Chapter 448: Conquest of the Demon Realm (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 448: Conquest of the Demon Realm (3)
Conquering the Demon Realm.
It was a phrase that made her doubt her own ears.
Isabelle, who had been turning Chris's words over in her mind for a long while, spoke with a look of utter incomprehension.
"...If I didn't mishear you, does that mean you opened the Dimensional Gate to conquer the Demon Realm?"
"That is correct."
It was absurd.
Conquering the Demon Realm.
While she had been struggling desperately all this time to prevent a war with the Demon Realm, Roman Dmitry had reached a completely unimaginable conclusion.
Does Roman Dmitry truly believe conquering the Demon Realm is possible?
She wanted to agree with him.
For the sake of an ideal future where the Demon Realm was conquered, she wanted to burn with the same determination to win. But she couldn't. Knowing all too well how absurd and unrealistic this goal was, she had no choice but to throw cold water on these people and their burning resolve.
"That is impossible."
Her reply was firm.
Though her words were directed at Chris, the soldiers clearing the surroundings immediately focused their eyes on Isabelle.
That was intentional.
She needed to speak the truth to everyone here—including Chris, and their commander, Roman Dmitry.
"What conclusion do you think I reached after struggling so desperately to survive in the Demon Realm?" she asked. "It is that human strength can never contend with this place. Here, there is the Demon King who rules over all, and the three Legion Commanders who serve him. Babel, the 3rd Legion Commander you just defeated, was born a mere demonic creature, but above him stand monsters who are nobles by birth. Yet, even that isn't the main issue. For Lord Roman Dmitry, who overwhelmingly defeated Babel, the higher-ranking Legion Commanders might not pose a problem. But the Demon King is different."
The Demon King.
When she first truly grasped the weight of his existence, Isabelle had felt a suffocating terror.
He was special.
During a chaotic era when no ruler governed the Demon Realm, the Demon King had subjugated every single demon within it—creatures that would normally never submit to anyone. It was a display of truly overwhelming power. Babel, who was nothing more than a lowly demonic creature at the time, had trembled under the Demon King's gaze. The other demons who had distinguished themselves during the Great Chaos bowed their heads, worshiping the Demon King as a god.
The Demon Realm was unified.
Isabelle had read the memories of a demonic creature and witnessed with her own eyes just how shocking that day's history had been.
"The standards of the Demon Realm are different from the human world. He did not obtain the title of Demon King simply by being the strongest among the countless creatures living here. Rather, they accepted his rule because they realized that even if every single one of them attacked him at once, they could not win. Conquering the Demon Realm means we must defeat such a being. I, too, believe in Lord Roman Dmitry. With the martial prowess that conquered the continent in such a short time, he will surely display power that transcends human limits. But what I am trying to tell you now is not a matter of trust. It is a matter of whether we truly need to fight in an environment so advantageous to our enemies, fully knowing how strong the Demon King is."
Her heart ached.
Even though her fellow humans were showing the very resolve she had once hoped for, having to tell them their decision was wrong left her despondent. Yet, she could not turn a blind eye to reality. If she truly wanted humanity to move in the right direction, she had to speak the bitter truth, no matter how miserable it made her feel.
At the very least, conquering the Demon Realm was not the answer.
A war fought here was entirely disadvantageous to humanity.
"We must return to the Earthly World. Although our enemies can exert their full power there due to its assimilation with the Demon Realm, we can still counter their attacks under the blessing of God. So, make your choice."
She turned her head.
At the end of her gaze stood Roman Dmitry.
"If you wish to reverse this decision, now is our only chance."
* * *
Saintess Isabelle.
Her words carried weight.
They made perfect sense, and Roman Dmitry did not think she was entirely wrong.
However...
"Isabelle. We have already made our decision. And no one here takes the goal of conquering the Demon Realm lightly. The Demon King may be strong, but we made our choice fully knowing the truth."
None of the soldiers showed a hint of agitation.
Roman Dmitry had already told his people the truth.
