Chapter 682

Time has passed.

As planned by Charlotte, the wedding will be a simple one.

However, the wedding holds great significance.

It declares the establishment of a new empire and formalizes humanity's subjugation under the Demon King.

The Gradius royal family now kneels completely before the Demon King.

The Emperor has fled.

The last heir of the Gradius royal family, Charlotte de Gradius, will become the Demon King's bride as a half-demon.

Louise von Schwarze, the first empress of the Keurnshtadt Empire, will also become the Demon King's bride, announcing that the Schwarze Kingdom has also fallen under the Demon King's rule.

Olivia Ranche, a pure saint, will betray her faith and become the Demon King's bride, signifying the submission of the Ode Great Divine Sect to the Demon King.

With the existence of the Demon King's bride, it means that the era of humans and demons has begun.

Although there may not be much significance for Harriot de Saint-Fleurant, those who witnessed her performance on the battlefield know that the world's strongest magician has become the Demon King's bride.

A new empire is declared with the wedding.

And then comes the chaos.

Whatever comes after the chaos, whether it be prosperity or something else, it will mark the beginning of another long and winding road.

On the night before the wedding, I sat alone in my room.

I wanted to be alone.

"...."

There was a bottle of whiskey on the table that I had taken out of the display case.

I may be crazy for drinking the night before the wedding, but it doesn't really matter.

I can wake up whenever I want.

I think about what I have lost.

It may seem like a small amount, but I cannot say that I have not lost anything.

Epinhauer.

Royar.

The people of the Rotary Club.

They have all become eternal guests regardless of my victory or defeat.

They cannot come back.

Would they be happy if they saw me now?

I don't know.

Now I think about what I don't know.

Vertus and Savioline Tana have disappeared.

Shanapel and the Royal Mage Corps have also scattered.

Christina and Ludwig, as well as Anna and Louis Ancton, cannot be found.

Immortal has disappeared, but the magic that created Immortal must still exist.

I don't know what happened to them either.

And Antirianus.

I don't know if Antirianus is hiding somewhere and aiming for my life.

The deal was made, and Antirianus would have tried to kill me.

But I didn't die.

I don't know how that happened either.

And.

Again.

The words that said to survive until after the ending.

I don't know what that means either.

Is it not after the ending now?

The Gate incident is over.

Then what is the ending?

If I leave myself alone like this for the rest of my life, is that enough?

What's important is that things like event notifications, information, challenges, and editing no longer seem to work.

Those things are no longer visible.

Since the last editing, that ability seems to have disappeared.

