Chapter 134
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: It's Not Over Until It's Over (3)
"Do you think it's really just someone impersonating the Demon King?"
Jenny asked with an anxious look on her face as they made their way toward the Mera Alliance.
"Who knows. We can only hope it is."
But it wasn't impossible that this really was the Demon King.
No, in fact, it was more likely that it wasn't an impersonator.
At this point in time, who could possess the power to impersonate the Demon King?
No matter how hard he racked his brain, no one came to mind.
"If it really is the Demon King... we should think about how to respond."
"Nah... no way it's the real Demon King..."
"I hope it's not, too, but we have to prepare for the 'what if'."
If they assumed it was a fake and approached carelessly, only to run into the real Demon King...
They wouldn't have time to come up with strategies then.
They'd have to clash head-on.
And that would surely lead to far greater losses than any strategy could mitigate.
"But if it really is the Demon King... I have no idea how we should deal with it."
She had a point.
That was exactly why he'd been racking his brain so hard all this time.
"One thing's for sure—even if it's not an impersonator, the Demon King's army hasn't arrived yet."
"Huh? How do you know?"
"If they had, they wouldn't be quietly building strength like this. They'd have started a full-scale war outright."
It was a small force, but wiping out the Empire's vanguard and introducing himself to the Emperor as the Demon King could be seen as laying the groundwork for war...
But if it were truly the Demon King's army, they wouldn't bother with such tedious steps.
They could just march straight in with their full forces, recover their strength without all this waiting, and avoid the hassle.
Yet the fact that they'd deliberately thrown out that provocative statement like a test...
It meant their preparations for war weren't complete yet.
"War with the Demon King's army... that's horrifying."
"If possible... I'd like to avoid it."
"I'm no stranger to fighting evil, but if we can dodge it, we should."
"...Please let it be an impersonator."
Everyone hoped it was a fake.
Kane felt the same.
He just wanted it all to end as a minor incident.
But... he couldn't shake the unease.
"Anyway, even if it's not the real Demon King, there's definitely a powerhouse there, so we need to prepare."
Even assuming it wasn't the Demon King, they had the power to annihilate the Empire's vanguard.
They needed a way to break through with minimal casualties.
But without knowing the enemy, it was fatally difficult to devise any plan.
"It's fine! Big Brother Kane will definitely come up with some unexpected move again!"
...The pressure just got heavier.
"But not knowing the enemy is the biggest problem here."
The saying "know yourself and your enemy, and you'll win every battle" wasn't empty words.
Nothing was as crippling as a lack of information.
"For now, let's assume it's the Demon King."
He hoped it wasn't, but it was easier to hypothesize than dealing with an unknown foe.
Kraksus, the Demon King of Curses.
A Demon King who specialized in curses, as his name suggested.
The curse that shortened heroes' lifespans was his power.
If curses were his main magic, was there a way to turn that against him?
Maybe a spell that could reflect curses back...
"You're working so hard, Instructor Kane..."
"Being the strategist is always the toughest job."
"Yeah... I think just charging in and fighting is way easier."
Jenny was the most specialized in debuff magic, at least.
Her holy power was strong, and she could layer debuffs with buffs...
And since the Demon King wasn't a half-demon, the holy sword's power should work well too.
Mersenne's holy sword might shine brightly.
"Saintess, take a break."
His expression must have looked grave.
Mersenne approached from the side, handing him a canteen as he spoke.
"Ah, thank you."
He took a sip, then another, but his mind kept racing.
Simulations on how to counter the Demon King most efficiently.
"...If it's really the Demon King... hmm..."
In that case, resolving it with their group before summoning reinforcements would be ideal.
But was that even possible?
Of course, he knew this was an elite team.
Still, no clear answer emerged on whether they could stand against the Demon King.
They'd taken heavy injuries fighting the Speaker and the congressmen.
Lyn had even suffered severe wounds.
And now, facing the Demon King with this same group...
Was that the right call...?
"...If it really is the Demon King, do you think we can take him on ourselves?"
Voicing his concern aloud, everyone fell silent, lost in thought.
"We struggled hard against Speaker Stick and the congressmen..."
"But demons aren't half-demons, so the holy sword should work even better."
"My holy power should too."
"Yes, that's what I'm thinking for now."
The Demon King was a demon, after all.
He figured that much was true...
But the unease lingered, likely due to the power gap.
It felt too negative to assume defeat before even clashing.
But he couldn't help it.
The situation wasn't hopeful enough for blind optimism.
While Kane's group pressed on toward the Mera Alliance.
The Emperor, left behind in the Empire, was moving even more busily.
"When will the subjugation force be ready?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Tomorrow, I believe."
"What about the other nations?"
"We've received word that they'll finish preparations tomorrow and head to the Mera Alliance as well."
It was somewhat reassuring.
He'd been uneasy about sending just Kane's group.
They'd arrive first, unavoidably.
But the subjugation force would join them in just a few days.
"Finish as quickly as possible. Have them depart as soon as they're ready today, if they can."
"Understood."
Once the knight bowed and left.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider...!"
The Academy faculty—his biggest headache lately—came swarming into the audience chamber.
Because of that guy who called himself the Demon King and wiped out an Empire unit, things were chaotic enough.
Yet these Academy staff kept showing up to pester the Emperor.
"Without Instructor Kane, how is our Academy supposed to function...!"
"Please, Your Majesty, use your influence to make him principal...!"
It had started as their pleas.
But the Emperor genuinely wanted Kane as principal too.
Of course, he'd fully support firing the whole lot afterward.
The real issue wasn't this faculty.
Kane becoming principal would boost the Empire's strength immensely.
And elevate the Academy's education quality tremendously.
"What can I do if he refuses?"
The Emperor regretted not being able to bring Kane himself.
But he couldn't force him.
Not even as Emperor.
Kane wasn't someone he could treat that way.
"But... but then our Academy's noble traditions...!"
Noble traditions? It was just a den built by Parus for the demon's curse.
And those "noble traditions" were why they'd tormented Kane so much, making it impossible to call him back.
Yet here they were, begging every time for him to be installed as principal.
It was laughable.
"Why didn't you treat him better when he was your instructor?"
"Urk, th-that's..."
They had nothing to say about that.
They all went suddenly silent, as if struck at their core.
"Th-there were teachers who treated him well... I think..."
"Sure. But it's clear you lot didn't."
"Ugh... that's..."
Treating him like that, then demanding he be brought back via power plays? Ridiculous.
"And even if Kane came as principal... do you think your jobs would be safe?"
"Eh...?"
They all looked dumbfounded.
They'd apparently assumed they'd keep working at the Academy regardless.
Truly shameless.
The Emperor felt utter disillusionment.
"If I were Kane... I'd fire you all the moment I took over."
Pfft.
The Emperor smirked mockingly at them.
They weren't worth entertaining anymore.
"If you understand, get out. I'm extremely busy with the Academy and everything else."
With the Emperor's dismissal, they had no retort.
'...Fired? Who else has worked for the Academy like us...'
If neglecting students counted as work.
Then sure, they'd been diligent.
"...We, uh, take our leave..."
Of course, they had nothing more to say to the Emperor either.
They withdrew, hoping for another chance.
"...Hoo, I won't see those pests again."
Blissfully unaware of the Emperor's thoughts.