Demon King of the Royal Class-Chapter 447

BOOM!

Antirianus watched from afar, well outside the Temple, as one of the meteors shattered into pieces, sending out a massive shockwave across the sky above the Temple.

It was broad daylight, but the sky looked like a shattered mirror, with a dark void showing through the huge, jagged cracks. Meteors were falling through those cracks in the sky, breaking apart as they descended towards the Temple.

“It truly is a beautiful force...”

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The active barriers that were spread across the air around the Temple were so strong and thick that they were able to stop the meteors, each one which could have turned an entire village to ashes.

It deserved its reputation as the second-safest place in the human lands.

Screech!

Gwoooar!

Kyaaak!

Ugh... Aaaaaaah!

Antirianus was also looking at the massive number of monsters pouring out from the warp gates. The blue light that usually suffused the surfaces of those gates was gone, and in its place blazed something that resembled red flames instead.

Some of the monsters had proper forms, but many were shapeless, aberrant abominations. They were pouring out of the gates and indiscriminately killing people.

Crude life forms, created in a nonexistent dimension, the pseudo-dimension, were pushing their way into the existing world to exist.

The worst disaster, created through the incomplete Akasha... The apocalypse had begun.

“This is... beyond imagination...”

Antirianus looked on in satisfaction, as if he had been expecting something significant but had been given even more.

BOOM!

He took in the grand sight of the meteor shower crashing into the Temple’s barriers.

***

Silence still reigned in the main conference room of the main building. The Demon King had predicted the disaster, yet it had already begun. However, the Demon King had provided the solution to the disaster that had been triggered.

Even though it was already too late, he still explained how to resolve it.

“This disaster isn’t just occurring in the capital; it’s happening across the entire continent. The larger the gate, the more dangerous the monsters that will emerge. Therefore, destroying the mega warp gates should be the priority.

“As you know, most of the warp gates on the entire continent are in the capital. So, the longer it takes to take action, the more people will die.

“Weaker monsters will come out of small warp gates, but given their numbers, it might be better to abandon medium- and small-sized towns or bases that don’t have proper security forces or are poorly-armed.

“Most other nations will likely collapse, and only the capitals or major cities of powerful principalities like the empire or Kernstadt will continue to function properly. Secure those places from the monsters, and then gradually clear the gates one by one. That’s how you should resolve the situation.

“It’s best to move quickly. Every minute you delay now will delay the reconstruction of humanity by a year, or even ten years.”

The Demon King did not blame the humans for causing such a situation.

The situation had already unfolded. It seemed the Demon King was only providing the necessary solutions.

The empire’s elite forces were all gathered in this place, and the capital had the most warp gates in the world. If swift action wasn’t taken, the scale of this disaster could turn the capital into ashes.

The meteor shower was still raining destruction upon the Temple.

Everyone in the auditorium seemed dazed as they listened to the Demon King. If he had plotted these events in order to destroy humanity, there was no reason for him to reveal such facts. The veracity of his words could be determined by attempting to destroy the warp gates.

The disaster had already begun. Trying to confront it without knowing the cause or reason would only increase the damage they would suffer over time.

Or, perhaps... Was he revealing these facts mockingly, because he knew that even if he told them everything, their destruction couldn’t be avoided? No, there was no reason for that. If that was his plan, then he would have pretended as though this disaster were only confined to the capital. If so, the empire would later face a world of humanity turned to ashes.

With the warp gates across the world rendered inoperative, communication between distant regions would be difficult. Any delay would cause humanity to suffer greater damage. There was no reason to reveal that this disaster was continental.

Everyone in the room instinctively understood the facts. Even if the Demon King’s subordinates had caused this, the Demon King himself had not truly wished for this situation to occur. That was why, even though his subordinates had already triggered this calamity, he was providing humanity with the way out.

The emperor gritted his teeth. Even if he couldn’t trust anything else, he had to believe what the Demon King was saying about the disaster that had already begun, at least for the moment.

If the Demon King truly intended to help humanity, they could not kill him, because of what else he might know. However, they couldn’t just let him go either.

Something was bound to happen down the line, but if the capital collapsed, the empire would surely be finished.

