Chapter 219: The Broadcast Begins

“…Okay.”

If you’re alright with it.

Deon scanned Dan’s attire roughly before lowering his gaze to examine his own. He couldn’t properly check himself without a mirror, but the clothes Ed had arranged for him looked neat enough at a glance. He absentmindedly raised a hand to touch his clothes… but then subtly retracted his fingers and lowered his hand, feeling Dan’s sharp gaze.

Anyone watching might think he was being overly sensitive about a mere piece of clothing. But Deon, Dan, and even the Demon King knew. In formal settings, attire carried significant meaning.

‘So that’s why they dressed me like this.’

Even though his role was just to show his face without uttering a single word, he was dressed in a black uniform embroidered with gold thread. Considering that he usually wore a white uniform embroidered with gold thread when attending official events in the Empire, anyone could see the clear intention behind this attire.

For instance, it was a way to firmly establish Deon Hart as part of the Demon King’s army, and at the same time, a declaration of provocation towards the Human Realm—more specifically, the Empire.

Dan, on the other hand, was dressed in very ordinary Human Realm clothes. Not the extravagant attire nobles wore, but certainly not shabby either—a neat, trustworthy, and appropriate outfit.

Too luxurious clothes would create a sense of distance from ordinary people, while too shabby clothes could be seen as a sign of poor treatment in the Demon Realm. He must have chosen the middle ground.

As he was simply looking down at his clothes, Ed cautiously spoke.

“If you’re comfortable, I can show you a mirror.”

“No, it’s fine. You know I don’t like mirrors.”

He hadn’t liked mirrors even before, but after Cruel died, he stopped looking at them altogether. Ed knew this well.

When he had first become a Hero, everyone’s reactions were so extreme that he had looked once out of curiosity… but it was disgusting as expected.

He waved his hand with a casual smile, ignoring Dan’s gaze that he could feel.

“Master.”

“Yeah, ready to go? I think I’m ready too, so shall we start right away?”

“…As you wish.”

He knew that wasn’t what the call meant. Nevertheless, Deon pretended not to notice and moved to sit on the chair prepared slightly behind Dan’s designated spot.

Sitting upright, he glanced around and made eye contact with the legion commanders who were keeping watch from a distance. He blankly watched them bow or wave with smiles for a moment, then turned his head back to the front as he sensed someone approaching. Dan, who had passed by him and stood on the platform, was grinning at him.

Dan placed a piece of paper on the table in front of him. A speech? But it didn’t look like just one or two pages at a glance. It was ridiculous to need a speech for a statement that would be at most two minutes long, and there were so many pages. What on earth was it?

Regardless of Deon’s questioning gaze, Dan slowly raised his head. The vast black night sky filled his vision.

However, he couldn’t really lose his sense of reality and remain in a daze like that. He slowly closed and opened his eyes.

…Alright, now then.

“Let’s begin.”

It was their turn to fall into the abyss, following their master.

Dan placed his hand on the prepared mana stone. And then.

A small light floated up from a place slightly away from him.

***

The Empire has fallen, and the Demon Realm’s invasion of the Human Realm has begun in earnest.

Contrary to expectations that the Human Realm, having lost its strongest defense, would be helplessly swept away by the Demon King’s army like autumn crops being harvested, they were surprisingly holding out. But even this admiration was fleeting.

Paul, the second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army, thought.

‘In times like these, it’s always the common people who suffer.’

The higher-ups were too busy focusing on the war to care for the people. So, we should focus on taking care of the common people.

Not to mention, the Salvation Church had collapsed, and a very suspicious and bizarre religion called the Demon Church was expanding its territory at an alarming rate. Stopping that and using it as an opportunity to promote the Revolutionary Army would be good.

Focusing on the class at the bottom, which held the potential of being the largest in number, and seizing public opinion. That would become a very powerful weapon someday.

‘But to do that, we need to shut that mouth first.’

Paul stared silently at the screen floating in the air.

A face unfamiliar yet not entirely new—a man he had seen in a portrait attached to a report—was appearing on the screen.

He knew who it was. The Guild Leader of the largest trading company in the Human Realm, and someone connected to Deon Hart. His name was… Dan, wasn’t it?

‘And the person sitting behind him is….’

Paul’s gaze shifted absentmindedly, then paused, freezing in place.

…Once his eyes landed on him, he couldn’t look away. An overwhelming beauty that made him wonder if it was magically enhanced with a halo.

It was definitely beauty that transcended personal taste, yet a chill ran down Paul’s spine, causing him to frown involuntarily. The other’s name slipped out like a groan.

“…Deon Hart.”

As if on cue, the man with white hair and red eyes smiled sweetly at the screen. Mesmerized by his face, he heard Dan open his mouth with a simple greeting.

His introduction carried a rather ominous meaning.

– Everyone in the Human Realm knows that a Hero has been born.

Of course, they knew. It was the only hope for humanity in crisis.

But why was that being mentioned by him? It was a topic they wouldn’t want to bring up.

– Surely, many are searching for the Hero. Probably everyone in power, anyone with any intelligence, is doing their best to find them. However….

The man on the screen smiled.

The corner of his lips quirked up, a crooked smile spreading across his face. Paul’s expression hardened at the clear mockery.

– Isn’t it strange?

He spread his arms wide and asked exaggeratedly.

It was as if he was performing in a play, but that very appearance drew attention, and gazes that seemed fixed on Deon Hart until then shifted again.

