before we reach the capital city of Reizel, Diane. Division must come after Diane is captured. And the rumor of the Demon King's involvement has not spread too widely yet. This is a rumor spread by one of those involved in the leadership. "I don't know about anything else, but Heinrich, did he get beaten up by his mother?" "...Maybe." Charlotte nodded as if agreeing with my strong expression. In other words, Heinrich caused an accident. "And what did he report to his mother?" "...That's right." Heinrich certainly knows that Kernstatt has become our ally. In fact, it is Louise von Schwarz who is attracting other small countries and small forces, not me or Rowen. That's why she is actually exposed to tremendous threats. In other words, she is like the front-line pioneer who is more than Rowen, so it is natural to be plagued by assassination threats. Louise is doing all that at the risk of her life. In the meantime, Heinrich told his friends about Kernstatt's betrayal. "Charlotte, as you said... It's not a big deal because it was bound to happen anyway..." "It's not that hard to understand. And Heinrich did it for you in his own way. The result seems good too." "That's right." It's not that I don't understand Heinrich's feelings, and I can't say it was a foolish act. He did it while thinking about me and his friends. Heinrich probably wanted to prevent a situation where his friends might have to be hostile when they found out that the situation was changing rapidly. And I would have wanted to represent my position. Heinrich's action was to prevent me from having to kill my classmates. Let's not fight among ourselves. But if Louise tells her son that he did such a thing, she can only be surprised. Did he really get slapped by his mother...? "That's not the important thing right now." Heinrich's actions were problematic, but ultimately it was something that Charlotte and I knew would eventually come to light. The message I received was from Louise, who had never met me in person and had to go through Rowen to deliver it. The message was about Louise's son revealing a secret to his friends and asking his mother to deliver a message to the demon king. The message was meant for Rowen, who Louise personally dislikes. According to the message, Louise felt ashamed and humiliated by her son's actions and said that if he were her own son, she would have slapped him. Charlotte agreed with me. Heinrich, you lived as a son... shouldn't you know what you're asking your mother to do? Despite the accident, Heinrich's confession made Kono Rint my ally. This is huge. Erich and Kaiser are still considering their options. Lastly, Cliff delivered a message. It wasn't politically important or influential, but it was still a serious message. "It's not our decision to make, right?" "Yeah, that's true." However, Charlotte and I couldn't make a judgment about the message. Regardless of whether it would have an impact on the situation, it was not a light message. It was a message from Cliff saying he wants to meet Rianna.