Chapter 460: Epilogue, New Days (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 460: Epilogue, New Days (4)
The Devil of Dmitry.
Even after the war ended, rumors about him ran rampant.
"Do you know why the Devil of Dmitry earned his moniker? He never simply kills a person. It doesn't matter how many opponents there are or how strong they might be. He doesn't care about the disparity in numbers or skill. He charges in like a madman and tears his enemies to shreds. He looks just like a demon—that's exactly why they call him a devil."
"Then there was that famous incident in the past. Ares, the man who devastated Valhalla, was dragged through the streets like a dog and executed by the Devil of Dmitry as punishment for his betrayal. That's the kind of man he is. Once he marks someone as an enemy, he won't shed a single tear for them, even if they were once allies."
Kevin.
It was impossible not to know that name.
Even in the most remote corners of the Salamander Continent, merely mentioning Kevin's name would make people gasp in terror and whisper about the Devil of Dmitry. And to think such a figure was Marie's older brother. From the moment he took his seat, Lukeman's mind had been in utter chaos. He was supposed to carry the conversation calmly, just as he had rehearsed countless times in his head, but the gruesome rumors describing the Devil of Dmitry kept flashing before his eyes, leaving him completely tongue-tied.
'So... that's why she didn't tell me.'
Now he understood why she hadn't spoken about her family.
It was a complicated matter.
Setting aside the terrifying reputation of Kevin, the Devil of Dmitry, Marie—who worked a normal desk job—wouldn't have wanted her background exposed. In fact, it had been the exact same back when she attended the Cairo Royal Academy. Having one of Dmitry's most powerful figures as her brother meant Marie constantly had to deal with people approaching her with fake, sycophantic smiles.
Absolute power.
An incredible background.
Others might have thought it was nothing but a blessing, but to Marie, it felt as uncomfortable as wearing clothes that didn't fit. That was why she wanted someone to look at her for who she was, stripped of her family's shadow.
At first, he hadn't understood Marie's secretiveness, but sitting across from Kevin made him realize exactly why she had kept quiet.
'Lukeman. Pull yourself together. No matter what kind of person Marie's brother is, I have to earn his approval, if only for Marie's sake. And since Marie said he's a good person, he surely won't be as vicious as the rumors claim.'
He trusted Marie.
Mustering his courage, Lukeman spoke first.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am..."
And so, the conversation began.
The atmosphere was far more amicable than he had anticipated. As they talked, Kevin's soft-spoken manner and polite pacing melted Lukeman's prejudices away.
"Marie has told me so much about you, Lukeman. She told me how wonderful you are, and how well you treat her. If Marie speaks so highly of you, you must indeed be a good man. This meeting isn't meant to judge you; it's simply a chance for us to get to know each other. Please, don't feel so tense."
He really was a good person.
As they conversed over various topics, Lukeman began to think that perhaps the rumors had been grossly exaggerated. In truth, the Devil of Dmitry had never committed any evil deeds. He merely crushed those he deemed enemies with absolute ruthlessness. Lukeman had never heard a single rumor of him doing anything unjust. If he had, Roman Dmitry, who strictly upheld Dmitry's laws, would never have stood for it. At the very least, those who followed Roman Dmitry never caused unprovoked trouble.
Lukeman felt a surge of confidence.
If it was for Marie.
If it meant gaining a new family, including Kevin... he felt he could do this well.
As the wine flowed, Lukeman, his face slightly flushed, genuinely began to enjoy his conversation with Kevin.
It was then.
Crash!
"Kyaaa!"
A woman's ear-piercing shriek rang out. Everyone in the restaurant instinctively turned toward the source of the noise.
* * *
It was a cliché situation.
A drunkard, fueled by cheap alcohol, was throwing a tantrum. His eyes turned fierce as he glared at the waiter trying to restrain him.
"Do you have any idea who I am?!"
