Chapter 91

“Please stop…”

Despite Latri’s plea, the black wind blew even stronger.

Next, a snow-covered battlefield came into view. She had led her troops to confront the barbarians of the north, who were known for plunder and abduction, but soon found herself isolated.

Her martial prowess was inferior to that of the Minister of War, Heron Argos. The corruption of others had disrupted supplies, and the strength of the King of the Barbarians, who was a formidable opponent, also played a part.

The King of the Barbarians was a monster even Heron Argos found troublesome. Using vibrations from his hands, he could deflect and destroy everything, making him the strongest warrior.

Yet, Latri had to face them on the battlefield. The northern people being plundered were also part of the Empire, and her family pressured her to seize the position of Minister of War by achieving merit.

All these disasters and reasons intertwined, leading her to stand before the result of defeat.

“…Everyone, run.”

Thus, she decided to stand at the rear, turning her back to her subordinates.

“But Commander, if you do that, you’ll…”

“Die. But even with you here, the result wouldn’t be much different. This is the most efficient way.”

In her youth, she resembled Raul. She treated life as a tool to be used at any time, and her own life was no different. No, rather, her life was nothing more than a cold tool.

Opinions in her heart were unnecessary; she always judged everything by profit and loss. That way, at least, she wouldn’t have to suffer.

“This time is also a waste.”

Latri sighed as she watched her subordinates retreat, then quietly waited for the enemy in the snowstorm.

As time passed, she dyed the white snowfield red. She killed and killed the pursuing barbarian soldiers. Since they were scum plundering the Empire, she felt no guilt in killing them.

A young soldier in his late teens, an old soldier who might have grandchildren at home, a pregnant female soldier who came to the battlefield—she cut them all down. If they wanted to be treated as weak, they shouldn’t have picked up weapons.

Despite achieving the feat of killing 300 barbarians alone, her valor ended tragically.

The King of the Barbarians appeared before her, drenched in blood.

“Impressive. Among them were elites worthy of the name.”

“I have no interest in the quality of beast meat.”

“Sharp. I pay my respects to your unyielding nature.”

The King of the Barbarians immediately attacked, deflecting Latri’s sword strike and shattering her armor with a simple long strike.

“But a tree that doesn’t bend is easily broken. Isn’t it a pitiful state, unyielding woman?”

“Better than a reed easily uprooted.”

“Correct. That’s why I’m interested.”

“Just kill me. I have no interest in your interest.”

“How could I? A reed has no value, but a tree that withstands storms is different. A king deserves such a tree.”

“What…?”

Latri suffered pain so intense it brought tears of blood. She had never held it sacred, but she hadn’t taken it lightly either. The purity she had guarded all her life was trampled mercilessly.

As the white cloth turned red, she tried to end her life, but even that was blocked. Even now, she had to let go of that time with tears of blood and alcohol.

“You are mine alone. Only I can take you, only I can handle you. I will break you. I will become the warrior who breaks even the unbreakable.”

The King laughed wickedly.

“So struggle as much as you can and break beautifully. So that I may be satisfied. And so that you may be dyed by me and love only me. I want to show the Empire the sight of the unyielding knight breaking and flirting with me.”

He was a man of unusual beauty for a barbarian. He had the same black hair as Raul, the same deep dark eyes, and the same clear voice.

“Disgusting human…”

“Yes. Struggle even more.”

Defiled by purity, tainted, she bore what she never wanted.

Nausea rose. The influence of the unwanted, the disgust for reality, and the anger towards herself. It was disgusting, utterly disgusting. Everything was disgusting.

Yet, she didn’t miss home. Even if she returned, her treatment was obvious. In that disgusting Empire, a knight pregnant with a barbarian’s child would be treated as such.

Her family would surely disown her.

There was no place to return to, this disgusting reality, and nothing she could do.

“Damn it…”

She hated reality.

“If only I could just die…”

“Then I would be sad for the rest of my life, my lady.”

“Huh…?”

Arthur Berze appeared, cutting through the tent’s door, waving his hand with a bright smile.

“…Sorry for being late. I was too late calling for reinforcements to resolve this situation.”

“How did you get here?”

“Isn’t it the basics of romance novels for the man to appear to save his beloved?”

Arthur Berze took off his coat and draped it over Latri.

Then he led her outside and placed her on a horse.

“Hold on tight. I’ll drive.”

“…You don’t know how to handle a horse?”

“Honestly, driving here was a pain.”

“…I’ll take the reins.”

“Looks like I lost some dignity.”

As they fled on horseback, they saw the corpses scattered around.

“Did you kill them?”

“I don’t kill directly. Honestly, even holding a dinner knife is hard for me.”

“…..”

“But for the person I love, I’m ready to go to hell. Though I rely on others, a sword swung by another’s hand is still a sword.”

“Why are you doing this for me?”

“Didn’t I say? I love you.”

“But why? I’m small, my personality isn’t great, and…”

Arthur Berze loved Latri.

But Latri couldn’t understand love.

She had lived a life stained with hate and disgust. Living in the shadows, she was like a blind person.

“Every part of you is lovable.”

“Why…?”

“Love isn’t about profit and loss, so there’s no need to think about reasons. Or, to put it simply, I fell in love at first sight.”

But the colors of hate and disgust were painted over by the red of love. The shadow over her life disappeared, and thanks to the warm gaze, she could open her eyes.

