Published at 22nd of January 2024 12:06 pm

Chapter 304: The Difference Between Choosing and Imposing, Even with Similar Outcomes

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

“Now then, next, will you tell me what you’re hiding? Let’s start with the reason you knew the Hero, since you were hesitant about it earlier.”

“I get it, I get it. I’ll explain properly.”

With a grin, the goatee-bearded Demon King continued our conversation, which was a casual chat by any other name. We also discussed theories about the winged beings, and the Black Knight, who was feeling quite tipsy, recounted his military exploits. I, being on the human side, was unsure how to respond, and as the night wore on, we ended up sleeping in this room since there were no vacancies at the inn… until the next day.

“Take care, Black Knight-sama! Work hard again today!”

“Hmm. You should do your best as a lowly human.”

“Yes! The two of you accompanying him, please be safe as well!”

“Accompanying… well, yes.”

“Ahaha… thank you.”

With the gatekeeper’s enthusiastic cheers, we were able to leave the town without any incidents. While walking through the market formed by those who couldn’t enter the town, I suddenly voiced a doubt that came to mind.

“Hey, Black Knight. Do ordinary people know that you are the Demon King?”

“Hmm? Indeed. Although I haven’t declared myself the Demon King since that man died, I’m not hiding it either. Those who have fought with me directly or the higher-ups in large countries might know.”

“You do say things like ‘lowly humans,’ but somehow your behavior is gentle or… hmm?”

Tilting her head sharply, Tia listens as the Black Knight continues, seemingly uninterested.

“I was waging war. Even if it led to a de facto ceasefire, I wouldn’t pick a fight with the enemy king. Moreover, since I’m the only one who can defeat the ‘Winged’ in this situation, some people might not want to provoke me.”

“Eh, is that so?”

“It’s just a guess. I don’t know the truth, and it doesn’t matter to me. I’ll do what I want, no matter how humans react to me.”

“Wow, that’s a very Demon King-like statement.”

“It’s not like! I am the Demon King!”

“Hahaha. Well, that’s for the people of this world to think about.”

Only the inhabitants of this world, who have actually been affected, can be angry or forgiving towards the Black Knight. It would be presumptuous for outsiders like us to meddle.

“Speaking of doubts, was it alright for you guys to leave the town? If you’re not with me, it’ll be difficult to re-enter.”

“Ah, that’s no problem. We don’t want to relax in town anyway. We’ve got things to do.”

“What you have to do… finding the Hero?”

At my words, the Black Knight muttered in a slightly heavy voice. I can’t see his expression since he’s wearing his helmet, but he probably has a lot on his mind.

“Indeed, the world is looping, and you must be expelled after becoming the Hero’s companion. Why are you involved in such troublesome matters?”

“Ask the God about that. Besides, it’s not someone else’s problem for you either.”

“Hmph! At least until you absorb me, it’s someone else’s problem. If you say you’ll integrate me, I’ll resist with all my might. I have my own ambitions!”

“Do as you like. Whether you can do it or not is another story.”

To the Black Knight’s provocative words, I respond with a defiant smile. To be honest, I haven’t decided what to do with this Demon King yet. I’ll have to find an answer eventually, but for now, observing the situation seems best. And then…

“Manifest, [Akashic Compass], What I’m looking for is this world’s Hero.”

Since we had already left the crowd and were in an uninhabited field, I unhesitatingly used my banishment skill. However, inside the metal frame that appeared in my hand, the compass needle, known for its absolute accuracy, continued to spin uncertainly.

“…Still no good, huh?”

“Is this the first time your skill hasn’t worked, Ed?”

“Yeah.”

I nod with a grim expression at Tia, who looks curiously at the spinning needle. Normally, it would show the target’s current appearance and then point in its direction. If the target didn’t exist, the compass itself wouldn’t appear.

However, this time the needle just spins in a curious reaction, showing me something I’ve never seen before. I don’t understand what it means.

“I don’t know, but does a new Hero appear as soon as the previous one dies?”

“Basically, yeah. A few days or a few weeks might be within the margin of error, but Jeed died two years ago, right? No matter how you look at it, not having the next hero born for two years is…”

“Is it also because of the Winged, I wonder?”

Tia’s murmured words highlight the seriousness of the situation. If the hero is born with the aid of the world, it’s certainly possible that the next hero isn’t born as a result of the world weakening due to the Winged.

And that is a fatal problem for us. After all, if there is no hero, no one can banish us… we cannot leave this world.

“There’s the matter of doing it for the world, but now it’s definitely for our own sake too. We have to do something about the Winged. Damn it, interfering again…?”

Suddenly, a strange discomfort ran through me. Until now, the way God did things was by getting into people’s minds, indirectly causing harassment or trying to break my spirit.

But this time, it’s directly affecting the world, causing me to lose my means of being expelled from this world. In other words, I’ve been trapped, and the solution is not yet found…

(What’s the meaning behind this? If he just wanted to trap me, he could have just not opened the next door in that <White World>. Then I would be there forever with Tia… No, that’s not it?)

In that <White World> neither Tia nor I age. If trapping was the goal, there’s no place more suitable, but conversely, that means it will never change from the point of being “trapped.”

But how about this world? Here, we will age normally, and it’s possible to get injured or sick. If I’m trapped here, I’ll surely die within a hundred years, no matter how long it’s estimated.

And in that case, what happens? Of course, if I die, it’s a do-over… just like the third time, losing all my powers and memories, and I’ll be alone…!?

“Could that be the goal!?”

“Ed!?”

I shout out involuntarily, and Tia calls out to me in surprise. Her jade eyes gaze straight at me… and intense anger wells up inside me.

So that’s it, huh? God, you choose to end our adventure here… to choose a future where Tia is taken away from me?

“What’s wrong, Ed? You look really scared.”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

I suppress the dark boiling fury deep in my soul.

Ah, yes, that must be it. From God’s point of view, if I live out my life normally here, I won’t try something reckless to get Tia back.

Sure, that’s true. Normally, you wouldn’t think of doing something to bring back a loved one you’ve lost to natural death. Besides, Tia is an elf, so it’s almost certain that I’ll die first. In that case, I can see a future where I die peacefully with Tia watching over me, without thinking of getting her back.

That’s fine in itself. I don’t expect to be with Tia forever. If I can have a satisfactory ending, I can be content enjoying our miracle time together to the fullest.

But if this ending is forced upon me… it’s a different story. I am the Demon King Of The End. The one who decides my end will always be me alone.

“Hehe, Hehe, Hehehe…”

A laugh escapes my lips without my realizing it.

I thought I’d go along with his scheme as long as he didn’t interfere with me. If I can continue this enjoyable journey at the cost of being toyed with, it’s a small price to pay.

But if he interferes with this “enjoyable journey” itself…

“I was just planning to punch him once if I met him… but now, I have to actively go and punch him, huh…?”

“Ed… Ed is making a really evil face…!?”

“Yeah, even more evil than me. Truly befitting of the main body, I suppose.”

Ignoring the two who were taken aback, I clenched my fist with a firm resolve.

A/N:【Breaking News】God, as a result of an unintended situation change, ends up genuinely angering the protagonist.

Share