Chapter 60
10. April is the cruelest month – 06
Not too long ago, while going through a fight with Illivatus, there was one thing I definitely felt.
‘The difficulty of this world is much more difficult than the original.’
I don’t know why. I don’t know if it’s just the difference between the game and the actual reality, or if it’s not that, there’s a gap with the original work because of some variable I don’t know about.
Only one thing is certain in this situation, only the fact that even Illivatus, who was a mid-boss in the original work, reigns as a slayer who can sever quite a few newbies in the reality I am in.
In the end, I decided that I couldn’t get through this situation by eating hidden pieces and growing like the main character in the original work.
‘Well, if you nurture Cirilla well, it’s not impossible, but… ‘
However, even Cirilla was punished by Illivatus in the end, and as the main story progresses, the demons do not fight with the main character, but instead come out in droves and try to play tea.
‘At this rate, it is impossible to clear the main story. We have to revise our strategy.’
The ‘strategy’ I came up with after much thought was very simple.
I just decided to use everything that was available and kill all the bugs that would harm mankind in the future, even if it meant hitting the back of the head, rather than twisting and screaming and painfully killing the demons one by one. Because it’s only
And today, it was a very encouraging achievement to have successfully contacted Lumina del Cartesia, the princess of her empire, and to have her acknowledged as her conversation partner.
Because Princess Lumina… No, as for Lumina as her demon, if she wasn’t an opponent that she could recognize, she wouldn’t try to make a deal with me on an equal footing.
“… Yes, it meant that he approached me like this even though he knew all about my true identity as a demon… “
Although I ended up making such a slip of the tongue due to an absurd misunderstanding, in fact, I can’t say that it’s the worst situation ever.
It sounds like a real excuse, but to some extent it was made for this kind of situation.
“I will ask. Ilibatus… Are you saying that he died after talking about my true identity before he died? As far as I know, he’s an arrogant guy, so even if it meant dying, he wasn’t a great person to say such a thing.”
Of course, Lumina doesn’t show any credit for the excuse I spouted out in the moment.
This is not a good flow. In the end, I realized that I had to make a decision in the face of this desperate crisis.
For a world where no one gets hurt, someone has to make a ‘sacrifice’ in the end.
And that role… It couldn’t be the most suitable thing for Ilibatus, who couldn’t spit out words of explanation to others because he had already searched for a long time.
Because my friend Ilibatus… After that day, it was no different from a kind of Dark Knight who decided to lend his strength for me.
‘Is it okay if I borrow your name? Ilibatus?’
As I asked the question, recalling the face of Illivatus in my mind, an illusion of Illivatus appeared in the void and began to smile benevolently at me.
‘Of course, you can use as much as you like. Aren’t we like allies, promising each other to help each other after a fierce struggle?’
For some reason, I felt my heart warm when I saw Illivatus willingly agree to lend me his strength.
‘Is it really okay? In the process, your name already in the underworld may be tarnished, right?’
‘What tarnishes my name. You are like a light. And wasn’t it a sublime existence that struggled so hard to prevent the destruction of mankind that would come in the future? If I can be of any help to you in achieving your goals, that would be the best thing.’
Although he was an evil tribe in the past, Illivatus even smiled at me as if he had completely turned to the side of the righteous light after being scavenged by me.
And I smiled inwardly as I watched the sublime sight of the disgusting darkness transformed into brilliant light.
‘Yes, after falling behind me, you finally have a new beginning, Illivatus.’
Even though I wasn’t born at the same time and didn’t die at the same time, Ilibatus, who seemed to have a brotherly relationship with me at least in the coffin, allowed me to sell his name like this.
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In that case, from now on, even if I sold the guy’s name without hesitation, my conscience seemed to have no remorse.
So I started to open my mouth slowly, looking at Lumina’s face and recalling all the ‘truths’ that happened that day.
“That day… I, the Grand Duchess, and the knights of the duchy were able to defeat Ilibatus after a desperate struggle. His strength was unmatched, befitting a demon that has lived for a long time, but in the end we were able to win somehow.”
“After we had won, as we slowly approached to take his life for the last time, he shouted at us in an urgent voice. That i was all wrong no i’m sorry I’ll tell you everything I know, and I’ll follow everything you guys say, so please spare my life.”
He said that while lightly clicking his tongue.
The appearance of Illivatus at that time was… Even now, when I think about it again, it was really ugly. Being a demon who has lived in this world for over 500 years, he begged for his hands like flies, saying that his life was a waste… I mean, it was so pathetic.
“… It’s nonsense. The guy I know isn’t the kind of guy who would beg like that even if a knife was put through his throat. That guy… Not only was he the longest-lived of us, but he also had the pride and arrogance to match.”
On the other hand, Rumina continues to lose trust in people, as if she can’t believe my words.
Yes, I can understand her feelings very well. Because I also never imagined that a guy with the highest level of demons would beg me to save his life.
But what can I do? This is the truth of what happened that day.
I let out a sigh at that ignorant, oblivious demon who can’t understand at all even though I’ve told them the whole truth.
“I can understand that sentiment. To be honest, you won’t believe it. But even so, this is the truth. If he hadn’t babbled about the identities of the various demons infiltrating the imperial palace to beg for my life, how could I have known about Your Highness’s identity so naturally?”
