34
I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.
Chapter 34
The next morning.
Following Pesson's advice, Caesar headed to the Heroes' Cemetery early.
Sean transformed into guide mode and began explaining enthusiastically.
"This is where the bodies of holy knights who died while hunting demons are buried. It's also one of the must-visit tourist attractions when you come to Shalibi."
At first, it was hard to understand how a cemetery could be a tourist attraction, but the moment we entered the Heroes' Cemetery, we couldn't help but gasp in awe.
After climbing stairs for about 20 minutes to reach the cemetery, a wide plateau suddenly appeared.
Green grass covered the plateau, and weapons stuck into the grass at regular intervals served as tombstones.
This is totally like Pesna's Unlimited Blade... What was it?
Anyway, it's like that.
"Now, let's come this way."
Sean guided Caesar to the left end of the cemetery.
"The reason why the Heroes' Cemetery is located in Shalibi is so that when a great crisis comes to the continent, blacksmiths can be mobilized to pull out the weapons used by the holy knights, repair them, and pass them on to the knights of later generations. It has actually been used just once."
"During the time of the Demon of Plague."
"That's right."
Suddenly, a stone monument appeared in the field full of weapons.
Sean pointed to the monument visible at the front and said,
"The graves with stone monuments like this instead of weapons are said to be the armaments used during the time when the terrifying 'Demon of Plague' was rampant. At one time, the Demon of Plague reached as far as Sanctus Lumen beyond Shalibi, so they had no choice but to pull out the weapons."
Sean headed back to the part of the cemetery where the weapons began.
"From here are the graves of holy knights who died due to the Demon of Plague. As many as 3,500 holy knights died, and even after the death of the Demon of Plague, 3,000 more knights died due to battles with the surviving 'disease eaters'."
The reason why the Demon of Plague terrified the continent was because it had the ability to mutate people infected with 'infectious diseases' into demons.
Of course, not all infectious diseases, but some like typhoid, syphilis, tuberculosis, and so on...
'Even just typhoid and syphilis are bad enough.'
Even now, there are so many people with syphilis.
I can't even imagine how many people turned into demons back then.
"Thanks to these people's noble sacrifices, the continent was able to avoid destruction, so it's something to be very grateful for. Would you like to look around some more?"
"Sure."
As a knight who had fought in the demon realm war, Caesar felt this place differently.
Those who throw their bodies recklessly to save their comrades beside them.
Those who willingly sacrifice themselves to open an escape route for the main force, knowing they will die.
They were all knights and Barre's comrades.
Caesar is clearly a 'demon race', but ironically, since entering the world of Valent Saga, the beings he had fought alongside, flesh to flesh, were knights and soldiers.
Although he was spying on orders from the Demon King and received a lot of support for it, ironically, his sense of camaraderie was closer to the humans.
So he struggled a lot.
Whether to betray the demon race and live for humanity, or to continue the life of a demon race since that was his origin.
He had met too many people who discriminated and hated Barbarians just because they were Barbarians, so betraying the demon race seemed risky.
Would it be any different for the demon race?
It might even be worse.
So he worried that when he was no longer useful, they might discard him like chewed gum, and he couldn't reveal his true feelings to anyone.
But continuing to spy meant he had to keep watching his comrades, who had shown him kindness, die because of the military information Caesar had passed on.
Who is Caesar?
No, Barre... No, who exactly is Seo-han?
Before he could answer that, Seo-han blew off the Demon King's head, and even now, Caesar finds it difficult to clearly answer who he is.
The course of action Seo-han, who is neither this nor that, decided on was just one:
Be true to the feelings he experiences now.
When he goes to the battlefield as Barre, he throws his body to save his comrades like Raven, Yan, and Michelle.
When the war ends and the black pigeon flies, he passes useful information to the demon race.
Because he's grateful to both the demon race and his comrades.
That has been Seo-han's way of survival in the Valent continent for the past 3 years.
So Caesar decided to offer the flowers he had prepared to the graves of the holy knights.
Rationally thinking, these weren't people who died for Seo-han, but if they had been Caesar's comrades, they would have been the heroes who would have thrown their bodies to save him.
Flowers were left like footprints at every grave Caesar visited.
By the time the flowers in Caesar's arms had disappeared one by one until they were all gone,
A very unusual weapon was stuck in the gravestone before Caesar's eyes.
