I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake. Chapter 126

I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.

Chapter 126

Time flowed helplessly, and the departure ceremony day arrived. Caesar and the Knight Order, along with the wizards and volunteer soldiers, totaling 1,067 people, stood in formation in front of the harbor.

The number of wizards being deployed was an impressive 300. They were all veterans who had already fought in the demon realm war, and selecting them wasn’t particularly difficult. In fact, they said reducing the numbers was more of a challenge.

The wizards’ reason for wanting to go to the battlefield was simple. All battlefields are horrific. This also means it’s a place where any atrocity can be permitted. In other words, these wizards wanted to use their various attack spells, buff spells, debuff spells, and other miscellaneous magic on-site and receive feedback.

Including the staff, soldiers, and servants who would support the wizards or Caesar’s Knight Order, slightly over 1,000 people were heading to the war zone.

‘I had sworn never to urinate in the demon realm’s direction again…’

Caesar let out a sigh inwardly while still facing the cold, chilly wind. Although it was unavoidable, he never dreamed he would return to that hellish battlefield again. Caesar slightly turned his head.

‘He probably thinks the same.’

Raven was sitting in the representative position for the wizards. Raven’s expression was hard to read. It looked angry yet sad, seemingly enjoyable yet depressed.

While others might find this unsettling, Caesar knew exactly what Raven was thinking.

‘She’s doing magic calculations again.’

Raven absolutely hated wasting time. So during idle waiting moments, she liked to simulate magic spells in her mind. Of course, others probably wouldn’t dare touch her, thinking she might be angry. Naturally, if someone disturbed her concentration, she would get angry. Would she eventually get mad?

While having these random thoughts, the Arch Duke stepped onto the podium. Looking at the Arch Duke’s complexion, it didn’t seem good. His skin was almost grayish instead of white, and his lips were pale, indicating his condition was worsening.

‘He’ll probably pass away soon.’

The Arch Duke was originally scheduled to die from illness by the end of the year. This was an unavoidable death that even holy water couldn’t cure. From what I’ve heard, it’s a chronic hereditary disease in the Arch family… But I’m not entirely sure.

At that moment, a young man who looked similar to the Arch Duke but younger walked beside him.

‘So that’s the 37th Arc.’

He seemed to have more flesh than the current Arch Duke but still looked unwell. He was apparently preparing for succession and had started appearing at official events.

The Arch Duke opened his dry lips:

“The demon realm is an unknown realm. Although we’ve learned much through four years of blood exchange, there’s still more we don’t know than what we know.”

“I asked each of you one question. Are you prepared to devote yourselves for the Imperial nation and the Wizard Province, even with potential unknown dangers?” He continued, “You all answered ‘yes’ without hesitation.”

The Arch Duke looked at Caesar.

“The difference between courage and recklessness is knowing the risks. What you carry in your hearts is courage. Despite knowing the demon realm’s horror and brutality, you’re prepared to sacrifice yourselves for a better future and a better homeland.”

He looked at Raven.

“Resolve your tasks clearly and definitively. Engrave plans, truth, and order in this uncertain land. That is what I expect from you.”

The Arch Duke struck his staff.

The air trembled with the podium, and hearts throbbed like beating drums.

“Go. Courageous ones.”

Boom!

As the Duke struck his staff again, the wizards struck their staffs or stomped their feet.

“Go. Wise ones.”

Boom!

Caesar and the knights also stomped their feet. The ships on the river shook.

“Go. My sons and daughters.”

Boom!

1,000 soldiers simultaneously struck their feet, staffs, and guns. The entire harbor trembled.

“Return. My subjects.”

Cheers erupted, and Caesar’s adrenaline exploded. All soldiers, including Caesar, shouted.

Yes.

Finally going to the battlefield.

***

The ship smoothly passed through the Dior Kingdom’s border. Despite expecting stricter checks due to the demon tribe’s invasion last year, it surprisingly passed peacefully. Caesar sat at the stern, looking at the long line of ships.

How long would it take to return to Homigraph?

Half a year?

Or a year?

He wanted to wrap things up within three months if possible.

But that would be greedy, wouldn’t it?

They had prepared supplies for almost half a year.

Caesar let out a sigh.

“This is really the last time.”

“What are you talking about?”