However, given the present situation, in which a disaster that threatened not just the capital but the entire continent was presumed to have occurred, there were a limited number of forces that could be allocated to securing the Demon King.

“Dame Tana, you will remain here with the first unit.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“All other units of Shanapell, all other forces, and the Imperial Mage Corps will follow me.”

Dhe Demon King was still a problem, but at that moment, the capital was on the verge of evaporating. If all the elite forces remained to monitor the Demon King, the empire might crumble to dust.

The forces withdrew en masse, like a receding tide, and the emperor and Vertus also left.

Olivia Lanche looked at the popes of the five Orders with a firm expression. “We must also respond to this situation. All popes as well as the Commander of the holy knights, please respond to this crisis quickly.”

Olivia spoke firmly, and all the popes and the Commander of the holy knights understood her intent.

Despite her serious expression, they noticed the subtle twitch of Olivia’s lips. They seemed to know what she was thinking even in this absurd situation.

However, just as the emperor had no choice but to leave, they couldn’t just watch as this disaster unfolded across the world.

The capital needed the strength of the holy knights, priests, and popes present immediately.

Something had to be done before the damage spread further.

“Let’s go.”

The holy knights and the popes of the five Orders left.

Only Illeion Volten, the Commander of the Order of the Holy Knights, and his direct unit remained. In an instant, only a few people were left in the grand auditorium.

There was Scarlett and Sabioleen Tana, standing right next to Reinhart, along with Olivia Lanche and Ellen Artorius.

The elite unit of Shanapell and Illeion Volten were also present, and they were well-prepared for any potential attack or unforeseen event, despite the situation.

Even if Olivia Lanche attempted something unexpected, they were ready to respond. Of course, that was under the assumption that Olivia Lanche was the only one planning something unexpected.

Time passed in silence. With meteors raining down on the Temple and monsters appearing in the capital, they bore the anxious duty of monitoring the Demon King.

Olivia observed the situation with an unreadable expression, while Ellen looked on, biting her lips and visibly tense.

Sabioleen Tana stood firm, unwilling to leave Reinhart’s side.

Bang!

Suddenly, the entrance door of the auditorium burst open, and the forces guarding the auditorium from outside were thrown inside.

All of them were dead, bearing deep wounds. A middle-aged man with a stern expression calmly walked into the auditorium.

“Effenhauser...?”

Sabioleen Tana watched in disbelief as Effenhauser slowly walked in with a sword in hand.

And then...

Swish.

As if it had been there all along, a mist gathered in the air, and this time, a silver-haired girl appeared at the opposite side of the auditorium.

“Who is she...?”

A silver-haired girl, a first-year student of the Royal Class... both Olivia’s and Ellen’s eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the girl.

For some reason, the girl, who had been close to Reinhart since her admission, abruptly raised both hands to the sky.

Crack!

In an instant, numerous ice spears formed on the auditorium ceiling and plunged into the ground, creating obstructions and immobilizing many.

“What is this...!”

That wasn’t all. Suddenly, Scarlett, who was standing beside Reinhart, picked up the chair he was bound to and hurled it towards Effenhauser. The Demon King’s eyes widened as he flew through the air.

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“Sarkegar...?”

The red-haired girl spoke in an alien voice. “You must survive, Your Highness.”

Reinhart gritted his teeth as he locked eyes with Scarlett who was not Scarlett.

Crack!

“Ugh!”

Effenhauser caught the chair Reinhart was bound to, set it down, and sliced through the restraints with a few swings of his sword. With his bare hands, he crushed the bindings that bound the Demon King’s hands.

“Mr. Effenhauser...?”

Reinhart looked at him in disbelief.

“There isn’t time for a long conversation,” said the middle-aged man with a stern expression, showing no hint of compassion.

Somehow, he had retrieved the Flame of Tuesday. He handed it to Reinhart. The silver sword in Effenhauser’s hand was blazing with blue mana.

“Go, Reinhart,” said the Swordmaster, Effenhauser.

Bang! Clang! Clang!

“Could it be that the Order...?”

