Chapter 154: Deon Hart, the Betrayer of Humanity

As if what came before was just a warm-up, the Demon King’s army began their full-scale advance towards the Empire’s capital.

Leading the charge was Demon Hart, the Commander of the 0th Legion.

It wasn’t long after hearing this news that another report arrived – one of the Empire’s cities had fallen to the Demon King’s forces. What expression had he worn then?

[So, you finally became a hero. You really are something. Brothers becoming heroes side by side, it’s truly awe-inspiring.]

[You flatter me.]

[Those who have become official heroes have each received a boon from me. You will be no exception. Is there anything you desire?]

Ironically.

[If not, a suitable title and wealth….]

[I have a request.]

The Emperor couldn’t help but think of Cruel Hart instead of Deon Hart.

The words of that foolish human echoed in his mind – someone who couldn’t bring himself to hate the one who had slaughtered his family before his very eyes, choosing instead to embrace him. The Emperor closed his eyes tightly.

[You can guess what I think of you, Your Majesty. As someone associated with the Duke, you must be wary of me. You have every right to be. You don’t have to trust me. In fact, since I am clearly the Duke’s man, it would be better if you didn’t.]

[…You’re being uncharacteristically verbose. What is your request?]

On the day the Empire’s fourth hero was born, in a private audience with the Emperor.

[Just as you granted the previous third hero’s request, I humbly ask that you remain a bystander as I obscure the sight of that child, Deon…]

[…….]

[This request will also be beneficial to Your Majesty.]

The victim knelt before the bystander for the sake of the perpetrator.

The Emperor, suddenly cast in the role of a character in an absurd comedy, understood Cruel Hart’s intentions.

He intended to blind Deon Hart to the truth. The guilt of killing his innocent family must be so unbearable that he’d wish to end his own life.

‘He must know that doing so will put his own life in danger.’

Was he offering himself as bait?

To keep Deon Hart, who hated his family, so focused on taking Cruel Hart’s life that he wouldn’t have time to suspect the truth.

Even though the feeling of a beloved family member targeting your life must be horrific, Cruel Hart was trying to protect his brother with everything he had.

It was strange. He’d always thought stories of such selfless people were tales from distant lands, something out of a book.

Was that why the Emperor felt a weakness for the ‘Harts’? He wondered, granting yet another chance, something uncharacteristic for him, just as he had with Deon Hart.

[As you said, your request is beneficial to me. Why not present it as a ‘proposal’ and ask for something else as your ‘desire’?]

[I have no other desires.]

[…You’re relentless.]

He had shown mercy, only to be met with such a resolute answer.

[Very well. I will grant your request. However, that alone is hardly worthy of a hero’s reputation, so I will grant you additional wealth. Double the amount given to previous heroes should suffice.]

[I have no need for wealth.]

[Furthermore, this request benefits me as well. As long as it remains a benefit and doesn’t become a detriment, I will also help obscure Deon Hart’s vision.]

[…Thank you.]

[There’s no need for thanks.]

He dismissed the gratitude nonchalantly.

[Don’t thank me, accept it with pride. Of the things I grant you, there is nothing you need to bow your head for. I intended to obscure Deon Hart’s vision even without your request, and the wealth is compensation for not bestowing a title upon you. Since you declared yourself the Duke’s man and advised me to be wary, I cannot easily grant you a title.]

Now that he thought about it, instead of requesting to be a ‘bystander,’ Cruel Hart could have asked to ‘obscure’ Deon’s vision himself. He wasn’t foolish, so he must have known that option.

If that was the case, then the reason he deliberately chose ‘bystander,’ accepting the disadvantage….

‘…He’s reproaching me.’

Because the tragedy of the Hart family occurred due to the Emperor’s inaction.

This was his subtle way of getting back at him. It was polite and understated enough for a dull person to miss, but present nonetheless.

He didn’t feel the need to point it out, so he pretended not to notice.

[…So, in the end, I haven’t given you anything. Are you certain you desire nothing else?]

