I’m Not a Hero Like You

119 – 39. The Shadow of Dawn. Or shade.(2)

“Half a year. No, three months is enough.”

The all-powerful princess.

A girl who showed overwhelming potential beyond competence at a young age, her presence alone made countless powerful people in a foreign country nervous.

Among them, the best part of her story is that she was the first to acquire the legacy of the Great Demon King, and she took it as her own.

In the world, it is known for its absolute power, but very few people know the truth.

And among those who acquired such authority, those who could not be controlled and proved to be uncontrollable were called demon lords on the continent.

Nezerius.

As this existence, whose origin and background were unknown, was first called that, its name and meaning became more solid.

From destroying a country, to single-handedly sweeping the battlefield where thousands are colliding, making a name for itself.

A being that is a disaster itself.

And Ido, who showed overwhelming strength by confronting that existence head-on.

The one who kicked him out like a defeated dog.

She was the princess of the empire when she was still young.

An outrageous monster has been born in the Empire.

And then the monster grew up and became a helpless existence.

Those who once pointed out the princess as a hostage severely reprimanded the powerful people of both countries for saying that it was a big deal and that it was too late to regret it, but it was already too late.

Imperial Imperial Family.

Among them, blazing red hair, characteristic of golden veins, and blue eyes that seem to contain the sky and the sea.

Isn’t the fact that Alexius has blue, but dark, dark eyes similar to those of Melineos, the sorceress empress?

Similarly, the story of who was given legitimacy and who the ancestors raised the hand of their ancestors to, was not proved in itself.

She, as some would lament, was the only one who bore her most fatal flaw.

“L.”

Elhermina Berg Enzul.

He looks like himself, no he thinks he looks like him.

A being called a savior who saved the world and now supports the empire.

In front of him who was praised as her hero-emperor, she was openly pushing her own opinion.

Of course, the emperor had a sad expression as if he knew her feelings better than anyone else.

That and this were another matter.

“It is still time to lay the groundwork.”

“What do you mean more than this? I did enough. All that remains is to move forward. Isn’t everything going according to plan? Are you afraid of variables and always have to keep a watchful eye on them to get your senses out?”

“Are you trying to overlook the fact that years or decades of errors can be introduced into that variable?”

“Didn’t you see there would be a bigger mistake than that?”

“You….”

There, the emperor, who was silent for a moment, let out a deep breath with his lips closed.

“Do you think your intervention can solve the problem? In this yard where the whereabouts are unknown?”

“It’s not something the Empire can’t find. It is not because there are not enough support and resources to find it.”

“So I will solve this by your direct involvement. Do you understand that now?”

“If you have a clearer plan than that, I beg you to tell me your sincerity even now. I am willing to listen, reap, and act immediately.”

“… ….”

The emperor was silent again.

He used to be the one who used to stand up and do his work, but now he sits on one side and looks at the piled up papers.

More important than that, the pile of documents that helped him, the important agenda, and the number of cases sealed in layers and wrapped in parchment or vellum, the guy who should have taken care of them is now saying something like that.

Of course, this is what Elhermina wanted to say, and I can fully understand her intentions.

But.

If this problem is wrong… An irreversible event could magnify the size of the problem.

“The willingness to deal with Kariel has not yet been completely resolved. No, nothing has been resolved yet.”

“… ….”

“The Empress’ precognitive dreams are absolute. How many crises we have gone through because of it… I won’t hurt you by explaining it separately.”

“Are you saying that the problem will be solved if you leave it as it is? According to that prophecy, the future of His Majesty’s death by Kariel is also a decision. Are you saying that you will face this now?”

“I have to resist. But if that’s paying for my sins….”

“Do you think you can hold on?”

“… ….”

“Because sand castles are built well, we only focus on building them up quickly. If we neglect to build an embankment and then even a major flood spreads, what would be the point at that time?”

“Didn’t you hear the last report?”

I don’t know the details, but Kariel put an unknown power into her hands.

It is said that he even incapacitated another heir of the Great Demon King’s legacy with that power.

It must have been a story told by a boy who became a new hero from far away.

“It could be a completely different existence from the Kariel you knew. If the demon king really used his hand….”

“Do you think he might be dreaming of revenge by taking over Kariel’s body?”

“I see it as one of the possibilities.”

A golden beast that even sealed Melineos’ dreams.

The question is, how was that possible?

There are many speculations, but Melineos and her teacher Geornia came up with one guess.

Perhaps the soul of a golden beast dwells in Kariel’s body.

Although she may not have taken the initiative of the body yet.

… Who knows what will happen later.

“Even if she hadn’t taken away her body, as long as she listened to the rumors of the golden beast… Whatever she does, she will do as she pleases.”

Like hatred for the empire.

For the emperor and the imperial family.

And even to parents.

It had been a long time since the emperor had confirmed the contents of the letter Kariel had left behind.

