As Tia moved to find Beatrice, she saw numerous people.

'Those people are...'

The people who had fled from this place.

They were now holding shovels and pulling carts. While Tia stared blankly, they cleared building debris and righted fallen pillars.

"Tia de Mezelia."

Tia turned her head at the voice from her side. Beatrice stood there.

"You're awake."

Beatrice looked towards the people and asked, "What do you think?"

"About what?"

"Those people."

Beatrice informed her that they had voluntarily joined the Demon King's army.

"I just came to fight a war. I didn't expect it to turn out like this."

"Are you saying those people are working of their own free will?"

"Yes. It seems they felt betrayed by Krata."

"Betrayed..."

A sense of betrayal by fellow humans.

The image of Clay momentarily flashed in her mind, and Tia held her breath.

"To be honest, I still don't have very good feelings about humans. Except for Clay."

While saying so, Beatrice conveyed a slightly changed perspective on humans.

"But after being in contact with each other for a long time, my thought that all humans are the same has changed a little."

"Is that... so."

"It's because of Clay."

Tia flinched when Clay's name was suddenly mentioned. Beatrice paid her no mind and continued.

"As you know, Clay is not an ordinary human. Even after being hurt so much, it seems he can't bring himself to drive other humans to ruin."

Beatrice explained that while there was the justification of gaining faith, that wasn't the whole story.

"Clay is more accustomed to leading and protecting someone rather than just destroying things. With that ability, he became the leader of the demons this time. And do you know what funny thing happened because of that?"

Tia couldn't answer the question. Beatrice let out a hollow laugh.

"The demons have become like humans."

Order had emerged among the demons, who had previously only fought and asserted their strength. While a hierarchy based on power had existed during the time of the previous Demon King, there hadn't been communication up and down the ranks like there was now.

Clay had a Demon King-like dignity, but he didn't use it to indiscriminately crush other demons. He definitely had a different side to him.

"I don't know if it's a good thing, but it seemed like even the lower-ranking demons have gained the ability to think. The act of conversation has become more natural compared to before. I can't explain the reason precisely, but I think it was possible because Clay was not a typical Demon King."

Emotion.

It might have been due to the influence transmitted from Clay to the other demons.

"What do you think? About this situation now."

Beatrice asked Tia again.

"If the majority of humans hadn't abandoned Clay, this wouldn't have happened. Setting aside what Elhaen plotted. Do you feel a great sense of responsibility for this? Or do you think it's a relief nonetheless?"

If Clay hadn't become a wicked tyrant, it was a blessing in disguise for Tia.

But Tia couldn't say that. Whatever the situation had become, it was certain that Clay had suffered great pain and was still in that pain.

A guilt that surpassed responsibility had taken root in her heart.

"No matter what I say, Clay probably won't be healed."

In the end, this was all she could say.

"I don't know if it's a good thing for Clay to maintain his humanity."

Because of it, Clay was unable to completely shake off his suffering.

"It might have been better if he had lost it..."

"I wonder."

Beatrice said softly.

"If it's something essential to what makes Clay who he is, then it's ultimately indispensable."

Tia closed her eyes and pressed her forehead with her hand. The thought that she could do nothing to pull Clay out of the swamp of suffering made her mind go blank.

"Don't try to bear it."

Beatrice advised.

"It's out of your hands now anyway. You and your other former Hero companions were all just the beginning of the story. What comes after is Clay's share. Whether it's suffering or a purpose for living. Rather than that, what have you decided to do?"

"What have I decided... to do?"

"You should know that I let you go."

At those words, Tia lowered her head.

'What... to do.'

She had come to find Beatrice first, but there were few choices she could make.

Either return to Ezer or stay here and try to do something for Clay.

Neither choice was perfect. To work as an empress again, she had already acted based on personal feelings. On the other hand, continuing to work for Clay also had its limits in the current situation.

"Honestly, I don't really want to keep you alive."

Beatrice added a word.

"But for me to decide your fate also feels like I'm taking away Clay's right to decide. So I'm not exactly sure what to do either."

"Is that so?"

"And above all else, Clay's survival is the most important thing to me."

Beatrice met Tia's eyes.

"I want to make you a proposal."

"A proposal, you say?"

"Yes."

Tia possessed the power to stand against Elhaen. The story would be different if Elhaen's true body were to descend, but in a situation where that wasn't the case, it was self-evident that she would be of great help.

"Before Clay steps forward, you go find Neville first and sever the link between Elhaen and this world."

