210
I killed the Demon King. It was a mistake.
Chapter 210
A drop of water fell on Gloria's forehead.
That cold and unfamiliar sensation made Gloria open her eyes.
"...Where is this."
As she turned her head to look around, she saw the cave where she had been captured by Raum earlier.
The only difference from before was that neither Raum nor the puppets were visible.
Various items were scattered on the floor as if they had left in a hurry.
Clang Clang!
Then, the sound of clashing steel was heard from the cave entrance.
"Kuaaaaaagh!"
"Aaahhhhh!"
Whose screams could those be?
Could it be Raum's puppets?
Did Caesar come to rescue Gloria after all?
'Let's escape first.'
This is the opportunity since there are no puppets and Raum is gone.
Gloria twisted her entire body, struggling with all her might to break the leather belts.
'Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!'
But as expected, the leather belts showed no signs of loosening.
Even when trying to use aura, it kept dispersing and she couldn't properly exert force.
'How should I... Oh?'
Gloria's eyes caught sight of a scalpel.
The scalpel was placed on a shelf right next to Gloria.
The shelf was slightly lower than the steel bed Gloria was lying on, so if she could somehow reach that shelf and grab the scalpel, she might be able to cut through these leather belts.
Gloria twisted her entire body to move the steel bed.
Screech! Screech!
The sound of the bed moving echoed throughout the cave, making her skin crawl.
She feared the puppets might come rushing in after hearing this noise.
Gloria prayed that the situation outside the cave was chaotic enough that the puppets wouldn't hear the noise she was making.
Gloria persistently moved the steel bed until she finally reached the shelf where the scalpel was placed.
Gloria barely managed to move her fingers to tilt the shelf.
Slide!
The scalpel slid right into Gloria's hand.
'Got it!'
Gloria suppressed her urge to cheer and moved her fingers to cut through the leather belts.
The scalpel was sharper than expected, making the leather belts much easier to cut than she had thought.
Once the leather cuff binding her right hand was cut, everything else went smoothly.
Gloria undid all the belts restraining her left hand, chest, abdomen, and legs.
And then she could finally plant both feet on the ground as she got off the bed.
"...Phew."
Gloria sighed while holding the scalpel in reverse grip.
Though she managed to break free, it wasn't over yet.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Just then, she heard people rushing towards where she was.
"Damn it!"
A horrible voice like scraping metal urgently crossed the cave.
That unpleasant voice was definitely Raum's.
Gloria hid her body in the shadows right next to the cave entrance.
"Run away with that bitch Gloria! Caesar is much stronger than I thought!"
Gloria smiled bitterly at Raum's echoing monologue.
Yes, how strong did you think my master was?
There's no way he would lose to a demon like you.
The problem is that things would be different if Gloria was taken hostage.
Gloria hid deeply in the shadows while holding her breath as much as possible.
Raum entered the cave where Gloria had been.
"Huh?! Where did that bitch go?!"
Raum shouted upon seeing all the leather belts cut.
"Where did she go, I asked?!"
Raum yelled at the puppets, but they could only mutter "Uh..." without being able to speak.
Raum grinded his teeth and said.
"Since we didn't run into her on our way here, she must have escaped the other way. Find her now! Otherwise, we'll all di-!"
Whoosh! Thud!
Just then, an axe flew like a bat through the complex cave and stuck into Raum's back.
Crackle!
"Kueeeeeeeegh!"
An axe that creates lightning.
There couldn't be two people in the world who possess such a unique axe.
"Where do you think you're running off to, bastard."
Caesar flew into the cave like the wind and cut through all the puppets' hearts.
Every time Caesar's axe moved, the puppets crumbled without being able to put up any resistance.
Raum tried desperately to crawl away like an insect.
But Caesar firmly stepped on his spine.
"Where is Gloria right now?! You damn bastard!"
"Kukukuk kukuk!"
Raum laughed while spitting out purple blood.
"Are you hoping she's safe? Caesar?"
"...What?"
"I tore that bitch to pieces. Even if you look, you won't be able to find a single piece of her corps- Kuaaaaaaagh!"
"You son of a bitch!"
Thud!
Caesar mercilessly struck the guy's head with Lefty.
And grabbing his collar, he cried out.
"Bring Gloria back to life! Bring her back!"
Gloria felt sorry yet deeply grateful for Caesar's anguished cries.
