Chapter 308: translated
I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.
Episode 308
There are different interpretations about what civilization existed in the forgotten era.
Some say it was a Magic civilization, others say it was a world of knights, and some say it was a world of gods where people could communicate with deities.
In other words, powerful authorities like knights, wizards, or religious figures interpreted it however they pleased. Since evidence to prove their claims had completely disappeared due to the dragon's curse, there was no reason they would be caught no matter how many lies they told.
"To be precise, Smauernman stole the language. All documents recorded in the forgotten era disappeared, characters engraved on stones disappeared, and even all characters in people's memories were eliminated. So at that time, people could speak but without language, recording itself was impossible. For as long as 10 years."
"Is the figure of 10 years accurate?"
"I don't know. I heard that even the concept of numbers disappeared back then, so they couldn't properly record even a day or two. But according to what the ancestors said, it was about 10 years. That's why we believe it."
Surprisingly, he readily admits there could be errors. Usually, if you doubt the words of ancestors who survived the forgotten era, most nobles would make a fuss challenging you to a duel.
Does this mean he doesn't need to hide anything in front of Caesar, or does he have something else he wants to say?
"Still, if they created a language in just 10 years, that's incredibly fast."
"It took longer to spread. Before the language spread across the entire continent, the Imperial Province was born, and within 40 years of the Imperial Province's birth, the Imperial common language spread to every corner of the continent. In other words, it's correct to say that for more than 50 years after the forgotten era, history wasn't recorded."
"That means a lot of historical distortion occurred during that time."
"Right. Since recording was impossible, it was passed down only by word of mouth. When information is transmitted orally, it tends to be exaggerated, diminished, or lost."
Caesar had already played through the Valent Saga as an adventurer. Beyond simply playing through it, he had seen the normal ending, bad ending, and even the hidden ending.
While he couldn't say he knew well about the historical common knowledge that people of this world typically know, he thought he might know the true nature of this world better than Count Vex.
So let's probe deeper. How much does Count Vex really know about this world?
"Since people lived without records for almost 50 years, historical distortion must have been severe. Does that mean the story of the founding Emperor defeating the dragons could also be false?"
"To be honest, I don't know if he really defeated the dragons. Because there weren't any records or anything."
Although Count Vex verbally answered ‘I don't know,’ it was clear that Count Vex knew something.
It wasn't the founding Emperor and the 12 knights who killed the evil dragon Sturungarden and drove away Smauernman. It was the traitor dragon Grezawa, the barbarian hero Akim and his following barbarians, and the demon race. The founding Emperor and the 12 knights were traitors who had made an alliance to fight together but cowardly ran away.
"That sounds like we should question the legitimacy of your family, Count Vex, one of the twelve knight houses. Is it okay for you to tell me such things?"
"Do you know why the Royder Order and I tried to destroy the Arch family?"
"I don't know."
"I said humans lost their language in the forgotten era. Then how do you think the demon race fared? Interestingly, the demon race preserved their language. That means they had recorded the true history of the war with dragons that the founding Emperor had concealed."
Count Vex laughed as if amused.
"You can't imagine how shocked the Emperor and the nobles descended from the twelve knights were at that time.
The reason the Eileen Empire could be established was because the founding Emperor and the twelve knights defeated the dragons. But the books of the demon race said that wasn't the case."
"Moreover, since Arch Duke said before the war that he would only take rights to magic stones and documents and give up all rights to other jewels, gold, weapons, and land, all the books in the Vampire Castle and Demon King Castle were preserved intact in the Magic Tower. In other words, Arch Duke was holding a time bomb that could explode at any time."
Raven, who had been listening silently, opened her mouth.
"That's why I told you there's no need to worry. Those history books will never leave the Magic Tower."
"It's meaningless to say that. Because when the Arch family was incorporated into the Eileen Empire, they made it clear from the beginning that the Arch family provided no help in defeating the dragons. In other words, even if the demon race's history is revealed, Arch Duke would suffer no damage to his legitimacy."
This means that other families had no choice but to be wary of the Arch Duke's family. They said they would never reveal history, but they knew better than anyone that there are no absolutes in this world.
"The religious orders were also in turmoil. The Dre Order and the Royder Order propagated that they existed before the Imperial Province was born. But according to the demon race's history books, humans didn't follow gods but worshipped dragons like gods."
Though I've played the Valent Saga multiple times, this is the first time I've heard such a story. The history of Valent Saga that Caesar knows only includes what's necessary for specific events, not like now where the nobles' shit due to the demon race's history problem
I was surprised because it was the first time I'd heard that he started walking the tightrope.
"So the reason why the Arch Duke family is envied by other noble families and the Emperor is because they alone are flawless."
When the carriage stopped, the carriage door opened.
"So, Caesar, let me give you a piece of advice."
Count Vex got out of the carriage.
"In a village of spotted people, it's better to draw a spot on yourself even if you don't have one. Otherwise, you won't have any friends."
***
The larger the event, the more formalized it is.
A eunuch with a good voice announces the opening ceremony, salutes the Emperor, sings the national anthem, and the Emperor comes out to give a commemorative speech. And it's rare that awards aren't given on such a good day.
"Award recipients. Viscount Caesar El Lindger, Wizard Raven. Please follow us."
