Chapter 444: Heavenly Mandate (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 444: Heavenly Mandate (3)
The meeting ended.
As they made their way out of the Imperial Palace, the King of Umberto called out to the King of Frank, who was walking just ahead of him.
"I must admit, I was surprised," the King of Umberto said. "I thought you, of all people, would never go against the will of God."
The Conquest of the Demon Realm.
It wasn't just a massive risk—it was a heretical act that directly defied the heavens. Yet, the King of Frank hadn't raised a single objection.
The King of Frank believed in God. While he wasn't a zealot, he always sought divine guidance before making major decisions. Normally, he would never tolerate such blasphemy. God Himself had delivered a direct message forbidding this, leaving no room for misinterpretation. Given that, the King of Umberto couldn't help but wonder what the man was truly thinking.
The King of Frank stopped in his tracks.
Without turning around, he stared at the retreating backs of the officials far ahead of them.
"You are right. In truth, I still haven't fully accepted this situation myself."
"...Then why did you agree? If this is the wrong choice, the entire world could be destroyed."
"I know. I know that all too well. I fully intended to voice my opposition today, but then, certain people caught my eye. Luna is a holy kingdom. They revere Saintess Isabelle, and every last citizen is a devout believer. Yet, not a single person from Luna opposed His Majesty the Emperor's will. Even when the God they served their entire lives delivered a direct mandate, they didn't utter a single word of protest. Why do you think that is? Why do you think they acted that way?"
The reason was clear.
It stemmed from the history between Luna and Roman Dmitry.
Looking back at the tragedy in Arcadia, the answer was obvious.
"They simply believe in His Majesty, Emperor Roman Dmitry. When Arcadia fell into the depths of despair, countless people begged God to save them, yet He remained silent. So instead, they put their faith in the Emperor as the true savior of humanity. Isn't it fascinating? The divine entity they spent their lives worshiping finally spoke to them directly, yet those devout believers chose to defy God's will and pray for Emperor Roman Dmitry's success instead."
The world had changed.
Roman Dmitry was no longer just a ruler; he had become a symbol of something far greater.
It was absurd.
Even after organizing these thoughts in his head, the King of Frank still couldn't truly bring himself to agree with the Conquest of the Demon Realm.
However...
"I am not a very clever man. Knowing that, I watch the reactions of those around me and follow the tide. Unlike Odelia, which was destroyed for following Kronos, the reason I chose Dmitry during the Great Chaos might simply be because I was incompetent enough that I had to rely on reading the room."
He smiled bitterly.
A slight tremor in his face betrayed his sheer terror of the Demon Realm.
He said no more and resumed walking.
Left standing alone, the King of Umberto reflected on their conversation, struck by his peer's unusual demeanor.
"...Two weeks, then."
He felt a profound sense of certainty.
Whether the world was destroyed or achieved perfect peace, this era of chaos would not end in a half-hearted conclusion.
The Roman Dmitry he knew was exactly that kind of man.
* * *
That afternoon, the Conquest of the Demon Realm was officially announced.
The world was thrown into an uproar.
Although Roman Dmitry had mentioned it before, the reality of launching a preemptive strike on the Demon Realm made people's hearts tremble with anxiety. If they failed, humanity would face extinction. Still, the majority trusted Roman Dmitry. Others, however, uncertain of what the future held, fostered a hedonistic atmosphere, desperate to enjoy themselves as much as possible before the end.
It was a dangerous phenomenon.
If left unchecked, this panic could have easily devolved into rampant crime, but Roman Dmitry's mere existence suppressed the masses' darkest desires.
During the previous war, Roman Dmitry had punished Ares to warn a hundred others, proving he would never forgive wrongdoers. That uncompromising attitude served as a powerful deterrent. Knowing that no sin would be overlooked, people held onto their rationality even as the survival of humanity hung in the balance.
Amidst this tension, one group stood out.
Typically, merchants took a passive stance ahead of such apocalyptic events.
Since the goods they stockpiled after the Great Chaos were guaranteed to translate directly into massive financial gain, they believed it was best to hoard their supplies and wait out the storm. It was a highly rational decision. The more they held onto, the better their foundation for survival, no matter how the future unfolded.
