261
I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake
Chapter 261
"Are you thinking of accepting Elijah's proposal?"
Caesar used psychometry on Noah.
"The Empire is a setting sun. It's corrupt and festering. The aging Emperor, not even realizing the knife coming at him, is obsessed with finding immortality."
-Looking at the current Emperor and Crown Prince, supporting the Empire is meaningless. And father said so. The Akashic Records clearly show that the Empire will divide and perish.
There is only one reason why the Arch family was able to prosper. It's about getting off a sinking ship and quietly boarding one that's sailing straight. That's how Arch Duke was able to keep his wizards from being taken by the Emperor, and maintain his independent culture and power.
"The current Emperor has always had tremendous ambition for power. Once, he tried to suppress the Dre Order to take away their authority over knight qualification exams. Though it failed, it wasn't entirely without results."
"During that process, as knight academies flourished, traditional classic-type knights gradually disappeared, and technique-type knights who only needed to carry a sword became popular."
You might think the Dre Order's main income comes from donations, but in fact, the Dre Order's main revenue comes from mining operations. There are many magic steel mines in the southern regions, and most of the armor worn by classic-type knights is made from magic steel produced in Vex Province or Dre Province.
Terra is also almost monopolized as it can only be mined from special mines known only to the Dre Order. However, as the number of classic-type knights decreases, the demand for armor plummets, and if magic steel sales decline, the Dre Order will inevitably take a hit.
"The Royder Order quickly noticed the Emperor's greed. The Royder Order thought the Emperor would try to find out their potion manufacturing methods somehow, and they thoroughly prepared."
"Whenever the Emperor contacted dissidents within the Royder Order, the Order's heresy inquisitors' stakes moved. Of course, it was impossible to stop everyone."
That must have been Professor Smir.
"Why did you accept Professor Smir? If you knew the Imperial family would fall, shouldn't you have maintained close relations with the Royder Order?"
"Because the Emperor's sword was close, and the Royder Order's stakes were far."
While the current Emperor is a setting sun now, at that time, he was a hot rising sun just beginning to shine. There was no benefit in antagonizing the Emperor, and using Professor Smir's status as a wizard as justification, the Arch family decided to protect him.
"So we responded appropriately. The Arch family sheltered Wizard Smir on the condition that he wouldn't reveal what he knew about the Royder Order to the Emperor."
"Neither the Emperor nor the Royder Order must have liked that?"
"But they couldn't openly say so. Smir was already in the Arch family's hands, and all testimony about the holy water was in my possession."
The credibility of all information depends on who says it. The impact is completely different between when an insignificant third-rate journalist speaks and when Arch Duke reveals the truth.
"So the Royder Order had no choice but to trust the Arch family."
"We also couldn't tell the Emperor about the Royder Order's secrets. The moment we revealed the secret of the holy water to the Emperor, it would be no different than giving up our sharp weapon."
Originally, nuclear weapons are more threatening when everyone knows you have them than when you actually fire them. If you fire nuclear weapons, it's obvious things will become desperate, and both sides will suffer great wounds.
"So we kept Wizard Smir tightly hidden, preventing him from having direct contact with people as much as possible. Of course, we did allow him to meet his only disciple 'Finn' so he could breathe."
"And through Finn, I ended up meeting him."
"Yes. At the time, we didn't think you would cause such big waves. We thought you were just some insignificant knight running wild."
But then you started a pharmaceutical company, had a major confrontation with the Royder Order, and even knocked them out. From the Arch family's perspective, they must have been very troubled about what to do with Caesar.
"In conclusion, what Elijah proposed to me was one thing. Abandon the setting sun and welcome the rising sun."
"...The rising sun?"
"Yes. Elijah was thinking about becoming Emperor himself."
Emperor?
I can't understand what nonsense this is.
Why is the Eileen Empire an empire?
Why do nobles follow the Emperor?
It's because the founding Emperor was a hero and was known to have defeated dragons, which were considered the source of all evil. That's why even the Dre Order and Royder Order acknowledge the founding Emperor's achievements and outwardly submit to him - you can't just suddenly say ‘I want to be Emperor!’ and become one.