Just two years ago, the man had been a merchant of immense wealth. However, after losing heavily to a rival trading company, his fortune had evaporated, reducing him to frequenting budget-friendly restaurants. Perhaps his long-repressed resentment had finally boiled over. Feeling insulted by a mere waiter, the man flipped his table and drew the sword he had kept by his chair.
Crash!
"Kyaaa!"
It was a complete mess. The restaurant instantly descended into chaos. The man glared at the surrounding patrons, screaming at the top of his lungs.
"What are you looking at, you bastards?! Do you all want to die? Anyone who looks down on me, I'll personally gouge your eyes out!"
Rumble.
Aura flared from his blade.
Having reached a decent level through the swordsmanship he practiced as a hobby, the man was reasonably talented. If there hadn't been anyone strong enough to stop him here, he would have caused a major disaster. Unfortunately for him, his eyes locked with Kevin, who was currently cutting his steak.
That was his first and final mistake.
Kevin set down his fork and knife, then spoke apologetically to the couple sitting across from him.
"I'm sorry, Marie. I'm sorry, Lukeman. Please excuse me for a moment."
Screech.
Kevin stood up from his seat. The drunkard watched him approach. Sensing an unusual atmosphere, he pointed his sword at Kevin.
"You, stay right there—ack?!"
Whoosh.
Thud!
It happened in the blink of an eye. The man thought his opponent was still several paces away, but before he could even blink, his face was slammed hard into a table. His eyes rolled back as he let out a strangled cry. Before he could even properly channel his aura, he was completely subdued.
And then.
Crunch! Crack!
"Aaaaargh!"
Kevin stomped on the hand holding the sword, shattering the bones. Ignoring the man screaming and thrashing in agony beneath his foot, Kevin turned to the waiter with a placid expression.
"Could you please call the guards?"
"...Y-Yes, of course."
"If you tell them it's an emergency, they'll arrive quickly. I'll leave the cleanup to you."
Thud.
Kevin casually kicked the man in the face. Watching the drunkard lose consciousness instantly, Kevin averted his gaze and returned to his seat.
An awkward silence hung in the air.
Kevin had regained his peaceful demeanor so quickly that one might doubt he was the same person who had just brutalized a man seconds prior.
"My apologies. Now, where were we?"
At that moment, Lukeman was absolutely certain. Regardless of how nice he could be, Marie's brother was undoubtedly the Devil of Dmitry. If the day ever came when he made Marie cry, he wouldn't be long for this world.
He would end up exactly like the man sprawled on the floor.
* * *
After parting ways with Marie and Lukeman, Kevin went to visit Hans for the first time in a while. Trailing behind Hans, who was still busy managing the affairs of the Dmitry family, Kevin recounted the evening's events.
"He seemed like a diligent and kind fellow. He takes pride in his work, and above all, it was clear how much he truly loves Marie. It's a relief. Honestly, having grown up in the slums, I thought ordinary happiness wasn't meant for us. But Marie and her boyfriend looked so incredibly happy."
"That is wonderful news," Hans replied, his pen never stopping its work.
People feared Kevin. The rumors of the Devil of Dmitry kept the masses at a distance. Regardless of his high social standing, Kevin spent a lot of time alone. To him, Hans was a truly precious existence. Hans had looked after him ever since he first began following Roman Dmitry, and the steward didn't care about the demonic rumors one bit.
Perhaps that was why Kevin always became so talkative whenever he met with Hans.
"If the day comes when Marie actually gets married, I want to give her a wedding so luxurious that the entire world will envy her. I'll build a home for the couple right in the heart of Dmitry. Not some shabby building with someone else's traces left behind, but a brand-new space that only Marie and her husband can fill with their own stories. Once they have a baby and build a family, I plan to give Marie a portion of the money I've saved. That way, they won't ever struggle with financial issues and end up taking each other for granted."
"The Lady Marie I know is not someone who would change because of financial struggles. Just knowing she has such a reliable older brother will surely give her the strength to lead her family wisely."
"I suppose so. Still, as her brother, I just want to do whatever I can for her."