Hadn't he shed tears for her and rushed to this dangerous place without regard for his own life?
Gloria slowly approached Caesar.
"Master."
When Gloria called him, Caesar whipped his head around.
"...Gloria?"
"What happened to your face?"
Caesar dropped his axe and ran to embrace Gloria tightly.
Caesar's embrace smelled of blood but was so warm.
"I'm sorry. Did I come too late?"
"No. It's alright."
Gloria hugged Caesar's waist like she would break it.
"It's really alright. You came to save me."
"Are you really okay?"
"Yes. I'm really okay. Thank you, Master."
"Really?"
"Yes. Really. Thank you so much."
"Really really?"
"Yes. Really..."
"Are you really okay?"
Gloria pulled slightly away from Caesar's embrace, finding it strange how he kept asking the same question like a broken record.
"Really okay..."
Gloria's expression instantly froze.
Above Caesar's head, his heart was floating.
And blood vessels were connected to his arms, legs, and his pierced chest.
"Is it really okay if I become a puppet?"
Gloria screamed and fell backwards.
"Aaaaaargh!"
"It's because of you, Gloria."
"No. No!"
"Because of you, I became a puppet too."
Caesar pounced on Gloria.
Gloria tried to move her hands and feet somehow but couldn't because of Caesar's rough hands.
Bloody tears flowed from Caesar's eyes.
"It's because of youuuu!"
"Nooooo!"
Gloria opened her eyes screaming.
Leather belts were tied around Gloria's entire body, and she was in the same cave.
Drip!
Gloria felt a cold water drop falling on her forehead.
The all-too-familiar sensation made Gloria's skin crawl.
"...No way."
Gloria turned her head to the side.
There she saw Caesar kneeling with his heart ripped out.
Caesar glared at Gloria with bloody tears.
"Gloria, it's because of you."
Gloria's scream echoed back.
***
It wasn't difficult for Caesar to find Raum's hideout.
It would have been strange not to find it since he had left traces deliberately asking to be followed.
His hideout was a cave hidden in the gap of a small valley.
There was only one entrance to the valley, and acrid smoke-filled fog covered the surrounding area.
Naturally, puppets were wandering around the valley.
From Valent Saga's perspective, the individual abilities of the puppets were on par with the ordinary knights Caesar had hired, and some puppets were on a similar level to Gideon.
Especially 'Tatiana', who wasn't visible here but was Raum's beloved doll and strongest puppet, would certainly be present.
'I want to just push through.'
With Raven's buff, it wouldn't be difficult at all to push straight through the valley to reach the cave entrance, but that would put Gloria in equal danger.
If Raum suddenly feels threatened and kills Gloria, the only reason left for Caesar to be here would be to get revenge on Raum.
Caesar didn't want to face such a sad reality yet.
And there was also a practical reason why he couldn't recklessly go inside.
'That smoke is somewhat dangerous even for me.'
Many people believe Raum's main ability is 'Puppetry', but that's not actually his main ability.
His main ability is 'Brainwashing'.
If you keep inhaling this acrid smoke spread around the valley, it makes the target enter a 'nightmares', and if mental strength hits bottom while wandering in that dream, Raum takes over their body.
In Valent Saga, this guy was so notorious that there were rumors saying you couldn't tackle him unless your mental strength stat was 'Superior' or you constantly took potions that held onto your sanity.
But the more notorious something becomes, the more its countermeasures develop.
Caesar knew all of this guy's weaknesses.
Just then, Raven appeared next to Caesar through spatial movement.
"Everything's ready."
Caesar held Thunder and Lefty in both hands.
"Yeah? Then let's begin."
"Before we go, there's something I want to ask."
"What?"
"Actually, it's not just one thing but many... I'll just ask one. If he takes Gloria hostage and tells you to surrender, what will you do?"
Raven's question was what Caesar had been repeating to himself for the past 6 hours.
Like any person would be, Caesar is someone who values his own life greatly.
Caesar did all sorts of things to survive in the Demon Realm War.
He even defecated in front of others to imitate savage barbarians and killed other demons to survive.
So now, if told to give up his life, would Caesar really have the resolve to quietly offer his neck?
"I don't know. We'll have to see when we get there."
"Then I'll tell you the answer."
Raven looked straight into Caesar's eyes.
"Find a way to survive, no matter what."
Raven put power into her words as if casting a spell.
She did this because she thought Caesar might really die for Gloria otherwise.