“It has nothing to do with the Order,” Effenhauser said in response to Reinhart’s question. He contined to stand in front of Reinhart.

Reinhart was even more shocked by Effenhauser’s words.

Effenhauser, true to his nature, did not say anything else.

Lucinil was already dodging and countering the attacks of the mages and knights targeting her.

Tana couldn’t understand what was happening, but she was already charging towards Effenhauser.

Bang!

However, Tana’s charge was intercepted before she could reach Effenhauser. She rolled across the floor.

“Loyar...?”

The white-haired woman, dressed in tattered rags, had somehow been freed. She looked at the Demon King and spoke.

“Your Highness...”

Crack... Crackle...

“Right now, you must focus only on surviving.”

The Demon King gritted his teeth as he watched Loyar transform into a white wolf.

Shanapell’s first unit, and the Commander of the Holy Knights and his own personal unit...

The Demon King’s forces were still at a disadvantage.

Whether the Demon King had intended this disaster or not, if all this had indeed been orchestrated by his subordinates as he’d claimed, then these developments were hardly surprising.

Whether the Demon King was good or evil, it was not the right time to judge. The empire had had no choice but to withdraw its forces, and so the demons’ planned rescue operation had commenced.

However, Sabioleen Tana could not afford to let the Demon King escape.

Hadn’t the emperor left the strongest of humanity behind in the event of such occurrences? The knight of Shanapell had to fulfil her duty and carry out her orders.

“Do not let the Demon King escape!” Tana shouted, and her knights moved.

Effenhauser and the lycanthrope blocked their path to Reinhart.

The Demon King staggered to his feet.

The shackles that had been holding him were broken.

The Demon King watched as Sarkegar, transforming freely from one form to another, flew around the auditorium, attacking the mages. Lucinil appeared here and there in her mist form, casting offensive spells, while Loyar and Effenhauser blocked off the charging knights.

Olivia moved with a determined expression, as if she knew what she had to do. She flew towards Reinhart, covering the ground rapidly.

Thud!

She quickly caught up to Reinhart, grabbed his arm, and pulled him out of the auditorium.

Ellen Artorius watched the scene unfold—disaster, chaos, and the Demon King’s escape—all at once, without taking sides.

***

[Special Achievement Unlocked: ‘Completion of Causality’]

[You have received 50,000 achievement points.]

[The perk ‘Stat Purchase’ has been activated.]

[From this point, you can exchange 5,000 achievement points for 1 stat point.]

“Run. Run, Reinhart. You have to run.”

Olivia held my hand and ran.

There was no time to delay. Yelling at her that she didn’t need to do this to save me was useless.

I had thought that dying was the best option. I had thought it was best to die to prevent all this from happening.

But I had not died. With all the suspicion and doubt hanging around the issue, people either couldn’t or wouldn’t kill me.

Just as there were people who doubted me and felt betrayed by me, there were also those who tried to believe in me, which had awkwardly prolonged my life, eventually leading to the present situation.

I had tried to resolve the situation by offering my life, but in the end, I did not succeed. That was why all this had happened.

I had no intention of dying in despair, blaming myself for my death and claiming that everything was my fault.

I had tried to prevent the worst-case scenario by my death.

I had tried to achieve something through my death.

However, I did not die when I was supposed to. There was nothing to achieve through death anymore. Therefore, I had no intention of forcibly seeking death.

I had to live.

I did not know what I would do while living. But since this life of mine had been secured through countless deaths, since it was a life that had been forced on me by exchanging countless lives, I could not give it up that easily.

I could not let the lives that would be lost meaninglessly because of me be in vain.

And I could not let the lives of my people, who would die because of me, be in vain.

Even if I was resentful, even if I was angry, even if I was sorrowful about the situation I was in, I could not die.

I had to live, and find out what I could do along the way.

I could not wallow in despair, blaming myself for being useless and wishing that I had not existed in the first place. I had felt that way thus far, but from this point on, I could not allow myself to be that way.

The scene that greeted me as I stepped out of the auditorium was beyond anything I could have envisioned, even in my worst nightmares of hell.

Rumble... Rumble...