Even if it’s twisted, it’s too twisted… By the time I realized it, it was too late.

“That wasn’t the Kariel we knew.”

There was not a single trace of the child’s outstanding knowledge and insight, which had been extremely extraordinary since her childhood.

All that is written in the letter is that she was hit by expectations and collapsed, frustrated, despaired, and collapsed… There is only a boy’s gloomy confession of feelings.

With that thought, all the circumstances surrounding Kariel, who was helpless on the other hand, began to fit properly.

She simply felt betrayed, shocked, disappointed in humans and isolated herself, or pretended to be isolated and waited for her chance for a comeback… That is.

It’s like they’ve degenerated into their own delusions.

No, even if that was the intention.

Identified the movement targeting him in all directions, and after that, another force with intentions aimed at the child because it was the imperial family and could not touch Rueld or Ermina.

Even if I didn’t deliberately set myself up as a target to read their intentions and capture the scandalous culprit.

… Wouldn’t that be a bit too much of an ordeal for a child of his age to handle?

“The former Earl of Esdina was unaware, but in the end, it was like being pushed back by someone’s advice.”

A few really light words of advice from an infrequently visited target.

Including the fact that the merchant’s source is a merchant guild that has grown in a suspiciously short period of time, after digging up and digging up.

… I finally figured out that the relief knights had reached.

And now, it was also the conclusion made by the Imperial Intelligence Agency that the forces that were hiding or dissolving Kariel’s whereabouts might be them.

But that only identified the problem, not the solution.

Besides, there was another problem.

“In some countries, to connect the good. Or it was said that they were trying to isolate them for the purpose of exile. In other words, the malice driven by Kariel was not one or two, and he was constantly exposed to that secret plot.”

For example, some countries offered special cases and privileges in the name of studying abroad.

Even in Geornia, the motherland of the elves, the teacher of her immediate empress, she arranged an unusual marriage with him.

… However, most of them were emperors and were stopped at the Rueld Line, so Kariel didn’t know why.

The emperor clicked his tongue.

“Yes. Those foolish men must have thought that just by dragging Kariel, she would gain a very powerful helper and guardian spirit for that country.”

Empire or knight of brilliance.

Including the support and sympathy of the Church of Irenis led by Ermina….

“But I don’t understand why I thought such a shallow number would work.”

“It doesn’t matter how good the strategy is. It is important that it is executed.”

Even a stupid plan, if it is unfolded intentionally by a person in power, will eventually gain weight and meaning.

Those below are what I’m running anyway.

And even if the person above is stupid, if the people below are competent, things will be handled in one way or another.

Moreover, in this case, such schemes were layered on top of each other, and the situation was truly intertwined.

… The key among them must have been the fundamental determination and execution of Countess Esdina, who also held the key.

As a result, Alessius was also sucked into it.

… No, in a way, it was like Alessius handed over the key.

Because the fact that he decided to isolate Kariel was what made everything go smoothly.

“Twisted love must have ruined things.”

The heart of Elhermina who loves Kariel.

Alessius knew that better than anyone else.

… He couldn’t accept the situation that seemed like he would be able to bond with Erath any minute.

Whether it was a misunderstanding or not, it probably didn’t matter to Alessius at the time.

That guy, that he felt that way was important.

In the end, things came to a head.

The emperor complained.

“As long as the spilled water soaks the ground, it cannot be undone just because the ground is completely covered.”

Did I mention that his arm bends inward?

How to deal with this, the emperor pondered for a very long time.

And then, I confessed it to Rueld.

However, even that was too late.

Above all, though he is now a heroic emperor with omnipotent power.

Just a few years ago, he still couldn’t help but notice the nobles and local lords.

… Even if it doesn’t seem like it, he was still a clumsy ruler who was only able to hold on to the unstable imperial power by force.

Of course, from the perspective of neighboring countries, he was a superman.

Many great countries around.

Even if dozens of small countries were united, the empire was vaster than that.

“The fact that Rueld trusted Kariel more than anyone else… If it was a problem, it might be a problem.”

No, that must be the problem.

That guy, conversely, was the kind of person who thought his son was too good.

So, conversely, I wondered if the child might get disappointed and frustrated too easily, so he was the kind of person who always worried.

Also, while traveling throughout the empire, he frequently went on expeditions, such as guarding the imperial family and escorting important delegations, taking on secret missions, and even training talented people… Even if I had two bodies, it would have been insufficient.

If there is a problem, it is Ermina after all.

“She was also in a precarious situation.”

Moreover, unlike Rueld, there was quite a bit of information that was not passed on to Ermina.

Is that why?

She didn’t want Kariel to go astray, such as her reputation around her.

Of course, it wasn’t that there weren’t people in noble families who thought that that would be rather normal….

‘That depends on the person.’

