The World I Was Supporting Was Real - Chapter 62



62. The Path No One Took (1)

* * *

“…Hah!”

Ballus, who had been collapsed in the dungeon’s depths, slowly opened his eyes.

What happened?

So, while he was on his way to where the Demon Lord was, he suddenly felt a light leaking out.

Was he so surprised by the sudden light that he lost consciousness, or was there another reason…

‘Wait a second.’

Ballus quickly checked the place where the Demon Lord resided.

‘The Demon Lord… is not here?’

The Demon Lord, who had been hiding in the shadows, fearing the awakening of their demonic instincts, was nowhere to be seen.

What in the world was going on? A fleeting thought arose – had the Demon Lord finally made a kind of decision, just like the Demon Lords of the past?

The senses that had been severed upon losing consciousness were slowly beginning to return.

And, as the senses returned…

“…Huh?”

Only then…did he sense the ‘change’ that had occurred to him.

* * *

“Sunlight…are you saying?”

“Yes. Sunlight. That is our only demand.”

Luka, kneeling behind the Saintess on her right, spoke carefully.

“I was under the impression that demons have a natural aversion to the sun…”

“I don’t know how that became common knowledge, but I really want it to be known that it is false.”

“Then, all of those actions were all-“

“Yes. All of it, we did it all because we wanted to bask in sunlight.”

Everyone, including Erin, was speechless.

Just for that reason, did we have to spend hundreds of years in animosity and wasted time?

We, our ancestors, what in the hell did they shed their blood for?

The Demon Lord, noticing the subtle shift in Erin’s group’s expressions, gave a bitter smile, as if having realized something, and spoke.

“It seems my words are difficult to accept easily. As long as the time spent distrusting each other has been, it’s understandable that you might think I’m not revealing everything honestly.”

“That’s not it. From the beginning, that we could even have this private audience with you, Demon Lord, it’s all by God’s will.”

“Saint Erin. You, along with other humans who faithfully believe in God, can quickly understand and accept ‘God’s will’— but do you really think those who don’t can believe everything our kind says just at face value?”

“That’s…”

“If that sounded like a rebuke, I apologize. What right would this body have to do such a thing? It’s just… it’s like that. Even my own thoughts aren’t something all demons can simply accept ideally.”

For the demons, the Demon Lord’s ideology was an absolute compass.

Unlike humans, demons could not refuse the Demon Lord’s orders at the level of their life essence. And, the Demon Lord could confirm the individual thoughts of each and every demon.

In front of him, they’d naturally say, “We will follow your will, Demon Lord,” but deep within their hearts, some individuals harbored a seething, bubbling fighting spirit.

Of course, the Demon Lord had no intention of punishing them for it. Hadn’t humans forced them into the depths of dungeons, denying them even the right to bask in the sunlight?

“Perhaps it is the same for humans. There must be those who have lost precious family members to demons, and there are those whose livelihoods have been destroyed by demons. I understand that it would be difficult for them to suddenly accept a proposal to ‘coexist’.”

“I won’t deny that. However, the same goes for the demons. The important point is, aren’t we all united in the desire to not repeat any more tragedies?”

“It would be so much better if everyone thought like you.”

The Demon Lord spoke, his gaze shifting to the woman on Erin’s left – Linea.

“……!”

“It seems you do not trust this body.”

Linea, caught off guard by the mind-reading, was momentarily flustered.

But if this being could see so deeply, there was no point in attempting any clumsy lies.

“I am of the Imperial Family. Surely, Your Lordship is aware of the Empire’s existence?”

“Of course I am.”

“It has been roughly three hundred years since the Empire was founded. Two hundred years ago, the war with the demons inflicted irreparable damage upon our Empire. Anyone who has studied our history from a young age knows the terrible cruelty of that time. Though communication was impossible, was it truly necessary to be so savage, simply for the sake of sunlight…? I find it difficult to accept at this moment.”

“So, in truth, you suspect this body has other schemes, and this desire for sunlight is merely a smokescreen, is that it?”

“I apologize for not being able to lie to Your Lordship.”

“Linea-nim…!”

Luca beside her tried to stop Linea, looking worried, but –

“Let her be.”

“Ophelia-nim…?”

“Has she not spoken what she believes? Communication begins there, I say.”

Hearing Ophelia’s words, Luca didn’t stop Linea anymore.

The Demon Lord himself, on the contrary, seemed quite pleased with Linea’s words, a light smile playing on his lips.

“It’s fine. Even if your body has changed, a human who doesn’t lose their spirit even before the Demon Lord, this body doesn’t dislike. So then, shall I prove to you, in a way you can understand, that this body speaks no lies?”

“What do you mean…?”

“Isn’t there already a being among your party who can see through whether this body speaks false or not?”

“……?”

“You seem to have tried to hide it, but you emit a powerful force that’s similar to, yet different from, mana, there’s no way I wouldn’t notice it.”

At the Demon Lord’s sudden words, everyone was tilting their heads in confusion—

Erin cautiously stepped forward, representing the group to ask the question.

“Um, I’m sorry, but I don’t really know who you’re talking about—”

Without a word, the Demon Lord carefully raised a finger—

“……Me, you mean?”