Cracks had formed in the sky barrier that enveloped the Temple like a dome, and meteors were falling through those cracks and crashing to the ground.

In the sky beyond those barriers, unidentified flying creatures soared through the air, spewing crimson flames or terrifying white frost.

A disaster of a different magnitude than the Demon God Cult’s attack on Raziern was unfolding.

Was the world coming to an end?

The Gate Incident had occurred much earlier than originally planned.

Any regrets about how nothing would have happened if I had stayed still were meaningless. There was no point in wishing to go back into the past, or any regret that it would have been fine just to do nothing.

I had to move forward. I didn’t know what lay ahead, but for the moment, I had to survive. So, I ran with Olivia.

In the fight happening in that auditorium, who would die and who would survive?

The knights of Shanapell who were not tied down in the auditorium were following me.

My body was damaged from the long imprisonment, but I had to do what I could.

I thought about the concept of purchasing status points with Achievement Points. The most important stat was mana. The higher my mana level, the more Mana Reinforcement would enhance my overall physical abilities. In other words, even increasing my mana by one point would have the additional effect of raising my other physical abilities. Therefore, mana was the most efficient and best status.

I invested 50,000 achievement points into the mana stat.

My mana increased by 10 in an instant, and my mana stat jumped from A- rank to S rank. This was already comparable to that of a high-level archmage.

I could invest more points and become a monster with more mana than even Sabioleen Tana, but I held off for the moment.

Would they condemn this filthy Demon King and say that he was hiding his power? But there was no time to think about such things.

The sudden increase in mana, along with Mana Reinforcement, revitalized my exhausted body.

Even though my physical abilities had declined due to poor nutrition, my mana was not depleted.

I had to leave the Temple. I didn’t know what to do once I got out, but I had to leave.

However, no matter how much my mana had increased, those following me were the knights of Shanapell, who were Swordmasters.

They would soon catch up to me.

Even if I fought back, I didn’t know if I could win. I would be surrounded. Even using Alsbringer, I was at a disadvantage.

Fighting alongside Olivia wouldn’t change that.

Was I going to be captured and killed like this? Would all these sacrifices be meaningless?

As I ran, in the chaotic streets of the Temple, someone stood in front of us as if to block my path.

Crack! Crackle! Rumble!

“Who is that...?”

“Riana...”

Riana de Granz stood there, glaring at me, blue sparks enveloping her body.

‘Right. Now that she knows I’m the Demon King, she can’t forgive me. It’s a wonder she hasn’t appeared sooner.’

It felt like a scripted sequence, that Riana would block my path to kill me.

Her lightning was instantaneous, and dodging was nearly impossible.

Even with Mana Reinforcement, I would not be able to evade Riana’s lightning, whose power had reached its peak.

Even if I somehow survived with the protective power of Mana Reinforcement, the pursuing Shanapell knights would catch up to me.

I couldn’t escape her lightning, and would either die or be captured.

Just as my despairing steps were about to come to a halt, Riana extended a hand and unleashed a fierce bolt of blue lightning, charged with an intense current.

Boom! Rumble!

The shockwave tore through the air, stunning both Olivia and I.

The lightning bolt grazed past my cheek.

It wasn’t aimed at me.

—Ugh!

—Argh!

It struck the Shanapell knights who were chasing me.

Olivia and I could only watch in a daze as the knights were either knocked back by the lightning strike or were left twitching in place.

“What are you doing, you idiot?! Get over here quickly!” Riana yelled at me angrily, wearing a scowl.

‘Ah. Could it be...? Did she know? Since when? How?’

As Olivia and I closed the distance, Riana silently began gathering her lightning.

Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!

Electricity began to gather in the air, sending sparks in all directions. In an instant, Riana unleashed a tremendous lightning strike, a thunderstorm, that not only struck the fallen knights but also swept the area around them with a storm of electricity.

Crash!

The trees hit by the lightning exploded, and the bricks on the ground burst apart. The extreme storm of lightning not only destroyed objects but also relentlessly struck the fallen knights.

That fierce lightning, uncontrolled and radiating in all directions, fueled by her anger, said it all.

Riana knew everything.