[It is enough. Thank you.]

A faint smile touched his usually expressionless face.

Meeting the gentle warmth in his green eyes, the Emperor stopped himself from saying more, sighing and waving his hand.

[I clearly offered you a chance. You were the one who rejected it, so don’t come crying to me later. Be gone.]

Many things had happened since then, and a considerable amount of time had passed, but the memory remained vivid.

Perhaps it was because it was the moment he personally experienced that even an Emperor couldn’t grant everything, something he had only known intellectually.

But.

‘In the end, your efforts failed.’

Deon Hart had learned the truth.

The only saving grace was that, instead of immediately taking his own life, he had chosen a target for revenge and charged forward. At least he wouldn’t die before achieving it.

He willingly embraced the disgrace of being a traitor to humanity, siding with the Demon Realm and pointing his sword at the Empire. His targets for revenge were undoubtedly the Duke and the Emperor.

‘It’s become bothersome… but at least Deon Hart won’t die immediately. I’ve paid due respect to someone who selflessly cared for others until the very end.’

The moment Deon Hart came to him, demanding to know if he had been aware, the Emperor knew.

Cruel Hart was dead. And he had likely died protecting Deon Hart. That was the only explanation for Deon’s half-mad state.

That was why he had indulged in that frivolous whim.

‘As an Emperor, it was a foolish act.’

He knew it. But what could he do about the urge to show respect to someone who had lived solely for others, from beginning to end?

Perhaps it was a way to alleviate the feeling of defeat he couldn’t inflict upon him while he was alive, or maybe he had sensed the true culprit behind Cruel’s death and wanted to offer a preemptive apology for what was to come.

‘But in the end, it’s just a whim.’

Some might be surprised that the word ‘whim’ applied to him, but those who knew the truth wouldn’t find it so strange.

The Emperor was a contradictory being.

He was someone who had chipped away at himself and twisted to fit the unsuitable position of Emperor. Because of that, the gap between him as ‘Emperor’ and him as ‘Eudoardo Deserte’ was considerable.

Wearing the crown and the monarch’s cloak didn’t define the ‘true Emperor.’ Similarly, even if he changed his speech and corrected his behavior to fit the Emperor’s role, he was still ‘Eudoardo Deserte,’ and in critical moments, his true nature often overpowered his reason.

That was what created contradictions and led to whims.

‘The price is excessively high for a whim, though.’

But what could he do about something that had already happened? He had no intention of regretting it, so he needed to move to rectify the situation.

He picked up his sword after hearing the news of a city’s fall. If it weren’t for the news of the ‘distinguished guests’ arrival,’ he would likely be moving near a battlefield where issuing commands would be easier.

……If it weren’t for the news of the ‘distinguished guests’ arrival’.

“……So.”

Seated at a magnificent round table, the Emperor, idly touching his left knuckles, turned his golden eyes towards the two distinguished guests who had come to see him.

The round table signified equal footing. The moments this table was placed in the Emperor’s chambers were rare.

“What brings the King of Sanguo and the King of Rweche all the way here?”

The people seated at the round table were naturally the monarchs of their respective nations.

The Emperor observed the two kings exchanging glances as if choosing their words, leisurely recalling some information in his head. Sanguo and Rweche were allied nations. Since the two allies had come to him, their purpose was obvious.

‘An alliance proposal? How clever.’

He had heard that the King of Sanguo had ascended the throne with nothing but his sharp intellect. He was indeed quick to grasp the situation.

It was beneficial for the Empire and Rweche to form an alliance to face the Demon Realm. No, they had no choice but to form one. The Empire possessed superior military strength, and Rweche was a wealthy kingdom overflowing with resources.

But what about Sanguo?

‘The leader’s intellect. That’s all they have.’

The alliance between Rweche and the Empire would happen eventually, regardless. From Sanguo’s perspective, it was better to step forward and broker it, earning goodwill in the process. Especially since they were already allied with Rweche.