In other words, to become Emperor, you need legitimacy.
"Elijah is absolutely not someone who is obsessed with such nonsensical power."
"Then what kind of person is the Elijah you saw?"
"He's acting like someone obsessed with power because he needs to appear that way."
"You're saying he's acting?"
"Yes. That guy has no interest in becoming Emperor."
"What does he really want?"
"It's Demon King Diana."
Noah let out a small sigh, recalling the relationship between Elijah and Diana that Caesar had told him about.
"...I see. They said Elijah was a doppelganger who lived during Diana's time. And..."
"The reason Elijah prepared for the demon realm war for so long was because of his desire for revenge against Diana. It was anger about being abandoned."
"Do you think it was something worth being that angry about?"
"Rather than being angry at Diana, Elijah thought that if he started the demon realm war, he could meet Diana again. He thought that if rumors spread about the demon race she had carefully nurtured facing extinction, Diana would definitely come looking."
"...That's a completely incomprehensible way of thinking."
Although Caesar thinks poorly of Elijah, it's not that he completely fails to understand his position. Isn't it similar to being forced to live as a distant father for over 100 years in a foreign land, only to have your wife suddenly say ‘I want to live my own life now’ and leave?
Of course, if you asked Caesar whether someone should be angry enough to exterminate vampires and succubi who were like their own children, he wouldn't be able to answer, but anyway, he would want to find Diana who had disappeared somewhere, by any means necessary.
"So Elijah's nonsense about becoming a new sun is just a strategy to find Diana?"
"Of course, he probably has plenty of personal desire to get back at the Emperor too. Didn't the Redfield and Goldmile families tarnish Elijah's honor?"
Caesar pointed to the letter in Noah's hand.
"What exactly are the contents of that letter?"
"Along with proposing to move against the Emperor together, it also included instructions not to establish diplomatic relations with the Demon King. There was also talk of handing you over."
"What did he offer in return?"
"He said he wouldn't interfere with the magic stone mining business."
Elijah instinctively knew that threatening not to take something away, rather than offering to give something, was more effective than one might think.
Originally, anxiety and fear are what most easily shake the human heart.
"What are you planning to do?"
"Naturally, I'll refuse."
-Since I know that Caesar is very cooperative with the Arch family, it would be right to reject Elijah's proposal.
-Elijah's sword is far away while Caesar and the Demon King are close.
Making a show of it while lost in thought. Well, from his position, I understand he's contemplating whether his family's long-cherished wish will be fulfilled or not. But understanding doesn't mean I'm not displeased. Caesar looked at the devil hunting artifact placed on the table.
'I'm letting it slide once because of the artifact.'
Honestly, that thing is really tempting.
"By the way, how much do you know about Demon King Diana?"
"Since my ancestors exchanged several letters with Diana, it would be fair to say I know quite a bit."
The Arch family is more world-class than expected. No, perhaps it's a desperate struggle to somehow obtain magic stones?
"What kind of person was Demon King Diana?"
"I would need to read the letters again to explain that properly."
-I should go read those letters.
You haven't read any of them at all, have you? Well, they probably couldn't have imagined that Elijah, who hadn't had much influence on the future, would suddenly become so prominent, and they wouldn't have known that Elijah was a doppelganger who had lived for over 250 years.
"Would it be alright if I read those letters too?"
"Let me check the contents first before deciding."
I really want to get those handwritten letters. If I use psychometry on them, I'll be able to properly understand Diana's personality.
"Then what are your thoughts on how the Arch Duke family will proceed? If you won't accept Elijah's proposal, are you planning to follow His Majesty the Emperor?"
"In the past, when Count Dior raised his banner against the Emperor and declared he would establish a kingdom, the Emperor flew into a rage and summoned the nobles, demanding Count Dior's head immediately."
At the time when the first Emperor had died and his grandson had just become Emperor, Count Dior started a rebellion. The Emperor at the time thought that if he couldn't suppress the Count's rebellion, imperial authority would definitely be shaken, and with the intention of completely destroying Count Dior and his following nobles' bloodlines, he asked the Arch Duke family to lend him their wizards.