Therefore, Beatrice offered Tia the role of the vanguard.

"If you can win over Nael, you will have the power of both the beast-kin and the elves. If you want to help Clay, lead them, find Neville, and eliminate him."

"I should go first..."

"Yes, don't give Clay the time to step forward."

As she said this, Beatrice gave Tia a harsh command.

"If you succeed in finding and eliminating Neville, there is one thing you must do."

"What is that?"

"Kill Nael, and then kill yourself."

Tia's movements stopped. As if she had heard something that lacked reality.

"As long as you two are alive, this uncomfortable relationship will never end. I don't know if Clay can find peace if you are gone, but at least he won't be more confused."

Beatrice said coldly to her.

"That is the only thing I can propose to you."

"......"

Tia stared intently at Beatrice.

'That's right.'

Beatrice was a cruel being. A being who had lost her own race to humans and had become a monster.

For her, making such a proposal might be a very natural thing to do.

'Still...'

This was likely the greatest mercy she could offer.

She could read a little of what was inside through her eyes.

She was not looking at Tia with hatred. She was impassive, hiding her emotions as much as possible.

It seemed like an effort not to mix any other feelings with the choice made for Clay. Tia lowered her gaze slightly.

That alone was enough for her to understand her heart. Tia opened her mouth and spoke softly.

"I should express my gratitude to you."

"Gratitude?"

"For telling me the most plausible thing to do."

There was no hatred in it.

"You wanted to tell me the choice that was for everyone's sake, didn't you?"

"To hear it that way when I told you to die, you truly are strange."

"Yes, it is strange."

But Tia bowed her head to her.

"You must have suffered immense pain because of humans too. Yet, when Clay tried to depend on you, the reason you accepted him was probably because you realized you were beings who could lean on each other."

"......"

"I am a fellow human, yet I could not become that."

Tia's lips were so dry they seemed about to crumble.

"Why did I do that, I wonder."

"I don't know."

Beatrice said.

"Neither I nor Clay know about the whims we each acted upon. It's not something that can be explained. It's just something that happens like fate."

Inevitability.

"It's just a choice you make in that moment. Rather, you might have been thinking too much."

"!"

At Beatrice's words, Tia was surprised and her eyes widened. Her lips quivered, and then she let out a hollow laugh.

"I see."

Tia finally understood. Because she hadn't been able to completely let go of herself, she hadn't been able to choose Clay at that time.

"I will be on my way now."

Tia made a belated decision.

"I think I need to hurry to do what was proposed."

"So you will."

"I leave the rest to you."

With that, Tia turned and walked back towards the barracks.

Beatrice watched her go in silence.

"The sight of one who couldn't abandon it to the end is tragic to the end. Having locked herself in hell."

If you were going to abandon it, you should have abandoned it completely. Only then could you have lived.

With a deep sigh, Beatrice also walked towards the people rebuilding the capital.

***

♧

'Clay.'

Naiad, who had followed him and arrived in Barungenia, thought to herself as she hovered around Clay.

'What should I do?'

She had asked Lin and Golche separately about the changes in Clay's body and had been informed in detail.

'It seems it will be difficult for him to fight Elhaen in his current state.'

She had to be of help to him somehow. Her participation as the Spirit King would be helpful in itself, but for the fight against Elhaen, who had caused all this tragedy, that alone would not be enough.

'It would be great if I could do something about the World Tree.'

The World Tree was the divine tree of the elves. Although Tia was the current leader of the elves, she was not an elf herself, so there was a limit to her access to the divine tree.

'If it were me...'

She might be able to communicate directly with the World Tree, Yggdrasil. For a spirit that could inhabit almost any substance, and a Spirit King at that, borrowing the power of Yggdrasil might not be impossible.

'However...'

She couldn't guarantee how Yggdrasil would perceive the current situation. It might only provoke its anger.

Still, she had to do it.

"I can't let Elhaen get his hands on Clay."

If Yggdrasil was unwilling to lend its power, she would have to forcibly merge its power with her own. She flew off towards where Clay was.

"—We don't know what will happen or when, so make sure the defenses are solid."

He was meeting with various demons, organizing the reinforcement of Barungenia and future plans. Naiad took in his appearance for a moment before moving.

She didn't say goodbye. She didn't want to make him more troubled.

"......"

However, Clay, knowing she had been there until just a moment ago, turned his gaze in that direction.

"Have a safe trip."

He muttered, as if bidding farewell to her, who always watched over him.

(End of Chapter)