Chapter 313: An Unlikely Proposition

Even amidst the pouring rain against a bleak sky, golden hair radiated a distinct presence.

An unmistakable color. It wasn’t a mistake.

Why would royalty venture into such a dangerous place? Red pupils stared intently, as if to dissect the other party’s intentions.

Merely meeting her gaze and exchanging words seemed enough to evoke a sense of threat, as several Heroes stepped forward protectively.

“It’s alright, stand down.”

“But.”

“Do you think I, as royalty, came all this way just to be attended to?”

…….

Brushing past them, Aletea stepped forward. Without turning off the communicator still connected in her hand, she tucked it into her robes, calmly lifted her head, and met Deon’s eyes.

“Long time no see. It’s been so long, I don’t even know where to begin…”

…….

“First, to answer your question about why I’m here… as royalty and a Hero of the Empire, I’ve simply come to a place where I naturally should be. Or is there some issue with that, I wonder?”

That damned noblesse oblige, is it? No, more than that…

There’s a grating word. Deon tilted his head, cocking it slightly.

“…Hero?”

“Yes, Hero.”

Huh.

For royalty to become a Hero at this time? The timing is quite coincidental.

What kind of scheme is this now? Deon composed his expression, masking his bewilderment, and opened his mouth with a sardonic tone.

“Even so, isn’t this a bit reckless? Your Highness, war is not something to be taken lightly.”

“Of course, I know that much before coming here. And you keep misaddressing me—it’s not ‘Highness,’ but ‘Crown Princess’.”

He knew that much. He had obtained related information long ago, and seeing the Crown Prince become Emperor, it was easy to deduce that the sole heir, the Princess, would become the Crown Princess.

This is just a provocation. Deon smirked.

“My apologies, I’ve been impolite.”

A more elegant demeanor than when they last met.

Aletea frowned momentarily, further annoyed by his continued respectful tone and treatment as if she were still imperial nobility. Of course, it was only for a moment, quickly reverting to her usual composure as if nothing had happened.

Twisting someone’s mood wasn’t something only she could do. Dismissing his apology lightly with a hollow “It’s alright,” she smiled sweetly, her face smooth.

“Are you the one who’s alright?”

……?

“I heard about the last battle. A plant-type monster sacrificed itself for you, I hear. It was quite a pitiful sight…”

Ah.

An unpleasant topic surfaced. Along with it, memories of that time forcibly resurfaced, and Deon fell silent for a moment.

As if filling the silence of the interrupted conversation, Aletea’s voice continued.

“I sympathize with you losing your lover in such a way.”

“…Excuse me?”

What did I just hear?

“Your tastes have become quite peculiar. From men, now you’re even seeking things that aren’t human. Is that what happens when you live in the Demon Realm for too long…?”

Even the added mutterings were perfect. Deon’s eyes twitched at the bewildering nonsense.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

Words abandoning all pretense of courtesy burst out.

Except for the part about the carnivorous plant sacrificing itself, everything else was utter nonsense, making him doubt his ears for a moment. The carnivorous plant part, and especially the previous remark about men…

“…Didn’t Elpidius Deserth say it was a misunderstanding?”

“It’s alright, I respect your preferences.”

Don’t respect them.

“And.”

Aletea’s consistently light expression hardened in an instant.

The playfulness vanished from her golden eyes, replaced by cold fury. And at the same time.

Clang!

A sound that heightened everyone’s tension echoed.

Deon, who had deflected the sharply incoming attack, glanced at the still-vibrating dagger before turning his gaze to Aletea. With a blank face, she sheathed her sword and spoke in a chilling voice to the one who dared to utter the Emperor’s name.

“It’s ‘His Majesty the Emperor.’ Watch your mouth.”

“…Haha.”

It seemed she was trying to shake his mind with bewildering remarks, but wouldn’t reacting like this only sharpen the mind she had confused? Having taken the initiative in provocation, how could she allow herself to be caught off guard by the words he was subtly throwing out?

He knew that this could also be considered an emotional sway, and if a battle were to break out now, they could start the fight from a slightly more advantageous position, even if only by a sliver… but Deon did not rashly draw his dagger.

There was a part he wanted to taunt a bit more. If successful, they could easily eliminate a Hero named ‘Aletea’.

“Elpidius Deserth is the ‘Emperor,’ you say?”

He opened his mouth without hesitation.

“Martial prowess, spirit, political sense, even a sense of responsibility. Nothing about him is superior to the late Emperor, and he lacks the qualities of an Emperor, yet he’s an Emperor?”

“I told you to watch your mouth.”

Aletea snarled sharply, as if her reverse scale had been touched.

…Did I just reel in a big one? Deon widened his eyes slightly at the unexpectedly vehement reaction, when a low voice whispered from within her robes.

– Aletea, calm down. He’s not wrong.

If she becomes emotionally agitated, gaps will appear in her movements. If she rushes at him in a fit of pique, the probability of her being killed in one blow is high. Originally, he wasn’t planning to speak, but he couldn’t bear to lose his brother so meaninglessly.

In the silent room, Elpidius, who had been listening to their conversation through the communicator in Aletea’s robes, spoke. As if to show that he was unconcerned, he deliberately chuckled and answered quietly towards the unknown person, unsure if they could hear.

“Yes, I am not an Emperor.”

– …….

“That’s why I can lower my head without hesitation.”

