Chapter 18

Here.

There’s a knight.

Despite being clad in pitch-black armor,

his build was relatively small.

Right off the bat, compared to Ruelde standing right before him,

he was at least a head shorter.

Still, why is it…

The warrior who had fully awakened the potential of the Sacred Sword and reached peak readiness

somehow, as soon as their swords clashed, dropped to his butt, his face riddled with mixed emotions, struggling to get back up.

Though his sword matched the darkness of his pitch-black armor,

nothing about it was overwhelming or intimidating in the slightest.

But still…

“I’m going.”

Right after reaffirming his resolve and steadying his breathing,

the warrior charged forward with an unbelievable speed like an arrow,

only to be blocked by the black-armored knight’s single altered stance

and a swift, concise counterattack that sent him tumbling again.

“Your spirit is commendable, but you’re wasting too much strength, Warrior of Radiance. It might work on large sea monsters, but mistaking it for dominance in personal combat will only bring trouble. Someone dazzled by your overwhelming power might admit defeat easily, but against a master of blade energy like me, you never know what’ll happen. Be thankful we aren’t truly mortal enemies.”

In the end, he continued to knock down the relentless Ruelde like a patient older brother,

using not just his sword but knees, arm joints, and even kicks to dominate him one-sidedly.

“You’re not ready yet. Come back when you’ve grown more.”

With those words left behind, the knight calmed his restless pitch-black warhorse and mounted it,

leaving behind a bewildered Ruelde who stared after him with wide eyes…

===

“Could that knight have been Grandeous?”

“You know him? I thought rumors of the warrior’s shortcomings wouldn’t spread so far.”

“…I’ve heard of the legendary knight who defeated the warrior in swordsmanship.”

Rumors were rampant.

But…

“Didn’t he die in a duel with his father?”

“It happened right before our confrontation.”

Awakening the Sacred Sword and Sacred Relics,

back when Ruelde was at his prime in skill and power…

“Why did Father duel him? There wasn’t any deep-seated grudge worth risking his life over, was there?”

Was there some unknown reason?

Did Father fight out of prejudice?

At least Carriel herself hates him, but she doesn’t deny his fairness.

…Which is why it frustrates her even more.

For someone who treats everyone equally without bias,

that fairness is infuriating.

“Hmph.”

Father defeating Grandeous ended the rumors of failure as exaggerations or falsehoods.

“One of the Demon Realm’s Legion Commanders, after all.”

“Huh? …What?”

What now…?

“Actually, all he did was things you’d expect from a relief organization.”

That’s why the name of the knight order he led was the Relief Knights.

“The Relief Knights are still active today as a secret alliance, right? Surely…”

“At first, it was under the banner of helping the weak amidst the chaos of war.”

A Legion Commander aiding the enemy side?

That’s ridiculous.

“Your father didn’t know at first either.”

“How did he find out?”

“Heheh…”

Should I tell you or not?

“It was that foolish guy’s request. Even if it was nominal, once he became my old comrade and lord, a knight must honor his lord, no matter what. So, I personally arranged a meeting between you and your father.”

As discreetly as possible.

“Your father must’ve been bitter about it.”

“…”

Lord…

“How does a Demon Realm native become a knight anyway?”

“It’s the Great Demon King’s fault.”

“…?”

“There’s such a thing.”

Anyway, let’s assume that.

“The first person to humble your father during his prime in swordsmanship was probably him. While your father stumbled often in his younger days, once he fully awakened the Sacred Sword, he almost had no rivals—except for his own allies and key figures on our side.”

“Weren’t there warriors and heroes in other countries too?”

The Demon King smirked.

“That’s why your father survived.”

The Demon King chuckled as if talking about someone else’s affairs.

“That’s why I’m in this state now.”

“…”

For instance,

while eliminating other warriors and heroes,

…your father gained time to grow stronger.

“It wasn’t just your father’s Sacred Sword or Relic. The ones I broke and destroyed numbered well over ten.”

Thanks to which, the Order likely suffered stress-induced blood tears flowing like waterfalls.

“And there were far more threatening things than a young kid with just a Sacred Sword back then.”

When facing organizations of over a dozen warriors armed with Sacred Swords, Spears, and various relics,

even I, the Demon King, had to personally take the front lines to minimize casualties.

After all, reinforcements and supplies had to be handled entirely locally.

