I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake. Chapter 94

I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.

Chapter 94

A few days later.

Caesar received a carriage parade.

“Wooaaaah!”

“Long live the Emperor!”

“The Imperial Province will be safe now!”

A carriage parade in this bitter cold.

Whoever thought of this clearly has dung for brains.

While Caesar may have resistance to cold, our poor Sir Hudson looks like he’s about to die from it.

“How is that prosthetic arm?”

“…I didn’t know the prosthetic would hurt this much in cold air.”

Caesar looked at Hudson’s left arm.

Hudson’s left arm had a sleek, shining prosthetic.

Naturally, since it was made of steel, if the part where flesh meets prosthetic wasn’t managed well, it could lead to frostbite and tissue necrosis.

“You should stop by Sapientia and have the contact point changed to cold iron. Cold iron has low thermal conductivity, so it doesn’t heat up or cool down easily.”

“Is that so? I should visit Sapientia again soon then.”

“If you had gone with me when I was there, you wouldn’t have had to suffer twice. When you come to Sapientia, I’ll give you the full course treatment.”

Hudson chuckled.

“By the way, it’s good to see you like this. When I heard you were taken by Vigilante, I thought you were dead.”

“Well, I thought you were dead too.”

Sharing life and death experiences seems to create quite a bond.

Has Hudson become more comfortable than before?

In the past, he felt like nothing but a dog of Hilos and the Empire, but now he feels like an old friend.

The more I feel this way, the more I want Hudson for myself.

I hope that emperor fellow dismisses Hudson as soon as possible.

Just as he was getting tired of waving and smiling at people, Hudson spoke again.

“By the way, have you heard that rumor?”

“What rumor?”

“About the prophets the Hero hunted. The rumor that they weren’t all actually prophets.”

“Is that so?”

“I don’t know the source of the information, but they say the prophets that Sir Yan dealt with weren’t all devils. Apparently, this caused conflict between the Dre Order and the imperial province over whether they were really prophets or not.”

Caesar shrugged his shoulders.

“Who can prove whether that rumor is true or not?”

“I’m not sure about that. But it doesn’t feel like the Dre Order would spread false rumors.”

“What are you so worried about?”

“I’m worried about both the Hero and His Majesty’s authority being diminished.”

What a loyal subject you are, what a loyal subject.

The Emperor might abandon Hudson, yet he’s this loyal.

How nice it would be if someone like this became mine.

“We’ll know as time passes.”

The palace entrance could be seen in the distance.

The end of the parade.

***

Caesar knelt before the Emperor.

“Caesar Sylvatil, Knight without a master, greets Your Majesty.”

“We have heard much of your merits. You have worked hard.”

The Emperor was looking down at Caesar and Hudson very solemnly.

Imperial photographers continuously photographed Caesar kneeling before the Emperor.

They particularly started taking many photos of Hudson too, as his popularity had soared after the story spread about how he continued fighting Vigilante even after nearly dying.

They must intend to establish the Emperor’s dignity with these photos.

Well, I’ll play along with this much of a show.

More importantly, what do you have to give me?

Then, a eunuch beside them handed Caesar a small box.

“We hereby bestow 10 gold coins, hoping you will continue to work hard for Us and the Empire.”

What?

Just 10 gold coins?

Not even 100, but 10?

Caesar looked at the gold coins in the box.

The K-style packaging method has spread to the Eileen Empire.

Seems like regular gold, not from the demon realm or magic gold…

Only 10 gold coins for someone who came back from death’s door, not even a good sword?

Is this for real?

“Additionally…”

Right, there’s no way this could be the end.

Caesar managed his expression for now.

“We bestow upon you the Silver Cross Medal.”

The eunuch pinned the Silver Cross Medal on Caesar’s chest.

The Silver Cross Medal is the third highest military decoration the imperial province can bestow.

The first is the Golden Eagle Medal.

The second is the Gold Cross Medal.

The third is the Silver Cross Medal.

Well, there are various other military decorations…

‘Just one Silver Cross?’

Just a Silver Cross for someone who came back from death’s door.

What am I supposed to do with this? It’s not like I’ll be living off the medal pension in my old age.

I heard the imperial province’s finances were low, but this is quite disappointing.

“…I am deeply grateful for your grace, Your Majesty.”

Then Hudson also received his rewards.

“Hudson. We also bestow upon you the Silver Cross Medal and 10 gold coins.”

Hudson received the same level of reward.

Hudson also showed a slightly subtle expression.

Though Hudson has it better since the imperial province provided him with that prosthetic arm.

That’s somewhat fortunate but… This is really quite stingy.

“Then, I look forward to your continued hard work.”

‘What? Is this really the end?’