At the eunuch's words, Caesar and Raven nodded slightly as if they had expected it. Before leaving, Caesar looked at Gloria and said.
"Gloria, I'll be back soon. Wait for me."
Gloria nodded slightly and said.
"Yes. I understand."
Although there are almost no people who can enter the memorial hall except for nobles and royalty, the hall was still packed like rice cakes in a steamer.
Nevertheless, the path following the eunuch was smooth. This was because they moved through the path used by eunuchs and staff running the event.
"Viscount Caesar Ellinger. Finally we meet."
Heading to the back of the venue, he came face to face with someone he didn't particularly want to meet. It was Crown Prince Trika Goldmile.
"I pay my respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"So, did you have a good visit to your hometown?"
The Crown Prince's tone was slightly sharp. Is this bastard actually sulking?
"You could have gone to Dre much faster if you had taken the train, but you got off in the middle and traveled by carriage. Why is that?"
-Even though you promised to visit soon, you didn't show your face even once for almost 3 months.
-Is this guy avoiding me too?
-He might be ignoring me.
Trika is also a lost cause as a person. If he feels ignored, he should look for the reason why he's being ignored, not just show that he's sulking. Am I the type of person who would feel burdened by such things?
"I apologize. There were various circumstances."
"What circumstances would those be?"
"It's difficult to explain here..."
At that moment, the Devil's Call hanging around Caesar's neck rang.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
'Five horns?'
There is a devil with five horns within 10km.
Caesar looked at the holy knights around him. Judging by how calmly the holy knights were standing, it seemed that no report had come in yet. That means it's a high-level devil that can't even be detected by the Blue Flame emblem.
"It seems you have reasons you can't tell me? If it was about the duel with your disciple, I could have mediated, but you didn't even come to me..."
Trika began to express his disappointment, but Caesar's attention was entirely focused on the Devil's Call. Among devils with five horns, which ones can't be detected by the Blue Flame emblem? Sax? Vine? Ronove?
'Could it be Eligos?'
The others are terrible too, but Eligos would be the worst. In the Valent Saga, his power level is equal to Yan's when he killed the Demon King. If he decides to rampage, the Imperial Province would simply be reduced to ashes.
"Are you even listening to me? Viscount Caesar?"
Would you be able to listen if you were in my place? A pentagonal devil has appeared in the middle of a metropolis with millions of citizens. While trying to find a suitable answer to brush it off, a savior appeared. It was Hudson.
"Your Highness Trika, the ceremony is about to begin."
Oh, my savior. It's really good to see you after a long time.
"Ahem! Let's continue this conversation later. You must attend the evening party, that's an order."
"Yes. I understand, Your Highness."
Well, I'm not sure if that will happen. How many people would want to talk to someone who only tries to handle his own urgent matters without knowing how the world is going?
And today is the day the Goldmile family falls. It's annoying beyond frustrating that he's just whining without realizing there's a knife at his throat. More urgent than that is the devil. Raven looked at Caesar with a strange expression.
"Caesar, was the Crown Prince that troublesome for you? I didn't know you would squirm like that."
"No, it's not that."
"Then what is it?"
Caesar discreetly showed Raven the Devil's Call hanging around his neck.
"A pentagonal devil has appeared."
"...What? When?"
"It's definitely within at least 10km."
"It's coming openly with so many holy knights around? Is it crazy?"
"It seems to be a devil that can't be read even by the Blue Flame emblem. It must be a devil that can suppress its presence or disguise itself as human."
"What reason would they have for coming?"
"Well..."
Caesar thought for a moment and then snapped his fingers.
"Ah, I think I know."
"What is it?"
"I intercepted a letter that the King of Niflheim was trying to send to the Emperor. And I also killed the devil that was carrying it."
From the perspective of the King of Niflheim, it would be somewhat urgent. He clearly sent Smog to deliver a letter to the Emperor, but both the devil died and the letter disappeared. The King of Niflheim would be a bit nervous too.
"Would the devils know that you killed that devil?"
"They probably do."
"How?"
"The place where I killed that devil was inside a train. Other people saw it, so it was inevitably revealed."
"Then they might be coming to kill you?"
Caesar touched his back. Thunder and Lefty are gone.
Since I can't carry weapons at a commemorative event where the Emperor is present.
"...This is going to be trouble."
***
Eligos looked at the commemorative venue in the distance where fireworks were exploding.
"It's over there."
Behind Eligos, twenty devils wearing black hoods appeared.
"Eligos, sir, everyone has arrived."
Eligos kept looking at the venue without giving them a glance.
"The other brethren?"
"They should all have arrived by now."
"I see."
Eligos drew his sword.
"What we must do is clear."
Eligos looked down at the humans who were chattering and smiling brightly. They seemed like noisy day flies buzzing around.
"To enable our brethren who are persecuted and hiding in this land to face the sunlight, breathe fresh air, and live like proper people."
"To let the world know that it will no longer be ruled by inferior humans, but by Mains (魔人, devils) who fully enjoy the blessing of magic."
"And finally, to offer this world to the Almighty King."
Eligos's gaze moved from the venue to the Apsin Order.
"Brothers and sisters. Let us blow the trumpets of the new era."