Silence returned from the communicator that had been placed down. Nothing had been turned off, yet the only sound audible was from the communicator connected to Aletea.

It had started as something akin to a monologue anyway. Elpidius finished his words unperturbed.

“Thanks to that, I was able to forge an alliance with such excellent people and get a second chance, so isn’t that enough?”

He called them ‘excellent people’ so no one would feel left out, but everyone knew he was essentially referring to Rweche.

Rweche had provided the Heroes they had gathered, creating a second chance, and before that, Elpidius had personally apologized to Rweche, making their re-alliance possible.

– …….

The King of Rweche remained silent.

Meanwhile, Aletea, who had calmed her emotions somewhat at Elpidius’s whisper, looked at Deon Hart. Even drenched in rain and looking disheveled, his undiminished beauty struck her eyes.

…The little bit of anger that remained vanished.

‘…If I had somehow pushed through with the marriage back then….’

Wouldn’t this situation not have arisen? As she pondered meaningless hypotheticals, she suddenly let out a faint groan.

“How did a loyal Hero of the Empire end up here…?”

Deon Hart maintained silence, as if to say he was listening. Meeting his unwavering red eyes directly, Aletea offered her last proposal, never to be repeated, with a faint smile.

“There’s one thing I’d like to ask you.”

…….

“If I were to say I would erase all the sins you have committed… could you become a Hero of the Empire once more?”

Someone among the nearby Heroes gasped. She paid no mind and focused on Deon Hart.

Either way, this is humanity’s last-ditch effort. A desperate, feeble struggle to at least kill the Heroic Spirit before dying, to save even the later generations.

So, if by any chance Deon Hart were to change his mind and side with them again, it would be an unparalleled gain. Humanity’s survival would be secured. If things went well, they might even be able to kill the Demon King.

‘Of course, Deon Hart’s sins are so great and heavy that they will be etched in history….’

But considering what’s at stake—‘humanity’s survival’—it’s not something that can’t be erased. No—rather, they must erase his sins and capture him, even if it means enduring criticism, hence the question… but….

“No.”

The answer that came back was resolute.

Deon Hart spoke in a dry voice, as if asking if she even considered that a proposition.

“It’s too late to turn back now. Stopping is the same. You know that, don’t you.”

If she was someone who had seen the late Emperor, Eudoardo Deserte, she would roughly understand the situation.

As expected, Deon let out a bitter laugh at her unchanging gaze.

Corpses piled up like traces in the path he had advanced.

Their size was comparable to mountains.

If he were to stop here, he would be buried under the collapsing mountain of corpses like a landslide, and if he were to look back, he would clearly see and experience every process of how he became buried in sin. There is no reason to endure that in his right mind without achieving his goal.

Nor the confidence to endure it.

“I see….”

She had expected it. Aletea, accepting with little disappointment, then smiled her prettiest smile.

“Even if I offer you the seat next to the next Emperor?”

– I am against this marriage.

Brother, please be quiet.

Even though it was a whisper, why speak up at a time like this after listening quietly the whole time? Annoyed, she lightly tapped the communicator’s location, when Deon Hart, who had been watching silently, gave a refreshing smile.

“Don’t do that.”

…….

“How about Your Highness become my ally instead?”

Strange… It’s definitely gloomy weather, and it’s even raining, but why does it feel like the sun has risen?

The surroundings were strangely bright. Aletea blinked blankly. As if uneasy about her not immediately rejecting such ridiculous nonsense, a small voice called out to her from within her robes.

– Aletea…?

Seeing this, Deon chuckled.

He had learned through his encounter with Lirinel that any kind of ridiculous nonsense could be made to sound plausible with this face as a basis… but to think it would work here too.

Of course, she quickly regained her senses.

As if she had never been charmed, Aletea furrowed her brow.

“You need to make sense.”

“Of course, just joking. More importantly, about the connected communicator in your robes.”

He brushed off the sharp reply with a sweet smile.

“It’s connected to your brother?”

“…I don’t think there’s any need to answer that.”

“You don’t have to answer. It’s just a confirmation process. The communicators held by the Heroes on Your Highness’s sides are connected to the kings of Rweche and Sanguo, respectively, correct?”

…….

“Perfect timing. You asked earlier how a loyal Hero of the Empire ended up here, right? This is something those who should know probably already know to some extent, so let’s skip over that…”

At least the Crown Prince, no, Elpidius, who received the handover from the previous Emperor, would know at least roughly.

“While similar, let me ask something more fundamental. Do you all know why the situation has unfolded to this point?”

This was a question directed at the rulers listening in.

Of course, only silence returned. Facing the unanswered question, Deon calmly continued speaking.

“You probably want to answer that I am the cause.”

…….

“Yes, I won’t deny it. This is just something that unfolded due to the stubbornness of a brat whining about how tough reality is.”

It might be somewhat harsh to refer to himself that way, but it was accurate.

To call it revenge would mean too many innocent people have died. That’s as good as losing direction.

Towards the rulers who would rather wish for a comprehensible reason for this despairing war than to say it happened meaninglessly, Deon, who dismissed this war as a brat’s tantrum, said with a smile.

“If someone else had suffered the same thing, it would have just been buried as the matter of one unfortunate person. So to put it more concisely…”

…….

“You just messed with the wrong person.”

You fools were just unlucky.”