However, the Valentino Trading Company acted differently.
They released their stockpiles without asking for a single coin in return.
Distributing food and alcohol across various nations, they urged everyone to never lose hope in these chaotic times.
People raised their glasses, praising Valentino.
His generosity in sharing his wealth naturally earned him the adoration of the masses.
But for the Valentino Trading Company, this meant a catastrophic financial loss, prompting some within the organization to question the move.
Why on earth was a merchant doing charity work?
To that question, Marquis Valentino replied firmly,
"What do you think is the difference between me and those preparing for the aftermath of the Great Chaos? It is my absolute certainty of victory. Other merchants are hoarding daily necessities because they are anticipating the possibility of defeat. But I think differently. His Majesty, Emperor Roman Dmitry, will surely win this war. And when he does, the battle fought in the Demon Realm will not affect the Earthly World in the slightest. Since the land where our crops are planted will remain intact, we can return to our daily lives immediately, even without stockpiling necessities. I will use this opportunity to win the hearts of the people. Though it is merely food and drink, the world will remember that the Valentino Trading Company took a different path from the rest. This will lay the foundation for us to become the continent's greatest tycoon. I haven't thrown away our wealth—I have simply invested in the future."
It was bold.
It was daring.
This was Marquis Valentino's resolve.
Even as the survival of humanity hung in the balance, his dream of becoming the continent's greatest merchant tycoon was steadily progressing.
* * *
Two weeks.
It was not a long time.
People spent the remaining days in their own ways, completing their preparations for the Conquest of the Demon Realm. Amid the bustling activity, the day of the decisive battle finally dawned. Soldiers from various nations gathered in the territory of Odelia. Under the weight of countless eyes, Roman Dmitry stood before the massive coalition army, fully armed.
"The time has finally come," Roman declared. "Throughout history, the demons of the Demon Realm have constantly threatened humanity. Their invasions are not born from any conflict of interest, but from pure malice. For generations, our ancestors had no choice but to suffer under that malice. But from this moment on, we will exact our revenge for the past. To those who used Alexander to covet our land, we will set a clear precedent of the consequences their actions will bring."
All eyes locked onto him.
Everyone knew the truth.
If they lost this war, not a single human would return alive from that land shrouded in darkness.
Yet, they accepted it without hesitation.
They knew they were marching into the Demon Realm to guarantee the survival of the humans remaining in the Earthly World. Thus, the warriors who had willingly taken up arms wore solemn expressions. They were prepared to die. They only had to win. If sacrificing their lives could bring absolute peace to humanity, they gladly accepted that they might never return.
"Trust me. Follow me. I, Roman Dmitry, have never lost a single battle across countless wars, and this time will be no different. I will lead the vanguard. Even if millions of demonic creatures swarm us, I will stand at the very front and slaughter every single enemy in our path."
Rumble!
He drew his sword.
His Aura flared to life.
Feeling the intense momentum radiating from Roman Dmitry, the soldiers felt their hearts burn with fierce passion.
Before he was the Emperor of the Dmitry Empire, he was an undefeated swordsman.
They believed in him.
They knew that as long as they followed Roman Dmitry, they would seize the glory of victory, just as they always had.
Spinning around, Roman walked toward the lake. He looked at the mages and priests who had finalized their preparations and issued a single command.
"Open the gate."
The time had come.
The hour of the decisive battle was at hand.
* * *
One month ago.
A problem had arisen in the Demon Realm.
Sitting upon his massive throne and looking down at his domain, the Demon King received a report from the 3rd Legion Commander, who led the vanguard of the Demon Realm's forces.
"Due to a cunning human wench, we are having difficulty securing the passage to the Earthly World. We have dispatched troops to surround her, but her divine power is unusually strong. It will take some time to eliminate her."
Following Alexander's death, the Demon Realm had prepared for a full-scale invasion.
According to their schedule, it should have already been underway, but an unexpected variable had suddenly appeared.
Saintess Isabelle.
She was the cause of this delay.
