Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Can We Do It Again? - 1
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Having heard everything from the returned Leventia, Claire fell deep into thought, her mouth firmly shut.
Was it possible to resurrect the Demon King?
It was the kind of story most people would dismiss as absurd.
But the problem was Hyunwoo. If he had said it was possible, then the Demon King's revival might very well be within reach.
If the Demon King came back, the peace they had fought so hard to restore would vanish once more. Demonic beasts would grow stronger, and countless people might die.
Her thoughts reached that point, and Claire let out a heavy sigh.
"We have to stop it."
"...Yeah."
Hyunwoo was already set on clashing with the Black Rebels. The Hero Party, who had defeated the Demon King, couldn't just stand by and watch.
"Tell General Leoden. We're heading out right away."
Of course, Hyunwoo had told them not to interfere. But so far, the only one connected to the Black Rebels was Tau, the chieftain of the beastkin tribe.
They had met him during the journey to slay the Demon King and even fought alongside him briefly. Tau was a powerful monk.
He wasn't purely good-hearted, but he loved battle and despised the Demon King's minions.
Claire remembered just how formidable Tau's strength had been when they joined forces against the Demon King's forces.
What if Tau and Hyunwoo faced off?
Hyunwoo wasn't one to go picking fights he couldn't win, but objectively speaking, it would be Hyunwoo's defeat.
So, if she subdued Tau in Hyunwoo's place, it would be a huge help to him.
Plus, it was all to prevent the Demon King's revival, so skipping out on the front lines shouldn't cause any issues.
"Yeah. I'll get ready right away too."
As Leventia left the tent, Claire glanced to the side. Evangeline, who had been crouching in the corner of the tent gnawing on her nails, slowly lifted her head.
She had looked even worse since meeting Hyunwoo in the elf forest.
Her beautiful features were gaunt, dark circles under her eyes.
But her gaze had deepened all the more.
Evangeline, now blindly devoted to Hyunwoo, met Claire's eyes and spoke in a thin voice.
"This... will help... Hyunwoo... right...?"
"Yeah... it should. Hyunwoo wanted to defeat the Demon King more than anyone..."
Which was why he would do anything to stop the Demon King from reviving. Evangeline gave a slight nod and staggered out of the tent.
Once everyone was ready, they could head straight to Tau.
Finishing her thoughts, Claire packed her gear in the tent. As she donned her armor, her mind kept racing.
'But how exactly do they plan to resurrect the Demon King? Why did Tau order the attack on Archduke Cecil?'
Her thoughts chained together. During their journey to slay the Demon King, Hyunwoo had always considered causes and effects.
He based his actions on those deductions, and they almost always proved correct.
So, let's think about this one too.
What happens if the Archduke dies?
What benefits would the Black Rebels gain from it?
What was the cause, and what was the result?
Her fingers slowed as she tied the straps of her armor. All her focus poured into her spinning mind, and she bit her lip lightly.
'No way, like in the elf forest...?'
The plague in the elf forest had come from a lich's curse, fueled by mass deaths to gather energy for revival.
So, if the Black Rebels were aiming for something similar...?
Claire bit her lip hard. What flashed into her mind was none other than Hyunwoo.
He had always wanted to help the weak and the powerless. He wished for everyone's peace and comfort, joining the journey to slay the Demon King without asking for any reward.
What lay behind that?
Peace.
And happiness for many people.
Considering how many deaths it would take to revive a colossal being like the Demon King, the Black Rebels could only be Hyunwoo's enemies.
'Yeah. We have to stop them. If the Demon King revives, countless people will suffer... And fighting him again would take so much time and effort. We have to stop it before that...'
Her thoughts accelerated, her fingers speeding up. She tied the straps tight, pulled on her boots. She fastened her greaves and slid on her pauldrons.
That's when something flashed through Claire's mind.
It felt like thunder striking right before her eyes.
If.
If.
If the Demon King did revive, what would happen to Hyunwoo?
From the moment they first met, Hyunwoo had treated the Demon King like his mortal enemy, obsessed with slaying him.
He never once suggested giving up, no matter what. The instant they succeeded, he declared his goal achieved and left the party.
He had made it clear he had no further business with them, keeping a deliberate distance.
No need for new ties, no reasons for any.
That meant he had only partied with them to slay the Demon King.
But what if the Demon King really did revive?
Claire stared blankly at her sword.
The Hero's sword.
Only this sword could slay the Demon King, and only with its blessing could he be defeated.
And the ones who could wield this sword...
The ones who received the blessing to fight the Demon King...
"...are us...?"
Then.
Then.
If the Demon King revived.
What would happen to Hyunwoo?
How would their relationship with Hyunwoo change?
Claire bit her lip so hard that the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.
Ever since losing him, her life had been nothing but regret and self-recrimination.
Only after losing the bluebird by her side did she understand what happiness was.
But spilled water couldn't be regathered, and a departed person couldn't be brought back.
Time couldn't be reversed.
But opportunities could arise again.
Even if.