Caesar managed his expression and slowly left with proper etiquette.

What on earth is this?

Caesar and Hudson walked out into the hallway.

Caesar’s head was spinning from disbelief.

Who are they saving their generosity for, to be this stingy?

“Sir Caesar. Would you mind stepping aside?”

“…Ah, yes.”

Caesar was pushed away from the main entrance.

He stood still and pondered.

Whose idea could this be?

Caesar is someone whose stock is rising at Homigraph.

Yet to be treated this poorly.

Has this country really started declining?

“Hero, the door will open in 10 seconds.”

“Yes, understood.”

What? Hero?

Caesar turned his head to look at the group of men again.

Among the men wearing clean white armor, there was one man wearing black armor.

With hair as black as his armor, contrasting white skin, and brown eyes.

How could anyone not recognize that face?

It’s really Hero Yan.

Creeeeak!

As the door opened, a completely different fanfare from Caesar’s entrance played.

It was the grand military music that only plays for heroes of the imperial province or visiting foreign kings and dignitaries.

“The great hero who beheaded the Great Evil Demon King, ended the demon realm war, and received the anointing of the four goddesses!”

Yan walked down the red carpet with great familiarity.

“Hero Yan enters!”

Caesar watched the back of the hero’s head through the closing door gap.

‘Could they have treated me poorly because he was today’s main character?’

If this is true, it feels really shitty.

***

Caesar waited in the reception room at Hilos’ request.

After some time passed,

Hilos arrived at the reception room.

“I greet you, Prime Minister.”

As the reception room door closed, Hilos smiled and said,

“You’re taking this more calmly than expected?”

Look at him deliberately trying to get under my skin.

That smile is especially annoying today.

Before Hilos could sit down, Caesar plopped down and said,

“It seems today’s main character was the Hero, not me.”

Despite Caesar’s rudeness, Hilos smiled and sat in the main seat.

-Seems he’s quite upset.

-Well, no one told him anything.

-It was partly intentional to prevent him from developing fondness for the Emperor.

Oh wow.

So you were the culprit?

What a sly fox.

You deliberately made me feel bad today to prevent me from getting close to the Emperor?

That makes me even more angry.

“Still, when else in your life would you receive such a reception? You should consider it a lifetime honor.”

“I always received this at Homigraph. Should I arrange a parade for you? With one word from me, I could have it run from Homigraph’s entrance all the way to Sapientia.”

When Caesar showed his anger openly, Hilos finally patted his shoulder as if satisfied.

“I understand. I admit you have reason to feel slighted by His Majesty today.”

-He’s clearly disappointed in the Emperor.

-Indeed, this is how you should handle someone proud who enjoys popularity.

-Mitchell was right.

-This will make it easier to draw him to House Redfield.

Clearly, Hilos seems to be aligned with House Redfield rather than the Emperor.

Why exactly is he trying to betray the Emperor?

If only the game had explained this clearly…

I can’t just openly ask if you’re a traitor, so it’s not easy to read your thoughts.

“By the way, how many prophets’ heads did Hero Yan cut off?”

“Twelve.”

“Were they definitely prophets’ heads? I heard rumors suggesting they weren’t real prophets?”

Hilos’ expression hardened.

“Do you know something?”

-The Dre Order did suddenly claim that the prophets the hero caught weren’t real prophets.

-But they didn’t provide concrete evidence.

-It seemed like they were trying to tarnish the hero and Emperor’s reputation…

-Or not?

If the Prime Minister doesn’t know, that means House Redfield and the Emperor don’t know either.

“Ah, perhaps you haven’t heard the information I passed to the Dre Order?”

Hilos expression hardened.

“…What?”

“That time, when you left me in the middle of the palace. I went straight to the Dre Church and told the priest. About how to distinguish between real and fake prophets.”

“Distinguish?”

“Haven’t you heard? That all real prophets are square-shaped devils and they have these black crystal balls that can share information with each other.”

Caesar showed the black crystal ball from inside his clothes.

Hilos expression gradually worsened.

“…What’s the source of this information?”

“This crystal ball was left where Vigilante died. And lots of coded messages poured out from this ball. Of course, I couldn’t decode them, but doesn’t it clearly look like an artifact used for communication between prophets?”

Finally, Hilos couldn’t hold back his anger.

“Why are you only telling me this now?”

“When I took this information, the Dre Order already knew about it? So I thought they had exchanged information with the imperial province. But I guess not?”

“Are you daring to toy with me?”

Caesar picked up his tea.

“Toy with you? The real toying was treating someone who nearly died so poorly.”

Hilos had to acknowledge his mistake.

Judging that there was no more information to extract from Caesar and treating him poorly.