"But at that time, Duke Prime Arch II didn't lend any wizards. He knew that the Dior Kingdom hadn't started the rebellion without any thought."
"At the time, the Dior Kingdom, which was gradually gaining power, contacted the Royder Order and Dre Order that were beginning to grow in influence, lobbying them to refuse the Emperor's summons, and both the Dre Order and Royder Order agreed."
"When the Emperor saw the nobles' unexpectedly lukewarm response, he was very flustered, and in the end, Count Dior's rebellion succeeded and he established his kingdom."
Prime Arch II, who knew this future, secretly allied with the Dior Kingdom and obtained trading rights to the Eileen River, and all goods produced in the Dior Kingdom could only be traded through the Arch family. In the end, the Arch family was able to completely dominate the east and proceed with the Ark Project more quickly and secretly.
"History clearly states. It seems like winners gain a lot in this world, but those who bet on winners gain even more."
"But this war is peculiar. Only the losers are clear while the winners remain uncertain. The Emperor will undoubtedly lose, but it's not certain whether Elijah can become Emperor. We don't know if the religious orders and other nobles will align with Elijah's intentions."
Noah's judgment is accurate.
While other nobles and religious orders might sympathize with Elijah's ambitions to some extent, they won't go as far as supporting him as Emperor. Unless he aims to establish a kingdom, he lacks the legitimacy to be positioned as the continent's ruler.
Moreover, Elijah is currently suspected of being a doppelganger. Other nobles would likely be uncomfortable installing such a person as Emperor.
"Therefore, there is only one thing the Arch family must do. Invest in what is certain."
The Empire will fall. Noah could be this certain because it was written in the 'Akashic Records' seen by 36 generations of Arch Dukes.
Although the 'Akashic Records' are being rewritten due to the emergence of an 'anomaly,' the overall flow remains unchanged.
"The Empire will fall. And the devils of Niflheim are watching for an opportunity to devour the continent."
When these two truths combine, a certain future becomes visible. Noah took out a letter bearing the Empire's seal.
"Niflheim will attempt to contact the Emperor to make him their ally."
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Even if it's a devil, the Emperor will certainly join hands with them.
***
In an office filled with brilliant sunlight.
A man with emerald-colored hair was leaning against an old wooden table, reviewing documents.
Gulp!
The Chancellor of the Kingdom of Dior was nervously watching the man while swallowing hard. The man closed the document with a thud and removed his ring to stamp it. Only then could the Chancellor breathe a sigh of relief.
"Not bad. Please deliver this to His Majesty the King as is."
"Yes, Prince Denver."
"More importantly, please take this."
Prince Denver took out a small gift box from the table and handed it to the Finance Minister.
"This is..."
"I heard your daughter was ill. I prepared this after hearing there's no better medicine when one's energy is low."
"I never dreamed you would care even for my youngest daughter."
Prince Denver smiled and patted the Chancellor's shoulder lightly.
"Aren't you the person who moves the country, Chancellor? How can you let small matters worry you and risk making mistakes in bigger matters?"
"Ah... Yes... That's true."
"Then you may go now. Tell His Majesty that I have approved it."
"...Thank you."
The Chancellor bowed his head politely before leaving the office. Prince Denver watched him leave with a smile until the end.
Click!
When the door closed, Prince Denver removed his benevolent smile and placed the ring on the table.
"Is the Chancellor the only one left now?"
A deep, cave-like voice emerged from the fireplace.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Make sure to confirm and report whether the Chancellor's youngest daughter drinks the gift I gave."
"Yes, I understand, Your Majesty."
Denver stared blankly out the window. The first thing visible was the vast garden, and beyond it stretched an endless ocean.
"Belial is dead?"
"...It's not certain that he's dead. Isn't he someone who doesn't die even when killed?"
"If he doesn't come when I call, it's as good as being dead."
Denver took out a small letter from the drawer. A letter embossed with a lion emblem. There are quite a few houses that use a lion as their family symbol. However, there aren't many houses that have used the lion emblem as their family symbol for as long as this one has.
"Elijah Friedrich..."