Chapter 464: Epilogue, New Days (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 464: Epilogue, New Days (8)
The situation was resolved in an instant.
The moment Chris stepped forward with the full weight of Dmitry behind him, both Hector and Valhalla backed down as if the conflict had never happened.
"On behalf of Valhalla, I apologize for Count Kazri's atrocities," the Valhallan representative announced. "Upon our return, he will be punished in accordance with due process. I assure you, such an incident will never occur again."
"I also apologize for my rudeness," the representative of Hector replied. "If Valhalla handles it that way, we will no longer press the issue. Furthermore, should international disputes arise in the future, we will take Valhalla's position into consideration first."
It was a dramatic compromise.
In truth, it was the most ideal outcome.
By giving Dmitry the justification to oversee the negotiations, Valhalla managed to save face without resorting to war. Yes, they had been forced to apologize for Count Kazri's actions. But with Dmitry intervening, de-escalating the situation to this degree was the best possible scenario for a Valhalla that had been fully prepared for bloodshed.
The same went for Hector.
They had successfully set a precedent, proving to the world exactly what kind of nation Hector had become. They had nothing to lose by ending things here.
This was a testament to Chris's capability.
He deftly leveraged Dmitry's supreme authority, warning both nations that if they wished to wage war, they had to do so within the strict bounds of Dmitry's laws. It was a swift, decisive response. Had he not been keeping a close eye on the escalating tensions between Hector and Valhalla, the situation might have spiraled out of control before he could even act. While Roman Dmitry turned a blind eye to natural competition between nations, allowing reckless wars to break out was an entirely different matter. It would disrupt the balance of the world.
The gathering dispersed.
Once the Emperor of Valhalla departed, Chris turned to speak privately with Edwin Hector.
"I am well aware of what you were thinking when you instigated this, King Hector," Chris said. "Please keep this in mind. His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry does not wish to micromanage the world. He desires for people to have their own autonomy. Even if this issue had escalated into war, it would have remained a matter between your two nations. However, His Majesty's rule stems from absolute conviction. Even if a war reaches its most extreme conclusion, Dmitry is more than capable of cleaning up the mess. That is why he remains a bystander as long as his laws are not violated. Do not ever try to exploit his leniency. No matter how bright Hector's future may be, it is a future you can only look forward to as long as you exist under Dmitry's rule."
It was a stark warning.
Edwin Hector had been walking a dangerous tightrope.
His opportunistic attitude and willingness to exploit the situation had heavily rubbed Chris the wrong way.
Edwin Hector merely smiled.
"Hector has absolutely no intention of going against Dmitry's wishes. Dmitry is the ruler of this world, and I, too, have sworn my allegiance to His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry. The incident that occurred today is merely a struggle to claim the seat right next to Dmitry. It is a battle of nerves born from everyone's desire to stand by His Majesty's side. Please do not misinterpret our intentions."
The world had changed.
As the absolute power of Kronos and Valhalla waned, humanity entered a new era.
The two old empires were desperately trying to maintain their status, while Hector eagerly eyed their thrones. It was a new current sweeping the continent.
Even while laying bare his ambitions, Edwin Hector made sure to emphasize that his loyalty to Dmitry remained absolute.
"I will, both now and in the future, devote my utmost sincerity to His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry."
One thing was certain.
With Edwin Hector at the helm, the Hector Kingdom would someday usher in a massive era of prosperity.
* * *
Just like the dispute between Hector and Valhalla, incidents both large and small continued to occur throughout the world.
Even though the evil forces that once threatened the world had vanished, human life was not unconditionally smooth sailing.
In a quiet village in Arcadia, a man was chattering away.
"Sigh, don't even get me started. The atmosphere over on the Salamander Continent has been brutal lately. Hector and Valhalla have been clashing over every little thing, and this time, the Hector Kingdom actually crossed Valhalla's border. Fortunately, Dmitry intervened and wrapped things up nicely. Still, according to the Salamander merchants, Hector and Valhalla are bound to wage war sooner or later."
"Could a Continental War break out again like in the old days?" another villager asked nervously. "If so, Arcadia won't be safe either."
"That might really be the case."
Anxiety began to spread through the crowd.
The past three years had been unprecedentedly peaceful. Just hearing the word 'war' was enough to make the people, who had finally grown accustomed to peace, unable to hide their unease.
It was then that a woman looking after some children nearby spoke up.
"That won't happen."
"Lady Isabel!"
The woman was none other than Isabel.
Having laid down her heavy titles of Queen and Saintess, she had started a quiet, new life in this unnamed village.
"To begin with, this incident is fundamentally different from a Continental War," Isabel explained gently. "Kronos and Dmitry fought to the bitter end with the intention of utterly destroying each other. But King Edwin Hector deliberately raised the stakes simply to prove his country's potential. If the news has reached us all the way out here, beyond the Endless Mountains, then the Hector Kingdom has already achieved its goal without shedding a single drop of blood."
"...Does that mean they had no intention of waging war in the first place?"
"Not quite. If no one had stopped them, and if Valhalla had also taken an extreme stance, Hector would have indeed gone to war to prove its strength. However, it wouldn't have been anything like a Continental War. The clash between the two nations would have remained a simple dispute over interests, and the loser would simply lose their voice in the future political landscape. So, please do not worry. As long as His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry rules this world, none of the horrors we fear will come to pass. Even if the situation reaches an extreme, the moment Dmitry intervenes—just as he did when he defeated the Demon King—all problems will be resolved."
"I see."
"As expected of the Sa—no, Lady Isabel!"
The villagers marveled at her insight.