And not assigning anyone to monitor Caesar.

Everything was Hilos mistake.

“Until now, I have always been on the imperial province’s side. I even gave my life for it. And yet, you give me one Silver Cross Medal and 10 gold coins? Do you think this makes sense?”

“…There were many who didn’t even receive that much! You were second in merit!”

“What makes me inferior to the Hero?”

“…What?”

Caesar put down his teacup.

“I was the first to prove and report the connection between the Prophets and Freak Show to His Majesty the Emperor. This alone deserves the highest merit, and I nearly died in the process. Why should I receive inferior treatment compared to the Hero?”

“The Hero beheaded 12 Prophets!”

“But weren’t they all fake? Then I should be promoted to the highest merit now, right?”

“Are you joking with me right now!”

“So why did you disregard me?”

Caesar already knows the answer to his question.

To distance Caesar from the Emperor.

So that he would rely more on and become closer to the Redfield family.

But Hilos could never give that answer.

“Prime Minister. I am not a fool. I know very well that if I reveal all my cards, there would be many who would tear at me like wolves. I thought the Prime Minister Hilos knew this truth as well.”

“…You still expect protection from the imperial province after coming at me like this?”

-This incident will reduce my influence over the Emperor… But I should at least secure what I can.

-I should lay the groundwork to make Caesar rely on the Redfield family instead of the imperial province.

This is why he’s the Prime Minister.

He’s truly a political monster.

Just from hearing his words, one would think the Prime Minister was purely angry, but he’s trying to make me rely on the Redfield family somehow.

If that’s the case, I have no choice.

“Then I have no choice. I’ll have to ask Arch Duke for help with malaria medicine production.”

“…What?”

“Why are you so surprised? My base isn’t in Vex Province but in Homigraph. Naturally, I should ask Arch Duke for help, shouldn’t I? Of course, I’ll have to give up quite a bit, but I must accept some losses.”

Only then did Hilos realize his mistake.

Just because Caesar was close to Miles Parker and had some deal with Mitchell Redfield didn’t mean he was Redfield family’s person.

What would happen if Caesar completely became Arch Duke’s person?

Everything invested in Caesar and Homigraph until now would be wasted.

Caesar leisurely drank his tea to give Hilos time to think.

How much time had passed?

Finally, Hilos opened his mouth.

“I will convey your disappointment to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Specifically?”

Hilos clenched his fist.

“We will officially invest in your malaria business.”

This isn’t bad at all.

I’ve tied both the imperial province and the Redfield family to the malaria business.

Now no matter what the Royder Order does, they’re in a situation where both must protect me.

“Let me ask for one more thing.”

“…What else?”

“Please invest in orphanage establishment and social welfare projects for mutants. Officially.”

Hilos eyebrow twitched.

-What else is he plotting?

-It’s not like this guy is really interested in social welfare projects.

“…I’ll accept that too.”

Caesar smiled softly.

No.

That part is actually true?

***

As soon as Caesar got off at Homigraph Station, he saw the newspaper.

[The Prophets caught by Hero Yan were all real!]

[It was a joint operation by Baptismal Knights and Heresy Inquisitors!]

“They’re really something else.”

It seems the Dre Order, Royder Order, and the imperial province made some kind of political deal.

That’s why the two orders didn’t publish articles making fools of the Hero and Emperor.

Well, from the two orders’ perspective, it wouldn’t be good if rumors spread that the Hero they directly supported had made a mistake.

Caesar threw the newspaper in the trash.

Then Harrison approached.

“Has the imperial province contacted us?”

“Yes. They sent an official document stating they will invest in the malaria business. It even has His Majesty the Emperor’s seal.”

“The document arrived already?”

“No. The employee dispatched to Vex reported so.”

“Really? What about the welfare project?”

“They said they would invest in that too. Though they didn’t specify the exact amount.”

Our Prime Minister seems to have become quite efficient after getting a taste of the heat.

Why did he have to upset someone unnecessarily?

“By the way, is that prepared?”

“Yes. It’s ready.”

“Really? Then shall we go out now?”

Caesar tidied his clothes and went out the main entrance.

Then an explosive cheer burst forth.

“Wooaaaaaaah!”

Thousands of citizens had gathered just to see Caesar.

“Caesar! Caesar! Caesar! Caesar!”

When thousands of citizens cheer for Caesar, it feels like getting high even without drugs.

It’s completely different from Vex.

“Yes. This is home.”

Caesar got on the carriage.

And following the path cleared by police, he waved his hands and received the citizens’ welcoming greetings.

“And this is how a proper parade should be.”

They might not know in the imperial capital Vex, but in Homigraph, I am king.

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