Even small losses couldn’t be easily tolerated.

However, due to our overwhelmingly powerful invasion force,

it would’ve been hard for the enemy to spot such weaknesses.

Information disruption.

Sowing discord.

Thorough strategies and tactics for perfect victory.

“All ancient tales now.”

The Golden Demon King reminisced as if savoring old memories.

“…”

A continent half-forgotten.

The one who sang songs of blood and death, turning the world into ashes.

Even that great villain, who humans naturally should hate as an archenemy,

is ultimately just another historical witness.

But whose responsibility is it to cleanse the souls of countless innocents unjustly killed by her?

It’s impossible, isn’t it?

To Carriel, she seemed completely devoid of regret or guilt.

She’s done everything she could.

And here it ends.

If anything, it feels strangely cathartic.

Moreover,

even in this isolated world where she can’t communicate with anything except Carriel herself,

she didn’t appear lonely or unhappy at all.

A being like her should’ve been long buried in the deepest pits of hell according to the Order’s standards.

“It seems you have the leisure to concern yourself with others’ lives.”

Carriel flinched at the Demon King’s sudden spoken words.

“Don’t pity or disdain others. No matter how pitiful or despicable they may seem, it’s a life they chose.”

“But sometimes people end up that way without wanting to…”

“That’s their fault. Their neglect and indulgence in their own lives have brought them to a complete conclusion. Why should you lament for them when you’re merely an outsider?”

“…”

“The ignorance of those who don’t even know why they stand where they are. Their inability to even attempt understanding such ignorance… I’ve never lived a life so complacent that I’d waste sympathy on such incompetence.”

This isn’t out of arrogance.

Neither exceptional nor extraordinary talent.

“Life and death are one. Closing your eyes and ears won’t shield you from harm, will it?”

It won’t.

Then why do people, who supposedly live forever, neglect and indulge their lives?

Even with desperate effort and full commitment, achieving something is uncertain.

Let alone challenging,

shouldn’t one at least understand why they exist in this world?

If an intelligent being doesn’t know this…

Isn’t that less than beastly?

“A sentient being wishing to be a plain wildflower is, in itself, sinful. A sin against whom? Not the world or us, but against themselves.”

“Why is that a sin?”

“Because you were born.”

“…”

Unfathomable nonsense.

Who can definitively judge her standards as absolute?

One can pretend to agree because of her power,

but truly accepting it into one’s soul is an entirely different matter.

“Isn’t that prideful?”

“By nature, those who awaken and guide must remain aware. If the king loses awareness, the nation faces grave danger.”

“So, were you a successful king?”

“Somewhat.”

Pausing briefly,

the Demon King fell silent for quite a while.

“I achieved my purpose. More of a vassal and servant rather than a true king.”

“…Vassal? Servant?”

“Yes.”

Without further obligation or mood to answer, she inquired instead.

“So, how was the guy’s swordsmanship?”

“…”

One thing was clear:

The Demon King harbored no regrets.

At first glance, it seemed overly stubborn, beyond arrogance or pride.

Yet Carriel refrained from imposing any bias or judgment,

not having directly heard it from her lips.

…Until she tells me herself.

This isn’t something anyone can rashly judge or define.

“I don’t fully know yet. Not yet.”

The Demon King was ultimately defeated by the warrior.

And now, I’m trying to defeat the warrior, my father, who was the Demon King’s greatest rival.

The only important thing is…

Just that fact alone.

How I perceive her or accept her is ultimately irrelevant.

Whether she historically was the continent’s enemy, a foe, or a villain,

what does it matter to me?

I just grow stronger, that’s all.

All along,

I’ve realized I was trapped in a deep abyss.

No, I realized it far too late.

When I was sick and rotting away,

I felt it even more acutely.

Therefore,

whether past or future,

good or evil,

What difference does it make?

Let it be however it turns out.

I will escape this cold, dark abyss.

If I must grow stronger to do so,

I will become strong enough to face anyone with pride,

stronger than anyone.

If the process is honest,

if it isn’t wretched, cowardly, or baseless,

Everything else is none of my business.

I…

am not a warrior.

Never could be.

Maybe I used to be, but not now.

I’ve already…

collaborated with the Demon King.

I have no intention of denying or rejecting that fact.

So,

this is entirely my choice.

Thus,

all regrets, despairs, frustrations of the future…

will belong solely to me.

To no one else.

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