Chapter 201

    201: The End of War [1]

    Devastating.

    The word that fits better than ever finally burst out. The red petals scattering and blooming also wither at some point.

    The word End of War

    It is something that no one can easily utter, but at the very last moment, anyone can easily recognize it. Determining the winner in a battle is a very easy task.

    The weak are devoured by the strong. This is the law of nature and the order that has maintained the world for a long time.

    In that sense, I can look at the enemies and say this.

    At least this time, I have not been defeated. It is not I who am being devoured, but you.

    Swoosh.

    After I blocked the second Apollo’s auto-targeting attack. My masters. Noah and Astrid quickly joined the battlefield.

    I also see a few glimpses of Luna, who was already active, and the new members.

    Demonic human Rick.

    That guy is still smiling, but I know all too well what his last move is.

    “I didn’t want to go this far. Nox von Reinhaver. Please remember this. Because you made such a fuss, more people have been sacrificed as a result...!”

    Rick places his hand on the ground and draws out his mana to the fullest.

    But it is futile.@@@@

    Amdusias.

    The 72 demons that guy recently revived cannot be described merely as cunning.

    Also, he manipulate words according to his needs and despises humans or anyone even slightly close to humans.

    Naturally, Rick is also included in that category.

    “Huh?”

    A look of confusion escapes Rick’s mouth.

    As if it wasn’t what he had expected.

    “Why? Did your trash master promise to come to save you if you were in danger?”

    “....!”

    I look at Rick, whose brow is furrowed, and examine his face, which is tinged with purple. It will soon be over.

    He has already absorbed too much demon blood.

    “T, this can’t be...! Amdusias-nim! Can’t you hear me? Why is there no response all of a sudden...?”

    “Still don’t get it? You’ve been abandoned.”

    I calmly convey the truth and begin to approach Rick. With my sword raised, I approach him in the way I have survived in this world so far.

    “This... can’t be! I was chosen! I’m not a human... I was just a few days away from becoming a real demon...!”

    Is it the fate of a villain to become ugly in the end?

    Or is it just bad luck and misfortune that affects everyone equally? For some reason, I felt a momentary pity for him.

    To hold the life and death over someone in my hand.

    This is to cut off a person’s life, and furthermore, the hearts of all those connected to them. Or to sever the thin thread of hope that a person clings to.

    ...Yes.

    Just like the end, the end of a war.

    “Ugh!”

    I remember the young lamb wearing a newsboy cap.

    The demonic human that betrayed Eleanor and weakened her forces, that trash.

    Here, I will kill him and do my best to ensure that such things never happen again.

    The only things that will change are just Rick’s death.

    And Nox, who I thought was just an extra. His entry into the main story.

    “I can’t bring myself to say goodbye. Die.”

    The sword that soared high into the sky shines and strikes down. It is a shocking sight. My heart feels like it will stop from the cold swing that even I can’t believe.

    Every time I take someone’s life, I reflect on my own situation, but I have never felt such intense emotions as I do now.

    It collapses.

    A person’s life.

    Swoosh.

    Finally, Rick’s head falls, and now even Apollo can no longer fulfill its role.

    Moreover, most people forget such vague aspirations and the emotions tied to them as they grow up. It can’t be achieved anyway. As they gradually realize this, they give up on their dreams.

    A young person who wanted to become a great knight, after realizing their humble talents, gives up and becomes just another thief.

    A child who devoured magic books to become a mage, eventually hitting their innate limits and heading towards the worst situation.

    But for a girl who carried not only her own life but countless others on her shoulders, that dream was something she couldn’t easily give up.

    It was after Esteban became a great ruler. From that moment, problems began to arise. Many people starved, died in war, or were killed by bandits.

    The people’s hearts falling into despair is, in a way, a natural result.

    But her father did not return to his former wise self. As if bewitched, he kept repeating the same words.

    — I must take it back....

    — I must take it back....

    What on earth did it mean?

    It’s not something I think about now, but such worries were enough to shake the young Penelope.

    Her father was called a great ruler.

    He was respected by everyone. Almost everyone followed him.

    But he was not perfect either.

    Sometimes he showed cruelty, sometimes the appearance of a great leader, and sometimes other aspects.

    Even she, who thought she could resemble her wise father as she grew and improved, could only sigh at this point.

    You can’t always take the same stance and deal with someone, and face an enemy country.

    That fact was deeply unsatisfactory.

    Even when studying governance, she kept thinking.

    And soon she reached her own conclusion.

    ''Yes. The best is to save as many people as possible.’

    Utilitarianism.

    It was extreme utilitarianism.

    While it might seem like a great political direction that saves many people on the surface, it’s not something that can be said to be true to its core. In other words, it’s like saying it’s okay to ignore the opinions of the minority.

    But she thought the greater cause was more important than that.

    That alone is justice.

    And she knew that the beginning of it was herself.

    Abandoning benevolence.

    Judging every situation coldly and mechanically.

    Then no one will be shaken.

    If you handle everything according to the manual, according to the laws of the imperial family.

    At least then, the current tragedy won’t happen.

    “Step aside.”

    So she says.

    To Nox von Reinhaver in front of her, to step aside.

    If necessary, I will even strike you down. But Nox just holds her wrist and quietly looks into her eyes. As if stripped bare, he seems to see through everything.

    When looking at those lavender, mysterious, subtle eyes, the same thought always comes.

    But today, it was especially strong.

    At that moment, he finally spits it out.

    “Being hated. I am more familiar with it than you....So.”

    Nox von Reinhaver gradually loosens his grip on her wrist and lets his hair, tangled with the blood of all sorts of people, flow down.

    With a voice that seems to fade and break as if losing consciousness, he staggers and says.

    “You are enough as you are now. Penelope von Arkheim.”

    At the sight of Nox calling her by her name, not with the title of princess, she couldn’t hide her slight surprise. Her pupils narrowed, and her body trembled.

    She recalls the broad back that once looked at her with benevolent eyes. The person she always wanted to resemble. Her father, the first emperor who deserved everyone’s respect, Esteban von Arkheim.

    Unknowingly, she embraced the collapsing Nox just because of that.

    Because she saw a figure overlapping with her father.

    Just....

    Just, that’s all.