The Hero Whose Flame Never Dies
"It's no wonder you're surprised. Indeed, after the Demon King fell, the demonkin vanished without a trace."
"True enough. I personally heard the reports on the subjugation of each of the Demon King's eight stars, didn't I?"
"They match the facts precisely."
"So from my perspective, I'm wondering why you're suddenly talking like you're grasping at clouds."
Fair enough. How about this, then?
"If I may be so bold, perhaps the suspicion lies with me instead. Have I ever reported even a single instance of subjugating followers in league with them—or something equivalent?"
The emperor's beard twitched at that.
"I wouldn't wish for any, but we can't rule out the possibility they don't exist. I've been vigilant myself."
"Exactly. No signs have turned up so far."
"In that case, the reason you're telling me this in private is... because you've clearly grasped their true nature? I can take it that way?"
If you've got something, bring it out quick. I'm listening with all sincerity.
That's what his words clearly meant, but I feigned deep thought and clamped my mouth shut in response.
"......"
"Lord Joseph."
It was damn nerve-wracking pulling this on the emperor himself.
But didn't this old man need to know? That the interrogator's position had shifted just a bit.
Of course, I had no real clue what that "true nature" was. My memories of my cousin sister's web serial were hazy now anyway, and it only went up to the Demon King's appearance. Everything after that was just secondhand from her.
So, I took a deep breath.
And went all-in on the bluff.
"It's not a clear grasp, Your Majesty. I just... felt something, so I spoke up."
"Felt what?"
"What manner of being is the Demon King, to begin with? An incarnation of evil, wreaking havoc on humanity since time immemorial."
My mouth went dry as hell. Bluffing like this wasn't my style.
But beyond this life—
From my past one, there was a saying passed down among us brothers.
My firefighter cousin always said it: 'Joseph, don't lie. Don't end up like your bro—live true. But if you gotta, go all out like your limbs are getting ripped off.'
Looking back, my cousin was a pro at lying.
Only now, reborn, did I etch those words into my heart.
"And that Demon King could interfere with every demonkin soul through the echo of its death alone—a colossal evil."
"True. That's only natural..."
"The one who brought about that death... I sensed something intuitively."
"...What?"
"Inside the Empire—or perhaps outside. But not far. There's an aura like the demonkin."
"...Damn it all."
Yeah. That's right.
"You must be on guard, Your Majesty."
Some things don't change no matter how much you ignore them.
I'm the bastard who killed the fucking Demon King.
So what if I say it? You gonna blow it off like some street bum's ravings and gut me?
I'd said I knew the emperor well to play up his paranoia.
But there was one other thing I knew for sure.
This emperor, suspicious as he was, never slit the belly of a goose that might lay golden eggs.
Even if what I said was about some uncertain phantom.
The moment I said it, he was trapped.
He'd have to suspect everything from here on out.
But not me or Raval—just the kind of paranoia that gnawed at him.
"......... "
"...I only said this for the Empire's fate, Your Majesty. Now that I'm not even on the front lines, I wanted to offer you this counsel."
How much time passed? It didn't feel long, but the tension between us stretched the silence out.
But what more could the visibly shaken emperor have to say?
He suppressed it with forced calm, speaking with clear sincerity.
"Fascinating, Lord Joseph. A truly intriguing tale."
Anxiety hidden in a kindly smile.
And just the right wariness, wondering if he should doubt me even now.
The emperor wasn't emperor for nothing.
For your info, that paranoia had a lifelong shelf life. Most annoyingly so.
The emperor continued.
"—Then, I must issue an imperial decree. I'll assign a suitable full professor as interim to your teaching post, so you focus on hunting those vile rebels from the palace."
"......"
"Feels like old times. I'll grant you transcendent authority myself."
No. Hell no. I hate that.
Not because it was a bluff, of course. Followers like that? Grab power, dig around, and one'd pop up—or if not, make one and crush it.
Like smashing Count Orlan, say. Sorry Alrun, but a swindler's gotta be useful like that.
But the real problem...
Was I couldn't do that shit anymore.
"Your Majesty, I'm not suited for that role."
"Why not? As you said, who better than Joseph the Demon King Slayer?"
