Chapter 222: The Duke’s Downfall

Duke Hart had killed Cruel Hart. This stark truth, brief yet profound, sent shockwaves across the Human Realm.

The revelation of this fact alone would have been enough to cause an uproar, but the public had been reveling in the glorification of the Duke’s supposed demise. Realizing they had been deceived, their fury knew no bounds.

It was a blink of an eye for a name that had soared to unimaginable heights to plummet into the abyss, ending up in the same sorry state as ‘Deon Hart’.

“Duke… no, he’s not even worthy of being called Duke. That bastard deserves to die twice over. To think I praised such a monster, my mouth feels tainted. What a disgusting feeling.”

“If what they say is true, then Starbe Illuster is completely insane. He’s the root cause of this whole mess. How could he act so brazenly? Doesn’t his conscience prick him at all?”

“Who knows what those wicked people are thinking? It’s ridiculous to even talk about conscience when it comes to them.”

In truth, the information they had was extremely fragmented, and they couldn’t definitively say ‘the Duke is the root of all evil,’ and based on the revealed information alone, Deon Hart’s sins were still greater.

But who cared?

Deon Hart’s name had been thoroughly torn to shreds ever since he turned his back on the Demon Realm, leaving nothing more to be ripped apart. In this situation, the name of a noble figure who had newly fallen before their eyes became excellent prey, and the public rushed in like a swarm to vent their pent-up anger.

It was truly unfortunate for whoever had tried to elevate the Duke’s reputation.

Of course, amidst the surging emotions, some who managed to maintain a sliver of reason did raise a small question.

“Wasn’t Cruel Hart a subordinate of the Duke? And a renowned hero of the Empire at that, surely he was a valuable asset. Why kill him?”

“It’s obvious! The Duke’s hyung must have stopped him from killing his younger brother. And that must have annoyed him.”

“To issue an order to kill his own brother just because he was annoyed… that’s truly vicious. But before that, why would the Duke even try to kill Deon Hart in the first place?”

“Ah, I know a bit about that. Back then, the factions among the Empire’s nobles were divided into the noble faction and the imperial faction, and Deon Hart was clearly a key figure in the imperial faction, while the Duke is the leader of the noble faction.”

“So, siblings caught up in a political struggle, huh? Those higher-ups… tsk.”

Soon, they found an answer among themselves and became convinced.

Since these people only needed a new topic to tear into, the ‘reason’ didn’t really matter. Even if left alone, they would have come up with a plausible reason and attached it.

A man wearing a robe pulled at the front of his hood and smiled. Beneath the hood, his lips, partially hidden, curved into a smooth arc.

“Well, there might be other hidden reasons, but for now, it’s alright to see it that way.”

“Honestly, I just can’t understand you nobles! You already have enough power, what more do you want that you have to create this mess? …By the way, who are you…?”

“Just a traveler passing by.”

The robed man fiddled with the money in his hand, tilting his head slightly as if calculating. From under the hood, strands of short, green hair peeked out.

The elegance felt in his tone and the refined grace in every slight movement. No matter how you looked at him, he didn’t seem like someone who should be in such a shabby place. Just who was he?

Could he really be a noble? Silence descended. The man who had been mocking the nobles just moments ago froze, his eyes darting around. His back was becoming drenched with cold sweat.

Amidst the tension, thick with a hint of fear, the robed man, having seemingly finished his calculations, put most of the coins back into his pouch, leaving only a few, and calmly opened his mouth to speak.

“May I ask you a question?”

“Wh-what is it?”

“I heard a rumor that monsters have gathered somewhere around here in dangerously large numbers. I want to know if that’s true, and if so, what the exact location is.”

“Ah, yes! It’s true. If you go out of the city gate and head to the mountain on the right, they’re absolutely swarming! We’re barely holding on, but it feels like it’s only a matter of time before they break through, so we’re all on edge.”

“I see… seems like I came to the right place. Thank you for the information. Please, take this as a token of my gratitude.”

Ting— A coin flew through the air. The man caught it in a daze, watching the robed figure rise from his seat, dumbfounded.

The glimpse of green hair beneath the hood, though clearly seen for the first time, felt somehow familiar.

‘…Could it be.’

A rumor flashed through his mind.

He had been vaguely suspecting it ever since the question about monsters, so in the end, the man couldn’t overcome his curiosity and cautiously called out to the departing figure.

“Where… where are you headed?”

“Where else? You told me about monsters, so I’m going to hunt monsters.”

“Ah…!”

Going directly to the mountain swarming with monsters?

It was certain. It was that person from the rumors. The man’s eyes widened.

The green-haired hero who had suddenly appeared and roamed the continent, dealing with monsters. All that was known about him was his hair color, making even his first appearance ambiguous.

Rumor had it he emerged sometime after the Empire’s capital was trampled by the Demon King’s army…

‘He was a real person after all.’

Honestly, he hadn’t believed it.

A hero wandering the continent, dealing with monsters for the sake of the weak, and countless territories and villages saved by his hand – wasn’t it like something out of a fairy tale?

Realistically, ‘heroes’ are too busy fighting wars to care about monsters in such remote places. Even if they were to protect people, they would protect the higher-ups rather than insignificant commoners like them. That’s why he thought it was just a fabricated rumor created by those exhausted from war and despairing at the Empire’s downfall, to give them hope.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

The man who had placed the money on the counter left without a second glance.

Today, this territory too would be free from the monster threat. The man and his companions blankly watched his retreating figure as he exited the door.

It was the moment another rumor about the ‘wandering hero’ was added.

Outside, Stigma Primiero glanced up at the sky. The blue sky filled his brown eyes. A voice laced with amusement lightly escaped his lips.

“The weather’s lovely today, isn’t it?”

Too lovely for comfort. How long had it been since it last rained?