'An axe?'
Moreover, it wasn't just one axe.
One axe slightly larger than the one Caesar used, but smaller than the 'Wilderness' that Barre used.
And a small axe that seemed to be made for throwing was stuck there.
The axes had rusted from being left unattended for too long, but the emerald-colored elemental stones embedded in the small and large axes sparkled in the sunlight.
'If it's emerald-colored... It must be a wind stone.'
In this world, there are metals with special properties like Terra, but there are also gems with special properties like wind stone.
There are theories that it was altered by magic, or that it was created by extinct dragons, but anyway, the important thing is that this gem contains very mysterious elemental power.
Using this to engrave special abilities into weapons was the first 'artifact'.
Although it developed further and techniques were devised to imbue magic without using gems, artifacts using elemental stones are still the most effective.
'Why on earth did they put a wind stone in an axe?'
Caesar placed his hand on the axe to use psychometry.
"...It's not possible."
The weapon itself was too old, and in a situation where information about the knight who used this axe was unclear, using psychometry wouldn't work.
If it did work, it would be an overpowered ability.
But instinctively, he felt it.
Buried beneath this is the axe knight who used wind, as Pesson had mentioned.
Caesar looked at Sean and said,
"Do you know who the owner of this grave is?"
Sean scratched his head and said,
"I'm not sure about that... Shall we find out? The cemetery keeper might know."
"Let's go together."
***
Caesar and Sean went to see the cemetery keeper who manages the Heroes' Cemetery.
The cemetery keepers were all priests.
"Could you tell us the names of the holy knights who used dual axes?"
"Please wait a moment."
The priests placed a dusty book on the table and started flipping through it.
"Dual axes... Ah! Here it is. There's only one."
"Just one?"
"There are very few heroes who used axes. Especially with dual axes, there's only one person."
The priest looked at the name through a magnifying glass and said,
"How do you pronounce this? Bios? Biosum? Ah! Besum! ...Oh! A holy knight of Barbarian origin!"
"There was a holy knight of Barbarian origin?"
"Yes. It seems he was a knight who decided to serve the goddess Dre after losing his family and tribe to the Demon of Plague. He was very brave, as expected of a Barbarian."
Another Barbarian?
No.
Who else would use an axe besides a Barbarian?
It's surprising in itself that a holy knight would use dual axes.
"I'd like to see records of how this person fought. Is that possible?"
"It might be difficult to find records from before the Demon of Plague, but since this person was active during the time of the Demon of Plague, there should be some remaining."
Jackpot.
Is this why humans are called the race of record-keeping?
If I compare the remaining documents and use psychometry, I should be able to get information about Besum's axe techniques.
"Could I see those records?"
"They should be in the Shalibi Library. Holy knights always write post-action reports after hunting demons. But not just anyone can view the documents..."
Caesar pulled out the blue flame emblem.
"Would this not suffice?"
"Oh... If you show this, it should be fine."
Wow, this emblem seems to be quite something.
I should buy Joseph a souvenir before going back home.
Caesar handed a 100 del bill to the priest.
"Thank you. This is a donation."
"I wasn't serving in hopes of receiving a donation... Please wait a moment. I'll write you a recommendation letter."
"I didn't give the donation with this in mind either. But I'll gratefully accept it."
***
The Shalibi Library was larger than expected and exuded a very classical atmosphere.
Seeing the young-looking priests, it seems they study theology here.
Caesar and Sean went straight to the librarian in the hall.
"May the blessing of the merciful goddess Dre be with you. May I ask what brings you here?"
"We've come to find documents related to a holy knight named Besum. I heard it was from the time when the Demon of Plague was active."
"Documents from the time of the Demon of Plague are at risk of damage, so... I see you have an emblem. Then let me check the schedule..."
"We also have a recommendation letter."
The librarian looked at the emblem and the recommendation letter alternately, then nodded.
"Would you like to view them now?"
"Is it possible to borrow them?"
"That's not possible."
Well, it would be unconscionable to expect that much.
"Then how about transcribing?"
"Depending on what you're looking for, transcription might be restricted due to internal security regulations. I ask for your understanding on this point."
"Of course."
Wouldn't I have that much understanding?
Caesar and Sean followed the priest to the basement.
"Is this your first time at the Shalibi Library?"