—and pointed it towards Ophelia who was kneeling.

“Yes. More precisely, the backpack you’re holding in your arms.”

“Backpack? There’s just a rabbit doll inside though.”

Ophelia, her tension inexplicably plummeted after facing the Demon King, now woke the rabbit who was napping in her backpack.

“Rabbit, sir. Wake up.”

“Not now, not the money.”

“Just for a moment.”

Ophelia slid her hands under the rabbit’s front paws, then carefully lifted him and placed him on her head.

“Are you by chance referring to the rabbit, sir?”

“Ho ho. A mere human dares to call such an immense being their subordinate? Perhaps you are a much more powerful entity than you appear.”

“He’s not my subordinate, he’s my friend. Though, I don’t quite see the connection between what you just said and Rabbit, sir…”

” …Are you truly serious?”

“Why would I lie to you?”

The Demon King’s eyes twinkled, as if amused –

“Let me be honest. I, in this human body, which is clearly a penalty in terms of combat prowess, am still quite strong. Even now, if I so desired, I could snuff out the lives of ordinary humans like you with just a wave of my hand.”

A tiny, cute girl who squeaked with every step, saying things like that, was far from threatening, more like adorable –

Unaware of the effect her appearance was having, the Demon King continued in a serious tone.

“But, that rabbit… It looks like it would be a difficult fight. If I’m careless, I might even lose. I can sense an aura of overwhelming power coming from that rabbit.”

“That much…?”

It was Erin, the saint of the god, who answered Ophelia’s questioning gaze.

“The Rabbit is the messenger of the god, after all. Naturally, he wouldn’t be an ordinary being. It’s not strange that even the Demon Lord would think that.”

“Come to think of it, the Rabbit Duke did use some strange magic. And he ate meat just fine even though he’s supposed to be a rabbit. Hmm. As expected, he’s amazing, Rabbit Duke!”

“Sleepyhead.”

“Anyway, you… what is your name?”

“…Línea.”

“As long as the Rabbit is here, it is fundamentally impossible for me to deceive and manipulate you with lies. It is obvious that the Rabbit will see through it immediately. So, I hope you will believe my words.”

“What we want, now as ever, is one thing. The right to bask in the sunlight. I swear there is not a single lie in this.”

Línea still couldn’t quite believe it.

To begin with, the fact that the Demon Lord had become a young girl, and then this sudden offer to get along, it was all too much.

Even so… if this really was ‘the will of god’ as Erin said—

Perhaps, she felt, this could be a chance for her to understand Igwogweodon’s frank facts.

After all, her goal was not to break down the religious order but to bring balance and harmony between the religious order and the imperial family.

“Understood. I will trust you, Demon Lord.”

“I will express my sincere gratitude.”

The Demon Lord slowly rose from their seat, grasping the black rags with both hands, taking a pose like a noble lady offering respect.

The sight of those small arms lifting the hem of their dress was more endearing than dignified.

It was like watching a young child playing house.

“Hngh…!”

“Luca? What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s just…”

While Luca couldn’t bring themself to say “They’re so cute I want to hug them” in front of the Demon Lord, Linea spoke in a tone devoid of playfulness.

“However, you must also understand that most humans will share our sentiments. Given the long years of conflict and opposition, I must question how many people will be able to take the idea of reconciliation at face value… I simply cannot offer a positive response.”

“That’s alright. I simply need to do to them what I did to you. That’s why I believe God gave me a human form.”

“What you did to us…?”

“Dialogue.”

The Demon Lord’s lips curved into a smile, their eyes shining.

“I intend to convey our will to all humans, representing the demon race.”

“!!!”

“Erin. I know it’s shameless, but I need to ask for your help. Could you create an opportunity for this body to directly convey the demon lord’s will to humans?”

Erin nodded without even a moment’s hesitation.

“The word of God led us to this place. The demon lord said that he became human after facing God’s candid facts. As God’s saint, the only thing I must do is—to thoroughly follow the will of our one and only God, Igwugwudeon. I and the entire Igwugwudeon Church wholeheartedly support the demon lord’s will, and we will strive to create a world where humans and demons can coexist.”

“Of course, it might be an incredibly difficult path, considering the history of mutual hatred that has built up—”

From noble mtl dot com

She smiled, utterly radiant under the sunlight—

“Because, for Igwugwudeon’s word, I would give even my life.”

‘……!’

The demon lord couldn’t help but be astonished by Erin’s strong will.

The source of warmth he could feel— God’s love.

And that woman, she was probably the one who receives the most of God’s love among humans—

‘Is that the will of a saint?’

It seemed that the saying that ‘humans are all weak-willed and therefore it is important to subdue them with fear’ was just another rumor, like the other demonic myths that have spread among them.

Yes. If there are misunderstandings between each other, we can resolve them through conversation—

—Thinking that, the demon lord took his first step toward a path that no previous demon lord had ever taken.

* * *

A few days later.

“The Demon King has descended upon the continent,” “The Saintess brought the Demon King to the cathedral,” “The Guodon Church has joined hands with demons”…….

Rumors that would cause an uproar if even *one* of them broke out, began to spread simultaneously, several at once.