In that process.
No matter how many suffered.
Like ink seeping into paper, dark and damp thoughts invaded her mind, and Claire hurriedly shook them off.
This was a thought she mustn't have.
Silently, Claire stared at the Hero's sword.
Once prepared, she opened a portal. Destination: Tau's territory.
Emerging from the portal, Claire walked with as much composure as she could muster. Leventia approached her hesitantly.
"Claire..."
"...What?"
"Um... As a comrade of the Hero and someone who helped slay the Demon King, it feels weird to say this, but..."
Leventia hesitated, swallowing several times. Evangeline felt the same.
They were all like her.
They wanted to turn back time.
Return to the past.
And reclaim what they had lost.
Now that they clearly knew their mistakes, if given just one more chance...
"...Yeah. Ugh. But if we did that..."
"...Right..."
But was this truly right? Public condemnation didn't scare her.
But.
Letting the Demon King revive, turning a blind eye—that would be betraying Hyunwoo.
He had suffered greatly with them. Yet he endured and defeated the Demon King.
The kind Hyunwoo had struggled so much to slay the Demon King, and now they, who wanted to restore their bond with him, would let it revive?
Claire recalled Hyunwoo's old words.
Do whatever you want, just don't get in my way.
What did that "interference" mean? Would reviving the Demon King, to undo their past mistakes, count as interference?
If it meant being with him again, she would give everything for him, even to erase the unerasable past.
Claire couldn't utter a word against Leventia and Evangeline's gazes.
"...Hyun...woo?"
Upon reaching the destination, Claire murmured without thinking.
As always, Hyunwoo was one step ahead of them.
"Oh. You're here?"
And to them, Hyunwoo spoke in his usual flat tone.
***
It didn't take much thought to figure out why Claire, Leventia, and Evangeline had come here.
I met their wavering gazes and smiled.
"What are you all doing here?"
"...To stop him."
Claire hesitated, let out a small sigh, and I looked at Leventia and Evangeline.
As always, they couldn't meet my eyes and just bowed their heads.
"Just to be sure I'm asking: you're not thinking of letting the Demon King revive, or joining hands with the Black Rebels, right?"
They flinched, shoulders trembling. They weren't planning to, but they must have weighed the possibility at least once.
"If you want to, I won't stop you, but you'd better be prepared."
I lightly swung Moonlight. The blood on the blade splattered to the ground, and the three of them instinctively stepped back.
"That would make you my enemies."
"...We... wouldn't..."
Evangeline spoke shortly, her face pale and weary. Yeah, they probably wouldn't.
Not that it mattered if they did.
"Leventia. You told them, right?"
She nodded lightly, and I looked at Claire. Unlike the others, she stepped forward when our eyes met.
"Hyunwoo. If it's about the Demon King, I'm involved too."
"So?"
"...Let's do it together."
Claire extended her hand.
"We don't know how strong the Black Rebels are or how many there are. Even you, Hyunwoo, can't handle it alone."
"Hmm..."
"I'll help. I won't betray you, no matter what. I won't become your enemy. So, Hyunwoo."
Claire took another step forward.
Leventia and Evangeline followed her lead, each taking a step.
"Let... us help you."
Support from the Hero Party.
Not a bad thing.
My teleport could only move me alone, but with Claire, we could shift large units.
Their strength was nothing to scoff at either.
Plus, the Hero Party's symbolism would be a big boost.
"Not bad."
"...Huh?"
"Why so surprised?"
"Oh, no. I thought... you'd refuse...?"
"I'm not idiot enough to miss something important over personal grudges."
"Then we'll move together...!!"
"No. I'll give the orders, and you don't need to move with me. Claire. Leventia."
"Huh?"
I alternated glances between Claire and Leventia. As they flinched, I explained calmly.
"Oh. Take this to the capital and give it to Kingdom Mage Rackle."
I handed over the letter I'd prepared in Raidnin. Claire took it, curious but patiently waiting.
"Then head straight to Kantread Territory in the east. Rackle will prepare what you need."
Kantread Territory was where they first clashed with the Demon King's top minion. Recalling old memories, Claire nodded with slightly warmer eyes.
"And you...?"
"I'll move separately. Evangeline. Come with me; there's something I need you for."
"Huh?!"
Evangeline looked even more haggard than in the elf forest. She stared blankly at me, then flinched. Her legs, clad in boots, trembled violently. Unable to hold out, she collapsed onto the grass, gasping heavily before fixing her flushed face on me.
"Wh-what... is it...? N-no. No! No! I'll do anything! What do I need to do?! Tell me?!"
"Infiltration."
"Where?! Where do I infiltrate!?"
Her seriousness was almost scary as she crawled toward me without blinking, shouting.
This feels burdensome.
"The Pope's chambers."
"...W-wait. Hyunwoo. The Pope's chambers..."
"Yeah."
I pointed at Tau's corpse and mentioned the figure he had named.
"Pope Aurelius is part of the Black Rebels. I need the alliance pact he has."