Education, guidance, and even learning that can be endured as if it were natural for someone.

It is bound to be an unacceptable and terrible penance for someone.

But still, pushing it.

It is practically the same as abuse.

… It’s like forcing yourself into a box that won’t fit and sealing the entrance.

The result is obvious.

Even if it’s broken, the body can be reconstructed to fit the box.

Forcibly enduring in a broken state… Or really broken

Because none other than the emperor himself was such a case.

So, in disciplining his children, he tried not to do that.

“… ….”

The problem is, both the son and daughter of the Hero Emperor were excellent.

So I thought that if I left that temperament as it is or left it alone, it could go a long way.

So, I had to set discipline in advance.

So as not to slip off.

The high-ranking idiots or displaced heirs.

How much damage and harsh experiences they have suffered in their journey due to those crooked and deviant people.

But look.

Of course, those two also came from the most noble lineage in the empire.

This is why, if even one thing is out of line, it’s easy to have a wrong mind.

Another nightmare could have sprouted in the empire.

Ermina’s repeated attention to Kariel, and the fact that she didn’t want her to diverge, probably had this kind of influence.

“If things work out the way you want, there won’t be any results like that. But worst of all, what if you get hurt or worse?”

“… If you believe the prophecy, don’t you know that I will never die?”

“Instead, my body would not be able to do it. How will you change under that influence, Jim… No, I can’t be sure.”

“… ….”

“The way I look at you will have changed a lot by then. And… There are no absolutes in power. Even when Alexius tried to treat you differently than before, did you want to treat him as before?”

Let’s get to that point.

Elhermina did not speak for a while.

This is a parallel line in a different sense.

In fact, if Elhermina was determined and wanted to do it, how would the emperor stop it?

However, it is also a fact that the emperor and Elhermina herself know that it is not easy for Elhermina.

“Was it really not enough to entrust it to Rueld or Geornia?”

“But it’s been almost a year since I left it.”

Original ramen.

… Elhermina thought.

Original ramen.

Right after he returned after twists and turns.

After flamboyantly showing off one’s existence in a jousting match.

Determine your engagement with him.

Only after that, whether it was a full-scale purge or restoration of honor, by taking whatever action.

I intended to normalize everything and overturn the situation, the whole board, with the right flow over and over again.

But suddenly, something like a demon king came out.

Cariel colluded with the demon lord?

Is Kariel acting under the influence of the Demon King?

What nonsense.

… But.

Mama must have had such a dream.

And the one who sealed that dream was the golden beast, right?

… If it’s not an illusion, it’s true, so what?

Then another doubt popped up.

At the time Elhermina herself stopped him.

The unknown identity he showed off… It was something beyond comprehension.

Nevertheless, it was him… Passed but

I can’t believe that was the beginning.

Then what made the problem worse was that the officials of the great and small figured out this fact.

In fact, they were the ones who requested the Vatican to send personnel in the first place.

However.

Even this was prepared, so later on, Elhermina ridiculed and used it against her.

In the end, the situation developed rapidly and reached a point where it could not be delayed.

So, the plan was executed ahead of time.

No, so I was able to make the situation more firm and harsh.

Aren’t you the main culprit, accomplice, and instigator who made him collude with the devil and instigate him?

Create a new demon lord’s resurrection cult that didn’t even exist, select those who will reveal it and confess, and organize it.

Determining this, fitting in with those who put their sins on the list.

However, rumors about Kariel were suppressed as much as possible, fueling the traitors’ guilt and subsequent anger, only inflating their guilt.

The vacancy of the things that were resolutely cut off were quickly filled in according to the plan.

Do you know when this was a plan?

When Kariel antagonizes or condemns them with any intention, even if he has a vengeance.

These are the things that have been meticulously prepared to support that intention.

Perhaps, after graduating from the academy, I might move on.

So I waited patiently.

That was the biggest mistake.

Kariel is… She was so different from the old days she knew.

Even the fact that I was trying my best was the truth and sincerity.

Even the things that were expected and forced by people around me.

Nevertheless, since we are still young, we shouldn’t be negligent in polishing each other in preparation for the future, so I wondered if we could endure that much.

… It was a complete illusion.

I was able to hold on, but Kariel’s situation seemed to be very different from hers.

… Why didn’t she find it strange?

She still couldn’t shake the suspicion that the illusion had been forcibly planted by some kind of absurd curse.

“I got it.”

“… ….”

“Why did you bring up the story at this point and show your firm attitude, did you think this father would not know?”

“Congratulations.”

“Haa….”

The emperor sighed openly.

“Life is never-ending.”

If only it was a fairy tale.

Everyone should have lived happily for a long, long time at the point of defeating the demon king.

“… ….”

Today, I especially missed my colleagues who went ahead.

Even if only a few of them survived.

A situation like this could never have happened in the first place.

How did it get to this point?

Hey.