He had warned them of how powerful the enemies lurking in the Demon Realm were, and of the very real possibility that not a single one of them might return alive. Yet, the soldiers' reason for their decision was clear. Fighting the war in enemy territory guaranteed the safety of their families back home, and if they won, humanity would gain absolute peace.
That was all.
Because they believed in Roman Dmitry, the soldiers willingly risked their lives for the future of humanity.
Instead, it was Isabelle who grew flustered.
She had assumed they would be persuaded once she revealed the terrifying truth of the Demon Realm, but their calm reactions only made her anxious.
"This is not a matter to be taken lightly. Once this moment passes, we cannot undo our choice."
Her voice was laced with concern.
Isabelle always worried about the worst-case scenario.
That was why she had chosen to come to the Demon Realm in the first place. Now that all the soldiers who had followed her were dead, she desperately hoped their sacrifices would not be in vain. She was not simply trying to cause division. She believed that if there was even the slightest element of danger, she needed to warn them of the risks, regardless of the general consensus.
Her feelings...
Everyone understood them.
They simply did not agree, though they deeply respected her sacrifice.
Roman Dmitry spoke.
"I have lived a history of struggle. Barco, Marquis Benedict, Valhalla, and Kronos—when I waged war against them, everyone considered them impossible opponents. Yet, once the decision was made, I led us to victory without a single moment of hesitation. This time is no different. My people believe in the path I have walked. Let me ask you: when I faced the 3rd Legion Commander, did you believe I would win?"
"...I thought it might be dangerous. The Babel I know was powerful enough to lead an entire legion."
"Your concern is natural. But I defeated Babel. Those who follow me fought off the enemies with the absolute certainty that I would win. Isabelle, the beings you fear are my burden to bear. I will not be defeated. All you need is the faith to trust in me."
He spoke with absolute conviction.
There was not a single shred of doubt in his voice.
Even after hearing the truth about the Demon King, Roman Dmitry maintained his unwavering stance. He would not lose.
He asked one last time.
"I acknowledge your noble sacrifice, but there is no room for you to interfere in our decision. So, choose. Will you lay down your heavy burden as a Saintess and cooperate with us, or will you step back and watch how things unfold?"
At those words, Isabelle could not hide the trembling in her eyes.
* * *
It felt as if she had been struck in the back of the head.
It was the first time this had ever happened.
In a situation where the fate of humanity hung in the balance, someone was telling her that this was not her domain.
"Isabelle, we believe only in you."
"Saintess, please show us the right path."
"Your Majesty, please give us your command."
Everyone had always looked only to Isabelle.
Because she was the Saintess. Because she was the Queen.
People had never looked at her as just the human, Isabelle; they had sought the answers to all their problems from her. That was why Roman Dmitry's words were so bewildering. Even though the fate of humanity was at stake, he told her there was no room for her to interfere, and that she could remain a mere bystander if she wished.
Suddenly, Leo's words came to mind.
He had said that even if she laid down her burden as a Saintess, humans would find a way, just as they always had.
The people have found a new answer. They believe that if they follow Roman Dmitry, they can handle even the Demon King, just as they overthrew Kronos and Valhalla. Leo was right. Even if it isn't me, there is someone who can take my place, and Roman Dmitry is more than capable of fulfilling that role. I cannot act like him. I am not strong enough—neither physically nor mentally—to declare with absolute certainty that we will win when facing an unknown entity like the Demon King.
Looking back, the people had no choice but to ignore her words.
She spoke of the Demon Realm's existence, but she could not offer a way to defeat it.
That was her reality.
Since it was a reality the people could not accept, they had turned away from it, treating the Demon Realm as nothing more than an unavoidable natural disaster. That was how Luna had become so isolationist. It was a world where only those who followed Isabelle lived, and Isabelle had never once thought she could embrace everyone.
Roman Dmitry was different.
He naturally drew out the people's trust.
He had proved himself by bringing down Kronos and Valhalla, declaring that as long as they followed him, no obstacle would stand in their way. Perhaps what the people needed was exactly that kind of confidence. Even if it felt like grasping at straws on the edge of a cliff, a leader's absolute certainty had a massive impact on the masses.