Is living like this the only reward I can receive? "If that's the reward, then so be it. It doesn't seem too bad. If they had tried to take me somewhere after everything was over, it would have been even more terrible. The system has disappeared. After the ending, disappearing without a word seems like a virtue. The remaining world is entirely mine, including cheats, messages, and previews. They won't be in my life anymore. The last preview wasn't evil. I was accepting it as if I was preparing to die like this. In fact, it was to let me know that it would be like that if I accepted the last deal. Yeah, that damn bastard. He helped me at the decisive last moment. Lost things are lost, unknown things are unknown, and finished things are finished. I have to live in the next moment. After taking a sip of whiskey, I looked out the window. The pale full moon rising by the window was faintly shining into my darkened bedroom. Maybe. I don't know how long I can live from now on. In every moment of my remaining life, I can only think of two people when I see the moon. Luna. Ellen. Even if I can't see them for the rest of my life, I can only think of them when I see the moon. Ellen left, and it couldn't be helped. It was dangerous for her to be with me. I know that she left for my sake. I'll forget someday. It was already a miracle that she rescued me from the pit where she fell to save me. I have to be satisfied with just succeeding beyond the boundaries of immeasurable possibilities. Another sip. When I passed the whiskey, hot breath rose up my throat. I don't remember when I last drank. Time will cover everything. It's still a situation that's lucky enough, so there's no reason to think about the missing people. I'll do something in my own place. I'll probably hunt monsters because I'll still be plagued by guilt. I'll try to do the best I can without showing off. I rummaged through my arms and pulled out a round, white talisman. A talisman with the images of the sun and the moon engraved on it. It is estimated to have been made by grinding the bones of something. Ellen got rid of this, and I picked it up. Now it doesn't mean anything. Even if it helped Ellen in reality, she is now free from that bondage. It naturally means nothing to me. The day I see Ellen again will never come. I have to throw away any regrets for the future. Should I throw it out the window? Should I break it with a little force? I thought about it for a long time. For a long time. For a long time. So long that I found it ridiculous to be thinking about whether to throw away such a thing for hours. I had to realize that it was a meaningless object. I can't even throw away something like this. Oh, I can't even throw away this shabby talisman that has lost all its value. "...F*ck." The fact that he couldn't let go of his attachment was something that would last a lifetime. He realized this under the cold moonlight. He took a sip, then another, and another, until he had drunk four glasses. There was a knock at the door. He wondered if it was the escort knight coming to find him. When he opened the door, he saw a familiar face. It was Ellerys. They sat facing each other by the moonlit window. Ellerys had searched for Antirianus' traces as he had instructed, but found nothing. They talked about how they didn't want war or the reconstruction of Darkland. They both didn't want to sit in the position they were in, but they were the biggest cause of everything that had happened. They wondered whose fault it was. "Did Berthus personally order my arrest? Or was it Antirianus, who believed that activating Akasha was the solution? I don't know. I don't even want to know now. It's just a problem that can't be solved by worrying about it. Even if we knew who was at fault, nothing would change. We all share the guilt. No one knows for sure who did wrong, but everyone is saying they did. That's why we all ended up with our own endings. I became the emperor. Ellen disappeared. Charlotte will become the ruler of the new empire. Berthus ran away. Ellerys remained silent, and I drank a glass of whiskey. Everyone reached their own ending. Those who were somewhat responsible for these events reached their own ending. But Ellerys hasn't reached any ending yet. 'Don't go.' '...' But I can't help but wonder why he came to me in the middle of the night, just before my wedding. It's clear that he wants to leave. Otherwise, he wouldn't have such a sad expression. 'Your Majesty... no, Your Highness... um... Bali.' If he leaves, Ellerys is no longer my servant. So there's no need for him to serve me anymore. 'You don't need me anymore.' Ellerys says that with a sad expression. Ellerys' existence was once absolute. Without Ellerys' help, my range of action would have been very limited. No, life itself might have been impossible. Whenever I needed magic, Ellerys always helped me. But that role can now be replaced by Herriot, or anyone else for that matter. 'As you know, I've spent a long time in a place unrelated to Darkland.' '...' 'So, I just have to go back.' In fact, Ellerys doesn't need to be by my side anymore. 'And even though there aren't many people who know that I activated Akasha, it wouldn't be good for me to be by your side.' That's true too. After leaving Darkland, Ellerys spent a long time in a place unrelated to it. 'So, can I go back now?' She's not a creature belonging to the demon world in the first place. She wouldn't have thought to be so deeply involved in Darkland's affairs. She just stayed for a while. But she played a role that was more than intended, played a decisive role countless times, and has countless deep sins. So Ellerys' choice to leave, even for my sake, is somewhat understandable. It's not about going back. She'll try to do something to alleviate her guilt. She'll try to find another cruelty that's no different from self-punishment. Like Ellen did. 'Ellerys stepped back.' '... Yeah, that's right.' Ellerys looks at me with a sad expression. 'If you didn't believe me when I said I didn't want war and killed me then, this wouldn't have happened.' '...' Yeah. If he had killed me then. None of this would have happened." "I wouldn't be in this situation if they didn't find my work suspicious and kill me."

"...."

Ellerys continued to doubt if she could trust me.

But in the end, she couldn't lay a hand on me. I was the first to tell Ellerys that I knew the future.

"And if we didn't activate Akasha to save me, none of this would have happened."

"...."

Antirianus' proposal.

Sarkegar's pressure.

Ellerys activated Akasha and caused the Gate incident.

She said she didn't want to lose me.

Even if it meant changing the world.

She said she didn't want war.

She said she didn't want fighting and death.

In the end, during our time together, Ellerys came to value me more than the world.

That much.

That much.

She stepped back.

"Do you want to be firm on that topic until the end?"

"...."

Ellerys bowed her head silently at my harsh words.

"No."

I shook my head.

"Don't go."

Ellerys looked at me with difficulty.

Ellerys can be replaced by someone else.

There's Lucinil, other Lord Vampires, and Harriet.

"You've stepped back this far."

"...."

Ellerys finally shed tears.

It's impossible to replace someone with someone else.

The vacancy is a vacancy.

"Who can replace the part of Ellerys that occupies my heart? No one can do that."

Someone can sit in that place, but the loss cannot be filled.

"Don't go."

"...."

"I hope Ellerys didn't leave even after stepping back and being told not to go."

Loss is loss.

You can replace the role, but you can't replace the place in your heart.

"I can't bear to go twice when I don't have to go."

It's not criticism.

It's because she stepped back that it turned out this way.

Stepped back until the end.

I hope she doesn't leave because of those harsh words.

Ellerys got up from her seat at those harsh words.

"Okay. I got it...."

And she hugged me carefully.

"I won't go. I'm sorry. I... I hurt you more...."