They would have been connected through Rweche anyway since they were allies, but directly stepping forward to broker the alliance would undoubtedly grant them more influence.

Rweche’s resources, the Empire’s military might. And Sanguo tagging along.

Having analyzed the current situation and completed all his calculations, the Emperor inwardly admired the King of Sanguo’s quick decision-making. Just then, the Queen of Rweche, after exchanging a look with the King of Sanguo, gave a subtle nod and looked at the Emperor.

“As the King of Sanguo and an ally of Rweche, I have a proposal to make.”

“I have an idea, but I’ll hear you out. What is it?”

“…How about we form an alliance?”

As expected.

Instead of immediately answering, the Emperor relaxed his posture as if to say he would hear them out first.

She didn’t seem to expect an immediate answer either, continuing her persuasion without showing any signs of unease.

“This war is between the Demon Realm and the Human Realm, not just between the Demon Realm and the Empire. While it’s inevitable that the Empire will be at the forefront in facing the Demon Realm, the Empire shouldn’t have to face them alone.”

This was the natural stance of a king responsible for a nation and as a human being. The Queen of Sanguo smiled, alluding to the Empire’s situation.

Before the war with the Demon Realm, the Emperor had waged wars of conquest, earning the resentment and anger of all the kingdoms.

Due to that detestable behavior, the kings of other nations were hesitant to offer assistance. And with one of their cities falling to the Demon King’s army, the Empire was in desperate need of support.

‘So, there’s no need to bow down this time.’

Usually, the side proposing the alliance is the one that concedes, but the situation favored him this time.

“As many nations as possible need to join forces. It would be ideal if all the kingdoms of the Human Realm could unite, but since that’s difficult, we have no choice but to gather as many as we can.”

“So, that’s the reason behind your recent movements.”

Yeonhwa, the King of Sanguo, responded with a smile instead of words.

The Emperor had likely heard that Sanguo and Rweche had recently absorbed other smaller kingdoms through peaceful means. He probably also knew that Sanguo, in particular, had managed to bring three kingdoms under its control as vassal states in a short period, though how they had done it was a mystery.

Thanks to that, the major kingdoms in the Human Realm had been consolidated, leaving only four significant ones.

‘So, the reason she emphasized the ‘war between the Demon Realm and the Human Realm’ instead of mentioning the synergy of the Empire’s military power and Rweche’s resources was…’

Proposing an alliance was not a trivial matter. Subtle power plays to gain dominance within the alliance, either during the process or after its formation, were common. As a king responsible for the fate of their nation, thorough preparation before making a proposal was only natural.

The Empire could boast its military strength, and Rweche its resources. So, what did Sanguo have to offer?

‘If you don’t have anything to offer, you have to create it.’

Sanguo’s military strength was average, and its production of various resources was also average. Nevertheless, Sanguo had long been referred to as the southern Empire, despite not declaring itself an empire. The only reason was:

The monarch’s exceptional capabilities.

Currently, Sanguo had a peculiar structure, relying excessively on a single king.

‘Fortunately, one kingdom was easy to persuade since I had helped them ascend the throne during a succession dispute….’

She intimidated one of the other kingdoms appropriately and coaxed them gently, and they quickly submitted. Another kingdom was forced to kneel with a bit of coercion.

That was how she had created Sanguo’s assets.

She had also intended to bring Taehon Kingdom under her control, but Rweche, sensing its potential, had quickly snatched it up. Still, this was enough.

‘At least we won’t be easily suppressed.’

Since she had emphasized the importance of unity within the Human Realm earlier, any attempt by the Emperor to compare Sanguo and Rweche and suppress Sanguo to gain dominance had also been preempted.

Starting from a relatively equal footing, she held her head high and spoke.

“Yes. If Sanguo, Rweche, and the Empire form an alliance, it will unite 3/4 of the kingdoms in the Human Realm. Esperance is a very small and inherently isolationist kingdom, so we can effectively consider all the kingdoms united.”

“…….”