A familiar voice came from behind Caesar. He turned his head. There stood a man with red hair and golden eyes – Mitchell. But he wasn’t alone. Next to him was Raven, and beside Raven was a man with black hair and black eyes – the hero Yan.

Caesar greeted him according to etiquette. “I greet the hero.”

Yan quickly waved his hand. “No, no. There’s no need to be so formal.”

The hero smiled kindly and shook a wine bottle. “How about a drink together? I heard you’re good at drinking.”

Not easy from the first day.

This little alcohol merchant.

Because of this guy, Raven became a heavy drinker.

Caesar nodded.

“Not bad.”

I’ll show you how to overdo it on a ship.

***

Yan likes drinking without pretense. He just sits around a suitable bonfire and casually drinks. He drinks without discrimination, even enjoying the strong, milky moonshine. Anyway, he brought some boxes to the stern, created a table and chairs, and set up a drinking session. Although it’s spring, the sea breeze is slightly cold, but after a few rounds of drinks, it’ll warm up quickly.

“Here.”

“Thank you.”

Caesar politely received it. Then the hero stopped midway through pouring and waved his hand.

“I have one principle in my drinking session, there’s no hierarchy in front of a drinking cup. So receive it like you would from a neighborhood brother.”

Is this some new type of rigid attitude?

Typically, such words should be spoken by someone of higher status, otherwise an ordinary person would be completely shocked and do a break dance.

Purely looking at the imperial hierarchy, he’s right below the emperor.

Even the crown prince must use honorifics with him.

Why? Because he’s been anointed by the four goddesses just like the emperor, and he’s the first hero born since the founding emperor who established the imperial state.

If you don’t use honorifics or show proper respect, you won’t be killed by him, but by the White Knights who protect him.

Look, they’re glaring at Caesar from behind.

Caesar chuckled and said,

“Yes, brother.”

But am I an ordinary person?

No, I’m not.

I’m someone who’s even made friends with him.

In fact, I was about to die from the thought of having to call him ‘hero’, but this feels more comfortable.

Raven’s eyes widened in disbelief. But Yan laughed, slapping his knee.

“Good! Excellent!”

Yan filled Caesar’s cup to the brim. Caesar also filled Yan’s cup. Then he offered a drink to Mitchel.

“Would you like some, brother?”

Mitchell, who had been quietly sitting, chuckled and accepted the drink.

“I didn’t know you had this side. Little brother.”

“I’ve never been fond of formalities. Yugar would know best.”

“You drank with Yugar?”

“The night before our duel, Yugar visited my house. He said let’s have a drink before fighting.”

A slight hint of envy filled Mitchell’s golden eye.

Come to think of it, Mitchell was also a big fan of Yugar.

Jealous?

Shall I arrange a meeting for you later?

Caesar offered a drink to Raven. But Raven shook her head.

“I hate rum.”

“But there’s only rum here, so what should I do?”

“I’ll just drink water.”

“That won’t do.”

Caesar snapped his fingers and called Gideon.

“Bring wine.”

Gideon’s eyes sparkled, and he quickly but neatly brought a bottle of wine.

Raven’s eyes glimmered.

“This is… Isn’t it a Tikia 200?”

Of course she would know.

This is Raven’s favorite brand.

“This is personally my most favorite wine. Would you like to drink?”

“…Yes. I’ll have just a little.”

As Caesar passed the wine, Raven carefully uncorked it with a wine opening magic.

Her meticulous approach to ensure not a single cork piece went in was almost comically precise.

“Gideon, you take a glass too.”

As Caesar tried to pass an empty glass to Gideon and pour a drink, the hero grabbed Caesar’s wine bottle.

“Oh, let me pour it.”

The hero poured a full glass for Gideon. Looking at Gideon’s prosthetic arm, he spoke:

“Gideon, right? How did you lose your right arm? In the demon realm War?”

Gideon hesitated while trying to drink.

“Ah… That is…”

Gideon is at a loss for words.

Certainly, it’s not an easy story to tell.

Caesar opened his mouth instead.

“I cut it off. Brother.”

“…Why?”

“Because we had a duel.”

Yan looked at Caesar with a subtle gaze.

“So you took in your brother?”

“Something like that.”

Gideon downed the rum in one gulp.

“Then I will take my leave now. Receiving alcohol from the hero will be a lifelong honor.”

“…Okay.”

Gideon fled like he was escaping.