Thinking that she had caused me pain, Ellerys hugged me for a long time.

The cold body temperature of the vampire.

It was cold, but always warm.

Even now, it was like that, always.

This made me who I am now.

Without this, I couldn't even start.

It may not be a good ending, and it may not be a good process.

But we arrived together until the end.

So I don't want to be torn apart for no reason.

We've come this far.

I want to go beyond this together.

I wonder if my grip that strongly holds Ellerys not to leave is conveyed.

Ellerys trembled and spoke carefully.

"Even if I'm here, it won't make much of a difference...."

"If it hurts that much without me...."

"If it hurts that much...."

"Okay...." "I will watch over this immortal life forever...." I believe the Lord Vampires had a wish for that. "So, I will finish it." Ellerys, the long and endless existence. "I will be with you forever." It seemed like they had decided when to put an end to the countless days. I hugged Ellerys, who promised eternal time, and thanked her. "Thank you, Ellerys." I was just grateful for her words that we started everything together and will end everything together. * * * The scale of the wedding was not appropriate for the owner of the new continent. It was not even a public wedding. That was because it was impossible luxury for humanity on the verge of collapse. Therefore, only the leaders and influential people of each region were invited to the wedding. The fact of the wedding and the proclamation of the new empire will be announced in the palace. Therefore, everyone understands that it is modest. However, the number of those invited was not small. Not only the leaders of each army belonging to the Allied Forces, but also the surviving kings and nobles from each region attended. It was incomparable to the golden age of the empire. Compared to then, the current appearance was closer to a modest banquet held in the palace. And of course, the appearance of those who attended the wedding was full of fear and anxiety rather than anticipation. Can we trust this empire? Can humanity really be rebuilt? Is it right to leave the reconstruction in the hands of the Demon King? Sensitive people already know. Those who raise their flags against the new empire did not come. Of course, there may be those who are here with the intention of exploring, harboring thoughts of raising their flags among those who attended. Then, in the atmosphere where music flowed despite the ominous atmosphere. The one holding the baton was Lanyan Cesol, who always comforted everyone with music in the Allied Forces. Music will be needed even during and after the war. The orchestra played cheerful music under the direction, and people came and went. Of course, not only nobles and royals were present here. "Scarlet." "Ah, Ivya." Of course, Scarlet with red hair was quite noticeable among the attendees. "The dress suits you well. Where did you get it?" "Um... Charlotte gave it to me. She said I would need it." Scarlet blushed at Ivya's envious gaze. Ivya, a telepathic ability user, was also one of the hidden heroes of this war. Ivya's telepathic ability greatly accelerated the speed of communication in the headquarters. Not all heroes are those who fought. There are countless heroes among those who did not fight. All those who came from the Temple were such war heroes. Lanyan Cesol, who played music, and Ivya, a telepathic ability user. Adelia, who was quietly dining with the Duke and his sons. Even those who can no longer be present here were all deserving of the title of hero, having died in the war. Ivya points to Lanyan Cesol, who leads the orchestra, and tells Scarlet, "Looks like Lanyan will become a bard." Scarlet nods her head at the idea of Lanyan traveling the world singing about what they saw and experienced in the war. Adelia is seen dining with the Duke and his sons. Despite the ominous atmosphere, the orchestra plays cheerful music, and people come and go. Ivya is unsure of what to do now that the war is over and her ability to transmit messages quickly is no longer needed. Scarlet mentions that she may become a knight and protect the emperor. This surprises Ivya, as Scarlet used to fear the demon king, but Scarlet explains that Charlotte suggested it, as Scarlet's power is specialized in protecting things. However, Scarlet was convinced that even if she had extraordinary powers, there would be little need for her to protect a demon king who was stronger than herself. Instead, she imagined that in a crisis, the demon king would risk his life to protect his knights, even having such ominous thoughts. Adelia was dining with the Duke and his family, and despite the ominous atmosphere, the orchestra played cheerful music and people came and went. Ivya was unsure of what to do now that the war was over and her ability to transmit messages quickly was no longer needed. The chapter ends with the characters contemplating their future paths after the war. "Let's eat moderately, drink moderately, and go back moderately."

"Now I'm sick of anything that's long."

"The war and the struggle were too long."

"So let's do everything short now."

"Okay, let's proceed quickly and finish it roughly."

Everyone was stunned by the radical speech.

No formality.

Rude.

No procedure.

Haphazard.

Is this the new empire?

They're getting married.

It's a new empire.

Everything was over in just two words.

Is it okay to be a new emperor and a new ruler of the continent like this?

Is this kind of rule really right?

But regardless of what everyone thinks, a new rule has begun.

What can we do?

The guy called the emperor will do it that way. "