I was actually an old person who had cleared this game a hundred times, so I was familiar with your identity, and that there were demons who begged for their lives from insignificant humans because they were so afraid of death that they lived over 500 years.
Both of these things make no sense, but if one of them is true, it goes without saying which one is the most credible statement.
‘And truthfully, the truth isn’t that important.’
For the majority of people, what really matters is not digging into the truth of what happened at the time and figuring out what the so-called truth is.
There is only one thing they want, whether that ‘truth’ suits them or not, that’s all.
Even if it’s not the truth, if it’s the situation itself you want, it’s human psychology itself to ignore the causal relationship and want to believe it as the truth.
‘And demons are also cubs who are not that different from humans.’
There were all sorts of reasons for saying bullsh*t, such as Illivatus kneeling down in front of me and begging for my life in front of Lumina.
“… Really, that’s nonsense. I never thought he would act like that. But given your power level… And it doesn’t seem to be very nonsense.”
“Isn’t it stained by the rest of the human beings who have been in the material world for 500 years? In the process, it seems that he forgot all the pride of being a demon and became corrupted.”
Originally, pride means that if it rusts, you can’t rebuild it again, and if you can’t hold it properly, it will tear your body apart. Because pride is like a blade.
At first, Lumina couldn’t believe that Illivatus had fallen into such a miserable state.
“hehehehe… It was. It was. Well, I usually go around talking about my pride as a demon and show off my snout, but at least I was a bug that was defeated by the remnants of the Elyos. It wasn’t enough, he was also a dumbass who was shamelessly alive without knowing any shame at the subject of dying from a mere human being.”
“Is that so? That’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”
Actually, I was well aware of the fact that this kind of MSG, which is a story I know damn well, is what motivates the narrator to talk excitedly.
“It’s a story from a very long time ago. In the past, when the Elyos descended into this world, he mercilessly offered half of his face to the Elyos and became his idiot. Prior to that, there was a time when all limbs were cut off by mere humans.”
“… Alas, when I think of such a splendid history, it seems that what you are saying is not very absurd. He’s been such a loser all his life, when he was defeated by you for the third time, he didn’t want to die so much that he made you lick your shoes!”
‘Anyway, I didn’t even say that… He’s also subtly good at storytelling.’
Lumina, who used to shield Illivatus, saying that it could never be like that, but now even makes an episode about him kneeling down and licking my shoes to beg for his own life.
At first glance at her, it could be seen that she had reversed her own attitude in an instant, without the slightest hint of her belly, but I knew why she was behaving this way.
‘Originally, Lumina and Illivatus didn’t get along very well.’
In fact, it was a relationship that went beyond simply not being good, and if given the opportunity, the word “Dog-won” Would turn it into a relationship like Yubi-Kwanwoobi, full of loyalty.
So just by gently scratching it like this, the reaction I want pops out. Because in fact, everything I said was nothing more than what Rumina and that woman wanted to hear in the first place.
‘I’ve formed an alliance with you about 10 times, but I don’t know your personality.’
In a way, it’s a bit sad story, but I know how to lick the soles of this woman better than anyone else in the world.
“Of course, I will apologize for killing Ilibatus itself. But for now, I’d like to call it self-defense. Tsk, the Demon Tribe was so obsessed with the power of the human world that he openly threatened to destroy the Grand Duchy if he didn’t listen to him.”
Even thinking about it now, he was a really disgusting guy. At best, he was like an evil demon who tried to kill my lovely wife and family, blinded by power.
“… Joy. To sum up what you said, it would mean that you killed Ilibatus just to survive. If so, you wouldn’t have good feelings for the demons. But now, why are you visiting the imperial palace and offering me a deal like this?”
“Is there anything special? It’s just to survive.”
“… To survive?”
In an instant, Lumina’s eyes stare at me.
“I definitely felt it while fighting Ilibatus. This time she was lucky enough to defeat him, but the thought that in the future she might not be so lucky. Then I just thought that my chances of surviving would be higher if I joined that side rather than being hostile to the demons.”
“Hmm, by the way, aren’t you the grand duke who has already been engaged to the grand duke? In a sense, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he was already on the same boat as the Grand Duchess. If she stays next to her, she will be able to enjoy all kinds of wealth and power as a grand duke, but why does she dare to hold her hand with me?”
“It’s simple. The Grand Duchess knows all too well that she is a ship that is about to sink. Didn’t you tell me My purpose is my survival itself. Of course, it would be perfect if you could enjoy greater wealth and power in the process.”
Even if I think about it, there is no other way to express it than trash itself.
Even though it was to deceive the enemy, my essence, which could be called light itself, was feeling intense disgust at the fact that I was spouting these lines even if it was a lie.
“hehehehe, what a trashy human being you are. But I like it. To be so faithful to your own desires is the same as saying that as long as we fulfill your desires, we will never betray you.”
“Okay, your choice is wise. You defeated me earlier with pure swordsmanship, so I’ll seriously consider making a deal with you. Yes, who are you? What is the identity of the person you want to kill?”
Actually, I’ve already decided which pup to raise. Earlier, in front of the emperor, he was the bastard who gave me his pick.
“Earl Bright. It is him.”
At those words, Rumina blinked her eyes without saying anything.
“Master of the Empire? Why are you with him? Has he ever done anything wrong to you?”
For reference, it is never absolutely that the cub has trembled with me in front of the emperor.
I’m just doing this for the sake of justice and light itself in this world.