– So many people have been mobilized to search, yet why haven’t they found the Hero yet?

Ah.

He seemed to understand the source of the unease. He knew why a man named Dan was bringing up these words.

His fingertips trembled slightly. Despair reared its head.

Deon Hart, radiating beauty unlike anything before, sat on one side of the screen. And Dan, bringing up the story of the Hero.

– Don’t worry. It’s not because they are incompetent. It’s only natural that they can’t find them. Because the Hero does not exist in the Human Realm.

Was heaven truly abandoning humanity?

Otherwise, how could….

– Deon Hart has become the Hero.

How could he make such a choice?

In an instant, the continent was submerged in heavy silence. Deon Hart on one side of the screen crossed his legs and rested his chin on his fist, propping his elbow on his knee. He folded his eyes into crescents as he smiled, as if to show off, and it was clearly broadcast through the screen.

Paul buried his face in his hands. The shock was so great that he didn’t even spare a glance for him this time.

The Hero, the Demon King’s only adversary, was in the Demon Realm. Standing on the same side as the Demon King, sitting in the position of Commander of the 0th Legion and Commander-in-Chief, pointing the weapon called the Demon King’s army towards the Human Realm. What truth could be more cruel than this?

He regained his senses when Dan’s next statement followed.

– Do you understand now? In other words, it’s only a matter of time before the Demon King’s army swallows up the Human Realm.

…Ah, yes. I see. Thanks to that statement, I understand.

This despair is what they intended. It’s just groundwork for the next statement. We can’t let them manipulate us as they wish, so it’s better to pull myself together quickly.

Hadn’t we prepared for this moment?

– At this point, I will reiterate.

“Preparation status is still perfect, right?”

“Yes. Perfect.”

“Connect it as soon as I signal.”

Do they even know?

That we had prepared in advance.

– The Demon Realm is willingly accepting not only Deon Hart but also humans. We guarantee your safety.

“…Now.”

The small breathing hole seen in despair would bewitch many. It would be problematic to create a situation where we have to be wary of allies when we should be united.

At Paul’s signal, control of the screen shifted to their side.

From now on, I am the representative of humans. My attitude represents the Human Realm and influences public opinion, so I must be careful with my facial expressions. Even if I’m anxious, I must not look anxious, and even if I’m in despair, no one should know.

The man, who had shed his boyishness and become a respectable young man, looked straight ahead with a confident face.

***

Control of the screen was taken away.

The sound of Deon Hart standing up from behind could be heard. The legion commanders’ murmuring voices reached his ears.

Deon’s sharp gaze, as if asking why he hadn’t just skipped the preamble and gotten straight to the point, could be felt, but Dan calmly stared at the screen.

– How long do we have to repeat this meaningless conversation?

It was that man from before.

The one who dared to call Deon Hart a ‘traitor who killed his own brother, defying the heavens’.

By the third time, it seemed they had prepared in advance, as a new mana stone was immediately ready. Instead of immediately displaying a new screen, Dan stared at the man on the screen for a moment.

– To be blunt, what in the Demon Realm should we trust to entrust our lives to? You are the enemy. Moreover, even your race is different. The war between the Human Realm and the Demon Realm has never been decisively concluded. It’s different from wars between nations within the continent, where countless decisive battles have been fought and recorded in history.

The fear of the situation where the Hero has sided with the Demon King was unavoidable.

Perhaps that’s why he chose to confront it head-on. By stimulating fear of the unknown, he aimed to minimize the possibility of anyone turning to the Demon Realm.

– It’s not a conflict between humans. It’s a conflict between one race and another. Our choice will shake the fate of our race. Our lives, the future of humanity, are at stake. If we make the wrong choice, there will be no chance to turn back.

His voice gradually grew louder. Only one voice rose as if piercing the sky.

– And the Demon Realm willingly accepts humans? Yes, that might be possible. But can you dare guarantee that there will be no discrimination?

Dan glanced at the new mana stone placed next to the old one.

…Not yet necessary to step in. Let’s wait a bit longer. If we listen, that statement will come out at least once.

– If you answer yes, I would like to sneer. No way there won’t be discrimination! If there’s anyone who was even momentarily swayed by those empty words, I want to tell you. Since when have we been so naive as to believe such hollow words? Discrimination, both large and small, exists even among the same human race!

The guy clenched his fist and slammed the table. Like a fish in water, he moved his tongue fluently and raised his voice.

– We discriminate against each other by status, by capital, by appearance, by skin color, by all sorts of inclinations! If the same humans are like this, how much worse would the demons be, who are more wicked and unrestrained than humans and follow the principle of the survival of the fittest! Moreover, demons and humans have distinctly different appearances from the start!

The words he was waiting for weren’t coming out, and only unfavorable words were being spoken.

At this point, it would be better to induce it directly. Already, gazes from all directions, urging him to turn on the screen quickly, were sharply stabbing him. Dan placed his hand on the mana stone.

Dan’s screen appeared next to Paul’s screen.

– I’d like to ask you instead. How long are you going to remain trapped in a narrow-minded view?

– ….

– Demons are evil? Because humans discriminate against each other, demons will be worse? Isn’t that too human-centric a viewpoint? Why do you assume so naturally that demons’ nature is inferior to humans? On what grounds?

First, let’s… yes.

Feeling Deon’s piercing gaze, Dan smiled.

Let’s fix the situation first. I let him talk too much.”