“But I’m not pure… In that hell, I…”

“I love you, not your purity.”

“And I have an unwanted child in my womb. This…”

“Even if it’s not my child, if it grows up as my child, it will be my child. A person’s value doesn’t come from their origin.”

Latri couldn’t understand him.

“There will be rumors about me…? But how are you…”

“I’ve taken care of that. You were recovering from injuries after crushing the barbarians at my villa. If anyone dares to tarnish your honor, I’ll eliminate them.”

“But…”

“There’s no ‘but’ in love.”

Arthur Berze hugged her tightly.

“There’s only ‘do it now.'”

Latri looked at him and slowly raised her head.

Though she had never learned it, she instinctively wanted to kiss him.

She couldn’t help but love the first person who reached out to her.

“Arthur Berze… I’m an inadequate person. A fool who knows nothing but the sword. Is that okay?”

“I’m a fool who doesn’t know the sword. Together, we’ll be perfect.”

“…You could have just said I’m not a fool.”

“But I can’t lie.”

“Didn’t you say there’s no ‘but’ in love?”

And so, they laughed and kissed.

Latri fell in love for the first time.

And at the same time, she also harbored resentment for the first time. The child in her womb was resentful. If only this child weren’t here, everything would have been perfect.

If only that cursed child in her womb weren’t here, everything would have ended as a perfect love story.

Latri wanted to turn her eyes away from the scene. But no matter where she turned, the same scene repeated.

She said nothing. Only her bloodshot eyes spoke of the emotions she was enduring.

Far away, the King of the Barbarians was facing a swordsman with a tense expression.

The opponent hadn’t shown his true strength yet, but he was still threatening.

“You challenge me with such vigor, yet you don’t even attack properly. Are you mocking me? This is disgusting.”

“…Sorry. I was a bit surprised and focused on defense.”

The man, who deflected the King’s attacks with ease, smiled wryly.

“Truly impressive skills. No wonder my disciple finds you troublesome.”

“What…?”

“Don’t mind it. Just talking to myself. I’ll attack now.”

He blocked the King’s long strike with the back of his sword, then struck his chin with the scabbard.

A strike that could turn rocks to dust, yet the King’s chin remained intact.

“Are you playing with me…?”

“Impressive. Fine. I’ll acknowledge you as a true warrior.”

The King frowned slightly, but the opponent maintained a gentle smile.

“I am Beled. Just a humble wandering swordsman. I also happen to hold the title of Demon King.”

“Demon King…?”

“Yes. It’s a meaningless title, so I don’t prefer it.”

“Don’t make me laugh. A weak and pathetic man like you couldn’t be. And the Demon King wouldn’t help humans without reason.”

“Just as you commit evil deeds out of greed. I act out of a desire to do good. Being the Demon King doesn’t mean I have to be evil.”

At that time, the Demon King was pure and kind.

“And I couldn’t ignore it. The threat of a man who came to me on his knees for love.”

He recalled Arthur Berze, who came to him on his knees, and raised the corner of his mouth slightly.

“A pitiful request to save his beloved. If I didn’t act, he would release a plague in the north and kill all the barbarians. That’s why I had to step in.”

Arthur Berze threatened to release a plague in the north’s waterways to annihilate all the barbarians if the Demon King didn’t help. He was a man who could actually do it.

Hearing this, the Demon King had no choice but to take up his sword to minimize the sacrifice.

He could have chosen to kill Arthur Berze, but he couldn’t kill a man who knelt for love.

Even without the threat, he genuinely wanted to help.

“So I came to kill you. Since you’ve also committed evil, there’s no injustice in killing you.”

The King, angered by the condescending tone, swung his sword, and blood spurted from the Demon King’s chest.

“Don’t make me laugh. It’s the natural order for the strong to take everything.”

“Yes, that’s also correct, so I won’t deny it.”

“If you want to deny me, try killing me with that sword. But it’s impossible for a coward like you who swings a sword in fear.”

The King of the Barbarians had perfect attack and defense abilities through vibrations.

The power of vibrations could deflect not only blades but also fire and lightning.

And the Demon King knew well that ordinary attacks couldn’t kill him.

“Fine. Then I’ll also pay my respects and fight you seriously.”

Saying so, the Demon King sheathed his sword.

“Have you gone mad? A swordsman daring to give up his weapon before me…!”

“I will kill you.”

“What?”

“I’ve decided.”

At that moment, the King’s hands, which deflected all attacks, were severed.

“This is…”

“My heart is providence. Providence is the world. Thus, by interfering with providence through my heart, I can cut down anything in the world.”

“What nonsense…”

“I’m not holding a sword now.”

The Demon King took a drawing stance without holding a sword.

But in his hand was something red and shimmering.

It looked like a longsword, a curved sword, and a dagger.

The common point was that it looked like a sword.

“Just by deciding to kill you.”

And with that red shimmer, the King of the Barbarians was beheaded.

“This is how it’s done.”

Having roughly settled the situation alone, the Demon King wished happiness for the man and woman fleeing on horseback.

“May your lives be filled with love.”

And the Demon King could also hear the heartbeat of Raul, stirring in Latri’s womb.

The Demon King pitied Raul, who hadn’t even been born yet. He could roughly guess how the child, a blemish, would grow up.

Thus, he also prayed for Raul’s future.

“May your life be filled with fortunate encounters. And I earnestly pray that such coincidences repeat.”

---