Had the heavens grown angry from too much blood spilled on this land? For some time now, the sky had not wept.

Rivers and lakes dwindled in size, and ponds had already dried up. The land had long since cracked, and the soil that hadn’t was saturated with unshed blood, rejecting crops.

The number of those dying from war and those dying from famine due to the drought was becoming similar. Truly, it was too much. Stigma clicked his tongue lightly and lowered his gaze.

‘Well, thanks to this, the screen was easy to see.’

The screen, set against the backdrop of a cloudless, clear sky, was astonishingly vivid.

Thanks to this, Stigma could see every scene without missing a thing. Even the minute details of Deon Hart’s appearance and changes in expression, seated on one side of the screen.

‘He had his hair tied up.’

So much time had passed. Stigma, newly reminded of how much time had passed since his first encounter with Deon Hart, soon changed the topic of his thoughts.

That wasn’t important.

‘More importantly, was it Dan, was it?’

The eyes beneath the hood curved pleasantly as he recalled the victor and protagonist of this debate.

‘He revealed the truth so brazenly….’

I wonder if he got scolded afterwards.

He might have tried to hide it, but Stigma saw it. When that audacious subordinate revealed that the Duke had killed Cruel Hart, Deon was flustered.

In other words, it was a completely unplanned situation. Which meant he had acted independently without the slightest hint or instruction…

“Impressive.”

A soft murmur scattered into the air. A voice tinged with faint admiration followed.

“Junior, you seem to have quite the luck with people. You’ve got good subordinates.”

Not just those dogs, but to have subordinates willing to risk danger for him wasn’t easy.

It was a position representing the Demon Realm. One mistake and his head could fly off that very day. Just doing as told would be suffocating and nerve-wracking. And yet, Dan made a dangerous choice for Deon Hart.

“Or perhaps, is it Junior’s abilities that are so great?”

In any case, he should congratulate Dan, his subordinate.

He had won the debate, and despite standing on screen as a representative of the Demon Realm, surprisingly few people spoke ill of him.

It was understandable. The Duke had taken most of the attention, and others were also starting to test the waters, wondering whether to side with the Demon Realm or not. If they recklessly slandered Dan here, it would become troublesome later when they turned to the Demon Realm.

‘At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before the Human Realm collapses.’

I should congratulate Junior on this too.

The false accusation was lifted, and Cruel Hart, who sent him to the Demon Realm, was granted absolution as ‘a brother’s tearful last effort to protect his younger sibling.’ At the same time, the initial goal of internal division within the Human Realm seemed likely to be achieved soon. Wasn’t it perfect?

I was planning to go meet him at the very end, but at this rate, the day we meet might come sooner.

Not bad. Stigma wore a smile on his lips.

‘Yes, Junior. Don’t hesitate, keep moving forward.’

This is for your sake.

Stigma knew some information about ‘sin’ and ‘karma’.

His own demeanor followed the ways of the previous generation, so he knew the more trivial aspects of the past, history, quite well.

Not grand, large-scale history like wars. Of course, he knew that too as general knowledge, but his specialty was the everyday life of the past.

For example, folk songs passed down from a long time ago.

Did you know that ‘Advice Left by Death’ has a second verse?

No, before that, do you even know ‘Advice Left by Death’?

Even if you know the first verse’s lyrics and tune, you wouldn’t know the second verse or the title.

The title and second verse, lost in the process of oral transmission. Stigma, who luckily discovered a book related to it, combined it with information obtained from other myths to gain new information.

So, Junior, let me dare to give you advice.

“If you must commit sins, strive to commit the greatest sin of all.”

This is for my purpose and also for your own sake.

Commit the greatest sin—

Humming the forgotten second verse of an old folk song, he moved his steps. He passed by the gatekeepers at the city gate, who, despite their visibly exhausted appearances, tried to dissuade him, saying it was dangerous and that he should leave the monster problem to them, and headed out towards the mountain.

Now was the time to move for honor.

If someone recognized him, they might ask if he wasn’t returning to the Empire.

At that time, he would answer without hesitation. That he was not returning.

‘Continental Hero,’ and further, ‘Hero of the Human Realm’ was a greater honor than ‘Hero of a crumbling Empire,’ which was obvious without even having to think about it.

In a situation where even the number of nobles in the Empire was lacking due to too many deaths, Stigma willingly abandoned his title and chose to become a ‘hero’ from fairy tales.

***

“I thought Cruel Hart’s death meant he was truly alone now.”

Regardless of saying he wasn’t interested, the Demon King had watched the screen from beginning to end.

In any case, he could see that Dan had intentions to do something beyond what he was ordered. Whether it was beneficial or harmful, he needed to see what kind of trouble he was causing.

Thus, the words that came out were these.

“Our prospective teacher is quite capable.”

His reverse-pupiled eyes curved, tinged with a faint smile.

A group of mad humans suddenly taking the legion commander hostage and wanting to join them, and the human he brought himself doing something reckless for Deon Hart in front of everyone.

It seemed Deon Hart had the ability to attract madmen.

Well, whatever.

‘Since he moved so blatantly for him, he’ll understand by now.’

Even if he’s oblivious, he should realize by now. That he is not alone.

A loner escapes being a loner by realizing they are not alone, regardless of the number of people around them.

The Demon King laughed, as if disappointed.

“So now you’re no longer alone, Deon.”

Bringing humans to the heart of the Demon Realm was already extraordinary, but to go further and build his own faction, he had some nerve.

The eyes that recalled Dan and the Lofty Knights flashed menacingly for a moment, but as if finishing his thoughts, the Demon King’s demeanor suddenly softened.

‘…Well, this isn’t bad either, so let’s overlook it for now.’

It’s better to lean on him than to break him.

His interest in him hadn’t waned yet.