God must have known. He must have known that no matter the danger, Roman Dmitry would never waver.
Her mind was in a tangle.
When they first met, he had drawn a firm line, stating he only pursued his personal goals and would not sacrifice himself for humanity.
He was an honest man.
She had thought that if he were indeed the subject of the oracle, he would need some sort of grand, selfless resolve to clash with the Demon Realm. To someone merely pursuing personal goals, the Demon Realm was far too threatening an enemy. She had assumed he would never willingly wage war against it until humanity was pushed into an absolute corner.
It was a massive miscalculation.
Roman Dmitry was bold.
The moment he deemed the Demon Realm an enemy, rather than turning away from the danger, he boldly made the decision to conquer it.
She wanted to believe in him.
Even more than she believed in God, who had never given her the right answers.
She hoped that this man standing before her would truly resolve all their problems.
Oh God. If Roman Dmitry is truly the subject of the oracle you have been waiting for, I will no longer worry about the consequences. I will simply do what my heart dictates. I will do what I believe is right.
The silence stretched on.
The people looked at Isabelle.
Because she was a person of such immense worth, they were prepared to support her no matter what choice she made.
Finally, Isabelle spoke.
"I will join you. I want to follow Lord Roman Dmitry, defeat the demons of the Demon Realm, and reclaim peace."
She had made her decision.
As she spoke those firm words, not a single trace of hesitation could be found on her face.
* * *
The situation was settled.
Their wills were united.
With Isabelle joining them, the leaders of the Continental Allied Forces gathered to plan their next move.
"Lady Isabelle, we are counting on you."
"I understand."
She nodded.
Since Isabelle had spent a long time surviving in the Demon Realm, they needed to devise a strategy based on her intelligence.
"The Demon Realm is a world with a completely different structure from the Earthly World," she began. "The deep purple hue that stains this world signifies that it has been completely contaminated by dark mana, creating an environment where normal flora and fauna cannot grow. That is also the reason why the Demon King wishes to conquer the Earthly World. His intention is to extend the lifespan of the Demon Realm by absorbing other dimensions before this dying world perishes completely."
The Dimensional Laws.
This was the price of recklessly violating them.
If Alexander had continued to exist, the Earthly World would have eventually met the exact same end as the Demon Realm.
"Even I have not yet been able to confirm just how many demonic creatures exist here. What is certain is that conquering the Demon Realm is impossible unless we defeat the Demon King. He resides in the only remaining structure in this entire realm, known as the Demon King's Castle. However, approaching that place will be incredibly difficult. The moment the Dimensional Gate opened, the Demon King must have noticed our presence and surely dispatched his forces here. If our numbers were small, we could move while erasing our traces using divine power. But with an army of this size, it is practically impossible to move without catching the Demon King's eye."
This was grim news.
The only reason Isabelle had been able to survive in the Demon Realm for so long was because she constantly erased her traces as she moved.
If they could not use that method, they would be forced into a war of attrition.
In a world teeming with countless demonic creatures, it was practically impossible for their human numbers to cope. Even Isabelle had no clear solution. If she did, she would have put it into action long before Roman Dmitry ever decided to conquer the Demon Realm.
Nor could they split up and move separately.
No matter how powerful their divine power was, their traces would inevitably be exposed the closer they got to the Demon King's Castle.
Ultimately, there was no clever workaround.
As everyone's eyes turned toward Roman Dmitry, he, who had been listening calmly to the conversation, finally spoke.
"As Isabelle said, there are no shortcuts on this journey into the Demon Realm. Even if one existed, the denizens of this realm would understand it far better than we, who are completely unfamiliar with this world. If there is no way to erase our traces even with divine power, we have no choice but to opt for a single method."
He had already drawn up a rough outline from the very beginning.
A simple, yet absolutely certain method.
"Total war. From this moment on, we will slaughter every single enemy we encounter as we march straight toward the Demon King's Castle."