Over the years, Kevin had amassed immense wealth. Roman Dmitry had bestowed an astronomical sum upon him as war compensation, but since Kevin had no personal use for it, he had left it in the care of the Valentino Trading Company. Simply leaving the money there had accumulated compounding interest every year. A representative from the Valentino Trading Company who visited a few days ago had mentioned that the interest alone was now a staggering fortune.
For his sister, he was more than willing to spend every last coin. Kevin was a man who lived not for himself, but for those he loved.
"By the way, how has my Liege been doing lately?"
He was curious. Roman Dmitry. Since peace had returned to the world, he rarely appeared in public. He merely fulfilled his duties as Emperor within the imperial palace, and even Kevin rarely had the chance to meet him. He had at least been able to see his face at Lauren Dmitry's wedding. Looking at Roman, who was as healthy and strong as ever, Kevin had suddenly felt a wave of nostalgia for the days they roamed the battlefields together.
Hans spoke up. "He is doing well."
"That's a relief. Honestly, with people gradually forgetting His Majesty the Emperor's existence, I couldn't help but worry a little."
"I understand."
Just as Kevin said, Roman Dmitry was slowly being forgotten by the populace. No matter how great a hero one was, if the epic tales about them stopped circulating, people naturally returned to focusing on their own mundane lives.
Hans finally stopped working and looked up at Kevin.
"One day, His Majesty the Emperor told me this: 'In a peaceful era, not feeling the presence of a leader is the true meaning of peace.' If a situation arises where he must act, it means something has gone terribly wrong in the world. Conversely, if people are so satisfied with their current lives that they don't even need him, it means this empire is heading in the right direction. His Majesty is that kind of person. When the world was in chaos due to war, everyone focused on his every move. But in a peaceful life, there is no place left for a hero."
"..."
He didn't know why, but Kevin felt a strange resonance in those words. The fact that there was no longer a place for Roman Dmitry made Kevin feel as though the Emperor might be experiencing a profound loneliness similar to his own.
Seeing his expression, Hans smiled gently.
"If you are curious, why don't you go visit him? You, of all people, have the right to do so, Lord Kevin."
* * *
Kevin headed straight to the imperial court. Encouraged by Hans's words, he wanted to see for himself how Roman Dmitry lived his daily life.
Fernando, the Commander of the Royal Guards, welcomed Kevin.
"His Majesty the Emperor is at the training ground."
"Thank you."
Fernando respectfully cleared the way for him.
The training ground. It was just like Roman Dmitry, Kevin thought. Yet, his heart still fluttered with excitement at the thought of meeting his liege privately after so long.
Soon, he reached the training ground. But at the sight that unfolded before his eyes, Kevin froze in place like a stone statue.
"...Ah."
Roman Dmitry.
He was deeply absorbed in his training. But it was entirely different from a usual sparring session. Normally, swordsmen trained their bodies by swinging their blades with speed and explosive power. However, the sword Roman Dmitry wielded moved so minutely that one could barely tell it was in motion at all.
One centimeter per minute.
The blade descended with agonizing slowness. His face was drenched in sweat, and his intensely focused expression revealed that he was seeking to attain an entirely new realm of enlightenment through this grueling process.
The sight was breathtaking. Kevin could not hide the tremor in his eyes.
'Just how have you been living all this time?'
Three years ago, Roman Dmitry had defeated the Demon King. He had proven to the world that he was an existence no one could ever hope to match. And now, witnessing his swordsmanship again after three years of peace, Kevin was confronted with a shocking truth.
From then until now, Roman Dmitry had never once neglected his training. Even after reaching an unreachable apex, he had never stopped honing his martial path for a single moment.
Goosebumps erupted all over Kevin's body.
He stared blankly, utterly captivated. How much time had passed? Only after the sun had fully set and complete darkness had fallen over the imperial palace did Roman Dmitry finally sheathe his sword.
He turned his gaze toward the corner of the training ground.
"It has been a while since we met privately, Kevin."
A calm, unshakable voice. It was exactly the same.
Just as he had been in the past, so too was he now.