Indeed, Isabel was different. Even though she was completely isolated from the Salamander Continent, she could effortlessly read the political landscape without needing any special intelligence.
Isabel just smiled.
"Well, I must be going now."
As she walked away holding a child's hand, the villagers chattered excitedly behind her, all agreeing that someone as brilliant as her wasn't meant to stay hidden in a place like this.
* * *
Three years ago, Isabel abandoned everything and left for Arcadia.
She tracked down people who had lost their families to the Demon Realm and brought them together to form a settlement. That was the very village she currently resided in.
Her days were incredibly peaceful.
She woke up early in the morning, tidied her bedding, and went outside to tend to the crops. Every time she felt the warm sunlight beating down on Arcadia, a strange, overwhelming emotion welled up inside her. Once her morning chores were done, she would walk around the village, checking in on the people and caring for their needs.
"Is your injured leg from last time alright? If you leave it as it is, it will only get worse. Let me take a look at the wound."
"I've already requested the supplies our village needs. The trading company said they will arrive by tomorrow afternoon, so we'll have plenty of stock soon. If you need something urgently, I can give you mine."
"Here, give that to me. Let me help you carry it."
"Did that really happen?"
Every single villager smiled brightly whenever they crossed paths with Isabel. Seeing her eagerly listen to their stories and offer a helping hand, the people couldn't help but love her.
Then, one day, a young boy who still desperately needed a father's touch clung to his mother and asked what kind of person his dad had been.
It was a heartbreaking question.
The boy's father had been one of the soldiers who had followed Isabel into hell.
Watching this, Isabel stepped forward. She gently took the boy into her arms, saving his mother from having to answer, and stroked his hair.
"Your father was a truly brave man. There were once evil beings threatening our world, but your father helped defeat them all so that we could live happily today. That's why you have every right to hold your head high and live with pride. When you grow up and go out into the world, if you tell people what your father accomplished, everyone will realize what an amazing man he was. I truly respect him. If not for brave people like your father, this village—and I—would not exist."
"...Really?" the boy sniffled.
"Yes," she said, smiling brightly. "Has this big sister ever lied to you?"
Having laid down all her heavy burdens, Isabel now lived solely for them.
Just as Leo and the soldiers had trusted her and risked their lives for her sake, she vowed to live for their families until the very end of her days. Some outsiders asked if she was truly satisfied living like a commoner when she had once been revered by the entire continent. Some might have even thought her contentment was a lie. But Isabel could say with absolute certainty that she meant every word.
"If it's you, big sister, I believe you! I want to grow up to be just like my dad!"
The child finally laughed with her.
She was happy.
Here, in a world ruled by Dmitry, existing simply as a normal human being with no grand destiny to shoulder, Isabel was truly, genuinely happy with her life.
* * *
Time passed quickly.
A few months later, various pieces of news from the Salamander Continent reached her ears.
The world was still noisy and full of friction, but because Dmitry stood firm at its center, nothing escalated into a major crisis.
'Leo. It would have been so wonderful if you could have experienced this world.'
Every now and then, the thought of Leo crossed her mind. Having followed her into the Demon Realm, he had constantly told her how much he wished she could just live a normal human life.
Back then, she had thought it was impossible.
But that distant dream had become her reality.
Roman Dmitry.
It was all thanks to his power.
A being born with such overwhelming power would naturally be expected to oppress the masses for his own personal gain. Yet, as soon as the forces of evil vanished, Roman Dmitry's name gradually began to fade from public memory. It was a baffling phenomenon. When the world was in chaos, Roman Dmitry's name was chanted everywhere. But now, the common folk had no idea what he was doing or how he was living.
For over three years, Roman Dmitry had not revealed himself to the public.
The people could not understand an Emperor who acted like this, but Isabel knew exactly why Roman Dmitry chose to live in seclusion.
'It must be to delay the dimensional rift as much as possible.'
By defeating the Demon King and reaching such an unfathomable realm of strength, Roman Dmitry had become an existence whose mere presence caused rifts in the fabric of reality.
Since the dimensional rift would inevitably worsen the more influence he exerted on the world, Roman Dmitry slowed its progression by keeping himself entirely hidden. In truth, Isabel could not fully understand it. Why go to such lengths? After ascending to a position where he could enjoy absolute, unchecked power, why did he hide the truth and sacrifice his own freedom for the people?
But one thing was certain: it was not a choice forced upon him by anyone.
Roman Dmitry had chosen this path himself, and he was not the type of person to regret his decisions.
The position of the Absolute.
He had achieved his ultimate goal.
In the memories of those who did not know the hidden truth, Roman Dmitry would forever remain an absolute existence who had never once tasted defeat.
'I hope you, too, feel the same happiness I do.'
Someday, she hoped to have a chance to sit down and talk with him again.
Shaking off her lingering thoughts, Isabel headed toward the village temple.
Although she had laid down her official position as the Saintess, she had never stopped serving God. She wanted to dedicate today's daily prayer to Roman Dmitry.
However, as Isabel knelt before the altar and offered her prayer, her eyes widened in shock. A brilliant holy energy suddenly enveloped her body. This was an all-too-familiar phenomenon. She had heard the voice of God before, drawn down by this exact same power.
It was just as she expected.
She heard the voice of God echoing in her mind.
When the divine voice finally faded, Isabel could not hide the violent trembling in her eyes.
"……Ah."
That day had finally arrived.
The day God had prophesied.
The moment she had desperately hoped would never come.
* * *
At that exact moment, Roman Dmitry stepped out of the imperial palace.
It was a quiet, unofficial outing that had not been reported to anyone.