"Yes, it is."
"Then you might get bored on the way, so let me tell you a bit about the Shalibi Library."
"I'd appreciate that."
The priest pointed to a scorched area of the library and said,
"Do you know what that scorch mark is?"
"Was there a recent fire?"
"No. They say it's a trace left from the battle between the Demon of Plague and the holy knights."
Caesar looked at it with slight curiosity.
"They left it as it is?"
"What is a library for? Isn't it a place to store records? I believe it's also the library's duty to preserve the traces of the Demon of Plague's invasion of Shalibi."
Korea also keeps records of its humiliating history under Japanese in museums.
However, they rarely leave the buildings themselves intact.
Even less common is continuing to use such buildings.
But here, these people were living their present alongside the history of their humiliation by demons.
It's a remarkable display of courage and patience.
"Do you leave other places like this as well?"
"Most buildings in the Dre province are preserved as they are. Of course, if there's a risk of collapse, we demolish and rebuild them, but in such cases, we set up a museum nearby."
"Why do you try to preserve them like this?"
"200 years ago, there were no methods to hunt demons. There were demons that wouldn't die even if you stabbed their hearts, demons that wouldn't die even if you cut off their heads, and even demons that could move their souls by possessing human bodies. Since we didn't know how to hunt demons, we went through a lot of trial and error."
"So many holy knights died, you mean?"
"That's right. It was extremely lucky if they survived to write reports. Most died while facing demons. We created warehouses to store these living traces they wrote with their blood, which naturally evolved into libraries over time."
Clank.
They arrived at a dark room that smelled of musty dust and books as a heavy door opened.
"That custom has remained until now, developing into a way of preserving as many traces of these demons as possible. We had to figure out how they fight, the principles behind their creation, and even what purpose they live for."
The walls of the underground library were full of broken, scratched, and damaged traces.
If you didn't know this was a library, you might think some bizarre demon was living underground.
"As a result, we discovered that demons are weak to holy flame, that crushing is better than cutting, and that it's better to protect the body with sturdy armor and shields rather than swift movements."
In the basement, very young priests were reading books, engaged in conversation.
If someone asked where the noisiest library in the world was, you could say it was this place.
"Is reading while talking like that also one of those methods?"
"Yes. It's better for studying and gaining new perspectives on doctrine to share knowledge with others rather than keeping it to oneself."
These people have only one purpose for their studies.
The methodology of how to kill demons more effectively.
As their study purpose is deeply involved with the present world, they had to pursue practicality rather than stopping at armchair theories.
"The donation wasn't a waste."
"If you think so, I'm sincerely grateful."
The librarian went deeper underground.
Caesar descended one more floor.
When the librarian opened the door to the second basement archive, unlike the noisy library from earlier, there were librarians reading books very quietly.
Sean whispered very softly.
"Why is it quiet here?"
"There must be people who want to read quietly. Also, this is a room where easily damaged ancient documents are resting."
"I see..."
The librarian quietly moved and guided them to a small room.
It felt like a private reading room where you could read books quietly.
The librarian lit candles here and there and spoke.
"Please wait here for a moment. I'll bring the documents related to Sir Besum."
"Thank you."
After waiting for about 10 minutes,
The priest returned with a large cart full of books and documents.
"These are all the documents related to Sir Besum."
"There's so many?"
"Since Sir Besum was the first and last holy knight of Barbarian origin, there are quite a few observation records. Of course, there are also reports written by Sir Besum himself."
The priest then gave them a small sign.
"This is the location of the physical storage where traces of Sir Besum's battles with demons remain. If you show this to the librarian there, you should be able to view them."
"Such things still remain?"
"As I said, it was a time when we had to do anything to hunt demons."
The priest bowed his head and said,
"Then I'll take my leave. By the way, this room is well soundproofed, so you can have conversations in low voices. Just make sure the door is properly closed when you talk."
"Thank you very much. This is a personal donation of gratitude."
Caesar handed over ten 100 del bills.
It's the first time in his life he's given a donation so gladly.
The priest received the donation respectfully and smiled.
"May the goddess Dre bestow the blessing of knowledge upon Sir Caesar's future."
As the librarian closed the door and left, Caesar smiled and said,
"Won't you convert to the Dre religion even after this?"
"I'm slightly swayed. Haha..."