Yan took a sip of alcohol and spoke:

“I’ve heard quite a bit about your younger brother from Rose.”

…Of all people, from Rose?

Hopefully she didn’t say anything strange.

“I heard he lived quite a significant life after the demon realm War, more so than during the war. Can I hear why someone like you didn’t make a name for yourself in the demon realm War?”

“As you might guess, I had almost no opportunity to experience a major war. I was originally a wandering knight of illegitimate birth.”

Yan nodded as if understanding. “These days, it seems people value fame or reputation more than ability. Even in the demon realm War, where ability was needed more than ever, wars were divided based on reputation, who could go and who couldn’t. I find that unreasonable.”

Another person might have tactfully agreed, but Caesar was different.

After taking a sip of alcohol, Caesar spoke:

“Fame is also an ability, brother.”

“…Fame is an ability?”

“Smashing mafia heads and killing gangs. Any skilled knight can do that. But eliminating the mafia in Homigraph, removing Freak show from Imperial Province, saving orphans and mutants, all of this was possible because I was famous.” Caesar refilled his empty glass. “In fact, the number of villains I’ve deterred through my fame is more than those I’ve crushed with an axe. Didn’t you see instances where demon races would flee at the mere mention of the hero’s appearance?”

“So the battlefield that suited me was the Empire, not the demon realm. So don’t pity me, brother.”

Yan drank his alcohol, thought for a moment, then nodded. “That makes sense too. I’m learning something from my younger brother. Thank you.”

“Looking at him like this, he seems like a good person.”

“The problem is that he’s nice to everyone, which makes him easily swayed.”

“To be precise, he lacks backbone?”

“If his swordsmanship were as sharp as his mind, the world would have changed.”

At that moment, Mitchell spoke.

“By the way, I heard something from Raven. About using mages to suppress Orcs instead of rebel troops.”

Ah, now we’re getting to the main point?

They wouldn’t have called Caesar for a drink without reason.

Yan opened his mouth:

“I hate traitors the most. Instead of helping those fighting desperately on the current demon realm front, killing and plundering allies? That should never happen.”

“Do you know why they started the rebellion?”

“I know. They’re dissatisfied because they can’t return to their hometowns even though the war is over. Of course, I understand their feelings. But for the Empire’s future, shouldn’t individuals know how to sacrifice to some extent?”

This guy must have absorbed another dose of boomer mentality.

This is why Yan is so frustrating.

“I love sex.”

Pffffffffffft!

Raven and Michel simultaneously spat out their alcohol.

“…What?”

“I want to eat good food, drink alcohol, get completely drunk with friends and sing. I don’t want to eat stale, dusty bread or drink foul-smelling water, and I want to enjoy sleeping in late.”

Caesar downed his drink.

“Is that wrong?”

“Goddess Royder says that excessive low desires and laziness are things given by devils and must be hidden. So it shouldn’t be done.”

“Do you know what demobilized knights and soldiers did first? Having sex, drinking alcohol, singing, meeting their families and talking. Are they wrong?”

Mitchell looked at Caesar with an anxious gaze.

“Caesar, you seem a bit drunk.”

“No. I’m not drunk yet.”

Caesar finished his drink.

“Soldiers have eyes and ears too. They don’t want to live idly forever. They just want to escape that hellish battlefield and return home to rest. But they’re just being bound by strict military discipline.”

“So you think you have a solution?”

“No. None. The rebel troops should all be killed.”

Yan and Mitchell’s expressions became subtle.

“…So why do you want to use mages only for suppressing Orcs?”

“I was given one order. Safely protect Luxhope Harbor and completely suppress the Orcs groups gathering in Eagle Valley. So the 300 mages given to me will be used in the war front I want.”

The conditions for Arch Duke giving mages to the Emperor were simple.

Giving Caesar field command authority over the mages.

Naturally, there was significant resistance, but the Emperor had no choice but to accept.

While using mages on the battlefield is the Emperor’s domain, selecting and offering mages for war is the Arch Duke’s role.

That’s why Caesar has a one-year mage command authority directly approved by the Emperor at his waist.

“Once Luxhope is completely secure and Eagle valley is stabilized, I will use the mages to suppress the rebel troops. That’s why.”

Caesar placed the golden dagger symbolizing imperial command on the table.

“Please help me suppress the Orcs first.”

TL NOTE:

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