"Of course. But my fight with the Demon King left scars too deep. I can't fight anymore—don't even want to. I'm a knight whose spirit is broken. I want no more strife."
I hadn't wanted to spell it out this much.
But lies ring truer with a kernel of truth.
The emperor sounded rueful as he replied.
"No, you're still young, aren't you? Surely you can shake off wounds like that."
Sorry, but no.
It wasn't that simple.
And that was the problem from the start.
"Plus, my youth is the issue. I'm no highborn fit to take a capital post—I'll just stoke the jealousy of the courtiers."
"...Well, now that you mention it. Irritating."
"But, Your Majesty. If you truly want that role filled, isn't there a perfect candidate?"
"......?"
"From the start, I was just the swordsman in the hero party—the executor who slew the Demon King. The hero was always someone else."
Playing the connections game, huh.
...No, not really.
From his reaction, the emperor seemed genuinely considering it.
I knew well how Raval—his momentum lost after the Demon King—faced all-out assaults and slights from rival factions.
It stemmed from lacking the power to protect me.
So.
I was shoving prime imperial firewood into the Lagrange hearth as its embers died.
And sure enough, the emperor's eyes widened unmistakably.
"Ho ho."
His expression held layers.
Chiefly, the thrill of spotting what he'd missed.
Look at this bastard.
"You mean Duke Raval Lagrange."
"Precisely. Duke Lagrange is noble-born, an honored imperial military advisor. One more layer of duty atop his burdens won't shake him."
"Raval Lagrange, hero of this age..."
"As you know well, Your Majesty, he and I are close. If you appoint him, I'll support you and him from my professorship with all I have."
The emperor...
Grinned in satisfaction.
"...Hah, hahaha!!"
Loudly.
"Ah, forgive me. Just... reminded me of old times."
"No issue at all, Your Majesty."
"Fine bearing. Haven't seen something this good in ages."
"......"
"Lord Joseph. You knew I couldn't ignore that, didn't you? I thought you were just the silent executor shadowing Lord Raval all those years, but you're sharper than I figured."
Was this praise?
Or a new threat?
No clue, but for now, this wrapped things up passably.
"...I'll heed your worthy counsel. Withdraw now. I'll summon you again."
No, don't summon me again.
I wanted to say it, but couldn't to the emperor of all people.
Thinking I'd navigated this crisis decently, I felt relief wash over me as I left the palace.
At pants-shitting speed, but that was right here.
Lingering longer in this toxic idiot den would've been the real loss.
And the moment I stepped out.
I lit a cigarette, inhaling with trembling hands.
...Fuck, politics really ain't for me.
Life's too damn hard.
That night, at the Lagrange Ducal Mansion.
Duke Raval Lagrange was, as always, poring over the ledgers, scheming how to feed his household while dodging the emperor's watchful eye.
"Your Grace, Your Grace—?!"
"What is it, head butler?"
The head butler burst in, breathless, with these words.
"—An imperial edict and herald have arrived. You must come at once!!"
"...Understood. I'll handle it. Catch your breath."
Such a thing wouldn't happen on an ordinary day.
Startled at the thought of some major event, Raval—though outwardly composed—hastily adjusted his attire and rushed to the mansion's corridor.
"Here I am. What's this about?"
The waiting herald delivered this matter-of-factly.
His Imperial Majesty decrees as of this hour: Duke Raval Lagrange is appointed overseer of the newly established Imperial Inspection Corps.
Prepare forthwith to convey your acceptance to the throne.
.........
........
....
"Wha—?! Wait, hold on a moment."
The words alone dripped menace.
For a powerless duke like himself, wasn't this hat too lethally sharp for his neck?
As Raval agonized,
He couldn't help pondering why it had landed on him.
And instinctively—or perhaps he'd realized it at once.
For the withering Lagrange house to reverse so suddenly... means something swayed His Majesty's heart.
But who in his isolated house could manage that?
Who on his side could pull it off—
Joseph.
That inscrutable boy.
Had he wrung something from the emperor?
...Joseph!
Then.
Raval's heart—which shouldn't have wrinkled there—began to race fiercely.