A lone human had crossed into the Demon Realm and begun slaughtering demonic creatures. The sheer divine power she emitted was actively blocking the passage to the Earthly World. Honestly, dealing with a single human wasn't a difficult task. The problem was that Isabelle was a Saintess blessed by God, and holy light shone all the more powerfully the deeper it was plunged into darkness.
The Demon King smiled.
"Do not be hasty. Thanks to Alexander's existence, the binding force that once suppressed the Demon Realm has vanished. There are no more restrictions placed upon us. No matter how long it takes, our goal will ultimately be achieved."
Long ago, before obtaining the title of Demon King, he had seized the throne through a massive Great War.
It was an ecstatic memory.
As a being of the Demon Realm born to struggle, endless combat was the only thing that made him feel truly alive. But that joy hadn't lasted long. Soon, there were no rivals left for him to crush. Bored by his comfortable existence, the Demon King began looking toward other dimensions, and the Earthly World was the most tempting prey of all.
Of course, invading it wasn't something he could do on a whim.
The entity known as God strictly controlled the boundaries between dimensions. Yet, over the course of a long history, the Demon King had constantly searched for a way to breach the Earthly World. God's control held no sway within the Demon Realm itself. This world shrouded in darkness naturally repelled divine intervention, and as time passed, he eventually discovered Alexander.
Alexander was a mutant.
The moment he discovered a being capable of breaking down dimensional boundaries, the Demon King began to weave a grand plan.
And now, success was right before his eyes.
There was no need to rush.
Compared to the eons he had waited, the desperate struggles of a single human were nothing more than a fleeting amusement.
"Even if the humans are granted plenty of time, their meager strength cannot stop us," the Demon King said. "So, give them ample time. The more they recognize our existence and thoroughly prepare, the sweeter the ripe fruit of despair will taste. However, make sure to capture the human who set foot in the Demon Realm alive. I will use her body to deliver our message directly to God."
"Understood."
The 3rd Legion Commander withdrew.
As the massive, pitch-black monstrosity vanished from the throne room, the Demon King fell deep into thought, his gaze piercing the space beyond the dimension.
He was curious.
Roman Dmitry.
Just what kind of being was he?
How strong was the man who had disposed of Alexander?
A mere human would ultimately be nothing more than a fleeting toy, but even that brief spark of anticipation was an emotion the Demon King hadn't felt in a long time. He truly hoped the man would be stronger than expected. Just so he could entertain him a little bit longer.
* * *
A month had passed since then.
The situation had changed drastically.
With Isabelle still surviving and continuing her slaughter of the demonic creatures, the 3rd Legion Commander could no longer suppress his boiling rage.
"Damn human."
Isabelle was not inherently strong.
In terms of sheer individual combat power, it wouldn't have been strange if she had died long ago. But pursuing her was no easy task due to her divine power, which actively repelled and interfered with the dark energy of the Demon Realm. Countless demonic creatures had perished in her relentless guerrilla operations, and even the 3rd Legion Commander was starting to feel the pressure of time.
It had only been a month.
Objectively, it was not a long time—a mere blink of an eye compared to the eons they had waited. But the denizens of the Demon Realm had already reached the absolute limit of their patience.
The Earthly World.
They desperately wanted to revel in blood and slaughter across that fresh, untouched world.
Burning with a monstrous thirst, they could wait no longer.
‘Human wench. The moment you fall into my hands, I will make you regret ever being born.’
Rumble!
His magic power surged violently.
He ordered the demonic creatures under his command to hunt her down using any means necessary.
Right then, the 3rd Legion Commander's expression shifted dramatically.
Amidst the countless streams of magic power spreading like a web across the Demon Realm, a single strand pulsed back with a response.
"I found you."
Isabelle.
He had finally found her.
Upon receiving the report that she had been cornered, the 3rd Legion Commander explosively released his magic power and kicked off the ground.
Boom! Rumble!
The 3rd Legion Commander shot into the sky, vanishing in a blur of dark energy.
The waiting game was over. In the very near future, the humans of the Earthly World would finally come face-to-face with the true horrors of the Demon Realm.