"You mean I should survive even if it means killing Gloria?"
"Yes. Your life doesn't belong to just you. Do you know how many things depend on you? You're in charge of diplomacy between the Demon King and the Empire, and there are over 2,000 soldiers who look up to you alone. If you die, they all die too."
"That's an extremely rational and logical reason."
"Yes. So you must live, even if it means abandoning Gloria."
Caesar took a deep breath.
The humid air filled his lungs.
"Then let me ask you one thing."
"What?"
"If it was you instead of Gloria who was captured by Raum, would you still say the same thing?"
Raven hesitated for a moment.
"...Yes."
"You're lying."
"Did you read my mind?"
"No, how could anyone give up their life so easily? Anyone in Gloria's situation would cry and beg to be saved. They'd probably even call out to goddesses they don't usually believe in."
"Then why are you knowingly walking into danger? You know how infamous a devil Raum is. If something goes wrong, you won't just die - you'll be tormented as Raum's puppet until the day you die. Aren't you afraid of that?"
"Of course I'm afraid."
"Then why are you going to save Gloria? No, what is Gloria to you that makes you do this?"
What is Gloria to Caesar?
It makes him think about it again, though it's nothing new.
Caesar abandoned the Royder Order to save Gloria.
He rejected the Royder Order that he had gotten along well with after making the malaria cure, and fought almost to the death with Count Hironeel.
What was the reason?
Because the Royder Order people were bad?
In this world where much worse people run rampant, the Royder Order's level of filth is practically spotless in comparison.
Then why does Caesar try to save Gloria?
Why exactly is Caesar trying to rescue Gloria?
Why is Caesar willing to sacrifice his life for a girl he's only known for barely a year?
What is Gloria to Caesar that makes him do this?
Though no rational answer could be found in Caesar's inner thoughts, he could speak his own answer.
"She's my disciple."
"Just because she's your disciple? Is that really the reason? Enough to betray the expectations of 2,000 people hoping for your return?"
"I'm not trying to save Gloria for such rational and logical reasons. You know what kind of person I am."
"What kind of person are you? Explain properly. Are you Barre? Caesar? Or a doppelganger?"
Caesar realized that Raven's question wasn't directed at him.
Raven's question was directed at herself.
Raven couldn't understand Caesar's heart that would willingly walk into Raum's trap for Gloria.
"I'm the kind of person who would walk into Raum's trap to save Gloria, who would make an enemy of Elijah to save Agatha, and who could break the head of the Demon King I've served to save you, Raven."
Through the leaves momentarily pushed aside by the wind, the red moon was revealed.
The mysterious red moonlight from the crescent moon illuminated Caesar's faint smile.
"Yes. I guess I'm a romantic person who is led by emotions right in front of me rather than grand causes."
Raven was captivated by his magical smile.
Why was Raven drawn to Barre?
Because of his reliability that made him charge at enemies while laughing heartily even in front of an army of a million?
Because of his thoughtfulness in sitting beside Raven and wiping away cold sweat when she fell into nightmares?
Because he always watched over her, never taking his eyes off her even during chaotic battles?
While all those would be reasons, it was because she knew he was the only person who could fight against the world for Raven.
That's why she felt such terrible betrayal when she learned Barre was a doppelganger, and why she could forgive Barre when she learned he killed the Demon King for her despite being a doppelganger.
In Raven's heart, facing this truth head-on, a very small... No, what should certainly be small, uncomfortable jealousy bloomed.
And Raven was so disappointed in herself for the fact that this jealousy was directed at Gloria, who must still be suffering even now.
"Then let's get going now. Gloria will be waiting."
Raven took her eyes off Caesar and began casting magic.
As Raven waved her wand, Caesar's body became transparent.
"The duration of the invisibility magic and air purification magic is 1 hour. If you need buffs, you'll have to fight where I can see you."
"Thank you."
"The magic cast on you will only work until the cave entrance. Dispel magic spells are spread all over the cave entrance. The only way to break through all the magic is to destroy the dispel magic itself, but then they'll notice I'm here."
It seems Raum has prepared thoroughly for dealing with Raven as well.
Caesar's thick hand was placed on Raven's shoulder.
"I'll handle everything after that."
Raven placed her hand on Caesar's rough, invisible hand.
"...Be careful."
Caesar left with a slight smile.
Though invisible, Raven thought Caesar must have surely smiled.